Undead Mage: I Have a Skeleton Clone-Chapter 469 - 342: Bloody Path of Battle, Absorbing Nether Amber

The One-eyed Instructor was momentarily stunned by Fang Zhou’s words. He then circled him a few times with an incredulous expression, as if confirming something. Finally, he slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "I get it now! It must be because your performance in the new recruit martial arts competition was so outstanding. That level of high-intensity combat not only tested your willpower but also gave your spiritual cultivation a massive boost. That’s why you were able to make such significant progress in just one week!"

Fang Zhou was somewhat taken aback. He hadn’t expected the One-eyed Instructor to come up with such an explanation. In reality, the reason his Spiritual Power had increased so dramatically in such a short time was that his Skeleton Clone had devoured three Blue Crystal Energy Crystals, leading to a massive boost in its Four-dimensional Attributes. A portion of this enhanced power was then fed back to his main body. However, this was obviously a secret he couldn’t reveal to outsiders. The instructor’s explanation conveniently provided Fang Zhou with a reasonable cover, saving him from having to worry about others questioning his sudden and rapid progress.

Over the decades of the Era of Myth, a number of exceptionally talented Professionals had indeed emerged. They excelled in combat and advocated a cultivation method of growing stronger through battle. The progress of such Professionals often seemed ordinary during regular cultivation, making their talent appear average. However, in intense, fierce combat—especially in life-or-death struggles against Demons—those who survived would find that the struggle on the brink of death unlocked the immense potential hidden within them. At critical moments, this potential would cause their cultivation speed to skyrocket.

Although this method was extremely dangerous and came with a high mortality rate, it wasn’t one adopted by people like Fang Zhou, who preferred a stable and steady path of cultivation. But for the rare few combat geniuses who reveled in battle and possessed sufficient strength and luck, the method of growing stronger through battle allowed their realms to soar, letting them rise like comets.

Fang Zhou had two such companions: one was the combat-crazed loli, Meng Hongzhuang, and the other was the ostentatious Ye Fan. Although Fang Zhou himself didn’t fully agree with such a high-risk cultivation method, it served as a perfect excuse for his own rapid improvement. With that in mind, Fang Zhou simply gave a slight smile and didn’t elaborate on the One-eyed Instructor’s speculation, tacitly accepting his imaginative explanation.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the One-eyed Instructor, Fang Zhou picked up the resource box filled with supplies, quickened his pace, and headed toward the Undead Mage research group’s laboratory on the other side of the campus.

Along the way, a new idea surfaced in Fang Zhou’s mind. Perhaps I should find or develop a Skill that can suppress my energy aura. Although it was relatively safe within the Sea City Military Academy and the instructors posed no threat, it was still best to keep his cultivation speed at a level that was astonishing but still believable, just to avoid unnecessary suspicion and trouble. The Celestial Curtain Magic Bottle he’d obtained through a trade was great for concealing his and his Undead Army’s movements, but it wasn’t suitable for hiding his presence in daily life. With this in mind, Fang Zhou made a note of the idea in his memo to explore later.

Pushing open the laboratory door, he found Instructor Su Xinyan already waiting for him. She was there to help him absorb the Nether Amber and master the Magic Conductor Profession specialization. Inside a private cultivation room, the Portable Concentration Meditation Array that Fang Zhou had received from the academy’s logistics office was already spread out and ready to go.

This portable Array functioned identically to the Basic Level Concentration Meditation Room he usually used. The only difference was its need for special Energy Batteries to activate. These batteries weren’t hard to get; they could be exchanged for in bulk at the logistics office, and the price was quite cheap for Fang Zhou. All things considered, the cost of using the Portable Concentration Meditation Array was slightly higher than directly exchanging contribution points for time in the Concentration Meditation Room, but the difference wasn’t significant.

For this reason, Fang Zhou had continued to cultivate in the Meditation Room up until now. On one hand, he had grown accustomed to it over the past few months; on the other, he wanted to save a few contribution points. More importantly, the true value of the Portable Concentration Meditation Array lay in its ability to provide a stable cultivation site in the midst of complex and ever-changing battlefield environments. This allowed a user to engage in Concentration Meditation and quickly recover their combat strength under any circumstances, free from external interference. It was perfect for quickly restoring one’s fighting capabilities on the battlefield without wasting time or slowing down overall cultivation progress.

This was only the second time Fang Zhou had formally used the portable Meditation Array since his initial test. Following Instructor Su Xinyan’s guidance, he first calmed his mind with a brief meditation, bringing himself to an optimal state. This would help him to more fully absorb the Nether Amber. Previously, Nature Series Professionals like Meng Hongzhuang, Liu Diewu, Yue Lingyun, and even Zhang Wu had used similar methods when absorbing Natural Attribute Heavenly and Earthly Treasures. Fang Zhou had accumulated a wealth of valuable experience from them, so his movements were as smooth as flowing water, without the slightest hint of hesitation as he followed the procedure.

Once he had adjusted his state, Fang Zhou opened his eyes and the resource box in his hands. Inside, the hard-won Nether Amber lay quietly. It was an Undead Attribute Heavenly and Earthly Treasure that had been painstakingly procured from the Longxia Federation military’s reserves. Outwardly, the Nether Amber looked exactly like the pictures Fang Zhou had seen in Su Xinyan’s notes on Undead Mage cultivation.

The Nether Amber looked like a gelatinous substance formed from black liquid, roughly the size of an adult’s fist, with a smooth and glossy surface. It seemed to exude an aura of decay and death. As Fang Zhou gazed at it, he suddenly perceived an essence of life and death, of an endless cycle of rebirth. But the sensation was fleeting, like a flash of insight that vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Observing the Nether Amber from the side, a flash of envy appeared in Su Xinyan’s eyes. "This piece of Nether Amber is much larger than the one my father found for me back then," she said, "and the energy within is exceptionally dense. This will definitely be enough for you. Go ahead, eat it."

If exposed directly to the air on Blue Star, Nether Amber could easily become diluted and degrade, which was one reason it was so exceptionally rare. Apprentice-level Professionals had a limit to how much of any Heavenly and Earthly Treasure they could absorb. Within that limit, it was naturally better for the treasure to be larger and its energy more concentrated to maximize its effects.

Fang Zhou steadied his mind and, following the method Su Xinyan had taught him, swallowed the entire piece of Nether Amber in one gulp. To Professionals of other Attributes, this Nether Amber was a deadly poison. Even a light touch would result in an invasion of Death Qi and cause severe illness, let alone eating it. For Undead Attribute Professionals like Fang Zhou and Su Xinyan, however, the Nether Amber was a potent tonic.

Through his keen Perception, Fang Zhou felt the Nether Amber melt the moment it entered his mouth, its texture somewhat resembling chocolate pudding. But it didn’t bring sweetness. Instead, an icy torrent slid down his throat and into his body. At the same time, a notification appeared on his attribute panel.

"Detected absorption of a foreign resource. Soul Power can be expended for perfect absorption. Begin absorption?"

I can’t believe the attribute panel can help me absorb the Nether Amber! Fang Zhou was delighted. Instructor Su Xinyan had previously told him that every Professional’s ability to absorb Heavenly and Earthly Treasures of their own Attribute was different.