After some consideration, Fang Zhou first spent one free privilege to exchange for a book on the "Skeleton Meditation Method."
He wanted to see the situation with his clone before choosing another skill.
Upon clicking confirm, the "Skeleton Meditation Method" skill book was quickly transmitted to Fang Zhou's personal terminal.
"Identity confirmation passed, skill data being transmitted..."
Soon after, a projection appeared before Fang Zhou, showing a tall young woman repeatedly demonstrating the "Skeleton Meditation Method."
Beside her was a skeleton imagery visualization image, depicting the route of Spiritual Power circulation.
These images, through special mind magic skills, can keep the learner from forgetting them for a month, as if they have perfect recall.
And a month is enough time for a novice to get started.
"Imagine yourself as a skeleton, feeling the touch of death on a bone-covered desert...
If you can visualize a complete skeleton, it indicates successful entry-level mastery.
Meditation is mentally taxing, and if you can achieve entry within seven days, it means you have adequate talent.
The shorter the time, the stronger the talent.
Good luck to those who follow!"
Fang Zhou went through the content of the meditation method, eager to give it a try.
He sat cross-legged, his eyes fixed on the skeleton image in the meditation method, attempting to visualize.
Soon, the skeleton in his mind began to magnify continuously.
When the skeleton occupied all his sight, 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 to condense his Spiritual Power into a skeleton, a process that would be challenging and usually required days of effort.
Even a predecessor with the best talent needed a day to achieve entry.
However, Fang Zhou found something different after this.
His Spiritual Power was as manipulable as his own limbs, and within less than half an hour, he vividly visualized a lifelike skeleton.
"Successfully learned the skill 'Skeleton Meditation Method'!"
Fang Zhou opened his eyes, rubbed his brow: "Was it really that simple?"
He looked towards the attribute panel, and sure enough, the "Skills" section now included the "Skeleton Meditation Method."
"Skeleton Meditation Method" (Apprentice level, Beginner): A basic Undead Mage meditation method, which can slowly increase Spirit Attribute through skeleton visualization.
"Is my talent really that high? Could it be the Innate Undead Mage Holy Body?"
However, Fang Zhou frowned, sensing that the skeleton in his mind felt quite uncoordinated.
It seemed that the skeleton shouldn't be like this.
Fang Zhou was puzzled. The "Skeleton Meditation Method" was a mature meditation method diligently realized by Undead Mage predecessors, and theoretically should have no issues.
Suddenly, Fang Zhou glanced at his skeleton clone, a flash of insight struck within his mind.
An existing reference was right in front of him, so why look elsewhere?
No one in this world understands skeletons better than me!
Fang Zhou directly 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 burned several times more intensely.
Fang Zhou cautiously surveyed his surroundings.
This was a wasteland, the sky was gloomy and dim, shrouded by a misty gray fog.
Above the thick cloud layer, an ominous Blood Moon occasionally came into view.
The land was barren and ruined, showing no signs of life. As far as Fang Zhou could see, there were only countless scattered bones.
Is this the Undead world?
He glanced at the attribute panel for his clone——
"Clone": Skeleton
"Tier": Apprentice · Lower
"Attributes": Strength 1, Constitution 1, Agility 1, Spirit 1
"Equipment": None
"Skills": Bone Armament (Apprentice level, Instinct): An instinct of the Skeleton Race, can use bones to strengthen itself and forge equipment.
"Soul Power": 0
A newly born, frail skeleton, one that might not even beat an ordinary person in combat.
Snap.
Snap.
Suddenly, not far from Fang Zhou, the blood-red moonlight broke through the clouds and fell on a pile of bones, a faint Soul Fire flickered to life.
Under the influence of mysterious power, this pile of scattered bones slowly assembled into a skeleton, ineptly trying to stand.
Seeing its Soul Fire, a surge of hunger suddenly came over Fang Zhou.
Devour it!
Consume!
Grow stronger!
Evolve!
Fang Zhou's brow furrowed, and he took two steps back.
This desire might be the skeleton's instinct, but since his own strength was weak and the situation unclear, he must not indulge this desire.
Thus, he controlled his clone to quietly retreat, observing the newly born skeleton from a distance, while opening his personal terminal to search the database for skeleton intelligence.
"Skeleton, a cannon fodder summoned creature of the Undead Mage, apprentice-level undead creature.
Body is frail, lacks intelligence, weakness lies in its Soul Fire.
Has an instinctual attack drive toward living organisms, can grow stronger by consuming the Soul Fire and shells of its kind, with an extremely slim chance of advancing to Black Iron-tier Skeleton Warrior or Skeleton Archer."
This guide also detailed the skeleton's attack methods and combat abilities, including combat videos of skeletons.
Apprentice-level skeletons have no awareness of using weapons, only attacking and biting instinctively.
Only upon advancing to a Skeleton Warrior or Skeleton Archer will they use "Bone Armament" to conjure weapons.
After reading the information, Fang Zhou felt more confident, as evidenced by a flicker in his Soul Fire.
Though his clone was weak, other skeletons seemed even weaker; at least he could use weapons.
After taking a few steps to adapt to his skeletal body, Fang Zhou picked up the femur of an unknown creature from the bone-laden land, circled around the newly born skeleton, and slowly approached from behind.
The skeleton he targeted as prey still stood dazedly in place.
Ten meters.
Five meters.
Three meters.
When Fang Zhou was only a meter away from the skeleton, he raised the femur in his hand and, with all his strength, stabbed it toward the Soul Fire within the skeleton's skull!
Snap!
A crisp sound!
The femur in Fang Zhou's hand broke into two pieces, and the skeleton's head shattered, its Soul Fire flickering and then extinguishing.
With its Soul Fire gone, the skeleton's gray bones wobbled and scattered to the ground, leaving only a wisp of light blue smoke lazily drifting above the pile of bones.
So weak indeed!
Fang Zhou let out a slight sigh of relief, glanced around, and upon ensuring no danger, instinctively reached out to cover the pile of bones.
Ah! So comfortable!
He clearly felt a warm flow from the pile of bones pouring into his body!
However, this warm flow was very weak, lasting only a few seconds.
When the warmth disappeared, with a faint cracking sound, the pile of bones turned into a plume of pale gray ash, scattered by the wind.
It was as if all the valuable essence within the bones had been devoured and absorbed by Fang Zhou!