Lin Yuan’s lightning ability was currently at the peak of Tier 1, Level 7. Below Tier 2, his actual combat strength was basically unrivaled.
However, this great bear was Tier 2, Level 2. It was thick-skinned and fleshy, and its defensive power was among the best for monsters of its tier.
In a head-on collision, he might not necessarily be able to break through its defense.
But he didn’t retreat.
He quickly ran the calculations in his mind.
Purple Lightning was a Tier 2, B-rank weapon. With the boost from a Tier 4 monster core, its piercing power was more than a level higher than his previous E-rank tungsten steel spear.
Sands of Time could slow down the great bear’s attacks, and Nine Rounds of Bone Tempering could withstand at least one direct impact.
His proficiency in Thunder Walk Through Nine Heavens was only 13 points away from reaching Proficient. This battle would be just enough.
He could do this!
Lin Yuan leaped down from the hill, thrusting Purple Lightning the moment he landed.
The spear tip struck the Rock-armored Great Bear’s hind leg joint—his favorite opening move.
No matter what the monster was, the joints were always a weakness.
Lightning exploded at the tip of the spear.
Crack...
It wasn't the sound of a joint shattering, but the sound of Purple Lightning’s tip piercing through the gap at the edge of the bone-like armor plates.
The Rock-armored Great Bear let out a deafening roar. Its massive body swung around violently, and its right forepaw swept toward him.
Sands of Time, activate.
The moment the bear’s right paw entered the three-meter radius in front of him, its speed visibly slowed down.
Though it only slowed by about ten percent, it was enough for Lin Yuan to sidestep the paw strike. Simultaneously, Purple Lightning pierced into the bear’s armpit—another weak spot not covered by the armor plates.
【Killed Tier 2, Level 2 monster Rock-armored Great Bear, Ability Points +85】
Ability Point Balance: 640.
【《Thunder Walk Through Nine Heavens》 proficiency +15】
【《Thunder Walk Through Nine Heavens》 proficiency: Proficient】
He had reached Proficient.
Lin Yuan pulled out Purple Lightning. The spiral patterns on the spear’s body glowed for a while before dimming.
He leaned against the Rock-armored Great Bear’s still-warm corpse, gasping for breath.
The old injury on his right shoulder throbbed slightly, and the cooldown for Sands of Time wasn't over yet.
However, the moment his spear technique broke through to Proficient, he clearly felt a change in his strikes.
Faster, more accurate, and the lightning was more concentrated.
He took a few breaths to steady himself and checked the time on his phone.
6:20 PM. It was almost dark.
The registration station uncle’s warning to “be out before dark” still echoed in his ears.
After packing up his spoils, Lin Yuan shouldered his spear and headed back the way he came.
By the time Lin Yuan walked out of the hilly region, it was completely dark.
The uncle at the registration station was standing at the entrance smoking. When he saw Lin Yuan walking out of the darkness with a spear on his shoulder, his cigarette almost fell out of his mouth.
“You were out there killing until now?”
“Yeah.”
The uncle looked him up and down.
There were several fresh claw marks on the young man’s black clothes, and a patch of dark blood stained his left shoulder. It wasn't his; it belonged to a monster.
“How many did you kill?”
“Six or seven, I guess,” Lin Yuan said vaguely as he signed his exit time on the registration form.
The uncle took the form and watched Lin Yuan’s back disappear toward the parking lot.
He glanced down at Lin Yuan’s signature on the form and then crushed his cigarette in the ashtray.
“Six or seven... He doesn't even bother to make a believable lie. If you could kill six or seven, I’ll eat shit,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head.
Shortly after, three people arrived with injuries, asking the uncle for the registration form while grumbling about something.
“Holy crap, there was a kid just now who killed six or seven monsters all by himself! There was even a Tier 2, Level 2 Rock-armored Great Bear!”
Hearing this, the uncle didn’t say a word. He just silently walked into the bathroom...
