Just as he was about to rest for a while in the wooden house, one of the Skeleton Generals following closely behind him suddenly paced back and forth uneasily, as if it had sensed something.
"What's going on?" Skeletons were ignorant and unfeeling, without emotions, and knew neither fear nor pity. Where could this unease have come from? Something was wrong. There had to be something strange about this house.
Li Shaolin did not dare let his guard down. He ordered the Clay Golem, which was still pacing around, to stand still. At the same time, he summoned Bone Shield onto himself and condensed Bone Fangs on his fingers before cautiously walking deeper into the house. The two Skeleton Generals followed closely behind, while he stationed the other Skeleton Warrior behind the door with the golem to guard the entrance.
He looked around. Everything seemed normal. The house had two small floors. The lower floor contained a living room and kitchen, while the upper floor held a study and bedroom. It was an ordinary building, though the shelves were filled with alchemical materials and herbs. Its owner had probably been an alchemist.
What was wrong?
The Skeleton General stopped beside the long-unused kitchen, took another two steps, and the soul fire in its eye sockets suddenly flared brightly!
It seemed the strange thing was in the kitchen.
After searching carefully, he found it. Beside the chopping block, a small wooden panel had been lifted at one corner, faintly revealing darkness beneath. There should be a cellar below.
Walking over, he gently lifted the panel. Sure enough, under the dim light was a stone staircase leading deeper underground. At that moment, the soul fire in the Skeleton General's eyes flickered even more violently!
"What's down there?" Li Shaolin did not dare descend. He had seen the Skeleton General's changes clearly, yet he did not even know what could cause such a reaction. How could he rashly go down?
He waited for a long while, but there was no movement below.
Gritting his teeth, Li Shaolin cautiously poked his head in. His eyes had adapted to the darkness, and he could vaguely make out objects. With that one glance, he was terrified. A bluish-black coffin sat in the cellar below, shrouded in darkness!
The coffin seemed to be carved with a mess of patterns. On the ground was a Pentagram inscribed with flowing black light, its five points linked by black radiance into a circle that emitted wave after wave of dark ripples.
No wonder the Skeleton General had been uneasy. Even he could see dark energy surging within that Pentagram. Skeleton Generals were Undead creatures, relying on absorbing deathly power to advance and level up, so naturally they were incredibly sensitive to it. Good grief, could some dark creature be sleeping inside that coffin?
After hesitating for a while, Li Shaolin still did not know whether there was a creature in the coffin. With his half-baked abilities, he did not dare provoke it. If he could not beat it, he might lose his life. That would be just great.
What should he do?
Just as he was about to close the wooden panel, one of the Skeleton Generals suddenly leaped forward and charged in!
Normally, Skeleton Generals obeyed his commands to the letter and basically had no will of their own, aside from their innate battle instincts. Yet now, tempted by this inexplicable dark energy, it had thrown itself toward the Pentagram. This was beyond Li Shaolin's expectations.
Not good!
Li Shaolin no longer had time to stop it. He blamed himself for being careless and forgetting to order the Skeleton General to remain where it was. If there really was a creature in that coffin, a fight would be unavoidable.
"Ha—!" A piercing shriek rang out, and the coffin suddenly flew open, revealing a woman.
Every strand of her black hair stood on end. A purplish-red robe clung to her body. Her hands were curled into claws, her black nails gleaming with a ghostly light. White mist gathered beneath her feet. She had pointed ears and a pale face, making for a horrifying sight.
"What is that? It looks like one of those Ghosts from the game!" Li Shaolin recoiled in fright. Since he had been leaning forward, he slammed his head into the wooden panel, baring his teeth in pain. Instinctively lowering his head, he forgot that he was standing at the cellar entrance. With several thuds, he tumbled down into the cellar, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.
He hurriedly shook his head and steadied himself. Another piercing shriek sounded as the Ghost spread its claws and lunged at him!
