Undead Mage: I Have a Skeleton Clone

The next day, the Jinge Adventurer Team set off once more after a brief rest.

The leader, Yang Qinglu, appeared somewhat frustrated.

They didn’t gather any useful information from Fang Zhou, so they had no choice but to continue forward and seek new intelligence.

Even more regrettable was that aside from a brief meeting in the reception room, Fang Zhou remained secluded in the meditation chamber.

She never had the opportunity to engage in a deeper conversation over tea with Fang Zhou.

After all, Fang Zhou was a Silver powerhouse whose strength far exceeded hers, and Yang Qinglu didn’t dare overstep her bounds, only hoping for another chance in the future.

........

After the Jinge Adventurer Team left, the Blazing Fire Metallurgical Company returned to its usual calm state.

With nothing other than mining and metallurgy operations, no one dared to cause trouble.

Occasionally, Fang Zhou would go down to patrol, remembering the reminder from Yang Qinglu that more than just obvious threats needed to be addressed.

Surveying the area, looking at the land below, Fang Zhou suddenly had an idea.

A few days later, when Yan Yan returned from the desolate camp, Fang Zhou immediately sought him out.

"Director Yan, I have an idea I’d like to run by you, to see if it’s feasible," Fang Zhou said to Yan Yan.

"What idea? Go ahead," Yan Yan replied.

Yan Yan was in high spirits since Blazing Fire Metallurgy had gotten on the right track and was bringing in funds, eliminating the risk of squandering hundreds of thousands of magic stones.

This relieved him of much pressure.

Perhaps, Yan Yan thought, he might have a chance to break through the Bronze bottleneck and advance to Silver by investing heavily in the future.

"I want to establish a Spirit Medicine Forest near this mountain. What do you think?" Fang Zhou proposed.

"A Spirit Medicine Forest, that’s a great idea! It’s a promising venture!"

Shen Zhongyun, the Lieutenant Colonel, once had a large Spirit Medicine Forest, but unfortunately, it was destroyed by beastmen, Yan Yan remarked.

Almost immediately, Yan Yan looked warily at Fang Zhou: "Do you have enough money?

If you’re looking for a loan, I don’t have funds, but I could guide you to where you might get one."

"There’s enough money, worst case, I’ll start with a smaller Spirit Medicine Forest.

Don’t worry, Director Yan, I won’t ask to borrow from you," Fang Zhou said with a smile.

Yan Yan continued, "Then what is it you need my help with?"

"Look, Director Yan, if I buy some land at the foot of the mountain and establish a Spirit Medicine Forest here, there shouldn’t be an issue, right?"

Fang Zhou took out a pre-marked map, pointing out a small area of land to Yan Yan.

Yan Yan nodded, saying, "This location is good, and it’s close to our metallurgical company.

Anyway, the metallurgical company doesn’t need so many Undead Guards; if you open the Spirit Medicine Forest here, security can be handled from both ends."

"Thank you, Director Yan, but that’s not my main concern this time," Fang Zhou unfolded the map and continued.

"Director Yan, since our metallurgical company purchased this mine, didn’t that also include this part of the mountain?" Fang Zhou pointed out on the map.

"That’s correct," Yan Yan nodded, a bit puzzled.

"Then aside from mining and metallurgy, isn’t the mountain sitting idle most of the time?

I want to set up the Spirit Medicine Forest at the foot and then install an Energy Gathering Array in the mountain to channel energy into the Spirit Medicine Forest."

With his plan laid bare, Fang Zhou revealed his ultimate intention.

"Ah?"

Yan Yan grabbed the map, studied the terrain, and pondered.

Then he looked at Fang Zhou with amazement, unable to help saying, "You young people really have flexible minds, thinking of such ideas."

"Is it feasible?" Fang Zhou watched Yan Yan’s expression, which showed no significant objection.

"It’s not impossible, but how much rent do you plan to give Blazing Fire Metallurgy?" Yan Yan asked with a smile.

"Ah, with our relationship, you’re still going to charge me rent?" Fang Zhou asked with a laugh.

