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Chapter 522, Light Knight
Glenda also shook her head and said, "There's really no noticeable change. Maybe it only works when it's inside your body."
"Then come back inside and test it out," Wu Heng said.
The two wraiths flew back into his body.
After a moment, they flew back out again.
Xiaoxiao exclaimed, "Wow, uncle, it works!"
Glenda added, "The necromantic energy in your body has become more active, and we've been affected as well. Our absorption rate has nearly doubled."
The wraiths were being nourished.
It could essentially be understood as the wraiths passively leveling up while inside his body.
The necromantic energy nourished them, gradually increasing their experience points, although the effect wasn't very significant.
It wasn't as fast as devouring other wraiths.
"It's that effective?" Wu Heng was a little surprised.
But then again, considering it was a Tier 2 merit reward item, it was expected to be powerful.
"As long as it works. Do you two want to go back inside?" Wu Heng asked.
Xiaoxiao said, "I want to watch cartoons."
"I'd like to take a walk outside."
Well then, it seemed they weren't particularly concerned about the nourishment.
"Alright, you two go have fun. Xiaoxiao, keep the volume down when watching cartoons."
"Okay."
The two wraiths dispersed, and Wu Heng set the shadow jade aside for now.
Next, Wu Heng took out the second item, [Lin Bing Jade Talisman].
During dinner earlier, he had asked Sheila Grey about the talisman's function.
According to her study,
it was an artifact in which a hero sealed one of their abilities.
In times of danger, crushing the talisman would release the sealed ability.
This type of item wasn't something that could be obtained with merit points; it was reserved for individuals the guild paid special attention to.
It was considered a token of high-priority protection.
Sheila Grey's Tier 2 merit reward also included one, the same as his.
Either way, it was a good reward.
After examining the artifacts and items, the last thing to check were the two skill books.
...…
He took a sip of tea.
Casually, he pulled out the first skill book, [Corpse Explosion], and started flipping through it.
As a typical high-damage spell within the necromantic school, it was a must-learn for anyone once they reached the required level.
Its underlying principle wasn't much different from that of 'Cursed Blast.'
However, its effect involved causing corpses to explode with tremendous force.
While it couldn't demolish buildings, it was sufficient to kill all surrounding creatures.
This skill was especially effective when used in combination.
[Raise Corpse], [Plague Insect Spell], and then triggering [Corpse Explosion] when the plague insects died.
It formed a deadly combination.
The overall effect was quite impressive.
Because of this synergy, many necromancers in battle preferred using rotting corpses rather than skeletons.
As he flipped to the final page of the skill book, a system notification appeared.
[Skill Unlocked: Corpse Explosion]
The skill [Corpse Explosion] was finally unlocked.
He thought about it briefly, but since the setting wasn't suitable, he dismissed the idea of testing it out.
He placed the [Corpse Explosion] skill book on the bookshelf.
Afterward, he began flipping through the second book, [Wound Curse].
Based on the book's introduction, [Wound Curse] was a curse-type spell that inflicted a negative status effect.
It was similar to 'Ray of Enfeeblement' and 'Ray of Sickness.'
However, its level and effect were stronger.
When cast on a target, it inflicted a severe injury status.
[Skill Unlocked: Wound Curse]
Another system notification appeared.
After finishing the two skill books,
Wu Heng stood up and stretched.
Outside the window, it was already late at night.
Not far away, one wraith was reading a book, while the other watched cartoons.
"Keep watching. I'm going to bed," Wu Heng said.
The two wraiths nodded.
Wu Heng returned to his bedroom and went to sleep.
...…
The next day.
After having breakfast, Wu Heng headed directly to the zombie world.
The skeleton army gathered at the factory gate.
A convoy slowly approached from the direction of the garage and parked nearby.
Wu Heng climbed into the passenger seat.
Qi Hancai handed him a tablet with the offline map open and said, "The airport is a bit far. The route I've set takes us around the outskirts, and once we reach the nearest point, we'll cut through two blocks to get to the airport."
The convoy's route primarily followed the outer roads.
It would then cross a section of the residential area.
Although it was a bit of a detour, it was much faster than cutting through the entire provincial capital.
Of course, clearing the zombies within the city was also part of the overall plan, but securing the airport came first.
"Alright, let's head out," Wu Heng said after a glance.
Qi Hancai nodded and relayed the command through the radio.
The convoy began moving, escorted by the skeleton army.
The trucks traveled for a while.
Wu Heng asked, "How's Wang Haibing doing?"
"There's no issue with the military factory's power plant. It can run on its own without supervision since it doesn't require manual refueling. Wang Haibing went to Xinfu City yesterday and should be inspecting the power plant today, but we haven't received any updates yet," Qi Hancai replied while driving.
"Follow up with him when you can. This isn't the time to slow down."
"Got it. I'll talk to him once we're back."
Wu Heng opened a bottle of mineral water and took a sip. "What about the blueprints from the main station?"
