Two Months, Sprouting, Brain-Eating Flower

Thankfully, no one was watching; Ronan was now acting as if he was about to commit seppuku at any moment.

"Won't this deliberate effort be ineffective?"

Ronan thought for a moment and then put the longsword down.

He carefully recalled his experience of being injured in the battle with the Azure Thorn Hurricane Bee King.

"Besides the external wound that pierced through the waist and abdomen, the venom carried on the stinger of the Azure Thorn Hurricane Bee King is also a significant source of injury."

The venom of a second-tier magical beast is enough to easily destroy the body of a First Level Wizard.

Even Ronan, with his [Immaculate Body] and immense power, had to expend nearly half of his life force to suppress the toxin.

"It would be better to start with the poison; self-harm with a sword is just too stupid."

Ronan took out a dark green spike, several meters long and nearly a meter thick, from his Storage Pocket.

When cleaning up the corpse of the Azure Thorn Hurricane Bee King, he made a point of keeping her stinger, and now it was time to put it to good use.

This enormous tail spike is shaped like the upper half of a court knight's lance. Despite its size, it feels light as a feather in your hand and contains extremely rich wind-elemental energy particles.

"Call--"

Ronan lifted the tail spike with both hands, and the sharp, needle-like tip slowly moved across his body, searching for a suitable landing point.

Just to be on the safe side, Ronan also prepared many bottles of Tier 1 Antidote Potion and Tier 1 healing potions, which he kept within easy reach.

After a brief hesitation, Ronan aimed at his right abdomen and pressed down hard with both hands, slowly pressing down the tail spike in his hands.

The delicate, smooth skin gradually dented, and although it hadn't broken the skin yet, a sharp, stinging pain was already emanating from the point of impact.

"Puff--"

With a soft piercing sound, the stinger of the Azure Thorn Hurricane Bee King was completely embedded in Ronan's flesh.

In an instant, the stinging sensation was amplified dozens of times, and it felt as if a dark green spider web was rapidly spreading outwards from the wound.

"Ho—"

Ronan took a deep breath, and beads of sweat began to appear on his fair and handsome face, with veins throbbing on his forehead.

His hands never stopped moving, pressing the tail spike deeper and deeper.

The white orb of light representing boundless vitality within the body was being rapidly depleted, releasing a large number of life-giving light spots that surged toward the wound.

Ronan's eyes were fixed on his Character Panel, on the number displayed after achieving Master Level proficiency in [Ascetic Body Forging].

This process lasted for an unknown amount of time. It wasn't until the queen bee's stinger had penetrated almost half a foot into her flesh that Ronan finally saw the data on the panel he had been longing for start to change.

[Ascetic Body Forging (Master 5/1600)] - [Ascetic Body Forging (Master 7/1600)]! It increased by two points in one go.

"Call--"

Ronan immediately let go, and the queen bee's stinger fell to the ground with a clatter. He then quickly picked up the Antidote Potion and healing potion beside him and swallowed them.

"Whoosh—"

He was covered in sweat, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.

The pain that comes instantly and the pain that comes slowly and gradually intensifies are two completely different concepts, especially since I was the one who performed the procedure myself.

Ronan looked at the puncture wound on his right abdomen that was slowly healing. He had clearly found the right way to increase his Master Level proficiency in [Ascetic Body Forging], but he didn't have the courage to pick up the queen bee's stinger a second time.

"Does this mean I'll have to keep poking myself like this from now on?"

Is there a way to reduce the pain?

How about taking poison directly?

Ronan had just reunited with "Pain" a few days ago, calling him a long-lost friend, but now he just wants this "old friend" to get lost as soon as possible.

He wasn't a masochist; he only endured pain because he was forced into it by the death threat that he would die if he failed to get promoted.

"Um?!"

Ronan was considering the feasibility of skipping the pricking process and taking the poison directly when he suddenly noticed something strange.

Why didn't the antidote work?

Ronan had just taken two bottles of Antidote Potion and one bottle of healing potion.

The main purpose of the healing potions is to replenish the white Vitality Orb consumed in the body. After all, the principle of most healing potions is to promote the healing of injuries by replenishing life force.

The treatment worked perfectly, but after drinking the two bottles of Antidote Potion, Ronan found that they had no effect whatsoever.

