30: Chapter 3, Grade C Spear—Dragon Spine Spear!

The Merit Exchange was bustling with people.

Virtual projections of various divine weapons, rare treasures, and cultivation manuals filled the display, dazzling the eyes.

It was a dizzying sight, and the air was thick with the scent of 'spending money'.

Zhou Heng and Chen Ye temporarily split up. Chen Ye went to the ice-element resource area, while Zhou Heng headed straight for the weapons section.

He directly set the filter criteria to: spear, C-grade, lightning affinity, weight 5-70 kilograms.

The light screen instantly displayed dozens of virtual projections of spears with different designs, shimmering with lightning, each annotated with detailed parameters and prices.

A female staff member, wearing the Demon Slaying Division's standard uniform with a neat ponytail and a professional smile, immediately approached: "Hello, Probationary Demon Slayer comrade, would you like me to provide an introduction?"

Her gaze lingered for a moment on the black iron badge on Zhou Heng's chest, but her professionalism prevented any unusual expression from showing.

"I'd appreciate it." Zhou Heng nodded and pointed at the light screen. "A C-grade lightning spear, suitable for mid-stage Awakening Realm use, emphasizing penetration and speed, with a reasonable weight."

"Understood, please wait a moment."

The staff member quickly operated the tablet in her hand, and the list on the light screen rapidly narrowed down.

Finally, only the projections of four spears remained, enlarged with clear details.

"Based on your requirements, I recommend these four models. They are all works of the Division's master forgers, known for excellent cost-performance and reputation."

"[Cloud-Soaring Spear]: C-grade mid-tier. Streamlined spear shaft, blessed with dual wind and lightning attributes. Extremely light and agile, with exceptional speed. Comes with the [Gale] effect, increasing thrusting speed by 1%. Weight: 57 kg, Length: 2.6 m. Price: 550 merit points."

"[dragon spine spear]: C-grade high-tier. Forged from Black Dragon Steel smelted in earth fire and blended with Thunder-Patterned Gold. The spear shaft is incredibly tough, with perfect balance and excellent lightning energy conductivity. Comes with the [Armor-Piercing] effect, granting extra destructive power against energy shields and hard armor. Weight: 6 kg, Length: 2.7 m. Price: 700 merit points."

"[Sky-Rending Spear]: C-grade high-tier. A heavy Armor-Piercing spear made from special materials, powerful and weighty. Comes with the [Shockwave] effect; upon hitting a target, it generates a powerful shockwave to damage the interior. Weight: 8 kg, Length: 2.9 m. Price: 680 merit points."

"[Awakening Thunder Spear]: C-grade mid-tier. The spear shaft contains a trace of spring thunder vitality, offering good restorative properties. Comes with the [Paralysis] effect, with strong lightning energy erosion. Weight: 55 kg, Length: 2.65 m. Price: 60 merit points."

Zhou Heng's gaze was immediately drawn to the [dragon spine spear].

Its entire body presented a deep, dark red-black hue.

The spear's lines were fluid yet brimming with a sense of power, resembling the spine of a dormant black dragon. Natural, intricate dark golden lightning patterns were distributed across it. The spear tip was long, narrow, sharp, and gleaming coldly, with faint arcs of lightning dancing upon it.

"This is the one!" Zhou Heng hesitated almost not at all.

The 6 kg weight was perfect for his current strength, allowing him to exert power without sacrificing agility.

The [Armor-Piercing] special effect perfectly complemented the penetrating nature of his Annihilation Wind and Thunder! Most importantly—this spear was just too cool! Its style points were maxed out!

"Very well, the dragon spine spear, 70 merit points." The staff member confirmed with a smile.

Zhou Heng promptly completed the payment using his tactical watch. His merit point balance instantly shrank by a large chunk, but he didn't feel the slightest bit of regret.

Soon, the staff member retrieved a long alloy weapon case from the back warehouse.

Opening the lid, the dragon spine spear lay quietly within the soft cushioning material.

Viewed up close, its sharp and domineering oppressive aura felt even stronger. The dark golden lightning patterns shimmered with a mysterious luster under the light.

Zhou Heng reached out and grasped the spear shaft. It felt slightly cool to the touch, and the weight was substantial yet perfectly balanced. With a slight circulation of his primal energy,

the lightning patterns on the spear shaft instantly lit up,

emitting a low hum. The cyan-purple Annihilation Wind and Thunder energy flowed through the spear shaft without the slightest obstruction, coalescing into a heart-palpitating sharpness at the spear tip!

"A fine spear!" Zhou Heng couldn't help but praise, casually twirling it in a flourish that produced a sharp sound as it cut through the air.

A flicker of surprise passed through the staff member's eyes. She could sense the pure yet violent lightning pressure when Zhou Heng circulated his primal energy.

It far surpassed that of an ordinary Awakening Realm cultivator. She thought to herself, "This Black Iron-level rookie... is he such a monster?"

Fully satisfied, he slung the new spear over his back.

