NOVEL WEB Ch. 32
Chapter 32: Six Body Temperings, Energy Level 50.0!
Just as White Crane had said.
After Li Zhi and the others were rescued, everything calmed down.
They were no longer targeted and returned to their normal lives.
Jiang He did not encounter any follow-up incidents, let alone something like companions attacking him to seize Transcendent items.
It was as if, with all the traffickers eliminated, this incident had already ended perfectly.
If not for the information revealed by White Crane, he would not have thought that behind this matter, there was actually a vast organization.
“Wolf Pack, huh…”
“Like ghosts.”
Jiang He put his focus back on cultivation.
With the 200 grams of Spiritual Blood quota sponsored by Zhang Zhiyong, his stagnated physical strength finally saw growth—
On May 22nd, he arrived at the Fire Department, registered with the Seventh Squad, and was warmly welcomed by the others.
After the welcome, he impatiently entered the Blood Refining Chamber to begin the 「Spiritual Blood Tempering of the Body」.
Since during the last attempt White Crane had drawn out the Spiritual Blood, leaving behind only the auxiliary medicinal mist, this was in fact Jiang He’s first true tempering.
And since it was his first tempering, in order to maximize the effect of the Spiritual Blood, Jiang He first had White Crane use his Word-Spirit talent to greatly enhance the mist.
Then, using his Word-Spirit again, he temporarily strengthened his own body, improving its endurance and digestion.
With this series of preparations, the tempering’s effect was increased several-fold!
In just one tempering, Jiang He’s physical strength soared by 4.0, rising to 24.5!
That was what growth meant!
As for the reduced effects of consecutive temperings within a short period of time… this was not hard to solve.
Jiang He first drew 2 grams of Spiritual Blood from his quota, letting White Crane inscribe a Spell Word of “Adaptation,” which could be used three times.
Then he trained together with Du Lingwei, raising his Fire Controller profession level along with a bit of his spirit.
Once his spirit reached its limit, he closed his eyes for half an hour’s rest, recovering his energy.
Then, taking advantage of the lunch break, he went to the Fire Department’s gym. Using his just-restored bit of spirit to activate the Spell Word, he gave his body the buff of adaptation, and began intense training.
The poor effect of consecutive temperings, in the end, came down to “indigestion.”
Too much Spiritual Blood power could not be fully absorbed; some would accumulate in the body. This not only meant wasted Spiritual Blood during the tempering, but also reduced the effectiveness of the next.
In other words, as long as he digested that power, the debuff state would vanish.
At the next tempering, the maximum effect could be brought out again.
Just like Jiang He.
By having White Crane strengthen the mist, he had already improved the absorption rate of the Spiritual Blood tempering, greatly reducing the phenomenon of 【Power Accumulation】.
Then, with the help of the Spell Word and physical training, he quickly digested the accumulated Spiritual Blood within his body, converting it into physical strength—
In just one afternoon, his physical strength grew by 1.0, reaching 25.5.
The Spiritual Blood power was completely digested.
The cycle was established—
He continued into the Blood Refining Chamber, tempering again with White Crane’s assistance, while also inscribing and using the Spell Word “Recovery.”
After tempering, he returned to train with Du Lingwei on Fire Control.
After training, he rested half an hour, entered the gym to digest the power.
After digesting, he returned to the Blood Refining Chamber for another tempering.
By the end of the third tempering, Jiang He’s body and spirit were both at their limit.
That day’s cultivation ended. Jiang He said his goodbyes, went home, grabbed a good meal on the way, and then entered deep sleep to restore stamina and spirit.
On May 23rd, training resumed as usual.
In the morning he rushed to the Fire Department, first doing extreme training to digest the Spiritual Blood power.
Then the same cultivation cycle as yesterday—
Tempering, Fire Control, training, tempering, Fire Control, training…
This dual exhaustion of spirit and body shocked the other members of the Seventh Squad.
“He’s way too crazy about this!”
