Chapter 299: The Lion King Squad
Several days later, once all preparations had been completed, the passage from the Underground Cavern to the Gloom Domain was fully opened.
Upon receiving the news, forces from all sides, along with Hunting Corps and Hunter Squads, rushed over at the first moment.
Fortunately, Snake King Fortress had sufficient manpower. After the brief chaos at the very beginning, order gradually returned.
With Zhou Ming, a Transcendent Master, personally stationed in the camp, hardly anyone dared to stir up trouble.
Even those who relied on powerful backers were suppressed outright by Su Mei with absolute strength.
After receiving the token bestowed by Zhou Ming, Su Mei could mobilize the Power of Shadow within the camp, allowing her strength to reach the limit of a Professional Beast Tamer.
The only unexpected development was that the danger level of the Gloom Domain far exceeded everyone’s imagination. The mortality rate was something many ordinary Hunting Corps and Hunter Squads could not accept.
However, as various rare resources were brought out, driven by profit, people were still willing to enter.
Even forces from other northern bases of the Alliance, upon learning the situation, sent their Beast Tamers one after another.
As a result, Qinghui Base became completely prosperous, its level of bustle far surpassing that of before the Giant Clan’s descent.
After all, near Qinghui Base, aside from possessing the passage into the Gloom Domain, the mutated Ferocious Beasts and various mutated plants of the Panlong Mountain Range were also highly attractive to numerous forces.
Faced with this situation, Qinghui Base even applied to the Alliance Headquarters Airship Administration Bureau for additional flights.
In June, beneath the blazing summer sun, a passenger bus from Qinghui Base slowly stopped outside the castle leading into the Underground Cavern.
At that moment, a fully armed Hunter Squad stepped down from the bus under the scorching sunlight.
If Zhou Ming had been present, he would certainly have recognized them as Lion King and the others who had once fought together in the Northern Wasteland.
“Lion King, are we really going to enter the Gloom Domain?”
“If we don’t go to the Gloom Domain, how are we supposed to advance to Professional Beast Tamer? Little Chick, can you show a bit of manly courage?”
Just as Mole asked Lion King again, Flower Scorpion immediately cut him off. The look she gave Mole was filled with mockery, as if to say he was inferior even to her, a woman.
“You know very well what kind of courage I have.”
Facing Flower Scorpion’s forceful attitude, Mole gathered his nerve and retorted stiffly.
After speaking, he immediately distanced himself from her, clearly afraid that she might slap him.
“Alright, can you two quiet down a bit?”
Lion King, who had already advanced to Beast Knight, shook his head helplessly at Flower Scorpion and Mole.
Their Hunter Squad had been established for ten years. Yet Flower Scorpion and Mole, this pair of old rivals, were still just as restless as in the beginning.
Though they were nearly forty years old, they still bickered frequently.
Once the two quieted down, Lion King’s expression turned serious.
“You should already understand the danger level of the Gloom Domain. Have you truly decided to take this risk?”
Over the years, the four of them had obtained enough resources to attempt advancing to Professional Beast Tamer.
Aside from Lion King, the other three had all failed.
Now that they had recovered from the mental damage caused by their advancement attempts, Flower Scorpion and the others planned to risk entering the Gloom Domain to obtain the resources needed for advancement. After all, in the north of the Alliance, only this place could provide what they needed within a short time.
“Of course we’re going. If I don’t advance soon, I’ll grow old.”
Flower Scorpion, who had a good-looking face but the muscular build of a Diamond Ape, raised the makeup mirror in her hand and gave her answer firmly.
“You’re already old.”
Mole, seeing Flower Scorpion preening herself, muttered from behind Lion King.
“What did you say?”
Flower Scorpion’s eyes widened instantly as a surge of anger flared.
“Ahem, I also agree to enter the Gloom Domain.”
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Doghead quickly spoke up.
Finally, everyone’s gaze fell on the timid Mole.
“You’ve all decided to go. Of course I’ll go too.”
After glancing at Flower Scorpion a few times, Mole ultimately chose to risk it together with them.
Hearing his answer, a trace of satisfaction appeared in Flower Scorpion’s eyes.
Lion King and Doghead were also pleased with Mole’s decision. After all, Mole’s perceptive ability surpassed even Lion King, who had advanced to Beast Knight, in certain aspects.
Having confirmed their entry into the Gloom Domain, they wasted no more time and, under the guidance of the guards from the Adjudication Department, entered the Underground Cavern.
In just half a month, the Underground Cavern had undergone earth-shaking changes.
Aside from personnel dispatched by the Duanmu Family and the three Transcendent-level experts of Qinghui Base, there were also large numbers of Beast Tamers and Hunters from other forces.
Under the illumination of the lighthouse, crowds could be seen surging. Many Beast Tamers and Hunters moved about between the outposts established by the Hunter Guild and the Nightshade Circular Market.
Since they were heading into the Gloom Domain, Lion King and the others conveniently accepted a few ordinary missions at the Hunter Guild before heading to the Nightshade Circular Market to purchase necessary supplies.
When they saw rare resources—hard to encounter outside—being sold casually here, their determination to enter the Gloom Domain strengthened even further.
Especially Flower Scorpion. Upon hearing that a Second-tier Spiritual Material called Vermilion Face Fruit had been discovered in the Gloom Domain—capable of slowing aging, enhancing beauty, and restoring youth—she urged everyone to depart immediately.
The Second-tier Spiritual Material Vermilion Face Fruit had now become a hot commodity in the Nightshade Circular Market. Though only a Second-tier Spiritual Material, its price even exceeded that of Third-tier Spiritual Materials.
Even if Flower Scorpion wanted to buy it, she could not produce enough Source Crystal Coins.
Urged repeatedly by Flower Scorpion, the group soon arrived at Tiger’s Maw Pass, the entrance into the Gloom Domain. A long queue had already formed there.
“That’s the Vulcan Type-3 Heavy Machine Gun and the Thunder God Type-2 Autocannon.”
When Lion King and the others saw the numerous high-powered weapons mounted atop the towering walls of Tiger’s Maw Pass, they immediately understood why everyone here was behaving so orderly.
These two weapons were not only immensely powerful but also computer-controlled, capable of automatically locking onto targets.
The Vulcan Type-3 Heavy Machine Gun, paired with armor-piercing rounds, could provide wide-area fire coverage. Few low-tier Ferocious Beasts could withstand it.
Even the Rock Iron Turtle that Zhou Ming had once encountered outside the Ant Dwelling Ridge Black Market would, at best, endure a few extra shots before being torn apart.
As for the Thunder God Type-2 Autocannon, also computer-operated, its power was something even an ordinary Professional Beast Tamer could not withstand.
Both weapons had been purchased by Zhou Ming from the Qinghui Base City Defense Army as ninety-percent-new decommissioned equipment.
In addition, Ding Mowen and Mu Ye, who had just advanced not long ago, along with the low-profile Li Bao, had been temporarily assigned by Su Mei to guard this place.
With the strength of the three of them, combined with these two terrifying weapons that achieved maximum effect within the passage, hardly anyone dared cause trouble here.
Even powerful Professional Beast Tamers had to consider the several Professional Beast Tamers previously slain by Su Mei.
Their corpses were still hanging at the entrance to the Underground Cavern.
As the long queue steadily advanced, Lion King and the others successfully crossed Tiger’s Maw Pass and entered the dim Gloom Domain.