Chapter 85: A New Troop Has Appeared: the Skeleton Mage

It was just like before: a bright Light Orb appeared and enveloped Jiang Chen.

The Light Orb persisted for a while, then gradually faded.

Unfortunately, no new skill was obtained.

Jiang Chen did not feel disappointed.

He had just acquired a Divine Level skill and was already very satisfied.

As his skills increased, the failure rate of Skill Scrolls rose rapidly.

Later, even a dozen attempts might not succeed even once.

He continued to activate Skill Scrolls.

Failure!

Failure again!

Still a failure!

A series of failures did not discourage Jiang Chen; he steadfastly kept activating Skill Scrolls.

Although later attempts all failed, merely obtaining the Bone Armor skill made Jiang Chen feel he had gained.

After seven consecutive failures, he activated the tenth Skill Scroll again...

The Light Orb again shrouded Jiang Chen, and after a few seconds, a scene completely different from before appeared before his eyes.

Flames burst upward!

Ice and snow fluttered!

Gale howled!

Lightning flashed with thunder!

Four images alternated before him, each representing one of the Four Elements.

Jiang Chen felt a surge of excitement, for he understood this meant he had gained a new, element-related skill.

"Skill Acquired: Summon Skeleton Mage"

"Summon Skeleton Mage LV1: Summon a Black Iron-level Skeleton Mage"

Although this skill is only level 1 and the summoned Skeleton Mage is merely Black Iron-level, it is already sufficient for Jiang Chen.

This means another type of Skeleton troop can now be summoned, enriching his forces!

The previously summoned Skeletons were physical‑attack type; now they finally can have Magic Class attributes!

This

is a qualitative leap; Jiang Chen couldn't help his breathing becoming rapid.

Afterward.

A tiny black hole appeared beside Jiang Chen, and a Skeleton Mage slowly walked out.

Summoning a Black Iron-level Skeleton Mage consumes 50 points of Spiritual Power, a greater cost than summoning a Skeleton Warrior of the same quality.

The Black Iron-level Skeleton Mage looks ragged, and compared with a Silver Grade Skeleton Warrior of the same rank, it is starkly inferior.

Its bones are riddled with cracks, and it shudders while walking, as if it could fall apart at any moment.

It has no weapon, but flames blaze endlessly from its hands, indicating it is a Fire Element Skeleton Mage.

Jiang Chen checked the Skeleton Mage's attributes.

"Summoned Entity: Skeleton Mage"

"Strength: 300"

"Agility: 300"

"Spirit: 900"

"Constitution: 300"

"Skill: Blazing Flame"

"Blazing Flame: Deals fire element damage to the target, damage value determined by Spiritual Power"

Due to the Perfect Amplification talent, all attributes were increased thirtyfold.

Base attributes Strength, Agility, and Constitution are each 10 points.

Spiritual Power is 30 points.

Jiang Chen was very satisfied with these attributes.

Although the Skeleton Mage's Strength, Agility, and Constitution are not high— even lower than a level‑1 practitioner— its Spiritual Power has reached 30 points.

And its skill power is also determined by Spiritual Power.

Jiang Chen understood the Skeleton Mage's purpose.

They are turrets, for output.

Skeleton Warriors lead at the front, while they output power from behind.

One would think the power of these skills is not lacking.

Now what he must do

is to continuously practice the skill, raise its level, and make the Skeleton Mage stronger.

The Light Orb lit up again, lasted for a dozen seconds, then extinguished.

Jiang Chen used them one after another.

Again, consecutive failures.

Having the prior experience, Jiang Chen thought this was normal.

At worst, he could go back and buy dozens more.

Finally, when the last Scroll was activated, Jiang Chen saw a different scene again.

Whenever a Skill appears, there will inevitably be a different scene.

Just like a movie trailer.

This trailer is colorful, and Jiang Chen doesn't understand it.

Understanding it isn't important; as long as it exists, that's fine.

"Acquired Skill: Elemental Resistance"

"Elemental Resistance LV1: Passive Skill, self and Summoned Entity gain 10% increased resistance to Elemental Attack"

He didn't expect it to be a passive skill.

Damage is reduced by 10%, and after full Amplify, resistance to Elemental Attack will increase by 300%.

In other words, any Elemental Attack's damage to him will be reduced by threefold.

Safety is greatly increased again.

Although Skeleton Warrior has high Constitution, a BOSS's Elemental skill attacks can still deal considerable damage to them.

Now with Elemental Resistance, Skeleton Warrior's resistance to Elemental attacks is greatly increased, making them safer.

Every skill of the Necromancer Summoner is useful; there are no useless skills at all.

He checked the time; since entering the Skill Training Hall, half an hour has passed.

Here, time is points.

He decisively summons four Skeleton Warriors.

He pushes the number of Skeleton Warriors up to 125.

Then he dismisses the Skeleton Mage.

Jiang Chen's Summoned Entity can be placed into the Summon Queue, allowing them to exist permanently,

or can be dismissed at any time, effectively destroying the Skeleton Mage.

There's no other way; Jiang Chen needs to repeatedly level up the skill, so he must do this.

Summon one, dismiss one.

Spiritual Power quickly runs out.

Jiang Chen then seizes the time to begin Meditation.

In the Skill Training Room, Meditation restores Spiritual Power at a rapid rate.