The speed at which his wound from the queen bee's sting healed and the speed at which the pain subsided were both related to the depletion of the life force of the white light sphere within his body.

"Could it be that this isn't poison at all?"

Ronan picked up the queen bee's stinger from the ground again, infused it with his mental energy, and examined it carefully.

After a moment, he clicked his tongue and slowly lowered the queen bee's stinger with an expression that said, "That's really true." His eyes darted around.

"It's not a toxin, but an extremely high concentration of wind-based energy particles."

"After being injected into the body by the tail spike, these energy particles that suddenly piled up seemed like a kind of poison..."

After Ronan discovered this, he suddenly realized that his previous judgment was not accurate enough.

What truly increases the Master Level proficiency of [Ascetic Body Forging] is not simply "getting injured," but rather being attacked by energy particles.

"In other words."

Ronan's eyes lit up. "Just magic will do?"

Proving this is incredibly simple.

Ronan snapped his fingers, and a large number of ice particles gathered in the air in front of him, quickly forming a spinning ice ball out of thin air.

Zero-tier low-level spell - [Ice Ball]

Of course, the [Ice Ball that Ronan summoned at the moment was very ordinary in power, only at the level of a low-level zero-tier spell.

"Bang!"

A whole ice puck hit him directly, and the instant burst of icy air made him feel a stinging pain in his skin, and he couldn't help but shiver slightly.

"Call--"

He stood up, stretched his body slightly, and shook off the ice shards covering his body.

Upon examination, apart from feeling a little cold, there were no injuries.

This was the first time he had tested the defensive capabilities of his [[Immaculate Body]], and he was surprised to find that it was quite good; he could actually withstand a low-level zero-tier spell without being affected at all.

However, the proficiency of [Ascetic Body Forging] on the panel did not increase.

As Ronan had anticipated, he immediately summoned a second hockey puck.

After throwing five Ice Ball at himself in a row, the proficiency level on his Character Panel finally increased from 7 points to 8 points.

Ronan, whose entire body was covered in a thin layer of frost, clenched his fist tightly as he looked at the panel.

Feasible!

His idea is correct!

Since wind and ice spells can increase the Master Level proficiency of [Ascetic Body Forging], then spells of other elements can definitely do the same.

He finally understood how to proceed with cultivation after reaching the Master Level of [Ascetic Body Forging].

"It's nothing more than physically enduring lightning, washing your face with frost, and taking a bath in lava. That's all."

"Master Level [Ascetic Body Forging], does this mean they're starting to focus on improving the body's elemental resistance?"

Ronan's eyes shone brightly, a long-lost passion igniting within him.

"You can improve your spell proficiency while training your body, it's like killing two birds with one stone."

"Let's get this done!"

Micro Secret Realm Space.

Beside a transparent ice coffin enveloped in a dense Rune Array, Bennigo sat in a chair, holding a silver cup, as if resting.

Compared to a few months ago, the ulcers on Bennigo's left cheek, which resembled metallic rust, have improved considerably, gradually revealing his original heroic facial features.

However, his temples were much grayer, and he looked more unkempt and tired. Only his pale golden eyes maintained a calm Awakening gleam, as if he were always thinking.

"Pop—"

A strange, unusual sound rang out, sounding remarkably clear in the silent, deserted Secret Realm Space.

Bennigo was resting, snapped out of his reverie, thinking he had misheard. But as his gaze habitually turned in a certain direction, his eyes momentarily went blank, followed by an overwhelming surge of excitement and joy that welled up from his eyes.

Bennigo quickly stood up from his chair and appeared in front of a lab table filled with various instruments, reeking of blood.

His gaze was completely drawn to a seed on the table, soaking in an unknown dark red liquid.

The seed has sprouted, with tiny pinkish-white spots growing on the black embryo. Within the pinkish-white spots, patterns resembling human blood vessels seem to be extending little by little.

Bennigo stared at the seed for a long time, his eyes glazed over, as if he were about to be captivated by it.

After a moment, he regained his composure, quickly took out a Communication Stone from his pocket, and whispered, "The seed has sprouted. Also, I have something to tell you, and you'd better come over as soon as possible."

After saying that, Bennigo put away the Communication Stone and focused all his attention back on the seed in front of him.

He somehow produced paper and pen in his hand, and while observing, thinking, he quickly jotted down something.

