After the arena challenge, the position of No.1 Seed would be his for the taking. Then, after a period of consolidation, he could convert his accumulated resources into combat power. By the time he next visited Cave No.1, Fang Zhou's strength would undoubtedly experience explosive growth. At that point, when faced with Upper Apprentice-level demons like a Kobold Warlock Leader or a Fierce Ant Leader, he would no longer need to painstakingly provoke them into infighting.

With these pleasant prospects in mind, Fang Zhou closed his eyes, immersing his consciousness in his Skeleton Clone. There were still two hours until he reached the Cave Fortress, and this time could not be wasted.

Clone, activate!

An eerie wind howled across the Corpse Hills. As the exploration delved deeper, the Skeleton Warriors that Fang Zhou and his Skeleton Team encountered grew stronger, and their hunts yielded much richer rewards.

Soon, Long Spear One returned to Fang Zhou's side, carrying a pile of scattered bones. Fang Zhou looked down at the skull and its dim Soul Fire, his brow bones twitching.

Based on his Perception, this Skeleton Warrior's Soul Fire was a notch stronger than Long Spear One's. Its Four-dimensional Attributes averaged around 35 points.

Looking at the loyal Long Spear One, Fang Zhou feigned a sigh.

Now that I've found better labor, the old, underperforming employees can be directly eliminated—oh, no, they can "honorably graduate."

Fang Zhou conveyed a thought to Long Spear One: "I will remember everything you have done for me. Rest in peace." Then, with a strike as swift as a dragon's shadow, he sent it into an eternal slumber.

While absorbing Long Spear One's Skeleton Essence, Fang Zhou activated his [Skeleton Monarch] skill and successfully enslaved the heavily wounded Skeleton Warrior on the ground, filling the vacancy. Coincidentally, this new skeleton Servant was also a Skeleton Warrior skilled with a long spear.

Fang Zhou simply had it inherit the name "Long Spear One" and waved it off to report to Team One.

Two hours passed. Following the same procedure, Fang Zhou had successfully replaced half of his skeleton Servants. Those "honorably graduated" Servants had their last bit of value squeezed out of them, becoming kindling for Fang Zhou's growing power.

After accumulating another 100 points of Soul Power, Fang Zhou set aside a portion of Corpse Essence to perform a Refinement on his Skeleton Armor.

CRACK.

CRACK.

Fang Zhou slowly opened his palm, where a ghostly blue Soul Fire danced. The Skeleton Armor gradually heated up upon contact with the Soul Fire, and its surface became coated in a thin layer of blue flame.

As the Corpse Essence surged, the Skeleton Armor began to transform under the dual effects of the Soul Power and Corpse Essence. Every Bone Spine and armor plate seemed to be imbued with new life. The thin layer of blue flame on its surface was like a fine rain nourishing parched land, causing the originally cold bone to gradually reveal an unusual luster.

When the last wisp of Soul Fire extinguished, a brand-new Skeleton Armor materialized before Fang Zhou. The armor not only retained its inherent beauty of Death but also gained an additional touch of mystery and majesty. Fang Zhou carefully examined his masterpiece, a gleam of satisfaction flickering within his Soul Fire.

Summoning back the skeleton Servants from their hunt, he tested the Defense Power of his new Skeleton Armor.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The bone weapons of the skeleton Servants struck the Skeleton Armor. The sound was crisp and pleasant, but the blows only left slight scratches; they couldn't even break through its defense. Seeing this, Fang Zhou nodded slightly.

Based on this result, the Skeleton Clone's frontal Defense Power was now high enough to completely overwhelm Zombies with equivalent Attributes. Even Olaf, the [Berserker Heroic Spirit] clad in thick Bone Armor, had inferior Defense Power without activating his [Frenzy Golden Body] skill.

I should just go on a slaughter for three days and three nights, gather 200 Soul Power, and refine the Skeleton Armor to +2 in one go! Fang Zhou clenched his bony fist in anticipation.

Unfortunately, the airship was about to reach its destination. Fang Zhou looked up at the Blood Moon in the sky, found a safe corner, and logged out under the heavy guard of his skeleton Servants.

「In Cave No.1, aboard the Magic Energy Airship.」

Fang Zhou opened his eyes just in time to hear Instructor Wang Tao's voice.

"Students, the airship is about to arrive at the Cave Fortress. We are expected to land in ten minutes. Please prepare and do not walk around the cabin."

Beside him, Meng Hongzhuang, who had slept drowsily through the entire journey, rubbed her eyes and mumbled, "Fang Zhou, are we here?"

Fang Zhou nodded. Looking out the window, he saw the terrain gradually flatten as the oppressively stifling atmosphere of the Cave seemed to lessen slightly. Soon, the Magic Energy Airship slowed down, and a towering fortress came into view. After passing air-defense identification, the airship docked smoothly at the Cave Fortress's airship port.

Under Instructor Wang Tao's guidance, the students disembarked from the cabin in an orderly manner, arriving at a very spacious square. Their luggage and loot would be collected and processed by staff. Dozens of students were already waiting there.

Wang Tao quickly stepped forward, saluted Lu Hu at the front of the formation, and reported, "Instructor Lu, the last batch of students has returned. For this Cave Hunting, 180 participants started, 72 were eliminated midway, and the remaining 108 have now assembled. Awaiting your instructions."

"Good work, Instructor Wang," Lu Hu said, returning the salute.

He turned to face the more than one hundred students in the square, nodding in satisfaction. For these first-year recruits, the three-day ordeal in the Cave was not just a brutal test of body and mind, but also an invaluable tempering.

The 108 students who had successfully persisted all looked worn out, some with minor injuries covered by bandages. Despite their appearance, they now exuded the sharp aura of elites who viewed life and death with indifference and would fight at the slightest provocation.

They stood silently in the square. Their spirit and bearing were now countless times stronger, a stark contrast to the casual, field-trip-like demeanor they'd had three days prior.

Lu Hu's gaze swept over them, and he declared loudly, "Congratulations on your triumphant return!

"Regardless of how many Hunting Points you earned or what your ranking is, the very fact that you successfully survived for three days in Cave No.1 proves your strength and will.

I am proud of all of you!"

All the students present unconsciously puffed out their chests with pride.

Lu Hu turned to a female instructor in a white Magic Robe and asked, "Instructor Huang, is the Healing Array ready?"

The female instructor stepped forward and nodded slightly. "It is ready, Instructor Lu."

"Good!" Lu Hu exclaimed.

He turned back to the students in the square and announced, "This is Instructor Huang Qiuyue, a Silver Lower Rank [Light Priest]. In a moment, Instructor Huang will activate the Healing Array in the square to treat your injuries.

"Don't be nervous, and more importantly, do not resist the power of the array."

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