387: Chapter 387 Ink Marks 3.!

He turned and went to the "Weapons and Equipment Exchange Zone".

Now that he had officially stepped into the Fourth Rank and become a True Qi realm martial artist,

the birth of True Qi within his body naturally raised the requirements for his weapon.

The "Ink Trace 2." long spear that had accompanied him in his campaigns in Ancient Yue and earned great merits,

although of excellent quality, was ultimately a fine weapon designed for Third-Rank Martial Artists.

Its material could no longer fully bear and unleash his current 900-card blood and qi energy and his newly born, variously attributed Five Elements True Qi.

Especially when he tried to channel his True Qi into it, he could feel a subtle sense of "saturation" and "stagnation" emanating from the spear shaft.

"It's time for it to 'retire'."

However, Qin Yan did not choose to sell it or exchange it for academic credits this time.

Instead, he decided to keep it as a memento.

Placing it in his Storage Ring to bear witness to the path he had walked.

"I need a long spear from the 'ink trace' series."

Qin Yan said to the forging department student behind the counter.

That student clearly knew his stuff. After glancing at Qin Yan's demeanor and the faint aura he exuded, he immediately nodded. "Classmate, you want the 'Ink Trace 3. Ultimate Edition', right?

This model is the final version of the 'ink trace' series, specifically designed for Fourth Rank Martial Artists. The core of the spear shaft is fused with 'Starlight Steel' and 'Flexible Memory Alloy'.

It can better conduct and bear True Qi. The spear tip is forged from 'Armor-Piercing Tungsten Gold', with sharpness and Qi-breaking effects qualitatively improved over the 2. version. Of course, the price is also..."

"How many academic credits?" Qin Yan asked directly.

"240 academic credits," the student quoted the price.

This price was enough to make many newly breakthrough Fourth Rank students gasp.

Qin Yan, however, merely pondered briefly before nodding. "Alright, I'll take it."

"Please wait a moment, Classmate. We have it in stock in our warehouse."

Seeing Qin Yan so decisive, the student's attitude became even more enthusiastic.

Soon, a brand new long spear was brought over.

It still had the familiar dark black as its main color.

But the metallic luster of the spear shaft was more restrained and profound, with faint, dense starry light points shimmering.

Holding the spear shaft, the touch was warm yet carried a hint of coolness.

Its weight was slightly increased compared to the 2. version, but the weight distribution was more perfect.

With a gentle shake, the spear shaft emitted a low, elastic hum. True Qi channeled into it flowed smoothly without any stagnation.

Qin Yan casually twirled a few spear flowers, then attempted to inject a thread of Metal Attribute True Qi.

*Ssshh—!*

At the spear tip, a faint golden edge about an inch long abruptly extended outwards.

Condensed yet not dispersing, it cut a clear mark through the air!

"Good spear!"

A look of satisfaction appeared in Qin Yan's eyes.

This Ink Trace 3. version was far superior to the 2.0 version in terms of material, craftsmanship, and compatibility with True Qi.

It was enough to support him until he reached Fourth Rank Peak.

"Ink Trace 3. should be the end of the 'ink trace' series."

Qin Yan stroked the cool spear shaft, pondering in his heart. "Next time I change weapons, it will be time to seek, custom-order, or even personally forge a spear that completely belongs to me—a natal spirit weapon!"

Fifth-Rank Martial Artists further refine their True Qi, achieving 'True Qi Coalescing into Weapons'.

If paired with a natal spirit weapon that matches their own attributes at this stage, combat power would undergo a qualitative change.

A natal spirit weapon is connected to the martial artist's heart's blood and can evolve as the martial artist grows.

It unleashes power far exceeding that of ordinary spirit weapons. That is a pursuit of another level.

After a bout of "extravagance", Qin Yan left the bustling resource exchange center,

contentedly carrying his newly exchanged fifty five elements spirit pill and the brand new Ink Trace 3. long spear.

He returned to his own estate.

As soon as he returned to the third-floor training room of the estate, Qin Yan couldn't wait to sit down cross-legged.

With resources in hand, how could he let them sit idle?

With a slight stir of his thoughts, five differently colored pill bottles, each emitting pure Five Elements fluctuations, appeared before him.

He did not take and slowly refine them one by one like ordinary martial artists.

For him, who cultivated the *Five Elements Primordial Scripture*, possessed five attribute seeds, and had meridians transformed to be exceptionally tough and broad, that method was too inefficient.

He took a deep breath.

In the next moment, he actually took out one pill from each of the five jade bottles—one High Grade Five Elements Spirit Pill each of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth!

Five spirit pills, each the size of a longan, with different colors and swirling pill patterns, lay quietly in his palm.

They emitted a heart-palpitating, vast spiritual energy fluctuation.

Without any hesitation, Qin Yan tilted his head back and sent all five pills into his mouth at once!

*Gulp.*

The pills entered his stomach and instantly dissolved!

*BOOM—!!!*

It was as if five miniature volcanoes of different attributes had simultaneously erupted violently within Qin Yan's body!

Five torrents of spiritual energy, distinct in nature yet equally pure and vast, surged wildly like unbridled steeds towards his limbs, bones, and meridian network!

The impact of this spiritual energy, directly converted from the pills,

was several times more intense, concentrated, and explosively energetic than swallowing raw spirit herbs of the same grade!

This was one of the fundamental differences between pills and raw spirit herbs.

Although spirit herbs contain massive energy, it is often mixed, violent, and carries plant characteristics.

Martial artists need to expend great effort to purify and tame it.

Absorption efficiency is low, and it can easily burden or even damage the meridians.

Pills, however, are refined and purified by alchemists using secret methods.

They perfectly fuse the essence of spirit herbs with various auxiliary materials, discarding the dross and retaining the essence, making the energy easier for martial artists to absorb and utilize.

Therefore, whenever possible, martial artists who obtain precious spirit herbs first seek out alchemists.

They pay a fee to have them refined into pills, seeking maximum efficiency and safety.

The five torrents of spiritual energy rampaged wildly within his body.

If an ordinary early-stage Fourth Rank Martial Artist dared to be so reckless, their meridians would likely burst and their True Qi would run amok in an instant.

At best, severe injury; at worst, complete loss of cultivation.

But Qin Yan was well-prepared and had absolute confidence in his foundation and cultivation method!

"*Five Elements Primordial Scripture*, revolve!"

The cultivation method's pathways instantly lit up within his body.

The meridians that had transformed into "Five Elements Spirit Veins" erupted with powerful suction!

The five vast torrents of medicinal energy flooding into his body almost required no deliberate guidance.

They precisely split and guided the Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth torrents,

injecting them respectively into the corresponding Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth attribute "seeds".

Half a quarter of an hour later.

The turbulent energy fluctuations in the training room gradually subsided.

Within Qin Yan's body, the five five elements seeds that had just condensed and still appeared "immature" had now grown a full size larger!

Their colors were more vivid, the natural Dao patterns on their surfaces clearer and deeper, and the Five Elements primordial aura they emitted was several times stronger!

*Hum...*

The five seeds trembled in unison, each separating a wisp of Five Elements primordial energy more pure and condensed than before.

These five wisps of primordial energy slowly flowed through Qin Yan's entire meridian network, flesh, blood, and bones.

*BOOM—!*

Qin Yan's originally robust blood and qi energy, stimulated and nourished by this mixed primordial energy, erupted violently once again!