Chapter 164

Red Fox Castle, library.

Sunlight spilled onto the floor through the stained-glass window, forming mottled light and shadows.

"An ice magic located at the very top layer?!"

Upon seeing the definition of the magic "Extreme Cold Purgatory" by the magic ancestor Bayes on the book page, Xia Mingyu couldn't help but feel his heart heat up.

Swish.

Without hesitation, he immediately flipped to the next page and continued reading the message left by Bayes.

"Regarding ice magic, I believe it mainly has two core characteristics."

"One is cold, two is transformation."

"Ice must be both untouchable like a raging wildfire and capable of thousands of changes like water."

"And the 'Extreme Cold Purgatory' I awakened is the culmination of possessing these two core characteristics, which is why I say it will always be an ice magic located at the very top layer."

"Once 'Extreme Cold Purgatory' is released, it can create an extremely low-temperature environment around oneself, causing frost to spread and cover everything in the entire area."

"At the same time, the most important and most terrifying part of this magic is—"

"Every extension of the frost is like your arm, no, just like the tentacles of a tentacle monster, capable of changing into anything, whether it be sharp spikes, blades, or shields..."

"Quietly telling you, my personal favorite is to change into ice spikes to fiercely stab the enemy's soles, back door, or balls when they step on the ice surface. It works every time, hahahahahaha!"

Hiss!

Seeing this passage, Xia Mingyu couldn't help but gasp.

As a man, he could imagine that kind of terrifying scene.

"This guy, he's the recognized patriarch of the magic path, yet he uses such insidious methods. It's simply too great!"

Xia Mingyu's lips curled slightly, and a sly smile appeared on his handsome face.

Unlike the sunshine that warmed those around him in the past, this smile was sinister, actually making people afraid.

Swish.

He continued to flip to the next page of the magic book.

Bayes:

"Later generations, don't be too happy yet, because 'Extreme Cold Purgatory' possesses two characteristics at the same time, so the complexity of its magic diagram is far beyond ordinary magic."

"Even for an unparalleled genius like me, if it weren't my core magic, I estimate it would take several months of time to perfectly master it."

"As for you, if you can learn it within three years, you're a genius."

"Sigh, I really envy you, being able to experience the joy of learning such complex magic. I could only rely on instinct to release it directly."

Slap!

Xia Mingyu slammed the magic book shut, his brows furrowed tightly.

This old thing that had already been buried must be mocking him across time and space, no doubt about it!

Damn it, don't let me find where your grave is, otherwise I will definitely... send you a bouquet of chrysanthemums.

"So the learning difficulty of the magic 'Extreme Cold Purgatory' is far beyond other magic; it's not that I'm bad."

Xia Mingyu opened the magic diagram and looked again at the extremely complicated patterns on it; he no longer felt the heavy pressure he had felt before.

Sure enough, happiness comes from comparison; no one wants to admit they are inferior to others.

"Hoo."

Out-of-body experience (flow state) activated!

After taking a deep breath, he pressed his finger onto the patterns of the magic diagram, feeling the flow of mana while trying his best to memorize every detail of the magic diagram.

Just like that, time slipped away bit by bit as he buried his head in the book.

Dusk.

Yellowish twilight seeped in diagonally from the stained-glass window, dyeing the dust-covered bookshelves amber. Countless tiny specks of dust floated in the light beams, dancing slowly.

Xia Mingyu spread his limbs, lying on the ground in a starfish shape like a salted fish.

"It's really so hard to learn..." he muttered powerlessly to himself.

He had the feeling he had when he was in his third year of high school, practicing math problems all day long—the feeling of having seen them countless times, yet they just didn't recognize you.

The magic diagram of "Extreme Cold Purgatory" was composed of hundreds of lines. After he memorized a part of the lines, he would forget another part, and then when he tried to draw it, it would be a complete mess.

After repeating it countless times, Xia Mingyu felt his brain was almost burnt out.

After all, the flow state could only increase concentration, but it couldn't increase IQ, just like how a person still couldn't do math problems in a state of extreme anger.

Why... did he still have to use his brain so much after transmigrating!

Knock, knock.

Just as he was immersed in lying like a corpse, the library door was gently knocked.

"Come in," Xia Mingyu said with his eyes closed.

He didn't need to look to guess who it was.

The blonde girl in a white dress carefully pushed open the oak door and walked into the library carrying a silver tray.

On the silver tray was a glass filled with red liquid, emitting a faint, alluring fruity fragrance.