With a whoosh, the Skeleton General that had jumped down swung its Bone Blade wide and blocked the Ghost in front of Li Shaolin. At the same time, the other Skeleton Warrior also leaped into the cellar.
"You've got some conscience after all," Li Shaolin muttered with a curse. Though he knew the fellow could not understand him, cursing made him feel better. If not for this guy, how could it have provoked this Ghost?
Though the Ghost was half-corporeal and could avoid most physical attacks, it still did not dare take the Skeleton Warrior's Bone Blade lightly. It quickly twisted aside and dodged. At the same time, it opened its mouth and spewed out a stream of white gas, which instantly spread through the room.
Li Shaolin's scalp tingled, and his feet began moving uncontrollably. The sensation was all too familiar. It was exactly like when the warlock Sulonna had hit him with Fear Spell at Blackwell's Pumpkin Patch. This Ghost could use it too!
At the same time, Li Shaolin caught sight of two open-mouthed skulls lighting up above the Skeleton Generals' heads!
It's over. If those two get feared too, I'll really die here today. Li Shaolin panicked inwardly, but his feet did not stop moving. He had already been driven to the stairs by fear.
Fortunately, what he feared did not happen. Perhaps because the Skeleton Generals were Undead creatures, they were unaffected by the Ghost's shriek. Both swung their blades and shielded Li Shaolin behind them.
Sizzle! The Skeleton Generals' Bone Blades simultaneously slashed through the Ghost's body. Black matter was cut away along with white blade-light, drifting into the Pentagram on the ground. Those two strikes seemed to have seriously wounded the Ghost. It howled repeatedly, making Li Shaolin's ears go numb.
"Thank goodness." The fear lasted only a few seconds before Li Shaolin finally stopped. Seeing the Skeleton Generals unleash their might and fight the Ghost together, driving it back step by step, he let out a long breath. This Ghost did not seem as terrifying as it looked.
He quickly cast Detection and saw a red name light up above its head: Shari (Ghost), Level 12.
Since it could be harmed, there was nothing to worry about. He condensed two more Bone Fangs and fired them out with two whooshes.
The Bone Fangs passed through the Ghost's body and struck the coffin with two clangs. They failed to pierce it, as though the coffin itself was made of metal. The Ghost's body swayed, and more black ash scattered from it. It seemed the fangs could hurt it as well.
The Ghost shrieked and howled without end, but it could not withstand the combined assault of the three. After enduring two more attacks, it suddenly threw back its head and cried out before turning into black dust and scattering away.
"Even though it was a Ghost, it was nothing special." Li Shaolin immediately looked down on it. Aside from its frightening appearance when it emerged and its somewhat impressive fear skill, it was otherwise mediocre. He had nearly turned around and run for his life because of it.
By the faint light from the kitchen, he examined the open coffin. The lid was made of wood, but the coffin itself was cast from bronze. Inside lay a skeleton. It showed no reaction at all, so it was probably just an ordinary skeleton. Perhaps it had been the Ghost's original body.
Meanwhile, the two Skeleton Generals continuously absorbed the black matter the Ghost had scattered across the ground. Black spots immediately stained their white bones, gradually spreading over their entire bodies.
"What are these two doing?" Li Shaolin did not understand, but he had spent some time around skeletons and knew this was probably not harmful, so he let them continue.
After absorbing for a short while, one skeleton's bones completed a transformation from black back to white. A series of cracking sounds rang out, and its body seemed to shrink dramatically. Its nearly two-meter-tall frame suddenly shrank to around one and a half meters. The Bone Shield in its hand vanished as well, transforming into another black Bone Blade. A completely black skeleton appeared before Li Shaolin, holding a black Bone Blade in each hand.
"Did it mutate? Did it level up again?" Just as he was about to inspect it carefully, a beam of white light descended from above and enveloped Li Shaolin. He had actually leveled up at that moment.
Li Shaolin was now a Level 11 Necromancer.
