39: Chapter 39: The Fully Equipped Great Lich!

Xu Qin opened the organization panel.

Minotaur's command limit: 1100.

Blade Guard's command limit: 500.

Combined, that is 1600.

He deployed a 1600-strong unit from the territory garrison and assigned them under the command of the Minotaur and Blade Guard.

After the two transport vehicles were emptied, they were reassigned to the queue.

"Minotaur."

The massive bull head turned.

"Take the Blade Guard and head northeast."

"The strongholds Tian Ming plowed through in the east and south are basically empty; there should still be some untouched ones in the northeast."

"Old rules: don't touch strongholds with forces more than half of yours."

Xu Qin took one last look at the Blade Guard, but couldn't help himself and added one more sentence.

"Protect it."

The Minotaur nodded its bull head.

Boom, boom, boom.

1600 undead stepped out of the light shield.

Xu Qin stood at the gap in the Bone Wall, watching the figures of the two heroes shrink into two dots before finally vanishing on the horizon.

"Leaving undead idle is the greatest waste."

He turned and walked back into the territory.

He glanced at the novice protection period countdown on the panel.

[Remaining: 16 hours 29 minutes]

Less than a day left.

The top priority is to work hard while the protection period is still active.

Let the two armies scrape back all available resources.

Tian Ming to the southeast, the Minotaur and Blade Guard to the northeast—advancing along two fronts.

And he, sitting in the territory, would oversee the strategy.

Xu Qin yawned.

Waves of sleepiness were surging up.

The aftereffects of grinding for two straight days were too much for his body to handle.

"I'm already a level 20 Great Lord, why do I still need to sleep? Seriously!"

He scanned the building upgrade progress.

The Dark Altar, bone workshop, and Cursed Temple were pushing for level 4.

The Undead Forge and Bone Watchtower were also in the queue for level 3.

The bone melting furnace was already level 4, and all level 4 technologies were maxed out.

By around four in the morning, these buildings should all be finished.

"Sleep for a bit to recharge."

Xu Qin walked to the Graveyard, took out a few thick hides, found a flat bone slab floor, and lay down.

He called over a Skeleton Sand Rat.

"Scratch me if there's a situation. Scratch me if Tian Ming returns too."

The Sand Rat crouched beside his head.

Xu Qin closed his eyes.

Three seconds later, snoring started.

...

He didn't know how much time had passed.

Chi chi chi chi chi.

Familiar claws reached for his cheek again.

"Mmm..."

Xu Qin rolled over.

Chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi!

The force was clearly increased this time.

"...Alright, alright!"

Xu Qin grabbed the Sand Rat's claws and opened his eyes.

It was dark.

He checked the time on the panel.

A little past seven in the evening.

He had slept for nearly four hours.

"Has Tian Ming returned?"

Xu Qin sat up, rubbed his neck, and looked toward the center of the plaza.

Sure enough, the Lich Tian Ming was standing there quietly.

Behind it, 1800 undead were lined up, waiting for orders.

And beside the bone vault, the two transport vehicles were empty.

They had already been unloaded.

"As expected, smart bones learn quickly."

Xu Qin stood up, walked quickly to the bone vault, and opened the resource panel.

The numbers had been updated.

Tian Ming's expedition harvest (stored):

Bones: +5400

Soul Energy: +62000

Wood: +3800

Stone: +2400

Iron Ore: +380

Minotaur Skeletons × 1800

Sand Jackal Skeletons × 2400

Minotaur Chieftain Skeletons × 56

Sand Jackal Leader Skeletons × 42

Scale Lizard Beast Skeletons × 72

Meat: +15000

Animal Hide/Thick Hide: +12000

Magic Crystal Fragments: +45

Scale Armor Fragments: +180

elite soul core: +36

Xu Qin's finger stopped on the last line.

He rubbed his eyes.

He looked again.

elite soul core: +36.

Thirty-six pieces.

"!!!"

Xu Qin turned his head sharply to look at Tian Ming.

