Chapter 599, Necrotic Torrent
Night.
Wu Heng lay in bed, reflecting on the events of the day.
First, the Tier 3 potion was successfully developed.
It significantly boosted his attributes.
This meant that Tier 3 potions would soon be mass-produced like an assembly line, and his attributes would see a substantial increase.
He might not reach the required level yet, but his attributes would approach those of a "Hero."
The second matter was about renown.
Wu Heng rested both arms behind his head. "Renown is enough, but my experience points are still lacking."
The newspaper distribution had significantly accelerated his renown accumulation.
Imiro, who served as a steward on the island and was even a prince of the elves, probably couldn't match his speed in gathering renown.
"The next step is to gain more experience and help Benny level up."
For Wu Heng, earning experience points was not difficult.
The zombie world provided plenty of opportunities to accumulate experience—it was just a matter of time.
"Renown for level 19 will likely require even more. I've almost squeezed all I can from Gold-Silver Island, so I need to spread it further."
"If I could collaborate with the Guild headquarters and distribute newspapers across all regions…"
"No, that would be too conspicuous. The headquarters has many level 18+ Professionals, and I'd attract too much attention."
"I can't afford to make more enemies."
"I need to stay low-key. With potions and the zombie world, I'll reach Hero sooner or later."
"I can't rush it."
Wu Heng solidified his short-term goals.
He turned over and closed his eyes to sleep.
...…
The next day, in the zombie world.
Wu Heng stepped out of the dimensional gate and picked up his radio to call Qi Hancai.
Before long, a knock came at the door, and Qi Hancai entered carrying a stack of documents.
"This is the craftsmanship summary from Qiangzi's side."
The documents detailed the stab-resistant clothing discussed previously.
Wu Heng took them and stored them in his space ring, then asked, "How are the Russian survivors?"
"They've been rescued and are sorting through their information. There's also a lot of equipment over there—we're checking if we can transport it. If not, we might need to establish a new base," Qi Hancai said.
Wu Heng thought for a moment and said, "It's best to transport everything. We can't afford to establish too many bases."
The survivor count wasn't large, and having too many bases would strain food and supply logistics.
It was better to concentrate the population in one place.
"I'll discuss it with Sister Yanhong," Qi Hancai nodded.
"Anything else?" Wu Heng asked.
"That's all."
Wu Heng continued, "Are there still any uncleared areas in Yangtong City? Let's go clear some zombies."
Qi Hancai said, "The surrounding areas are still uncleared. I'll call in the convoy, and we'll head out shortly."
"Alright."
Soon, the convoy assembled at the gate.
Wu Heng boarded a truck, escorted by the skeleton army, heading to an uncleared area.
...…
Ibat District.
A dense swarm of zombies surged forward like a tidal wave.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~!
The sound of air being sliced rang from above as several skeletal wyverns swiftly swooped down, charging toward the zombie horde.
The bomb compartments in their abdomens opened, unleashing a dense rain of metal onto the zombies, sending up clouds of thick smoke.
After two bombing runs…
The horde was instantly thinned out.
The remaining zombies continued charging forward.
Severed limbs dragged across the ground, leaving grotesque trails.
"Benny, let Glenda imprison one for you first. Try absorbing it," Wu Heng instructed from the side.
Benny was only level 2, and Wu Heng was worried that if she ventured out, she might get absorbed by another wraith.
That would be a complete disaster.
Glenda said, "It's not difficult. These are just stray souls, lacking intelligence and low in level."
Xiaoxiao chimed in, "If there's any danger, Auntie and I will rescue you."
"Thank you, I'll do my best," Benny nodded.
As the zombie horde approached, Wu Heng ordered, "Turn on the high-beam flashlights."
Skeletons stationed on a rooftop switched on flashlights bound with [Soul-Capturing Jade], instantly casting a magic array over the spear formation.
Moments later, the zombies crashed into the spear line.
Roaring and tearing sounds filled the air as spears pierced their bodies.
The charging zombies fell one after another, their stray souls drifting upward.
Glenda flew over and restrained a wraith. "This one will do."
Benny nodded and flew straight at it.
The two wraiths entwined, beginning a process of mutual devouring and fusion.
[Wraith leveled up to 3. Agility +1, Perception +1.]
A system prompt appeared—Benny had successfully absorbed it.
"How was it?"
Benny said, "It didn't seem too hard."
Wu Heng nodded. "Glenda, let her absorb a few more."
Glenda nodded and controlled more drifting stray souls for Benny to consume.
[Wraith leveled up to 4. Intelligence +1, Perception +1.]
[Wraith leveled up to 5…]
After reaching level 5…
Glenda stopped restraining souls.
Benny plunged directly into a swarm of stray souls and began devouring them.
As she absorbed one after another…
The progress was slow but steady.
[Wraith leveled up to 6…]
[…]
[Wraith leveled up to 8. Constitution +1, Intelligence +1.]
