Global Game: I, the Necromancer, am the scourge Chapter 2 - 2 Have I gone blind with such a huge hidden profession?

Zi Liyuan cast a mere glance at the attributes of the summoned skeleton, his attention quickly refocusing on the 'Skeleton Summoning' skill.

A gray-black '+' sign was visible behind this skill.

As his gaze fell upon this plus sign, information flowed into his mind.

It was revealed that the skill could be enhanced using a Nether Crystal Core and consuming energy, causing death-related skills to mutate and grow stronger!

Simultaneously, several mutated enhancement pathways for the 'Skeleton Summoning' skill materialized on his vision.

Mutated Enhancement (1): Upon consuming 1,000 units of energy, the 'Skeleton Summoning' skill would transform into 'Summon Skeleton Warrior'.

Mutated Enhancement (2): Upon consuming 1,500 units of energy, the 'Skeleton Summoning' skill would mutate into 'Summon Skeleton Archer'.

...

Mutated Enhancement (9): Upon consuming 5,000 units of energy, the 'Skeleton Summoning' skill would evolve into 'Summon Skeleton Apprentice'.

A grand total of nine distinct mutation routes lay before him, requiring a minimum of 1,000 energy units and a maximum of 5,000, with the potential to upgrade the skeleton into various specialized military units for land, sea, and air.

This was somewhat astonishing, yet still within the bounds of what he could accept.

However, upon examining his own attributes, even with the boosts from his cultivation technique, he only possessed 400 points of spiritual energy. Thus, he had no choice but to suppress the strong urge to immediately pursue a mutated enhancement.

There was no need to rush; sustenance would arrive, and spiritual power would surge soon enough!

————

"Hmm, the caliber of students undergoing awakening and class change at White Crane Academy this year is quite commendable."

"With nearly 80,000 students, there are over a thousand possessing hidden professions, a significant increase of nearly three hundred compared to last year."

"Thirteen death-related careers have emerged; one wonders if this portends good fortune or ill."

"Regardless, our academy has no intention of specifically recruiting those with death-related professions this year."

"Tsk, tsk, is this due to the fact that last year's special recruitment of ten promising students resulted in all of them being corrupted by the Evil God after entering the Sea of Realms' Battlefield of Ten Thousand Tribes?"

"Old fool, as if your academy is any better? The pot calling the kettle black!"

"Alas, if individuals with death-related careers can reach maturity, they undoubtedly become immensely powerful. However, their proximity to death also draws the attention of corrupting Evil Gods. The failures of past talents are quite understandable."

"In my opinion, their wills were simply not robust enough, lacking proper tempering. Had they all been sent to our Great Xia military academies, I guarantee none would have met such a dismal fate."

"Keep boasting! With your military academy's perennial bottom-tier standing among the Nine Great Divine Provinces, any talented individual would shun it. Naturally, you are left to pick up the scraps."

Eight indistinct figures materialized beside Principal He Bai, each either intently observing the unfolding events with the students below or engaged in heated, albeit familiar, bickering amongst themselves.

"Enough of this nonsense; if you desire outstanding students, employ your own recruitment strategies!"

Principal He Bai rolled his eyes, weary of engaging with the eight uninvited elders now present.

These eight figures were merely projected avatars, illusionary manifestations of the principals from the other eight Divine States Academies.

Despite being illusions, they possessed considerable capabilities, such as surveying potential talent on another's grounds during the annual awakening day and casually distributing their respective academies' invitation cards.

Invitation cards were distributed generously by the nine academies annually, serving as mere credentials. Those who received them were qualified to participate in the selection trials of the issuing academies.

Typically, any student who had completed their awakening and class change, particularly those with hidden professions, would receive multiple invitation cards.

Upon presenting a valid invitation card and successfully passing the entrance assessments of the corresponding academy before July 1st, one could secure smooth admission.

Should a student falter in their assessments, as long as July 1st had not yet arrived, they could utilize their remaining invitation cards to attempt entrance examinations at other academies.

