In the misty rain more than a hundred zhang away, a rain lotus as large as a bushel basket poked out from the sparkling green lake. At first, it was a round ball wrapped in azure leaves. The fountains around it sprayed droplets over it, each one crystal-clear as it slowly rolled down!
After Xiao Hua flew another dozen or so zhang, the azure ball suddenly trembled faintly, like the fluttering lashes of a beauty. As it trembled, the azure leaves slowly opened, bashful to the point of shame. They had only opened a tiny crack when countless droplets raced to fall, and the leaves actually closed again!
"Damn it, was I seeing things?" Xiao Hua was flying through the air and almost thought his eyes had deceived him. He nearly rubbed them, but at that moment, the green leaves spread open once more. A faint, barely visible radiance flashed within them like a halo, slowly spreading outward. It swept across the emerald water, across the fountains, and across the approaching Xiao Hua.
Just as Xiao Hua fixed his gaze on that radiance, a fist-sized pink flower bud emerged from within the rain lotus's green leaves at some unknown moment. Fine veins densely covered the tender bud. Every vein seemed to tremble slightly, and the sight nearly intoxicated Xiao Hua's heart!
With a soft pop, the flower bud split open along the middle, revealing a tiny crack. An utterly delicate fragrance drifted out from within! Though faint, the fragrance spread extremely quickly, and Xiao Hua could already vaguely smell it. The instant it entered his nose, he felt his heart calm and his mind clear. All his previous vexation and worries vanished without a trace!
The crack opened swiftly. Xiao Hua merely took a slightly intoxicated deep breath, and it