After some consideration, Fang Zhou used one of his free redemptions to acquire the [Skeleton Meditation Method] Skill Book. He decided to check on his Clone's situation before choosing a second skill.
Upon clicking confirm, the [Skeleton Meditation Method] Skill Book was quickly transmitted to Fang Zhou's personal terminal.
"Identity confirmation passed. Skill data transmitting..."
Soon after, a projection appeared before Fang Zhou. Onscreen, a tall young woman repeatedly demonstrated the [Skeleton Meditation Method]. Beside her was a Visualization Image of a skeleton, etched with the circulation routes for Spiritual Power. Through special Mind Magic, these images could be retained in the learner's mind for a month, granting them a state of perfect recall. A month was more than enough time for a novice to master the basics.
"Imagine yourself as a skeleton, feeling the touch of Death on a wasteland, white with bones...
"If you can visualize a complete skeleton, it signifies that you have successfully been initiated.
"Meditation is mentally taxing. Achieving initiation within seven days means you have adequate Talent.
"The shorter the time, the stronger the Talent.
"Good luck to those who follow!"
Fang Zhou went through the contents of the Meditation Method, eager to give it a try. He sat cross-legged, his eyes fixed on the skeleton image as he attempted to visualize it.
Soon, the skeleton in his mind's eye began to grow larger and larger. When it filled his entire field of vision, Fang Zhou instinctively closed his eyes and, for the first time, clearly sensed the existence of the spiritual world.
According to the Meditation Method, he needed to try and condense his Spiritual Power into a skeleton. This process was meant to be difficult, usually requiring days of effort. Even the most talented predecessor had needed a full day to be initiated.
However, Fang Zhou soon discovered his situation was somewhat different. His Spiritual Power moved as easily as his own limbs, and in less than half an hour, he had visualized a vivid, lifelike skeleton.
"Successfully learned the skill [Skeleton Meditation Method]!"
Fang Zhou opened his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Was it really that simple?
He glanced at his attribute panel, and sure enough, the [Skeleton Meditation Method] had been added to his [Skills] section.
[Skeleton Meditation Method] (Apprentice, Beginner): A basic Undead Mage meditation method that can slowly increase the Spirit Attribute through visualizing a skeleton.
Is my Talent really that high? Could I have the Innate Undead Mage Holy Body?
However, Fang Zhou frowned, feeling that the skeleton visualized in his mind was somehow... uncoordinated. It seemed a skeleton shouldn't look like this.
Fang Zhou was puzzled. The [Skeleton Meditation Method] was a mature technique that his Undead Mage predecessors had painstakingly developed; theoretically, there shouldn't be any issues with it.
Suddenly, Fang Zhou glanced at his Skeleton Clone, and a flash of insight struck him. A ready-made reference was right before his eyes; why bother looking far afield?
No one in this world understands skeletons better than me!
Fang Zhou immediately closed his eyes and focused his attention on his Skeleton Clone.
「In an unknown place infinitely far from the human world.」
A small skeleton's Soul Fire suddenly flared, burning several times more intensely.
Fang Zhou cautiously surveyed his surroundings. This was a wasteland under a gloomy, dim sky, shrouded in gray mist. Above the thick clouds, an ominous Blood Moon occasionally peeked through. The land was barren and desolate, showing no signs of life. As far as he could see, there were only countless scattered bones.
Is this the Undead world?
He glanced at his Clone's attribute panel.
[Clone]: Skeleton
[Tier]: Apprentice · Lower
[Attributes]: Strength 1, Constitution 1, Agility 1, Spirit 1
[Equipment]: None
[Skills]: Bone Armament (Apprentice, Instinct): An instinct of the Skeleton Race. Can use bones to strengthen itself and forge equipment.
[Soul Power]: 0
He was a newly born, frail skeleton, one that might not even be able to defeat an ordinary person.
CRACK.
CRACK.
Suddenly, not far from Fang Zhou, the blood-red moonlight pierced through the clouds and fell upon a pile of bones. A faint Soul Fire flickered to life. Under the influence of some Mysterious Power, this pile of scattered bones slowly assembled into a skeleton, which was now clumsily trying to get up.
Seeing its Soul Fire, a ravenous hunger washed over Fang Zhou.
Devour it! Consume! Grow stronger! Evolve!
Fang Zhou's brow bones knitted together, and he took two steps back. This desire might be a skeleton's instinct, but his own combat power was low and the situation was uncertain. He couldn't afford to indulge this urge.
Thus, he controlled his Clone to quietly retreat and observe the newborn skeleton's every move from a distance, while simultaneously opening his personal terminal to search the database for information on skeletons.
"Skeleton: A cannon fodder summon of the Undead Mage, an Apprentice-level Undead Creature.
"Its body is frail and it lacks intelligence. Its weakness is its Soul Fire.
"It has an instinctive desire to attack living things and can grow stronger by consuming the Soul Fires and carcasses of its own kind, with an extremely slim chance of advancing to the Black Iron-tier Skeleton Warrior or Skeleton Archer."
The guide also provided details on the skeleton's attack patterns and Combat Abilities and was even accompanied by combat videos. Apprentice-level skeletons had no concept of using weapons; they would only pounce and gnaw based on instinct. Only upon advancing to a Skeleton Warrior or Skeleton Archer would they use [Bone Armament] to conjure weapons.
After reading the information, Fang Zhou's Soul Fire flickered as a wave of confidence washed over him. Though my clone is weak, other skeletons seem even weaker. At least I know how to use a weapon.
After taking a few steps to adapt to his new body, Fang Zhou picked up the large thigh bone of some unknown creature from the bone-strewn ground. He made a wide circle and slowly approached the newborn skeleton from behind.
The skeleton he had targeted as his prey was still standing there in a daze.
Ten meters.
Five meters.
Three meters.
When Fang Zhou was only a meter away, he raised the thigh bone in his hand and, with all his might, stabbed toward the Soul Fire within the skeleton's skull!
CRACK!
With a crisp sound, the thigh bone in Fang Zhou's hand snapped in two. The other skeleton's head shattered in unison, its Soul Fire flickering once before extinguishing completely.
Without its Soul Fire, the skeleton's gray frame trembled and collapsed into a heap on the ground, leaving only a wisp of pale blue smoke to drift lazily above the bone pile.
So weak!
Fang Zhou let out a slight sigh of relief. After glancing around and ensuring there was no danger, he followed his instincts and placed his hand over the pile of bones.
Ah... so comfortable!
He could clearly feel a warm current flowing from the bone pile and pouring into his own body! However, the current was very weak and lasted only a few seconds.
When the warmth disappeared, accompanied by a faint crackling sound, the pile of bones turned into a puff of grayish-white ash and was carried away by the wind. It was as if every last drop of valuable essence within the bones had been devoured and absorbed by Fang Zhou