[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-414":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1161938,1504,"Chapter 414: The Players’ Undead Followers (Final)","ember-dragon-chapter-414",414,"\u003Cp>Chapter 414: The Players’ Undead Followers (Final)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the players at the front of the line struggling with their fees, Singo couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Luckily, I came prepared.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He patted his bulging money pouch, which contained over a thousand gold coins. As a dragon-blood viscount with military industry dividends, he could easily afford it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few players left the line dejected due to their lack of funds, significantly moving Singo up the queue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The player at the front, [Undead Knight], reluctantly paid the fee, carrying his corpse sack as he hurried into the [Undead Research Institute].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magusi collected the gold coins and nodded politely to the players waiting outside. \"Please be patient and wait your turn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t worry, Director Orest is quite efficient.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t long before [Undead Knight] emerged, grinning with a [Undead Follower Rental Contract] in hand. Humming a tune, he summoned a beautiful long-haired ghost woman, much to the crowd’s envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn, that was fast!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That undead follower is pretty attractive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bro, what’s this about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m jealous—why didn’t I think of summoning a wife?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough, you’re an animal too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is supposed to be a battle companion!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, the well-known necromancer player [Rainy Citadel] paid the fee and eagerly entered the institute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within minutes, the next transformation was complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh heh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me show you something impressive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rainy Citadel adjusted his silver-framed glasses and tipped his hat as he walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him were three imposing, uniquely designed undead skeletons—the ancestors of the three great Northern families, the \"Triumvirate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One wielded a sharp sword, another held a raised spear, and the last carried a massive warhammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These three ancestors, carefully selected from their coffins, had been renowned warriors and paladins in life. Even in death, they had a challenge rating of 6, making them mini-bosses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined with necromancer buffs, the Triumvirate’s combat power skyrocketed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The players watching were visibly envious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When’s my turn?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So cool.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want my own undead followers too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve decided—I’m switching to a summoner build today!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Singo watched Rainy Citadel leave, his expression serious. \"That lineup is overpowered in this version. He’s a rival to watch out for.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More players entered in succession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who still hasn’t gotten in?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Langli Baitiao strutted past, holding a rental contract and accompanied by a line of Bosk ancestors turned into undead skeletons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re wasting your three daily summons on showing off?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Singo shook his head, laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, it was his turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Singo handed five gold coins to Magusi and, under the researcher’s friendly smile, dragged the rotting, fly-infested half-giant corpse into the institute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So this is the Undead Research Institute?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s different from what I imagined.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had expected piles of bones and spiderweb-covered corridors but instead found a clean, well-organized facility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rows of neatly arranged electric lights, spotless corridors, and clear directional signs adorned the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the trail of blood left by the corpse was automatically cleaned by magic along the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of the corridor was a heavy iron door bearing a skull emblem, finally giving off a hint of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s see what this ’Eternal Soul Elegist’ is all about.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Singo thought as he placed his hand on the skull, and the heavy door slowly opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Orest, I’m here to transform an undead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was deep and raspy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Singo detected a distinct tone of exhaustion—like an overworked employee speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he hearing things?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was supposed to be a legendary lich!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The master of undead! A cunning and immortal being with endless knowledge!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Singo looked up, and the name displayed above the lich’s head was unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Soul Elegist - Orest]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faction: Ember Empire\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unit: Undead Research Institute\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Challenge Rating: ???\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lich sat at a plain desk, draped in tattered robes, with dim soul fire flickering in his eye sockets. The only intimidating thing was the bone staff resting on the nearby shelf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his bony hand, he held a bone pen, scribbling continuously on documents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Singo struggled to describe the atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This lich was practically a corporate drone with no aura of menace, exuding only an air of perfunctory effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orest set down his pen and impatiently urged, \"Do you want the transformation or not? Hurry up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Singo quickly dismissed his thoughts, stepped forward, and opened the store interface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Lich’s Rental Shop]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Base Prices:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skeleton: 5 gold coins, 350 XP\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mummy: 5 gold coins, 350 XP\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wraith: 20 gold coins, 950 XP\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghoul: 100 gold coins, 1550 XP\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spiritbound: 100 gold coins, 1550 XP\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undead Skeleton: 100 gold coins, 1550 XP\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Death Knight: 12,500 gold coins, 75,000 XP\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lich: ??? Unknown conditions\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Please present the item for transformation.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The advanced options like Death Knight and Lich were clearly not for current players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He skipped those options and, given the intact corpse he had brought, selected the optimal choice: the ghoul transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Orest, I want to transform this into a ghoul.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Singo unwrapped the corpse bag, revealing the bloated, rotting half-giant body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lich glanced at it and said indifferently, \"Half-giant Professional. Extra charge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new trade window popped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The Eternal Soul Elegist - Orest has proposed a new transaction.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half-Giant Ghoul Leader: 800 gold coins, 5500 XP\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Accept the transaction? Yes\u002FNo]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Singo winced at the cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The price was nearly his entire savings for the past few months. He hesitated but knew the power boost was worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hurry up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the pressure, Singo gritted his teeth, confirmed the transaction, and handed over the bulging money pouch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please proceed, Director Orest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lich picked up his bone staff and pointed it at the bloated corpse, expertly casting the spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Low growls echoed as gray necrotic mist enveloped the body, and its eyes flickered with dark light as it slowly stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nearly three-meter-tall ghoul exuded a foul stench, its decayed flesh still hinting at its former strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half-Giant Ghoul Leader\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Challenge Rating: 7 (3100 XP)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orest pulled out a blank scroll, scribbled on it, and tossed it to Singo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the Ember Empire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lich spoke the signature phrase, though it sounded eerie coming from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the Ember Empire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Singo pounded his chest in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A lich loyal to the Empire—what a strange sight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his attention quickly returned to his newly transformed ghoul, and his face lit up with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It really is a boss-level follower!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Singo left with the scroll, while the half-giant ghoul remained under the institute’s control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, players were only renting the undead—the true ownership belonged to the Empire, or rather, the emperor himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much longer will this go on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orest sighed as the doors slowly closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Transforming undead was exhausting work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But each time he transformed one for the \"Starfallers,\" he absorbed pure soul energy that sustained his phylactery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, this was how he could achieve true immortality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank my master for this, I suppose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exhausted lich muttered as footsteps echoed outside—the next player had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, hundreds of players were still lined up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unknown to Orest, Cassius had implemented a 90% experience tax on the lich’s gains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, news of the [Undead Research Institute] spread across the forums, and the powerful boss-level followers left countless players envious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus began the \"Corpse Scramble,\" or as it came to be known—the \"Great Excavation Movement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tens of thousands of players roamed the Empire, digging up graves, searching ruins, and even unearthing fallen enemies, much to the astonishment of the locals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A high-ranking warrior’s skeleton could fetch hundreds of gold coins on the black market, and some desperate individuals even dug up their own ancestors to sell to players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, businesses in coffin-making, corpse preservation, and other niche industries boomed, giving rise to several new enterprises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumors spread across the Empire: \"Starfallers love ancient bones\" and \"the older the skeleton, the better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1312,"2026-06-03T12:47:02.951Z","2026-06-03T12:47:07.061Z",1,"novelbin.me","be2edfd921b8b8938e12df84061f88d0e37851a1ede530a0e6fbb0e287d5d92c","ember-dragon-chapter-309","ember-dragon-chapter-308",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]