This was the first time Fang Zhou had seen high-tier undead creatures other than skeletons.

According to an Undead Mage guide he had read, Vampires were Silver Tier undead creatures. They were extremely rare and possessed the ability of Blood and Flesh Derivation. Only an Undead Mage with exceptional talent could successfully summon a Vampire.

Fang Zhou couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation. I probably have some talent, too. If I could learn[Summon Vampire], I wonder if I could deduce skills from the Flesh and Blood Series?

With his meager strength as a Middle Rank Apprentice, Fang Zhou naturally couldn't discern the Vampire's exact power. He could only vaguely sense that its aura was somewhat weaker than Instructor Lu Hu's.

However, this was Su Xinyan's summoned creature.

Having just been caught bad-mouthing her, Lu Hu was guilt-ridden and unnerved. Even if he could defeat this Vampire, how would he dare act so rashly?

Under the Vampire's menacing glare, he unconsciously quickened his pace, leading Fang Zhou to the entrance of a large building with his head hung low.

"Fang Zhou, this Vampire will take you to our research group. I suddenly remembered I have something to take care of, so I won't be going in."

After saying this, Lu Hu ran off without a single look back.

Fang Zhou shook his head with a sense of helplessness. Instructor Lu had sold him out again. He looked up at the Vampire flying in mid-air and followed its lead, quickly entering the building and arriving at a laboratory.

This was his exclusive Undead Mage research group.

Inside the room, Su Xinyan was draped in a black Mage Robe, her sharp, phoenix-like eyes burning with anger as she stared at Fang Zhou.

Seeing this, Fang Zhou obediently approached and greeted her, "Hello, Instructor Su."

Su Xinyan raised a finger and pointed it at Fang Zhou, as if about to say something. But as she looked at his handsome face—with its sharp brows, bright eyes, and an innocent expression like a little white rabbit's—she forcibly held her tongue, but not without making another black mark against Lu Hu's name.

Lu Hu, you've chosen your own path to death!

Sensing the atmosphere soften, Fang Zhou took the initiative to ask, "Instructor Su, I was wondering what my role will be in this research group?"

Speaking of business, Su Xinyan forgot her earlier displeasure. She snapped her fingers, dismissing the guiding Vampire, then motioned for Fang Zhou to sit down.

Beneath her form-fitting Mage Robe, Su Xinyan's fair, slender legs were crossed. She began to explain the research group's situation to Fang Zhou with a hint of excitement.

"Generally speaking, the military academy only establishes research groups for extremely Rare Professions with immense room for growth and great potential to be unearthed. Take your classmate Ye Fan, for example. It was only because a Professional of his[Demon Hunter]class successfully broke through to the[Legendary Crown]rank, demonstrating extremely potent combat power, that he received Federation funding to establish a research group."

At this, Su Xinyan wrinkled her nose unhappily and continued, "Humph! Our Undead Mage Profession, though very rare, is widely considered to have extremely limited room for growth due to the chasm between life and death. Therefore, it was naturally impossible to receive such treatment before. Fortunately, you burst onto the scene, Fang Zhou, and presented an incredibly dazzling report card. You proved the immense potential of Undead Mages, forcing my old-fashioned father to finally establish a research group."

Su Xinyan gave Fang Zhou an appreciative look as she continued, "Normally, Apprentice-level newcomers like you would simply serve as research subjects in the group. However, by independently developing a series of Skeleton Series Skills, you have fully demonstrated your research and deduction abilities. Therefore, the military academy made an exception. Besides serving as a research subject, you are also qualified to be a principal investigator for the group."

A principal investigator? To research myself? Sounds good. Fang Zhou nodded to himself.

He asked again, "Instructor Su, what specifically will I need to do then?"

Su Xinyan shifted her position and said, "The overall goal of our research group is to gradually perfect the Undead Mage Profession's Skill system by studying and recording your cultivation process and developmental changes at every stage. We aim to enhance the profession's cultivation speed and combat power as much as possible. As a research subject, you'll need to regularly undergo various evaluations, such as assessments of your Spiritual Power level, cultivation speed, Skill Proficiency, specific combat metrics, and so on. As a principal investigator, you will need to propose viable research topics based on your own inspiration and ideas, and do your utmost to achieve results. For example, the Skeleton Series Skill Tree you developed could perfectly serve as one of your sub-projects."

At this point, Su Xinyan winked at Fang Zhou suggestively. "After becoming a principal investigator, every time you achieve a certain research breakthrough, you'll receive generous research fund rewards—far more generous than the Contribution Points you'd get from directly uploading new Skills to the Human Alliance's Skill Library. Additionally, your research expenses can be reimbursed at a certain ratio out of public funds."

Research fund rewards? Reimbursement from public funds?

Hearing these two points, Fang Zhou immediately understood the implications. This had to be the biggest perk of joining the research group.

Su Xinyan took a sip of a brilliantly colored Otherworld juice. Looking at the contemplative Fang Zhou, she asked with great interest, "So, Fang Zhou, do you have any ideas for the project?"

Fang Zhou thought for a moment before replying, "Instructor Su, our Undead Mage Profession faces three main dilemmas. First, due to the chasm between life and death, our Visualization Images are misaligned and vague. This leads to low-quality Meditation Methods and slow cultivation speed. Second, the lack of inherited Skills results in weak combat power. Third, our bodies are frail from the corrosion of undead Mana, making it difficult to adapt to the intense and volatile environment of the battlefield. If we can solve these three problems, our Undead Mage Profession's combat power will certainly be transformed. So, I believe the research should also be directed at these three areas."

Su Xinyan sipped her juice, her gaze fixed on the articulate and clear-thinking Fang Zhou, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Very well said! I didn't... ahem, that's more or less what I was thinking."

Fang Zhou continued, "Regarding the issue with Meditation Methods, our current methods for Undead Mages are based on copying the Visualization Images of Undead Creatures at each Tier. For example, Apprentices visualize Skeletons, Black Iron Tiers visualize Zombies, and Bronze Tiers visualize Ghosts. I want to try a different approach, starting with my improved[Skeleton Monarch Meditation Method]to see if it can be further refined."

Su Xinyan propped her chin on her hand, nodding repeatedly. "Excellent. Compared to the[Skeleton Monarch]image you improved, the skeleton image from the previous Meditation Method is absolute garbage. Moreover, while visualizing the Skeleton Monarch image, I seemed to connect with the will of the Undead Realm, establishing a fixed anchor point there. Afterward, when I used Apprentice-tier Undead Mage Skills, my Spiritual Power consumption dropped significantly, and the magic effects improved dramatically. This might just prove that your approach is correct, Fang Zhou."

Hearing this, Fang Zhou had a sudden realization. It seemed that visualizing his Skeleton Clone and becoming its Apostle could bring many benefits to ordinary Undead Mages.

Limited by his own strength, the[Skeleton Monarch Meditation Method]was currently only an Apprentice-tier Skill, so the benefits it provided Su Xinyan were limited to Apprentice-tier Undead Mage Skills. If Fang Zhou could advance the[Skeleton Monarch Meditation Method]to the Golden Level, Su Xinyan would also receive substantial buffs when using Golden Level Skills, which would undoubtedly boost her combat power significantly.

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