If all obtained invitation cards proved insufficient to secure admission through the entrance assessments, the student would be relegated to considering second- or third-tier academies, which were typically resource-strapped.

Naturally, the selection methodologies and assessment criteria differed for those pursuing battle professions compared to those focused on life professions.

Only ten thousand new students are accepted into the Nine Great Divine States Academy each year.

Its primary student body consists of combat professionals, with life professions making up the remainder, in roughly a 9:1 ratio.

Zi Liyuan, the top student from White Crane High School, an individual who excelled in both intellect and physical prowess, had long held the highest ranking.

Consequently, his singular aspiration was to enter the most esteemed institution, the Dragon Academy within the Great Xia Empire!

Yet, despite his patient waiting, the auspicious light signifying awakening and class change had faded, and not a single invitation card had reached him, leaving him in utter disbelief.

"Could it be that I don't possess a hidden class? Are all the esteemed teachers from the Nine Great Academies blind?"

With a look of profound distress, Zi Liyuan craned his neck, attempting to get a clearer view of the majestic nine-tiered altar suspended in the heavens, hoping to confirm the presence of all faculty from the Nine Great Academies.

Unfortunately, obscured by the world's inherent rules, the interior of the altar remained invisible from the outside.

"Insolence! They refuse to grant me an invitation card? I can still secure a spot through the entrance examination!"

An invitation card serves as a swift passage, allowing individuals to bypass the standard college entrance examination and proceed directly to the evaluative trials of the Nine Great Divine States Academy.

However, these coveted cards are typically bestowed only upon those with hidden professions. The vast majority, comprising ninety-nine percent of hopefuls, possess ordinary professions, despite their multitude of talented and exceptional peers.

Provided these students succeed in the college entrance examination, scheduled to occur seven days hence, and secure a placement within the top one hundred of their respective provinces, they shall earn the eligibility to apply to the prestigious Nine Great Divine States Academy!

Zi Liyuan cast a resentful glance at a few individuals nearby who had proudly received invitation cards, his frustration palpable as he turned and departed the athletic grounds.

His immediate priority was to dedicate himself to preparations for the approaching college entrance examination within seven days, with the first crucial step being to reach level 20 and complete his initial class change.

Historically, no candidate ranked within the provincial top one hundred had ever been below level 20.

Therefore, to achieve success, one must first ensure their tools are in order—armed with his bank card, Zi Liyuan made his way to the most prominent professional class change bazaar in White Crane City.

Prior to his awakening and class change, he had procured a set of level 1 common equipment, but circumstances had shifted unexpectedly—he hadn't anticipated awakening as a Necromancer.

The equipment he had prepared, optimized for physical attacks, offered little advantage to his current profession.

With time being of critical importance, Zi Liyuan wasted no moments entering the largest equipment emporium directly. He expended a sum of one hundred thousand Huaxia Currency, paying twenty percent above the standard market rate, to obtain a three-piece equipment set suitable for his current stage, supplemented by a selection of level 1 potions.

[Bone Staff (Blue)]: Phys Damage +5, Magic Damage +9, Spirit +2, Spiritual Power +2, requires Level 1.

[Death Robe (Blue)]: Physical Resistance +5, Magical Resistance +9, Spirit +2, Spiritual Power +2, requires Level 1.

[Spiritual Energy Shoes (Blue)]: Movement Speed +10%, Spirit +2, Spiritual Power +2, requires Level 1.

Newly awakened and class-changed individuals were restricted to equipping items in only three slots: their weapon, armor, and footwear. The highest quality equipment readily available on the market was of rare blue-grade.

As for equipment of silver hero quality or superior that could be utilized at Level 1, they were highly coveted yet seldom seen. The moment such items appeared on the market, they were expeditiously acquired by influential families and powerful clans.

Being an orphan, Zi Liyuan had previously witnessed auctions featuring high-quality gear of lower levels. However, to steer clear of potential entanglements, he merely observed as a spectator, as he possessed no foreknowledge of the specific equipment he would require prior to his class awakening.