Chapter 292: Changes in Abilities
In the underground lake, the once-calm surface suddenly surged with towering waves. The crashing of water broke the long-standing silence of the subterranean waters.
As the lake continued to churn, a pitch-black giant serpent nearly one hundred meters long and several meters in diameter appeared beside the lake’s central island.
This was precisely the pitch-black giant serpent that Zhou Ming had formed by fusing the Spirit Molting Snake swarm.
Compared to when it had been in the ant nest, the pitch-black giant serpent’s size had increased severalfold. This was the physical metamorphosis of a Lord-level Ferocious Beast, granting it the ability to enlarge and shrink at will.
Around the pitch-black giant serpent, an incomparably massive crimson halo bloomed with an eerie blood-red radiance. The ordinary fish and shrimp that remained within the underground lake had already had their vitality devoured by the crimson halo.
“Not bad. The fused pitch-black giant serpent not only possesses the strength of a Lord-level Ferocious Beast, but has also gained a talent spell.”
Standing on the shore of the lake’s central island, Zhou Ming felt extremely satisfied with the fused pitch-black giant serpent before him.
Soon after, under his control, the pitch-black giant serpent began to split apart into its swarm state.
The Ironthread Snakes, which had originally been only two to three meters long, had all exceeded ten meters in length after transforming into Spirit Molting Snakes. Their strength had fully advanced to High-tier Ferocious Beasts.
In appearance, they differed little from the pitch-black giant serpent— their entire bodies were covered in pitch-black scales that reflected seven-colored hues under the light.
Their physiques were neither slender nor bloated, but filled with a sense of power and aesthetic strength.
As for Inkband and the others, they did not differ much in appearance from ordinary Spirit Molting Snakes, retaining only subtle distinguishing traits.
For example, Inkband’s fangs remained crimson. Vermilion Jade’s tail bore a short segment of red bone blade. Colorful Scales had a seven-colored snake scale at its vital seven-inch mark. Golden Horn still retained a golden single horn upon its head…
By relying on these traits, Zhou Ming could easily distinguish them even without the spiritual link between himself and his beasts.
Moreover, compared to the other Spirit Molting Snakes, Inkband and the others had already reached the limit of High-tier Ferocious Beasts, only a single step away from becoming Lord-level Ferocious Beasts.
With the current bloodline of the Spirit Molting Snakes, there was absolutely no issue for Inkband and the others to advance to Lord-level Ferocious Beasts.
As for the ordinary Spirit Molting Snakes, relying on the devouring and erosive nature of their bloodline, they would eventually advance to Lord-level Ferocious Beasts as long as suitable snake-type bloodlines were provided.
The only issue now was that Zhou Ming’s Spirit Molting Snake swarm resembled a bottomless gold-devouring beast—any further advancement required a massive amount of resources.
Additionally, compared to differences between individuals, Zhou Ming’s entire snake swarm had gained the Shadow attribute during this bloodline leap, and it had even become the primary attribute of the Spirit Molting Snakes.
There were multiple reasons for this, but the primary cause was that Zhou Ming had added the Hunting Spider Queen’s brain core into the ritual.
A unified attribute was naturally beneficial for the development of the snake swarm. At the very least, there was no need to seek out various types of resources during cultivation, and swarm fusion would no longer result in energy loss.
After briefly understanding the changes within the Spirit Molting Snake swarm, Zhou Ming dismissed them, allowing them to roam freely within the underground lake.
Now, he was prepared to investigate the benefits he himself had gained from this advancement.
There was no need to elaborate on the Talent Force Field. It was primarily intimidation-based, and Zhou Ming named it Predator’s Might.
If combined with the Emperor’s Might granted by his bloodline, along with the Throne Power of the Dark-gold Serpent Pupils, such pressure could even directly suppress and kill a Professional Beast Tamer.
In other words, attempting to threaten Zhou Ming through sheer numbers had already become completely impossible.
As Zhou Ming sat cross-legged by the shore and closed his eyes to sense the changes within his body, only a short moment passed before he had thoroughly examined every transformation brought about by his advancement to Transcendent Master.
The first change was that his Spiritual Power had begun to materialize. He could now rely purely on Spiritual Power to interfere with the material world.
