Dragon Spear

After leaving the Threefold Magic Pavilion, Wu Tao found that the magic tool required for the Dragon Spear Technique was a great spear. But he did not have enough Spirit Stones on him to buy a magic tool, so he could only make do with a mortal weapon for now.

Most low-level Rogue Cultivators could not afford magic tools and had to make do with ordinary weapons.

As for Wu Tao's method of refining magic robes, it only required Demon Silkworm Silk and Starfire Stone, making the cost extremely low. Thus, the magic robes refined were also very cheap. In terms of grade and function, they could not compare to those refined from precious materials.

Only because they were this cheap could Rogue Cultivators afford them.

If a magic robe cost hundreds or thousands of Low-Grade Spirit Stones, even if low-level Rogue Cultivators sold themselves, they still would not be able to afford one.

When he arrived at an ordinary weapon shop, the dense clang-clang-clang of hammering iron echoed inside and outside. One brawny bare-chested man after another performed his own duties—some hammered, some smelted iron, some quenched it—all in perfect order.

The walls on all four sides were lined with weapons, sorted into categories.

Sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks—the eighteen kinds of weapons.

There were also all manner of concealed weapons and strange, unorthodox weapons.

Wu Tao's eyes were dazzled as he admired them one by one. A romantic chivalric yearning rose in his heart, and he wished he could try every weapon and put them through a set of movements.

But he forcibly restrained himself.

Among the major categories of weapons, sabers, spears, and swords were considered the main branches, each of which could be further divided into many styles.

Under the shop assistant's guidance, Wu Tao came to the spear racks. Long spears stood in rows, red tassels and white tassels fluttering, their spear blades gleaming with cold light.

The Dragon Spear Technique required a great spear, one zhang and eight chi long. Such a weapon was called a great spear. After carefully selecting one, Wu Tao chose a Three-Pointed Great Spear. It had side prongs on both sides; its blade tips could merge into one or split into two, becoming a double-headed spear.

The red tassel repelled blood. The spearhead was made of Hundred-Refined Refined Iron, while the shaft was Hundred-Fathom Wood, strong and flexible. It weighed sixty-three jin in total. It was indeed heavy for Wu Tao at present, but for the sake of the future, he would grow accustomed to this weight sooner or later and regard it as nothing.

Once he cultivated the Dragon Spear Technique to a certain realm, it might even come to feel too light.

After laboriously swinging it a few times, Wu Tao became even more delighted and could not bear to put it down. He immediately paid five Low-Grade Spirit Stones. To avoid attracting attention, he also asked the weapon shop for a bolt of cloth, split the great spear in two, wrapped it tightly, and only then carried it out of the shop.

After returning home, Wu Tao placed the great spear on the table and drank a huge bowl of water before quenching his thirst.

He took out the Dragon Spear Technique. Its opening stated that it was a Body Cultivation Technique, but did not record who had created it.

It was originally only a fragmentary volume, so it was not strange that its author had been lost.

There were only three movements recorded within it.

The first was Fire Sweep. This movement emphasized speed. It was the foundation of the Dragon Spear Technique, the method of thrusting the spear. The spear shot forth as swiftly as a sweeping flame, carrying the imposing momentum that under heaven, all spells could be broken by speed alone.

The second was Wind and Thunder. This movement was exceedingly simple: continuously swing the spear and thrust straight ahead, until the thrusts produced the sound of wind and thunder. Only then was it considered mastered.

Of course, it was not just blindly stabbing away. It came with methods for circulating qi and exerting force.

The third was River Severing. This movement was a cleave. The book recorded that this strike could cut off a river's flow, but its requirements were extremely harsh. One had to temper all five internal organs to the stage of great mastery before using it. Otherwise, what would be severed would not be the river, but one's own physical body.

Wu Tao guessed that this movement should belong to the later movements, while Fire Sweep and Wind and Thunder were earlier ones.

Body Cultivation Techniques truly were overbearing and tyrannical. He did not know what sort of origin they came from.

As far as he knew, cultivators nowadays generally pursued an immortal, ethereal air. Most spells were long-range attacks; if they could avoid close combat, they would avoid it. They could be called long-range battle mages.

Wu Tao also wanted to be so immortal and ethereal, but professions were randomly generated. Since he had generated the profession of a Body Cultivator, what could he do?

"This Spell Manual is called the Dragon Spear Technique. I wonder whether creatures like dragons exist in this world, and what this has to do with dragons. It is a pity that this manual is incomplete. Besides, I am too weak. There are many things I cannot come into contact with."

"Still, the Body Tempering Art in this book is the most valuable part."

Wu Tao's gaze shifted slightly. He turned to the pages recording the Body Tempering Art and studied them carefully.

