Chapter 46 - 44: Sacrifice to the Goddess of Beauty
Chapter 46: Chapter 44: Sacrifice to the Goddess of Beauty
The Thunder crashed into the water.
Instantly, countless columns of water shot into the air.
Just then, Fang Xiu thought he saw something black within one of the columns of water.
’What is that?’
Curious, Fang Xiu withdrew his Magic Staff.
The Thunder vanished, and the sky once again became completely clear.
He walked over to the lake and peered carefully into its depths.
’That’s strange. I’m sure I saw something just now!’
Fang Xiu searched all around the edge of the lake but still couldn’t find anything.
’Could it have been a fish I zapped to death?’
He glanced at the water, then shook his head. If it were a fish, it would have floated to the surface by now.
Besides, judging by the size of it, that wasn’t likely.
Too bad he’d just let Kajimi go off on her own. It seemed she had left the Gate World to do laundry and cook.
Otherwise, with her speed, Kajimi should have been able to grab it the instant it appeared.
Fang Xiu also dismissed the possibility of it being a Demon Beast.
If a Demon Beast had been hit by his Skill, it would have floated to the surface if it died. If it hadn’t died, that would mean the Demon Beast was quite powerful.
But Fang Xiu had been in Cultivation here for so long that if there were a Demon Beast, it would have already attacked him by now.
He didn’t believe a Demon Beast could lie in wait for so long without making a move, not even while he was in Cultivation.
’Should I try again?’
Fang Xiu considered it. Since the Thunder had blasted it out before...
...if he tried again, perhaps he could blast the thing out once more.
With that thought, Fang Xiu raised his Life Staff once more.
"Netherworld Thunder Fall!"
He activated the Skill again.
Instantly, Fang Xiu felt completely drained, as if his body had been hollowed out.
He felt dizzy.
’I forgot this Skill consumes a ton of Spiritual Power!’
Fang Xiu sighed in frustration.
The Skill was certainly powerful enough.
But it seemed to be a bit much for him to handle at his current Level.
Just activating the Skill twice had completely drained the Spiritual Power from his body.
Fortunately, he had still managed to summon the Thunder this time.
Bolts of black Thunder rained down from the clouds.
Like Nether Ghost Claws, they struck the lake in front of him with pinpoint accuracy.
It sent columns of water blasting into the air.
Fang Xiu shook his head to clear it, forcing himself to focus as he carefully watched the erupting columns of water.
’Nothing... nothing... still nothing!’
Fang Xiu’s brow furrowed slightly.
Despite the falling Thunder, nothing appeared.
’Did I see it wrong before? Or was it... just an ordinary rock?’
Fang Xiu watched for a long time, but nothing was blasted out of the water.
In the end, he could only shake his head in defeat.
He had never gone into the lake to investigate it.
For one, he’d have a hard time defending himself against any danger in the water.
For another... well, Fang Xiu couldn’t swim. He was a complete landlubber.
So there was no way for him to explore the bottom of the lake.
As for sending Kajimi down, Fang Xiu didn’t think it was necessary for now.
’Whatever. I’ll just Sacrifice the Vast Sea Glass Ring for now!’
Fang Xiu suddenly remembered.
He still hadn’t Sacrificed the Vast Sea Glass Ring he’d gotten from Chu Qingxue.
He didn’t know what kind of benefits he would receive after the Sacrifice,
but passing up on potential rewards wasn’t his style.
At this thought, Fang Xiu took out the Vast Sea Glass Ring.
"Oh, most beautiful of Deities, I now Sacrifice this Vast Sea Glass Ring to you. I hope its beauty pleases you, the most beautiful of all!"
Fang Xiu chanted casually.
When he had his Awakening as a Sacrificial Master, Fang Xiu had learned that a chant was required for a Sacrifice.
However, the specific content didn’t seem to be strictly regulated.
As long as he didn’t anger the Deities, he should be fine.
When they received something they liked, they would bestow gifts and boons.
As a flash of light enveloped the Vast Sea Glass Ring,
Fang Xiu knew that the next gift from a Deity was about to arrive.
Sure enough, a moment later, an exquisite little box appeared in his hands.
’Worthy of a gift from the Goddess of Beauty. Even the packaging is so much more refined.’
He looked at the box in his hands.
Fang Xiu remarked with a sigh.
Previously, whether from the Goddess of Life or the Flower God, the gifts he received after a Sacrifice had all come in very plain packaging.
Only the Goddess of Beauty had presented her gift in such an exquisite little box.
’I wonder what this box is made of? But anything used by Deities can’t be bad!’
Fang Xiu studied the exquisite little box.
He had no idea what material it was made from.
’When I have time, I’ll take this to Uncle Zhao to have a look. And I can sell him all the other stuff I got before at the same time!’
He had been so excited after getting the Magic Core that he’d completely forgotten to sell the Scorpion Gold and Scorpion Silver he had collected.
’Let’s see what’s actually inside this thing!’
Looking at the exquisite little box in his hand, Fang Xiu slowly opened it.
And then...
"What’s this?"
Fang Xiu froze.
He had originally thought the small box might contain a Demon Core or some other valuable item.
But inside was some kind of cream.
Fang Xiu quickly checked the item’s description.
