Soon, as the last Middle-Rank Apprentice Little Inferior Demon leader fell beneath the Skeleton Flying Spears, only the Axed Heavy Armored Horned Demon remained in the once-crowded outpost hall.

It was frantic, trying with all its might to break free from the Skeletons' encirclement.

But for some reason, these Skeletons were so much stronger than their kind.

Often, the Horned Demon couldn't even kill a single Skeleton with one swing of its axe.

And as long as a Skeleton wasn't completely destroyed, that disgusting, insect-like Undead Mage hiding in the back would heal it with Magic and send it right back to the battlefield.

What terrified it even more were the Skeletons' fangs and claws, which shimmered with a black light, making their attacks formidable.

Under the continuous onslaught of the Skeleton Army, the Heavy Armor the Horned Demon was so proud of was already severely damaged, and some exposed areas were bleeding profusely.

After more than ten minutes of fierce battle, the Horned Demon was exhausted, yet it had only managed to truly slay a dozen or so Skeletons.

In stark contrast, all the other demons under its command already lay in pools of blood, sleeping like children.

The ensuing battle was naturally uneventful.

Surrounded and overwhelmed by thirty or forty Skeletons, this Horned Demon Boss—one that Fang Zhou couldn't face head-on just a week ago and had to defeat with traps—collapsed with endless resentment and reluctance.

"Mission complete. Time: 25 minutes and 20 seconds. Clearance Rating: [Perfect]. Reward: 12 contribution points."

"Congratulations, Junior Sergeant Fang Zhou. Your team cleared the [Horn Demon Outpost] on Abyss Difficulty in 25 minutes and 20 seconds, ranking 5th on the historical speed-run leaderboard. Your expected ranking reward for this month is 20 contribution points."

"Loot drop triggered. Obtained [Apprentice Longbow] x1, exchangeable for 10 contribution points."

Listening to the pleasant system prompts, Fang Zhou felt a surge of delight.

In just one week, his combat power had grown enough to crush the Abyss Difficulty [Horn Demon Outpost]. His clearance time was halved, and his historical speed-run ranking had skyrocketed to 5th place.

He really had to thank the Undead Mage Research Project Group for providing him with a way to grow stronger so rapidly.

Glancing at the massive corpse of the Horned Demon Boss, Fang Zhou exited the Simulation Battlefield without a shred of reluctance.

As time went on, the gap between him and the enemies he defeated head-on would only widen.

From now on, he just needed to steadily enhance his strength to continuously shorten his clearance time.

It wasn't impossible for him to reach the top of the historical speed-run leaderboard all by himself.

***

Opening the Simulation Pod, Fang Zhou emerged as if rising from a coffin, only to be greeted by Bai Xiaochan's starry eyes, which were filled with admiration.

Seeing Fang Zhou, Bai Xiaochan was so excited she was practically dancing on the spot.

"Fang Zhou, I heard from Ye Fan that Instructor Lu Hu took you to the Undead Mage Research Project Group yesterday. Did your combat power really increase that much in just one night?"

The other first-year students who had gathered to watch all perked up their ears, waiting with curiosity for Fang Zhou's explanation.

Fang Zhou nodded at Bai Xiaochan and said calmly, "I spent all the contribution points I'd accumulated on some Gemstones, Refining Stones, and Skill Insights, so my Equipment and Skills have improved a bit."

Though Fang Zhou spoke with great humility, the other students weren't fools.

They could clearly see from his impressive performance today just how extraordinary his so-called "bit of improvement" truly was.

However, these students also understood that Fang Zhou had earned those abundant contribution points through his own hard work and Talent, which had allowed him to master so many Skills.

He was a one-in-a-million case, and no matter how envious or jealous ordinary students like them felt, there was nothing they could do.

In just over a month, the Undead Mage they had once dismissed as a useless pretty boy had grown into a powerhouse they could only look up to.

Fang Zhou led Bai Xiaochan away from the crowd to a quiet corner.

Seeing his expression, Bai Xiaochan, who knew his routine well, obediently took out her small harp and skillfully played [Lullaby] for him.

After the music ended, Fang Zhou felt his soul was more relaxed than before. He raised an eyebrow at Bai Xiaochan.

"Xiaochan, has your [Lullaby] Skill Proficiency improved?"

Bai Xiaochan hugged her small harp and smiled proudly. "Of course!

"I play it for you every day, so my [Lullaby] proficiency has already reached the [Skilled] level.

"And let me tell you a secret, I'm learning a new Skill called [Song of Triumph]. It can restore Spiritual Power to allied targets within a certain range. It's useful for both daily skill practice and on the battlefield, you know."

Hearing this, Fang Zhou's eyes lit up.

It seemed his previous prodding had been effective; the once-lazy Bai Xiaochan had finally shown some ambition.

Looking at the proud Bai Xiaochan, who was clearly expecting praise, Fang Zhou readily gave her a thumbs-up.

He followed up with a round of praises, calling her his "Zither Fairy" and "Star Songstress," which made Bai Xiaochan giddy with flattery.

Of course, alongside the praise, he couldn't stop dangling the carrot.

Fang Zhou spoke again, this time earnestly, "Xiaochan, besides learning Skills, you can't slack off on your Meditation, either. You need to quickly advance to Middle-Rank Apprentice so I can carry you through the [Horn Demon Outpost]."

At this, Bai Xiaochan sighed heavily and said with some dejection, "I'm not a monster like you, with both Talent and resources. I've spent all my contribution points on the small harp and learning new Skills, so I can't speed up my Meditation even if I want to."

Fang Zhou pondered for a moment. "I remember the Research Project Group has assistant positions. Besides providing contribution points, they also grant early access to benefits like the Concentration Meditation Room and the Skill Training Room through the group's channels. Xiaochan, if you're interested, I can recommend you."

Bai Xiaochan's eyes immediately lit up.

"Really, Fang Zhou? You can really get me in?"

But she quickly realized something else, her face filled with surprised delight. "I heard from Ye Fan that assistants for the project group can only be appointed by researchers. Does that mean... you're already a researcher in the Undead Mage Project Group, Fang Zhou?"

Fang Zhou nodded calmly.

"Yay!"

Bai Xiaochan leaped up in excitement and threw her arms around Fang Zhou's. "Fang Zhou, you're my golden ticket! When you're rich and famous, don't forget me!"

Fang Zhou pushed her away with a look of mock disdain. "I'll send you an application form on your personal terminal. Fill it out and give it back to me. Come with me to the research lab after class tonight. I'll report this to the instructors and finalize the specific tasks and pay for your assistant position."

Bai Xiaochan nodded repeatedly with an obedient look on her face.

Just then, a pleasant female voice suddenly sounded from behind Fang Zhou.

"Researcher Fang, I'd like to put myself forward. What do you think about me being your assistant, too?"

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