The strongholds established by members of the four royal families gathered most of the candidates within the blood-red barrier.
Tens of thousands of professionals above LV35, each a true genius, combined to form a very powerful force.
Moreover, in the days of assaults, they had slain over two hundred Lord Bosses, with countless Hero Bosses, acquiring a great deal of quality equipment, all of which was distributed, allowing many to trade their old muskets for new cannons, thus enhancing their strength.
Originally, Zi Liyuan intended to hand over the candidate turned into a human piety to Li Fengwen and then continue hunting Lord Bosses with Shen Yurou, but he was pulled aside by Li Fengwen who brought them both to the council hall.
Aside from Li Fengwen, Liu Shengnan, Ying Xueji, and Zhu Wu, the meeting included nine other members from the direct heirs of millennium-old families.
Zi Liyuan initially didn't want to associate with these fellows as the difference in status was clear, not to mention their knowledge of the Heretical Sect's plans to cause chaos during the exams and still using the candidates as bait, which greatly annoyed him.
But his words carried little weight and he couldn't change the decisions from above, so he could only take care of himself and Shen Yurou.
As for the other candidates, their fate was in the hands of destiny, and Zi Liyuan knew well that those who specifically targeted the central Boss areas to hunt monsters were essentially members of powerful and well-established families.
Backed by their families, these individuals were not weak, and if they did perish, it might even reduce the competition for Zi Liyuan.
After all, coming from the common folk, he naturally felt an estrangement from the great clans and noble families.
This council meeting caused quite a shock for Zi Liyuan right from the start.
Li Fengwen immediately informed him and Shen Yurou that the souls of the professionals who died within the blood-red barrier had been collected and after the will of the Evil God was eliminated, the officials would use a special ritual to resurrect them all.
As for the potential sequelae and the possibility that their futures would be bleak, Zi Liyuan responded, "What's that to me?"
After all, most of those who died were from the clans and even without a future, they could still live out the rest of their lives comfortably.
And as for the affected commoners, he didn't have the capacity to tend to them, did he?
After learning such important information, Zi Liyuan had a slightly improved impression of the authorities.
At least they had taken protective measures while using the candidates as bait, ensuring the safety of all the candidates.
The second piece of news was the decision by Li Fengwen and the other three to coordinate with Zi Liyuan in taking on Blood Lake to flush out the Spider Queen.
In the martial exam replica, there were not many professionals capable of clearing monsters on a large scale, and Zi Liyuan was the most unique of them all.
As a second-turn Necromancer with control over the Corpse Explosion Technique, as long as he had enough Spiritual Energy, clearing small monsters and annihilating them were truly a matter of ease.
From the scoreboards of the martial exam replica, Zi Liyuan was far ahead of the second place, indicating he had slain numerous Boss-level monsters.
Having an understanding of Zi Liyuan's strength, they naturally knew that to amass a vast amount of points in just a few days, the Corpse Explosion Technique was indispensable.
Thus, as early as the beginning of the third phase and the emergence of thousands of Lord Bosses within the blood-red barrier, they had consciously begun collecting the corpses of Lord Bosses.
To ensure Zi Liyuan's cooperation, those individuals had all the required materials prepared and packaged.
As for the final plan and such, the other party didn't say, but they were clearly prepared for him.
Well, knowing he was a Necromancer and that Evil God's husk was here, it was normal to take precautions, and as for what would happen... Zi Liyuan's eyes darted about, clearly plotting something in his mind as well.
By the time the meeting ended and Zi Liyuan returned to the accommodation arranged for them with Shen Yurou, a tall, beautiful woman with burgundy wavy hair was blocking the doorway.
Hidden beneath the eyes of Number Two, a blood-red mark surfaced, filled with shock as she gazed at Zi Liyuan.
"You may call me Number Two, it's an honor to meet you, esteemed Necromancer."
Number Two's gaze briefly swept past Shen Yurou and eventually settled on Zi Liyuan's eyes.
"So you're the undercover informant who sent out the information. I've heard you're an Array Master, I wonder if you could engrave a formation rune that amplifies the power of the undead?"
The formations that an Array Master could engrave were diverse and numerous, aiding in cultivation, trapping and confusing beasts, attacking and slaughtering... and even amplifying specific types of power.
Ever since the heretics stirred up trouble, facing a Lord Boss meant that the Skeleton Army's combat power was greatly suppressed. The time it took to kill a Lord had become excessively long, which made Zi Liyuan greatly dissatisfied with the strength of his skeletons and wanted to continue enhancing them.
However, the Spiritual Energy value required for the second mutation and enhancement using a Nether Crystal Core was as high as 100,000, a level he simply could not reach at the moment.
Therefore, he had to strengthen the Skeleton Army through other means.
Unfortunately, despite killing so many Lord Bosses and obtaining quite a few silver equipment, there were no items to enhance the strength of the skeletons.
"An amplifying rune for the undead? I do have one, actually, but the materials required are not few and include some rather precious silver hero-level materials."
While Number Two spoke, her pupils shimmering with a faint red glow, the blood-red mark turned into a crimson lotus platform, seemingly analyzing Zi Liyuan.
"Could you share the information on the required materials? If I have them, I would like to ask you to craft an Array Plate. As for the reward, I will certainly make it satisfactory."
In Zi Liyuan's eyes, a force of death flickered; the eyes of death were operating at full strength, continuously probing for Number Two's information.
In his mind, a mark resembling the crimson lotus platform expanded countless times, slowly rotating according to a certain pattern.
With the rotation of the crimson lotus platform, the Spiritual Power within Zi Liyuan's body began to follow a certain rhythm, gradually being drawn out from his flesh and running along some meridians and acupoints around his body.
Zi Liyuan didn't know what this anomaly was, but he felt invigorated, his spirit clearer and more refreshed. When his Spirit probed his surroundings, the images entering his mind became sharper and more transparent.
However, before Zi Liyuan could seriously study the changes in his Spiritual Power, the crimson lotus platform vanished in an instant.
Number Two gave a slight smile, casually stroked her burgundy wavy hair, and said.
"You're quite interesting. Come find me once you've gathered the materials."
After sharing a list of materials needed for the formation, Number Two took another look at Shen Yurou, who had an impassive face but anger in her eyes, chuckled lightly, and walked away.
"An intriguing woman, who also wields some kind of magical talent power."
Watching Number Two walk away with a catlike gait, Zi Liyuan stroked his chin and muttered softly.
"LSP, isn't that perky peach bottom quite a sight? Hmph!"
Shen Yurou let out a provoked cold snort, brushing past someone, pushed open the villa's door, and walked inside.