The most critical aspect was that a successful block could cause the enemy to falter for a moment, creating an opening for a counterattack. Overall, it was a top-tier skill that integrated defense with offense and offense with defense—a perfect union of the two.

For Fang Zhou, there was another crucial factor. Once the Block skill reaches the Instinct level of proficiency, I wonder what kind of Skill Materials and inspiration it will provide to the main body?

Among all the skills the main body currently possessed, Skeleton Shackles, Skeleton Shield, and Skeleton Wings were enough to ensure his safety in combat. If he also counted the Undead Sky Screen emitted by the Celestial Curtain Magic Bottle, it was safe to say his main body's defensive Attributes were maxed out.

However, compared to his own defensive Attributes, the Defense Power of his summoned Skeleton Army was somewhat fragile. Although Skeleton Blade had given them sharp weapons, making them a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, the lack of effective protective equipment left these brave warriors particularly vulnerable against strong enemies. His loyal Skeleton Army could only rely on their own bones to withstand the enemy's fierce onslaught.

Thus, Fang Zhou became lost in a wonderful fantasy.

Previously, when the Apprentice-level Brutal Strike skill had evolved into the Black Iron-level Brutal Strike skill, not only had the Skeleton Clone's attack power received an unprecedented boost, but it had also provided a great deal of inspiration for the main body to deduce the Group Brutality Skill, which massively enhanced the Skeleton Army's combat effectiveness. Now, if the Clone's Block skill could lead to the deduction of a defensive skill similar to Group Brutality Skill, it would undoubtedly bring a qualitative leap to the Skeleton Army's combat ability.

Having made up his mind, Fang Zhou took a deep breath and entered a state of dual focus. While commanding the Skeleton Clone to recall the scattered Skeleton Teams from their hunt, he also had his main body gently retrieve a Skill Key inlaid with a black metallic frame from his Space Storage Capsule.

Then, Fang Zhou steadily inserted it into the interface of his personal terminal.

With a faint CLICK, the terminal screen instantly lit up. The Black Iron-level universal Combat Professional skills and their corresponding Skill Insights that Fang Zhou had previously exchanged for were immediately displayed. Without a moment's hesitation, Fang Zhou decisively selected the Block and Counterattack skill along with its accompanying Skill Insights.

Upon selection, the personal terminal emitted a slight hum. A translucent screen quietly materialized in the air, clearly displaying lines of text.

"Data transfer in progress. Skill demonstration is about to begin."

Fang Zhou's gaze was fixed on the screen, his heart filled with anticipation. Soon, a series of pleasant prompts sounded from the attribute panel.

"Detected a Clone capable of learning from Skill Materials. Consume 100 Soul Power for rapid learning."

"Begin learning?"

"Detected Skill Proficiency enhancement materials for a Clone. Estimated 100 Soul Power required for perfect absorption."

"Begin absorption?"

Looking at the prompts on the attribute panel, Fang Zhou took a deep breath, directly consumed 200 Soul Power, and entered the long-awaited state of a Burst of Inspiration.

Fang Zhou closed his eyes, but his mind was clearer than ever. In this state, he felt as if he had merged with the world. All skills, knowledge, and experience flowed rapidly through his mind, intertwining to form a powerful torrent. Within this torrent of inspiration, his experiences from the past few months of controlling the Skeleton Clone and using the Block skill replayed in his mind, vivid and lifelike.

The true essence of blocking lay not in the weapon, but in the mind. The key was to perceive the enemy's attack trajectory and intent, then either strike their unavoidable defensive point or defend against their unavoidable attack point. Fang Zhou couldn't help but recall the Skeleton Clone's sparring session with the Berserker Heroic Spirit, Olaf.

Olaf's attacks had been ferocious and intense. However, by relying on the Block skill's effective damage reduction, Fang Zhou had managed to endure Olaf's frenzied assault for a surprisingly long time. All these past battle experiences became the nourishment for Fang Zhou's rapid evolution and growth.

