After getting his hands on the item, Chen Ming applied its enchantment to the [Rock-Shattering Blade].
A chime rang out.
The moment the Equipment Enchantment Book took effect, the Rock-Shattering Blade let out a tremor.
In the next instant, a blood-red pattern, visible to the naked eye, began spreading from the tip of the blade.
It gradually crawled across the entire blade.
"Why does this look like some kind of evil spell?"
Chen Ming grumbled, then picked up the Rock-Shattering Blade and examined it from both sides.
He couldn't feel anything special about it.
Perhaps he'd only see the difference in a real fight, when he activated the 'Bloodthirsty' skill.
Chen Ming had wanted to test it out, but in the end he held back.
The ability's cooldown was an hour, which was a little long.
Fortunately, it also lasted for an hour, so that was good enough.
After getting a feel for the weapon, Chen Ming put it away in his space.
Then he took out the [Mind Crystal] he'd received as a reward.
It was still only the size of a fingernail, nothing like the other rare resources.
Chen Ming closed his eyes and began absorbing it, drawing on his mental power.
Crack—
Less than a minute later,
the crystal in his hand shattered, turning into grayish-brown powder.
"Still no increase to my mental attribute."
Chen Ming frowned.
Including the Mind Crystal he'd obtained yesterday, he'd already absorbed two mental resources.
And yet he hadn't even gained +1 mental power.
With other types of rare resources, whether they came as rewards from the Grand Exam or were found in the canyon,
absorbing just one was usually enough to grant him an attribute boost.
It wasn't that Chen Ming particularly wanted an increase to his mental attribute.
It was just that making no progress at all made the whole experience feel utterly pointless.
He'd absorbed two, and it was like he was just messing around—like tossing them into the water.
He didn't know whether the energy was simply too weak or mental attributes were inherently difficult to increase.
And these were the rewards he'd received over two days.
By that reckoning, even if he saved up all the mental resources awarded over the entire month of the Grand Exam,
they might not do much to enhance his awakened skill.
"No, I need to find another way."
"The Grand Exam rewards alone probably won't be nearly enough."
Chen Ming still wanted to fill the 'Water Pool'.
But from the looks of it,
even after a whole month of the Grand Exam, he might not accumulate enough to fill a 'small pond'.
"No wonder awakening a mental skill is so difficult for ordinary people."
Not only were mental resources hard to obtain,
but progress was damn slow, too.
Compared with awakening a class skill, it wasn't just a little more difficult.
After resting, Chen Ming set out again,
heading for the last area of the canyon.
He entered a narrow passage shrouded in mist, where visibility was poor.
The fog was so thick he could practically feel the moisture with every breath.
"If a fight breaks out in a place like this, relying on sight alone would put me at a huge disadvantage."
The dense fog was so thick he could barely see his hand in front of his face.
And, more importantly, he couldn't clear it away.
If Chen Ming's mental power hadn't surpassed 20%, greatly strengthening his mental detection,
he felt he would've gotten lost here.
"Hmm? Something's up ahead."
Chen Ming looked forward. The mist there seemed strange.
His mental detection had picked up an exceptionally strong energy source.
He followed its direction to that area
and found a small mound.
To the naked eye, it was just an inconspicuous heap of dirt.
But when Chen Ming swept it with his mental power, he saw something entirely different.
A layer of distorted air hung above the mound,
like air shimmering under scorching heat.
As Chen Ming approached, he could feel the heat.
It was like a wave of hot air washing over him.
He quickly climbed the mound and looked closely.
At the very top of the pit was a small hollow. Its walls were smooth and glossy on all sides, as though they'd been carefully polished.
In the very center, a dense cluster of energy enveloped something.
"There really is something here!"
Chen Ming's spirits lifted.
Just looking at the scene, he could tell it was extraordinary.
He sent his mental power into the energy cluster to find out what was inside.
The next second,
Chen Ming's eyes widened.
"A rare mental resource!"
Inside the energy cluster was an unusual little flame.
It was pale all over, with a blue tail of fire drifting from its tip.
It wasn't a physical object, but Chen Ming couldn't mistake the attribute energy it contained.
It was just like the [Mind Crystal].
Only, it wasn't even in the same league!
The energy held within this tiny pale blue flame was not only incredibly pure, but also immense.
Chen Ming estimated that it contained at least ten times the mental attribute energy of the [Mind Crystal].
"I didn't expect this instance to give me a surprise at the very end."
Chen Ming's face lit up.
But just as he was about to reach for it, he suddenly sensed danger.
The next second, a faint feeling of dread welled up inside him.
But it vanished as quickly as it came.
[-1! (Mental damage)]
"Hm?"
Chen Ming was taken aback.
This was the first time he'd ever suffered mental damage.
Chen Ming quickly pinpointed the direction of the attacker.
A will-o'-the-wisp hidden in the mist overhead.
[Flame Spirit]
[Level: lv.8]
[Abilities: Fire Control, Mental Spike]
[Description: A powerful 'Trick Beast' born from flames, naturally gifted with powerful mental abilities]
"A Trick Beast with two skills?"
Chen Ming frowned as soon as he saw the information.
An eighth-level monster, and it had a second ability.
The other one was clearly a mental skill.
Just as Class Changers could awaken mental skills upon reaching 20% mental power,
this Trick Beast had clearly awakened a mental skill of its own.
"Tsk, it's a physical-and-magic hybrid, too."
In the world of monsters, it was probably a genius, one way or another.
Chen Ming drew the Rock-Shattering Blade, his eyes gleaming.
"Perfect. I can use you to test the effect of Bloodthirsty Enchantment."
In midair,
the Flame Spirit had already launched its attack.
It was fast. Its long tail of flame cut through the thick fog as it swooped toward Chen Ming with astonishing force.
At the same time, several fireballs formed around it.
In an instant, a tremendous blaze flared up in the canyon.
Fire was its very essence. This style of attack could both inflict tremendous damage and intimidate its enemies,
making its opponents wary and keeping them from daring to fight at close range.
Unfortunately for it, its opponent was Chen Ming.
[-1!][-1!]
Chen Ming paid no attention to the flames that had nearly engulfed him.
He kept his eyes fixed straight ahead.
Then, as the Flame Spirit swooped within range, he brought the blade down with all his might.
[-60!]
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