Was the Prophet's seeking forgiveness (Istighfar), may Allah bless him and grant him peace, more than seventy times a day, continuous or intermittent?

Seeking forgiveness (Istighfar) is one of the acts of remembrance (Dhikr) that holds immense reward, due to its consequent forgiveness of sins, erasure of evil deeds, increase in good deeds, removal of distress, and multiplication of provisions. Allah Almighty said: (And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever Forgiving. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [copious] showers And give you increase in wealth and sons and make for you gardens and make for you rivers.') [Noah/10-12]. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to seek forgiveness more than seventy times a day and night, even more than one hundred times.

It has been established that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would seek forgiveness one hundred times in a single sitting, as narrated by Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both: "We used to count for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in a single sitting, one hundred times [saying]: 'My Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance, for indeed You are the Acceptor of Repentance, the Most Merciful.'" No one has explicitly stated that this number was continuous without interruption. Rather, it is understood from the context that the Companions would count this number for him due to its frequent repetition in the sitting, whether that was at the beginning, the end, or during the conversation.