Fang Zhou was taken aback. He looked at Instructor Lu Hu and asked in confusion, "A funeral? I thought General Ning Feihu was buried right after Instructor Wang Tao brought his remains back to the academy from the Ant Queen's lair."

Lu Hu sighed heavily. "Fang Zhou, you may not know this, but in General Ning Feihu's bloodline, Major General Ning Danxin is the only one left. All the other descendants of the Ning Clan have heroically sacrificed themselves on the Human-Demon Battlefield. They gave their lives for their country, facing death as if returning home. The Ning Clan's loyalty is so profound that every one of them is a hero, like the very soul of the Longxia Federation and even the Human Alliance Army. Because of this, we must wait for Major General Ning Danxin to return and witness it with her own eyes before we can hold the funeral for General Ning Feihu."

Fang Zhou nodded slightly, his voice somber. "Instructor Lu, I only found General Ning Feihu's remains by sheer coincidence. I feel unworthy of the merit the military has given me for it. There's no need to say anything more. Having the chance to see General Ning off on his final journey is my greatest honor as a cadet of Sea City Military Academy and a soldier of the Human Alliance Army."

"Good!" Lu Hu appreciatively patted Fang Zhou's shoulder. "That you can say such words proves you are a good, loyal young man. Rest assured, our Human Alliance will never treat any meritorious individual unfairly. When Major General Ning Danxin returns to Sea City Military Academy, she will surely thank you in person."

Fang Zhou silently nodded and said no more. What he had just said was what he truly felt. Ultimately, he didn't care about any benefits. As long as he could see the hero brought home wrapped in horsehide, his soul returned to his homeland, that was enough.

At this moment, Lu Hu said with some emotion, "The Calamity Sun Demon Country battlefield... It's been a long time since I've been there. I wonder if those little demon brats can still withstand a 'training session' from our Human Alliance Army. When I see Major General Ning Danxin this time, I must make sure to ask her about the situation on the front lines."

Hearing this, Fang Zhou asked curiously, "Instructor Lu Hu, what is the situation on the Calamity Sun Demon Country battlefield?"

Lu Hu looked at Fang Zhou and smiled. "I've told you in history class before. Over the past few decades, most of the Abyssal Demons that invaded Blue Star have been killed or driven away. Now, the largest force of Abyssal Demons on Blue Star is the Calamity Sun Demon Country. That area is controlled by a group of Fallen Demons and Demon Worshipers. The Fallen Demons, as their name suggests, are just a bunch of scum unworthy of being called human, wagging their tails and begging at the feet of the Abyssal Demons. In the early stages of the Human-Demon War, these demons, in cooperation with the main forces of the Abyssal Demons, caused us quite a bit of trouble. However, with the Abyssal Demons forced to withdraw from Blue Star, and after nearly a decade of our efforts, the Calamity Sun Demon Country's sphere of influence has been greatly compressed. The Dawn Legion on the front line has practically formed a complete encirclement around them."

Fang Zhou nodded, thinking for a moment before asking, "Instructor Lu, after we graduate from Sea City Military Academy, will we be sent to the Calamity Sun Demon Country battlefield?"

Lu Hu shook his head. "Not necessarily. Although we've gained the upper hand on the main front in the Calamity Sun Demon Country, they still have a large number of effective forces planning a counterattack. Therefore, on Blue Star, the Calamity Sun Demon Country battlefield is considered the most intense and dangerous. Generally, graduates from the major military academies will spend a few years honing their skills on smaller Human-Demon battlefields before being dispatched to the Calamity Sun Demon Country battlefield."

At this point, Lu Hu glanced at Fang Zhou and continued, "However, there are always exceptions to the general rule. For a genius like you, Fang Zhou, whose combat power far exceeds that of ordinary students, you might be sent directly to the Calamity Sun Demon Country battlefield after graduation. When that time comes, you must be careful and cautious, and never grow arrogant or careless. The dangers of the Human-Demon Battlefield are far beyond what new recruits like you, who grew up in the safety of a military academy, can imagine. When Major General Ning Danxin returns to Sea City Military Academy, you can take the opportunity to learn a lot from her. It would also help pave the way for your future in the military."

Fang Zhou nodded, silently reciting the Stability Technique in his mind. Seeking progress through stability and accumulating strength for a major breakthrough had always been his guiding principle. Therefore, he naturally wouldn't become conceited and arrogant like those young, successful geniuses.

The Abyssal Demons, a warring race whose overall strength far surpasses that of Blue Star humans, must not be underestimated. I wonder if, with the help of the attribute panel and the Skeleton Clone, I'll have the chance to grow into a peerless powerhouse who can single-handedly suppress the Abyssal Demons?

While Fang Zhou was deep in thought, Instructor Lu Hu began to wander around the training ground, occasionally pointing out the immature combat tactics of some of the squads.

Fang Zhou's gaze grew distant as he began to think about the resources he currently possessed.

