“Whoa, really, Father? Can I really name those skeletons?”
“Hahaha, of course you can.”
“Awesome! Thanks, Father! I’ll definitely give them great names!”
While Chen Xu’s scheme was unfolding perfectly, movement in the distance caught his attention.
Bone Guard One had already issued orders for the skeleton heroes to head to an open area outside the Bone Thicket. This was his usual training ground, and Chen Xu had specifically adjusted its size and terrain for him.
The majority of the skeleton heroes were rushing toward the training ground at incredible speeds.
When they were still skeleton soldiers, they would have simply charged in neat ranks. Now that they had become various types of skeleton heroes, they were demonstrating their unique talents, using all manner of movement skills.
However, out of the hundreds of millions of skeleton heroes, a small portion remained behind, staying in place instead of departing with the main army.
Chen Xu sensed them; there were roughly tens of thousands.
Once the main army had left, they began walking toward the Overlord’s Castle.
Chen Xu’s heart skipped a beat. What was going on? Had some rebels appeared among the transformed skeleton heroes?
Or were these skeleton heroes just eccentric, refusing to leave until they were given names?
The skeleton heroes slowly approached the foot of the Overlord’s Castle and looked up at Chen Xu.
One of them, a skeleton hero carrying a giant axe with several small hammers hanging from his waist, stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and called out to Chen Xu.
“My Lord, we are not combat classes. Although we have received your blessing and obtained supreme power, we fear that showing weakness on the battlefield would tarnish your reputation.
“We beseech you to allow us to remain here in the Undead Dao Court, to give our all and contribute our strength to your magnificent world.”
Chen Xu looked down, and two information prompts popped up simultaneously—one from the Truth Monocle and one from his job-holder panel.
【Skeleton Soldier with Spiritual Liberation: A skeleton soldier who has been freed from the soul barrier and attained spiritual liberation.】
【...】
【This skeleton soldier is also suspected of possessing multiple enhancement skills and is highly likely to be a special summon of a Necromancer marked as a [Potential World-Destroying Calamity]: a skeleton hero.】
The prompt from the monocle was largely the same as before, except the enhancement skills were no longer detailed, showing only a vague mention of “multiple.”
The prompt from the job-holder panel was much clearer; every skeleton hero had a panel of information similar to Bone Guard One’s.
【Skeleton Hero: Unnamed】
【Class: Ghost Axe Artisan】
【Skills: Ghost Axe, Iron Fingers, Fire Gaze, Wine Quenching】
【Ghost Axe: Supernatural workmanship, a natural craftsman. Though he carries a giant axe, it is not for killing. When the Ghost Axe falls, impurities are removed. Even a piece of ordinary iron will gain new transcendent properties under the strike of the Ghost Axe.】
【Iron Fingers: Due to years of working with various metals like gold, silver, copper, and iron, the fingers have acquired metallic properties through long-term exposure and saturation. Finger strength and hardness are significantly enhanced.】
【Fire Gaze: A craftsman must master the method of observing fire. If the material stays in the fire for too short a time, it will not melt; too long, and it will dissolve. If the tool stays in the fire for too short a time, it cannot be forged; too long, and its form is ruined.】
【The control of fire is an extremely vital link; whether one is a novice or a master depends on this path.】
【Eyes (Missing critical organs, corrected to soul perception): Immune to the glare of fire and the harsh aura of metals. Can use sight (soul perception) to inspect the internal state of metals and stones.】
【Wine Quenching: There are many quenching methods in the world, from the most common water quenching to the most complex Dao quenching. None can be called the best, only the most suitable.】
【The Wine Quenching method can grant equipment additional traits upon completion. Depending on the wine used, the traits obtained will vary. The disadvantage is that the equipment will carry the scent of alcohol, which is detrimental to concealment.】
After reading the panel information of the skeleton hero who had spoken, Chen Xu’s eyes lit up.
He hadn't expected that this skeleton hero would be a craftsman—a talent that was extremely scarce, or rather, non-existent, in the Undead Dao Court.
After all, aside from Chen Xu himself, there was no one else in the Undead Dao Court who knew how to manufacture equipment.
