The training ground fell silent. All the cadets from Company One were completely numb.
Fang Zhou could now summon twenty skeletons to dismantle a test puppet into a pile of scattered parts. Did that also mean he was already capable of taking down an Abyss Little Inferior Demon?
With such a track record right after his Awakening, who would still dare to say that the Undead Mage was the weakest Profession?!
Fang Zhou let out a light breath, waved his hand to dismiss the remaining skeletons, and then looked at Lu Hu.
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
Lu Hu applauded graciously. "Well done, Fang Zhou! You've really opened my eyes! Rest assured, I'll apply for those twenty contribution points for you today!"
The cadets, as if jolted from a dream, also began to clap enthusiastically.
This was a display of raw power from Fang Zhou, and they were utterly convinced.
If anyone wasn't convinced, they could go and try dueling ten—no, twenty skeletons!
Gu Zhiqiu watched from afar, applauding Fang Zhou while a competitive fire ignited within him.
If I sparred with Fang Zhou, could I bypass those twenty skeletons and assassinate him directly?
Bai Xiaochan, however, rushed excitedly to Fang Zhou and clutched his arm tightly.
"So strong! Fang Zhou! You're really so strong!"
Ye Fan's eyes gleamed as he circled around to Fang Zhou's side and sighed dramatically, "My path is not a lonely one!"
Fang Zhou blatantly ignored the ever-melodramatic Ye Fan. He smiled at Bai Xiaochan and made his excuses, claiming his Spiritual Power was severely depleted and he urgently needed to rest. He used this as an opportunity to slip away from the excited crowd and return to his dormitory.
***
At the training ground, after the cadets from Company One had dispersed, Lu Hu returned the nine intact test puppets to the warehouse. He then hurriedly carried the pile of parts that Fang Zhou's skeletons had dismantled straight to the principal's office.
Su Tiankuo was sitting at his desk, browsing the frontline war reports from the Mythical World. His face darkened when he saw Lu Hu barge in with a pile of junk.
"You oaf! What is this mess you're dragging into my office!"
"Commander, look!"
Without bothering to explain, Lu Hu dumped the parts on the floor. He then tapped his wrist-mounted personal terminal a few times and played a recording of the earlier battle where Fang Zhou had summoned twenty skeletons to fight the test puppet.
"Twenty skeletons?" Su Tiankuo asked, his eyes slightly narrowed. "Is this the young man, the Undead Mage you spoke so highly of? Hasn't he only been Awakened for two days? And he can already summon twenty skeletons?"
"Exactly, Commander! I was shocked myself today! Forget just Awakening—historically, no Undead Mage has ever been able to summon twenty skeletons during the Apprentice Stage. Not even that girl Xinyan could do it!"
"This kid, Fang Zhou, is just too talented! He might actually be the one to wash away the shame of the Undead Mage Profession!" Lu Hu said, his face alight with joy.
Su Tiankuo snorted coldly. "Hmph, how many times have I told you? In the military academy, you call me Principal!"
Lu Hu, ever perceptive, quickly stepped forward to light a cigarette for him. "Yes, Principal!" he said fawningly.
Su Tiankuo took a drag from his cigarette, his eyes narrowed. He didn't seem as stern as he usually appeared in public, instead revealing a hint of a roguish air.
"This little matter isn't worth a special trip here just to get an earful from me. Spit it out, what's on your mind?"
Lu Hu studied Su Tiankuo's expression and said cautiously, "Principal, Fang Zhou first completed the beginner level of Meditation in a single day, and now he can summon twenty skeletons at will. Even though he's an Undead Mage, I believe he's worthy of a 'Seed' spot."
"Get out! That's not up for discussion. Everything depends on the results of the Simulation Battlefield!" Su Tiankuo waved his hand impatiently.
Lu Hu's face fell with disappointment, but he pressed on, "Then how about this? The Undead Mage is an extremely rare Profession, and the Magic Professional instructors at the academy don't have much experience teaching one. Principal, do you think we could ask Xinyan to return from the Mythical World? She could give Fang Zhou some guidance during his initial stage. It would be a shame if he went down the wrong path and wasted his talent. Xinyan always goes on about how the 'Undead Mage is Invincible.' I'm sure she'd be more than willing to mentor an outstanding junior like Fang Zhou."
Su Tiankuo flicked his ash and said stubbornly, "Hmph, it's just a few more skeletons. What kind of talent is that!"
However, he mulled it over for a moment before reluctantly conceding, "Your suggestion is worth considering. But Xinyan is currently on a mission on the Human-Demon Battlefield. When she returns for leave, I'll ask for her opinion."
Hearing this, Lu Hu's face broke into a wide grin. "Then on Fang Zhou's behalf, I'll thank you and Xinyan in advance, Principal! With guidance from a renowned mentor, he surely won't let us down!"
Su Tiankuo nodded. "As Fang Zhou's instructor, you need to monitor his psychological state. The demons' offensive is growing fiercer, and the front line needs more power!"
Lu Hu raised his hand in a salute. "Yes, Principal! By the time Fang Zhou's batch of cadets graduates, my injuries should be fully healed. I'll be able to return to the front line. When that time comes, I'll make those demon whelps get a good taste of Lu Hu's greatsword!"
All the instructors at the Sea City Military Academy were veterans who had retired from the front lines of the Human-Demon Battlefield. They had all returned to the home front on Blue Star to recuperate, either because they had suffered severe injuries, their combat power had greatly diminished, or they were nearing the end of their lives and could no longer fight.
This was the case for Lu Hu, Shen Hongyu, and even Principal Su Tiankuo himself.
Su Tiankuo turned away, looking out the window at the tranquil sunset, and gave a slight wave of his hand.
Lu Hu gathered the pile of parts from the floor, saluted again, and bowed as he backed out of the office.
Just as he stepped through the doorway, he suddenly remembered something. He poked his head back in. "Commander, there's one more thing I forgot to report. To encourage those green recruits to spar with the test puppets, I promised that whoever could dismantle one, I'd apply for twenty contribution points for them. Heh heh, what do you think?"
"Get out!" Su Tiankuo snapped, tossing his cigarette butt at the door.
The office door slammed shut with a BANG. "Thank you, Commander! Thank you, Commander!" Lu Hu's muffled thanks came from the other side.
***
In his dormitory, Fang Zhou was about to have his skeleton clone explore deeper into the Burial Wilderness when a message appeared.
DING! A message popped up on his personal terminal: "Junior Sergeant Fang Zhou, 20 contribution points have been credited to your account!"
The contribution points have arrived? Not bad, not bad at all!
He happened to have 10 Soul Power, enough to quickly master the beginner level of an Apprentice-tier skill.
Should I prioritize getting a skill for my main body or for the skeleton clone?
After a brief consideration, Fang Zhou decided to prioritize enhancing the skeleton clone's combat power.
His main body was perfectly safe for now, with no combat opportunities in sight. Even if a fight broke out, his twenty skeletons and the Skeleton Flying Spear skill should be more than enough to handle it.
The skeleton clone, on the other hand, was about to explore a new area. An extra skill would provide an additional layer of security.
Fang Zhou opened the Universal Skill Library for Combat Professions and focused on two skills: the Displacement Skill, Charge, and the Passive Skill, Weapon Specialization.
Without much hesitation, Fang Zhou chose the Charge skill.
One must always plan for failure before victory. With Charge, the skeleton clone could escape smoothly even if it ran into a dangerous situation.