Chapter 791, That Smile Is Creepy
According to Wu Heng's naming habits,
He would definitely name things based on appearance.
For example, calling it Unicorn Beetle One.
The horn is a natural trait, and "beetle" just sounds fancy.
Xiaoxiao's name "Shiny" also works—whatever name helps you remember is fine.
After confirming the skeleton's name, Wu Heng started searching the ground for a corpse core.
He had never seen a level 20 corpse core before.
After digging around, he finally found a purplish-red corpse core near where the corpse king's head had been.
He used a plastic bag to pick it up and examine it.
Its size hadn't changed, but it felt different in his hand.
Normal corpse cores were like gelatin, but this one was harder—more like a blood-veined bone, or jade.
"Corpse core?" Glenda flew over to take a look.
"Yeah, level 20. We'll have an alchemist study it later." Wu Heng sealed it in a plastic bag and stored it in his spatial ring.
Glenda said, "Your potion development is too slow. Using this core to experiment on mutated Zombies might be more efficient."
Wu Heng paused. That idea hadn't occurred to him.
So far, the potion had only reached level 3 cores—meaning it worked with level 15 Zombies.
They hadn't even cracked level 18 yet, let alone level 20.
At the current research rate, he'd become a hero before a level 20 potion was developed.
That's why Glenda suggested using the core for mutation experiments instead.
"It was hard to get this one," Wu Heng said, reluctant.
"With our lab now, these things won't be rare anymore," Glenda replied.
Wu Heng thought it over. Made sense.
"Have the alchemists draft a plan first."
Glenda shrugged, "Up to you. Just sharing my thoughts."
Wu Heng nodded and left the cell with his wraith and skeleton follower.
He said to the Big Head Skeleton guarding the door, "Have the skeleton troops return to standby. Clean up this cell, too."
Orders given, the skeleton army started to withdraw.
A few skeletons entered the cell and began tidying up.
Wu Heng chatted idly with the wraith as they walked toward the office.
...…
Back in the monitoring room,
Wu Heng checked the other cells on the surveillance feeds.
Xiaoxiao was excitedly explaining the rules to the new skeleton "Shiny."
She seemed to like the skeleton she'd named herself.
Knock knock knock~!
A knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door opened. The skeleton alchemist and skeleton investigator entered.
Wu Heng glanced at the skeleton's logbook—it recorded the timing and details of the mutated creatures.
The notes were detailed.
Setting the log aside, Wu Heng pulled out a few corpse cores. "Analyze these. Especially the level 20 core—use it sparingly."
The skeleton alchemist carefully sorted and stored them.
Then bowed and left the room.
Wu Heng remained in the prison until the afternoon. With nothing else to do, he returned to his dorm, opened the realm gate, and stepped through.
...…
He released the wraith, then placed the [Companion Yin Jade] back on his desk.
Wu Heng stepped out and headed downstairs with the skeleton.
Minnie and Robe were pruning plants in the living room. Seeing Wu Heng, they smiled.
They were about to greet him when they noticed the beetle-like skeleton behind him.
Both maids froze, instinctively stepping back.
One whispered, "Master, is that your new skeleton?"
Wu Heng glanced back. "Yeah. Go fetch the skeleton tailor to make it a custom cloak."
"Yes, Master," Robe replied and hurried off.
Soon, the skeleton tailor arrived.
Wu Heng described his requirements.
The skeleton, Shiny, had a bizarre appearance—giant horns on its head, a massive black carapace on its back, and even wings.
Forget regular people—even the maids were startled.
Since it'd be by his side often, it needed some concealment.
The skeleton tailor began taking Shiny's measurements.
Minnie sat beside Wu Heng, arms crossed, and asked softly, "Master, what kind of skeleton is this? It's so weird."
Robe chimed in, "Looks like a giant bug from a tree."
Wu Heng didn't know how to respond. "Not sure. It's not something you'd normally see."
Minnie asked, "Is it a rare race? Will there be any problems converting it?"
"Don't worry, it's not on the Guild's rare race list."
"Master, what level is it?"
"Level 20!"
Minnie and Robe's eyes widened in shock.
A level 20 skeleton.
Even the high-ranking leaders were only level 20.
Yet their master had suddenly produced one.
Unbelievable.
Wu Heng pulled the two of them close. "Don't tell anyone about this. This skeleton is our trump card."
"Okay," Minnie replied instinctively.
Robe nodded in agreement.
Even now, they couldn't hide their astonishment as they looked at the bizarre skeleton.
No wonder it looked so strange.
So it was a level 20 skeleton.
Soon, the tailor finished the cloak—a large, dark gray overcoat.
Shiny wore it, hood pulled low, body fully concealed.
The horned head looked like a pointy helmet under the hood.
The hunched back made it resemble an old man with a severely crooked spine.
"Go try it outside," Wu Heng said.
The skeleton beetle walked into the courtyard, suddenly growing into a towering 3.5-meter giant.
The cloak draped over its broad shoulders like a mantle.
When it shrank back, the cloak remained intact.
Not bad.
"Alright, come back."
The skeleton returned and stood obediently to the side.
Its head occasionally turned, scanning the area.
It seemed curious about the environment.
Minnie asked, "Master, what's the skeleton's name?"
"Shiny. As in shining brightly."
"The name feels a bit off," Robe said.
"It sounds nice enough. You'll get used to it," Wu Heng replied with a smile.
Uh…
The two maids exchanged glances and said nothing.
Clinging to Wu Heng, they chatted casually about fun island happenings.
As dusk approached, Andviel and Annette returned.
Dinner was served, and everyone sat down to eat.
After dinner,
Everyone went back to their own tasks.
...…
Night slowly fell.
Wu Heng washed up and returned to his room.
Staring at the ceiling, he thought about corpse cores and level 20 Zombies.
The original plan to develop level 20 Zombies had succeeded—and it worked well.
That gave him a clear direction.
He could continue this path and create more level 20 skeletons.
Even if corpse kings were rare in the Zombie World, there were more of them than heroes in the otherworld.
Collecting them and cultivating them for a few days would get them to level 20. In a year or two, he'd have a whole squad.
By then, the Church would be a joke.
So would the Guild.
No one could stop that many level 20 skeletons.
Thinking this, Wu Heng couldn't help but smile.
As for prestige in the otherworld—he had a plan. Once the pills were mass-produced…
As long as they were sold to different races and Kingdoms, he'd reach level 20.
By then, he'd be a hero.
The wraith would be a heroic spirit. The skeletons—level 20 soul remains.
All the dangers and struggles wouldn't mean a thing.
Thinking of that future, he smiled again.
"Uncle, your smile is kinda scary," Xiaoxiao suddenly popped her head in.