Volume One, Chapter Thirteen: Intermediate Level One

Click!

With the sound of a glass bead being crushed, a liquid as red as fresh blood flowed onto Qi Fengling’s hand.

Yet, this liquid was not sticky like blood, nor did it carry the scent of blood.

In less than ten seconds, the crimson liquid that had covered Qi Fengling’s palm completely vanished.

[Class: SSS Undead Emperor] [Expression] [Class: B Light Knight]

There is no greater sorrow than the death of hope!

What else do you expect now?

Though Yun City ranks modestly in central China, it is only mid-to-upper level among all cities in the entire realm.

For two SSS-class professions—the Undead Emperor and the Zombie Emperor—to appear here is already extraordinary. If any rarer classes were to show up, that would truly be unbelievable!

Without overthinking, Qi Fengling absorbed the energy from the last Awakening Orb.

Hum—

The moment the orb’s energy was fully absorbed, Qi Fengling felt a buzz in his mind, followed by a sudden acceleration of blood flow throughout his body.

Not only that, but the exhaustion from his recent battle with the Zombie Emperor had vanished by more than half.

Could it be?

Thinking this, Qi Fengling quickly checked his attribute panel.

[Name: Qi Fengling]

[Race: Awakener]

[Level: Intermediate First Tier]

[Awakened Class: Undead Emperor]

[Class Rank: SSS]

[Strength: 20] (Represents vigor and defense)

[Agility: 20] (Represents speed and reflexes)

[Spirit: 20] (Represents willpower and control)

[Constitution: 20] (Represents vitality and stamina)

[Companion Skill: Undead Summoning (7/12): Can summon undead souls from the Netherworld; summoned undead cannot exceed one level above the summoner’s own level.

Undead Chant: Chant an undead requiem centered on oneself, doubling the attributes of undead within a 100-meter radius; cooldown: one hour.]

As he had guessed, Qi Fengling’s level had indeed risen. Though it was only a rise from low first tier to intermediate first tier, his basic attributes had all doubled!

Moreover, the attribute panel now offered more detailed descriptions.

[Skeleton Warrior Level Upgraded: Low First Tier → Intermediate First Tier]

[Skeleton Warrior Level Upgraded: Low First Tier → Intermediate First Tier]

…

Before Qi Fengling could fully savor his upgrade, he sensed changes in his summoned creatures.

Unexpectedly, with his level increase, the six low-tier skeleton warriors he summoned had also leveled up.

Unfortunately, his own level was still far below that of the Skeleton Knight Commander, so the commander’s level remained unchanged.

Qi Fengling didn’t dwell on this too much, as he noticed he could now summon two additional undead.

Excluding the three skeleton warriors who had fallen to the Zombie Emperor, Qi Fengling could now summon a total of five undead creatures.

Swallowing hard and steadying his breath, Qi Fengling decisively summoned them.

Within ten seconds, he felt four identical auras respond to his call.

On the blood-stained ground, a flash of green light appeared, and four pale figures stood upright before him.

[Name: Skeleton Warrior]

[Race: Undead]

[Level: Intermediate First Tier]

[Strength: 20]

[Agility: 20]

[Spirit: 20]

[Constitution: 20]

[Skills: None]

Qi Fengling was somewhat speechless. Was the vast Netherworld really home only to these lowest-level skeleton warriors?

Or was it simply because his own level was too low, so he could only summon such weak undead?

Just as Qi Fengling thought the last summon would be another skeleton warrior, a putrid stench suddenly filled the upper chamber.

Before him appeared a humanoid creature with rotting flesh and toxic green bones.

[Name: Poison-Bone Corpse (One who died from poison, harboring lingering resentment and hatred toward the living. The skin is not fully decomposed but is toxic, and the bones are especially hardened. A common creature in the Netherworld.)]

[Race: Undead]

[Level: Advanced First Tier]

[Strength: 30]

[Agility: 30]

[Spirit: 30]

[Constitution: 30]

[Skill: Corrosive Poison (Attacks inflict poison on targets)]

“Ugh! Enough, enough, you’re going back!” Qi Fengling couldn’t bear it for a second longer and promptly sent the Poison-Bone Corpse back to the Netherworld.

Although it was an advanced first-tier summon, the foul odor was unbearable. Just seconds of its presence made Qi Fengling feel as if he had taken a bite of rotten meat.

Such a summon might work against humans but was no better than skeleton warriors when facing zombies—after all, zombies were immune to poison!

Miraculously, once the Poison-Bone Corpse vanished, the stench dissipated from the upper chamber almost immediately.

Qi Fengling had just been thinking that if the smell lingered, he might as well move downstairs to sleep.

Indeed, Qi Fengling intended to spend the night in the upper chamber—not because he wanted to suffer, but because he believed more Awakening Orbs would appear tonight.

Perhaps fewer than yesterday afternoon, but any would be better than none.

After positioning his skeleton warriors and the skeleton knight commander, Qi Fengling wrapped himself in a blanket and slowly drifted off to sleep.

…

Tap!

In the morning, it was neither the dazzling sunlight nor the annoying alarm clock that woke Qi Fengling, but a small black orb striking his face.

July 8, 2035, 8:15 AM.

Glancing at the somewhat lagging 4G signal on his phone, Qi Fengling sighed.

This was the eighth day since the apocalypse began. He had witnessed firsthand how 9G networks gradually degraded to 4G. It seemed the era of high-speed internet was ending sooner than expected.

With that in mind, Qi Fengling quickly browsed major websites. As expected, things mirrored his previous life. Some people had discovered the power of Awakening Orbs.

Instead of hiding their knowledge, they flaunted it online. Though somewhat boastful, Qi Fengling appreciated them.

Had it not been for his habit of checking his phone in his last life, he might have missed the second wave of Awakening Orbs altogether.

Looking at the offline status of the contact labeled [Goddess], Qi Fengling felt as if awakening from a dream. Having lived two lives, he finally had closure with his past self.

After another round of web surfing, liking, and mocking a few posts, Qi Fengling put away his phone.

Sure enough, just as he thought, more Awakening Orbs had appeared overnight, though fewer than the previous afternoon.

Carefully searching, he managed to collect three black orbs.

It seemed the gods’ direct blessings upon humanity had ended. To grow stronger now, one must rely on their own effort and fortune.

Without hesitation, Qi Fengling crushed the three Awakening Orbs.

[Class: SSS Undead Emperor] [Expression] [Class: D Qigong Master]

[Class: SSS Undead Emperor] [Expression] [Class: C Orc Warrior]

As expected, these were weak inheritances. But who was unlucky in this life? Not even these low-class inheritances were available.

Yet what did it matter to him? Survival of the fittest. Without a second thought, Qi Fengling absorbed the energy.

Only one orb remained.

[Class: SSS Undead Emperor] [Expression] [Class: A Undead Strategist]

Rare indeed! He had even encountered a same-class inheritance, and at rank A no less. Unfortunately, Qi Fengling had no need for it.

This time, as he absorbed the orb’s energy, his eyes suddenly ached and itched unbearably, as if something were trying to grow out from within them.