42: Chapter 42: The Fourth Hero is Born, Everyone's Skills Are Maxed Out!

Xu Qin continued to look down.

[bone workshop · Level 4]

Unlocked Blueprints: Bone Catapult (Upgraded Version), Bone Transport Cart (Heavy · 64 slots), Bone Wall section (Reinforced · 300 HP).

New Feature: Equipment Improvement (Can consume additional resources to perform a one-time attribute boost on already built siege equipment).

"I knew the Bone Wall should be upgradeable, I just couldn't find where," Xu Qin laughed. "So it belongs in the workshop. Reasonable, very reasonable."

Xu Qin nodded; this feature was very practical, and he would deal with it in a moment.

[Cursed Temple · Level 4]

Unlocked Function: High-Level Lich Advancement (Requires 5 elite soul cores, 10,000 Soul Energy to advance a normal Undead Lich to a "High-Level Lich," significantly increasing attributes and adding 1 skill slot).

New Feature: Curse Research (Can consume Magic Crystal Fragments to research new curse-type skills; researched skills can be learned by all Liches).

"Magic Crystal Fragments are easy to come by, I have plenty, must arrange it!"

[soul hall · Level 4] (Constructed)

Soul Energy Production: 150 points/hour (originally 120 points/hour).

[bone vault · Level 4] (Constructed)

Storage Limit: 150,000 (originally 120,000).

[bone melting furnace · Level 4] (Constructed, all technologies maxed)

Tech Bonus: Army Attack +12, Defense +8, HP +40.

Xu Qin finished reviewing the information for the four functional buildings and had a rough plan for what to do next.

But the question now was, who should be promoted to the fourth hero slot?

Tian Ming was promoted from an Undead Lich, the Minotaur was a Minotaur, and the Blade Guard was a Skeleton Soldier.

So, which unit type should be promoted next?

Xu Qin stared at the altar panel, his finger hovering between the Sand Jackal Leader and the Scaled Lizard Beast.

Finally, he made his decision.

The Sand Jackal Leader.

The reason was simple.

The Minotaur was a front-line iron plate, Tian Ming was a back-line artillery piece, and the Blade Guard was a personal bodyguard.

The Sand Jackal and Minotaur had similar abilities; both "War Cry" skills could provide area buffs to the legion.

Besides, there were plenty of Resurrection Coins.

"It's you."

He plucked a Sand Jackal Leader from the legion and signaled it to step onto the altar.

A crimson light shot up into the sky again.

One minute later, in the center of the altar.

A being with a stature a head taller than a normal Sand Jackal Leader and exceptionally long bone claws slowly stood up.

The bone horns on its head split into three, like a crown.

[Undead Hero Promotion Successful!]

[Sand Jackal Jackal Hunter · Hero]

Level: 1 (0/500)

Attack: 34 (Physical - Rending/Melee)

Defense: 20

HP: 280/280

Loyalty: 100/100 (Eternally Loyal)

Morale: None

Hero Traits:

[Pack Commander: Can lead up to 800 undead units to act independently. Undead units of the Sand Jackal lineage under its command gain +3 Attack and 10% Movement Speed.]

Hero Skills:

[Undead War Cry (Reinforced) (Active - Area): Emits a piercing howl; all friendly undead units within a 20-meter radius gain +5 Attack and +3 Defense for 15 seconds. Simultaneously applies "Fear of the Dead" to enemy living units, reducing their Attack by 25% and significantly lowering morale for 8 seconds. Cooldown: 20 seconds.]

[Bone Claw Rending (Reinforced) (Passive): Basic attacks deal an additional 5 points of Rending damage over 6 seconds. When attacking a target that already has a Rending wound, damage is increased by 20%.]

[Blood Claw Berserk (Active - Self): Enters a Berserk state for 8 seconds; Attack Speed increases by 60%, and attack-based Life Steal increases to 15%. Cooldown: 30 seconds.]

Xu Qin nodded repeatedly after reading.

"Not bad, not bad, I didn't misjudge you."

This skill set was purely a template for a Sand Jackal legion commander.

The War Cry range and buffs were significantly stronger than a normal leader, and it even had the "Fear of the Dead" additional effect, directly weakening the enemy's morale.

The passive Rending damage could stack, and there was a Berserk skill to increase burst damage.

Most importantly, the Hero Trait gave all Sand Jackals increased attack and speed.

He had the most Sand Jackal lineage units in his hand; this wave was going to take off.

"Name..." Xu Qin thought for a moment. "You shall be called Jackal Hunter."

Jackal Hunter lowered its head, acknowledging the name.

"Alright, return to your unit for now, I'll have a task for you later."

Xu Qin shooed it back to the legion and turned to look at the three dense armies in the square.

Resources, it was time to collect them.

He walked to Tian Ming's transport cart first and opened the settlement interface.

Bone: +5200

Soul Energy: +68000

Wood: +4100

Stone: +2800

Iron Ore: +420

Magic Crystal Fragments: +52

elite soul core: +45

Sand Jackal Skeleton × 3200

Minotaur Skeleton × 2100

Sand Jackal Leader Skeleton × 78

Minotaur Chieftain Skeleton × 64

Scaled Lizard Beast Skeleton × 450

...

Xu Qin scanned to the end, his eyes lighting up.

"45 pieces?"

He opened the transport carts for the Minotaur and Blade Guard again.

Bone: +3200

Soul Energy: +35000

elite soul core: +18

Sand Jackal Skeleton × 1800

Minotaur Skeleton × 1400

...

Combined, the two armies yielded a total of sixty-three elite soul cores.

Sixty-three pieces, counting the one remaining in the bone vault.

"Simply calm and collected, with plenty to spare!"

Xu Qin almost ran towards the Dark Altar.

"Upgrade everything! Max out all hero skills!"

First, he clicked on Tian Ming.

Six skills, upgrading from level 3 to level 4.

[Confirm Upgrade: Death Wither Level 3 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Wither Level 3 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Undead Tide Level 3 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Legion of the Dead Level 3 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Shadow Bolt Level 3 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Shadow Barrage Level 3 → 4!]

[Consumed: Soul Energy × 18,000, elite soul core × 6]

Next was the Minotaur.

Five skills, upgrading from level 3 to level 4.

[Confirm Upgrade: War Stomp Level 3 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Bone Armor Warcry Level 3 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Indomitable Bones Level 3 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Wind of Recovery Level 3 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Bone Spike Counter Level 3 → 4!]

[Consumed: Soul Energy × 15,000, elite soul core × 5]

Blade Guard, five skills, upgrading from level 3 to level 4.

[Confirm Upgrade: Bone Blade Storm Level 3 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Death-Battle Body Level 3 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Guard Level 3 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Shadow Stab Dash Level 3 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Guardian Line Level 3 → 4!]

[Consumed: Soul Energy × 15,000, elite soul core × 5]

Finally, the newly promoted Jackal Hunter.

Three skills, upgrading from level 1 to level 4.

[Confirm Upgrade: Undead War Cry (Reinforced) Level 1 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Bone Claw Rending (Reinforced) Level 1 → 4!]

[Confirm Upgrade: Blood Claw Berserk Level 1 → 4!]

[Consumed: Soul Energy × 27,000, elite soul core × 9]

Everything was spent.

Xu Qin looked at the remaining elite soul core balance; there were thirty-nine left.

"Not enough, I'm not done yet."

He opened the altar's hero skill tree expansion.

He had to learn all the new skills for the four heroes in one go!