Chapter 17: Good Brother, Need to Pay More

Ye Fan silently stretched out his right index finger.

Fang Zhou made a disdainful face and said, "1 contribution point? That’s too little, I’m not doing it!"

Seeing Fang Zhou about to leave, Ye Fan couldn’t hold it in any longer and hurriedly said, "10 contribution points! Covers two weeks!

All you need to do is spend an hour after class each day sparring with me at the research group, and you’ll get 10 contribution points as payment."

Now that’s more like it. Fang Zhou nodded with slight satisfaction and added, "No problem, but I require payment upfront."

Hearing Fang Zhou agree, Ye Fan’s face lit up with excitement and he naturally accepted Fang Zhou’s condition.

Ever since he saw Fang Zhou summon 20 skeletons in the last combat class, Ye Fan had been deeply impressed and dreamed of sparring with Fang Zhou.

After being studied by the research group for nearly half a month, he not only mastered the use of the Blade Bow, a weapon exclusive to the Demon Hunter profession, but also comprehended a powerful skill.

Thus, he had the confidence to face Fang Zhou’s skeleton army head-on.

Of course, poor Ye Fan hadn’t realized yet that the sparring partner he invited was an Undead Mage who had mastered five skills and had the power to crush him.

Ye Fan tapped a few times on his personal terminal, probably communicating with a researcher from the research group.

Soon, Fang Zhou’s personal terminal received a labor contract from the Demon Hunter’s research group.

Fang Zhou glanced over it briefly.

The contract required him to spend an hour each afternoon over two weeks following Ye Fan to report to the Demon Hunter research group and accept the researchers’ combat arrangements.

The payment was 10 contribution points, payable in advance.

contribution points, equivalent to 10 months’ salary of a Junior Sergeant, also meant an Apprentice-tier Skill Book.

Just to get a sparring partner for Ye Fan, the research group was willing to pay such a high price.

To be honest, Fang Zhou felt a bit envious.

Why couldn’t Sea City Military Academy set up a research group for the Undead Mage profession?

Beside them, Bai Xiaochan pouted with even more envy.

Support professions have no rights.

Ye Fan, needless to say.

Not only did he have a dedicated research group to help him enhance his strength, but he also had surplus contribution points to recruit sparring partners.

Fang Zhou could even sell skeleton labor to earn contribution points for himself.

Bai Xiaochan couldn’t help but think, if only she could have an easy way to earn contribution points as well.

...

That afternoon, after the meditation class, Fang Zhou followed Ye Fan to his research group.

The research group’s room was much like the laboratory in Fang Zhou’s knowledge, filled with all sorts of experimental equipment.

Fang Zhou even noticed a few testing automatons that Instructor Lu Hu had operated in the past.

The instructor responsible for Ye Fan’s research was named Chen Qingshan, a Silver Middle Rank [Gale Ranger].

Similar to Shen Hongyu, his right arm was also a mechanical prosthetic, obviously due to injuries forcing him off the frontlines.

Chen Qingshan greeted Fang Zhou and led him on a brief tour of the lab.

He explained to Fang Zhou: "Recently, in the Mythical World, another [Demon Hunter] predecessor from humanity achieved the Legendary Crown and successfully slew an Abyss Lord, demonstrating immense combat power.

Therefore, after Ye Fan awakened to the Demon Hunter profession, Sea City Military Academy placed great importance on this, establishing a research group to fully develop his potential.

Next, you and Ye Fan will undergo combat training.

We have established thorough safety measures, so you can fully immerse yourselves in the battle without worrying about life-threatening risks.

Additionally, to fully unleash your combat potential, you each may select three combat equipment pieces from the armory."

Fang Zhou nodded and followed Ye Fan into the armory.

Ye Fan obviously had a plan in mind, without hesitation choosing a Blade Bow, a set of leather armor, and a pair of boots.

He proudly raised an eyebrow at Fang Zhou and confidently said, "Fang Zhou, I’ve recently mastered the [Weapon Specialization] skill and chose the Blade Bow as my specialization.

The Blade Bow is the signature weapon of our Demon Hunter profession, capable of both long-range attacks and exerting great power in close combat.

Moreover, I’ve comprehended a skill of tremendous power.

Don’t think that just because you can summon 20 skeletons, you’re guaranteed to win!"

Having said that, Ye Fan walked out of the armory full of enthusiasm, head held high.

Fang Zhou smiled slightly and looked at the weapon rack before him.

The rack displayed Apprentice-level equipment and some highly practical battlefield utility items.

After a moment’s thought, Fang Zhou first chose a Magic Staff, then took down a hooded Mage Robe.

For the last item, he hesitated a bit before finally deciding on a piece of optical camouflage fabric.

[Apprentice Magic Staff] (Gray Inferior): A standardized staff produced on an assembly line, it slightly enhances magic effects.

[Apprentice Mage Robe] (Gray Inferior): A standardized robe produced on an assembly line, it slightly reduces incoming damage.

As for the optical camouflage fabric, it was a high-tech product that, when worn, added a layer of environmental camouflage to the wearer, making them less detectable.

Fang Zhou exhaled gently, feeling somewhat excited inside.

Although his Skeleton Clone had accumulated rich combat experience in the Undead Realm, apart from the last time dismantling the testing automaton, his true self had never been involved in a real, solid fight.

Ye Fan, my good buddy, don’t let me down.

...

On the training ground, Ye Fan was already holding his unique weapon, poised and ready.

The Blade Bow, forged from a special alloy, gleamed with a cold metallic luster.

The bowstring was long and sturdy, with barbs like blades extending from the sides of the bow arms, the blade edges curved like a crescent moon, elegantly yet with hidden lethalness.

Fang Zhou arrived at the training ground, standing about fifty meters away from Ye Fan.

This distance was the standard combat range for sparring between Apprentice Stage Combat Professionals and Magic Professionals.

He glanced around slightly, noticing that a dozen or so instructors and researchers had already gathered around the training ground in small groups.

Clearly, they were drawn by the spar between Fang Zhou and Ye Fan.

These instructors were Bronze to Silver Tier Professionals, while some of the researchers were merely ordinary people without awakenings.

Although the spar between these two apprentices might seem like a chicken fight to the strong, the rarity and speciality of both professions made it quite intriguing to watch.

Suddenly, Fang Zhou was slightly stunned.

Instructor Lu Hu was there too?

Was he also participating in the Demon Hunter research group?

From the sidelines, seeing Ye Fan whose eyes were blazing, like a leopard that wanted to devour, and Fang Zhou, who had a calm gaze, stood tall and wore a mage robe, exuding a mage’s demeanor, the instructors and researchers occasionally exchanged low whispers.

"Who do you think will win?"

"It’s definitely Ye Fan! With how many times you’ve encountered him this week, aren’t you clear about how terrifying his combat instincts are?"

"Not necessarily, I heard that Fang Zhou can summon 20 skeletons! Under the Sea of Bones Skill, I doubt Ye Fan could withstand it."