The so-called material determines consciousness, and consciousness acts back on material. Changes in the body often lead to changes in thoughts and habits.
If this were before, Vanessa would definitely have gone for a double-barrel shotgun approach, ruthlessly attacking the Virtue system without hesitation. But now, not only could she not speak out loud, even cursing in her mind felt deeply repulsive.
Why? Why has it turned out like this?
Vanessa suddenly remembered what Aeciphysis had told her in the church earlier.
"Not only do you need someone to teach you, but you also need to experience it yourself."
"Soon, you’ll understand what it feels like to be 'compelled' to act like a lady~"
Is this what she meant?!
So, the experience just now... really wasn’t a dream?
"Wait." Vanessa rubbed her forehead, recalling a blind spot.
The Fanghui Church only had a Saintess, not a Saint. It was since her grandfather’s generation that there happened to be a male heir, and that male heir had unfortunately fallen to the Dead Bloodline.
Feeling the emptiness beneath her skirt, Vanessa couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sadness and regret.
So this is what awakening the family bloodline means?
But wait... What about my brothers who were with me through thick and thin?!
Does that mean, if I weren’t from the Dead Bloodline, I should look like this?
But...
Vanessa gazed at the unfamiliar, incredibly beautiful girl in the mirror with a complex expression, still finding it hard to accept.
This is too ridiculous. No one would believe this if I told them.
So, what should I do from now on? If this is the case, doesn’t it mean that the old 'Winnie' has completely disappeared? How should I explain my identity now?
In other words, from now on, not only will I not be able to attend Kareliman Academy, I’m basically an identity-less outcast now? And what about the Soul Art I just learned? Doesn’t that all go to waste??
Without my tools, how can I still find a cute underclassman to double-date with?!
In a panic, Vanessa hurriedly opened her panel.
This can’t be happening! Please, let me change back!
When she opened the Virtue panel, she suddenly froze.
The many, intricate branches in front of her were overwhelming.
"What is this?" Vanessa quickly recalled the last part of the bloodline awakening option, "and unlock the Virtue Tree."
It looked just like a skill tree in a game. The tree was vast and sprawling, with no visible end.
Vanessa delicately pulled the panel down to the very bottom and saw several spells she could theoretically unlock.
[Intermediate Healing Spell]: Branch [Saint Messenger], unlock requirement: 50 Virtue points.
[Holy King’s Baptism]: A sacred spell exclusive to the Blessed, unlock requirement: 50 Virtue points.
What? Fifty points??
And [Saint Messenger]??
Wait!
Vanessa remembered something and quickly opened her personal panel.
At this moment, her personal panel had changed drastically.
Name: Vanessa Aeciphysis
Race: Blessed Angel
Soul Art: [Gauntlet] (100% compatibility)
Root Soul Art: [Saint Messenger] (100% compatibility)
Divine Blessings: [Flawless Holy Wings], [Universal Holy Flame]
Realm: Novice Apprentice
So it’s true!
Vanessa paused, feeling a mix of emotions, unsure whether to feel happy or sad.
Her Root Soul Art and Divine Blessings had awakened—does this count as gaining power by sacrificing a brother?
Moreover, what shocked her was that her realm had improved.
She had jumped from a beginner level to a Novice Apprentice, which she believed was related to the recent duel and the successful awakening of her bloodline.
Also, she had thought that after the bloodline awakened, the [Gauntlet] Soul Art would have been wiped out, but to her surprise, it was still there.
Does this mean after awakening her bloodline, she can use both [Gauntlet] and [Saint Messenger] Soul Arts at the same time?
In a moment of thought, Vanessa summoned [Gauntlet].
She had imagined what summoning [Gauntlet] would look like but didn’t know if her long hair would get stuck in the armor.
However, the reality was far from her imagination.
Vanessa was stunned as she looked at the luxurious white battle dress that had appeared instead of the cold, full-body armor.
It wasn’t a full-body, closed-armored suit, but a lavish white combat dress, decorated with intricate details. Her pink hair fell like satin, parted into two small bundles, styled into long twin tails tied with white feather-like accessories.
The white battle dress was decorated with soft armor that highlighted her figure, and two tassels adorned with gemstones hung from the edges of the gold-embroidered lotus-leaf skirt. The back of the skirt was a white feather cloak, making her feel that wearing this outfit was even more complicated than wearing full armor.
The dress, like a ceremonial gown, perfectly outlined her curves, with her shoulders exposed and her arms wrapped in white silk gloves that extended to her arms, with a golden ring on her middle finger.
Her legs were covered with white over-the-knee boots, with golden heels and toes, decorated with silver wings, and she wore white stockings underneath.
This outfit was so fitting for the identity of Aeciphysis, showcasing both the roles of an "Angel" and a "Saintess" exquisitely. It was beautiful.
However, beauty aside, it was no longer practical for physical defense. The [Gauntlet] had been transformed in such a way that the physical protection was almost entirely gone, making one question whether this was meant for battle at all.
What’s the point of this? Is it just for beauty?
Vanessa reopened her personal panel, hesitating for a moment before clicking on the [Gauntlet] tab.
Her eyes widened as she was surprised to find that [Gauntlet]’s effects had changed.
Instead of providing heavy physical protection and reducing agility, it now offered magical resistance and enhanced agility.
The effect had completely reversed.
And...
Vanessa confirmed she wasn’t seeing things—it was indeed magical resistance!
Considering the complexity of elemental types, there weren’t any defensive gear or enchanted items on Kareliman continent that could offer overall magical resistance!
Staring at the change in [Gauntlet], Vanessa finally understood why its compatibility was 100%.
[Gauntlet] could even change its appearance and effects based on her body and bloodline transformations!
As for why [Gauntlet] now provided magical resistance, Vanessa thought of a setting and clicked on the race tab.
Blessed Angels were the only race on Kareliman continent with magical resistance. They could immunize a certain percentage of magical attacks and absorb half of the magic damage to convert into their own magic power.
According to the game setting, this immunity value should be 30%.
Maybe that's why [Gauntlet]’s effect adapted to provide magical resistance.
And importantly, Blessed Angels could "convert half of the magic immunity into magic power," not "convert half of the innate magic immunity into magic power."
This meant the magical resistance provided by [Gauntlet] was also counted as "magic immunity" and could be converted!
However, the magical resistance provided wasn’t converted 1:1 like the armor, but at a much lower ratio. Still, it was impressive.
Vanessa was shocked as she calculated. With the Blessed Angel’s magic immunity plus [Gauntlet]’s magical resistance, though the closed fish-scale armor turned into a skirt, she could now withstand magic attacks without suffering much damage!
At the bottom of the status bar, she also found the way to change back and the explanation.
‘After transforming into [Blessed Angel] form, you must wait 24 hours before you can change back to human form. Otherwise, you will remain in [Blessed Angel] form...’
Relieved that she could change back, Vanessa sighed, but the next part of the explanation made her CPU freeze.
‘Reminder: If you lose your virgin form while in female form, you will never be able to return to human form.’
"...Huh?"