Apparently, killing other creatures was not the only way to level up. Strengthening his summons could also make him level up. Discovering the Golden Golem in Fargodeep Mine and this Skeleton General's mutation had both raised him by one level. If he summoned a few more skeletons, would he not become rich?
He quickly looked at the ground. The black matter had already been completely absorbed, while the other Skeleton General stood within the Pentagram, absorbing the lingering energy.
He took out the Book of the Dead and flipped it open slightly. Sure enough, he had gained another skill point. Where should he spend it? Should he add another skeleton, or learn a curse? Since arriving in this world, quite a few skills seemed to have changed. He did not know whether the curse tree had been enhanced as well. Maybe he should learn one.
Opening the curse tree, he saw several skills highlighted in white that he could learn: Amplify Damage (increases the effects of physical damage received by all cursed targets within 2 yards by 100%), Weaken (reduces damage dealt by all cursed targets within 6 yards by 30% for 20 seconds, costs 4 mana), Lesser Blindness (blinds all cursed targets within 3 yards for 10 seconds, costs 9 mana).
They all seemed good. Amplify Damage could improve the skeletons' destructive power, Weaken could reduce the damage dealt by enemies, and Lesser Blindness could blind targets. But was Lesser Blindness not basically the same as a Rogue's blind? Also, why did Amplify Damage say it increased the effect of inflicted damage? What kind of effect was that? And did Weaken not require prerequisite points? Could he really learn it like this?
He could not make sense of it. Thinking of a Rogue's blind, it seemed pretty good. He had experienced firsthand that helpless feeling of being unable to control himself. He might as well learn this skill.
He acted as soon as he decided. With a tap of his finger, he selected Lesser Blindness. The casting method immediately appeared in his mind.
There were no other monsters around for him to test it on, so he had no way to see the effect. Then he suddenly remembered the mutated skeleton and hurriedly cast Detection on it: Skeleton Assassin (a stalker in the shadows, Level 15). Its name had also turned blue.
Did that mean it had become an agility-type unit?
Sure enough, at the command of his thoughts, the Black Skeleton leaped and vanished into the shadows, no different from a Rogue's Stealth.
"Hahaha, this is going to be a great helper for assassinations and scouting." Li Shaolin could not help feeling delighted. With this skeleton, it was like having a Rogue at his side. It would be impossible for others to guard against.
After his excitement faded, he saw that he had gained no other benefits and left the cellar. The other Skeleton General was already thickly covered in black energy and seemed close to advancing. Li Shaolin had it lie in the coffin to level up peacefully. Then he called over the Skeleton Warrior guarding behind the door and the Black Skeleton, stuffing those two into the Bronze Coffin as well. He was not going out today, so he would rest in the living room. As long as he did not leave the house, there should not be any danger. Besides, he still had the Clay Golem.
After arranging everything, he closed the wooden lid. Heh, fortunately, all three were skeletons without consciousness. If they were people, would they not be depressed to death?
Just as he entered the living room and sat down, he heard a creak as the wooden door was pushed open. A middle-aged mage in a sky-blue robe appeared before Li Shaolin, holding a staff set with a blue gemstone.
"Hello!" The mage was stunned when he saw Li Shaolin, then immediately greeted him in standard Common.
"Mm, hello to you too, Mage." Li Shaolin secretly let out a breath. That guy had nearly scared him to death. Damn it, he had thought the original owner had returned.
"Um, you are the owner here, right? I'm tired from passing through. May I rest here for a while?" the mage asked humbly.
"Hehe." Li Shaolin felt a little embarrassed. What owner? He had only arrived an hour or two earlier. Though he thought that inwardly, he smiled and gestured for the mage to sit. Since the man had said so, he would let him believe it.
The mage sat down and immediately spotted the golem behind the door. Smiling, he said, "Is that your magical pet? It's quite unusual."
Li Shaolin nodded, afraid the mage would notice something suspicious. Fortunately, the other man merely offered a few compliments before changing the subject.
"By the way, little brother, are you alone? Don't you have any companions? You look like a mage too, with the strength of a Level 10. Not bad. You actually dared come to Westfall alone," the old mage praised.
