Chapter 103: Underground Dark River
When Zhou Ming played the role of the mantis stalked by the oriole behind, and obtained the class advancement materials fought over by all factions, the underground ruins instantly became lively.
Uninformed lone Beast Tamers, small factions, and hunter squads suddenly discovered that the major forces were frantically searching for something.
At the same time, news that the class advancement materials within the ruins had already been obtained began spreading wildly.
Moreover, the most critical point was that the person who obtained the class advancement materials was not one of the well-known major forces, but was very likely a lone Beast Tamer or a small faction.
Upon learning this news, Beast Tamers and hunters who had originally had no intention of competing for the class advancement materials also began frantically searching for Zhou Ming.
Even if they were unable to leave the ruins with the class advancement materials, negotiating with the major forces upon exiting would be enough to exchange for generous rewards.
The military was currently stationed outside, and various factions were also present. As long as the class advancement materials were not taken away, no one would be foolish enough to resort to forcefully seizing them.
For a time, the ruins buried underground transformed into a dark forest within a short period.
Countless hunters were searching for the prey that possessed the class advancement materials.
Meanwhile, Zhou Ming, who had obtained the class advancement materials, was hiding inside a dilapidated room on the second level of the ruins.
At this moment, he was frantically spraying deodorizing agent over himself.
There were quite a few Beast Tamers within the ruins who specialized in tracking, and the sense of smell of their Beast Companions was even sharper than that of ordinary hunting dogs.
As long as they caught a trace of scent, it was possible for them to follow the clues and find his location.
After finishing spraying the deodorizing agent, Zhou Ming did not immediately inspect the spatial ring in his hand. Instead, he manipulated his Ironthread Snakes to spread around, constructing a complete and tightly sealed Radar Sensory Domain.
Within the pitch-black underground passages, one-foot-long Ironthread Snakes continuously seeped into the surroundings along corners, pipelines, and crevices.
With hundreds of Spiritual Threads interweaving with one another, it was like an enormous spider web. Any Beast Tamer or Beast within this range could be easily sensed by Zhou Ming.
Within the sensory image formed in his mind, white dots representing Beast Tamers and red dots representing Beasts were rapidly moving about in the surroundings.
Although the situation was extremely dangerous, the large number of Beast Tamers and hunters searching everywhere for Zhou Ming instead concealed the traces that he could not clean up.
After confirming that he was temporarily safe, Zhou Ming finally turned his attention to the spatial ring in his hand.
This was Zhou Ming’s first time using spatial storage equipment, but the knowledge he had obtained from the library allowed him to face the spatial ring without behaving like a headless fly.
By leaving his own imprint on the ownerless spatial ring using Spiritual Power, he could easily use it to store items.
As the spiritual imprint was successfully branded onto the spatial ring, the items stored inside were immediately taken out by Zhou Ming.
A silver-white suitcase was exceptionally eye-catching, and there were signs that the latch had already been opened. It was likely that the previous person had inspected it once.
Since it had already been opened, Zhou Ming did not worry about traps and opened the suitcase with an urgent expression.
Three ancient beast-hide scrolls, as well as a suitcase filled with paper documents.
In that chaotic era, in order to avoid the loss of information, most records were written on special paper.
As for the beast-hide scrolls, they were likely used because the content was difficult to record in writing and involved knowledge required for Beast Tamer class advancement.
After confirming that he had successfully obtained the class advancement materials, the tension in Zhou Ming’s heart finally completely eased.
There was no time or energy to examine the information within the class advancement materials. Zhou Ming could only reseal the suitcase, and then shifted his attention to the other items.
“This is diving equipment.”
When he saw a complete set of diving gear, Zhou Ming immediately felt puzzled.
After all, in this wilderness, what use was there in carrying a set of diving equipment?
“Could it be…”
A thought instantly flashed through his mind, and Zhou Ming immediately began inspecting the remaining items.
Moments later, he found a map and dozens of jin of high-powered explosives.
On the map, following the red arrow markings, Zhou Ming discovered information not present in the intelligence he had purchased—a hidden underground dark river beneath the ruins.
“So that’s how it is.”
For a large base to operate normally, it had to possess sufficient water sources, and an underground dark river was the best way to obtain water.
The person who previously obtained the class advancement materials intended to use the underground dark river to leave the ruins.
After all, obtaining the class advancement materials did not mean one could successfully leave the ruins.
After learning the other party’s method of leaving the ruins, Zhou Ming also quietly considered whether he could use the same method.
However, after thinking for a moment, he did not feel that this plan was feasible.
The fact that the other party knew about the underground dark river hidden beneath the ruins indicated that the force behind them was extraordinary.
It was very possible that there were already people stationed at the river’s exit to receive them.
Since this concerned the class advancement materials, Zhou Ming did not believe that the people providing support would only be at the apprentice level. They were most likely Professional Beast Tamers.
Every time a Beast Tamer advanced their class, their strength would undergo a qualitative leap. Even if he could use the Thunder Type-2 Revolver, he would still be unable to threaten a true Professional Beast Tamer.
Unless Zhou Ming could become a Gunfighter, not only able to use the Thunder Type-3 Revolver, but also reach the human limit in shooting techniques.
However, if he did not use the underground dark river, there were nearly a hundred Professional Beast Tamers waiting at the ruins’ entrance.
With the methods possessed by those major forces, it would not be an easy matter for him to safely leave with the class advancement materials.
Facing the dilemma before him, Zhou Ming fell silent.
He could not possibly take the initiative to hand over the class advancement materials in exchange for money or other precious items.
After all, the special predicament he faced meant that even with complete class advancement resources, he could not use them.
After pondering for a long time, Zhou Ming decided to blow open the underground dark river, pretending to escape the ruins through it.
As for the class advancement materials, they could be placed into the spatial ring, then swallowed by an Ironthread Snake, allowing the Ironthread Snake carrying the spatial ring to hide at the ruins’ entrance when he left.
At that time, even if someone inspected him, he would not need to worry about exposing himself.
Once all factions withdrew, he would then control the Ironthread Snake that had swallowed the spatial ring to quietly leave the ruins.
Coupled with the underground dark river drawing attention, the outside world would assume that the class advancement materials had already been taken away.
As his mind continuously simulated the plan he had conceived, and after confirming that there were no issues, Zhou Ming immediately took action.
Putting on the spatial ring, he packed the suitcase and other items back inside, then held the map and returned toward the third level of the ruins.
When Zhou Ming began moving, the Ironthread Snake swarm hidden in the shadows also slowly began to act, their tiny bodies difficult to notice within the darkness.
Even if someone noticed the Ironthread Snakes, they would not pay too much attention to such mutated animals that were not yet Ferocious Beasts.
After all, no one would think that someone would treat mutated animals as Beast Companions, let alone control hundreds of Ironthread Snakes.
With the help of the Radar Sensory Domain, Zhou Ming moved freely through the darkness like a ghost, avoiding Beast Tamers and hunters searching for him.
He returned to the deepest level of the ruins by taking the opposite approach.