Chapter 78: A Small Incident About Gift-Giving

The audience below was in high spirits, and Nilou's dance also lifted her mood; she showed no trace of fatigue, her steps grew ever lighter, and the already colorful water-splash effects became even more dazzling, leaving the spectators unable to take their eyes off.

However, Luo De's attention had long since drifted away from Nilou.

Inspired by Nilou, he suddenly came up with many ways to use elemental energy that he had never tried before.

Speaking of which.

Before, Luo De had been focusing on developing the power of the Vision itself.

Simply put.

That is, he devoted himself to lowering the temperature of the Ice Vision's Ice Elemental Power and raising that of the Fire Vision's Fire Elemental Power, striving to develop more extreme temperature control.

He was pursuing a pure "strength-overwhelms-all" path.

When he killed the missionary, he relied on his deep foundation in elemental energy, pushing the low temperature of his Ice Elemental Power to its limit, unleashing a strong control effect that let him quickly slay the missionary's followers.

Yet, in his pursuit of higher limits, Luo De seemed to have gotten stuck in a rut, obsessively studying how to keep raising the operational limit of this elemental energy.

Moreover, in A Ru Cun he had no chance to encounter any worthy opponents.

Such ease made him neglect developing his elemental-energy techniques even more, to the point that he gradually forgot his daily essential ice-flower carving.

"Hey, watch out, there are a lot of people here."

Just as Luo De was pondering how to refine the ice-elementally forged Duskplume Bird in his hand, Dixiya jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.

"Ouch."

Feeling the pain, Luo De finally noticed that the looks people were giving him were off.

After all, this is Nilou's performance, and the Zubair Theatre is packed with spectators.

And Luo De's wanton manipulation of the Ice Elemental Power–crafted Duskplume Bird was emitting a chill that seriously affected the spectators' ability to watch the show.

It's like someone constantly flashing a camera during a movie—such behavior will inevitably draw the ire of other viewers.

"Sorry, sorry."

"This is a gift I was preparing to give Miss Nilou later; I'm sorry for disturbing everyone."

Faced with so many unfriendly glances, Luo De quickly thought up an excuse.

As soon as he said that,

The audience, who had been displeased, instantly lost their anger, and some even came over to ask if he had any more elemental constructs like that Duskplume Bird, wanting to buy one as a gift for Miss Nilou.

Faced with these fervent Nilou fans,

Luo De repeatedly insisted he only had this one, his lips nearly raw from talking, before they finally gave up and returned to their seats to continue watching the show.

After those people dispersed, the usually silent Dixiya finally spoke with a strange expression: "Is this the gift you prepared for Nilou?"

"Ah... uh, no."

Seeing Dixiya also believe his fib, Luo De hurriedly explained what he had just been doing.

But before he could get out two sentences—before he even mentioned that watching Nilou's performance had inspired him to think of a new use for elemental energy—

Dixiya burst out laughing: "What are you thinking? Do you think I'm jealous of you giving Nilou a gift? Is my image in your heart that of a petty person? Only allowing you to give me gifts, not letting you give gifts to others?"

Luo De's mouth opened slightly, he scratched his head and said: "Then just now you—"

"Hey."

"I mean, if you want to give Nilou a gift, go get something proper and practical."

"Just your ice-block-made gift."

"It looks nice, and it's fun to look at."

"But leave it in the sun a while and it melts—can that even be called a gift?"

Dixiya scanned the crowd, locked onto a few spectators also holding gifts, pointed at them and said: "Look at what others prepared—even the most ordinary flowers can be kept a long time; who gives a gift like yours that disappears the moment you hold it?"

"I don't—"

"Hey, look over there, yes, that stall selling ribbons and such—that's the kind of gift a dancer like Nilou would love most."

"That—I'm not—"

"Hurry up—if you want to buy a gift, you'd better be quick; the Grand Bazaar here doesn't allow collecting gifts on stage, only after the performance ends. In a moment everyone will be going to present gifts, and if you're slow you'll miss the front of the line."

"Big sis, you could at least hear me out."

"Never mind what, come with me!"

Under Dixiya's "enthusiastic help," Luo De couldn't get a word in edgewise and was literally shoved and dragged by her to the ribbon stall.

"No, wait a minute!!!"

Seeing Dixiya still trying to pick a color Nilou would like, Luo De could take no more, grabbed her and hauled her off to a deserted corner without a word.

"You could at least hear me out."

After finally quieting down, Luo De explained with a headache: "I was just humoring those people earlier—humoring, you get it? I never even thought about giving Nilou a gift."

"Huh?"

"You didn't intend to give a gift?"

Dixiya raised her brows, narrowed her eyes, and said: "Then what is this bird you made?"

At last he found a chance to explain.

Luo De hurriedly told Dixiya all his thoughts.

"The usage methods of elemental energy?"

Dixiya blinked, then looked at the exquisitely crafted ice bird in Luo De's hand and instantly understood his meaning.

"Hmm."

"Before, I was just focused on researching how to boost elemental energy's power, basically neglecting research into its techniques."

Luo De pondered a moment, then grabbed two completely different ice shards with both hands: "To put it in perspective, when we first met I was using such fragile ice shards, whereas now I'm using this sturdy kind—it looks like I've indeed grown stronger in manipulating elemental energy, but I'm still just crudely wielding ice shards as an attack method, so after seeing Nilou's performance I started wondering whether there's something wrong with my technique in using elemental energy."

Oh—

I understand.

Dragging out a long trailing sound, Dixiya nodded.

Luo De's example was very apt, succinctly making clear what it meant.

Speaking of which.

This is also her fault.

If she hadn't said she wanted to study the nature of ice back then, Luo De wouldn't have gotten into this dead end.

After briefly regretting her earlier misguidance.

Dixiya shifted the conversation and asked again: "Then you really don't need to give Nilou a gift?"

No.

Big sis, why are you still hung up on the question?

I already said, I'm not going to give her a gift, I'm not going to give her a gift!

Luo De got a bit worked up from being told, his tone of speech different from usual.

Hmm, okay, I got it.

Then you go ahead and research slowly; I'm going to watch Nilou's performance.

Some people really have no sense of aesthetics, tsk tsk~~~

Having said that, Dixiya flicked her hand and just left Luo De there.

Moreover, looking at her as she left, she seemed in a good mood, her steps much lighter than before.

(End of chapter)