The battle between Meng Hongzhuang and Ye Fan set a good example for the other Seed Students. They were all first-year recruits, Apprentice-level Professionals, and the military academy's chosen Seed Students. Even if a challenge failed, they would only maintain their current ranking. With nothing to lose, who was there to fear? Therefore, many of the lower-ranked students chose to challenge those ahead of them.

However, Fang Zhou, Meng Hongzhuang, and Ye Fan remained inactive. Under the watchful eyes of nearly ten thousand instructors and students, one exciting battle after another unfolded on the stage.

Soon, two hours had passed. The Seed Students who wished to challenge others had all basically made their attempts. Naturally, most of them failed. After all, the rankings established through the three-day Cave Hunting point system held significant weight. Only a few students with exceptional skill found suitable opponents and successfully managed to climb a few spots in the rankings.

After waiting a while longer and seeing no one else step forward, Lu Hu stood up and asked, "Is there anyone else who wants to issue a challenge? If you miss this opportunity, you'll have to wait for the next semi-annual Sequence Competition."

Just when Fang Zhou thought the day's challenge matches had finally concluded, Meng Hongzhuang unexpectedly leaped onto the stage again. Through various methods provided by the military academy, she and her animal partners had already been restored to a state of Perfection.

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, she looked at Fang Zhou, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"Fang Zhou, I want to challenge you!"

Fang Zhou was baffled, not understanding what Meng Hongzhuang was up to. The gap between us is far too large. Even if she were to use her Natural Crown skill on Giant Bear Vini, the massive bear likely couldn't withstand a single, casual Skeleton Flying Spear from me.

The other students naturally broke into discussion, unable to understand how Meng Hongzhuang dared to challenge Fang Zhou. Could it be that her recent victory over Ye Fan had gone to her head, making her so arrogant?

Meng Hongzhuang, of course, heard the murmurs from below and quickly added, "Fang Zhou, I know I definitely can't defeat you. I just want to take this opportunity to spar with you on your techniques for commanding Summoned Creatures. Would that be alright?"

Knowing her request was somewhat impolite, Meng Hongzhuang's voice involuntarily took on a pleading tone.

Standing in the crowd, Ye Fan watched Meng Hongzhuang acting so deferentially toward Fang Zhou. Recalling the humiliation he had just suffered at her hands, he couldn't help but clench his fists. He muttered to himself, Fortune's wheel is ever turning. Never mock a young man for his poverty! I will repay today's humiliation a hundredfold in the future!

The few Seed Students near Ye Fan were already accustomed to the young man's typical dramatic pronouncements. They exchanged glances, offered helpless smiles, and subtly shuffled a few steps away from him.

Feeling everyone's eyes focused on him, Fang Zhou, who had only intended to make a brief appearance, collect his No. 1 Seed reward, and leave, shook his head helplessly. The tree wishes for calm, but the wind will not cease.

He knew that his little assistant had always wanted to spar with him to practice Summoning Techniques, but he had repeatedly found excuses to refuse her. This time, she had finally cornered him.

However, as he looked at Lu Hu standing on the podium, an idea sparked in Fang Zhou's mind. If he remembered correctly, Instructor Lu Hu was a genuine Golden Lower Rank Berserker. Perhaps he could use the opportunity of Meng Hongzhuang's challenge to publicly reveal the Berserker Mark he had obtained from General Ning Feihu's Heroic Spirit. Afterward, he could use this as a pretext to inquire with Instructor Lu Hu about skill choices for his Skeleton Clone at the Black Iron Combat Professional level. This would also give him a perfect excuse for why he would later exchange his points for Black Iron-level Combat Professional skills. And if anyone asks why an Apprentice-level Undead Mage wants to exchange for Black Iron-level Combat Professional skills, the answer is simply to explore the potential of his Heroic Spirit.

Having figured this out, Fang Zhou looked with a hint of pity at the excited Meng Hongzhuang on the stage. My little assistant probably thinks I can still only summon ordinary Apprentice-level Skeletons, just like before. That's why she thinks, with her newly learned Natural Crown skill, she can actually spar with me on the level of Summoned Creatures.

But now, since Meng Hongzhuang had delivered herself to his doorstep, it would be impolite for him to refuse. Let Meng Hongzhuang and her animal partners become the first stepping stones for my Berserker Heroic Spirit, Olaf, to make a name for himself.

Fang Zhou leaped onto the stage and made a welcoming gesture toward Meng Hongzhuang.

Seeing that Fang Zhou had graciously accepted her challenge, Meng Hongzhuang was pleasantly surprised. Then, she gripped her Apprentice Magic Staff, her expression turning serious. Although she knew victory was impossible, she would be content if she could just last for a little while against his Sea of Skulls and compete with him in the art of commanding Summoned Creatures.

Ever since the military academy had opened the Simulation Battlefield in the first month of school, Meng Hongzhuang had been closely following Fang Zhou's every battle. She could clearly sense that the rate at which his strength was increasing was astonishing. This didn't just refer to the power and number of his Summoned Creatures, but also his tactics and skills in commanding the skeletons. And it was the latter that Meng Hongzhuang truly wanted to learn from him.

A brilliant, verdant light arose. Meng Hongzhuang clasped her hands, her eyes closed in concentration. The Breath of Nature swirled around her, and the sound of growing grass and trees seemed to whisper in her ears. Following her gesture, Giant Bear Vini, Big Mountain Cat Nidalee, Divine Eagle Quinn, and two Thorny Porcupines that hadn't shown much use previously leaped out of the emerald light.

Unlike their battered state after the bloody battle with Ye Fan two hours ago, her animal partners now sported lustrous fur, their eyes filled with a hunger for battle. Divine Eagle Quinn, who had achieved great merit by defeating Ye Fan with a high-altitude Charge under the enhancement of Natural Crown, was particularly spirited, preening with self-satisfaction.

After Meng Hongzhuang had her formation set, Fang Zhou smiled faintly and nonchalantly snapped his fingers.

The tranquil atmosphere was shattered by an indescribable power. Using an ancient spell as a catalyst, Fang Zhou tore a rift open in the void. Undead power surged out, coalescing into a ghastly Skeleton Army. Ghostly green flames flickered in their eye sockets. They assembled silently, stepping to the rhythm of death, like the coldest of nightmares born from the dark of night.

His Summon Skeleton skill, having reached Instinct-level proficiency, displayed the long-underestimated fangs of Undead Creatures under the gaze of nearly ten thousand instructors and students. The bonuses from a full +1 Refined Apprentice Set, coupled with the effects of eight Level 1 Gemstones, were already significant. Most crucially, there was the augmentation from the bound Night Watcher I World Rune. All these factors combined allowed Fang Zhou's skeleton count to far exceed what everyone perceived as the limit for an Apprentice Undead Mage.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.