Wizard Bloodline

Luckily, no one was watching, as Ronan's stance looked like he was about to commit seppuku.

"Wouldn't it be ineffective if I do it this deliberately?"

Ronan pondered for a moment and lowered the sword.

He carefully recalled his experience of being wounded in the battle with the Green Spike Gale Wasp King.

"Apart from the external injury of the abdomen puncture, the venom from the Wasp King's sting was a significant source of injury."

The venom of a second-level beast could easily destroy a first-level wizard's body.

Even Ronan, with his mighty Immaculate Body, used up almost half of his inner life force to suppress the toxin.

"Perhaps starting with the toxin would be better. Stabbing myself with a sword seems too foolish."

Ronan retrieved a meter-long, dark green stinger from his storage pouch.

He had kept the Wasp King's stinger when dealing with its corpse, and now it would come in handy.

The stinger, resembling the upper half of a knight's lance, was large but light as a feather, containing rich wind energy particles.

"Whoosh—"

Ronan lifted the stinger, the needle-sharp tip hovering over his body, searching for a suitable spot.

To be safe, Ronan prepared plenty of first-level antidotes and healing potions within arm's reach.

After a moment's hesitation, he aimed at his right abdomen and pressed the stinger down.

The skin, as delicate as silk, dimpled slightly. Though the skin hadn't broken, sharp pain radiated from the point of contact.

"Poof—"

With a soft puncturing sound, the Wasp King's stinger pierced Ronan's flesh.

Instantly, the pain multiplied tenfold, the wound feeling like a dark green web spreading rapidly.

"Gasp—"

Ronan drew a short breath, sweat beading on his fair, handsome face, veins throbbing on his forehead.

His hands never stopped, continuing to press the stinger deeper.

Inside him, the white orb representing life force quickly depleted, releasing life-giving light to the wound.

Ronan's eyes stayed fixed on his character panel, watching the numbers following [Ascetic Body]'s master-level proficiency.

He didn't know how long it lasted, but when the stinger had penetrated nearly half a foot, he finally saw the panel data shift.

**[Ascetic Body (Master 5/1600)] — [Ascetic Body (Master 7/1600)]!**

It increased by two points.

"Whoosh—"

Ronan immediately released the stinger, which clattered to the ground. He swiftly grabbed the antidote and healing potions, gulping them down.

"Panting—"

Sweat drenched him as if he'd been pulled from water.

The momentary pain contrasted sharply with the slow, pressing pain, especially since he wielded the knife himself.

Looking at his healing right abdominal wound, Ronan had found a way to increase [Ascetic Body]'s master-level proficiency, yet he hesitated to pick up the stinger again.

"Do I have to keep stabbing myself like this in the future?

Isn't there a less painful way?

How about ingesting poison directly?"

Ronan, who had recently reacquainted with "pain," now wanted this "old friend" to hurry away.

He wasn't masochistic; his past companionship with pain was driven by the threat of death from failing to advance.

"Huh?!"

Considering skipping the stabbing and directly ingesting poison, Ronan noticed something odd.

"Why didn't the antidote work?"

Ronan had just taken two antidotes and one healing potion.

The healing potion was to replenish the white life orb, as most healing potions work by supplementing life force to promote healing.

The healing potion worked fine, but the antidotes had no effect.

His stinger wound's healing speed and pain relief only related to the white orb's life force consumption.

"Is it not poison at all?"

Ronan reexamined the Wasp King's stinger, his mental power probing.

After a moment, he clicked his tongue, realizing, "It's not poison but highly concentrated wind energy particles."

"When injected into the body, these concentrated particles seem like a toxin..."

Realizing this, Ronan saw that the real catalyst for [Ascetic Body]'s proficiency growth wasn't mere "injury" but rather being attacked by energy particles.

"In other words."

Ronan's eyes brightened, "Any spell should work?"

Testing this was simple.

Ronan snapped his fingers, ice particles gathering in the air to form a spinning ice ball.

A zero-level low-grade spell—[Ice Ball].

Of course, Ronan's conjured [Ice Ball] was basic, just standard zero-level potency.

"Boom!"

The ice ball struck him, the frigid burst causing a needle-like sting on his skin, making him shiver.

"Whoosh—"

Standing up, he brushed off the ice shards.

Checking his body, he felt cold but uninjured.

This was his first test of [Immaculate Body]'s defense, surprisingly withstanding a zero-level spell unscathed.