[Charm Value Snowflake Cream: Apply one gram to the face daily to increase your Charm Value by 1%. After one hundred days, your Charm Value will reach 100%, increasing your attractiveness to the opposite sex. You might be surprised by the results!]
’Snowflake Cream?’
Fang Xiu really hadn’t expected this thing to be a jar of Snowflake Cream.
And one that increased his Charm Value, no less.
’Does someone as handsome as me really need to worry about Charm Value?’
He mused, looking curiously at the box in his hands, ’I wonder how much a gram is. Don’t they portion this stuff out?’
Just one gram could increase his Charm Value by 1%!
And it had a surprising effect on the opposite sex.
’This is a gift from a Deity. Why wouldn’t I use it?’
In the end, Fang Xiu decided to try scooping a little up with his finger.
The moment his finger touched the Snowflake Cream, Fang Xiu wasn’t sure if he was imagining it, but...
...a dab of the cream instantly adhered to his fingertip.
’This... should be about a gram, right?’
Fang Xiu wasn’t entirely sure what that unit of measurement looked like.
In any case, he had already scooped it up.
Without further hesitation, Fang Xiu applied it directly to his face.
Then he rubbed it in evenly.
He took out his phone and checked his reflection with the front-facing camera.
’It seems... there’s no effect!’
Looking at his reflection on the phone, he was just as handsome as always.
There was no improvement.
CLICK!
He pressed the shutter button, taking a photo.
"Master, it’s time to eat!"
Just then, a voice called out to him.
Fang Xiu turned his head to see the Succubus Kajimi carrying two plates, coming through the Gate Passage into the Gate World.
’Having someone cook for me... this isn’t bad at all!’
Pleased, Fang Xiu walked over to Kajimi.
Kajimi placed the two plates on a flat stone she had procured from somewhere.
"Wow, Master, you seem even more handsome than before!"
When Kajimi saw Fang Xiu, her eyes immediately lit up.
In that instant, she felt that her master was even more handsome than usual.
"Hm? Really? More handsome?"
Fang Xiu asked.
Kajimi nodded. "Yes, more handsome. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but... you just are!"
"Is that so?"
Fang Xiu nodded slightly.
It seemed the Charm Value Snowflake Cream really worked.
Perhaps to his own eyes, nothing had changed.
But to Kajimi, a member of the opposite sex, Fang Xiu’s 1% increase in Charm Value had made him even more attractive to her.
"What did you make?"
Since it was effective, he would naturally continue to use it.
Increasing one’s Charm Value was an irresistible temptation for anyone, man or woman alike.
Who wouldn’t want to be a little more charming?
The unattractive want to raise their Charm Value, and the attractive wouldn’t say no to it either.
And with the increase to his Charm Value, Fang Xiu’s mood had improved considerably.
"Master, we’re having steak tonight. I couldn’t find anything else good to eat in the big cabinet at home!"
Kajimi said with a sigh.
"There was steak... in the big cabinet?"
Fang Xiu was taken aback.
"Yes, the big cabinet with the Ice Magic!"
Kajimi nodded.
"That’s... a refrigerator!"
Fang Xiu realized.
"Huh? That big cabinet is called a refrigerator? Why not an ice cabinet?"
Kajimi had never seen this kind of big cabinet that used Ice Magic before.
Besides, you call it a refrigerator, but isn’t it a cabinet?
"Um... a freezer is another type, the kind that’s shaped like a chest."
Fang Xiu explained.
Kajimi stared blankly at Fang Xiu. "Then why isn’t that one called the refrigerator!"
Fang Xiu: ...
’I don’t know either! It’s not like I’m the one who named them!’
"Why don’t I try some of your cooking, Kajimi?"
Fang Xiu didn’t know how to explain,
so he changed the subject.
Kajimi nodded slightly and removed the covers from the plates.
Instantly, a delicious aroma wafted out.
"It smells amazing!"
Fang Xiu hadn’t expected that Kajimi, a Succubus, actually knew how to cook.
And the steak she’d made looked quite professional.
It was cooked to the perfect level of doneness.
"Master, you try it first!"
Kajimi used a knife and fork to cut the steak, then speared a piece with the fork and brought it to Fang Xiu’s lips.
"I... I can get it myself!"
Fang Xiu took the fork from her and put the piece of steak into his mouth.
It was savory and juicy, practically melting in his mouth... although that didn’t really seem like the right way to describe steak.
Still, Fang Xiu felt it was the most delicious steak he had ever eaten.
"Delicious!"
He was hungry, so he continued to savor the steak on his plate.
Beside him, Kajimi simply watched him eat with a smile.
Soon, Fang Xiu had finished the steak.
Only then did Kajimi begin to eat her own.
"Ah, that was satisfying!"
By the time they finished eating, night had fallen.
Fang Xiu lay on the grass, his hands pillowed behind his head, gazing at the stars in the sky.
He hadn’t experienced such a peaceful life in a very, very long time.
The Gate World that had appeared in his home seemed a little different from other Gate Worlds.
Although it cycled through all four seasons in a single day, both the air and the Spiritual Power were significantly better than in the outside world.
Even though it was now "winter," Fang Xiu still loved this carefree life.
"Master, let Kajimi help you get some rest."
Just as Fang Xiu was enjoying the moment,
a seductive voice whispered in his ear.
Immediately after, he felt a slender finger trail across his neck. Turning his head, he met the Succubus’s deeply affectionate eyes!