The immense snow mountain ice lotus had its pure spiritual energy sealed inside a 100-milliliter jade bottle. It was crystal clear, almost like liquid mithril, flowing and alive, as if it were a living creature.
"This smells so good! It's a hundred times more fragrant than perfume. I've never smelled anything like this before!" Zhao Mengxi took a deep breath, her face filled with an expression of sheer delight.
Kent, slightly speechless, commented, "Looking at your face, it seems like you don't want to consume it, but plan to use it as perfume."
"Hehe, this kind of expensive perfume, I can't afford to use," she said with a smile, clasping her hands together. She closed her eyes and muttered, "Kent, I'm going to drink it now."
Kent looked on curiously.
Zhao Mengxi took a small sip, and a light, carefree smile appeared on her face, as if she had completely relaxed, her body stretching out like tea leaves in hot water.
Kent felt a sense of happiness at the sight.
"This is so refreshing, more delightful than the purest mountain spring water by a hundred times," Zhao Mengxi said, revealing her pearly white teeth. It seemed even her teeth were glowing with a soft white radiance.
She drank in small sips, and after five or six gulps, the jade bottle was empty.
With each sip, something changed within her. Snow-white lotus flowers began to subtly appear on her smooth, delicate skin, growing clearer, almost as if a layer of lotus petals had been imprinted on her body.
Her aura also underwent a remarkable transformation. Previously, as a goddess, her presence was already captivating—every gesture and smile enchanting with a subtle charm. But now, she seemed even more holy, like a proud ice lotus standing amidst cold winds and snow, exuding a transcendent and ethereal beauty, with a touch of inviolable dignity and the gentle aura of morning dew and evening clouds.
"I feel so many wonderful changes happening in my body," Zhao Mengxi murmured, furrowing her brows. Her nose twitched, and she caught a faint, sour odor. Looking down, she noticed many faint gray impurities on her skin, some sticky to the touch.
Kent was startled and blurted out, "Could this be the legendary process of 'shedding hair and washing marrow'?"
Zhao Mengxi pondered for a moment before nodding, "It seems so. I feel my body becoming much lighter, like a butterfly dancing in the clear breeze."
The changes continued...
Suddenly, Zhao Mengxi shuddered slightly and gasped. She looked in awe at the soft, flowing radiance appearing on her skin. These rays seemed to form the shape of snow-white ice lotuses, which gathered slowly before her forehead and solidified into a real-looking image—a small lotus flower, just slightly smaller than a coin, glowing with white light, seemingly embedded on her forehead.
"The Ice Lotus Mark?" Kent exclaimed, his eyes widening. He couldn't help but notice that Zhao Mengxi had become even more beautiful, as though she had transformed into the incarnation of the lotus goddess.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Zhao Mengxi relaxed, smiling softly. "Do I have a flower on my face?"
Kent nodded vigorously and replied, "Yes, there's definitely a flower, and it's really beautiful."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Mengxi walked over to the mirror, turned on the lights, and gazed at her dramatically transformed self. She stood frozen for a moment.
"See? I wasn't lying," Kent said. "Now that the spiritual energy effect has finished, do you feel any changes?"
"Yes."
Zhao Mengxi stretched out her hand, and a ray of white light appeared in her palm, emitting a cold chill. The moisture in the air quickly gathered and, in the blink of an eye, transformed into six-pointed snowflakes that gently floated down.
Then, Zhao Mengxi manipulated the snowflakes, transforming them into a snow sword, which, through further compression, turned into an ice sword.
Kent smiled in satisfaction. The ability was still somewhat basic, but girls naturally like beautiful things, and at least it was to her liking.
"This is just the most basic change," Zhao Mengxi continued. "I sense there are other abilities I can't fully manifest yet, like the ability to control snow, to change into snow, and even manipulate snowflakes."
"These abilities are similar to the Snow Bulls of the Ox Horn Mountain. It seems the abilities granted by Saint-level spiritual herbs are quite similar to those of the golden beasts," Kent remarked.
He nodded. While he hoped for even more powerful abilities, he was already content. After all, it had earned him Zhao Mengxi's affection.
Sometimes, Kent found himself wondering why the protagonists in other stories exuded such dominant, kingly auras, with various beauties flocking to them and endless benefits pouring in. Yet, he was so different, not exuding much masculinity or dominating charisma, often appearing ordinary even in the eyes of others.
However, after some deep thought, Kent accepted his own nature. Though he had gained a powerful ability, at his core, he was just an ordinary mortal with somewhat narrow thinking and limited vision, which actually made him feel more human and authentic.
"This is really nice. It's much better than I expected. This is the second most precious gift I've ever received in my life," Zhao Mengxi said, her eyes gleaming with joy.
Kent nodded, understanding she was referring to the first precious gift— the dragon she received from Zhao Black Dragon as her graduation present.
"Actually..." Kent hesitated, then said, "Your little winged dragon, the reason it's so affectionate towards me is because I'm the one who hatched it. It even drank my blood."
"What?" Zhao Mengxi gasped in surprise. "So that's how it is. It seems that we truly are destined to meet. Thank you, fate, for bringing you into my life."
"Hehe, it's nothing," Kent laughed. "I was just doing a job for someone, getting paid for it. You think all my gear and the money I made came from nowhere? It's from the bounty for hatching dragons."
"So that's it," Zhao Mengxi said sweetly, smiling. "We really are fated to meet."
"Of course. Now I'm just waiting for you to grow your hair to your waist," Kent teased.
"Mm…" Zhao Mengxi blushed, remembering a popular online saying: "When your hair grows to your waist, would you allow me to marry you?" She couldn't help but feel her cheeks flush.
"By the way, I also want to give you a gift."
Zhao Mengxi's expression shifted, and with a flick of her hand, she revealed a glowing, multi-colored stone. It was about the size of a fist and emanated five distinct colors—red, blue, yellow, white, and black. It was the Five-Colored Stone.
Kent froze for a moment, unable to believe his eyes. "Xiao Meng, this is the Five-Colored Stone, incredibly rare. It's far more precious than the gift I gave you."
"It's alright. We're lovers, so I'd be happy to give it to you. Besides, the Five-Colored Stone will be more beneficial to you," Zhao Mengxi said with a sweet smile.
Kent fell silent for a moment, hesitating. But Zhao Mengxi was right—the Five-Colored Stone would have more significance for him.