Undead Mage: I Have a Skeleton Clone-Chapter 199 - 195: Massive Expenditure, Lowest-Ever Discount Privilege
Additionally, I am the principal researcher of the Undead Mage Research Group, which gives me a 50% discount on contribution points for items within the project’s scope. May I ask if these two discounts can be stacked?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Hu’s mouth fell open. He was momentarily stunned and at a loss for words.
After a long pause, he swallowed and said, somewhat uncertainly, "You’ve really stumped me with this one. I’ve been at the military academy for years and have never encountered such a question. The 40% discount for being the Number 1 Seed is the maximum discount an academy student can unlock during their studies.
"Logically, for these kinds of academy-granted discounts, you can only take the best one; they can’t be combined. However, your position as principal researcher for a research group wasn’t technically granted by the academy. It’s a different type of discount from the one for being the Number 1 Seed. I honestly don’t know if they can be combined."
Fang Zhou was stunned, not having expected such an answer from Lu Hu. With a wry expression, he said, "Instructor Lu, this is quite important to me. It determines whether I’ll be redeeming things with a 50% discount or a 70% discount. My upcoming contribution point expenses could be in the thousands. Every little bit of extra discount counts. Could you perhaps help me ask around?"
Instructor Lu waved his hand and said in a relaxed tone, "No problem. Wait a moment. I’ll contact logistics for you and see if they can be combined."
Fang Zhou looked grateful. "Alright. Thank you, Instructor Lu."
At this time, the thirty-three combat squads on the training ground had already finished off their first-round opponents of three Little Inferior Demons each. Most of the Seed Students had been tempered by the three-day Cave Hunting ordeal. Therefore, as long as they remained calm, used their full strength, and cooperated well with each other, dealing with three Little Inferior Demons whose power was suppressed to the lowest level of the lower Apprentice rank wasn’t a big problem.
While Instructor Lu was communicating with the logistics department, Fang Zhou started calculating his upcoming expenses again.
The Black Iron-rank Skills and related Skill Insights for his Clone were originally priced at 2,000 contribution points.
Three pieces of ordinary-quality white New Star Equipment could be refined to +2, and each could be inlaid with two level-two Gemstones. However, for this kind of ordinary-quality white equipment, both Refinement and inlaying required level-two Refining Stones and level-two Gemstones. A level-two Refining Stone was formed by fusing three level-one Refining Stones, and level-two Gemstones were created the same way. Even if the academy didn’t charge a fusion fee, the price of level-two Refining Stones and Gemstones was triple that of their level-one counterparts, costing 30 contribution points each.
One piece of New Star Equipment could be inlaid with two level-two Gemstones, costing 60 contribution points. As for Refinement, the first upgrade consumed one level-two Refining Stone, while the second consumed two. Therefore, to reach +2 Refinement, he needed a total of three level-two Refining Stones, costing another 90 contribution points.
By that calculation, just for the Refinement and inlaying materials, one piece of New Star Equipment required 150 contribution points.
Fang Zhou’s current middle-rank Apprentice Four-dimensional Attributes could barely handle three pieces of New Star Equipment, which would require a total of 450 contribution points in enhancement materials. Adding the cost for his Clone to learn the Black Iron-rank skills, he was looking at an investment of at least 2,500 contribution points.
This didn’t even account for the basic resources needed for his own daily cultivation, such as Spiritual Recovery Potions, Soul Calming Potions, Skill Training sessions, and Concentration Meditation time.
After a rough estimate, Fang Zhou’s head began to ache. He was unexpectedly facing the same dilemma as Meng Hongzhuang and Bai Xiaochan. All his various contribution points added up to only around 2,500. Even with his 1,000-point interest-free loan quota, after this spending spree, the coffers would be nearly empty.
Alas... Fang Zhou sighed softly and shook his head.
Despite the huge cost, these contribution points had to be spent. After all, the very reason he had managed to accumulate these 2,500 contribution points was the constant feedback from his Skeleton Clone. His current combat power, which allowed him to crush his peers, was also inextricably linked to the Skeleton Clone. Money is meant to be spent; you can always earn more. If he didn’t use his contribution points to cultivate the Clone and enhance its combat power, how could it possibly navigate the perilous Undead Realm and stand proudly among the demons?!
He just hoped Instructor Lu would come back with good news. After all, a base amount of 2,500 contribution points was massive. A 50% discount meant spending 1,250 contribution points, whereas a 70% discount would only cost 750. That was a difference of 500 contribution points—equivalent to the entire fortune of ten Bai Xiaochans.
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG.
Suddenly, a series of sounds came from the automatic iron cages as they opened.
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Another large batch of Abyssal Little Inferior Demons was released onto the training ground. At the cost of their lives, the second round of combat training officially began.
Fang Zhou’s hands itched, and he was eager for a fight.
Just then, Instructor Lu walked over, beaming.
Seeing his ecstatic expression, Fang Zhou had a good idea of what happened and couldn’t help but smile. "Instructor Lu, it looks like you have good news?"
Lu Hu grinned. "Of course! I just had a huge argument with the logistics department. They claimed there was no precedent for combining discounts.
"Humph! Well, I told them there’s also no precedent for a mere Apprentice like you serving as the principal researcher for a research project! A bunch of stubborn old fossils!"
Fang Zhou raised an eyebrow. "And then?"
Instructor Lu smiled proudly. "Since the logistics department wouldn’t budge, I decided to escalate the matter. I got them on a call with Principal Su on my personal terminal and reported the whole thing. In the end, Principal Su personally approved it and decided to make an exception for you. From now on, your discount privileges can be combined. This means you can redeem all sorts of resources from Sea City Military Academy’s resource bank at thirty percent of the original price!
"Wow! A seventy-percent discount! The academy has never offered such a huge discount in its entire history."
His guess confirmed, Fang Zhou couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy. He saluted Lu Hu and said sincerely, "Thank you, Instructor Lu. I’ve really troubled you."
Lu Hu waved his hand dismissively. "I’ve always believed in a simple principle: with great ability comes great power, and with great power comes great responsibility. Now that you’ve been given the biggest discount in history, you have to deliver the best results in history to shut up anyone who disagrees. Understand, Fang Zhou?"
Fang Zhou nodded, his expression serious. "You can rest assured, Instructor Lu. I won’t waste a single resource the academy gives me. I will kill more Demons to repay you for your care and the academy’s support."
Lu Hu nodded slightly, then opened his personal terminal and sent Fang Zhou a file. "Fang Zhou, these are my cultivation insights for the Berserker Profession. I saw how interested you were in the Combat Professional’s cultivation system and combat style, so I figured I’d give them to you.
"I’m a rough man, so my cultivation insights aren’t as polished as that girl Su Xinyan’s. Just give them a look when you have time. If they can help you improve your Mad Warrior Skeleton’s combat strength or assist your research on the Armed Skeleton’s Skills, then all the better."
Fang Zhou happily opened his personal terminal and quickly skimmed through the cultivation insights Lu Hu had sent. Moved, he said, "This is fantastic, Instructor Lu. I definitely won’t let your efforts go to waste!"
Lu Hu smiled, then suddenly remembered something else. "Oh, right, Fang Zhou. In a little while, Major General Ning Danxin, General Ning Feihu’s granddaughter, will be returning to Sea City from the front lines of the Calamity Sun Demon Country. She is coming to attend General Ning Feihu’s funeral and has personally requested that you be there. You should prepare yourself."
