Chapter 125: Choosing Professional Skills
Without finding a suitable passive skill, Gu Xi turned his attention to the professional skills.
This time, there were many more skill books here.
Most of these were skills that a necromancer should learn, such as [Corpse Explosion] as an upgrade from [Minor Corpse Explosion], [Bone Spear] from [Bone Spike], and [Bone Cage] from [Bone Shield].
There were also some new skills, like [Poison Cloud] and [Weakening Curse].
Additionally, there were skills specifically designed to enhance the undead, such as [Necromantic Experimentation] and [Undead Evolution].
It could be said that there were far more skills here than in the previous selection.
Gu Xi chose with a focus on what he could use.
He had three merit points left, so Gu Xi had to consider his choices carefully.
In terms of professional skills, Gu Xi needed a powerful killing move since he couldn't call upon Death Incarnate every time he encountered an enemy.
Using such a skill that drained all his mana wasn't a proper big move; it was a desperate measure.
Thus, Gu Xi needed a big move that could kill in one hit.
Besides that, Gu Xi needed a control skill, and for the last skill, he aimed to enhance the combat power of his summoned undead.
Most of the good skill books had already been picked.
Gu Xi sifted through the remaining books and finally chose three professional skills that suited his needs.
[Bone Storm Level 1 (0/100), costs 15 mana, creates a storm of bone shards at a designated location, dealing 180% of your attack power as damage to all enemies within 10 seconds.]
This was the big move Gu Xi chose. He had heard about this skill before. Although the designated area was not large, with a maximum diameter of about five meters, everything within this range would be equally affected.
It was a great equalizer.
The most important part was that as long as Gu Xi had enough mana, he could keep using it and could even stack the effect in one place.
In other words, the power and effect could overlap. If Gu Xi's hand speed was fast enough, stacking Bone Storm four to five times in the same spot should be no problem.
No matter how strong the enemy's vitality was, they couldn't withstand the comprehensive attack of Bone Storm, making it a very useful big move.
[Deadly Vines Level 1 (0/100), costs 5 mana, creates a mass of flesh tendrils or bone arms at a designated location, dragging all enemies stepping onto it, with a chance to poison, stun, or curse them.]
This was the control skill Gu Xi chose. The range of Deadly Vines was much larger than that of Bone Storm.
The most important part was that Gu Xi could change the shape of the Deadly Vines' range. Whether horizontally, vertically, or in a circle, it was up to him.
Any enemy stepping into this area would be affected, possibly getting poisoned or stunned.
This skill mainly aimed to slow down the enemy's advance, preventing them from quickly moving through the area.
If combined with Gu Xi's troops or directly followed up with Bone Storm or Corpse Explosion, it would be quite effective.
The last skill was for enhancing his summoned undead.
[Skeleton Priest Level 1 (0/100), costs 5 mana, summons a temporary skeleton priest at a designated location, increasing the damage of all nearby undead within 100 meters by 20% and restoring 10% of their maximum health, lasting 35 seconds.]
Gu Xi specifically asked the quartermaster about this skill due to some unclear descriptions.
The quartermaster clearly stated that the 35-second duration referred to the skeleton priest's existence.
The boosts provided by the skeleton priest would only last during this period.
Once the skeleton priest disappeared, the 20% damage boost would be gone, though the health restoration wouldn't be affected.
Initially, upon hearing this, Gu Xi was reluctant to choose this skill.
There were other enhancement skills like [Iron Bones] and [Flesh Bloom].
Choosing these skills would directly enhance the defense of skeletal soldiers or the attack power of zombie troops.
Opting for these skills was definitely easier and more straightforward.
However, Gu Xi ultimately chose [Skeleton Priest] because he realized this skill could be used in conjunction with Death Incarnate.
Although the skeleton priest was technically a skeleton, it didn't have a physical form and could be placed on Death Incarnate's back, moving along with it.
This meant it was the only enhancement skill that could keep up with Death Incarnate.
For Death Incarnate, a 20% damage boost was quite significant, whether it was using the Melting Ray Machine Gun or Death Dragon Breath, both would benefit.
This made the already powerful Death Incarnate even stronger.
This point convinced Gu Xi to choose the relatively rare [Skeleton Priest] over other options.
After selecting the three skills, the quartermaster didn't make things difficult for Gu Xi. He simply recorded Gu Xi's choices in a notebook and let him take all four skill books.
"These skill books are still useful. After learning the skills, each book can be read for another three hours.
If you read them carefully, you'll gain corresponding experience during the reading process, which is a good opportunity to gain experience and levels. Don't waste it.
Otherwise, relying on using skills to level up will be quite exhausting."
Gu Xi thanked the quartermaster upon hearing this.
He knew these were little-known tips that most people wouldn't notice. Without someone pointing it out, many people might never know these tips their whole life.
Now that the quartermaster specifically reminded him, it brought Gu Xi many conveniences.
Even if he was somewhat clueless, he had to thank the quartermaster.
After all, Gu Xi had benefited greatly from the quartermaster.
Seeing Gu Xi's grateful expression, the quartermaster was also pleased.
"It's nothing. It's what I should do. If you want to repay me, just kill more of those evil spirits, especially their leaders. Bringing me white baboon pelts would be the best repayment."
"No problem. As long as the evil spirits dare to come, I'll kill a few more. I'll definitely bring you the pelts then."
"Good, that's the spirit. We need that kind of energy!"
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