Another World: When a Necromancer Possesses the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls

"These contracts," Zhao Zhenguo's voice lowered, carrying the admonition of an elder, "are equally generous, even more direct and 'materialistic' than what the university offers. In particular, the resources from Dragon Soaring and the Tree of Life may be more targeted towards your early development as a necromancer."

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes, which had weathered countless storms, staring directly at Li Xingyao, his tone extremely solemn: "I'm telling you this in advance today not to make a decision for you, nor to act as their advocate."

I've watched you and your siblings grow up step by step. Your father's biggest regret was not being able to see you all grow up.

Zhao Zhenguo paused, seemingly trying to calm himself: "Although he has passed away, as his uncle, I still want to do my part. These contracts, once signed, mean resources, but they also mean constraints and limitations! The path for the next ten or even several decades is now blocked, and breaking free will require a huge price."

You are young, with enormous potential, and your future possibilities extend far beyond any particular group or fixed technological path.

He pointed to the alluring holographic projections: "Universities, especially joint higher education institutions or the military, may not offer the same level of initial resources as corporations, but they provide a broader platform, more choices, and... relatively pure development space. With your talent, as long as you work steadily, you won't lack resources or status in the future, and you'll have more freedom."

Li Xingyao silently gazed at the man before him, suddenly feeling a sense of being cared for by an elder. This was a feeling he had rarely experienced in recent years; he was born late, didn't know many of his father's friends, and had no other relatives or elders. So, he was momentarily moved.

A brief silence fell over the office. The faint shouts of students training on the playground outside contrasted sharply with the indoor stillness. The school badges and contract terms floating in the air emitted a soft glow.

Li Xingyao took a deep breath, letting the air fill his lungs, calming his emotions and the excitement caused by the information overload. After all, his thought in high school in his previous life was simply to find a good university, graduate, get an easy job, have money and time, and travel and see more of the world while he was young—that would be enough for him. He looked up, meeting Zhao Zhenguo's concerned and serious gaze, his tone clear and steady:

"Teacher Zhao, I understand. Thank you for telling me this in advance, and thank you for your concern for my father."

He didn't use the affectionate title "Uncle Zhao." This subtle change caused a flicker of surprise to cross Zhao Zhenguo's eyes.

"These conditions...are indeed very attractive." Li Xingyao's gaze calmly swept over the projections, "But I'm just starting out, and there are many things I haven't figured out yet. It would be too risky to rashly tie myself to one path. I will seriously consider it and weigh the pros and cons carefully."

I won't easily sign any long-term agreements until I've truly figured out which path I want to take.

"Good!" A faint smile finally appeared on Zhao Zhenguo's face, though it was faint, the approval was genuine. "It's not easy to have this kind of composure. Remember my words, the platform is more important than the resources in front of you. Go, go back and cultivate diligently. Just keep these things in mind, there's no need to feel pressured. If you really can't make a decision, come back to me, or you can go back and talk to your sister and the others."

"Yes, Teacher Zhao." Li Xingyao stood up and bowed respectfully.

Leaving the administration office, the alloy door closed silently behind him, shutting out the sudden concern. Sunlight streamed through the high windows of the corridor, carrying a warm temperature. Li Xingyao stood in the light and shadow, taking a deep breath.

His composure just now was for show, to impress Teacher Zhao. At this moment, the turmoil in his heart was truly surging.

An exceptional star core! Super-powered Tier 2 equipment! Direct access to the military! Top-tier university privileges! And those highly targeted corporate resources… each one is enough to make a young man just embarking on the path to transcendence's heart race. It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted, after all, in his previous life he was just a student at a second-tier university, graduating and working step by step.

Having never experienced such fierce competition before, in his previous life, only students from top-tier universities with elite programs could secure offers from major companies while still in school. And he was still a high school student, in a gifted program? Li Xingyao suddenly felt a surge of pride.

In particular, the "spiritual power guidance device" and "biological potential research" mentioned by the Tree of Life Technology subtly touched upon his thoughts on the Ten Thousand Soul Banner and the Undead Space, carrying a hint of temptation.

"I can't rush things..." He clenched his fist to calm himself down and reminded himself, "The Myriad Soul Banner and my career development are the most important things. No matter how strong these external forces are, they are not as reliable as my own strength. Deciding on the future direction too early will only limit me to a framework. I still need to see a wider world after coming to this superpowered world."

