Skeleton Warhorse

"..."

Inside the tactical research room, everyone had been stunned into silence.

"Why? Why?" Black Tiger was completely dumbfounded, capable of repeating only those two words.

"There's probably no need to check. This must be the fastest clear record for the second floor," Su Xiaoxiao said.

"That's right. Even intermediate awakened ones took no less than twenty minutes to clear the second floor."

Instructor Chou gave a bitter smile. "Last year's strongest newcomer, Li Yufeng, took nearly seven hours to clear the second floor."

"Bai Pu is only level 1 and doesn't even have a combat skill, yet he's stronger than an intermediate awakened one?" Black Tiger finally came back to his senses and said in disbelief.

"You can't compare them like that. Maybe this dungeon just suits Bai Pu particularly well," Instructor Chou said.

"Why hasn't Bai Pu come out... Don't tell me he wants to go to the third floor?"

Qilin, who had remained silent all this time, spotted the crucial point. His face turned pale with fright.

Before the entrance to the third floor of the White Bone Dungeon's second floor.

Bai Pu was breathing slightly heavily. Shallow bloodstains covered his body, but as his Health Points recovered over time, the wounds rapidly healed as well.

Bai Pu inscribed the Flesh Rune once more. During the half hour spent inscribing it, his Health Points gradually returned to full.

Behind Bai Pu stood two figures, one tall and one short.

The taller figure had thick, sturdy bones and dragged a massive unsheathed sword in both hands. It radiated a fierce, imposing aura. It was a Skeleton Warrior.

The shorter figure had deep-set eye sockets. Its soul fire was several times stronger than that of an ordinary skeleton soldier, and it wore tattered mage robes. It was an Undead Bone Mage.

The two elite monsters stood solemnly with their hands at their sides. They had clearly already been converted into Bai Pu's servants.

"Taking the combined assault of so many level 2 monsters was indeed a little too much. Since they were generally one level above me, the damage they dealt to me increased by 10%, while the damage I dealt to them dropped by 10%! Good thing I have the god-tier skill Self-Adaptive Evolution.

"The virtual treasure chests on the second floor are all level 2. The rewards are far better than on the first floor. Not only were there skill books, but the equipment drop rate had also increased, and three pieces dropped! Too bad they were only standard white equipment."

Standard equipment generally only provided defenses such as armor and magic resistance, along with some basic passive abilities. It did not grant boosts to the four primary attributes, much less excellent active skills.

Many awakened organizations now had the ability to mass-produce standard equipment, so its price was generally quite stable—merely the cost of the spirit energy materials plus a small crafting fee.

Bai Pu let out a breath and reviewed the battle.

The 50% reduction against specific types of damage provided by Self-Adaptive Evolution was truly incredibly powerful. It had not been obvious when dealing with the weak Rotten Bone Skeletons on the first floor, but on this floor, against large numbers of level 2 skeleton soldiers and Skeleton Warriors, the amount of damage reduced was astonishing.

Even so, Bai Pu had nearly suffered a disastrous defeat.

Two Undead Bone Mages had suddenly appeared. One used Crippling Spell, cutting Bai Pu's movement speed in half, while the other used Corrosion, greatly weakening his armor.

Then the two Undead Bone Mages began chanting spells. Two Ice Shards struck Bai Pu, and the heavy damage made his scalp tingle.

Although Self-Adaptive Evolution immediately stored a third form—Icy Body—which granted 50% reduction against frost damage, Bai Pu could not switch to that form and abandon Keratinous Skin, which countered Sharp Damage! He could only endure the Undead Bone Mages' frost spells head-on.

Fortunately, Bai Pu had prepared in advance. Before launching his one-wave tactic, he had spent some time using Pure Blood Guard to enslave an elite Skeleton Warrior as a fighter.

After receiving the 7 free attribute points from Pure Blood Guard, the enslaved elite Skeleton Warrior became absurdly strong. Its Strength alone reached 27 points! Under Bai Pu's cover, it swung its greatsword and killed one Undead Bone Mage, then beat the other into a near-death state.

Although the Undead Bone Mage was one level higher than Bai Pu, it only had an Elite Template, placing it a tier below Bai Pu. Moreover, the near-death state improved the success rate of Pure Blood Guard's enslavement. Thus, after the battle ended, Bai Pu successfully enslaved it.

Now, Bai Pu had practically played all his trump cards. After inscribing the Flesh Rune again, his Spirit Energy was nearly depleted. His temples throbbed, and all he wanted was to lie down and sleep.

In a half-depleted state, Spirit Energy recovered extremely slowly. Bai Pu used up all sixty minutes of rest time, yet his Spirit Energy barely recovered.

On this floor, Bai Pu used two precious drops of pure blood to enslave two elite creatures. He was preparing for the future, laying the groundwork for clearing the third floor.

The monsters on the second floor were basically level 2, one level higher than Bai Pu. Thanks to the suppression of Bai Pu's Enhanced Elite Template, he could still ensure a decent success rate for enslavement.