Meanwhile, the projected demonstration of the Block skill's advancement into Block and Counterattack on the personal terminal was like a shot in the arm. At that moment, the Skeleton Clone's Block skill underwent a qualitative leap. It skyrocketed from the long-stagnant Perfection level of proficiency to the seamless integration of the Instinct level. The gap between them was seemingly filled in an instant by some mysterious power.

As the afterglow of the Burst of Inspiration gradually faded, Fang Zhou slowly opened his eyes. With a little bit of help from the attribute panel, he had finally succeeded! The Skeleton Clone had not only raised Block to the Instinct proficiency level but had also advanced it to the Black Iron-level skill, Block and Counterattack.

After a moment, Fang Zhou took several deep breaths, managing to calm his racing heart. He looked at the attribute panel, and sure enough, the Skeleton Clone's Skills Bar had been updated.

Block and Counterattack (Black Iron-level, Mastery): Move with your will, act with the blade. Block the next incoming attack, reducing the damage taken, with a chance to make the enemy fumble, significantly increasing the damage they take from the next hit. Block success rate, damage reduction, and fumble probability depend on the Constitution attribute and Skill Proficiency.

The skill description provided by the attribute panel was identical to Instructor Lu Hu's earlier explanation. Fang Zhou nodded his skull slightly, quite satisfied with this skill.

However, I'm more concerned about what kind of Skill Material feedback the main body will receive now that the Skeleton Clone has mastered Block and Counterattack.

Fang Zhou felt a surge of excitement. Just as he was about to have the Skeleton Clone test out the power boost from Block and Counterattack, a prompt from the attribute panel rang in his mind like a heavenly choir.

"Sufficient Skill Materials have been accumulated. An Unknown Skill can be deduced for the main body."

"Estimated cost: 10 Soul Power. Begin Skill Deduction?"

The Soul Fire blazed brightly within Fang Zhou's skull as he decisively hit confirm. Instantly, the 10 points of Soul Power were like fuel cast into a furnace, reigniting his mental tempest.

Riding the residual momentum from learning Block and Counterattack, Fang Zhou attempted to re-express the defensive enhancement of the new skill through a different magical structure, basing it on the casting logic of an Undead Mage. This time, however, the focus of his Skill Deduction was not on improving his own defense. Instead, it was on replicating his successful defensive experience onto the Skeleton Army he summoned.

At that moment, Fang Zhou's mind became exceptionally clear. Perhaps it was because upgrading Block from the Instinct level to the Black Iron-level Block and Counterattack had indeed accumulated sufficient Skill Materials, but this feedback deduction was proceeding with unusual smoothness. He imagined that when he cast this new skill, his Spiritual Power would act like invisible threads connecting to each of his Undead Creatures, guiding the Undead Attribute Energy within them to converge into a protective aura.

Just as his thoughts reached their peak, he felt a subtle change from the attribute panel—the signal of a successful Skill Deduction.

"Unknown Skill deduction successful. Please provide a name."

Fang Zhou slowly opened his eyes and quickly scanned the new skill's description in the attribute panel's Skills Bar. Thrilled, he immediately gave it a fitting name.

"Name it Iron Wall Aura."

Iron Wall Aura (Apprentice-level, Mastery): Consume Spiritual Power to guide the Undead Attribute Energy within subordinate Undead Creatures, granting them an increased block rate for a certain period. When an Undead Creature successfully blocks, the damage it receives is greatly reduced. The effect's magnitude, duration, and area of effect are determined by the Spirit Attribute and Skill Proficiency.

Fang Zhou surveyed his Skills Bar, his gaze shifting back and forth between Group Brutality Skill and Iron Wall Aura as a realization dawned on him.

These two skills... One grants my Skeleton Army ferocious power, allowing it to sweep across the battlefield like a tidal wave. The other acts as a solid fortress, making them indestructible and able to withstand any enemy assault.

One for offense and one for defense, they vastly improved the combat ability of his summoned Skeleton Army from both aspects.

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