Qi Hancai replied, "It seems they're still being drawn. There hasn't been any news over the past two days. Once we've secured the airport, I'll contact them to check the progress."
"Alright, sounds good."
After discussing the power plant and blueprints,
Qi Hancai brought up some news from Xinfu City.
One of the key updates was that Wang Ke had married a base member.
They didn't have any official documents.
It was witnessed by Li Yanhong and a few elder members of the base.
Wang Ke was the nurse Wu Heng and Li Yanhong rescued at the district hospital. She had hidden inside a refrigerator and was discovered by Xiaoxiao.
What impressed Wu Heng most was that Wang Ke's grandmother worshipped many household guardian spirits.
Whether they were effective or not, he didn't know.
But for someone of her age to survive in that environment was quite remarkable.
"That's nice. It's a pity I couldn't attend the wedding banquet."
"Yanhong said that during the wedding, they not only paid respects to her grandmother but also bowed to you a few times," Qi Hancai said with a glance.
"How did they do that? Isn't that a bit ominous?"
"Yanhong sat in your place as your stand-in, but it was symbolic of you."
Wu Heng thought about it. "That scared me. I thought they were bowing to a picture of me. Just let everyone live well; no need for all that."
"Oh, by the way, Yanhong will be here tonight. If we finish early, you'll get to see her," Qi Hancai said, glancing over again.
"Alright, let's speed things up."
...…
By noon,
the convoy left the main road and entered the residential area.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
Deafening roars echoed across the area as a massive horde of zombies converged from all directions.
They formed a torrent, surging down the street.
The skeletal wyverns roared out.
Solid iron projectiles rained down like a storm, crashing into the zombie horde.
Thick smoke rose, leaving gaps in the packed zombie horde.
But shortly after, zombies from the rear filled the gaps and continued surging forward.
The skeletal wyverns swooped down again, dropping more iron projectiles.
The zombie horde fell like wheat before a scythe.
"There are mutated zombies, all Tier 2. There are about eight of them," Glenda reported after returning from reconnaissance.
Wu Heng handed her the cursed sword. "It's yours to handle."
"Got it." Glenda flew off with the cursed sword.
Mid-air, the sword was drawn, sending arcs of sword energy through the air.
Zombies along her path fell one after another.
...…
The skeletal wyverns continued their bombardment.
After four or five waves, the rate at which zombies gathered on the road began to slow.
Thousands of zombies still staggered toward them.
Normally, this would be the moment Wu Heng ordered the skeleton forces to push forward.
The spearmen would advance and kill the remaining zombies.
But today, Wu Heng had a different idea.
With a flip of his hand, [Immaculate Holy Radiance] appeared in his grasp.
This item, which the guild had given him as a warning, could summon knightly retainers to fight for him.
He was curious to see what it could do.
His assistant, Shiyali, had mentioned that the knightly retainers could level up by killing undead.
Zombies should count as undead, right?
Based on their characteristics, they were no different from rotting corpses.
Wu Heng placed the emblem on his chest and activated its power.
A golden light shot from the emblem, coalescing into a knight formed from golden light in front of him.
It was fully armored, with a helmet and a longsword in hand.
Although made of light, its contours were distinct.
It looked like a figurine with a high-powered light bulb inside.
The knight scanned its surroundings and, in the next second, suddenly raised its sword to strike a skeletal servant.
Caught off guard, Wu Heng was startled and quickly shouted, "Light Knight, stop attacking!"
The glowing sword halted mid-air, just two centimeters from the skeletal servant's helmet.
But it didn't withdraw—it merely hung in the air.
Damn, that was close.
If he had been a second slower, the sword would have struck.
Wu Heng pointed to the zombies rushing toward them. "Those are your targets—kill them for the church!"
Swoosh!
The Light Knight transformed into a streak of light and pierced through the dense zombie ranks, reforming at the forefront of the skeleton troops.
Wielding its golden light sword, it charged toward the oncoming zombies.
Its sword thrust forward, piercing through a zombie's chest in an instant.
The zombie continued to roar.
But in the next second, flames ignited and engulfed it.
The light sword withdrew, and the zombie collapsed as a charred corpse.
The Light Knight then plunged into the horde, swinging its weapon repeatedly.
Even if the sword strikes weren't lethal,
as long as it pierced flesh, the golden flames would ignite the zombie.
The zombies were instantly reduced to charred corpses.
On the battlefield, one fiery figure after another emerged,
only to fall to the ground as smoldering remains.
Wu Heng, hoisted high by two skeletons, watched the Light Knight's combat.
What a powerhouse—it had a natural suppression against the undead.
In the distance, the zombie horde grew larger,
surrounding the Light Knight. As it fought, its golden form began to fade.
Wu Heng activated the emblem again.
The Light Knight transformed into a streak of light and retreated back into the emblem.
It had narrowly avoided being overwhelmed by the zombies.
Wu Heng then gave the command, "Advance!"
Clatter!
The skeletal army surged forward, finishing off the remaining zombies.
"Skeletons are still the most reliable."