He can clearly feel his Spiritual Power rapidly recovering.

It even gives one the illusion of addiction.

When the hour ends, Jiang Chen's Spiritual Power has recovered by more than half.

Jiang Chen doesn't even think, and pays points to purchase another three hours.

After Spiritual Power fully recovers, he begins practicing the Skill.

Skeleton Mage keeps appearing and disappearing.

When Spiritual Power runs out, he continues Meditation.

This cycle repeats endlessly, without a moment's pause.

Practicing the Skill can be addictive; Jiang Chen now understands the meaning of that saying.

Through repeated practice, the Summon Skeleton Mage skill finally reaches Level 2.

"Summoned Entity: Skeleton Mage"

"Strength: 600"

"Agility: 600"

"Spirit: 1800"

"Constitution: 600"

It still has a very ordinary quality, still looking shabby and broken.

It can't match Skeleton Warrior, but it's not unusable.

Time has arrived again.

Jiang Chen has already been in the Skill Training Room for an afternoon, a continuous four hours.

Repeated Meditation, refining the Skill.

Although it feels great, his spirit is somewhat sluggish.

This situation is like having run Instances all day.

Jiang Chen leaves the Skill Training Room and uses the Communicator to contact Hong Jishi.

The Communicator connects, and Hong Jishi's imposing voice says, "What is it?"

"Lord Hong Shen, I am Level 20," Jiang Chen says calmly.

Hong Jishi, who is drinking tea

Shows a strange expression, slightly surprised: "You're Level 20?"

Jiang Chen says calmly, "Yes."

Hong Jishi remains silent for a moment, then says, "Go wait for me at the Jiaowuchu."

"Okay."

After hanging up the Communicator, Jiang Chen rushes to the Jiaowuchu.

In the hidden space, Li Xueru can't help but laugh, "Who reached Level 20?"

Hong Jishi waves his hand, "Who else could it be but Jiang Chen."

Li Xueru, unsurprised, says, "Isn't that normal?"

"It is indeed normal, but saying it's abnormal is also a bit odd; he was only Level 17 yesterday evening, and in just one day he's Level 20, so the leveling speed is somewhat fast."

A hint of surprise appeared on Li Xueru's face: "Indeed fast; seems he worked hard."

Hong Jishi suddenly laughed out loud: "I get it, this guy is literally solo‑running a Nightmare-level Dungeon; otherwise he couldn't be this fast."

Thinking of Jiang Chen's performance on Mermaid Island, Hong Jishi felt he absolutely has the ability to solo‑run a Nightmare-level Dungeon.

At that moment someone walked over: "Something strange happened."

Hong Jishi looked at the newcomer and smiled: "Lin Laotou, you don't oversee the Dungeon Hall; how do you have time to come to me?"

Lin Zhenzi said gravely: "A strange incident occurred in the Dungeon Hall—a little fellow kept setting new Instance records consecutively."

"Someone even argued over him today, almost coming to blows."

"That person said you gave the little fellow a treasure, which let him set the new record."

Hong Jishi raised an eyebrow: "A treasure like that? How could I not know—who set the record?"

Speaking, Hong Jishi handed Lin Zhenzi a cup of tea: "No rush, sip the tea and tell me slowly; it's just a little fellow, nothing major."

Li Xueru

Watching Hong Jishi's composed demeanor, they knew he must have found an answer in his mind.

Lin Zhenzi took a sip of tea: "A trainee named Jiang Chen arrived at Level 17 yesterday, first cleared Mutated Forest, then cleared Spider Nest."

"This is the record he set."

Lin Zhenzi displayed Jiang Chen's record.

Mutated Forest: 24 minutes 32 seconds.

Spider Nest: 22 minutes 51 seconds.

Hong Jishi and Li Xueru exchanged glances; this score was somewhat frightening.

Even the two of them were shocked.

Li Xueru self‑mocked: "Old Hong, could you have done that back then?"

Hong Jishi, feeling solitary, replied: "What a joke, solo‑running Normal Difficulty is fine, but Nightmare Difficulty is like courting death."

"Moreover, this score—I truly have no idea how that fellow managed it."

"Enough said, I'm leaving; that fellow should already be at the Jiaowuchu."

Saying that, Hong Jishi vanished from here.

Lin Zhenzi said oddly: "Why is he in such a hurry?"

Li Xueru laughed: "He's going to look for that fellow named Jiang Chen; let's not worry about him, we'll have tea."

Lin Zhenzi said: "Perfect, I also have business to find you."

Li Xueru was slightly startled: "What business?"

"Make a Ring."

In the Jiaowuchu, Jiang Chen met Hong Jishi.

"Lord Hong Shen, what is the task?"

He gets straight to the point; he dislikes roundabout talk.

Hong Jishi glanced at Jiang Chen and indeed saw he was already Level 20.

This leveling speed isn't ordinary fast.

At least it's much faster than back then.

Recalling his own miserable past, Hong Jishi couldn't help but think: "Both siblings are monsters."

Jiang Ruo three months

to Level 30, then join the Dragon Clan Academy, already at a flying‑like speed.

This younger brother is even more terrifying; at this rate, reaching Level 30 will take less than two months.

"The task is simple too: go fetch an item."

"Fetch an item?"

Now it's Jiang Chen's turn to be surprised…