By the third floor, the monsters should all be level 3, two levels above Bai Pu! If Bai Pu wanted to make use of Pure Blood Guard's enslavement effect, the success rate would be far too low. Even if he beat a monster into near-death and gained the favorable enslavement check bonus, it would still be difficult to succeed.

"Within the limits of my strength, I've prepared as thoroughly as possible for the third floor." Bai Pu led his two undead servants into the entrance to the third floor. "Now, it depends on how far I can go. Level 3 virtual treasure chests should have a much higher chance of producing good loot... But my main goal isn't the treasure chests. It's proving my value!"

Bai Pu had found the God Strategy Army as his backer and cleared his record with the Security Department. The Superpower Corporation could no longer use official power to crush him, so it would inevitably turn its open attacks into covert ones! Under such circumstances, Bai Pu needed to prove his value and draw the God Strategy Army's attention. Only then could he protect himself while he was still weak.

The moment he stepped onto the third floor, Bai Pu was dealt a crushing blow.

Rumble—

Hoofbeats rang out as a Skeleton Warhorse, its entire body burning with demon fire and crimson light gleaming from its eye sockets, came galloping along the cave wall beside him!

At Bai Pu's command, the Skeleton Warrior bravely stepped forward, sweeping its greatsword sideways.

Clang! With a deafening crash, the Skeleton Warrior was sent flying backward, taking 35 points of concussion damage! Concussion damage had a slowing effect. After getting back up, the Skeleton Warrior staggered along, losing its position.

The Skeleton Warhorse charged straight at the Undead Bone Mage. It seemed to possess some kind of instinctive perception and knew that attacking the Undead Bone Mage offered the best payoff.

Knowing this was a Virtual Dungeon and that he would not truly die, Bai Pu stepped forward to cover it.

Then he was sent flying as well, like a small stone struck by a speeding truck.

Bai Pu had Heavy Armor Mastery, and while wearing heavy armor, he was normally difficult to knock back or send flying. But the difference in Strength between him and the Skeleton Warhorse was simply too great, and the enemy also carried the momentum of its high-speed charge! Fortunately, after Bai Pu and the Skeleton Warrior delayed it for a moment, the Undead Bone Mage finally cast Crippling Spell.

The Skeleton Warhorse's speed plummeted.

Bai Pu called the Skeleton Warrior forward to surround and attack it, but the next second, he heard a shrill neigh. Demon fire erupted all over the Skeleton Warhorse's body as it raised its forelegs and stomped down fiercely!

The Undead Bone Mage's Health Points dropped by three-quarters! With a beautiful side kick, the Skeleton Warhorse shattered the Undead Bone Mage, turning it into a shower of bone fragments.

A level 2 elite Undead Bone Mage was declared dead after just one skill and one ordinary kick from this powerful Skeleton Warhorse! Naturally, Bai Pu did not stand there idly. He lunged forward, grabbed the Skeleton Warhorse's tailbone wreathed in demon fire, and tried to climb onto its back.

The Skeleton Warhorse reared up and galloped wildly, but Bai Pu clung tightly to its tailbone without letting go!

An ordinary person might have been dragged flying by the Skeleton Warhorse's immense Strength, but Bai Pu had Heavy Armor Mastery and was even harder to knock back or send flying! Like a stubborn counterweight hanging behind it, he prevented the Skeleton Warhorse from accelerating, drastically reducing its speed.

The Skeleton Warrior suddenly spun in a circle. Black light flared around its body as its greatsword, carrying immense momentum, swept out horizontally! This was the Skeleton Warrior's signature combat skill, Whirlwind Strike! Bang! A huge crash rang out as the Skeleton Warhorse's front leg suffered a devastating blow, followed by the teeth-grating sound of bones cracking.

—PS: An explanation regarding the college entrance exam arc. A: Why write a college entrance exam arc?

1. The college entrance exam is a world event, and those who rank near the top receive extremely generous rewards.

2. Bai Pu needed to greatly increase his real-world fame and gain the organization's attention, raising the cost for the Superpower Corporation to assassinate him. The social attention caused by an ordinary awakened one being assassinated is completely different from that caused by a Top Scorer being assassinated.

3. Supreme geniuses of Bai Pu's age would also take the college entrance exam, and they would clash during later Spirit Realm explorations. Writing the college entrance exam allows everyone to become familiar with the geniuses ahead of time, so their appearances will not feel abrupt.

B: Is the college entrance exam arc copied from Evolutionary Eye? No. Eight hundred years after the Spirit Energy Era, the college entrance exam's system and format are completely different from those during the time of Evolutionary Eye. It has become more refined, and the competition has become even fiercer.

One last thing: originally, Ya Sheluo planned to gradually show everyone the reasons for writing the college entrance exam arc through the later plot, subtly and naturally. Why couldn't he sit still and had to come out and explain it now?

Because the book has not been recommended yet, and those willing to follow it daily are basically old brothers who came over from Evolutionary Eye.

Ya Sheluo does not want to disappoint everyone, so he is explaining in advance. I sincerely ask everyone to keep reading patiently and trust that this book's future will not disappoint you.

Ya Sheluo, November 13, 2023