CHAPTER 161: CHAPTER 161: RIGHTEOUS GENTLEMAN, UNDEAD SUPPORT GROUP

Bai Xiaochan seemed scared stiff. Just as the Skeleton Shackles were about to close in, she snapped out of her daze and tried to run, hoping to use her long legs to evade the sudden attack.

However, Fang Zhou’s Skeleton Shackles seemed to possess predictive capabilities, as the chains flexibly tracked her movements in mid-air, ultimately weaving a perfect loop around her.

With a barely perceptible tremor, the chains instantly tightened, binding Bai Xiaochan firmly in place.

She didn’t even have time to scream or curse before being plunged into complete silence.

Bound by the shackles, Bai Xiaochan struggled, but the chains seemed to resist her every movement and intention, rendering her completely immobile and unable to use any skills.

Bai Xiaochan made a few muffled sounds of mixed shame and anger, twisting her soft body as she tried to break free from the Skeleton Shackles’ grasp.

Of course, that was just wishful thinking.

Fang Zhou opened a notebook and asked with a straight face, "Calm down, Xiaochan. We’re just testing a new skill, so I need you to be the target for a bit. This is part of your duty as a research assistant. So, how does it feel? Can you use any skills?"

Bai Xiaochan glared at Fang Zhou angrily, but for now, all she could do was closely observe the control skill she had personally helped enhance.

Fortunately, Fang Zhou was very measured and only wanted to test the silencing effect of the Skeleton Shackles.

Under his control, the bony chains were only loosely wrapped around Bai Xiaochan.

Aside from making her already graceful figure appear even more breathtaking, they didn’t cause her any actual trouble.

Bai Xiaochan frowned slightly, trying to cast Shock Wave to attack the bone chains constricting her.

But as the bony chains vibrated irregularly, a faint, harsh buzzing echoed in her mind, greatly disrupting her attempt to cast the skill.

After several attempts, Bai Xiaochan still failed to successfully cast Shock Wave. She could only look at Fang Zhou in dejection, muttering resentfully, "You can comprehend a skill just by looking at it... You’re a total freak!"

She felt a bit frustrated. Compared to Fang Zhou’s monstrous talent, her own decent aptitude seemed to dim significantly.

This patron is way out of my league! How am I supposed to hold on to him?!

Seeing that the skill effect was good, Fang Zhou knew when to quit.

He snapped his fingers, dispersing the Skeleton Shackles binding Bai Xiaochan, then began to lecture her with grave sincerity, "You have some serious blind spots, Xiaochan! I warned you in advance and even deliberately slowed down the skill-casting speed, yet you still failed to react. Your combat fundamentals are very weak!"

Bai Xiaochan, who had been full of shame and anger and looked ready to bite him, froze in her tracks. She stared at Fang Zhou in a daze, her mind reeling.

Seizing the opportunity, Fang Zhou continued to spin his tale with a straight face, "Although you’re a Support Professional and will receive priority protection in battle, the battlefield situation changes in an instant. The only one you can truly rely on is yourself. Besides studying your professional skills and using Meditation to improve your tier, I think you also need to step up your practical combat training and enhance your combat awareness."

He then shared some of his experiences of being ambushed during Cave Hunting with Bai Xiaochan, giving her hands-on instruction on the correct response techniques.

For the moment, he successfully dispelled the slightly flirtatious atmosphere from earlier.

Seeing that Bai Xiaochan had been successfully fooled, Fang Zhou secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He opened the Undead Mage Apprentice skill library on his personal terminal and updated the Skeleton Shackles skill, which had now been enhanced to its limit.

Soon, the 100-contribution-point reward for the skill update was credited to Fang Zhou’s account.

Hearing the pleasant notification chime of contribution points arriving, Bai Xiaochan swallowed hard. Her large eyes seemed to flash with a green light, filled with unconcealed desire.

Seeing this, Fang Zhou waved his hand and transferred 10 contribution points to his little assistant as a reward for helping enhance the skill.

Aside from Fang Zhou, 10 contribution points were a considerable fortune for any other first-year student.

Upon receiving the contribution points, Bai Xiaochan leaped forward and hugged Fang Zhou’s arm tightly. With a fawning expression, she said, "You’re so generous, Boss! Do you have any other tasks? I’m always ready to serve you."

Though he now had a soft, fragrant girl in his arms, a gentleman like Fang Zhou naturally remained completely unmoved.

He gently pushed Bai Xiaochan away and teased, "Weren’t you just drowsy from exhaustion a moment ago? Full of energy again?"

Bai Xiaochan rubbed her hands together, smiling excitedly as she said, "After becoming a military academy seed, my access level will be upgraded soon. There are so many good things waiting for me to redeem, and I can’t do that without enough contribution points!"

Looking at Bai Xiaochan’s radiant, flower-like smile, Fang Zhou was momentarily dazed.

It seemed like just two months ago, he had been just like her, working for Ye Fan every day for a few dozen contribution points.

In the short span of two months, he had already amassed thousands of contribution points.

Once his access level was upgraded, he could go on a massive spending spree, and his combat power would soar.

This feeling is... awesome!

Fang Zhou shook his head, driving the irrelevant thoughts from his mind. He then looked at Bai Xiaochan and said, "Since you’re so motivated, I’ll create a chat group later and add you and Meng Hongzhuang. You two must constantly provide feedback in the group for the tasks I assign. If you have any problems or achievements, you must also report them to me promptly.

I will also regularly announce your performance assessments in the group. Pay will be based on performance—the more you contribute, the more you earn. This will be the main factor in deciding who receives the ’outstanding performance award’ at the end of the month. Don’t let me down, Xiaochan!"

Bai Xiaochan, not yet having experienced the harsh realities of the working world, was still just a naive girl focused purely on Cultivation. How could she possibly understand the insidious nature of Fang Zhou’s performance assessment scheme?

Full of energy, Bai Xiaochan waved her little fists, her face a picture of grand ambition.

"Don’t worry, Fang Zhou! I’ve already helped you perfect the Skeleton Shield and Skeleton Shackles, so this month’s outstanding performance award is in the bag!"

Fang Zhou coughed lightly, pouring a bucket of cold water on her enthusiasm.

"That’s not a given. Hongzhuang is researching skills to enhance Skeleton combat power for me. If she makes a breakthrough, the contribution from that single skill would surpass yours. You can’t get complacent, Xiaochan."

Hearing this, Bai Xiaochan’s previously confident expression turned serious.

In front of her, Fang Zhou opened his personal terminal and created a chat group named "Undead Mage Support Team."

He then added Bai Xiaochan and Meng Hongzhuang before sending a few messages to the group.

[Ordinary Apprentice] (Fang Zhou): @We Are Really Powerful @Bear Dominating the World This is our research group. Let’s use this to communicate about everything related to the Undead Mage research project.