A massive number of stray souls had been consumed.
Benny's level had risen all the way to 8.
Wraiths, as long as they had other wraiths to devour, leveled up much faster than normal Professionals.
Benny flew back, and Wu Heng said, "Keramu, advance with the skeletons and eliminate the remaining zombies."
Keramu, who had been standing nearby, stepped forward.
He finished off a legless, crawling zombie before leading the skeletal spear phalanx forward.
They cleared out the remaining slow-moving or incapacitated zombies.
...…
"How do you feel?" Wu Heng asked.
Benny twirled mid-air and said, "Not bad. Thank you, Wu Heng, thank you, Lady Glenda, and Miss Xiaoxiao."
Glenda and Xiaoxiao both smiled and nodded.
Wu Heng said, "A few more rounds of this, and your level will be much higher. No rush."
"Understood!" Benny smiled.
Helping Benny level up was part of the plan.
Level 2 was simply too low.
Wu Heng worried that if she went out and encountered a high-perception Professional, they might detect her and kill her with some special ability.
So, he needed to boost her level as soon as possible.
Xiaoxiao flew up, glancing at the advancing skeleton army.
She asked, "Uncle, why aren't you summoning that glowing knight?"
"No rush for that. I want to see if Keramu can reach level 18 first."
"Oh! But I still think the Light Knight looks cooler than Keramu." Xiaoxiao said.
"Coolness doesn't matter, practicality does."
"But the Light Knight is still cooler."
Wu Heng shrugged. "When Keramu comes back, I'll tell him you were badmouthing him."
"Uncle, they're just your creations. They don't understand things like that," Xiaoxiao informed him seriously.
Uh…
Wu Heng was momentarily stunned—Xiaoxiao had gotten smarter.
Xiaoxiao ignored him and joined Glenda, who was explaining more about stray souls to Benny, passing along some of her own experience.
Wu Heng checked his experience points.
[Level: 18 (295,713/305,000)]
He had gained about 40,000 experience points.
Just around 10,000 more to go.
Not much left.
Even if he didn't kill more zombies himself, the two skeleton armies pushing outward would continue fighting and racking up kills.
He'd likely level up soon enough.
Standing to the side, he waited as the battle ahead neared its conclusion.
"Clean up the battlefield!" Wu Heng ordered.
The skeletons instantly spread out, sorting the corpses and transporting them to different locations.
Wu Heng separately converted the evolved skeletons and mutated skeletons, collected the corpse cores, and continued to cast a large-scale [Battlefield of the Dead].
A vast number of white bones slowly rose and joined the ranks.
...…
"Qi Hancai, take some people to check the perimeter," Wu Heng pressed the radio button and spoke.
"Received!"
The convoy arrived from the rear.
They began scavenging shops along the route.
It was just a rough sweep, marking specific shops and buildings of interest.
The next day, more convoys would arrive to conduct a thorough search for supplies.
Survivors loaded some essential goods onto the trucks.
That was about it.
Qi Hancai returned. "We can head back. Tomorrow, I'll bring more people for a detailed sweep."
Wu Heng nodded and boarded the truck with the skeletons.
The convoy adjusted its formation, surrounded by the skeletal army.
They began the return journey.
After arriving back at the military factory, Qi Hancai went to contact Li Yanhong.
Wu Heng returned to his dormitory, opened the dimensional gate, and returned to Gold-Silver Island.
...…
The next day.
Early in the morning, Wu Heng took a carriage to the Guild.
Standing in front of the Steward's office, he knocked lightly and walked in.
Inside, Sheila Grey was seated at the desk, while her assistant, Shiyali, was cutting out the story sections from the newspaper.
"Looking for me?" Wu Heng asked.
Yesterday, Sheila Grey had sent someone to the Island Lord's Manor to find him.
He wasn't there at the time, and by the time he returned to Gold-Silver Island, it was already dusk.
So, he came over today instead.
Sheila Grey nodded. "A reward from the headquarters has arrived. It should be for your extermination of the Destiny Sect. Your record has also been updated with the cult extermination, and you've received a first-class merit."
Considering the timeline, the reward should have arrived by now.
Returning from Blackstone Town had already taken a considerable amount of time.
"What's the reward?" Wu Heng asked with some anticipation.
"A skill book." Sheila Grey took out a skill book and slid it across the table.
It wasn't a component of the Hundred Arms Robe.
Headquarters did this on purpose, didn't they?
Why wouldn't they prioritize issuing set equipment pieces?
Though he was annoyed, his gaze still landed on the skill book.
[Necrotic Torrent]
(Description: You will unleash a torrent of necrotic energy beneath your feet. Undead in the area will be 'enhanced,' while living creatures will suffer necrotic erosion, taking both physical and mental damage.)
Wu Heng raised an eyebrow upon reading the description.
Based on the description, the skill's effect seemed quite good.