"Well, I had no choice. I got lost and ended up here," Li Shaolin said awkwardly.
The two chatted for a while longer. The old mage introduced himself as Karnak, then took out a kind of red fruit wine from Storage Space and said with a smile, "Here, Lin, this wine is excellent. It can help spellcasting professions recover mana and stamina faster. Have some too." With that, he took two wine glasses from the nearby table.
"Hehe, you're too kind." Li Shaolin accepted a glass and drank with the old mage. He had not expected this old man to be such a decent person.
After a few small cups, the mage looked at the golem and suddenly asked, "Lin, how long can your earth elemental last?"
Li Shaolin was surprised by the question. Then he remembered that summoned elemental creatures in this world could not exist for long, and even those that could persist were something only high-level mages could summon. How could a mere Level 10 like him control one? In his carelessness, he had forgotten that.
Shaking his head, he quickly said, "It'll disappear soon. I haven't summoned it for long." Under the table, he quietly took out the Book of the Dead and pointed it at the golem. Black light rose, and the golem instantly vanished from where it stood. He then put away the Book of the Dead without anyone noticing. Fortunately, it caused no magical fluctuations, so the old mage did not become suspicious.
"See? It disappeared already," Li Shaolin said, taking advantage of the moment.
"Hehe, come, drink." Karnak handed him another glass.
"Not bad. Fine wine." Li Shaolin smacked his lips and praised it.
"Hehe, of course. This wine is brewed from human blood, so naturally it tastes incomparably fresh." Karnak raised his head and suddenly spoke!
"What?" Li Shaolin was startled. Sensing danger, he was about to stand when the mage gripped his staff and pointed a finger at him. A flash of light enveloped him. "Baa..." Polymorph!
Karnak did not attack. He simply waited quietly for Li Shaolin's transformation to end.
Damn it, this old bastard is up to something! He must be in league with that Ghost. Li Shaolin secretly regretted it. He should have realized something when Karnak took out the wine glasses. How could the man know there happened to be glasses on that table? In a moment of carelessness, he had fallen for the trick and had even been fooled into putting away the golem. This was ridiculous.
When Polymorph ended, Li Shaolin felt his body go limp. He could not summon even a trace of mana, and he was weak all over as he collapsed onto the floor.
"Hehe, young man, you lied your way into my house without even looking at what kind of place this is?" Karnak kicked the prone Li Shaolin and sneered. "Don't waste your strength trying to use magic. You should know that I am a Dark Alchemist. Your stamina and mana will not recover for another hour. By then, you'll be enough to turn into fine wine."
Li Shaolin glared at him furiously, but there was nothing he could do. He could not even speak, much less resist.
"Come, young man, I'll introduce you to a friend. I guarantee you'll have a delightful death. Not only will your blood be drained and your bones refined, even your soul will be devoured. How's that? Considerate enough, right? Hahaha!" Karnak walked over and tried to drag him, but Li Shaolin did not move. He was a strong young man, so how could this old man who practiced magic drag him?
Karnak sighed and took out a bottle of potion, his face full of reluctance. "This Puppet Potion contains ten times the dose used on those Mechanical Golems outside. What a waste." With that, he poured it into Li Shaolin's mouth.
An inexplicable force immediately surged through his body. His limbs no longer obeyed his will, and gradually, he stood up as stiffly as a machine!
"Come on, hahaha!" Karnak led the way into the kitchen. Li Shaolin naturally followed behind him one slow, robotic step at a time.
When Li Shaolin had left the cellar, he had casually kicked the panel closed. It had barely shut and looked just as it had before, with no visible changes.
Karnak pulled open the wooden panel and commanded Li Shaolin to follow him down into the cellar. "Shari, my dear, I've brought you fresh flesh and blood again. A living human, too. Wake up quickly." His expression turned somewhat crazed as he reached for the coffin lid!
At that moment, a sudden change occurred!
Before you continue