Chapter 169: Sacred Water (Lover)
–Snow Fairy Mansion, Snow Plume City
A vast expanse of snow stretched for hundreds of kilometers, a boundless icy plain, glittering snow dust drifting through the air.
This was the upper district of Snow Plume City, similar to the Ice Plains of the Sea Concubine Palace, but larger and open to the public.
Girls in revealing outfits strolled about, not only Spirit Masters but even ordinary mortal women.
While the outer factions of the Sea Region had strictly separated the mortal and immortal realms for cultivation purposes, the Snow Fairy Mansion still maintained a mixed community.
Thud!
Thump, thump, thump!!
A massive Snow Bear lumbered across the snowy plain, its enormous paws creating tremors with each step, drawing the attention of passersby.
An ornate palanquin was strapped to its back. This was the so-called Snow Bear Carriage, a common sight in the Snow Fairy Mansion.
Gong Lianyue had to admit, the Snow Fairy Mansion was quite business-savvy.
A low-rank Snow Bear cost less than 50 spirit crystals, while a single ride on a Snow Bear Carriage cost one spirit crystal.
A Snow Bear could earn back its purchase price in just a few days. Quite a profitable investment.
If the Nine Great Factions didn’t only count new recruits from their subsidiary forces, the Snow Fairy Mansion, with its relaxed atmosphere and focus on leisure, would probably be the most popular destination.
[Ding, ding, ding, ding!!]
[Arriving at Loving Heart Spring Station.]
A strange, androgynous voice, emanating from a spirit artifact attached to its throat, announced their arrival.
As the four Snow Fairy Mansion girls stood up, Gong Lianyue also rose and slid down from the Snow Bear’s back.
Amidst the snowy landscape, a heart-shaped, pink lake shimmered, heart-shaped bubbles rising to the surface.
Nearly ten thousand visitors, mostly couples, crowded around the lake.
Loving Heart Spring, a high-rank spirit beast. It was said that making a wish to it would grant one true love.
Some came to pray, others to attempt to subdue it.
After all, it was a high-rank spirit beast. Subduing it would bring fame and recognition within the Snow Fairy Mansion!
Among the visitors, the most eye-catching was a girl kneeling before Loving Heart Spring, her body barely covered by two scraps of cloth.
The Pure Saintess of the Snow Fairy Mansion!
It was said she had been kneeling here for three years, her clothing becoming more revealing each year, now almost completely naked.
“Loving Heart Spring, please hear my plea!” The girl clasped her hands together, a holy, white light emanating from her body.
“I was orphaned before I was even born, my family scattered, diagnosed with over a hundred split personalities, suffering from depression and autism, my entire body covered in fractures, my face horribly disfigured, my cerebellum missing, my kidneys only thirty percent the size of a normal person’s, afflicted with a malignant uterine tumor, infertile, and having had sixteen abortions.”
“I…”
[But your appearance is only moderately above average. That makes it difficult for me.]
A strange voice, seemingly emanating from the depths of Loving Heart Spring, interrupted the Pure Saintess’s lament.
The Pure Saintess sighed. This was the same response she received every time, but she hadn’t given up.
“I am considered a beauty within the Snow Fairy Mansion. If I don’t meet your standards, then no woman in this world possibly could.”
Besides the Pure Saintess, other Spirit Masters who attempted to subdue Loving Heart Spring also received comments on their appearance.
They knew Loving Heart Spring’s rating system consisted of three tiers: low, mid, and high.
Each tier was further divided into four levels: below average, average, above average, and peak.
The highest rating for a mortal woman was “low-tier peak.” After all, their genes hadn’t been enhanced by spirit energy. There was a limit to their beauty.
For Spirit Masters, however, few were rated “low.” Most were “mid-tier.”
“Mid-tier above average” was already considered incredibly beautiful, beyond the comprehension of mortals, let alone the incredibly rare “peak” rating.
As for the “high” tier, it had never been given. People suspected it was a biased rating reserved for spirit beasts…
So, the Snow Fairy Mansion sent a group of their most beautiful spirit beasts for evaluation, but they all received “mid-tier” ratings.
This confused everyone. Just what level of beauty was required for a “high” rating?