"Business is business.

While the energy on this mountain serves no purpose to our metallurgical company, giving it away to your Spirit Medicine Forest is a different matter.

Besides, the metallurgical company isn’t just about our mutual benefits, would you agree?" Yan Yan winked at Fang Zhou.

Fang Zhou considered and nodded; it made sense.

"But given our relationship, I won’t ask for much.

The rent will go to Blazing Fire Metallurgy, so just offer what you can afford."

Yan Yan rolled up the map, looking at Fang Zhou.

"How about 5% of the net profits as rent?" Fang Zhou tentatively suggested.

Yan Yan paused, then laughed, "Alright, 5% it is.

I didn’t intend to profit off you, just using the rent to placate others.

Once the mining is complete in a few years, I’ll sell the mountain land to you, no charge afterward."

"Thank you, Director Yan!" Fang Zhou was elated.

"Tomorrow, draft the contract and I’ll sign it; you handle the Spirit Medicine Forest from here on," Yan Yan said.

"Director Yan, I need one more favor from you.

I’m tied up now; can you help purchase the land?" Fang Zhou reluctantly requested further assistance.

"No problem, I’m already shuttling between the desolate camp and here.

Just tell me how much land you need." Yan Yan nodded.

"This mountain’s area is around ten thousand mu; I’ll buy another ten thousand mu at the foot," Fang Zhou roughly estimated his finances and gave a number.

"Wow, Fang Zhou, you’re quite wealthy!

Alright, I’ll handle the process for you in a few days!"

Yan Yan was noticeably surprised.

"Thank you, Director Yan!" Fang Zhou thanked him again.

Currently, the price of land in the desolate camp is about five magic stones per mu, a low point right now.

Once the new city in desolate camp is completed, prices are likely to increase several times over.

The total land area of over twenty thousand mu is the maximum Fang Zhou can afford for now.

After all, there’s more cost after buying the land, like crafting Energy Gathering Runes and Arrays.

This is a significant investment.

But fortunately, it’s a one-time investment; besides this, there are costs for purchasing spirit medicine seeds and hiring planting workers.

Fang Zhou made a rough calculation, just enough to spend his spare funds.

Had the metallurgical company not been on track, providing magic stone salaries monthly, he wouldn’t have dared start the Spirit Medicine Forest plan now.

...

With the contract signed, Fang Zhou officially began preparations for the Spirit Medicine Forest.

He purchased large quantities of basic array materials to craft Energy Gathering Runes.

It was fortunate he had this skill; otherwise, it would be another huge investment, now significantly reduced.

Soon, with Yan Yan’s efforts, the land purchase got approval, and Fang Zhou officially became a large landowner.

Though he couldn’t compare with many Beast Fighting City officers, he was doing quite well.

Just less than a year out of graduation and securing such a large venture, it was commendable.

Next came the meticulous crafting of array runes.

To cut costs, Fang Zhou devoted great care to each creation, aiming to minimize expenses.

Once the land titles were granted, Fang Zhou asked Yan Yan to recruit construction workers to build houses at the mountain’s foot, serving as the central control room and dormitory for employees.

Fang Zhou took a day to install the portable Black Iron Tier Defense Array he had seized from the Fox Tail Bandit Group in the central control room, making do for now.

Once the metallurgical company funds were replenished, he’d upgrade to a full defense array version.

He also recruited more than thirty Spirit Medicine Farmers to begin cultivating the land.

They used materials from fierce beasts and special fertilizers to start nurturing the fields.

With the Energy Gathering Array, about two hundred mu of spirit medicine planting fields could be cultivated from the total twenty thousand mu of land.

Fang Zhou stayed busy, running to different sites, laying out those Energy Gathering Runes.

Gradually, the energy concentration in the newly cultivated spirit medicine fields increased significantly.

The farmers recommended several valuable spirit medicines for Fang Zhou to choose from for cultivation.

Ultimately, Fang Zhou chose to plant Blood-Burning Vines, a material used to craft low tier Battle Qi Potions.