Level up is hard? I can Directly Purchase infinite Levels!-Chapter 37: Blackwater Thunder Basin

Rumble—!

Crash—!

The waterfall poured down like molten black iron from a height of over a hundred meters.

With the force of a thousand tons, it slammed into the deep pool below, sending black spray shooting several meters into the air.

A faintly corrosive stench filled the atmosphere; even the surrounding rock had been eroded into a pitted, uneven surface.

"This should be the place."

Raine stowed his battle spear and stepped into the pool.

The bloodstains on his body were washed away by the black water, spreading into dark-red ripples behind him.

The Black Waterfall contained exactly the dark-aspect elemental force he needed to temper the Obsidian Golem Body.

He removed his military uniform and walked directly beneath the waterfall.

The Obsidian Golem Body spread across his surface, and he stepped forward.

In an instant, a hundred meters of black water crashed down like divine punishment, smashing violently into his back.

Crack!

Even with the Obsidian Golem Body protecting him, he was driven to one knee in a single blow, letting out a muffled grunt.

The terrifying impact rivaled a strike from an Elite-rank expert. Not only did it shake his bones to the brink of collapse, the aura on his body fluctuated violently.

The circulation pathways of the Obsidian Golem Codex accelerated within him, mobilizing all his blood qi to withstand the force.

At the same time, he discovered that the dark energy contained within the black water was being slowly absorbed and transformed.

"It works!"

Raine roared lowly, forcibly stabilizing his body and enduring the continuous impact.

Again and again his body bent, only to straighten once more.

Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and the piercing pain twisted his features.

Half an hour later, the dark-golden glow around his body not only failed to fade—it became even more solid.

Fine golden lines surfaced across his skin, spreading like a spiderweb.

Only then did Raine withdraw from beneath the waterfall to rest.

Those golden lines were the embryonic form of the Obsidian Golem Sigil, condensed from the absorbed dark energy.

Only when the patterns became dense enough to form a complete sigil would he truly enter the second star.

After resting for a while and recovering most of his stamina, he stepped beneath the waterfall again...

The second tempering session also lasted half an hour.

However, when he withdrew this time, the newly formed golden lines were noticeably fewer than before.

"After adapting to this attribute, the tempering effect weakens?"

Raine frowned.

He entered the waterfall for a third time, but emerged after just three minutes.

There were almost no new markings at all.

This meant that the black water here could no longer push his tempering any further.

To advance again, he would need a stronger force of nature—or a different elemental attribute altogether.

There was no point wasting more time here.

He briefly assessed his physical condition.

His physique and strength had nearly doubled compared to before.

If he could condense a complete Obsidian Golem Sigil, just how powerful would he become?

He glanced at the system interface.

[bloodstone: 10,500]

He had hunted many alien races along the way, reaping substantial gains.

Raine did not hurry back to the highlands. Instead, he headed deeper into the mountain range.

The night was as dark as ink. His figure melted into the shadows, while the faint purple gleam in his eyes flickered like starlight.

...

Within a shadowy abyss.

Violent Nex fluctuations disturbed a thundercrystal beast.

"What’s going on?"

The thundercrystal beast spoke in a low voice.

A massive python over twenty meters long slithered before it, its posture respectful.

"A human has entered this region and is slaughtering freely."

"A human?"

Bloodthirsty light burst from the thundercrystal beast’s eyes.

"Human flesh is tender and delicious. Bring him to me."

Before the python could react—

Boom—!

A figure descended from the sky, crushing a fleeing rending-claw wolf into a mist of blood with a single stomp!

The thundercrystal beast and the python both froze when they saw the newcomer.

Raine glanced briefly at the python before locking his gaze onto the thundercrystal beast.

Both were Elite-rank beasts, but the latter’s aura was far more terrifying.

Pale arcs of lightning coiled around its body, radiating a bone-chilling sense of danger even Raine could feel.

The two beasts also sensed Raine’s Formal-rank aura—and the surging vitality within his blood.

