"Hmm?" Seeing the Flood Dragon's scale, Yuan suddenly realized something.
"Wait a minute. Since a Flood Dragon has multiple scales, does this mean you were the one who sold that scale at the auction today? Feng Feng?"
"Eh?" Feng Yuxiang's face immediately turned stiff after hearing his words.
"N-No! I wasn't involved in the auction today!" She subconsciously responded.
"It was just a coincidence that they were selling a Flood Dragon's scale!"
Yuan nodded, "If you say so."
"Anyways, I am going to give this to Lulu."
Yuan went to knock on Chu Liuxiang's door and Feng Yuxiang sighed in relief when he didn't continue questioning her.
"What's up?" Chu Liuxiang stopped her cultivation to open the door.
"I have a surprise for you." Yuan said with a mysterious smile.
"A surprise for me? What is it?" Her eyes flickered with anticipation.
"Here." Yuan showed her the small box.
Chu Liuxiang raised her eyebrows when she saw this box, and she became speechless for a good moment.
"Did you get me an engagement ring?" She suddenly asked.
"Eh? N-Not exactly…?" Yuan said, dumbfounded by her response.
She chuckled, "I'm just joking with you. What's inside? Let me see…"
Chu Liuxiang opened the box a moment later, and her eyes widened with surprise when she saw what was in it.
"This is… Is this what I think it is?" she mumbled in a low voice.
"Yes, it's a Flood Dragon's scale."
"How on earth did you…?" Chu Liuxiang looked at him with her eyes wide as saucers.
"Actually, I wasn't the one who acquired it. You'll have to thank Feng Feng for that." Yuan said, and explained everything to her.
"Unbelievable… To think she also had one on her."
"It's not really that surprising now that I think about it. She used to own a very prestigious treasure store, and she came from the upper heavens." Yuan said.
"Where is she right now? I'd like to thank her."
"She's in the living room."
Chu Liuxiang approached Feng Yuxiang and bowed to her, "Thank you very much for this gift, Feng Feng."
"You're welcome."
"By the way, how do I use this scale?" Chu Liuxiang then asked.
"Well, it depends on what you want to use it for since there are multiple ways to prepare it."
"I'd like to use it to increase my innate talent," said Chu Liuxiang.
"I understand. Then allow me to help you."
"Please." Chu Liuxiang handed the Flood Dragon's scale back to her.
"Before we begin, I must warn you about something. The Flood Dragon is almost a divine beast with a powerful bloodline. Although you can still use the scale at your cultivation, it's going to be very painful. Do you wish to continue?"
"Yes, I don't care even if I have to endure a little pain." Chu Liuxiang nodded with a resolute face.
"Okay."
Feng Yuxiang left to prepare shortly after.
Sometime later, Feng Yuxiang returned to them and said, "Alright, the water is ready."
"Water?" Chu Liuxiang raised her eyebrows.
"Follow me."
Chu Liuxiang nodded and followed her. Yuan also followed because he was curious.
"This is… Isn't this just body tempering?" Yuan asked when he saw the tub filled with boiling hot water.
"Not really." Feng Yuxiang shook her head, and she continued, "Although that's what it may seem like right now, it will be completely different once the real thing begins."
"Also, since the effect of the scale will only work once, do you want to improve the effects at the cost of it becoming more painful?"
"Huh?" Chu Liuxiang raised her eyebrows.
"Did you think you can continue using the Flood Dragon's scale to increase your talent without limit? It's already heaven-defying enough that you can improve your talent. With that being said, it'll only affect the Flood Dragon's scale. If you find another treasure that increases your talent, it will still work, but only one time."
Chu Liuxiang pondered for a moment before asking, "How much more painful…?"
"A lot."
Chu Liuxiang swallowed loudly. If she wasn't nervous before, she is now.
"I… I will do it!" She said after a moment of silence.
"Good. You can enter the bathtub whenever you're ready." Feng Yuxiang then said.
Chu Liuxiang quickly removed her clothes and approached the hot bath.
After taking a deep breath, she entered the bathtub.
"Hm? It's not that bad." Chu Liuxiang suddenly said in a surprised tone.
Feng Yuxiang smiled, "I didn't even put the Flood Dragon's scale into the water yet."
"Eh?" Chu Liuxiang's face flushed a little after hearing her words.
"Here, eat this pill. It'll increase the effects of the scale." Feng Yuxiang handed her a black pill the size of a tiny pebble.
Chu Liuxiang silently ate the pill after taking it.
The pill was a little bitter at first, but the aftertaste was quite minty.
"Are you ready?" Feng Yuxiang asked.
"I am."
Feng Yuxiang didn't say anything else and dropped the Flood Dragon's scale into the bathtub.
Immediately, the boiling water began cooling down at a rapid rate, and in just seconds, the water was filled with large chunks of ice.
"Aaaaah!" Chu Liuxiang suddenly screamed out loud, her voice filled with intense pain.
Yuan swallowed nervously when her scream caused his eardrums to tremble, and it made him recall his first time doing body temperament.
And after just a few seconds of being in the water, Chu Liuxiang jumped out before collapsing on the ground.
"Lulu?!" Yuan immediately went to check on her, and when he touched her body, it felt like he was touching a block of ice.
"It's too painful… I can't bear it…" Chu Liuxiang mumbled in a low voice as tears flowed from her face.
Chu Liuxiang isn't someone who has weak endurance. One can even say she has above-average endurance. However, the pain she felt when trying to absorb the treasure nearly made her insane.
"Of course it's painful. You're trying to improve your innate talents. In fact, it's much worse than body tempering." Feng Yuxiang said.
"Is there anything we can do to relieve her pain even slightly?" Yuan then asked.
Feng Yuxiang pondered for a moment before nodding her head, "There is a way, but you will be the one helping her, and it's going to be as painful for you, Young Master."
"Me…?" Yuan swallowed nervously.