My contribution points are sufficient for now. Although I'm about to spend a large chunk, the upcoming one-time massive discovery reward from the Refining Stone mineral vein, along with the continuous mining income, will be enough to cover my current expenses. Not to mention, with my extraordinary talent, I can also deduce some brand-new Undead Mage Skills to exchange for contribution point rewards. Before long, the Unknown Talent Skill that the Skeleton Clone analyzed from the Zombie will be fully analyzed. By then, I can use it as a blueprint and source material to deduce more practical new skills.

Another small benefit for me is that after becoming a Seed Student, the military academy will periodically issue tasks. Completing these tasks will also yield a certain amount of contribution points. It's precisely because of these income channels that I have the confidence to spend money like water.

But then again, the more critical limitation for me right now isn't contribution points, but Soul Power. Learning Skills quickly requires Soul Power. Equipment enhancement requires Soul Power. Skill inference requires even more Soul Power. Even though the Skeleton Clone now has a power-leveling team of nearly forty Skeleton Servants, the rate of Soul Power absorption can hardly satisfy my insatiable demand.

Fang Zhou pondered for a moment and sighed softly.

After all, my main body is just a mere Apprentice, and the clone is only a Black Iron-tier Skeleton Warrior. The only feasible method I can think of is to increase my income and reduce my expenses. As for reducing expenses, that goes without saying. To grow stronger quickly, I absolutely can't cut back on spending.

As for increasing income, the first method is to extend the Skeleton Clone's monster-killing and leveling time as much as possible. This duration is directly determined by my soul's toughness and recovery efficiency. A month ago, using the channels of the Undead Mage research group, I already maxed out external aids like the duration of Concentration Meditation, Soul Calming Potions, Moon Orchid Fragrance, and the Flower of Sighs. There aren't any other avenues for growth in the short term.

The second method is to increase the efficiency of the Skeleton Clone's monster killing. The clone currently has nearly forty Skeleton Servants scattered in all directions hunting for it, which is already the temporary limit. Only when the Skeleton Clone learns more Skills and raises its combat power by another large margin will I be prepared to explore deeper. I hope that in the deeper parts of the Corpse Hills, undead creatures like Skeleton Warriors and Zombies will be more densely populated.

The third method is still just a conjecture. That is to promote the Skeleton King Meditation Method among all Undead Mage Professionals. If I can make all Undead Mages become Apostles of the Skeleton Monarch (the Skeleton Clone), I can intercept more Soul Power from their meditation. Currently, my only Apostles are Sandro and Su Xinyan. Although they are both high-tier, Golden-Tier Undead Mages, and their quality is high, their number isn't enough. If I could turn the nearly 200 human Undead Mages into my Apostles, the accumulated Soul Power, bit by bit, would be a considerable income.

Making a note of this idea, Fang Zhou stood up and looked out at the training field.

HOWL!

As the final, piercing scream slowly faded, this brutal yet valuable real-combat training for the Seed Students finally concluded. Immediately after, a deep and powerful command echoed through the entire underground training ground.

"Attention all students! This actual combat training is now officially over!"

Hearing the command, the students either gasped to catch their breath or wiped the sweat from their foreheads with the backs of their hands. Their faces, though tired, were filled with an unconcealable excitement and pride.

"Pack up your equipment. We're preparing to leave."

Following Instructor Lu Hu's instructions, the students quickly organized their equipment and formed neat lines. Fang Zhou also fell into line, standing with Meng Hongzhuang and Bai Xiaochan.

The group of Seed Students followed Instructor Lu Hu's lead, navigating the winding tunnels away from the underground training ground. The moment they saw daylight again, sunlight poured down through the high glass dome of the Hall of Glory.

Instructor Lu Hu casually added a few more reminders, telling the Seed Students not to slack off on their cultivation in their free time, before signaling for them to disperse.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

The moment Lu Hu gave the command, Bai Xiaochan and Meng Hongzhuang darted out from the crowd, flanking Fang Zhou.

Meng Hongzhuang was fine. After the experience of Cave Hunting, the two rounds of combat training against Abyssal Little Inferior Demons this afternoon were a piece of cake for her, handled with an air of casual ease.

Bai Xiaochan, however, was a different story. She had only ever been beaten up by Abyssal Little Inferior Demon Illusions in the Simulation Battlefield. This time, she had personally participated in an intense and fierce battle with her two teammates. Although it looked like chickens pecking at each other in the eyes of Lu Hu and Fang Zhou, for Bai Xiaochan, a flower raised in a greenhouse, it had been a thrilling experience.

As Bai Xiaochan chattered incessantly in his ear, Fang Zhou simply nodded and gave perfunctory responses, dragging his two "little assistants" along as they followed the main group out of the Academy History Hall.

When they reached the entrance of the hall, Meng Hongzhuang finally couldn't take it anymore and cut off Bai Xiaochan's uncontainable emotional venting.

"Enough! Are you still denying you're just a vase? It was just two rounds against six Little Inferior Demons. I could have handled them all by myself easily. Do you have to get so worked up over something so pathetic?"

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