A large-area skill that strengthened undead while eroding the living.
For him, this was a very useful ability.
Especially with his vast number of skeletons—the effect would be even more pronounced.
"Thanks." Wu Heng stored the skill book and then asked, "Can I request specific rewards? I'm still missing one piece of my set."
Sheila Grey thought for a moment. "I'm not sure about that. Next time you report your merits, write a letter—I'll submit it for you."
"Alright, I'll prepare one next time. If they approve it, great. If not, whatever," Wu Heng said.
Since all first-class merits earned similar rewards, the headquarters likely distributed them based on the recipient's profession and specialization.
If he specifically requested something, there was a good chance they would comply.
With the important matters settled…
Shiyali walked out from the back, sat beside her sister, propped her chin on her hands, and looked at him. "The cult in this issue's story—is that the one you went out to exterminate?"
Wu Heng didn't hide it. "Yes. The story changed the name to avoid drawing their attention."
Sheila Grey followed up, "So, Benny's story is real too?"
"Yes."
"And now? What happened to Benny?" Sheila Grey pressed on.
Wu Heng looked at them—the two sisters were staring at him with wide eyes, waiting for an answer.
"She became my wraith. The last reward included a soul-summoning skill, so I used it to bring her back," Wu Heng thought for a moment and decided to be upfront.
Two of his wraiths were already known to Sheila Grey.
One was Xiaoxiao. Last time, a wizard who looked like Gandalf had come to the island and directly asked about the little wraith. At the time, Sheila Grey had been present as the Deputy Steward.
Benny's story was already in the newspapers, and they knew about his skills.
They could probably guess the rest anyway.
"Benny's story has spread rapidly across the island. It's also a positive promotion for the Guild," Sheila Grey pondered for a moment and then said, "Shiyali, draft an official notice to commend Miss Benny for her contributions. Register a first-class merit in the local records."
"Got it!" Shiyali nodded.
Wu Heng was slightly surprised by this decision.
But for Benny, it was probably a good thing.
"I'll thank you on Benny's behalf."
"She deserves it," Sheila Grey replied before asking, "Is the next issue going back to detective stories?"
Wu Heng smiled. "Yes, don't worry."
After chatting with the sisters for a while…
Wu Heng left the Guild.
Although he didn't get the equipment piece he wanted, the skill book was still a good reward.
When he got the chance, he would test it out and see how effective it was.
...…
At the entrance, he hailed a carriage and returned to the Island Lord's Manor.
Sitting on a stone chair, he pondered for a moment.
Then, he stood up again and greeted Minnie.
In the courtyard's open space, he put on [The Conductor's Hat] and boarded the train.
Heading toward Lopez City.
...…
Snake Emblem Consortium, VIP room.
Footsteps echoed as a slender elven beauty in a fitted gown, Lady Letilie, opened the door and walked in.
She glanced at the figure seated on the sofa.
Carefully studying him…
"Guest? Is that you?" Letilie asked cautiously.
Wu Heng smiled. "Miss Letilie, I'm here to return the Cloak of Concealment."
He had come to return the [Cloak of Concealment], as he had promised. Somehow, half a month had already passed.
Wu Heng was wearing [Faceless One's Skin], taking on the appearance of a fisherman.
Letilie immediately smiled. "Are you wearing a disguise? I almost didn't recognize you."
Wu Heng nodded and pushed the neatly folded cloak across the table. "Here's the cloak."
Letilie opened the door and gave some instructions.
Two middle-aged men entered the room and began inspecting the cloak in front of both Wu Heng and Letilie.
Wu Heng didn't say anything—this was a good precaution.
It prevented any unnecessary trouble later on.
As the staff examined the cloak…
Letilie discreetly observed Wu Heng.
A man, with a good temperament, well-proportioned physique.
The wrist exposed from his sleeve indicated that he wasn't very old.
Which noble family's young master was he?
Soon, the staff finished their inspection. "No issues."
"Take it away and register it properly," Letilie instructed.
"Yes." The two men nodded, taking the cloak and leaving.
The room was once again left with just the two of them. Wu Heng then asked, "How's the corpse collection going?"
"We've gathered some. Please wait a moment," Letilie said, opening the door to give instructions.
The door opened again, and four coffins were carried in.
"They're all level 15 corpses—one alchemist, one shipbuilder, and two blacksmiths," Letilie reported.
Wu Heng nodded and stored the bodies.
Then, he said, "For my next request, I need a mage's corpse—level 5 or above, any quantity."
Letilie's eyes narrowed slightly as she curiously glanced at him.
...…
Gold-Silver Island, port.
A massive cargo ship slowly docked.
An elderly man in a mage's robe, accompanied by two burly attendants, stepped onto the island.
"Mr. Vergil, shall we head directly to the Guild?" one attendant asked.
The elderly mage glanced around. "No rush. Let's visit the tavern first."