Next, Chen Xu looked at the group of skeleton heroes behind him, scanning them one by one. They were all logistics and manufacturing talents.
Chen Xu took a general look and found that these skeleton talents were roughly divided into several types.
The first was the craftsman type, skilled in forging equipment from metal and stone or sewing clothing from animal hides and fibers. Their class names often included words like blacksmith, artisan, or tailor.
The second was the master artisan type, skilled in creating small handicrafts like jewelry, gems, and various decorations from gemstone essences.
The third was the agricultural type. Some were skilled in farming and raising livestock, while others excelled in post-processing, such as brewing wine, making agricultural by-products, or cooking. There was even a specialized Slaughter Master responsible for butchering livestock.
The fourth was the civil engineering type. Much like their modern counterparts, these civil engineering skeleton heroes could do just about anything. As long as it involved a construction site, it was their responsibility.
Furthermore, in addition to common civilian buildings, their skill lists included special modules related to wartime fortifications.
The last category was the teacher type. Their skills were mostly auxiliary teaching abilities, somewhat similar to the instructors at Daxia’s Linglong Academy, who possessed a full set of support skills.
This batch of specialized logistics talent was exactly what Chen Xu lacked.
For a long time, Chen Xu had only combat-oriented undead under his command. From low-tier skeletons to high-tier Undead Bone Dragons and abominations, they were all fierce characters meant for killing—essentially a team of villains.
Chen Xu had once considered inviting some craftsmen from Daxia’s Heavenly Crafts to teach the black knights, allowing them to take on some logistics and manufacturing functions.
But as the number of his undead army surged, even if the black knights learned to manufacture, their production capacity would never keep up with the explosion in numbers.
Moreover, whether it was skeleton soldiers or skeleton archers, they came with their own weapons—blades, shields, and bone arrows—upon summoning. Although not strong, they were sufficient for combat.
Consequently, logistics had always been sidelined, much like many other matters.
Under the pressure of the demons and Hell, everything else had to take a backseat to cultivation realms and combat power.
Holding Chen Xing, Chen Xu teleported in front of the leading skeleton hero.
Since this skeleton had taken the lead to speak, it indicated he possessed a certain degree of leadership ability.
The peculiar combination of using an axe to strike metal and stone for forging also made Chen Xu take a second look at him.
“Others use hammers, yet you use an axe. That is quite unique.”
Chen Xu raised his hand and plucked a piece of raw ore from the long-abandoned Rune-energy Stone mine in the distance, tossing it onto the ground.
“Show me.”
“As you command, My Lord.”
The skeleton first grabbed the raw ore with one hand and slammed it heavily onto the ground, creating a crater.
Then he stepped forward and delivered a few kicks, firmly embedding the raw ore into the earth.
After confirming the ore wouldn't move, he gripped the giant axe with both hands and raised it high, his upper body leaning back like a drawn bow.
Boom!
Once he reached his limit, he swung the axe with the speed of a lightning bolt, striking the raw ore and letting out a thunderous crash.
Crack, crack.
A fine web of cracks spread across the raw ore. Then, piece by piece, the outer shell fell away, revealing the pure Rune-energy Stone essence within.
Chen Xu watched the entire process. As the axe fell, a mysterious power surged out to wash over the ore, forcing out all impurities and turning an ordinary Rune-energy Stone into a top-grade essence stone.
It truly was supernatural workmanship. The mysterious powers of the world were indeed vast, and Chen Xu couldn't help but offer his praise.
“Your supernatural workmanship lives up to its reputation. Since you are known for your Ghost Axe, I shall call you Ghost Axe.”
Ghost Axe was stunned. He hadn't expected to receive a name so easily and quickly knelt on one knee.
“Thank you for your blessing, My Lord.”
“Don’t be so quick to thank me. I’ve looked at the group behind you; they are all masters with unique skills.
“Since you were able to step forward and speak, you must have some exceptional qualities. From now on, you will manage them.
“I want you to establish a Heavenly Crafts that belongs to the Undead Dao Court.”
Rate on N.U.