A silver radiance bloomed at the center of Zhou Ming’s brow. The lake surface several meters ahead instantly rolled into swirling currents. Although it did not possess much destructive force, it could increase the power of spells by thirty percent out of thin air.
Other Transcendent powerhouses, even without intimidation-type talents, could suppress Professional Beast Tamers purely through materialized Spiritual Power.
The second change was that the Venomous Gall and the Dark-gold Serpent Pupils had completely transformed into Transcendent organs, capable of actively absorbing Energy Particles to evolve.
From now on, the Venomous Gall no longer required injected toxins to nurture venom. It could continuously condense terrifying snake venom on its own.
As for the Dark-gold Serpent Pupils, they could now freely revert to a normal state, while their three abilities had also been significantly enhanced.
The third change was in his bloodline. It not only granted Zhou Ming the ability to command Ironthread Snakes and Spirit Molting Snakes, but constantly strengthened his physical body through bloodline reinforcement, and allowed him to absorb Shadow Energy Particles.
In addition, he had gained a talent spell—Shadow Devour.
When Zhou Ming withdrew his Spiritual Power and the lake surface returned to calm, the shadow beneath his feet suddenly began to writhe. It transformed into a shadow giant serpent that swallowed a massive boulder in the distance.
As the shadow giant serpent disappeared, the devoured boulder vanished completely.
“A power similar to spatial transfer?”
Within Zhou Ming’s perception, the boulder devoured by the shadow giant serpent seemed to have entered a special spatial plane.
However, he had not collected any knowledge regarding such matters, so he could only set it aside for the moment.
“Now let me try the power brought by my profession ability.”
As a Beast Tamer, commanding Ferocious Beasts was the core. Having finished understanding the changes to himself and the snake swarm, Zhou Ming now intended to test the power brought by his Transcendent profession.
With his summoning call, the snake swarm roaming the underground lake gathered at his side and fused once more into the pitch-black giant serpent.
Zhou Ming placed his right hand upon the scales of the pitch-black giant serpent. Immediately, it was devoured into his body.
The next moment, Zhou Ming began to transform.
He did not transform into a Serpentfolk Form. Instead, Zhou Ming himself became a two-hundred-meter-long pitch-black giant serpent. His overwhelming aura stirred wave after wave upon the lake’s surface.
“So this is the profession ability I have newly developed? Possessing the physique of a Ferocious Beast, along with the spellcasting ability of a Beast Tamer.”
The terrifying serpent maw emitted a thunderous sound, his tone carrying a trace of delight.
“From now on, the advancement profession of the Ruler shall be the Shapeshift Spirit.”
As his words fell, the shadows within the underground lake continuously twisted. After transforming into pitch-black giant serpents, Zhou Ming instinctively gained full control over Shadow Energy Particles.
At this moment, Su Mei and Aina, who had received Zhou Ming’s command, arrived at the waterfall entrance leading into the underground lake.
Upon seeing the pitch-black giant serpent before them—an existence that instinctively evoked fear—and the surroundings that seemed filled with ghostly shadows, their minds went blank.
Zhou Ming sensed that Su Mei and Aina had arrived. His massive body moved casually across the lake surface and directly reached the constantly cascading waterfall entrance.
The waterfall, which dropped dozens of meters, now required only a slight lift of his head in Zhou Ming’s eyes.
“You’ve arrived?”
A familiar voice echoed beside Su Mei and Aina’s ears.
“M-my Lord…”
Even Su Mei found it difficult to believe that the pitch-black giant serpent before her—wearing what seemed like a crown—was her own Lord.
“My Lord, have you advanced to the Transcendent Rank?”
Compared to Su Mei’s shock, the Catgirl was much calmer. Especially after sensing the dense Shadow Energy Particles enveloping Zhou Ming, she felt even closer to him in her heart.
“Yes. I have advanced to Transcendent Master. I have summoned you this time because I have matters to assign.”
“Follow me.”
Under Zhou Ming’s control, the converging Shadow Energy Particles directly formed a long bridge spanning the lake.
From the waterfall entrance, it connected straight to the lake’s central island.