Chapter 39: Interrupted Exploration
[Skeleton (Summoned Creature) has killed a Wild Swamp Wolf (Level 1). You have gained 3 Experience points. Your Summoned Creatures have shared 7 Experience points.]
The moment the crisp system prompt popped up in his mind, the last Wild Swamp Wolf let out a mournful howl and fell heavily into the withered yellow grass. Dark green blood soaked into the ground as its life faded completely.
Gu Su stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic battlefield.
Scattered wolf carcasses, spattered blood, and broken Beast Bones littered the ground. A flicker of satisfaction appeared in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth turned up unconsciously. He was filled with a sense of accomplishment; he was indeed exceptionally pleased with his rapid growth during this time.
He remembered how just yesterday, when he was abruptly transported to this perilous Game World, he had only a handful of Ordinary Skeletons under his command.
Even when dealing with a weak group of goblins, he had to rack his brains and calculate every move, proceeding cautiously with each step and arranging everything meticulously. He was afraid that the slightest mistake would lead to losses for him and his Skeleton Squad.
But now, facing more than twenty ferocious and highly aggressive Wild Swamp Wolves, his Elite Skeletons and Magic Skeletons coordinated seamlessly. They ended the battle cleanly and decisively from start to finish. Not a single Skeleton was even seriously injured. The improvement in his combat power was plain to see.
"So this is the growth rate of an Undead Mage."
Gu Su murmured with a voice full of relief, his gaze slowly sweeping over the Skeleton Squad standing ramrod straight beside him. A hint of anticipation grew in his eyes.
Smiling, he raised a hand and waved gently at the Elite Skeletons, signaling them to act immediately. They were to gather all the scattered Wild Swamp Wolf carcasses, arrange them neatly, and tie them with vines in preparation for transport back to the territory to be converted into Undead.
At the same time, he stepped forward, walking toward a small, foul-smelling puddle not far away, his steps light yet cautious.
The Graveyard Demon Territory was still very rudimentary at this point, and the most pressing issue was the lack of water. There wasn’t a single complete and stable water source. The water he drank and used daily was all dew collected from the leaves of the Deceitful Tree.
Not only was it laborious to collect, but the quantity was also very limited. Of course, the Undead didn’t have much use for water.
But just because it wasn’t used much didn’t mean they could do without it.
Now that he had stumbled upon this puddle, it was a good opportunity to see if the water was drinkable. If it was, that would be a small blessing.
But as soon as he reached the edge of the puddle, a foul odor, a mixture of the rotten stench of Wild Swamp Wolves and the reek of sludge, assaulted his senses, making him wrinkle his nose instinctively.
Gu Su’s brow furrowed tightly. His eyes quickly scanned the turbid surface, which rippled with a dark green sheen. He vaguely sensed that something was wrong—that something strange was hidden at the bottom.
"You, come here. Get that thing for me."
Gu Su gestured to the nearest Elite Skeleton, his gaze fixed on the sludge in the center of the puddle.
A pale, sharp tip was faintly visible there, half-hidden by the murky water. It was almost impossible to spot without looking closely.
The Elite Skeleton immediately understood the command. Without a word, it walked straight into the turbid puddle.
It bent down, plunged its hands into the thick sludge, and forcibly dug out a thick, sharp fang over a meter long that glowed with a faint luminescence.
Wet black mud still clung firmly to the fang. Its edges were incredibly sharp, and it exuded a ferocious aura. It looked exceptionally thick and sharp—clearly not the tooth of an ordinary beast.
[Exotic Beast Skeleton (White): An Exotic Beast Skeleton that has been buried underground for many years (can be from any beast, and can be any part of the beast). To some master blacksmiths, this is a Metal that can be used to craft items. To the Undead, this can serve as Wood or Stone for city construction.]
Looking at the current situation, Gu Su immediately understood.
This unremarkable little puddle was likely not just a watering hole for the Wild Swamp Wolves, but also their personal dumping ground.
After catching their prey, they would eat near the puddle and then casually toss the leftover bones and other debris into the water. Over time, a large amount of bones and sludge accumulated at the bottom, turning it into the turbid, foul-smelling mess it was today.
This sudden discovery once again disrupted Gu Su’s planned exploration schedule.
He had originally planned to simply check the water source and, if it was unusable, immediately set off to investigate the fallen skyscraper entangled in Fluorescent Vines. But now that he had unexpectedly discovered this hidden Resource of Exotic Beast Skeletons, he couldn’t just let it go.
Gu Su thought for a moment before giving a decisive order, "All Skeletons, three carcasses each. We’re heading back first."
After giving the order, Gu Su didn’t delay any longer and hastily made his way back toward the Graveyard Demon.
From setting out for the puddle to finishing the battle with the Wild Swamp Wolves and preparing to return, less than an hour had passed in total.
Upon returning to the territory, Gu Su immediately had the Skeletons throw all the Wild Swamp Wolf carcasses into a newly appeared Empty Tomb in the Great Gravepile.
As soon as the carcasses hit the ground, the Great Gravepile slowly began to emit a faint black mist that quickly enveloped the Empty Tomb. His Soul Summoning Technique was automatically triggered, and black energy continuously poured into the Gravepile.
[The Great Gravepile has automatically used your Soul Summoning Technique (Level 1), obtaining Skeleton (Level 0) x21. Soul Summoning Technique proficiency +21.]
Following the system prompt, twenty-one brand-new Skeletons slowly crawled out of the black-misted pit.
These newly born Skeletons were each wrapped in tattered Wild Swamp Wolf pelts. The texture and color of the fur were faintly visible, giving them a unique identifier and a touch of wildness.
The new Skeletons had barely appeared before Gu Su issued a direct order.
"You will follow this White Crow. It knows the way.
You can use the plastic barrels and boxes inside the Graveyard Demon.
First, go bring me back the water.
After the water is brought back, go dig for Exotic Beast Skeletons. Dig up as many as you can find. I want all of them.
Once the bones are all transported, dig up some sludge and bring it back."
Gu Su was truly using these new Skeletons as manual laborers.
Upon hearing his command, the new Skeletons immediately set to work.
However, they really weren’t as effective as a Skeleton Squad led by a Minion.
They seemed a bit mindless as they went about their tasks.
Sending them out, Gu Su knew they would probably spend the entire day just traveling.
They were just not very efficient.
But that was good enough.
At least Gu Su didn’t have to task his Elite Skeletons with hauling these things.