Qin Jun found it amusing. He studied the ordinary-looking man before him. He hadn't used perception magic to check details earlier. But now, it was necessary.

He took a look. Sure enough, the man was a necromancer, level 69. He genuinely wanted an apprentice. Yet he hadn't even reached level 99 himself. He boasted about summoning a bone dragon at that level. Clearly trying to trick someone clueless.

But Qin Jun had no intention of exposing him. He was bored anyway. Playing along sounded fun.

The necromancer saw Qin Jun staring silently. He thought Qin Jun doubted him. "If you don't trust me," he said, "come inside. I'll show you good stuff. You'll be interested after seeing it."

The necromancer opened the dark door. Qin Jun followed. A foul stench hit him—the smell of rotting corpses. It was unbearable. Qin Jun covered his nose and mouth.

The necromancer chuckled darkly. "Don't mind it. This is the path every necromancer walks. You'll get used to it."

"You're quite bold, kid. Not a trace of fear so far. Most would've run away screaming."

Qin Jun smiled. "I don't find necromancy scary. It's just magic. I'm actually interested."

The necromancer smiled calmly. "Good you think that way. If you'd run like I said, do you know the consequences?"

No need to guess—death. Truly forcing someone to learn necromancy.

Qin Jun smiled. "I'm not like others. You needn't worry."

The necromancer smiled. "I hope so."

Qin Jun thought: Of course I'm different. With others, you kill them. With me, I'll torment you.

In the main hall, Qin Jun saw the stench's source. Corpses hung on both sides. They reeked terribly. Clothes were tattered. Eyes rolled back, utterly horrifying.

Qin Jun wasn't scared. In his past life, he'd seen worse. Back when he was sold to a pork processing plant as a kid.

The necromancer cackled. "My creations. I control their bodies at will. Not reinforced yet. Once done, no ordinary Monstrous Beast can defeat them."

Qin Jun frowned. Was necromancy really this troublesome? He searched his own knowledge. It wasn't. Weren't they summoned directly?

After searching, he found similar magic. This type, requiring physical bodies, was the lowest form of necromancy.

True necromancy was summoning magic. It called undead directly from the abyss. Only the lowest forms used corpses.

Qin Jun asked, "Must you use corpses? Can't you summon from thin air?"

The necromancer shook his head. "No. Ancient necromancers could summon from the abyss. Not anymore. It declined over millennia. Now, corpses are mediums. That's why we're despised. But necromancy's power surpasses summoners. They call weaker monsters. We control stronger corpses—even a level 99 bone dragon, with enough mana."

He grew excited. As if he already controlled a bone dragon.

Qin Jun snorted inwardly but hid it. Otherwise, how could he pretend to be low-level trash?

"Now, interested?"

Qin Jun shook his head. "Not much. Show me necromancy's wonders. I might agree then."

The necromancer looked coldly at Qin Jun. "What counts as 'wonderful'?"

"I want to see you control corpses in battle. That'd be impressive."

The necromancer laughed loudly. "Easy. I'm about to kill a human. Fulfilling a Dark Sanctuary task."

Dark Sanctuary? Familiar. Qin Jun recalled the young girl he met upon arriving here. She mistook him for one of them. He really had a connection.

He decided to visit their headquarters someday. To see what kind of people they were.

Qin Jun asked, "Who are you killing? Can you tell me?"

The necromancer studied Qin Jun. After a pause, he nodded. "No harm. You'll be my apprentice soon. We're in this together. Lano Pagg, Lord of Falcon City."

Wow. Killing the Lord of Falcon City? A big deal. His death would throw the city into chaos.

Inwardly, Qin Jun sneered. You won't get the chance. The moment you act, you'll die. And killing Fili's father? If he dies, she'll cry and cling to me. What a hassle.

Girls crying were the worst.

But Fili said the city lord was out. Did this necromancer even know where he was?

Qin Jun voiced this.

The necromancer sneered. "Many of our people follow him. Messenger pigeons bring updates regularly."

"Look. Here comes one now."

At that moment, a pigeon flew in. It landed on the necromancer's shoulder. The sight reminded Qin Jun of his Phoenixbird. He could use it like this too. Letting it roam freely wasn't good. It shouldn't just enjoy itself.

The necromancer read the message. "Our city lord entered the Monster Forest outskirts. Hunting the Monstrous Beast that attacked the village. Seeking revenge."

"A perfect opportunity. Kill him and frame the beasts. Heaven aids me."

Qin Jun smiled. "But can you eliminate him? City lords aren't ordinary."

The necromancer glared. "Don't say that again. Even as my soon-to-be disciple, I won't tolerate doubt. Lano Pagg is just a level 57 warrior. No match for me."

Qin Jun smiled. "Then I overthought it. Show me your performance. If your magic interests me, I'll learn it, no matter how evil."

The necromancer snorted coldly. "I'll show you necromancy's power immediately."

Qin Jun stayed silent. In his heart: I'll make you regret teaching me necromancy soon.

The necromancer led Qin Jun to the Monster Forest. Qin Jun's second visit. He admired the city lord a little. How dare he rashly enter to hunt beasts? Didn't he know countless higher-level Monstrous Beasts lurked inside?

What Qin Jun didn't know: high-level beasts rarely attacked humans unprovoked. If news spread of such slaughter, waves of adventurers would hunt them. Smart beasts avoided thankless work. Only low-intelligence ones attacked randomly.

Qin Jun followed. He saw no undead controlled. Without them, how would he fight?

He asked. The necromancer explained, "Every necromancer has an undead space. It holds contracted undead."

Qin Jun nodded. Similar to his storage item. Same principle—just retrieval.

They soon found the Lord of Falcon City's group. They prepared to fight elite goblins, level 30 or so. Quite strong.

But human levels overwhelmed them. The noble, resolute man on horseback was surely the city lord. Fili resembled him closely. Truly, daughter like father.

The city lord charged like a knight. Two or three goblins died instantly. A long gash scarred the ground. Living up to his reputation.

The necromancer laughed sinisterly. "Child's play. Soon, he'll be my undead minion too."

Qin Jun asked, "Why not attack with the goblins? Easier to frame beasts for his death."

The necromancer snorted coldly. "He's trash, but still a city lord. He won't die to a goblin. I must do it myself. You'll see a fair duel."

Inwardly, Qin Jun scoffed. A fair duel? I don't believe it. You're just afraid goblins would get in your way.

After finishing the goblins, the group rested. The city lord suddenly shouted, "Everyone up! I felt a chilling presence. Ambushers are near. Stay alert!"

At that moment, the necromancer stepped forward. His opening line: "I've come to take your life."

So cringey.