Chapter 263: The Spinal Bone Serpent Staff
The reward has arrived?
Hearing this news, Wu Heng was delighted.
Calculating the time, it's been almost a month since he killed Skull-Crusher and the two key members.
He had traveled all the way from Rentam City to Gold-Silver Island; the reward has finally arrived.
The efficiency in this world is still too slow.
Much information and many documents are still transmitted mainly through letters.
Wu Heng looked at the elf assistant and asked, "How should I claim it?"
The assistant spoke calmly, "Since it involves a Level 2 merit reward, you can go to the Steward to make your selection."
Normally, Level 3 merit item rewards
Can be selected at the front desk, but for Level 2 merit, you need to go to the Steward.
It seems quite troublesome.
"Is the Steward in the study?"
"He is; I'll take you there."
The female elf assistant finished speaking and turned to walk toward the Steward's study.
Wu Heng told Andviel to go to the office first and then followed behind the elf assistant.
Elves have outstanding physiques and appearances.
Noble and elegant—that's the evaluation given to the Elven race by all other races.
The female elf assistant was also a golden-haired, pointy-eared lady, wearing a dark dress and walking with a straight posture.
Arriving at the Steward's study.
The elf assistant gently knocked on the door, "Steward, Deputy Steward Wu Heng is here."
"Let him in!" came the Steward's voice from inside.
The door opened, and Wu Heng walked straight in.
"Steward!"
"Mm!" Steward Imiro nodded plainly, "Your merit reward has arrived. I've filtered them and brought over some useful ones for you to choose from."
"Thank you, Steward!"
Imiro didn't say much more and walked out from behind the desk to the tea table.
From his spatial ring, he took out items one by one and placed them on the tea table.
[Vine Root Bracelet][Hunting Ring][Inspiring Horn]...[Instructor (Artifact)][Tracking Pendant (Artifact)].
There were also skill books.
[Bone Transplantation][Plague Insect Spell][Death Aura].
"These are Level 3 merit rewards. According to your recorded merits, you can choose two items." Imiro said, handing a paper sheet to the assistant beside him.
The female elf stood by and began introducing the items in order, "The Vine Root Bracelet is a magic item engraved with nature attributes. When thrown, it can create difficult terrain with multiple vegetation in a certain range, restricting the enemy's actions or buying time for your escape."
Wu Heng looked at the first [Vine Root Bracelet].
Back in Blackstone Town, the former captain had exchanged merit for a bracelet item that could entangle a single target with vines.
This one in front of him is obviously an area-effect item, which is indeed rare.
The elf continued introducing, "The Hunting Ring grants the user the ability to accurately lock onto targets, useful not only for bows and crossbows but also to assist in casting precision. The Inspiring Horn, when blown, boosts the fighting will of all living beings..."
The elf assistant kept speaking.
Wu Heng's gaze swept past and landed directly on the last two artifacts.
The first artifact was called [Instructor], but it looked like an ordinary longsword, somewhat old.
[Instructor (Artifact)]
[Category: Artifact]
[Function: When held, the body will be controlled by the 'Artifact' for swordsmanship training.]
[Side Effect: During use, there will be a severe struggle over body control.]
(Description: Originally a training longsword from a swordsmanship academy, it has been imbued with a self-imposed mission through years of practice. The holder will undergo formal swordsmanship training.)
A longsword that can 'possess' someone.
The effect of ghost possession is to control the other's body.
Just as described.
It takes over the user's body for swordsmanship training.
This is indeed quite special.
Wu Heng looked at it.
The elf assistant happened to be introducing the longsword, "The Instructor Longsword can help the user quickly practice swordsmanship. The highest level achieved by users was master-level swordsmanship."
Wow, master-level swordsmanship.
The specialization levels are divided into six ranks.
Beginner - Basic - Intermediate - Advanced - Master - Grandmaster.
Master-level is already considered a top swordsmanship expert.
The assistant then introduced the second artifact.
"The Tracking Pendant: place the missing target's hair or personal item into its mouth to detect the target's direction."
Wu Heng continued to look at the 'Tracking Pendant'.
A rusty metal skull the size of a walnut, with a thin iron chain.
