Ignaz walked step by step toward the Giant King Squid, gripping the Blood Thunder War Spear tightly in his hand. A black spirit ring rose from beneath his feet.
"Fifth Spirit Skill: War Spear Mad Dragon Dance!"
His hands alternately swung the Blood Thunder War Spear as it spun and flew out. In an instant, a violent red tornado formed over the sea, containing a blood dragon phantom and large amounts of swirling blood rust sand.
The Giant King Squid, trying to escape, was sucked into the tornado. The blood water tornado cut like blades, rapidly slicing through the Giant King Squid's extremely tough skin, while the blood rust sand directly invaded its body.
Its body rapidly decomposed, ultimately dissolving completely into multiple streams of blood mist that filled the entire sea and sky.
At this moment, the Violent Bite Shark that had already given up pursuit and swum into the distance watched the Giant King Squid's tragic fate with shocked eyes. It became even more terrified of this human before it.
If it hadn't seen Ignaz wave his spear and fled far away, it would now be in exactly the same state as the Giant King Squid.
Ignaz looked at the blood mist appearing in the sea and sky as his spirit skill's effects dissipated, nodding happily.
"Not bad, this fifth spirit skill is decent enough."
Compared to his fourth spirit skill's single-target attack, his fifth spirit skill could simultaneously generate seven blood poison tornadoes—a very typical group attack spirit skill.
However, compared to his third large-area spirit skill, it was still somewhat lacking. But both his fifth and third spirit skills had one very good characteristic: he could control the spirit skills' release effects and power. The fewer blood poison tornadoes, the less spirit power consumed.
If he fully unleashed his fifth spirit skill's power, with his current level 53 spirit power strength, he could use it at most four times.
Ignaz mounted the Violent Bite Shark again and patted its belly.
"You're a decent shark—take me one more leg of the journey!"
One man and one shark headed south toward Vast Sea City.
...
Two and a half months later, at the seaside of Blue Fish Village—
Wearing a mask, Ignaz finally set foot on continental land. He stretched lazily, looking at the Violent Bite Shark constantly circling near the shore.
"So be it—we're fated to meet. I'll give you all these things. I hope we can meet again someday."
Ignaz took out all the Land Dragon Golden Melon rinds he had collected and threw them all into the sea for it to swallow. Watching the Violent Bite Shark's departing figure without looking back, he couldn't help but sigh.
"Sigh, you shark will have your day of transforming into a dragon. Just don't get devoured by other sea spirit beasts."
Ignaz returned to the village as the sun was setting. To hide his tracks as much as possible, he deliberately tied up his white hair and covered it with a black wide-brimmed hat.
At this time of day in the village, the villagers had all finished their farm work. Cooking smoke rose continuously, and the aroma of food and children's laughter filled the entire village.
Ignaz climbed over the wall through the back window of the village chief's house. Just as he reached the village chief's main hall, an aged voice rang out:
"Spirit Master, sir, who are you looking for here?"
An elderly man with a walking stick, gray hair, increasingly loose and wrinkled skin, slowly walked toward Ignaz. Originally, he wanted to call for help,
But based on the special aura emanating from him, he could determine that this person was a spirit master. A spirit master dressed like this might very well have evil purposes.
If he shouted, it might instead anger the spirit master before him.
Ignaz slowly removed his mask and hat.
"I didn't expect that in just two or three years, Village Chief, you've aged so much."
"Spirit Master, sir, do you know me? Our village seems to have never produced such a handsome spirit master as yourself."
Hearing this, the old village chief felt very uncomfortable. When had an ordinary commoner like him ever befriended such a spirit master?
Seeing the village chief acting so distant, Ignaz chuckled lightly and quickly explained:
"Village Chief, I'm Ignaz! Little Iggy, whom you watched grow up!"
"Little Iggy, is it really you?"
Upon hearing this, the old village chief's walking stick fell directly to the ground. He stared at the extremely unfamiliar-looking Ignaz, completely stunned.
"Little Iggy, how did you become like this?"
Ignaz stepped forward, helped him sit down, and roughly explained what had happened during his two years away.
"I see, Little Iggy, you've broken through to Spirit Ancestor?"
Ignaz nodded silently, and the old village chief's face lit up with joy. He was about to announce this news, but remembering Ignaz's disguise just now, his impulse to spread the word was suppressed.
"Little Iggy, if you're in trouble, just don't leave. With your current status and position, working as a blacksmith in the village might be beneath you, but it would be peaceful and stable."
"No, I came back first to see you, and second to bring some supplements for you and the villagers."
Several small yellow bottles suddenly appeared on the wooden table. Ignaz looked at the extremely surprised village chief and continued:
"Village Chief, these are some excellent medicinal supplements I've collected over the years. They can relax muscles and invigorate circulation, strengthen bones and sinews. I've already ground them into powder—just boil them in a large pot for consumption."
"Village Chief, you should boil one bottle every three days for the villagers to drink. Perhaps our village might even produce a few spirit masters in the future."
Upon hearing this explosive news, the old village chief gripped Ignaz tightly with his aged hands, looking at him with bright eyes:
"Little Iggy, these herbs are extremely precious. Are you really willing to give them to me?"
Ignaz continued nodding silently. These medicinal powders were prepared specifically for the villagers, made from grinding one Cinnabar Lotus plus some precious herbs.
Though they couldn't change ordinary people's martial soul quality, they could greatly extend lifespan and might even allow village children to awaken innate spirit power, thus changing their destinies.
"Little Iggy, you're such a kind child. Having you in our village is our great fortune. I thank you on behalf of the village children."
Just as the old village chief was about to kneel and kowtow to Ignaz, Ignaz immediately helped him up:
"You're an elder. Without your care and that of the villagers, I might have died long ago. A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring. We're all from the same village—we should help each other."
"Right, Little Iggy, I still have some food at home. Stay and have a meal!"
When the old village chief prepared to go to the kitchen to get some food, Ignaz declined:
"No, thank you, Village Chief. I should be going too."
When Ignaz left, he didn't forget to leave behind ten pounds of hundred-year spirit beast meat. As for why he didn't leave more things, he was also afraid the village chief couldn't protect them. Even with those medicinal powders, Ignaz repeatedly reminded the old village chief to use them carefully.
After all, you can't know a person's heart, and greed is both humanity's greatest virtue and greatest flaw.