The Mighty Mage
Chapter 280: Body Tempering

Chapter 280: Chapter 280: Body Tempering

A beautiful woman with brown hair and striking blue eyes had a mocking grin on her face.

For some reason, Gu Jin’s heart skipped a beat, and she felt as if the woman was incredibly beautiful, more so than anyone she had ever seen.

She muttered softly,

"How beautiful..."

Hearing her words, the woman’s eyes widened in surprise, and the mocking grin faded slightly.

But before Gu Jin could say anything else, another bolt of lightning descended from the tumultuous sky, aimed straight at her.

However, this time, before the strike could connect, an unseen force surged forward, deflecting the lethal energy away.

Gu Jin blinked, her eyes widening in disbelief as she looked up to see the brown-haired woman standing protectively in front of her.

"Stay behind me," the woman commanded, her voice authoritative yet soothing.

She raised a hand, and with it came a shimmering barrier that enveloped Gu Jin, blocking any further strikes.

As Gu Jin gathered her breath, still shaken from the pain that had ravaged her body, the brown-haired woman muttered, almost to herself,

"I’m only helping you because you called me beautiful."

Gu Jin blinked, dazed.

Did she really say that? Her mind was still clouded from the pain and the overwhelming pressure of the tribulation.

She had thought the words—"how beautiful"—but she hadn’t expected them to slip out loud, much less for the woman to react to them.

She felt a strange flutter in her chest, a sensation she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

When was the last time someone had stood in front of her, shielding her from danger? When was the last time anyone had stepped in to protect her, even momentarily?

It was disorienting, and she quickly shoved the feeling aside. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on such thoughts.

She had bigger problems—like surviving this storm.

The brown-haired woman’s eyes shifted toward the swirling black clouds overhead, crackling with dark energy, before she glanced back at Gu Jin.

"I don’t know why you’re going through this tribulation," she began, her voice calm but with a note of caution, "but from what I can tell, this storm is meant to temper your body. You’ll have to absorb at least a hundred strikes to build the strength needed to endure this process."

Gu Jin’s eyes widened in disbelief. "A hundred?!"

In fact, she wanted to say, just a hundred?

She thought she would have to face a million thunderstorms. Gu Jin almost cheered.

But soon she realized how wrong she was.

She had barely survived the few strikes that had hit her earlier, and now she was expected to endure a hundred more?

The woman nodded, unfazed by Gu Jin’s shock.

"Yes, a hundred. But don’t worry," she added, her voice softening slightly,

"I’ll reduce the intensity for you. You’ll be able to handle it, as long as you focus."

"But... why are you helping me?" Gu Jin couldn’t stop the question from spilling out.

She was grateful, of course, but there was something odd about this whole situation.

Why would someone so powerful intervene on her behalf, especially when the woman herself had no stake in Gu Jin’s survival?

The brown-haired woman didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she raised her hand, and with a subtle flick of her fingers, she redirected another bolt of lightning that had been headed straight for Gu Jin.

The energy crackled harmlessly into the ground, dispersed by the invisible barrier she had summoned.

"Focus on tempering your body," the woman said, ignoring Gu Jin’s question for the moment.

"I’ll handle the strikes for now, but you need to be ready. I’ll show you how to absorb the energy properly, so it can strengthen you rather than destroy you."

Gu Jin, though still filled with a sense of unease, knew that she had no choice.

She had to trust this woman, at least for now.

Her survival depended on it.

She glanced at her own bruised and battered body, the remnants of her magical armor still hanging loosely on her.

The idea of absorbing even more lightning seemed impossible, but if this woman could reduce its intensity and teach her how to temper her body, perhaps she had a chance.

"How... do I temper my body?" Gu Jin asked, her voice quieter now, but steady.

The brown-haired woman turned to face her fully, her expression serious.

"First, calm your mind. The key to absorbing lightning is not to resist it but to let it flow through you.

Imagine it like a river of energy. If you fight against it, you’ll be swept away, but if you let it pass through, you can channel its power."

Gu Jin closed her eyes, trying to center herself despite the roiling storm above.

She took deep breaths, attempting to ignore the lingering pain in her muscles.

The woman’s voice continued, guiding her.

"When the lightning hits you, you need to direct it into blood vessels. From there, let it spread through your meridians. It will hurt, yes, but the pain is temporary.

Each strike will make your body stronger, your bones more resilient, and your magic more potent. Do you understand?"

Gu Jin nodded her head.

The woman raised her hand again, this time preparing to allow some of the lightning to pass through her protective barrier.

"I’ll let the next bolt strike you, but I’ll control its intensity. It will be enough to begin tempering your body, but not enough to kill you. Trust me."

Gu Jin swallowed hard and braced herself.

The woman’s hand moved subtly, and the next thing Gu Jin knew, a jagged streak of lightning shot from the sky, heading straight for her.

Instinctively, her body tensed, but she remembered the woman’s words—let it flow through you, don’t resist.

The bolt hit her square in the chest, and for a moment, everything was in pain.

Her vision went white, and her entire body screamed in agony.

But as she gritted her teeth and forced herself to relax, she felt the energy begin to shift.

Instead of tearing her apart, the lightning began to course through her veins, spreading through her meridians as the woman had instructed.

It wasn’t easy—every second felt like an eternity of pain—but slowly, the unbearable sensation faded into something else.

It was still painful, but beneath the pain, Gu Jin could feel the lightning strengthening her.

Her bones, her muscles, even her magic—it was as if everything inside her was being reforged.

After what felt like an eternity, the first bolt dissipated, leaving her panting and drenched in sweat, but still standing.

"Good," the woman said, her voice softer now, as if impressed by Gu Jin’s endurance.

"You handled that well. But this is only the beginning."

Gu Jin nodded, though her legs felt weak beneath her.

She barely had time to catch her breath before the next bolt of lightning came down, its intensity slightly stronger than the first.

Again, Gu Jin braced herself, allowing the lightning to strike her.

The pain was immediate, but she focused on letting the energy flow through her as she had before.

This time, the process was a bit easier.

The lightning still hurt, but the sensation of her body growing stronger beneath the pain gave her a strange sense of determination.

By the time the third and fourth strikes hit her, Gu Jin had begun to understand the rhythm of the tribulation.

The woman’s guidance was invaluable, and though the lightning was still intense, it no longer felt like it was going to kill her. She could feel her body adapting.

The brown-haired woman remained by her side, watching closely but not intervening unless necessary.

Occasionally, she would deflect a bolt that was too powerful or give Gu Jin advice on how to better channel the energy.

By the time Gu Jin had absorbed ten strikes, her body felt like it was on fire, but she could also feel the undeniable strength building within her.

Each strike tempered her, not just physically but mentally as well.

She was learning to withstand pain, to channel it into power.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Gu Jin absorbed her hundredth bolt of lightning.

She was panting, exhausted, but alive. And more importantly, she was stronger.

The woman lowered her hand, the barrier flickering as the storm above them began to quiet.

"You did well," she said, her voice calm but approving.

"I think that’s enough for now. You’ve tempered your body, but there will be more to come."

Gu Jin sank to her knees, her entire body trembling from exhaustion, but her heart was filled with gratitude.

She still didn’t fully understand why this mysterious woman had helped her, but she knew she wouldn’t have survived without her.

"Thank you..." Gu Jin whispered, her voice barely audible.

The woman smiled faintly, her blue eyes softening.

"Rest now. The tribulation is finally over."

"C-Can...you stay...with...me....please..." Gu Jin said in a low voice. She didn’t look pitifully.

Miserable.

That was all the brown-haired woman could think of Gu Jin for the time being.

"Okay."

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