I Became the Golden Dragon King?

Xue Wu looked at Shui Yue'er's delighted face, unable to keep a hint of envy from showing in her eyes.

She could absorb a 3,800-year Soul Ring with only her second ring. Even Xue Wu's third ring might not be able to absorb a Soul Ring of such a high age.

A Soul Master's cultivation truly was a case of one step ahead, every step ahead.

"Alright, once we get back to shore, get a good night's rest. Tomorrow, I'll take Yue'er to hunt for a Soul Ring. The three of you will stay here and keep cultivating, striving to break through to level thirty as soon as possible." As Shui Qinghan spoke, she pulled Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er into her arms, then carried them out of the Ice Extreme Divine Crystal Mine. Before leaving, she added, "Lan'er, I'll leave Xiao Wu to you."

Jiang Lan: "..."

Jiang Lan subconsciously looked at Xue Wu, whose gaze happened to meet his.

Their eyes met, and Xue Wu's delicate yet somewhat heroic face immediately flushed red. She hurriedly turned her head away, not daring to meet Jiang Lan's eyes, her ears burning hot.

"Senior Sister, can you swim?" Jiang Lan asked.

"I'm not very good in the water." Xue Wu shook her head and replied softly.

"I see." Jiang Lan nodded, then said, "Then I'll carry you on my back, Senior Sister."

"Mhm..." Xue Wu's face was crimson as blood. She nodded and answered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

Jiang Lan turned his back to Xue Wu and crouched halfway down, gesturing as he said, "Senior Sister, get on."

Xue Wu obediently lay across Jiang Lan's back, her snow-white arms wrapping around his neck as her rosy cheeks grew scorching hot.

Jiang Lan supported the backs of Xue Wu's knees with both hands and steadily rose to his feet.

Although Xue Wu was tall and graceful, she was even lighter than he had imagined. He barely needed any effort to carry her on his back.

Jiang Lan's hands held the backs of Xue Wu's knees. Though a thin layer of fabric separated them, the firm yet soft sensation still came through the fitted trousers covering her long, beautiful legs.

Perhaps because her Soul Skills required dance to activate, the muscles in her thighs were firm and full of strength.

Yet her skin was remarkably delicate and soft, as though he were holding a pool of warm water. His palms seemed to sink right into it.

Xue Wu pursed her lips, her cheeks blazing. She could clearly feel the scorching warmth coming from Jiang Lan's palms. The temperature was obviously not that high, yet it made her body feel weak.

"Senior Sister, hold on tight. I'm setting off," Jiang Lan reminded her.

"Mhm!" Xue Wu nodded, tightening the arms wrapped around Jiang Lan's neck.

"Phew~" Jiang Lan emerged from the Ice Extreme Divine Crystal Mine and plunged into the icy Cold Spring with a splash. He moved as nimbly as a fish, swiftly swimming toward the surface.

Splash!

In less than a minute, Jiang Lan surfaced from underwater with Xue Wu on his back. He quickly swam to shore and climbed onto land.

On the shore, Shui Qinghan had already brought Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er ashore and was setting up the tents.

Once ashore, Jiang Lan crouched down and let Xue Wu off his back, asking with a smile, "Senior Sister, do you need me to dry your clothes?"

Xue Wu's clothes had been soaked by the Cold Spring water, clinging damply to her skin and fitting her body tightly, perfectly outlining her full yet exceptionally well-proportioned figure.

Her willow-thin waist looked as though it could be grasped in one hand, while the curves of her chest were full and pert. Her hips were rounded and lifted, giving her a sexy, fiery figure.

"Then I'll trouble you, adorable Junior Brother." Xue Wu gave a dashing smile and raised a hand to comb through her damp gray-blue short hair. The motion made her already curvaceous figure appear even more outstanding, and she showed no intention of covering herself at all.

Jiang Lan: "..."

She really did not treat him like an outsider.

Still, since he had already offered, he could only grit his teeth and use his Martial Soul's innate water-controlling talent to painstakingly strip the Cold Spring water from Xue Wu's body and clothes. It eventually gathered in his palm, and he casually scattered it onto the ground.

"Thank you, adorable Junior Brother." Seeing that her clothes had become dry and fresh, Xue Wu immediately smiled brightly. Then she suddenly bent down and lightly kissed Jiang Lan on the cheek, leaving him stunned.

"Hmph~" Seeing Jiang Lan freeze up, Xue Wu happily walked toward Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er.

She was not the type to passively accept things. She preferred taking the initiative.

The only reason she had been so passive before was that those embarrassing memories had caught her off guard.

Now, she was going to take back the initiative.

"What was that about?" Jiang Lan could not make heads or tails of it. He had the strange feeling that someone had played him.

But that was probably just his imagination, right?

Shaking his head, Jiang Lan put the trivial matter aside. He used the same method to dry himself, then followed them into the camp on shore and helped set up the tents.

Their tents were very traditional pole tents. Not only were they troublesome to assemble, they also took considerable physical effort, unlike the convenient modern tents that could be easily put together.

"Thanks for your hard work, Little Junior Brother~" Once the tents were set up, Shui Yue'er quickly took out a handkerchief carrying a trace of warmth and a faint fragrance, helping Jiang Lan wipe the sweat from his forehead.

"Yue'er, if you're too clingy, people might start to dislike you." Shui Qinghan poked at the campfire and teasingly commented as she watched Shui Yue'er stick to Jiang Lan at every opportunity.

"But I feel so comfortable and safe when I'm around Little Junior Brother. Even my Soul Power cultivation is much faster than usual." Shui Yue'er pouted and protested in a grumbly voice.

"Yue'er, is that true?" Shui Qinghan was greatly surprised and hurriedly asked.

"Of course. It's probably about twenty percent faster than cultivating by myself. I only noticed it recently." Shui Yue'er nodded.

"Bing'er, do you feel the same way?" Shui Qinghan turned to Shui Bing'er and asked.

"Um... I haven't really paid attention to it." Shui Bing'er shook her head in distress.

"Ice and water share the same origin. Since Yue'er's cultivation speed can be enhanced, the two of you should likely receive a boost as well. It is merely a question of how much," Shui Qinghan said.

At most, the cultivation-speed enhancement enjoyed by Ice-attribute Martial Souls would be somewhat weaker than that enjoyed by Water-attribute Martial Souls and dragon-type Martial Souls.

Jiang Lan: "..."

Good heavens, did I become the Golden Dragon King?

Wasn't this just a copy of how Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon King bloodline affected Wang Jinxi's Martial Soul in Soul Land 3?

Then again, the bloodline of the Lord of Tides · Starlight Ruth King was certainly stronger than the Golden Dragon King's. It was only natural for it to have such an effect.

The Golden Dragon King's bloodline could only influence dragon-type Martial Souls, but my Martial Soul could even affect Water-attribute Martial Souls.

In other words, even the lowest-grade fish-type Martial Soul might have a chance to transform into a dragon if it cultivated beside me year after year.

"If I'm not mistaken, this should be Lan'er's Martial Soul influencing Yue'er. If you cultivate beside Lan'er over a long period of time, Yue'er, your Martial Soul might even undergo a beneficial mutation, or perhaps evolve. This is a good thing." Shui Qinghan spoke with a face full of delight.

Although it was only her guess, once Lan'er reached level thirty and returned to the academy, she could arrange for some students with Water-attribute Martial Souls or dragon-type Martial Souls to spend time around him and see whether Lan'er's Martial Soul could grant them the same enhancement.

If her guess was correct, then Lan'er's Martial Soul was likely far more powerful than she had imagined.