Ash Scavenging Squad

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When the skeleton squad's lieutenant, Ash, received the order and rushed back to the graveyard demon, Gu Su was squatting in front of the Yin Soul shop stall, holding a wooden bowl of steaming chicken soup. He slurped the broth while casually observing the three new items displayed in the shop today, looking quite at ease.

The three items were neatly arranged.

One was a transparent crystal the size of a fist, with faint black mist swirling within.

One was a black, torn cloth doll with frayed edges. The fabric was stiff, giving it a creepy appearance.

The last was a plate of nearly rotten offerings. The fruits were shriveled and black, yet still emitted a faint aura of death.

[Cursed Crystal (White): Can be used to inflict low-level curses on targets. Due to bearing too much curse power, the crystal surface is shrouded in dense eerie and cursed energy (Price: 8 gold coins).]

[Blood-Stained Cloth Doll (White): A worn-out cloth doll that has absorbed a large amount of blood and the resentment of its original owner. It has developed a faint malevolence and can be used as a simple weapon (Price: 7 gold coins).]

[Offerings Stained with Death Qi (White): Offerings once used for sacrifices before graves, containing faint death qi. Normal humans who consume it will be tainted with evil energy, while undead can consume it to replenish a small amount of energy (Price: 4 gold coins).]

Catching sight of Ash rushing over, his footsteps lighter than ordinary skeletons, Gu Su casually picked up the plate of offerings stained with death qi from the stall and tossed it over his shoulder. "Here, for you," he said dismissively.

Ash instinctively reached out with his bone hand to catch the offerings. Just as he was about to bring them to his mouth, he heard Gu Su's voice and stopped, stiffly raising his head.

Gu Su's gaze fell on him, and he pointed to Ash's back and waist, raising an eyebrow. "What's with the things on you? You're different from the other skeletons."

Ash quickly lowered his head, his voice hoarse and dry but laced with respect. "Reporting, my lord. This banner on my back grew on its own after I was promoted to lieutenant. The items at my waist were made from discarded parts I found while scavenging in the marketplace, just convenient for work."

What Gu Su was referring to was Ash's unique appearance. His clothing was still tattered and dusty like ordinary skeletons. However, a small, triangular blue banner with a half-grimacing skull drawn in black was stuck to his back. It swayed gently in the wind, looking anything but ordinary.

Simultaneously, a "25/25" displayed on it indicated a full squad. This style of wearing a banner on the back was quite distinctive, clearly marking who was a commander and who was a regular soldier on the battlefield at a glance. However, having a back full of banners was a bit of a cliché and not really funny. Gu Su's first reaction upon seeing it was to laugh.

Looking at his waist, he saw a string of crudely made but reasonably organized small tools. There was a small hammer, rusty pliers, a sharpened knife, and several screwdrivers of various sizes. They were clearly handcrafted and assembled, making him stand out from the rigid skeletons.

Gu Su casually opened Ash's status panel, and a clear line of information appeared.

[Ash (Level 0, Summon, Lieutenant): Experience (54/100), Attack 1, Defense 1, Health 10, Talent: Scavenging]

After scanning the panel, Gu Su's gaze returned to Ash, and he asked directly, "Your talent is Scavenging? What exactly does it do?"

Ash quickly explained in detail, his tone becoming more serious. "Reporting, my lord. My Scavenging talent allows me to quickly judge the use of each item when collecting resources, accurately picking out usable things from a pile of junk. Additionally, I can process some discarded waste, converting useless trash into basic usable objects. Also, I can pack things, fitting the most items into the smallest space. For example, before, we had to haul the sheet metal directly. Now, we can crush the sheet metal into small pieces and bring it back. A cart can carry two to three times more than before. Most importantly, the skeleton squad I lead can also be influenced by my talent and learn these abilities. He paused and added, "Now they can skillfully learn to skin, process animal hides, collect wild herbs, and pack various materials with fine detail, no longer just rigidly carrying things like before. Most importantly, they are now quite obedient and don't need you to command them one by one anymore."

Hearing this, Gu Su instinctively looked up at the neatly dried animal hides hanging by the wall and suddenly understood. No wonder the skeletons had been so organized and skilled in drying the hides before; they had learned from Ash, all thanks to the Scavenging talent.

Gu Su nodded with satisfaction, his tone laced with praise. "Good. Although it's not a combat talent, at this stage, it's the most practical and hassle-free. Otherwise, commanding these skeletons is like dealing with a bunch of mindless fools; they only act when told. From now on, the skeleton squad you lead will be officially called the Ash Squad, continuing to be responsible for material scavenging and processing."

As he spoke, Gu Su raised his hand and pointed to the empty Grave No. 1 not far away, signaling Ash to look. The originally ordinary grave mound had been moved to a new location, and next to it, three additional grave pits with simple tombstones had appeared. This was the change after the grave mound was reinforced and upgraded to a large grave through tents when the population was full. It could now accommodate 100 undead, an increase from 25, and could support four lieutenants and one commander. However, the three newly added grave pits were still empty, with no undead occupying them. The inscriptions on the tombstones in front of the pits were identical: "Skeleton Squad (0/25)," clearly reserved squad slots.

The moment Gu Su finished speaking, the black mist on the tombstone in front of the Grave No. 1 he pointed to surged, and the original text slowly faded, replaced by a brand-new inscription: "Ash Squad (25/25)." The current situation was clear and concise, officially confirming the Ash Squad's establishment.

Ash looked at the inscription on the tombstone, his hands trembling slightly. He understood that this was Gu Su's recognition. Not just his status as a lieutenant, but his squad as well. He quickly lowered his head and replied with an even more respectful tone, "Thank you, my lord! Your subordinate will not fail this trust and will lead the Ash Squad to complete all tasks assigned by you!"

"Alright, I have one question for you: when can that marketplace be emptied?"