Not Every "Corpse" Can Be Looted

[Sturdy Bull Horn Helmet]

[Quality: Common (White)]

[Head Protection: 19]

[Durability: 120]

[Strength Requirement: 6]

(Once you put it on, you'll be the best-looking guy in the territory.)

The Bull Horn Helmet was made entirely of fine iron, with a soft leather lining for cushioning.

Two metal horns sat atop it, giving it an exaggerated, savage look.

Zong Shen didn't hesitate. He equipped it at once, setting the helmet squarely on his head.

This piece of equipment made up for his lack of head protection.

Next, he began inspecting the next reward.

[Tier 1 Spike Obstacle Technology Blueprint]

[Construction technology blueprint. After learning it, you can spend additional resources to add Tier 1 Spike Obstacle defenses to your Territory Buildings.]

[Effect: Reflects 4 damage + 2% of the attacker's damage.]

[The Spike Obstacle will remain permanently unless the building is completely destroyed.]

[(Click to learn)]

(A very useful construction technology. It can strengthen the defenses of your Territory Buildings.)

What a great find!

Zong Shen's eyes lit up as he immediately realized the value of the blueprint.

It was a construction technology blueprint—and a defensive one at that. Once learned, it would add a Tier 1 Spike Obstacle with a damage-reflection effect to a building.

And the reflected damage wasn't low, either.

Once his territory had a City Wall, he could add Spike Obstacles to every section of it.

It would make the place as prickly as a hedgehog, leaving enemies nowhere to strike.

Zong Shen clicked to learn it. The blueprint in his hand instantly turned into a streak of light and sank into his mind.

After learning it, Zong Shen took out two more Wolf Cavalry Recruitment Scrolls.

"Use!"

With a thought, the two scrolls in his hands glowed black, slipped free of his grasp, and flew to the open ground in front of him.

They turned into two clouds of black dust that settled on the ground, then transformed into two hexagrams covered in strange runes.

A spatial singularity appeared in each formation. The singularities gradually expanded, becoming two masses of black light.

They looked like two enormous black eggs.

Then the two black masses writhed and changed like smoke.

At last, they slowly faded away.

Two tall, sturdy Wolf Cavalrymen appeared before Zong Shen.

They both swung down from their wolves.

Leading the Giant Wolves, they walked up to Zong Shen and dropped to one knee.

"Wolf Cavalryman Arvid reporting!"

"Wolf Cavalryman Bjorn reporting!"

Two gruff voices rang out in succession.

"Great lord, may you be in good health!"

Zong Shen grinned from ear to ear.

These two looked just as burly as Colby.

"Good, good. Up you get. From now on, you and Colby will serve in my Wolf Cavalry unit!"

"For now, go wait with Colby for my orders."

The two Wolf Cavalrymen saluted again, mounted their wolves, and lined up beside Colby.

They already looked quite imposing.

If Zong Shen could gather ten, a hundred, or even a thousand Wolf Cavalrymen under his command, he could form a Wolf Cavalry regiment.

Zong Shen was in high spirits.

He turned his attention to the remaining rewards.

[Two-Stage Slash Skill Book]

[Learn this to master the skill: Double Slash lv1.]

[Double Slash lv1: Instantly slash a target twice. Each strike deals 1.2 times your base slash damage. Cooldown: 15s.]

[(Click to learn)]

(Go on, learn it already. Your abysmal swordsmanship is painful to watch.)

It was a rare skill book, and it would be just the thing to increase Zong Shen's combat strength.

Zong Shen didn't hesitate and chose to learn it.

The skill book turned into a streak of white light and sank into his head. For a moment, he felt as if he'd grasped something.

Then he flipped his hand over.

He took out three Skill Experience Books.

[Skill Experience Book]

[Use this to level up your skills.]

[(Click to use)]

"Use!"

Zong Shen used all three Skill Experience Books to upgrade Double Slash.

Two flashes of white light passed, and the three books raised the skill by two levels.

Double Slash became lv3.

Each level had increased its slash damage by 5%.

All that remained was some food and a small jug of wine.

Both, however, were high-quality items.

Their names appeared in green, marking them as Fine Grade items.

[Exquisite Roasted Meat Feast]

[Effect: Restores 100 hunger and fullness, +10% attack damage, +10% maximum health, +20% movement speed. Duration: 15m]

(Great food that satisfies all your needs in one go. Delicious food really does help in a fight.)

[Mellow Green Forest Fruit Wine]

[Effect: +30% attack damage, -10% defense, -10% movement speed, +20% maximum health. Duration: 30m]

(Drinking too much is bad for your health, but this will make you happy.)

He'd finished inspecting all the rewards. As expected of a Bronze Treasure Chest, this haul had been a huge win!

Zong Shen had grown stronger again, and his crew of fighters had expanded considerably.

With three Wolf Cavalrymen, he now had enough for a coordinated combat squad.

After a moment's thought, he put away the Silver Treasure Chest filled with poison gas as well, just in case.

He also dismantled the Bronze Treasure Chest into 10 copper.

"Alright, let's explore the Temple!"

Zong Shen was in a good mood.

With a broad sweep of his hand, he pointed toward the Temple.

The three Wolf Cavalrymen led the way.

Zong Shen followed behind them, entering the Temple through the doorway at its entrance.

The main structure of the Temple had been damaged.

It seemed to have been attacked.

The surrounding area was dim.

It was like entering a room with cool-colored curtains drawn across the windows.

Rows of thick marble pillars stood along both sides.

The walls were covered in carvings.

A wide Corridor ran down the middle.

Iron candle stands lined either side.

The candles on them had not yet burned down.

Most unsettling of all, a stone coffin sat at the far end of the Corridor.

It was carved with scenes of demons being beheaded.

More than a dozen Dried Corpses were also propped up against the marble pillars.

They still wore the clothes they'd had in life.

Some wore Leather Armor and carried short swords.

Others were clad in loose priest robes.

Their armor and weapons had rotted away, but they seemed like they might still be salvageable.

Just as Zong Shen was about to step forward and loot the bodies,

he focused his mind, and a golden Strategy Guide tip appeared.

(Hey, don't be so greedy. Not every corpse can be looted.)

The moment the tip appeared,

the Dried Corpses suddenly began to tremble.

System names appeared above their heads, one after another.

[Resentful Dead lv8]

[Resentful Dead lv6]

[Resentful Dead lv9]

...

All of the dozen or so Dried Corpses came back to life at that moment!

They raised the weapons they'd held in life and shuffled toward Zong Shen and the others.

Zong Shen was startled at first.

He took two steps back.

But he quickly recovered.

He swung the One-handed Sword in his hand.

"Attack!"

The three Wolf Cavalrymen and Tie Zhu charged forward without hesitation.

Even Zong Shen joined in, facing a Dried Corpse wielding a short sword with a shield in one hand and his sword raised in the other!