Wu Liuqi at Level 2

Looking at the [Status: Energy Stasis, requires activation by a specific Negative Energy Sequence] on Wu Liuqi's panel.

Lynn felt an itch in his heart.

This thing was already so powerful while sealed. How awesome would it be once unsealed?

How about... opening a blind box?

Otherwise, the itch in his heart would be unbearable...

During the previous Analysis, the panel had already fed back the energy vibration frequency and rune sequence needed to break this stasis state.

All it took was a slight effort to dispel it.

So what was there to wait for? Do it!

To prevent any accidents, Lynn first reinforced the Mental Imprint, then extended his right index finger.

Pure negative energy coiled around his fingertip as he rapidly traced several twisted dark runes through the air.

Then he flicked his finger and roared inwardly.

"Seal Release!!!"

The runes seemed to possess lives of their own as they sank one after another into the black skeleton's thoracic vertebrae, skull crown, and major limb joints.

"Crack... crack-crack..."

As though some kind of shackle had been released, the black skeleton's frame erupted with a series of crisp cracks.

Its previously weak soul flame suddenly expanded and solidified, releasing energy fluctuations close to level 2 Elite-tier!

A cold, swift aura spread from its body.

[Target]: Shadow Skeleton (Activated)

[Rank]: Level 1 (Standard Grade) Peak → Level 2 (Elite-tier)

[Abilities Updated:]

Bone Reinforcement: Dense black bones provide physical defense and attack power far beyond those of the same rank.

Shadow Affinity: Greatly increases movement speed and stealth effects in shadowy environments.

Lethal Backstab: When attacking from a target's visual blind spot, greatly increases physical and soul damage.

Shadow Strike: Can briefly merge into any shadow and launch a short-distance thrusting attack, carrying weak armor-piercing and soul-interference effects.

"Just as expected. A high-potential little 'baby.'"

A trace of satisfaction flashed through Lynn's eyes.

[Bone Reinforcement] went without saying, providing considerable boosts to defense and attack.

[Shadow Affinity] looked ordinary, but in this sunless demiplane, it was practically a divine skill!

There were shadows everywhere here. It could gain attribute boosts and stealth effects anywhere.

[Lethal Backstab] was also a core assassin ability, greatly increasing attack power when launching sneak attacks.

And [Shadow Strike] was its only offensive skill, practically its ultimate move.

It could directly merge into a shadow to launch a surprise attack, and it even had a soul-interference effect. For Wizard Apprentices, it was undoubtedly extremely deadly.

This unsealing had directly advanced Wu Liuqi to level 2, giving it the strength of a Second-Class Apprentice.

Wait... the strength of a Second-Class Apprentice...

Lynn quickly realized something was wrong.

In just this short while, the Mental Imprint had already become extremely faint and was about to vanish at any moment.

"Holy shit! Why is the Mental Imprint disappearing so fast?!"

Oh~ Right, I was still a First-Class Apprentice. Then that was fine...

Just before the Mental Imprint completely dissipated, Lynn promptly added another imprint, temporarily stabilizing the Wu Liuqi that was on the verge of going berserk.

Luckily, he had been cautious and reinforced the Mental Imprint before opening the "blind box."

Otherwise, this future "Witch King" might have gotten stabbed to death by his own "pet baby" today.

Now that Wu Liuqi's strength had greatly increased, the suppression duration of the Mental Imprint had drastically dropped from ten minutes to one minute.

If Lynn had opened the "blind box" first and then tried to control it, the mental interference of [Minor Undead Domination] probably would not have been enough to suppress level 2 Wu Liuqi, much less carve a Mental Core.

Then he would never again have the chance to control Wu Liuqi across ranks.

All he could say was that this guy's luck was truly good.

"Let's test its power first."

With a thought, Lynn pointed at an abandoned obsidian brick in the corner of the room, one used to test Wizardry.

Wu Liuqi activated instantly!

Its figure streaked through the room in a blurred black trail, moving almost soundlessly.

The Bone Dagger in its hand flashed with a ghastly pale chill as it accurately stabbed toward the obsidian brick!

"Pssh!"

With a soft sound, the dagger's tip sank nearly an inch into the hard stone brick!

At the same time, a barely perceptible thread of shadow energy spread like a web from the point of impact, making the brick's structure even more fragile.

"Not bad." Lynn nodded.

This attack power already far surpassed that of ordinary Skeleton Soldiers and could pose a fatal threat to some Second-Class Apprentices with insufficient defenses.

Even some completely unprepared Third-Class Apprentices would probably be taken out in a single blow.

Lynn issued another command. "Hide."

Upon receiving the order, the Shadow Skeleton immediately took several steps back, its body silently melting into the densest shadow in the dormitory corner.

Even when Lynn focused his Mental Perception, he could only barely detect an extremely faint ripple of negative energy.

"A perfect assassin!"

Lynn was completely reassured.

With this level 2 Undead lurking in the shadows, his safety was greatly guaranteed.

Unfortunately, the current control time was too short. He could not possibly remain tense and replenish its imprint every minute, so he could only put it away for now.

Later, he could release it suddenly during a fight and give his enemy a huge surprise!

After ordering Wu Liuqi to curl up, Lynn stored it back inside the Bone Ring.

Although the Bone Ring could store Undead, its space was too cramped, and there was no negative energy inside at all.

Undead stored within it could receive neither growth nor energy replenishment.

That would cause the growth of the high-potential "babies" under his command to stagnate, leaving them unable to keep pace with him.

He still needed to find a Wizard Artifact like a Myriad Souls Banner, one that could store Undead and allow them to grow within it.

Lynn glanced at his assets.

Mm... a whole two Magic Stones.

Fine, time to wash up and sleep.

With a sigh, Lynn turned his attention to the [Memory Library].

It recorded another major gain from today—the more than twenty Zero-Level Cantrips he had gotten for free.

As well as those four First-Ring Sorceries. He could not carve them yet, so he could only keep Analyzing them for now and try carving them after advancing to a Second-Class Apprentice.

Whether Zero-Level Cantrips or First-Ring Sorceries, most had errors and missing portions when copied down.

Of course, it was also possible that some malicious people had deliberately altered the Witchcraft Models.

Fortunately, he had the functions of Analysis and Optimization. He could restore them to 100% Analysis progress, and after Optimization, they could even become more efficient than the originals.

Although Zero-Level Cantrips consumed very little, constructing them in the Mental Core would still occupy precious mental-power "bandwidth."

Especially at the First-Class Apprentice stage, that bandwidth was even more limited. Every bit of it mattered.

At present, Lynn had carved four cantrips: [Weak Soul Shock], [Bone Hand], [Bone Armor], and [Minor Undead Domination]. They occupied more than half of the Mental Core's carrying capacity.

Lynn could not, nor did he need to, imprint every cantrip onto it.

He had to make choices.

However, the other Wizardry was not useless. Even if he could not carve it, he could still cast it "temporarily."

"Temporary" casting required a sufficiently deep understanding of the Wizardry, as well as tracing out the Witchcraft Model in the Sea of Consciousness during use before releasing it.

But that casting speed... better not mention it.

Just imagine it: during a battle, others directly charged and released the Witchcraft Models carved into their "Mental Cores."

You endured their attacks with a defensive spell while fumbling around for ages. Just as you finally finished tracing it, your hand shook, and the model collapsed on the spot.

Wouldn't that make you explode with frustration?

Therefore, the Wizardry chosen for carving into the "Mental Core" generally had to be selected with extreme care, ensuring they could meet all future needs.