The Lich's eerie blue soul fire flickered.

"Thirty-six?"

Xu Qin opened the battle log and scrolled down.

Scale Lizard Beast extermination battle × 3... Minotaur elite stronghold × 2...

Base drops added up to 4, multiplied by nine.

36 pieces.

Accurate and correct.

"Ming Ming, oh Ming Ming..." Xu Qin let out a long breath, "How would I survive without you?"

These 36 elite soul cores solved an urgent problem.

When he dumped all three into the Blade Guard earlier, his heart ached.

Now?

He was rich!

Xu Qin suppressed his excitement and opened Tian Ming's attribute panel first.

[Tian Ming · Undead Lich · Hero]

Level: 14 (3200 / 12000)

Attack Power: 71 (Magic - Shadow / Ranged)

Defense: 38

Health: 590 / 590

Mana: 1150 / 1150

Range: 25 meters

Hero Trait: Independent Commander (Current limit: 1800 undead)

Very good, leveled up three times this trip.

Xu Qin glanced at his own Lord panel.

Level: 20 (1680 / 2200).

Experience points had risen by nearly 50%, almost overflowing.

Looking at the talent.

[War Gift]

Level: 8

Effect: When calculating battle results, all loot quantity × 9

Upgrade progress: 583 / 2000

Progress had jumped to 583.

Still need about 1400 more to reach level 9.

"Okay! This rhythm is good! Very good!"

Xu Qin closed the Lord panel.

"I must reward you well!"

He walked quickly to the forge.

The three Nether sets had been forged while he was sleeping.

Nether Crown.

Nether Robe.

Nether Boots.

The three pieces of equipment were neatly placed on the forging table, emitting a dark purple shimmer.

Xu Qin picked up the three pieces of equipment and walked to Tian Ming.

"Put them on."

Tian Ming lowered its skull.

Swish!

The crown snapped onto the skull, the robe covered the skeleton, and the boots went onto the bone feet.

Ding!

[Equipment complete! Set effect activated!]

[Nether Robe Set (3/3) · Set effect in effect:]

[2-piece effect: When a spell hits, 20% chance to trigger "Nether Erosion", dealing an additional 15% Shadow damage.]

[3-piece effect: Spell Attack Power +15%, Skill Cooldown Reduction +15%.]

Tian Ming's attribute panel updated simultaneously.

[Tian Ming · Undead Lich · Hero]

Level: 14 (3200 / 12000)

Attack Power: 93 (71 × 131% equipment bonus) (Magic - Shadow / Ranged)

Defense: 38

Health: 590 / 590

Mana: 1250 / 1250 (+100 crown bonus)

Range: 25 meters

Skill Cooldown Reduction: 25% (Robe 10% + 3-piece set 15%)

Mana Recovery Rate: +20% (Boots bonus)

Hero Trait: Independent Commander (Current limit: 1800 undead)

93 Attack Power.

Xu Qin stared at this number for a full five seconds.

"Ming Ming."

Tian Ming lowered its head.

"You are now a Lich."

Xu Qin patted Tian Ming's robe.

Not bad, the texture was cold, and it felt much better than expected.

"Alright, next."

He turned and walked to the Dark Altar, opening the Hero Enhancement interface.

Tian Ming had six skills.

The first five skills were upgraded from level 2 to level 3,

Shadow Barrage was upgraded from level 1 to level 2, then to level 3.

A total of seven upgrades.

Seven elite soul cores, Soul Energy × 21000.

Xu Qin clicked continuously.

[Death Wither Level 2 → Level 3!]

[Wither Level 2 → Level 3!]

[Undead Tide Level 2 → Level 3!]

[Legion of the Dead Level 2 → Level 3!]

[Shadow Bolt Level 2 → Level 3!]

[Shadow Barrage Level 1 → Level 2!]

[Shadow Barrage Level 2 → Level 3!]

[Consumed: Soul Energy × 21000, elite soul core × 7]