At this moment, though Ignaz felt discomfort, his Indestructible Vajra Body kept the lightning's damage within controllable limits. Just then, he sensed a killing intent different from the lightning's power.
Opening his eyes, Ignaz saw Dugu Bo in the distance glaring at him viciously, while Dugu Yan lay unconscious on the ground.
"Little sister isn't hurt, is she? But that shouldn't be possible—Dugu Bo is right beside her!"
Looking down, Ignaz finally realized that his upper body clothing had been completely burned away by the lightning, leaving him somewhat embarrassed. However, there was no time to change into intact clothes now. Ignaz removed another Lightning-Dispersing Rod section, and the intensified lightning power completely incinerated all his clothing, turning his skin charred black.
"Ah—"
Ignaz gritted his teeth, forcibly enduring the torment from the powerful lightning, and turned his head with difficulty to look at the Blood Thunder War Spear in his right hand.
The blood dragon on the Blood Thunder War Spear was now circling restlessly. With each bit of lightning it absorbed, the blood dragon's body would shake violently, its hind claws constantly clawing at the spear handle.
As a result, the entire Blood Thunder War Spear was gradually increasing in hardness through the lightning power's tempering. Not only was the blood dragon sealed inside the spear, but also the surrounding blood mist and blood rust were being strengthened.
Suddenly—
"CRACK—"
A loud metallic shattering sound rang out. The frontmost Lightning-Dispersing Rod, which bore the strongest lightning power, shattered completely. Countless fragments crackled with blue arcs, scattering in all directions, and Ignaz was thrown back by the impact.
Seeing this, Dugu Bo flashed forward, looking at Ignaz with concern:
"Iggy, you were too hasty. That Lightning-Dispersing Rod couldn't withstand the lightning power and broke. This is actually good—if it hadn't broken, you might have had your meridians burned by the lightning."
"Senior, it's not that the Lightning-Dispersing Rod couldn't withstand the lightning power, but that its lightning-dispersing function reached its limit, causing it to shatter."
Ignaz picked up the Blood Thunder War Spear that had fallen beside him and continued:
"This lightning body tempering method is feasible for both me and my martial spirit. Only this way can I become stronger."
"For me, seven Lightning-Dispersing Rod sections are optimal. More than seven would risk martial spirit destruction and crippling me!"
Under Dugu Bo's watchful gaze, he began adjusting his condition again, recovering his spirit power, reassembling the Lightning-Dispersing Rod, and resuming his lightning body tempering training.
As time passed minute by minute, the Lightning-Dispersing Rod gradually wore down, while Ignaz's pain steadily decreased. Five hours later, as night fell, Ignaz finally stopped his day of lightning body tempering. His body still contained countless blue arcs that hadn't dissipated in time.
If Dugu Yan got even slightly close, she would be directly shocked numb by these arcs.
"Brother Ignaz, with so many undissipated arcs in your body, don't you find it annoying?"
"No, I think it feels great."
Hearing this, a flash of displeasure crossed Dugu Yan's eyes. Who asked you to answer like that? You didn't even understand my real meaning.
Meanwhile, after Dugu Bo treated some of Ignaz's internal injuries, he asked with concern:
"Iggy, I understand that assault-type Spirit Masters must have sufficiently strong physiques, but you're being too obsessive about physical enhancement. Your true purpose probably isn't as simple as ultimate offense, is it?"
Facing these two people who cared for him and tried their best to help, Ignaz thought for a moment before realizing there was no need to hide certain things:
"As expected, I can't hide it from you, Senior. My main purpose for body cultivation isn't just for ultimate offense, but for four words: 'cross-level absorption.'"
Hearing Ignaz mention cross-level absorption, Dugu Bo's previously dismissed doubts resurfaced. If two immortal herbs could allow a Spirit Master to achieve a ten-thousand-year fourth ring, wouldn't consuming ten immortal herbs enable a Spirit Master to directly absorb a hundred-thousand-year spirit rings for their fourth and fifth rings?
"No wonder you're so obsessed with immortal herbs. But absorbing a fourth spirit ring equivalent to an ordinary Spirit Emperor's sixth ring—I'm afraid the effects of immortal herbs can't reach that level!"
Seeing Dugu Bo frown with renewed doubt, Ignaz continued explaining:
"I've lived by the sea since childhood, making a living through metalworking, tempering my body with medicinal baths, and frequently consuming spirit beast meat. After obtaining my first spirit ring, I trained my body with water pressure, which led to who I am today."
As for the whale rubber matter, Ignaz felt it wasn't time to reveal it yet. Though he had previously gambled with the Sea Spirit brothers for free whale rubber, people would only think it was a child's greedy trick, not connecting it to enhancing spirit ring absorption limits.
"I see. Starting body cultivation from childhood, especially water pressure training—that's no simpler than fighting spirit beasts or running. At this rate, when you reach level 50, your absorbed spirit ring will be at least 40,000 years! By your seventh or eighth spirit ring, you could absorb a hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts."
Speaking of this, Dugu Bo couldn't help but feel somewhat terrified. Throughout history, had there ever been a terrifying existence on the continent that could add a hundred-thousand-year seventh ring as a level 70 Spirit Sage?
If this kid broke through to level 90 with just three hundred-thousand-year spirit rings, even his current self would have to show him respect.
"Brother Ignaz, can I also channel lightning into my body with you to strengthen my physique so I can cross-level absorb spirit rings in the future?"
Dugu Yan looked at Ignaz sitting beside her, his heart set on the path of strength. She, too, had to work hard to become stronger and not fall too far behind him.
Ignaz had anticipated this outcome. Dugu Yan's request was exactly what he most hoped to hear. Looking at Dugu Yan, he smiled:
"Little sister, your martial spirit is primarily earth-attributed with poison as secondary. This gives you an advantage—your strength will eventually allow you to resist or even become immune to lightning. So lightning body tempering isn't impossible for you."
"Great! But why didn't you say so earlier? If you had, I could have helped share some of the lightning power during your tempering!"
Ignaz covered his face and laughed. His little sister truly cared for him, but she didn't understand basic lightning principles—lightning channeling could only be weakened, not shared.
Seeing his granddaughter's high enthusiasm, Dugu Bo didn't want to say anything discouraging:
"Yanyan, stay safe. Grandpa will be watching you both at all times."
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~ Push the story forward with your Power Stones