...
The maglev car drove back into the city through the night.
Lin Yuan leaned back in his seat and opened the system panel for a look.
【Host: Lin Yuan】
【Weak Spark: E-rank, Tier 1, Level 7 (Peak)】
【Space-Time Ruler: S-rank, Tier 1, Level 4】
【Bone Tempering: 9 Rounds (89% progress)】
【Combat Technique: 《Thunder Walk Through Nine Heavens》 (Proficiency: Proficient)】
【Combat Technique: 《Sands of Time》 (Proficiency: Entry)】
【Ability Points: 640】
He closed his eyes. Tomorrow was the Ability User College Entrance Exam.
Out of over three thousand examinees in Hangzhou, the highest was Tier 1, Level 5.
He was currently at the peak of Tier 1, Level 7, with Nine Rounds of Bone Tempering and two combat techniques, one of which was a Tier 5 space-time technique.
He suddenly remembered Shen Man’s words: “If you get into the top ten in Hangzhou, I’ll reimburse you for Purple Lightning.”
Top ten? Sorry, I’m aiming for first!
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly. He cradled Purple Lightning in his arms, found a comfortable position in the back seat of the maglev car, and closed his eyes.
Back in his hotel room, he leaned Purple Lightning against the wall and took out the fifteen Mid-tier Bone Tempering Pills he had bought at the market today, lining them up on the table.
He opened the system panel. His Ability Point balance was 640.
Upgrading a Mid-tier Bone Tempering Pill to Peak Grade required 40 points each.
Lin Yuan quickly did the math.
Upgrading all fifteen would cost 600 points, leaving exactly 40 points for pocket change.
Although it was a bit painful—600 points would be enough to push his lightning ability from Tier 1, Level 7 peak to Tier 1, Level 8 and beyond—the quality of the Bone Tempering Pills directly determined the tempering effect. He couldn't skimp on this.
“Upgrade all.”
【Consumed 40 Ability Points × 15. Mid-tier Bone Tempering Pills upgraded to Peak Grade Bone Tempering Pills.】
【Ability Points remaining: 40】
The color of the fifteen pills slowly changed under the system’s power.
The medicinal fragrance actually grew faint until it was almost undetectable. For Peak Grade pills, the medicinal power was completely contained within, without a single drop leaking out.
Lin Yuan took the pills down to the training room on the first basement floor and swiped his card to enter the lightning-specific room.
He closed the door and sat cross-legged in the center of the room.
The honeycomb patterns on the energy-absorbing walls glowed slightly. Sensing the ability fluctuations within his body, they automatically entered standby mode.
One pill. Two pills. Three pills.
The medicinal power of the Peak Grade Mid-tier Bone Tempering Pills was more than a level stronger than the low-grade ones.
When the medicinal power dissolved in his body, it no longer felt warm; it felt scorching hot.
His foundation from the Nine Rounds of Bone Tempering kept him from passing out from the pain, but the veins on his forehead bulged one by one, and beads of sweat dripped from his face onto the floor.
Four pills. Five pills. Six pills.
Under the wash of medicinal power, the golden bone patterns on the surface of his bones continued to deepen and spread—from his shoulder blades to his collarbones, from his collarbones to his sternum, and from his sternum to his ribs.
Seven pills. Eight pills. Nine pills...
Twelve pills. Thirteen pills. Fourteen pills.
The bone tempering progress climbed all the way—91%, 93%, 95%, 97%, 98%...
The fifteenth pill.
The medicinal power exploded within him. The golden bone patterns spread to the end of his spine, just a tiny bit away from covering his entire body...
The progress got stuck at 99%.
It stopped moving.
Lin Yuan opened his eyes and looked down at his hands.
The golden bone patterns of the Nine Rounds of Bone Tempering had spread to every single bone in his body, except for one spot—right in the center of his spine, between his shoulder blades.
Rate on N.U.