[Tracking Pendant (Artifact)]
[Category: Artifact]
[Function: Determine the target's life or death and find the approximate location.]
[Side Effect: After use, it requires feeding with blood.]
(Description: A burial item from a deep tomb, retaining the obsession of someone seeking their kin.)
An artifact that can locate a target.
The price is feeding it fresh blood.
It doesn't specify whose blood.
Shouldn't be a big problem.
"As for the skill books, you probably know them better than I do, so I won't introduce them." The elf assistant closed the document in her hand.
Wu Heng nodded and continued to look at the skill books.
......
There were three in total.
[Bone Transplantation]
(Description: After casting, skeleton servants with missing bones can repair missing parts themselves (repair materials include but are not limited to corpses, remains, and fragments).)
[Plague Insect Spell]
(Description: From corpses or rotting bodies, summon poisonous insects to attack surrounding enemy units.)
[Death Aura]
(Description: Creates a foggy environment filled with the aura of death, obstructing vision and containing various viruses such as disease, withering, and weakness.)
These three skills are all very good.
All are what he needs.
In Blackstone Town and Rentam City, acquiring skills relied more on purchasing from the Snake Emblem Consortium.
They were brought in from other places.
But here, it seems he can directly exchange merits for them.
It is indeed a big city; things are more comprehensive.
......
"Which ones do you like?" Steward Imiro asked with a smile.
"Still considering," Wu Heng said.
For Level 3 merit, he can exchange for two item rewards.
In terms of items, he definitely favored the two artifacts. The 'Instructor Longsword' can help him train, and the 'Tracking Pendant' is also a very good artifact with a reasonable price.
Choosing these two yields the greatest benefit.
Artifacts are generally unique, and selling them would fetch the highest price.
As for the three skill books, Wu Heng also needs them.
Especially [Bone Transplantation]; in his skeleton army, there are quite a few missing limbs.
Even Barson, who was left to protect Li Yanhong, has a broken rib, temporarily fixed with tape.
"I think the Instructor Longsword is a good choice, and for the other, you can pick a magic book. 'Death Aura' is very good; it covers an area and is effective for blocking pursuers or retreating," Steward Imiro suggested.
Wu Heng did not respond.
From Imiro's perspective, he thinks these two are most suitable for him.
Wu Heng thought carefully and then looked up with a smile, "I'll exchange for the two artifacts this time and get the skill books with future merits."
The day before yesterday, helping Team 3 kill the pirates also earned Level 3 merit.
When the merit arrives, he can exchange for the skill books.
And once these two artifacts are exchanged, they might not be available anymore.
The Steward was a bit surprised but didn't say much, "Alright, as long as you've thought it through. Go ahead and take them."
Wu Heng put away the two items.
The elf assistant beside him recorded it in her notebook.
......
Imiro also put away the remaining items and skill books.
He continued, "You also have a Level 2 merit reward."
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and two items appeared before them.
One was a white staff resembling a spine, and the other was an iron-gray solid iron figure about the size of a palm.
Wu Heng's gaze first fell on the staff.
The staff looked like a curved spine, with overlapping vertebrae, the top bending downward, resembling a cobra standing upright.
[Spinal Bone Serpent Staff]
(Description: A magic item made from the spine of a ghoul, engraved with 'Plague Insect Spell' and 'Soul Capturing Gaze', necromancy effects +23%.)
Wow!
Wu Heng's pupils shrank.
Not an artifact, but a magic item made from a ghoul's spine.
Becoming a ghoul means reaching an undead state.
Yet someone used it to make a weapon in this way.
One has to say, people in this world have reached a perverted level of material utilization.
After a slight surprise.
Wu Heng focused on the engraved magic on it.
'Plague Insect Spell'—he had just seen the skill book—and the second one called 'Soul Capturing Gaze'.
Wu Heng didn't mind the two elves in the room.
He directly took out the Book of Necromancy from his spatial ring to look for related information.
In his memory, he vaguely remembered seeing this skill.
[Soul Capturing Gaze]: Your eyes will be filled with terrifying power. Creatures with 'Intelligence below 15' who make eye contact with you will suffer effects such as 'Sleep', 'Panic', or 'Sickness'. Targets affected by this spell can be subjected to necromancy spells again.
An eye-released skill?