40: Chapter 40: All characters have maxed-out skills.

Beep!

Skill panel fully refreshed.

[Death Wither (Level 3, Active - Area): Releases a death force field with a radius of 22 meters centered on self. All enemy living units within range take 15 points of Shadow damage per second, movement speed reduced by 55%, and applies "Fear" effect (Attack Power -35%). Duration 12 seconds. Cooldown 28 seconds → Cooldown 21 seconds (including 25% reduction). Mana cost: 90]

[Wither (Level 3, Active - Area): Casts a curse on all enemy units within an 18-meter radius. Reduces defense by 60%, attack speed by 50%, and movement speed by 55%. Duration 20 seconds. Cooldown 32 seconds → 24 seconds (including reduction). Mana cost: 70]

[Undead Tide (Level 3, Active - Area): All friendly undead units within an 18-meter radius centered on self recover 12 Health points per second for 18 seconds. Simultaneously clears all negative status effects from friendly undead. Cooldown 22 seconds → 16.5 seconds (including reduction). Mana cost: 80]

[Legion of the Dead (Level 3, Active - Area): Converts all corpses of living creatures killed within a 30-meter radius into undead units. Can convert up to 35 corpses per cast. Cooldown 50 seconds → 37.5 seconds (including reduction). Mana cost: 130]

[Shadow Bolt (Level 3, Active - Single Target): Condenses Shadow energy to fire at a single target, dealing 65 points of Shadow damage. Hit applies 3 seconds of Silence, range 35 meters. Cooldown 2.5 seconds → 1.9 seconds (including reduction). Mana cost: 45]

[Shadow Barrage (Level 3, Active - Multi-target/Ranged): Fires three consecutive Shadow projectiles, locking onto three different targets one by one. Each Shadow projectile deals 60 points of Shadow damage and reduces the target's movement speed by 30% for 6 seconds upon hit. If all three hit, the third deals double damage (120 points). Total damage for three shots is 240 points. Range 35 meters. Cooldown 6 seconds → 4.5 seconds (including reduction). Mana cost: 110]

Xu Qin took a deep breath after reading it, forcing himself to calm down.

"Calm down. Everything is just looking good right now; it's still too early to be safe."

That's right, he was afraid he'd get carried away if he kept looking.

Xu Qin walked up to Tian Ming and looked up.

With the full set of equipment on, the Great Lich's aura was completely different from before.

Honestly, he looked quite cool.

But Xu Qin didn't have time to admire him.

"Tian Ming, go back out and gather resources."

Tian Ming nodded.

"This time, push the exploration range out to fifteen kilometers."

Tian Ming nodded again.

"However..."

Xu Qin held up a finger, his tone becoming serious.

"Regardless of whether you can fill them up, you must start heading back no later than 4:00 AM."

He glanced at the protection period countdown.

[Remaining: 12 hours 39 minutes]

"Last time you went out, it took over ten hours to return; that won't work this time. There is less than thirteen hours left in the protection period. I need you back in the territory before daybreak."

Tian Ming's soul fire flickered twice.

"Go."

Boom, boom!

1,800 undead troops formed up and set off again, with two empty transport carts following at the end of the line.

The Great Lich, wearing his full set of Nether Robes, walked in the center of the formation, his dark purple glow exceptionally eye-catching in the night.

After seeing Tian Ming off, Xu Qin did not rest immediately.

He opened the regional map and found the formation icons for the Minotaur and Blade Guard.

Northeast direction, about eleven kilometers away.

Blade Guard's level... was 2.

"The speed is decent."

There were still a few red stronghold markers scattered around.

The Minotaur was sweeping through them one by one.

Blade Guard followed behind the Minotaur, leeching experience very steadily.

Not bad.

Xu Qin put away the map and turned to walk toward the Undead Forge.

"It's time to get a set of equipment for Blade Guard too."

He clicked on the forging interface for the [Bone Erosion Battle Armor Set].

Three pieces: Bone Erosion Breastplate, Bone Erosion Vambraces, Bone Erosion Warboots.

Cost per piece: Bone x200, Iron Ore x80, elite soul core x1, Soul Energy x2000.

Total for three pieces: Bone x600, Iron Ore x240, elite soul core x3, Soul Energy x6000.

"Queue them up for forging, one after another."

[Bone Erosion Breastplate, forging started. Estimated completion: 1 hour.]

[Bone Erosion Vambraces, added to queue.]

[Bone Erosion Warboots, added to queue.]

[Consumed: Bone x600, Iron Ore x240, elite soul core x3, Soul Energy x6000]

With all three queued, they would all be finished in three hours.

When Blade Guard returns next time, he can put them on directly.

Right now, he still had 26 soul cores left.

Xu Qin opened the altar panel and began allocating them.

"Minotaur, upgrade all five skills to Level 3."

The Minotaur's skills were all currently Level 1.

War Stomp, Bone Armor Warcry, Indomitable Bones, Wind of Recovery, Bone Spike Counter.

Each skill needed two upgrades to go from Level 1 to Level 3, costing one soul core each time.

Five skills, ten upgrades, ten soul cores.

Xu Qin tapped his finger down the list.

[War Stomp 1 → 2 → 3!]

[Bone Armor Warcry 1 → 2 → 3!]

[Indomitable Bones 1 → 2 → 3!]

[Wind of Recovery 1 → 2 → 3!]

[Bone Spike Counter 1 → 2 → 3!]

[Consumed: Soul Energy x30000, elite soul core x10]

Remaining soul cores: 16.

"Blade Guard."

Bone Blade Storm, Death-Battle Body, Guard, and Shadow Stab Dash each needed two upgrades.

Guardian Line was already Level 2, so it only needed one upgrade to reach Level 3.

Tap!

[Bone Blade Storm 1 → 2 → 3!]

[Death-Battle Body 1 → 2 → 3!]

[Guard 1 → 2 → 3!]

[Shadow Stab Dash 1 → 2 → 3!]

[Guardian Line 2 → 3!]

[Consumed: Soul Energy x27000, elite soul core x9]

Remaining soul cores: 7.

Xu Qin glanced at the resource panel.

After deducting the Soul Energy for Tian Ming, the Minotaur, and Blade Guard's skills, plus the cost of the three pieces of equipment...

Current Soul Energy: approximately 48300 / 120000.

Bone: approximately 9740.

elite soul core: 7.

Magic Crystal Fragment: approximately 1689.

Although he had spent quite a bit in one go, the foundation was still there.

Once Tian Ming brought back resources in the early morning, he could replenish another wave.

"Perfect."

Xu Qin closed the altar panel and scanned the upgrade countdowns for each building.

Dark Altar Level 3 → Level 4: 3 hours 08 minutes remaining.

bone workshop Level 3 → Level 4: 2 hours 44 minutes remaining.

Cursed Temple Level 3 → Level 4: 2 hours 32 minutes remaining.

Undead Forge Level 2 → Level 3: 1 hour 50 minutes remaining.

Bone Watchtower Level 2 → Level 3: 1 hour 22 minutes remaining.

"Around 4:00 AM, everything should be done."

By then, Tian Ming should also be back.

The new features and technologies unlocked by the Level 4 buildings, combined with the second wave of resources Tian Ming would bring back...

Xu Qin yawned.

"Time to nap for a bit."

He walked to his old spot and lay down on the ground again.

The Sand Rat crouched back down next to his head.

"Wake me up when the forge finishes upgrading."

After saying that, he closed his eyes.

Three seconds.

The sound of snoring began.