Chapter 281: 229: The Evolved Epic Boss - The Spectral Dragon King!
In the blink of an eye, ten days had flashed by.
During these ten days, Zi Liyuan studiously attended classes in the junior campus area, without causing any trouble.
However, his mind seemed distracted throughout his studies, exasperated by the item list he'd been given.
He had reason to believe that Dragon Academy was definitely trying to swindle his [Heart of the Lord]!
The ties between the Nine Great Divine States Academy and the Great Xia Empire were so intricately intertwined that they were impossible to unravel.
It wouldn't be too difficult for the upper echelons of Dragon Academy to get their hands on his information from the military.
So, they would undoubtedly know about the trade involving the original source treasure boxes, and the news that he possessed [Heart of the Lord] would inevitably reach the higher-ups at Dragon Academy.
Yet, he never imagined these top brass could be so shameless, freely providing detailed information on the Fourth Order Lord Level transformation quest, then turning around to send him a list of required materials with clearly labeled prices demanding [Heart of the Lord] in exchange.
Could their behavior be any more unsightly?
It wasn't like Dragon Academy specifically intended to cheat him, so there must be some foul play involving the military colluding with the academy, specifically targeting his precious items.
It was likely another test, attempting to discern how many [Heart of the Lord] he held, thereby estimating the range of his luck with drop rates.
Thinking of these things made Zi Liyuan's face grow even darker.
Originally, my heart was reflected by the bright moon, but why does the moon now shine over the ditches!
Can't there be no schemes, for both parties to cooperate happily for mutual benefit?
Was it because he had harvested just a bit too many [Heart of the Lord]?
Why was the military so relentless in not letting go?
They weren't at a loss, after all. He had replenished them with plenty of silver hero equipment!
Don't tell him that the silver hero equipment is valued less than [Heart of the Lord]; even if they were to open the treasure boxes themselves, they wouldn't be able to get ten pieces of [Heart of the Lord] out of a hundred tries!
With these thoughts, Lord Zi felt suffocated and thus, upon receiving the list, he had no inclination to exchange it right away. However, he did start scouting for complete Epic Boss corpses.
Moreover, in order to discourage the academy staff, he deliberately offered some items from the list to Ying Xueji and the other three, claiming he was willing to make a high-priced purchase.
At the end of the day, Lord Zi was in no rush because Old Huang had promised to apply for military resources on his behalf to help him through the Fourth Order Lord Level transformation quest.
So, he wasn't in a hurry at all!
With Zi Liyuan completely silent, it left several old men and women frustrated.
"The list was sent out, so why hasn't that kid Zi made a move?"
"Logically speaking, this brat definitely has [Heart of the Lord]. Could it be he has too few to exchange for items, so he's saving them instead?"
"Is it possible, this brat has realized that the academy is scheming for his treasures, and he's not falling for it?"
"You guys guessed right. This is news from within the four royal families; these past few days they've been mobilizing resources, many of which are items on that list."
The Dean of Dragon Academy shared a piece of intelligence with the others but fell into contemplation.
"This little bastard would rather benefit outsiders than let the academy take advantage, probably holding a grudge."
"Hey, I refuse to believe that this little devil can't be dealt with! Send him the detailed information on 'Undead Calamity,' and then change all the required skills and items for the exchange to require [Heart of the Lord]. I don't believe he can withstand that!"
Old Smokey took a drag from his big pipe and with a wave of his hand, he set the lure plan in motion.
The old men and women looked at him with a strange gleam in their eyes.
So, just as Lord Zi was getting up from body number two, the guide jade on his wrist flickered with new information.
However, he wasn't in a hurry, leisurely getting dressed before taking out the jade to check it.
But as soon as he opened it, detailed information about the Grand Curse "Undead Calamity" appeared before him, alongside a very detailed video explanation.
The information listed the prerequisite skills required for "Undead Calamity," providing meticulous descriptions of each skill, essentially offering a deep insight into the nature of these abilities.
With just these detailed explanations, given three to five years of contemplation, Zi Liyuan could completely forego learning from the Skill Book and comprehend these prerequisite skills on his own.
After that, realizing the Grand Curse "Undead Calamity" would simply be a matter of time.
As for the dangers of "Undead Calamity" listed in the video, they were thoroughly explained as well.
Activating this skill would use his Spirit as a conduit, posing a significant burden on his Spirit.
If the Spirit wasn't resilient enough and there were no protective measures, using this skill meant there was a ninety percent chance of suffering backlash from the Power of Death, leading to permanent damage and a reduction in life essence!
Permanent damage merely reduces basic attributes, something that can be remedied by many precious treasures.
But the loss of life essence is no small matter.
The life essence of every being is the foundation of their existence. Severe depletion equals the severing of one's evolutionary path, forever ending any hopes to reach higher levels of existence, let alone the road to becoming a deity or demon.
Therefore, to cast "Undead Calamity" it's best to rely on various treasures to minimize the skill's side effects and prevent any backlash.
Yet, when Lord Zi opened the list, his handsome and peerless face instantly contorted.