The Skeleton Army obeyed the command without question, halting in unison as forty skulls stared fixedly to the left. There, a group of creatures resembling dark night-goblins was silently emerging from the shadows of the ruins, attempting to launch a surprise attack with their sharp claws and fangs.

However, Fang Zhou had already detected their location. He commanded the Skeleton Army to form a defensive circle while he unleashed [Skeleton Arrow Rain], accurately bombarding the ambushers one by one. The skeletons, wielding sharp bone claws, moved in a deadly dance, swiftly eliminating the shadowy threat.

"Hunting Points +15."

"Soul Power +0.4."

Better than nothing, I suppose. Fang Zhou curled his lip.

After commanding the skeletons to gather the spoils, he hurried deeper into the ruins.

To reach the Thorn Jungle in the shortest amount of time, cutting through the Town Ruins is the most direct route.

Despite being mentally prepared, the frequency of battles along the way still surprised Fang Zhou. This expanse of Town Ruins was like a gladiatorial arena for Cave Demons. He even encountered cold-loving Jackal Wolfmen and Trolls several times. Some of the creatures he saw were even larger and more formidable than the Trolls.

BOOM!

As the Skeleton Army traversed a narrow alley, a gigantic Fierce Spider descended from above. It used its massive body and dense webs in an attempt to trap the entire squad. However, the ever-vigilant Fang Zhou had already anticipated the spider's attack path through his [Soul Realm]. With a calm expression, he directed the skeletons to disperse quickly, avoiding the entangling webs.

Next, Fang Zhou decisively activated [Group Brutality Skill], significantly enhancing the Skeleton Army's damage. This narrow alley was a hunting ground a Middle-rank Apprentice Fierce Spider had carefully chosen. But under the full force of Fang Zhou's [Skeleton Shackles], it became a prison that limited the spider's attacks.

The death-defying skeletons used their small size and agile maneuvering to counterattack the Fierce Spider from all directions. Empowered by the Death Energy and Corrosive Poison buffs on their bone claws, the spider's shell, which wasn't particularly tough to begin with, was torn to shreds by the Skeleton Army in just a few minutes.

"Hunting Points +7."

"Soul Power +0.2."

Looking disdainfully at his skeletons, now sticky and tangled in the Fierce Spider's silk, Fang Zhou skirted the pool of blood and led his army onward.

As he delved deeper, Fang Zhou noticed the environment of the Town Ruins gradually changing. The debris and rubble covering the ground gave way to damp earth, and dense trees now grew among the collapsed buildings.

He let out a soft sigh of relief. Looks like the Thorn Jungle is near.

Suddenly, a strong scent of blood wafted over. Fang Zhou's expression tensed. He immediately activated his [Soul Realm] and sensed a dense cluster of soul fluctuations ahead. Cautiously rounding a street corner littered with ruined walls, Fang Zhou held his breath and looked forward.

A small battlefield lay before him. On one side was a pack of Fierce Rats. Though small, their numbers were astonishing, and every pair of ruby-like eyes glinted with savage light. Their opponents were a small pack of Fierce Wolves. These wolves were nimble, their fur gleaming with a metallic sheen. Despite being at a disadvantage, they resisted stubbornly, letting out low, deep roars.

The battle between the two types of Demons was intense. Their claws and fangs tore through the air with sharp hisses. The ground was stained red with blood, and the air hung thick with its smell.

Fang Zhou observed silently, quickly calculating the balance of power. The two groups of Demons combined were no match for his Skeleton Army, especially since they were already locked in a bloody frenzy.

Hunting Points served up on a silver platter. It would be a waste not to take them!

Fang Zhou gently waved his Magic Staff, sending an invisible command to the Skeleton Army. They began to move silently, creeping from all corners of the battlefield to form a perfect encirclement.

Seeing that the Demons were still locked in their desperate struggle, Fang Zhou commanded the skeletons to charge all at once. Their bony frames reflected a chilling light as they flooded the battlefield from all sides with the clatter of colliding bones. The Fierce Rats and Fierce Wolves were caught completely off guard by the sudden assault, throwing the already chaotic battle into even greater disarray.

The Fierce Rats reacted more quickly. Some tried to flee but were immediately blocked by the skeletons' tight encirclement. Others instinctively turned to attack the new invaders. The Fierce Wolves, though outnumbered, were driven by their predatory instincts to engage the skeletons in fierce combat.

Fang Zhou relaxed behind the protection of a few skeletons, watching his valiant summoned creatures use their superior numbers to overwhelm and swiftly slay one Demon after another. The battle was over in a moment. The Skeleton Army, leveraging its sheer numerical advantage and the combat strength of Middle-rank Apprentices, secured an overwhelming victory.

"Hunting Points +40."

"Soul Power +1."

The corpses of Fierce Rats and Fierce Wolves littered the ground, and Fang Zhou had no intention of letting them go to waste. After skinning the carcasses and stripping the bones, he gathered spoils worth at least 10 contribution points.

After cleaning up the battlefield, Fang Zhou didn't linger. Soon, he reached the border between the Town Ruins and the Thorn Jungle. Here, dense trees and vines intertwined to form a green labyrinth. Patches of Magic Energy Moss peeked through gaps in the foliage, casting down spots of light. Although the air was filled with the fresh scent of plants, countless unknown dangers lurked beneath the tranquility.

Fang Zhou rested for ten minutes at the edge of the jungle, eating a piece of marching rations to recover some stamina. Just as he was about to lead the Skeleton Army into the trees, he suddenly felt a flicker in his mind, followed by a notification from the attribute panel.

"Apostle count +1."

Fang Zhou paused, quickly checking the Apostle section of his Skeleton Clone's attribute panel.

[New Apostle]: Sandro, Golden Upper Rank Undead Mage

Fang Zhou's eyes narrowed. A Golden Upper Rank Undead Mage?

Sandro? That name sounds familiar.

Flipping through Su Xinyan's cultivation notes, he immediately found information about Sandro. Sandro was the strongest Undead Mage in the Human Alliance. He had single-handedly established the foundational framework for the Undead Mage profession, making him a true titan in the field.

Since Sandro had become an Apostle, it meant that this esteemed senior had also been practicing the [Skeleton King Meditation Method] that Fang Zhou had deduced. This was what allowed the mysterious soul connection to be established with the Skeleton Clone in the Undead Realm.

Fang Zhou pondered for a moment. For now, Sandro becoming an Apostle seemed to have only benefits and no downsides, so he didn't dwell on it.

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