The offers from universities and corporations seemed to him like a fork in the road strewn with flowers. Each path led to a different future, but also concealed different constraints. The treasure trove of knowledge at the United Academy tempted him, but the allure of the Superior Star Core was equally immense; the iron-fisted nature and background of the military government were captivating, but could the eerie power of the Myriad Soul Banner be compatible with the discipline of the army?

A jumble of thoughts swirled and collided in my mind. Ultimately, one clear idea prevailed:

Strength! Only your own strength gives you the confidence to face all choices and temptations! Without sufficient strength, even the best platform is just a mirage; without sufficient strength, even with a golden touch, you may become someone else's slave.

We should continue training and improving, since there's still almost a year left.

He didn't linger and headed towards the afternoon training ground. His mental energy, depleted from the morning's practice of the Arrow of Death, hadn't fully recovered; he needed to seize the time to meditate, as his star energy was about to reach 120.

Back at the summoning simulation training ground, the afternoon's free practice session had already begun. The vast space was divided into dozens of independent areas by barriers. Some students were practicing summoning techniques, with various summoned creatures appearing and disappearing amidst flashes of light; others were practicing basic spells, with flames, ice crystals, and whirlwinds dancing at their fingertips; the air was filled with the vibrations of star energy and the lingering energy of released spells.

Turning his gaze away, Li Xingyao found the cubicle he had used that morning. The barrier rose, isolating him from outside sight and noise. The familiar metallic feel and the cold air quickly calmed his chaotic thoughts.

He didn't immediately begin practicing "Arrow of Death," but instead closed his eyes and sat cross-legged. He entered a meditative state, and the stellar energy within him seemed to have increased slightly compared to yesterday.

The "Circulation Method" operates naturally, with gentle stellar energy flowing like the most loyal soldiers, slowly nourishing the parched spiritual realm along the optimized path. Fatigue melts away like ice and snow, gradually fading away, replaced by a clarity originating from the depths of the soul.

"The Banner of Ten Thousand Souls... the Space of the Dead..." he murmured to himself. He'd have to thoroughly investigate these two things this weekend. They were crucial to many choices he'd make later.

Because it was a newly awakened profession, the courses were relatively intensive, and he couldn't take leave. Therefore, Li Xingyao had been suppressing his development of these two important abilities, planning to do so when he had more time on the weekend. However, now when he was summoning for training, he would communicate with the world of the dead to summon new skeleton warriors to the dead space for reserves.

His star energy had mostly recovered, and his mental strength was also fully replenished. Li Xingyao opened his eyes, his dark pupils calm and serene, all external disturbances completely shut out.

He stood up, his sharp gaze locking onto the energy target at the other end of the compartment. He extended his right hand, fingers spread.

Star energy surges!

Spiritual guidance!

The movements were executed in one smooth motion, as if they had been practiced a thousand times.

An arrow nearly a meter long, made entirely of condensed gray death energy, instantly condensed and took shape above his palm!

Whoosh-!

The sound of air being cut was sharp! The Arrow of Death turned into a gray line, and with a whoosh, the area representing damage on the energy target instantly lit up with a deep red light. The value jumped rapidly, eventually settling on a passing number!

A barely perceptible smile appeared on Li Xingyao's lips. Without pausing, he raised his hand again.

Unite! Launch!

Unite! Launch!

……

Inside the cubicle, the dark gray arrows tore through the air time and time again, the monotonous yet powerful "whoosh" and "thud" sounds echoing continuously, like the most resolute drumbeats striking Li Xingyao's path to the future. The olive branches from the outside world, the temptations of resources, and the confusion of choices were all completely shut out by this focused practice.

Only the deathly light dancing at the fingertips and the pure yearning for power in the heart shone brightly in the cold training room.

As the weekend dawn broke over the steel skyline of Tianjing City, Li Xingyao slowly awoke from his deep meditation. He stretched his body, which had become slightly stiff from sitting cross-legged for so long. The abundant star energy within him flowed gently through his meridians like a warm stream, bringing a solid sense of power. After a week of intensive training and deep meditation, his star energy level had steadily surpassed 120 points, and his control over the "Arrow of Death" had become increasingly refined.

"Breaking through to the intermediate professional level before graduating high school shouldn't be a problem." Li Xingyao silently calculated the information in the data, quite satisfied with his progress. For many of his peers, the intermediate professional level was a goal that could only be achieved after the age of twenty.

The communicator beeped, and Li Xingyao walked to the communication terminal in the corner of the training room, skillfully operating it and dialing the home communication channel. The virtual screen lit up, and after a moment's wait, two familiar figures appeared on the screen.