However, [Ascetic Body]'s proficiency didn't increase.

As expected, Ronan summoned a second ice ball.

A third.

A fourth.

After pelting himself with five ice balls, his proficiency finally rose from 7 to 8.

Covered in frost, Ronan clenched his fist at the panel.

It worked!

His theory was correct!

If wind and ice spells could boost [Ascetic Body]'s proficiency, other elements could too.

He finally understood how to train [Ascetic Body] beyond mastery.

"Just endure lightning, wash with ice, bathe in lava."

"Master-level [Ascetic Body] emphasizes elemental resistance."

Ronan's eyes burned, a long-lost passion igniting.

"Training the body while increasing spell proficiency, a win-win."

"Let's get to it."

In the micro-secret realm.

Beside a transparent ice coffin covered in runes, Benigo sat, sipping from a silver cup, resting.

Compared to months ago, the metallic corrosion on his left cheek had improved, revealing his rugged features.

But his temples grayed, appearing more disheveled and exhausted, though his golden eyes remained sharp, ever-thinking.

"Pop—"

A peculiar sound echoed, stark in the silent void.

Benigo snapped from thought, doubting his ears, but glancing habitually—

His eyes momentarily glazed over, then excitement and joy surged from his gaze.

Benigo sprang from his seat, appearing at a blood-scented lab table.

His attention fixated on a seed soaking in dark red liquid.

The seed had sprouted, black with a pale pink shoot, tracing vein-like patterns.

Benigo stared, entranced.

After a moment, he calmed, pulling out a communication stone, whispering, "The seed's sprouted. Also, there's something you should know. Best if you come soon."

Stowing the stone, he resumed focusing on the seed, pen and paper in hand, recording observations.

Time passed, and a faint energy wave came from the realm's entrance.

"You're here. With the Sacred Blood Tree sprouted, it needs—huh?"

Benigo greeted reflexively, but froze at the sight.

The newcomer's transformation, both in looks and aura, was so stark Benigo almost didn't recognize his partner.

—

A tall youth approached.

White hair, blue eyes, a black mist wristband on his right arm, silver and blue runes tracing his chest and neck, exuding elegance.

The youth seemed fresh from training, sweat glistening.

He radiated like a molten furnace, an oppressive heat wave emanating, scorching his surroundings.

As he neared Benigo, the aura retracted, vanishing like a sheathed sword.

The youth's refined visage returned, skin smooth as silk, an icy blue necklace peeking from his collar, regal as a noble.

"So this is the Sacred Blood Tree's sprout?"

The youth examined the seed, then faced Benigo, "You mentioned needing something?"

Benigo, recovering from his daze, studied the youth.

Unbeknownst to him, though the youth's mental power hadn't visibly grown, his presence was far more menacing than two months ago.

As if a dragon lay within, its occasional scales and claws sending a chill through the soul.

Everyone has secrets, and so did he.

"It needs your blood periodically."

Benigo explained, "For the seed to grow, it must be watered with life-rich blood. So far, your blood's the most vital I've seen."

Ronan frowned slightly, then heard Benigo continue, "Not much is needed; it won't affect you. Plus, using your blood makes it more attached when fully grown."

"A bond stronger than master-servant contracts."

"You mean it'll recognize me as its master?"

Ronan understood.

"Basically, you should be its owner."

Benigo replied.

Ronan nodded, no more words, as the black wristband formed a knife, turning silver.

He cut his finger carefully.

After two months of [Ascetic Body] training, it wasn't easy.

Only Ronan knew how much force it took to cut his skin, drawing blood into the seed's dish.

After about ten drops, Benigo stopped him.

"Less than I expected..."

Benigo eyed Ronan curiously.

Ronan ignored it, sucking his finger, asking, "What else did you mention on the stone?"

"It's about you."

Benigo carefully handled the seed, "The Ring found a Brain-Eating Flower in a secret realm, posted as a task..."

"You stay in the realm, how are you so informed?"

Ronan wondered.

Benigo shook his head, "Just residual privileges from being a three-ring. That's not the point."

"The point is, I know an ancient potion needing a Brain-Eating Flower."

"This potion, besides greatly boosting mental power—"

Benigo paused, eyeing Ronan, then continued, "It might increase your chance of early domain resonance."

"Buzz—"

Ronan's pupils trembled.

He quickly composed himself.

"Tell me more about this task."