As the Skeleton Clone grew, Fang Zhou's main body would also be affected and continuously grow stronger.
Thinking of this possibility, his eyes lit up.
It seems I'll have to become a Time Management Master. I can't neglect either my main body or my clone!
He carefully studied the attribute bar again. The Strength, Agility, and Constitution attributes were calculated based on the Skeleton Clone's growth, converted at a one-to-ten ratio. As for his Spirit attribute, it had surprisingly increased by another 0.01.
Could it be the effect of the [Skeleton Meditation Method]? But my main body was just resting its eyes, not deliberately practicing the Meditation Method.
Fang Zhou's mind raced, and he quickly landed on a possibility. Perhaps because of the Skeleton Clone, he was in a constant state of passive meditation. If this was true, the growth rate of his Spirit attribute would exceed anyone's imagination!
Limited by the soul's carrying capacity, the time a Professional could spend in meditation each day was finite. A newly awakened Apprentice-level Professional, without any external aids, would reach their limit after meditating continuously for just one hour. Yet, Fang Zhou could remain in a meditative state indefinitely. This represented an enormous advantage in his growth potential!
Fang Zhou committed this speculation to memory and began examining the changes in his Skills Bar. He focused his attention on the "+" symbol next to the Inference Skill category.
"Detected that a clone's skill has reached [Instinct] proficiency. It can be used as Skill Material for the main body to infer an Unknown Skill. Estimated cost: 10 Soul Power."
"Begin inference?"
Fang Zhou was slightly taken aback. A Professional's skills were not only divided by tiers like Apprentice, Black Iron, and Bronze, but also had proficiency levels. The proficiency levels, from lowest to highest, were Beginner, Master, Skilled, Mastery, Perfection, and Instinct. [Skeleton Armament] was the skeleton's talent skill, so its proficiency was already at the highest level, [Instinct].
"Begin inference!" Fang Zhou ordered decisively.
This was a godsend. He had just been worrying about his main body's lack of useful skills, and a surprise had landed right in his lap. As his Soul Power dropped to zero, Fang Zhou instantly entered a brainstorming mode. He continuously replayed the process of the Skeleton Clone using [Skeleton Armament] to craft a long spear, and a torrent of brilliant ideas erupted in his mind.
The essence of the skeleton's armament was a specific application of Undead Energy. Theoretically, an Undead Mage could also simulate [Skeleton Armament] using Undead Mana. If the Skeleton Clone could forge a bone long spear, then his main body could also condense Undead Mana into the shape of a long spear. A flash of inspiration struck Fang Zhou.
"Skill inference successful: [Skeleton Flying Spear]!"
[Skeleton Flying Spear] (Apprentice Tier, Skilled): Condense a spear of bone to hurl at the enemy, inflicting both Armor-Piercing Physical Damage and Death Energy Damage. The quantity, power, and range are determined by the user's Spirit attribute and skill proficiency.
The new skill was created, and it even started at the [Skilled] proficiency level! A smile spread across Fang Zhou's handsome face.
They're all Apprentice-tier skills, but can [Death Missile] or [Weakening Beam] even hold a candle to my dual-damage [Skeleton Flying Spear]?!
Of course, more important than this single new Apprentice-tier skill was that Fang Zhou had successfully developed the prototype for a Skeleton Series Skill Tree for Undead Mages. Since Undead Mana could be condensed into the form of a [Skeleton Flying Spear], it meant it could also be condensed into shields, armor, prisons, and all sorts of other shapes. As long as he had enough Soul Power, he could infer skills like [Skeleton Shield], [Skeleton Giant Claw], and [Skeleton Prison].
In the future, every Undead Mage would have to call him the "Skeleton Tutor"!
Just think of all the contribution points that would mean!
After indulging in this beautiful fantasy, Fang Zhou finally succumbed to the soul-deep exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.
「Meanwhile, at the Sea City Military Academy Conference Room」
The instructors of the freshman platoons were reporting the day's Awakening results to the principal, Su Tiankuo.
"The total number of new students is 10,000. 9,103 awakened successfully, while 897 failed, for a success rate of approximately 91%."
"Among the successful, Combat Professionals number 6,370, Magic Professionals 1,820, and Support Professionals 913, for a ratio of roughly 7:2:1."
"We have a total of 85 Rare Professionals. They include Zhao Yuan with [Earth Knight], Bai Xiaochan with [Chanting String], Gu Zhiqiu with [Storm Mage], Ye Fan with [Demon Hunter]..."
"The academy's 'Seed' training quota for new students is 100. Excluding the 85 Rare Professionals already on the list, we have recommended an additional 15 individuals for the potential candidate list based on their Awakened Profession and personal qualities. They are..."
After the long list was read, the office fell silent. A Rare Profession, also known as a high-potential Profession, was a classification determined by statistically analyzing the Professions of all high-tier human powerhouses. High potential meant a greater probability of reaching a High Tier, and their combat power was generally stronger than that of ordinary Professions. The 'Seed' training quota, as the name implied, designated the first echelon of students the academy would prioritize, granting them a much greater share of resources.
"Hmm, not bad." Su Tiankuo nodded slightly. His features were resolute, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, seeming to pierce through everything. "Provide psychological counseling for the new students who failed their Awakening, and coordinate with other universities for their transfer arrangements. These children are all talents of the Federation; they were just a bit unlucky."
"Yes, sir!" the instructors chorused.
After assigning a few more teaching-related tasks, Principal Su asked, "Is there anything else?"
Instructor Lu Hu of the first platoon hesitated. But when he recalled the dejected look on Fang Zhou's face after awakening as an Undead Mage, he couldn't help but step forward. "Reporting to the Principal, there is another new student in the first platoon, Fang Zhou, who awakened as an Undead Mage. I would like to recommend him for the 'Seed' candidate list."
Su Tiankuo glanced at him, his tone placid. "The Undead Mage Profession indeed has great potential, but history has proven that this potential is difficult to realize. The academy's resources are limited. I have reservations."
"But Major Xinyan is also an Undead Mage!" Lu Hu said urgently. "Her combat power is no weaker than that of other Mages!"
A rare smile tugged at Su Tiankuo's stern face. "Su Xinyan barely managed to shape up because she had me, her former Legendary-rank father, pouring every resource I had into her training. What kind of backing does this Fang Zhou have?"
Lu Hu was rendered speechless, and the other instructors remained silent. Everyone knew Principal Su was upright and straightforward, but not just anyone could stomach the biting sarcasm of the "Legendary Crown."
"Instructor Lu, I know you and Fang Zhou's parents were comrades-in-arms, and they were indeed heroes of the Federation. However, the 'Seed' training list is a matter of great importance. It brings not just resources, but also responsibility and obligation. If their strength and character don't match the position, the consequences will be severe. It's best you don't let your personal feelings interfere."
Su Tiankuo stood up, his sharp gaze fixed on Lu Hu. "However, while I'm inherently skeptical of Undead Mages, the orphan of a martyr deserves some consideration. I'll give you my promise. If Fang Zhou can achieve results in the upcoming [Simulation Battlefield] on par with those Rare Professionals, I'll allow him on the list."
"Now, dismissed!"