In the Fire Department’s gym, He Xue, Chen Zhengyi, and Long Tao of the Seventh Squad stood in the corner, watching from afar.
They saw the youth, his vest drenched in sweat, standing beneath special equipment, straining to lift weights.
He squatted and rose with complete focus, every movement carrying the tremor of his muscles.
Under such pressure, the Spiritual Blood power was being rapidly absorbed.
The three were dumbfounded.
When Jiang He joined the Seventh Squad yesterday, they were thrilled—the squad had gained another genius, another future powerhouse.
They had planned that, once they were back from a mission, they would use their break to bond with Jiang He, get to know the new teammate.
But two whole days passed.
Every time they returned, Jiang He was either cultivating, or on the way to cultivate, focused and relentless.
Up till now, aside from when he first joined, they had not exchanged even a single word with him.
“Isn’t this too much?” Chen Zhengyi clicked his tongue. “He’s already awakened an S-rank talent. Why is he still pushing himself so hard?”
“…I can understand it.” Long Tao pushed up his glasses.
He was different from the other two, a graduate of Central State Second High.
Second High had no A-rank principal like Zhong Honglian, and its student quality was weaker. More of them awakened later…
He had seen many students bullied and ostracized for awakening too late.
Jiang He was already eighteen, and only awakened at the very end—clearly one of those students.
Having suffered exclusion, finally awakening a top-tier talent, working desperately hard in cultivation… this was not hard to understand—
Some people didn’t even have the qualification to work hard.
Chen Zhengyi also realized this, sighing.
At that moment, He Xue suddenly spoke.
“Don’t you think Jiang He is like someone?”
“…Who?”
“Captain Du!” He Xue said. “They’re both the same—hardworking and focused.”
Hearing this, Chen Zhengyi and Long Tao nodded.
Indeed.
Ever since Du Lingwei joined, it was either missions, cultivation, or classes at school… she hardly ever rested.
Only after picking up a kitten in a fire did she spare some energy for it. Before that, her life was as mechanical as a robot’s.
Could it be… this was the necessary condition for awakening a top-tier talent?
That one had to be a grindmaster?
Chen Zhengyi and Long Tao exchanged a look, suddenly enlightened.
At that moment, they felt a chill behind them.
“You’re not resting, but sneaking around spying instead? Looks like you’re not tired enough.”
Turning around, they saw Zhang Zhiyong standing behind them, their scalps tingling.
“Captain Zhang, we were just passing by, just passing by…”
The three muttered, and in a flash, slipped away without a trace.
Zhang Zhiyong shook his head.
These three clearly had decent talents, but the moment they had free time, they lazed around. No wonder they had never broken through to C-rank.
Du Lingwei, on the other hand, was always so busy she never stopped, never knowing what rest was.
In Zhang Zhiyong’s mind appeared a scene from years ago—
In the ruins after a battle with a Transcendent thug, flames still raging, cries of misery filling the night.
He had rushed into the fire in his firefighter gear, and saw a mother and daughter.
The girl was curled up in the corner, nearly unconscious. The mother bore a heavy weight, shielding her daughter with her body from the flames.
At that moment, not a single flame touched the girl.
That night, the girl awakened an A-rank talent, and gained the Flame Spirit that had protected her.
He had always believed it was not luck, nor miracle.
Burying the past deep in his heart, Zhang Zhiyong looked at the focused youth in the distance, sighing.
“Ah, the youth these days…”
Then he turned and left.
…
May 23rd, Wednesday, 20:23.
Jiang He walked out of the Blood Refining Chamber, exhausted, yet with eyes full of joy.
In just two days, six Spiritual Blood temperings, his physical strength had reached a bottleneck.
The result was—
Comprehensive Energy Level: 50.0!!
One step away from E-rank, two days left until Heroic Spirit Return and his talent’s cooldown.
“With the time remaining, it’s enough for me to break through the energy level and change profession to Word Keeper.”
“So tired, time to go home and sleep.”