Chapter 303: Cavern Distribution Map
“A Transcendent-level auction? Looks like I need to prepare in advance.”
After advancing to a Transcendent Master, ordinary auctions or trade fairs could hardly offer resources that would benefit Transcendent-level experts.
Even if some Transcendent-level experts obtained precious resources they had no use for, they would usually keep them to strengthen their own faction’s foundation, saving them for future descendants who might advance to the Transcendent Master level.
Now that he had learned that the ruler of the Gloom Domain held a Transcendent-level auction every three years, Zhou Ming immediately made up his mind—he could not miss this rare opportunity.
As the thoughts in his mind settled, Zhou Ming turned his gaze toward a black crystal in his hand. It was the Cavern Distribution Map of the Gloom Domain that he had just obtained through a trade with the Spectral Envoy.
When his Spiritual Power entered it, the black crystal—similar to a scroll—instantly projected a detailed map, recording over ten thousand caverns of varying sizes.
According to the information on the map, the largest caverns spanned thousands of kilometers, while the smaller ones only covered a few kilometers.
At the very core lay a cavern known as the Gloom Plain, covering more than three thousand li in area. It was the location where the Undead Overlord had established the White Bone City.
These caverns were either connected by single underground passages or linked by multiple routes leading to different caverns.
Caverns with several underground passages were mostly public zones—places where various factions within the Gloom Domain conducted trade.
Naturally, these areas were also the most chaotic regions of the Gloom Domain.
On the map, Zhou Ming also found the marked location of the Snake King Fortress, situated near the northernmost edge.
“I didn’t expect that lord to have such deep control over the Gloom Domain.”
The environment of the Gloom Domain was extremely complex. Even two adjacent caverns could merge into a larger one at any moment.
Moreover, aside from human forces from Blue Star, there were underground-dwelling foreign races and powerful lord-level Ferocious Beasts.
The fact that the other party could accurately determine the location of the Snake King Fortress cavern and update it on the map in real time demonstrated an extraordinary level of control over the Gloom Domain.
After a brief sigh of admiration, Zhou Ming shifted his focus toward the northern region of the map.
There were very few human forces from Blue Star there. Most areas were dominated by foreign races and Ferocious Beasts, and many caverns contained large numbers of special lifeforms.
For example, mutated plants, spirit-type creatures, or entities similar to the Mud Mire Fiend.
As for human-established forces from Blue Star, they were mostly concentrated in the southern and central regions, since the south contained numerous passages leading to the surface of the Alliance.
In contrast, the western and eastern regions had relatively fewer such passages. The northern region had only a handful of exits to the surface, some of which were hidden within the Northern Wasteland.
Perhaps because the gray stone crystals Zhou Ming used for the trade were quite valuable, the map provided by the other party contained extensive information—even detailed descriptions of various factions.
It took Zhou Ming quite some time to memorize all the information.
Afterward, guided by the map, he investigated the caverns near the Snake King Fortress one by one. Only after confirming that there were no threats to the camp did he return.
Upon receiving the news, Su Mei promptly came to meet him and reported in detail on the recent changes and income of the camp.
“These minor matters—just decide them yourself.”
Inside the stone tower at the core area of the Snake King Fortress, Zhou Ming sat on a leather sofa in the hall. He casually tossed the documents Su Mei handed him onto the tea table before issuing new instructions.
“There are a few things you need to handle next.”
“Please give your orders, my lord.”
Su Mei always carried out Zhou Ming’s commands with utmost effort. She immediately bowed and listened attentively.
“First, convert any unused submitted resources into Source Crystal Coins as soon as possible. I will need them within half a year at the latest.”
“Second, now that the camp is truly established, we should no longer distribute everything equally. From now on, monthly rewards will be issued based on members’ positions, strength, and the camp’s situation.”
“Those below the professional rank, excluding department heads, will be rewarded with Alliance Coins. Professional-rank members and high-level department heads will all receive Source Crystal Coins.”
“As for the detailed plan, draft a proposal first. I’ll revise it before implementation.”
“Third, I will be leaving the camp soon.”
At these words, Su Mei immediately looked up at him.
Zhou Ming was the pillar of the camp. Without him, everyone would feel as though they had lost their backbone.
“No need to worry. If anything happens, you can request assistance from those three at Qinghui Base. As long as I’m alive, they won’t dare break their agreement lightly.”
“Yes, understood.”
Only after hearing this did Su Mei feel reassured. After all, the number of professional Beast Tamers coming to the camp was steadily increasing.
There were around a thousand professional Beast Tamers in Qinghui Base alone. Even if only a tenth of them entered the camp, it would completely overwhelm the camp’s current professional-level combat power.
“By the way, did a hunter squad come looking for you earlier?”
After informing her of his plans, Zhou Ming casually asked about Lion King and the others.
“My lord, according to your instructions, I selected a well-located shop for them in the Night Market. All related fees have also been waived.”
“Good. In the future, take care of them within reasonable limits.”
“If they need resources to advance to professional Beast Tamers, sell them at cost price.”
Although Lion King and his group were former friends, Zhou Ming understood that there should be limits to favoritism. Hence, he gave Su Mei precise instructions.
“Yes, my lord.”
Afterward, Zhou Ming instructed Su Mei to select one hundred camp guards. He planned to carry out Bloodline Modification on them to expand the ranks of the Snake Guards.
Although they could not be directly elevated to the level of Blood Snake Guards, preparations had to be made for the camp’s future strength—after all, apprentice-level combat power was no longer of any use to him.
After issuing all instructions, Zhou Ming dismissed Su Mei and summoned his maid, the Catwoman Aina.
“My lord.”
Moments later, Aina appeared before him, dressed in a black-and-white maid outfit.
For some reason, although she now had the freedom to dress as she pleased, she would still wear the maid outfit whenever she was inside the stone tower and not on a mission.
Ever since Zhou Ming advanced to Transcendent Master, even the way she looked at him had changed.
With his current strength, Zhou Ming naturally noticed this.
After careful analysis, he concluded that it was related to the transformation during his Bloodline Leap, which involved changes similar to a catwoman bloodline.
Combined with the charm brought by his Transcendent state, it caused her to instinctively feel closer to him.
Thus, Zhou Ming did not pay it much mind.
——
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