Chapter 60: Accept Mission! Depart!

Xu Jingming gazed through the transparent glass at the display case, where a long spear rested on a soft cushion.

The spear shaft was a mysterious dark gold, adorned with faint golden patterns resembling white clouds.

The spearhead, white-gold in color, had two fierce blood grooves on each side.

One could imagine that once the spear pierced into a body, these four blood grooves would deliver lethal damage.

“Dark Cloud Wind Spear, total length 2.19 meters, shaft forged from high-toughness D-grade alloy, spearhead made of harder C-grade alloy.

Total weight reaches 260 kilograms; the shaft has been enchanted with wind energy by a specialized ability user.

When swung, this wind energy can moderately increase spear speed.”

As Zou Hai introduced it, he harbored little hope that Xu Jingming would buy the spear.

After all, most spear users sought lightning-fast thrusting speed.

For first- and second-grade ability users, 70 or 100 kilograms was more than sufficient.

Two hundred sixty kilograms was almost exclusively for third-grade ability users.

And third-grade ability users’ full gear was at least C-grade or higher.

To them, this D-grade spear was like a bone with no meat.

Too heavy for low grades, too weak for high grades.

Because of this awkward position, the spear had sat on display here for over a year since its forging.

“I wonder what that weapons master was thinking—crafting such a spear is pure loss.”

Zou Hai sighed inwardly.

Ability enchantment is a highly advanced technique that fixes an ability onto an item permanently.

For example, space rings use ability enchantment to lock a space ability user’s power into the ring.

Every application of this technique is extremely expensive.

That’s why the cost of this spear was astonishingly high, far exceeding ordinary D-grade spears.

Thinking of this, Zou Hai glanced at Xu Jingming beside him.

Just a first-grade upper-tier ability user.

He’d probably be terrified by the weight—and couldn’t afford the credits anyway.

Forget it.

I’ll show him some lighter spears later.

Zou Hai shook his head silently.

“Can I try this spear?”

“Of course, let me get you a lighter one...”

Zou Hai instinctively moved to fetch another spear, then froze, blinking in surprise:

“You’re sure? This spear weighs 260 kilograms.”

“No problem—I need something heavy.”

Xu Jingming’s eyes held anticipation.

Let this spear bring me some surprises...

On the 13th floor, there was a dedicated room for customers to test spears.

At this moment, through the transparent glass, one could see a room inside.

A young man, surrounded by blue-purple lightning, swung a spear in his hands.

The black spear, wreathed in lightning, became a flurry of purple-black illusions, howling through the room like a dragon.

“Incredible spear technique! This must be advanced level!”

“I wonder which senior this is—this lightning spear art is terrifyingly powerful.”

“So fast! Definitely a third-grade senior.”

“...”

On the 13th floor, besides Xu Jingming, many other students had come to view spears.

All of them used spears, and now, seeing Xu Jingming’s technique, they couldn’t help but be silently impressed.

Some who knew Zou Hai well even laughed and asked: “Which spear is that senior holding? Looks powerful.”

“Dark Cloud Wind Spear.”

Upon hearing Zou Hai’s answer, the questioner blinked in surprise:

“That spear? Even third-grade ability users wouldn’t want it?”

“No third-grade user wants it—but a first-grade one does.”

“That guy inside is just a first-grade ability user?” The questioner was baffled.

Are you kidding?

Can a first-grade user even swing a spear that heavy?

Can a first-grade user have advanced-level spear technique?

“Yes—exactly first-grade.”

Zou Hai dropped the line and ignored the stunned customer, smiling as he greeted Xu Jingming stepping out:

“Xu, how was the spear?”

He had learned Xu Jingming’s name earlier.

“Not bad.”

Xu Jingming nodded. “A bit light, but acceptable.”

After breaking through the second layer of Thunder Unyielding Body, his blood qi had surged again.

According to his estimate, he could handle a 300-kilogram spear with ease.

Still, this 260-kilogram Dark Cloud Wind Spear was fine—thanks to the wind ability enhancement.