After an unknown amount of time, a slight energy fluctuation came from the entrance of the Secret Realm Space.

"You've arrived. After the Saint Blood Tree seed sprouts, it will need... hmm?"

Bennigo, who was observing, subconsciously called out in the direction of the entrance to the secret realm, but froze when he saw who it was.

The change in the person's appearance and demeanor made him so unfamiliar that Bennigo almost thought he had mistaken his partner for someone else.

——

A tall and handsome young man strode toward him.

With white hair and blue eyes, he wore an armband shrouded in Black Mist on his right arm. Silver and blue runes grew upwards from his chest and neck, highlighting his refined and noble temperament.

The boy seemed to have just emerged from a period of training, his body still damp with lingering sweat.

His entire being resembled a massive and terrifying furnace of molten iron, with horrifying, invisible waves of heat emanating from his body, scorching and burning everything around him, giving off an incomparably domineering and powerful sense of oppression.

This imposing aura gradually diminished as the boy approached Bennigo step by step, eventually disappearing completely like a long sword returning to its sheath.

The young man returned to his original exquisite and handsome appearance, with skin as white and smooth as fine silk, and an ice-blue gemstone necklace faintly visible around his neck, as if he had just stepped out of a noble family.

"Is this what the Saint Blood Tree seed looks like after it sprouts?"

The boy strode to the lab bench, squinted to examine the sprouting seeds on it, then turned to Bennigo and asked, "What did you just say you'd need later?"

Bennigo snapped out of his brief daze and gave the boy a deep look.

He didn't understand why, even though the spiritual energy emanating from the other party hadn't improved much, the sense of threat he felt was several times stronger than it had been two months ago.

It's as if a legendary dragon is sealed inside your body, occasionally revealing its scales and claws, bringing a chilling fear to your soul.

This is someone else's secret. Everyone has secrets, and he is no exception.

"It needs your blood to water it regularly."

Bennigo began, "If you want the seed to continue growing, you must water it with fresh, vibrant blood."

"Your blood is the most vibrant and energetic I've ever seen."

Ronan frowned slightly, and then heard Bennigo speak again, "Not much is needed, it won't have much of an impact on your body."

Moreover, watering it with your blood has another benefit: once the Saint Blood Tree has fully grown, it will be especially close to you.

That's a close bond of blood, even surpassing some master-servant contracts that bind souls.

"So, after it drank my blood, it will recognize me as its master?"

Ronan understood.

"Pretty much, you were meant to be its owner anyway."

Bennigo answered calmly.

Ronan nodded without saying a word. A small part of the black arm ring formed from the Nightmare Tungsten Steel on his right arm flowed into Ronan's hand and turned into a small knife, which then quickly turned into a silver color.

Ronan picked up a knife and gently cut his index finger.

After two months of Ascetic Body Forging in physical discipline, this was not an easy task.

Only Ronan himself knew exactly how much force he had used to cut open the flesh of his fingertip, forcing out drops of blood that dripped into the petri dish containing the seeds of the Saint Blood Tree.

After dripping about ten drops of blood, Bennigo called a halt to Ronan.

"It's much less than I originally expected..."

Bennigo gave Ronan a strange look.

Ronan pretended not to hear, casually sucked his cut finger into his mouth, and asked Bennigo, "What else did you say in the Communication Stone?"

"It's about you."

Bennigo carefully manipulated the Saint Blood Tree seeds in the petri dish, saying, "The Arcane Circle recently discovered another Brain-Eating Flower, located in a certain secret realm, issued as a quest..."

"You stay in the secret realm every day and never go out, how come you are so well-informed about all kinds of information within the Arcane Circle?"

Ronan was surprised.

Bennigo simply shook his head and said, "It's just a little bit of privilege that I had when I was a member of the Third Ring and it hasn't been completely taken back yet."

That's not the point.

The key point is that I happen to know an ancient potion recipe that requires Brain-Eating Flower as the main ingredient.

Besides greatly enhancing mental strength, this ancient potion also...

Bennigo paused here, looked at Ronan, thought for a moment, and said, "Perhaps it can also increase your chances of comprehending One Segment Magic Domain Resonance ahead of time."

"Buzz—"

Ronan's pupils trembled slightly.

He quickly calmed down.

"Tell me more about this mission."