[I can’t help it. I’m afraid of being constantly disgusted by your ugliness if we’re together.]
“…”
“…”
Hearing Loving Heart Spring’s words, the Pure Saintess’s eye twitched. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself.
A mere high-rank spirit beast, and yet so picky!
Just as she was about to continue, she was interrupted by a commotion nearby.
Several shocked gasps came from the opposite side of the lake, and the Pure Saintess frowned, turning to look.
A conservatively dressed, blue-haired girl was… feeding Loving Heart Spring…
These ignorant, uncultured village girls were so annoying!
Everyone here wore short skirts that barely covered their backsides, and yet she was wearing a dress that reached her knees, tossing peaches into Loving Heart Spring.
Loving Heart Spring never accepted offerings. Anyone who threw something in would have it thrown back at them.
Just this morning, someone had poured a bucket of milk into the lake, only to be drenched in it.
The Pure Saintess waited for the inevitable, but after more than ten seconds, the blue-haired girl continued feeding Loving Heart Spring, and the spirit beast, instead of retaliating, remained calm, as if digesting the offerings.
This strange phenomenon drew gasps of surprise. What was she feeding it? Why wasn’t Loving Heart Spring spitting it out?
“How is this possible…!?” the Pure Saintess gasped, her eyes wide with shock.
….
“Phew, it seems to be working~~~”
Kneeling opposite Loving Heart Spring, the blue-haired girl breathed a sigh of relief and continued tossing peaches into the lake.
Water Tangerine Peaches, Sacred Water (Lover)’s favorite food.
She had bought ten thousand of them, stored in her spatial bracelet, and was now methodically feeding them to the spirit beast.
Ignoring the surprised looks and curious whispers around her, Gong Lianyue continued, as if trying to fill Loving Heart Spring with peaches.
After feeding it more than a hundred, figuring the Snow Fairy Mansion higher-ups must have been alerted, she finally stopped and looked at Loving Heart Spring, her expression calm.
[Young lady, although these peaches are delicious, I can’t help it. Your appearance is only mid-tier…]
[Mid-tier… mid-tier… mid-tier—mid-tier… high!!!?]
Loving Heart Spring’s voice was filled with shock.
Chapter 170: Gong Lianyue’s Beauty Rating
[Young lady, although these peaches are delicious, I can’t help it. Your appearance is only mid-tier…]
[Mid-tier, mid-tier… mid-tier—mid-tier… high!!!?]
Loving Heart Spring’s voice was filled with disbelief. It couldn’t believe what it was seeing.
After a long pause, it finally stammered its revised assessment.
[High-tier, below average.]
At this moment, the important thing wasn’t the specific rating, but the fact that a human had actually reached the “high-tier” level!
Hearing the assessment, Gong Lianyue smiled faintly, not particularly surprised.
Although confident in her own beauty, she knew she couldn’t compare to the most stunning of the legendary spirit beasts.
High-tier, below average, wasn’t bad. It was a level beyond the reach of ordinary humans.
Whether there were even a hundred beings in existence rated “high-tier average,” “high-tier above average,” or “high-tier peak” was debatable.
“So, what do you say? Want to come with me?” Gong Lianyue tossed another Water Tangerine Peach into the lake.
Plop~~
The pink, succulent peach disappeared beneath the surface, eliciting another round of gasps.
Judging by the girl’s confident tone, did she actually have a chance of subduing Loving Heart Spring?
[No. I sense a repulsive aura. I won’t go with you.]
Loving Heart Spring refused without hesitation.
Its earlier surprise had simply been due to seeing a high-tier human for the first time.
Gong Lianyue had changed her appearance and discarded anything carrying the Sea Concubine Palace’s aura, but she had still been recognized. How frustrating.
Could it be because she and the Water Emperor shared a connection to the Sea Concubine’s Love Tablet…?
“Fine, suit yourself. But I’m curious about what a peak high-tier beauty looks like. Could you give me some examples?” Gong Lianyue changed her tone and switched to telepathic communication, preventing the other visitors from overhearing.
[No. Why should I tell you?]
Oh, this little thing was quite stubborn.
Gong Lianyue’s eyes darted around as she held up a finger, making a promise. “I have over nine thousand more of these peaches. If you tell me what a peak high-tier beauty looks like, I’ll give them all to you.”
