Early in the morning, as the sun once again ascended into the sky, Kael readied himself for the day''s endeavors.
During the daytime, zombies remained motionless.
However, they were a valuable source of potential points, and Kael was determined not to enter this "treasure trove" only to depart empty - handed.
Equipped with the weapon he had procured, Kael set out anew.
This time, he had purchased a spear online.
Paired with his current spells, he was confident that hunting zombies during the day would pose no problems.
He traversed the desolate streets, where thick vegetation vied for space with countless broken bricks and stones.
As the plants grew, they heaved up the once - solid road surface, transforming it into a pitted and uneven expanse.
Periodically, Kael activated his spiritual sense to scour the houses flanking the street for any signs of zombies.
In this zombie - ridden city, the number of zombies was substantial.
Before long, Kael had located his target.
Inside a structure that resembled a shopping mall, Kael detected a large congregation of zombies.
He entered the dilapidated building with utmost caution through the gaping, broken - down main door.
The sight that greeted him upon entry caused his heart to leap into his throat.
There were far too many zombies.
In the lobby of the shopping mall''s first floor, at least dozens of them stood, motionless for the moment.
When he craned his neck and looked upward, the numbers were truly staggering.
The shopping mall''s structure was relatively well - preserved.
In the absence of electricity, it was plunged into inky darkness.
Naturally, it had become an ideal sanctuary for zombies to evade the searing sunlight.
Each floor of the five - or six - story shopping mall, including the escalators, was densely populated with zombies.
It was easy to envision that this single building harbored at least a thousand of these zombies creatures.
Kael swallowed hard, his nerves on edge, and quietly turned to make his exit.
The interior was pitch - black.
Without the illumination of sunlight, although the zombies were currently still as statues, Kael harbored misgivings.
What if, after he dispatched a few of them, the remaining zombies suddenly roused and launched an attack?
A prudent person avoids placing themselves in unnecessary danger.
After all, there were numerous other zombies outside that he could hunt.
Before long, Kael chanced upon a residential building nearby.
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It, too, housed a fair number of zombies, but this building was bathed in sunlight.
The sunlight had effectively segregated the zombies, forcing them to cower in the shadowy recesses of the rooms.
This was the perfect hunting ground.
Even if something unforeseen occurred with the zombies, the sunlight would serve as a formidable obstacle, allowing Kael to make a swift escape.
This building, spanning seventeen or eighteen stories, was home to at least a hundred zombies, more than sufficient for today''s hunting expedition.
After all, without resorting to spells, it took Kael two to three minutes to fell a single zombie.
He had to plunge the spear deep into the zombie''s chest and hold it firmly in place until the creature was definitively dead.
Otherwise, he dared not withdraw the spear, fearing a sudden counter - attack.
Commencing from the ground floor, Kael methodically cleared the zombies floor by floor.
"Thud!"
The sharp spear pierced the zombie''s chest, and a thick stream of dark - brown blood oozed from the wound.
The zombie jolted from its slumber and flailed its arms wildly, but the length of the spear kept it at bay.
Not only that, but Kael also traced intricate runes in his mind and unleashed a Bone Tooth spell, dispatching the other two zombies in the room.
The zombie struck in the head by the Bone Tooth spell perished instantaneously.
Spells could be cast more rapidly through in - depth study and frequent practice.
Thus, each time his magic power replenished fully, Kael would cast a few spells.
This not only expedited his zombie - clearing efforts but also honed his spell - casting skills.
In the Spirit Realm, the rate at which a mage''s magic power recovered was markedly enhanced.
A mage''s magic - power recovery speed was intricately linked to the amount of magic power remaining within their body.
If a mage depleted all of their magic power, it would take approximately six hours for their body to restore it naturally.
If they resorted to meditation, this time could be significantly reduced to around two hours.
When a mage retained approximately half of their magic power, the recovery speed quickened considerably.
Their body could restore the magic power in about an hour, and through meditation, they could achieve a full recovery in approximately twenty minutes.
When a mage had only expended a small fraction of their magic power, with seventy or eighty percent still remaining, the recovery speed was astonishingly rapid.
Even through natural means, it would take less than ten minutes.
Through meditation, a full recovery might be achieved in just one or two minutes.
Consequently, one of the most crucial aspects of a mage''s combat strategy was learning to manage their magic - power consumption.
In the heat of battle, mages typically strived to keep their magic power above 75%.
In this range, they would seize every opportune moment to rest and recuperate, ensuring they maintained peak combat effectiveness.
After all, if they were careless and exhausted their magic power, they would be rendered combat - ineffective for at least half a day.
This was a perilous situation for a mage, as a mage bereft of magic power was incredibly vulnerable.
Especially in protracted battles, during lulls in the fighting and when accompanied by teammates, mages would utilize meditation to hasten their magic - power recovery.
As a result, a mage''s combat prowess was formidable, and mages were the unrivaled force that dominated the battlefield.
...
It took Kael over three hours to rid the building of all its zombies.
The entire building was permeated with the acrid stench of blood.
Bodies of the undead lay strewn about, and black - hued blood pooled on the floor.
He could not remain here any longer.
If the scent of blood attracted other predatory creatures from the Spirit Realm, it would be a difficult situation to extricate himself from.
On the first floor, Kael first cast a Lesser Defense Armor spell upon himself.
Once his magic power had fully replenished, he ventured out once more.
He moved forward with extreme caution, taking great care not to leave any telltale signs.
Only upon his return to his hideout did he finally relax.
Today had been a highly productive day.
By slaying seventy or eighty zombies, he had amassed 17.5 potential points.
It was time to quit while he was ahead.
These potential points needed to be promptly converted into enhanced combat capabilities.
If he were to switch to another building today, he could indeed continue to accumulate more potential points.
However, without the cultivation that came from meditation, these points would not contribute to the growth of his strength.
Subsequently, he first returned to Blue Star.
During today''s hunting spree, despite his best efforts, bloodstains had still marred his clothing.
He returned to Blue Star to rest, prepare a meal, and launder his blood - spattered clothes.
In the evening, he teleported back to the Spirit Realm.
Only when the night had fully descended and darkness blanketed everything did Kael commence his meditation for the day.
Darkness was his most effective guise, and the zombies were his reliable protectors.
The potential points he had acquired today were about to be put to good use.