CHAPTER 164: CHAPTER 164: BREAKING THE RECORD, CONTRIBUTION POINTS IN HAND

Fang Zhou raised his Magic Staff, concentrated his spirit, and the [Skeleton Flying Spear] skill was instantly activated and greatly enhanced.

As Fang Zhou waved his staff, a spear shimmering with ghostly light, like a messenger from the Death God, traversed space and flew straight toward the Heavy Armored Giant Axe Horned Demon.

This spear contained the powerful force of a Charging Scroll. A single strike was enough to penetrate Alchemy Demon Iron, let alone a Demon’s thick hide.

Restrained by Olaf and ensnared by the [Skeleton Shackles], the Giant Axe Horned Demon had no way to dodge.

Enveloped by the shadow of death, it let out a final wail before the Skeleton Flying Spear pierced its heavy armor and struck its heart.

The massive body of the Horned Demon crashed to the ground, causing the nearby demons to scatter and flee.

Having resolved the greatest threat, Fang Zhou did not relax his vigilance.

He wielded his Magic Staff again, unleashing the [Group Brutality Skill] and granting his Skeleton Legion a dual boost of Death Energy and Corrosive Poison.

Then, Fang Zhou commanded the Skeleton Legion, like reapers of death, to relentlessly pursue the remaining demons.

Though numerous, the Little Inferior Demons and Demon Children seemed powerless against Fang Zhou and Olaf’s coordinated assault.

Occasionally, a Demon Child would glare venomously at Fang Zhou, hoping to use its Magic-Devouring Talent to drain his Spiritual Power.

But the [Skeleton Shield] floating before Fang Zhou was not just for show.

The Skeleton Shield, reinforced to its limit, completely blocked the Abyss Demon Children’s Talent Abilities, extinguishing their last glimmer of hope.

The Skeletons’ Bone Claws gleamed coldly in the firelight, each strike precise and deadly.

Soon, the screams of dozens of demons gradually faded, replaced by an eerie silence.

"Mission complete. Time: 12 minutes and 20 seconds. Clearance Rating: [Perfect]. Reward: 12 contribution points."

"Congratulations, Junior Sergeant Fang Zhou. Your team cleared the [Horn Demon Outpost] on Abyss Difficulty in 12 minutes and 20 seconds, ranking 1st on the all-time speedrun leaderboard. You are expected to receive 24 contribution points as a ranking reward this month."

"Loot drop triggered. Acquired: [Level One Ruby] x1, exchangeable for 10 contribution points."

Fang Zhou’s mood was joyful as he listened to the pleasing system notifications.

This time, his clearance time was a full six minutes faster than before, finally surpassing Wen Jiu and her three-person team. He had claimed the crown for this speedrun championship all by himself.

Next, once Bai Xiaochan and her friends advanced to Middle Rank Apprentice, he would lead them to sweep through the other difficulties, collecting all the Simulation Battlefield speedrun rewards.

After scanning the ravaged battlefield, Fang Zhou promptly exited the [Horn Demon Outpost].

Lying in the Simulation Pod, just as he was about to rise from his "coffin," he suddenly glanced at his personal terminal, which was vibrating incessantly.

Someone sent a message?

Fang Zhou curiously opened his personal terminal and was rendered speechless when he saw the source of the vibrations.

In the short fifteen minutes he had spent clearing the Horn Demon Outpost, the Undead Mage Support Team chat group he had just established had already accumulated over 99 unread messages.

Opening the group chat and scanning it briefly, it turned out that Bai Xiaochan and Meng Hongzhuang were at their routine bickering again.

Fang Zhou let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness they weren’t dissatisfied with the management plan he had created.

As long as arguments between employees didn’t affect their work efficiency or motivation, he, as the magnanimous boss, wouldn’t interfere.

Fang Zhou was about to exit the group chat when he saw several new messages from Meng Hongzhuang.

[Bear Dominating the World] (Meng Hongzhuang): "Heh, thanks to you, the pretty vase, I learned the [Natural Coronation] skill. I already have a rough idea for the task Fang Zhou gave me."

[Bear Dominating the World] (Meng Hongzhuang): "Just you wait! After the arena battle tomorrow, I’m holing myself up in the lab. I swear I won’t come out until I’ve successfully deduced the skill to create Enhanced Skeletons!"

[Bear Dominating the World] (Meng Hongzhuang): "Keep being smug, you vase who only knows how to ride coattails! You think you can get an excellent evaluation just by playing your instruments and dancing? In your wildest dreams!"

[We are really powerful] (Bai Xiaochan): "Hmph, who’s afraid of who? I’m not leaving the lab tonight either. From now on, if you don’t leave, I won’t leave! We’ll see who can outlast who!"

Fang Zhou, who had been lurking in the chat, couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear when he saw these messages.

What fine leeks! The kind that know how to fertilize and irrigate themselves! They’re competing to work overtime. As their boss, I’m almost moved to tears.

Xiaochan, Hongzhuang, you are my wings! When I’m successful and famous and have brought the Undead Mage profession to its full glory, I won’t treat you unfairly. As long as I’m feasting on meat and fish, you’ll at least have pickled vegetables to gnaw on!

Feeling increasingly glad to have recruited such visually pleasing yet highly competent assistants, Fang Zhou pushed open the Simulation Pod and stepped out.

Amid the sincere congratulations from the other trainees, Fang Zhou left the training ground with a calm demeanor and headed back to his dormitory.

It was getting late.

He needed to briefly prepare for tomorrow’s arena challenge and practice his skills according to his previous cultivation rhythm. Then, he could head to the Concentration Meditation Room, activate his Skeleton Clone, and continue his delightful journey of killing monsters, leveling up, and devouring his foes to grow stronger.

In the training ground, watching Fang Zhou’s stylish departing figure, a trainee shook his head and sighed, "A month ago, I could never have imagined someone single-handedly clearing a team dungeon on Abyss Difficulty, let alone claiming the top spot on the competitive leaderboard."

"Indeed!" another trainee agreed. "Before Fang Zhou, the Undead Mage profession was widely considered the weakest human Profession. Now that Fang Zhou has emerged, who would dare say that? Even if other Undead Mages don’t have Fang Zhou’s high Profession Affinity and can’t summon as many Skeletons, the Skeleton Series Skill Tree he independently deduced is enough to ensure the powerful rise of the Undead Mage Profession!"

Hearing this, another trainee couldn’t help but object, "That’s not necessarily true! After all, Fang Zhou is only an Apprentice who Awoke two months ago. I admit the skills he’s deduced are incredible for the Apprentice Stage. But whether he has enough talent to develop them into High-Tier skills is still a big question mark!"

"Heh!"

The first trainee who spoke sneered. "Have you not seen the new Golden-Tier skill [Summon Stone Golem] that Instructor Su Xinyan recently uploaded? Instructor Su publicly declared that it was only with Fang Zhou’s inspiration that she successfully summoned the Stone Golem—a summoned creature far more powerful than other Golden-Tier Undead Creatures. Instructor Su herself holds Fang Zhou in such high regard, and you’re still questioning his talent?"