Anliya knelt beside the corpse-like Xia Mingyu. She placed the silver tray on the ground, then skillfully moved the youth's head onto her folded legs and massaged his temples with her cool fingers.

Feeling the softness of the back of his head and the gentle massage technique on his temples, Xia Mingyu had the urge to cry out in comfort.

He quietly opened his eyes and saw the girl looking at him gently.

The twilight shone through the window onto Anliya in her white dress, creating a pearlescent halo on the edge of her skirt, making her entire person shrouded in a mist-like soft light.

Her long golden hair flowed to her waist, sliding off her shoulders with her slight head-turning movement, pouring down like melted honey.

"She looks like an angel..." Xia Mingyu whispered.

His voice was very soft, but it was still heard by the girl, whose hearing and vision had been far superior to ordinary people since she was a child.

"God says angels need to save the world, but I only want to save you, Your Highness," Anliya said softly.

"No, it can't be considered saving either. As long as the Prince can be one second happier because of me, then even if I fall into hell..."

The angel girl hadn't finished speaking when Xia Mingyu reached out and covered her mouth.

"Don't say such scary things."

"After all, if you really fall into hell, I will follow you there," Xia Mingyu said calmly.

He straightened up slightly and pulled Anliya's long hair down.

The girl leaned down and obediently kissed the black-haired youth; she was as well-behaved as a cat, but a cat only lets people it likes touch it.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle~

After a long time, Xia Mingyu released the blushing Anliya and took the handkerchief she handed him to wipe the saliva that had accidentally flowed from the corner of his mouth.

The girl's handkerchief seemed to have a faint, lingering fragrance because she carried it with her, so after wiping, Xia Mingyu couldn't help but sniff it a few more times before returning it to her.

"Your Highness, I know you've been working hard reading, so I prepared a cup of red fruit juice for you. Would you like to try it?" Anliya said softly. Her voice trembled slightly, as if she hadn't yet recovered from the intense kissing battle just now.

"Feed me," Xia Mingyu said concisely, and opened his mouth.

The blonde girl picked up the glass, gently swirled the deep red liquid inside, and then carefully and slowly poured it into the black-haired youth's mouth.

The cool, moist liquid slid across the tip of his tongue, instantly exploding with fresh sour and sweet flavors.

The rich aroma of ripe red fruit spread in his mouth, carrying the warmth of being baked by the sun, like the juice splashing out when biting into a crisp apple just picked in an orchard.

After he unknowingly drank up the sweet juice, he felt a cool, refreshing sensation in his mind, and the exhaustion from studying the magic diagram all afternoon instantly disappeared.

Not only that, Xia Mingyu suddenly straightened up from Anliya's lap; he picked up the magic book on the ground and began to study the magic diagram on it again.

It was as if he had divine help; the extremely complicated patterns and the nodes that were difficult to understand and memorize suddenly became clear in his field of vision.

Even the various mana flows he had memorized but forgotten could be recalled again.

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

Xia Mingyu's head moved constantly as if he had turned on double speed, staring crazily at the magic diagram in front of him.

It wasn't until a full hour had passed that he reluctantly withdrew from this state of learning.

Afterwards, looking at the empty glass on the silver tray to the side, he suddenly realized something.

Could it be that the ability "Benevolent Mother's Stove" added the effect of temporarily increasing intelligence to the red fruit juice?

"Anliya, how many cups of this red fruit juice can you prepare in a day at most?" he asked.

"If it's made with heart, about three to five cups a day."

Anliya just wanted to say three cups, but the words changed to five cups when they reached her lips.

Let her suffer a little; as long as the Prince is happy, it's fine.

"Thank you, Anliya. I really need you," Xia Mingyu said solemnly.

"Mm."

The girl gave a soft "mm," then pressed her head against the black-haired youth's chest, feeling his warmth and heartbeat.

It's so good; she can help the Prince.

It's just that she didn't know how long this beauty could last.

After all, one day, a noble prince like him would definitely marry a beautiful princess who had an entire country as a dowry.

And she was just a humble maid. At that time, if that Princess could allow her to continue as the Prince's maid, it would already be a great fortune; it would be impossible to be as intimate as she was now.

Sigh, how important birth is. Two people who are clearly embracing tightly are actually like the polar day and polar night, sharing the same sky but forever unable to intersect.

Anliya lamented the cruelty of fate in her heart, but her pretty face still wore a bright smile that could warm people's hearts.

(End of chapter)