Greed instantly flared in their eyes.

Weak in strength, yet overflowing with life force—this was top-tier prey!

[Consume 5,098 bloodstone to temporarily advance to Elite Rank 9?]

"Yes!"

Raine answered instantly.

[Ding! Bloodstone consumed successfully. Duration: one hour.]

As the system prompt sounded—

Under the stunned gazes of the two beasts, Raine’s aura surged upward, breaking into the Elite realm in the blink of an eye!

An invisible pressure erupted outward from his body.

Roar—!

The thundercrystal beast reacted first, unleashing a deafening roar.

The python attacked simultaneously, opening its jaws to spew a stream of golden flame straight at Raine’s face.

At the same moment, Raine drew the Blackglow battle spear.

Elite-rank blood qi flooded wildly into the weapon.

In the next instant, a bolt of black lightning slammed head-on into the golden flame!

Boom—!

The golden flame exploded apart. The spear’s momentum did not falter as it smashed into the python’s skull.

Crack!

The sound of shattering bone rang out as scales, flesh, and blood sprayed everywhere.

The grievously wounded python shrieked in agony and recoiled.

But Raine was already upon it, appearing at its vital point as Riftpierce Thrust erupted!

Pshhk!

The spear pierced precisely into the python’s weak spot.

With a surge of strength in his arms, Raine ripped out its still-beating heart!

The python’s massive body collapsed instantly, able only to watch helplessly as the human youth casually tossed its heart to the ground.

Crack—!

A beam of lightning skimmed across the ground, blackening and shattering rock in its wake.

Raine retreated sharply, grabbing the python’s corpse with one hand and hurling it straight into the lightning beam!

Boom—!

Lightning exploded, and the python’s body was blown into a rain of flesh.

[Elite beast slain. bloodstone +1780]

As the notification sounded, Raine lunged like a hunting falcon, diving straight toward the thundercrystal beast!

The thundercrystal beast was incredibly fast, its body flashing like lightning as it dodged repeatedly.

The lightning patterns across its body blazed brighter and brighter, eventually converging in its mouth as it unleashed a pale lightning beam!

Raine dared not take it head-on and barely managed to evade.

Boom!

Boom! Boom!

Wherever the lightning passed, everything was instantly reduced to dust!

Gripping the Blackglow battle spear, Raine poured blood qi into it at a frenzied rate.

The spear hummed and vibrated violently, deep black radiance erupting from its tip—

The edge of a supreme transcendent weapon!

"Die!"

He barked coldly.

The spear transformed into a black meteor, plunging down from the sky to strike the thundercrystal beast!

Roar!

The beast flashed away in a bolt of lightning, but the sweeping blood qi still caught its rear. A swath of flesh was instantly scorched black.

Bang!

It was sent tumbling dozens of meters, carving a deep trench into the ground.

Raine recalled Blackglow and prepared to continue the assault, but the thundercrystal beast turned and fled toward the depths of the mountains without hesitation.

It had already realized—

This human was not prey it could afford to bite.

Holding the Blackglow battle spear, Raine chased it deep into the mountains.

After tens of thousands of meters, the thundercrystal beast stopped before a bizarre lightning pool.

Raine focused his gaze.

It was a lightning domain occupying half of a mountain hollow. Pale arcs of electricity writhed like countless silver serpents, crackling incessantly.

The aura of destruction was so dense it was almost solid, bathing the surroundings in a ghastly white glow.

Within the domain, nothing grew—there was no sign of life at all.

Only the thundercrystal beast stood at the edge, staring at Raine and releasing a provocative low growl, as if saying—

Do you dare enter this place?

This was a natural convergence of lightning and magnetism, formed by the long-term gathering of thunder elements from heaven and earth.

The thundercrystal beast had been born nearby. After years of absorption, it awakened the ability to control lightning and became the overlord of the region.

Relying on its homologous lightning-element power, it could briefly step into the lightning pool.

Raine froze for a moment—

Then ecstasy surged through his heart!