Once he had finished reading, his expression became exceedingly complicated. Suddenly enlightened, he said, "No wonder the Dragon Spear Technique sounds so grand and powerful, yet its price was so low. So the problem lies with this Body Tempering Art."

"The medicinal formula recorded here requires so many medicines that even cultivators from the Azure Spirit Sect on Five Spring Mountain might not necessarily be able to afford it."

"Even if I can refine artifacts and earn a great deal of income, it will still be difficult to meet the requirements for cultivating the Body Tempering Art. No wonder Body Cultivators are so rare in the Cultivation World. Who can afford to raise them with such resources?"

"And this is only the beginning..."

"Curculigo, Morinda Root, Cistanche, Cynomorium, Ginseng, Polygonatum, Phryma, Cercis Bark, Atractylodes, rhubarb, Phellodendron, Platycodon, Aristolochia, Frankincense, Native Copper, Cibotium, Millettia Root, Kadsura, Flemingia, Spatholobus..."

"There are more than fifty medicinal ingredients alone, and every one of them has to be at least thirty years old. Later on, hundred-year-old medicinal herbs will even be needed. This..."

"Am I fated to be poor for my entire life?"

Wu Tao could not help covering his face, nearly shedding tears.

"Fortunately, this Body Tempering Art can only begin its medicinal baths after I have gained entry into Fire Sweep, so there is still a little time to catch my breath. Does this count as finding joy amid bitterness?" Wu Tao sighed.

He would definitely cultivate the Dragon Spear Technique.

After all, he had spent three hundred Spirit Stones to buy it. If he did not cultivate it, would that not be a waste of Spirit Stones?

Knock, knock, knock!

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

Wu Tao rose to his feet. Zhang Li's face flashed through his sea of consciousness, but he immediately dismissed it. Zhang Li had long since moved out of New Virtue Alley. It would not be Zhang Li. Could it be... that old bastard Duocai?

What did he want with me?

Over the past month or so, Duocai had tried several times to visit him, but Wu Tao had politely declined each time with various excuses.

Knock, knock, knock!

Wu Tao tucked the Dragon Spear Technique into his clothes and went to open the door. Sure enough, it was Daoist Duocai.

When Daoist Duocai saw the door open, his dejected face immediately blossomed into a smile. Yet when his Ronghao Eyes smiled, he looked especially lecherous. He cupped his hands toward Wu Tao and said, "Fellow Daoist Li, you finally opened the door. Save me..."

Bang!

The moment he heard the words "save me," Wu Tao slammed the door shut. His cultivation was too low; he could not save Daoist Duocai's life.

Daoist Duocai was stunned by that bang. He hurriedly slapped the door and said, "Fellow Daoist Li, open the door and let me explain..."

Wu Tao said coldly, "Daoist Duocai, my strength is low, and I am not skilled at Spell Battles. Whatever powerful enemy you have provoked, I cannot withstand them. Go ask someone else to save you..."

Only then did Daoist Duocai understand. He hurriedly explained, "Fellow Daoist Li, you misunderstood. It is my fault for not making myself clear. I came to borrow Spirit Stones from you—borrow some Spirit Stones to save my life."

"Borrow Spirit Stones?"

Wu Tao let out a breath of relief. He was not familiar with the old daoist, so why should he lend him Spirit Stones? Besides, he was a swindler, which showed that his character was poor... Then Wu Tao could not help thinking of Zhang Li. Back then, he had possessed nothing and urgently needed Spirit Stones to save his life. Even without knowing his character, Zhang Li had lent him Spirit Stones.

Thinking of this, he opened the door and looked at Daoist Duocai. "How much do you want to borrow? Let me tell you, I am very poor. I cannot take out even one extra Spirit Stone."

Daoist Duocai had originally wanted to name a larger amount, but seeing Wu Tao speak this way, he could only swallow the words back. With a fawning smile, he said, "Fine, then just one Low-Grade Spirit Stone."

Wu Tao took out one Low-Grade Spirit Stone and gave it to Daoist Duocai.

Daoist Duocai thanked him profusely and made all sorts of promises that he would definitely return it tomorrow.

Wu Tao did not really believe such promises. The only reason he had been willing to lend the old daoist one Low-Grade Spirit Stone was because thinking of Zhang Li had touched the softest part of his heart. He kindly advised, "Daoist Duocai, find yourself an honest livelihood. Do not keep cheating and swindling people, or sooner or later, you will suffer a great loss."

"Yes, yes, yes, Fellow Daoist Li is right. This old daoist stopped doing that business long ago. Thank you for the Spirit Stone, Fellow Daoist Li. I will definitely return it tomorrow." Daoist Duocai left cheerfully.

Is anyone there? Say something, will you? Or toss me a vote...