36: Chapter 36 Netherworld Set

Xu Qin stood at the gap in the Bone Wall, watching the army disappear beyond the light shield.

Now, including travel time and combat, a single trip took over six hours.

If the exploration range were pushed further out to fifteen kilometers...

Next time they return, it will probably take seven or eight hours.

"They're fighting further and further away."

Xu Qin rubbed his chin.

There were over twenty-two hours left in the newbie protection period.

After the light shield disappeared tomorrow morning, the outgoing squads would no longer have immunity from battle.

Although no traces of other lords had been found in this desert for now, who knew?

What if some well-developed lord happened to be just over a dozen kilometers away...

If Tian Ming's 1,500 troops went out and encountered an elite force of the same size from a living race...

"At worst, after the newbie period ends, I'll have Tian Ming and Man Niu operate together."

Xu Qin opened the remote monitoring for Man Niu.

Man Niu's formation was twelve kilometers to the southwest, having just cleared a stronghold.

Of the two transport vehicles, one was full, and the other was loaded with over thirty slots.

"I estimate they'll have to come back after hitting seven or eight more strongholds."

The construction speed of the Bone Wall was fast.

The Acolytes only needed to pile up the bones and infuse them with soul energy to fuse them together.

In less than half an hour, twelve new sections of the Bone Wall rose from the ground.

Two new Soul Energy Sentry Towers were also erected at the outer corners.

Xu Qin walked around the territory to check the firepower coverage.

Hmm, the defensive formation for the entire territory was basically complete now.

A double-layered Bone Wall protected the core building complex, with a single-layered wall covering the perimeter.

Eight sentry towers were distributed at every corner, forming a crossfire network.

Any ground unit wanting to rush to the Graveyard would have to pass through at least three turns, being engaged by the sentry towers the entire time.

"That's enough."

Xu Qin walked back to the center of the building complex, watching the six purple pillars of light from the upgrades.

He began to calculate the rhythm for what was to come.

In one hour, the Dark Altar, bone workshop, and Cursed Temple would successively upgrade to level 3.

Two hours after that, the bone melting furnace and soul hall would also upgrade to level 4.

By then, all troop types would be able to receive another wave of technological bonuses.

"It would be great if I could find Abyss Bone Seeds."

He sat down against the obelisk and took another piece of roasted meat out of his inventory.

Suddenly, he remembered something.

The Undead Forge had happened to upgrade to level 2 just when Tian Ming returned.

The equipment forging function was unlocked.

Xu Qin ate the roasted meat, walked up to the Undead Forge, and opened the [Equipment Forging · Primary] interface.

A new panel unfolded.

[Undead Forge Level 2 · Equipment Forging]

[Currently Forgeable Types:]

[1. Physical Output Set (Melee/Ranged)]

Set Name: Bone Erosion Battle Armor Set (Green · Excellent)

Included Parts:

- Bone Erosion Chest Armor: Attack Power + 8%, Critical Hit Rate + 5%

- Bone Erosion Arm Guards: Attack Power + 5%, Attack Speed + 10%

- Bone Erosion Battle Boots: Attack Power + 3%, Movement Speed + 15%

Set Effect (2 Pieces): Upon hitting with physical attacks, there is a 15% chance to apply the "Bone Erosion" effect, reducing the target's defense by 10% for 5 seconds.

Set Effect (3 Pieces): Attack Power + 12% additional, restores 2% of Max HP per kill.

Forging Materials (Per Piece): Bones × 200, Iron Ore × 80, elite soul core × 1, Soul Energy × 2000

Forging Time (Per Piece): 1 hour

[2. Magic Output Set]

Set Name: Nether Robe Set (Green · Excellent)

Included Parts:

- Nether Crown: Magic Attack Power + 10%, Max Mana + 100

- Nether Robe: Magic Attack Power + 6%, Skill Cooldown Reduction 10%

- Nether Boots: Movement Speed + 10%, Mana Recovery Rate + 20%

Set Effect (2 Pieces): Upon hitting with spells, there is a 20% chance to trigger "Nether Erosion," dealing an additional 15% Shadow Damage to the target.

