Dawn breaking, the dense fog at Abandoned Sword Cliff's bottom had not yet fully dispersed, yet a vigorous figure had already appeared on the slippery rock wall.
Mo Fan used no spells, nor did he summon skeletal transportation. Like a human gecko, he climbed barehanded at flying speed up a nearly vertical precipice.
Crack.
His fingers locked into rock crevices.
After repeated corpse poison tempering, his fingernails displayed a dull dark iron luster. Scraping across hard granite, they actually produced teeth-grinding metallic friction sounds, yet suffered no damage whatsoever.
This was the terrifying grip resulting from beginner-level Iron Bone Art combined with [ Bone Armament ] hardening.
Whoosh—
Mo Fan took a deep breath, adjusting his breathing rhythm. Looking at a protruding rock two meters above, he didn't cautiously search for footholds as before. Instead, his thigh muscles suddenly tensed like springs compressed to their limit.
Bounce!
He leapt into the air on the vertical cliff face.
This jump reached over two meters high. He stretched his body mid-air, nimbly catching that protrusion like an ape. The entire sequence flowed smoothly without any hesitation.
"Before, I was useless trash hanging from trees waiting to die, needing skeletons to carry me up..."
Mo Fan hung one-handed on the cliff, feeling that surging sense of power within, the corners of his mouth curving into a confident arc.
Though Iron Bone Art had just reached beginner level, combined with maxed HP and systematic data enhancement, his current physical strength far exceeded mortal martial artists' limits—he could even withstand one attack from an early Qi Condensation cultivator.
"Warm-up complete."
Mo Fan released his hand. After several light leaps and drops, he landed steadily back on the valley floor's rubble beach.
Since his physical fitness had improved, corners he previously couldn't reach or climb had now become his hunting grounds.
Mo Fan activated [ Death Vision ]. Those gray-gleaming eyes swept over surrounding ruins like radar.
This time, his target was no longer those common trash bones found everywhere, nor did he pursue so-called "size" and "sturdiness."
"No. 001's current appearance is too ugly, and its structure is bloated, seriously affecting performance."
Mo Fan looked at the stitched monstrosity with gorilla arms and rabbit hind legs not far away, shaking his head. That was a forced compromise for survival. Now, he had capital to pursue "quality."
"I want hardness. I want completeness."
He rummaged through the rubble piles. Finally, in a hidden rock crevice only reachable through that kind of extreme climbing, he discovered a special skeleton.
It was human remains, unknown how long dead.
Unlike surrounding mortal bones that crumbled at a touch, though this skeleton lacked ribs and skull, its limb bones were exceptionally well-preserved, emanating a warm jade-like luster in [ Death Vision ].
"Bones like white jade... this person was at least late-stage Qi Condensation when alive, possibly even Foundation Establishment!"
Mo Fan was overjoyed.
Beside the corpse was stuck a rust-covered but still straight longsword. Though its spirituality was lost and it had become common iron, that material was clearly not ordinary.
After System inspection, this skeleton perfectly matched Mo Fan's current assembly capabilities. He didn't hesitate and acted decisively.
"It's you."
Mo Fan hauled these treasures back to camp, looking at the mismatched No. 001 before him with focused, fervent eyes.
"No. 001, disassemble."
Following the command, Summon No. 001 obediently lay down.
Mo Fan activated [ Undead Modification ], mercilessly removing that enormous long-armed ape arm and those powerful Demon-Eyed Rabbit hind legs.
"You were a sword cultivator in life."
Mo Fan stroked No. 001's cracked skull, speaking softly. "I shouldn't have modified you into a gorilla. Though human bones aren't as thick as Spirit Beast bones, only human form can bring out that bit of 'technique' remaining in your soul's depths."
He attached those scavenged "jade bone" limbs to No. 001's torso.
This time, it was precision work.
Mo Fan utilized the [ Bone Armament ] skill, polishing and lubricating each joint like a micro-carving master. He didn't pursue brute force but rather extreme flexibility and transmission efficiency.
Half an hour later.
A humanoid skeleton stood up—1.8 meters tall, well-proportioned frame, entire body displaying a faint jade-quality luster.
It no longer hunched over as before but stood ramrod straight, like a javelin.
Mo Fan handed it the rusty sword.
No. 001 extended those crystalline hand bones. The moment it gripped the sword hilt, the soul fire in its eye sockets jumped sharply.
Swish.
It executed a beautiful sword flourish, movements flowing smoothly without any stiffness.
Though strength attributes might not match "gorilla form," this attack speed and technique had improved at least 200%.
"This is a true elite swordsman."
Having finished the main damage dealer, Mo Fan turned his gaze to those dismantled "scraps" piled nearby—the Demon-Eyed Rabbit's hind legs, and Summon No. 003 (Shadow Leopard skeleton) still crouching on the ground.
"No. 003, you don't need to fight."
Mo Fan looked at this leopard skeleton. "You have only one mission: run. Run carrying me, or run chasing enemies."
The modification concept instantly crystallized: biomechanical engineering.
Mo Fan trimmed the Demon-Eyed Rabbit's hind leg bones with maxed jumping power, fusing them into No. 003's hind limb structure, making its already elongated rear legs even more explosive.
Next, he used [ Bone Armament ] to reinforce and polish No. 003's entire spine vertebra by vertebra, removing all excess bone spurs that would increase wind resistance. He replaced all four paws with the sharpest Spirit Beast claws.
When modification completed, No. 003 no longer looked like a leopard.
It resembled more a "skeletal mechanical hound" filled with industrial violent aesthetics.
Streamlined body, limbs long and powerful, crouching on the ground poised to strike—as if capable of tearing through air at any moment.
Mo Fan dusted off his hands in satisfaction, summoning the System Panel for final "processing power" allocation.
[ Current Soul Strength: 33.5 ]
[ Load Distribution: ]
Summon No. 001 (Elite Swordsman): Occupies 20 points.
Summon No. 003 (High-Speed Mount): Occupies 10 points.
Reserve: 3.5 points. (For Mo Fan's own spellcasting or temporarily summoning one or two cannon fodder skeletons to scout.)
[ Total Load: 30/33.5 ]
This was a very healthy and abundant state—ensuring core combat strength while leaving room for unexpected situations.
Morning wind blew through the cliff bottom, stirring up dust.
Mo Fan stood atop the rubble pile, looking at the completely renewed team before him.
On the left, sword-wielding No. 001 stood with upright posture, emanating a chilling aura of slaughter.
On the right, streamlined No. 003 crouched on rocks, claws locked into stone crevices, soul fire flickering in its eyes.
In the center stood Mo Fan with bronzed skin, draped in a [ Shadow Leopard Cloak ].
Quite imposing indeed.