[The Sea Breath Cradle, ranked seventh among the Ten Sacred Waters. Tsk~~ That figure… and that face… truly something else.]
[The Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake. No need to mention her. Everyone knows she’s a beauty, though her personality is a bit… vulgar.]
[The Heavenly Fan Maiden, the Snow Monarch, the Illusion Sea Concubine, the White Moon Lord, the Crimson Calamity… those are the ones I can think of right now…]_
“Wait, you’ve seen the Snow Monarch’s true face?” Gong Lianyue gasped, dumping more than a thousand peaches into Loving Heart Spring.
[Not exactly, but I can judge beauty just from their aura. I’m never wrong.]
“I see…” Gong Lianyue nodded as if suddenly understanding, then her expression hardened, her tone turning cold.
“Sacred Water, Lover, come with me. What are you waiting for?”
The blue-haired girl stood up, a powerful wave of spirit energy radiating from her body.
The dense, sea-blue spirit energy spread for several kilometers, sending the nearby visitors tumbling, their gazes fixed on her in shock.
[???]
[Heh, so you knew my true identity all along, pretending to be ignorant. You’re with that woman, aren’t you?]
[Well, give up. I will never follow a Sea Concubine Palace Spirit Master.]
[Do you think I can’t see? Your spirit beast slots are full. You just want to use me as a tool. You’re even worse than that woman!!!]
[She was at the peak of the Nether Traverse Stage when she came here, and you’re just barely at the Dead Sea Stage. Finally, a chance for revenge!!]
[Acting so arrogant just because you’re rated ‘high-tier below average.’ I’ll beat you down to ‘low-tier below average’!!]
As Sacred Water, Lover, seethed with childish rage, the entire lake began to tremble violently, churning like a whirlpool.
A graceful, pink, watery figure, riding a pink, heart-shaped droplet, rose from the lake.
Sacred Water, Lover. Its body was only the size of a human thumb, like a fairy, its delicate form endearing.
Two pairs of small, shimmering butterfly wings fluttered behind it, a beautiful and captivating sight.
“Loving Heart Spring has revealed its true form!?”
“Who is that girl? Her beauty has captivated Loving Heart Spring?”
Hearing the shocked cries, the Pure Saintess felt a pang of jealousy. This spirit beast, which she had been unable to subdue for three years, had been won over by this blue-haired girl in minutes.
And her appearance was only average…
The Pure Saintess continued to stare, unable to look away.
Mm, indeed average, average enough to… make one want to… remove her skirt… average.jpg (The Pure Saintess’s thoughts)
Meanwhile, facing Sacred Water, Lover’s furious outburst, the blue-haired girl’s hair danced wildly in the wind, her expression remaining calm.
“You misunderstand. I intend to contract with you as soon as I reach the Samsara Stage,” Gong Lianyue said, her tone flat and emotionless.
Weapon-type spirit beasts could be used without a contract, like the Water Element and the Shadowlurking Blade.
“If you agree, I promise to let you beat up that woman one day. However, if you continue to act like a spoiled child, I’ll have to discipline you first.”
A tense silence. The blue-haired girl’s indifferent tone infuriated Sacred Water, Lover.
A mere human Spirit Master… who did she think she was, speaking to a Saint-rank spirit beast like this?
Who was at the Samsara Stage, and who was at the Dead Sea Stage…?
And she had promised to let it beat up that woman, the Water Emperor of the Sea Region, the one it hated so much!
[Empty words, meaningless promises.]
The next second, a chilling aura erupted from the tiny pink figure, knocking unconscious all the mortals within a radius of several kilometers, their bodies scattered on the ground.
Even many of the Illumination and Dawn and Dusk Stage Spirit Masters collapsed, their faces filled with terror.
The Pure Saintess, barely able to stand, stared in disbelief at the clashing auras of the pink figure and the blue-haired girl.
Pink and blue spirit energy collided, dividing the world into two swirling masses of color.
Such power… how was this possible?
Even the current Palace Master of the Snow Fairy Mansion wasn’t this powerful!!!
Could this truly be the spirit energy of Loving Heart Spring, a mere high-rank spirit beast?
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