Set Effect (3 Pieces): Magic Attack Power + 15% additional, Skill Cooldown Reduction + 15% additional.

Forging Materials (Per Piece): Bones × 150, Magic Crystal Fragments × 30, elite soul core × 1, Soul Energy × 2500

Forging Time (Per Piece): 1.5 hours

[3. Defense Set (Locked, requires Forge Level 4)]

[4. Support Set (Locked, requires Forge Level 4)]

[5. Hero Exclusive Weapon (Locked, requires Forge Level 5)]

Xu Qin's first reaction after reading was to get a set of Nether Robes for Tian Ming.

Because the three-piece set effect was truly outrageous.

In other words, after wearing all three pieces,

the cooldown time for Tian Ming's Death Wither and Wither would be cut directly by 25%.

The original 30-second cooldown of Death Wither would become 22.5 seconds.

The original 35 seconds of Wither would become about 26 seconds.

This meant Tian Ming's skill rotation would be smoother, and his monster-clearing efficiency would jump up a level.

Xu Qin opened the forging queue.

Tian Ming's robes definitely had to be the top priority.

Man Niu's defense set... would have to wait for the Undead Forge to reach level 4.

Then he would just queue it up for Tian Ming first.

"Nether Crown, start forging."

[Consumed: Bones × 150, Magic Crystal Fragments × 30, elite soul core × 1, Soul Energy × 2500]

[Nether Crown forging... Expected completion: 1 hour 30 minutes]

"Nether Robe, queue."

[Consumed: Bones × 150, Magic Crystal Fragments × 30, elite soul core × 1, Soul Energy × 2500]

[Nether Robe added to forging queue. Expected start: in 1 hour 30 minutes]

"Nether Boots, queue."

[Consumed: Bones × 150, Magic Crystal Fragments × 30, elite soul core × 1, Soul Energy × 2500]

[Nether Boots added to forging queue. Expected start: in 3 hours]

He queued all three together.

Four and a half hours later, Tian Ming would be able to wear the full set.

Xu Qin took a look at the resources after the deduction.

There was still 77,000 Soul Energy left.

90 Magic Crystal Fragments were deducted, leaving over 1,800.

3 elite soul cores were used, leaving 5.

"Perfect."

Xu Qin closed the panel with satisfaction and walked quickly back to the center of the plaza.

Suddenly, a thought popped up.

Wait!

The physical set can also be forged...

Didn't he just decide to promote the Skeleton Soldier?

"No rush, I'll forge yours after Tian Ming's."

One hour and fifteen minutes later.

Three notifications rang out in succession.

[Dark Altar upgrade complete! Level 2 → Level 3!]

[Hero slot unlocked: 3/3]

[New feature: Hero skill tree can unlock a second new skill]

[Cursed Temple upgrade complete! Level 2 → Level 3!]

[New feature unlocked: Lich advancement route (requires materials, can upgrade normal Lich to "High-Level Lich")]

[bone workshop upgrade complete! Level 2 → Level 3!]

[New blueprint unlocked: Bone Ballista (ranged defense equipment, Attack Power 45, range 100 meters, can be installed on wall sections)]

Xu Qin's attention was immediately drawn to the Dark Altar notification.

Three hero slots.

All unlocked.

He walked quickly to the altar and opened the promotion interface.

"Number One!"

Skeleton Soldier Number One stepped forward.

Xu Qin patted its bone shield,

"It's your turn."

He clicked on the promotion confirmation.

[Undead Hero promotion · Target: Skeleton Soldier (Tier 2) · Number 001]

[Consumed: Soul Energy × 5000, Bones × 500, Magic Crystal Fragments × 25, Meat × 500]

[Confirm promotion?]

Confirm!

[Consumed: Soul Energy × 5000, Bones × 500, Magic Crystal Fragments × 25, Meat × 500]

A dark red flow of light surged into the altar.

Skeleton Soldier Number One walked into the center of the pool.