Both thrusting and retracting speed far surpassed his current Black Radiance Spear.

Also, perhaps due to its D-grade alloy composition.

His S-grade ability, Purple Thunder Divine Lightning, conducted through this spear far more smoothly.

“Good, good.”

Zou Hai’s face lit up; he rubbed his hands excitedly.

Though the equipment belonged to Metropolis Ability University, apart from annual basic research funding, the Equipment Division had to cover its own profits and losses.

Equipment development consumed enormous funds.

Sometimes, a weapons master’s idea would burn through tens of millions.

This spear, though not worth tens of millions, was still a significant expense.

Leaving it unsold here had been a headache—but now, finally, someone wanted it.

“The Dark Cloud Wind Spear isn’t too expensive—our official price is 600. I’ll give you a 20% discount: 480 credits!”

As if fearing Xu Jingming couldn’t afford it, Zou Hai immediately offered a 20% discount.

In truth, this price was already near the spear’s cost.

After all, it was forged from hundreds of kilograms of D-grade alloy.

“Um... could it be cheaper?”

Xu Jingming blinked.

Ten minutes later, Xu Jingming left the Equipment Division with the Dark Cloud Wind Spear.

His student account held exactly 412 credits.

Upstairs, he’d tested several other spears.

Either too light, or too slow.

Those meeting both criteria cost far more than the Dark Cloud Wind Spear.

No choice—he had to trade in his Black Radiance Spear to the Equipment Division for 100 credits.

Now, after spending 480 credits, he had only 32 left.

“Thirty-two credits won’t buy a D-grade battle suit at school.

But I have over seven million Da Xia currency in my bank account—I’ll buy outside.”

One credit had far greater purchasing power than ten thousand Da Xia currency, and Metropolis Ability University’s equipment was higher quality.

Unfortunately, Xu Jingming had exhausted his credits—he had to buy the rest outside campus.

Having decided, he didn’t leave immediately but returned to the second floor of the student dormitory.

“Eva, open the school’s mission system.”

“Understood.”

A holographic projection appeared midair:

Mission 1: Collect 30 tendons from second-grade Armored Knife Tiger. Reward: 60 credits. (C-class mission)

Mission 2: Gather 30 Qingling herbs over twenty years old. Reward: 43 credits. (D-class mission)

Mission 3: Travel southwest to join the campaign. Requirement: Second-grade mid-tier or higher. Reward: 600 credits. (S-class mission)

Mission 4: Assist Metropolis Public Security Bureau in capturing third-grade lower-tier fugitive Qian Hang. Reward: 200 credits. (A-class mission)

Mission 5: ...

This was the school’s mission system—anyone could post or accept missions to earn credits.

These tasks come in all sorts: collecting materials from ferocious beasts, gathering rare flowers and exotic herbs.

There are even large-scale warfare missions and bounty hunts for fugitives.

Of course, compared to the earlier tasks, these two are far more dangerous.

Throughout the task system, tasks are constantly being claimed and new ones continuously posted.

“This is the training model of the Metropolis Psychic University...”

Xu Jingming wore a look of reflection.

Different people receive entirely different experiences at the Metropolis Psychic University.

Some students simply attend classes and training on schedule, living comfortable, leisurely lives.

Others, however, constantly take on missions, enduring life-or-death trials while earning large amounts of academic credits.

The former live leisurely but advance in strength slowly.

The latter face danger, but their academic credits convert rapidly into resources, accelerating their strength growth immensely.

“No wonder some say the Metropolis Psychic University’s best students aren’t on campus—they’re outside.”

Xu Jingming shook his head and began selecting tasks on the mission panel.

He would be staying in the wilderness for over a month; perfect time to take on some tasks and top up his credits.

In the end, Xu Jingming chose three B-rank tasks and one A-rank task from the system.

He then went to an equipment shop outside campus and spent 2.1 million Daya coins on a D-rank battle suit and combat boots.

After all preparations were complete, he boarded the high-speed train at 2 p.m. that afternoon, heading to Yuan Shui City, next to Metropolis.