Whether it’s for making special magic potions or as ingredients for alchemy.
Even as auxiliary materials for bloodline modulation, these abyssal materials hold infinite possibilities.
He probably set aside one-fifth for other experiments in the future.
Then he turned to the more important matter at hand:
Using these materials to further enhance the stand-in puppet, he thought as he took out the puppet.
The puppet looked even more eerie than it did at the beginning.
In Ron’s spiritual perception, it emitted a unique energy fluctuation, as if sensing and evaluating the surrounding energy sources.
"I haven’t attempted any enhancement since returning from the bloodline altar."
Ron murmured softly:
"Now, it’s time to see what changes these new materials can bring you."
Ron sat cross-legged, gently placing his hands on both sides of the puppet, closed his eyes, and let his spiritual power seep into the puppet, awakening its activity.
The stand-in puppet began to vibrate slightly, its limbs gradually stretching out, and a faint luster emerged on its wooden surface.
"Feel them... absorb them..." Ron guided softly, constructing specific energy circuits within the puppet with his spiritual power.
These circuits functioned like a complex conduit system, directing the energy to flow along the optimal paths, ensuring a safe and efficient absorption process.
Under his guidance, the stand-in puppet reached out a hand to touch the bone fragment.
Immediately, tiny cracks appeared on the surface of the glass bottle, as if eroded by some invisible force.
As the absorption progressed, subtle changes began to appear on the puppet’s arm surface.
The wooden texture became smoother, and a faint luster appeared on the surface, as if covered by a translucent crystal layer.
The joints of the fingers became more flexible, moving with a fluid elegance like flowing water.
"The structural stability of the bone fragment is starting to integrate into the puppet’s traits."
Ron observed this change, silently recording in his mind.
This immediate adaptability and fusion capability are among the most valuable traits of the stand-in puppet.
After the essence of the bone fragment was fully absorbed, the puppet reached for the second bottle — the skin-shedding extract.
The puppet’s body stiffened instantly, with countless fine lines appearing on its surface like snake scales, glinting with a metallic cold light.
"The toughness and adaptability of the skin-shedding... perfectly fused." Ron nodded with satisfaction.
Upon reaching the third bottle of seed extract, countless tiny buds immediately sprouted on the puppet’s surface, quickly growing, blooming, and then withering.
The entire process lasted only a few seconds yet seemed to encompass a complete lifecycle.
The last bottle — the extract of the Swamp Assembler, the absorption process was the most astonishing.
The purple liquid turned into a hazy mist upon release, swirling around the puppet.
In the mist, countless tiny human faces appeared and disappeared, whispering in low tones.
These sounds weren’t heard with the ears but resonated directly in the spirit, like countless tiny needles piercing the brain, painful yet with a certain strange pleasure.
Ron felt a strong spiritual pressure, but his spiritual barrier was strong enough to resist such interference.
The puppet’s reaction was extremely intense as well.
Its body began to rapidly deform, first swelling into a grotesque sphere with a surface covered in twisted faces, each silently screaming;
Then compressing into a flat disc, its edges sharp as blades;
Then restoring to its original form, as if adapting to some new existence.
Eventually, when all changes subsided, the puppet returned to calm, its appearance seemingly unchanged.
"Perfect!" Ron softly praised instead: "All four abyssal traits have successfully merged."
Through the spiritual link, he carefully checked the state of the stand-in puppet.
Every energy node and energy path was meticulously scanned, ensuring there were no instabilities or potential dangers.
On a conscious level, it became sharper and more perceptive;
The energy structure became more stable, especially when facing external interferences, it could automatically construct multiple defense mechanisms;
Physical qualities also saw significant enhancement, particularly in regeneration ability and environmental adaptability.
Of course, the most important part was the absorption of active abyssal materials, which increased the charging progress:
[Active abyssal materials automatically absorbed, charging progress +5%]
[Current charge: 43%/100%]
Almost there, just one step away from the 50% charging requirement.
"Once the Demon Hunter profession transition is complete, this enhancement will be even more astounding."
Ron contemplated his future plans while carefully storing away the stand-in puppet.
The special abilities brought by the Demon Hunter profession, such as enhanced perception, toxin resistance, and abnormal creature suppression, will also be fed back to him through the stand-in puppet.
The stand-in puppet acts as a perfect vessel, capable of enduring those modifications harmful to the human body, then passing the purified abilities back to Ron.
Moreover, as he speculated, the more traits the stand-in puppet absorbs, the stronger this feedback effect will be.
It might eventually reach a new form of "bloodline activation" — a purer, more powerful bloodline enhancement.
"Compared to the crude transplant of traditional demon hunters, my method may be more circuitous, but it comes with far less risk and yields no less return."
Ron nodded with satisfaction, cautiously placing the stand-in puppet into his inner robe pocket:
"Moreover, because it can span across various biological traits in fusion, theoretically, the potential is greater."
.........
Meanwhile, the three women in the bath were enjoying the comfort of the hot spring.
The steaming mist filled the air, infused with Ailan’s specially made herbal fragrance, soothing the mind and body.
"Ah~ so comfortable!"
Dale sighed with content, submerging most of her body in the warm water, leaving only her head exposed, her silver hair appearing even smoother and shinier in the steam:
"Compared to those cold water elements in the altar, this is heaven!"
Ailan observed Dale carefully, her vines gently touching the Little Sea Siren’s arms and shoulders, seemingly checking on something.
Suddenly, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes: "Dale, your body... seems to have undergone some changes."
"Hmm? What changes?" Dale curiously looked at herself, finding nothing amiss.
Ailan’s vines gently pointed to Dale’s chest:
"Look here... after your bloodline breakthrough, your body has started developing. There’s a small sprout here."
Dale looked down in surprise and indeed found that her previously flat chest had begun to show a subtle rise.
Though still small, it was undeniably a sign of development.
"Really!" The Little Sea Siren was overjoyed, gently caressing the change, feeling a sense of joy from growth swelling in her heart:
"Looks like I’ll soon have a mature body like Sister Lily!"
She turned excitedly to Lilia, ready to share this discovery.
Only to find the girl already leaning against the edge of the bath, head slightly tilted back, eyes closed, breathing gently and evenly — she had fallen asleep.
This unguarded state was completely different from Lilia’s usual demeanor.
The prolonged worry and tension, coupled with the relief of Ron’s safe return, had finally led her body to seek rest.
"Shh, don’t wake her." Ailan gently signaled with her vines, her voice lowered: "She needs the rest too much."
Ailan carefully adjusted Lilia’s position to ensure she wouldn’t slip into the water:
"She’s been so exhausted, almost reaching her limit."
"Why? Isn’t everything running smoothly at the workshop?"
Dale asked in confusion, her voice involuntarily lowered.
Ailan shook her head, her emerald eyes showing concern:
"Lilia was the most worried among the two of us. After you and the master disappeared, she was almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Straining to handle workshop affairs during the day and tossing sleeplessly at night, I often saw her late at night in the study poring over ancient books about the bloodline altar."
Dale looked at the sleeping girl, noticing the dark circles under her eyes and her slightly thin cheeks.
Even in her sleep, Lilia’s brows remained slightly furrowed, unable to put her worries to rest.
Dale blinked, a hint of compassion flashing in her golden eyes:
"Sister Lily..."
"Now that both of you are safely back, she can finally relax."
Ailan’s voice was gentle: "So, it’s only natural she fell asleep while soaking."
Dale nodded, remaining silent, quietly enjoying the comfort of the hot spring.
The water in the bath gently rippled, as if narrating unspoken warmth.