Zhou Heng then used his remaining merit points and some academic credits to exchange for some auxiliary materials for cultivating the [Myriad Calamities Thunder Prison Body]:

a small vial of [Lightning-Attribute Demonic Beast Heart's Essence Blood], several portions of [Lightning-Struck Wood Powder], and some supplementary ingredients to balance the medicinal properties.

After reuniting with Chen Ye, who had exchanged for a C-grade ice-element straight saber named [ice soul] and several bottles of Cold Jade Marrow, the two went their separate ways.

Chen Ye needed to return to digest his resources and consolidate his Awakening Realm Four-Star level.

Zhou Heng headed straight for the Combat Hall. He was eager to test his new spear and utilize the [Intermediate Lightning-Element Training Room] there to accelerate his bone tempering.

After paying a hefty amount of academic credits, Zhou Heng entered a training room inscribed with complex lightning-gathering arrays.

The concentration of lightning energy inside was extremely high; the air carried static electricity, and even breathing brought a slight tingling, numbing sensation.

He first acclimated to the environment, then picked up the dragon spine spear and began practicing [Rushing Thunder Thrust].

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The spear shot out like a dragon, lightning flashing explosively!

With the new spear in hand, whether in terms of primal energy conduction efficiency, attack speed, or destructive power, it was more than just a single level better than his previous standard-issue spear!

Each thrust carried the explosive sound of tearing through the air. Lightning gathered unwaveringly at the spear tip, its power astonishing!

"Amazing!" Zhou Heng grew more and more excited the more he practiced. Only after thoroughly familiarizing himself with the dragon spine spear's characteristics did he reluctantly stop.

Next was the main event.

He took out the exchanged materials and, following the medicinal bath formula in the appendix of the [Myriad Calamities Thunder Prison Body], poured the Thunder Patterned Leopard essence blood, Lightning-Struck Wood Powder, and supplementary ingredients into the special bathtub provided in the training room, then added water.

Circulating his primal energy to heat it, the water in the tub soon turned a deep, dark red.

Its surface danced with violent electric arcs, emitting a scorching and domineering energy fluctuation.

Zhou Heng took off his upper garment, revealing his lean, sturdy physique. Gritting his teeth, he stepped into the medicinal bath.

"Hiss—!"

The moment he entered the medicinal liquid, an intense pain, as if countless steel needles were stabbing him mixed with a strong electric burn, instantly swept through his entire body!

It was several times more violent than simply guiding lightning energy for bone tempering before!

[Warning: External lightning energy overload! Meridian stress increasing!]

[Suggestion: Reduce absorption rate. Prioritize tempering completed sections (right hand bones, finger bones) and gradually adapt.]

Veins bulged on Zhou Heng's forehead. Cold sweat instantly broke out only to be evaporated.

He forcibly stabilized his mind,

following the optimized plan from the Omniscient Eye, he guided theberserk lightning energy and demonic beast essence blood energy from the medicinal liquid, concentrating their impact on his already tempered right hand.

The intense pain remained, but it was within a controllable range.

He could clearly feel that under the dual stimulation of the Thunder Patterned Leopard essence blood and Lightning-Struck Wood Powder, the bones in his right hand

were becoming increasingly tough and translucent at an accelerated rate, resembling beautiful glazed jade. The lightning energy stored within them also grew denser.

[Right hand bone tempering progress increased: 11%... 102%... (Over-tempering, diminishing returns)]

[Can begin tempering left hand bones.]

Sensing his right hand's improvement had reached its limit, Zhou Heng immediately shifted the focus of his guidance to his left hand.

The process was equally painful, but with the experience from his right hand and the aid of the medicinal potency, the efficiency was higher.

[Left hand bone tempering progress: 1%... 20%...]

[Blood and qi activity continuously increasing... Primal Sea slowly expanding...]

Simultaneously, he picked up an extra stalk of lightning grass and directly stuffed it into his mouth, chewing and swallowing it.

The lightning grass transformed into a stream of pure, slightly numbing lightning energy upon entering, flowing into his limbs and bones, further nourishing the bones and meridians being tempered.

Pain intertwined with the exhilarating sensation of increasing power, making Zhou Heng suffer yet enjoy it.

Time flew by in the extreme cultivation.

After an unknown period, the color of the medicinal liquid in the bathtub had faded, its energy almost completely absorbed.

Zhou Heng suddenly opened his eyes, let out a long cry, and leaped out of the bathtub!

He raised both hands,

and saw that the bones beneath the skin of his hands faintly revealed a warm, jade-like color and restrained lightning glow. When he clenched his fists, power surged!

[Left hand bone tempering completion: 10%!]

[Left finger bone tempering completion: 10%!]

[Overall bone tempering progress: 5/206!]

[Myriad Calamities Thunder Prison Body First Layer Progress: 2.9%!]

[Blood and Qi Value: 38 Cal!]

[Mental Power: 85 Hertz!]

[Lightning Resistance slightly increased!]

Feeling the significantly increased strength within his body and his more resilient physique, Zhou Heng smiled with satisfaction.

"At this rate, with resources, completing the tempering of all my bones is just around the corner!"

He dried himself, changed clothes, slung the dragon spine spear over his back, and walked out of the training room, revitalized and in high spirits.