Chapter 158: Sapphire Fish
After understanding the general situation inside the camp, Zhou Ming only put forward his own requirements and made no other specific arrangements.
The camp’s subsequent development could not possibly be completed by him alone. If Lin Hai and Lu Tao failed to satisfy him, then they would be replaced directly.
At present, within the camp, there were plenty of Wildfolk who wanted to take over their positions. Zhou Ming would not waste his energy on trivial matters.
While Lin Hai and Lu Tao began to busy themselves with camp construction, Zhou Ming also started exploring the underground dark river passage.
After all, finding a better place to station themselves in a short period of time was not possible under the current circumstances, so he naturally needed to carefully investigate the environment surrounding the current camp.
The location of the camp was a cave formed by erosion from the dark river. A dark river flowed through the middle, while on the higher ground on both sides, various tents and wooden houses had been set up.
Zhou Ming followed the dark river downstream and soon arrived at a small waterfall several meters high. An old hydraulic generator had been installed here, mainly used to provide lighting for the camp.
This kind of place could not stop Zhou Ming. He borrowed strength from the smooth rock walls on both sides and relied on his own power to reach below the waterfall, continuing his exploration.
As he went deeper, the terrain Zhou Ming passed through became increasingly rugged and steep, but the passage did not narrow. The dark river had not completely submerged the sides of the passage.
However, more than ten minutes later, a waterfall about thirty meters high appeared beneath his feet.
The torrent of the waterfall poured down into an underground lake spanning several hundred meters in area. Dozens of meters above, it was covered by a complete slab of rock.
“I didn’t expect a place like this to exist deep underground.”
“I wonder if there are any Ferocious Beasts hidden here.”
The abilities brought by the Dark-gold Serpent Pupils allowed Zhou Ming to clearly see every corner of the surroundings.
At the very center of the underground lake, there was also a circular small island with a diameter of fifty meters. If used as a secret stronghold, it would be just right.
In order to confirm whether any Ferocious Beasts were hiding here, Zhou Ming immediately used his Spiritual Power to sense the surrounding aura.
After a moment, having confirmed that there were no Ferocious Beasts in the underground lake, Zhou Ming immediately summoned Silver Scale.
Before Silver Scale could even clearly see the surroundings, it fell from midair into the lake. When Zhou Ming saw Silver Scale float up from the water, he directly used it as a foothold and jumped down.
A confused-looking Silver Scale turned its head and looked at its master standing on its back, as if saying, “Could you at least give me some warning next time?”
“You’ve got thick skin and tough flesh. Falling a couple of times won’t hurt.”
Seeing this, Zhou Ming teased Silver Scale, then rode it as it swam across the lake surface.
As Silver Scale moved across the lake, Zhou Ming’s perception continuously monitored the movements beneath the water.
Suddenly, a snake shadow appeared in Zhou Ming’s hand and shot into the lake at lightning speed.
In the next moment, a scaleless fish the size of a palm appeared in Zhou Ming’s hand.
The fish’s body was slender, its entire form a semi-transparent sapphire blue, allowing its internal structure to be seen clearly.
“A first-rank spiritual item, Sapphire Fish?”
Zhou Ming’s voice revealed a hint of surprise.
The Sapphire Fish did not get its name because of its body color, but because its flesh had a special effect.
It could enhance a Beast Tamer’s Spiritual Power.
Although the effect was not very obvious, it was still effective for professional Beast Tamers, and it did not bring about the drug resistance associated with potions.
If there were tens of thousands of Sapphire Fish, then even a professional Beast Tamer with extremely poor talent could, relying on time and Sapphire Fish, eventually advance to high-level professional rank.
“Silver Scale, open your mouth.”
Upon hearing the command, Silver Scale turned its head and opened its bloody maw.
Before it could react, Zhou Ming directly threw the Sapphire Fish’s head, tail, and internal organs into Silver Scale’s mouth.
Even the scraps of Sapphire Fish were not something Zhou Ming intended to waste. He would eat the flesh himself, while the rest would be given to his Beast Taming companions.
Ignoring Silver Scale afterward, Zhou Ming directly put the Sapphire Fish into his own mouth.
As his teeth bit down, a fresh and sweet sensation lingered on his tongue. When the fish flesh entered his stomach, he quickly felt a change in his Spiritual Power.
Although the increase was extremely small, almost negligible, Zhou Ming could be certain that it had indeed improved.
“So it really is Sapphire Fish. I wonder how many are in this lake. If there are thousands of them, maybe before thirty, I could advance to high-level professional rank.”
At this moment, excitement showed in Zhou Ming’s eyes. After all, the earlier he advanced to high-level professional rank, the more time he would have to open up the subsequent class advancement of a Ruler.
After confirming that it was a first-rank spiritual item, Sapphire Fish, Zhou Ming immediately stripped off his clothes and put them into his spatial ring, leaving only his underpants before jumping into the lake.
Zhou Ming wanted to thoroughly investigate the size of the Sapphire Fish population, because excessive harvesting would damage their development.
The icy and pitch-black environment at the bottom of the lake had no effect on Zhou Ming. His legs kicked rapidly, just like a fish swiftly swimming underwater.
Silver Scale, having just tasted the “delicacy,” saw its master disappear beneath the lake surface and immediately chased after Zhou Ming as he swam downward.
At this moment, it still wanted to eat that “delicacy” from before, unaware that it was merely scraps its master did not want to eat.
Half an hour passed. Aside from several times surfacing for air, Zhou Ming spent the rest of the time at the bottom of the lake.
“Not bad. Although the number isn’t large, there are at least a few thousand.”
After Zhou Ming’s careful investigation, he gained a clear understanding of the Sapphire Fish population in the underground lake before him.
Based on the Sapphire Fish’s growth period and reproduction conditions, he could consume at most ten Sapphire Fish per month.
If this number were exceeded, it might affect the survival of the Sapphire Fish population.
“It’s a pity this kind of fish can’t be artificially intervened with. Otherwise, I wouldn’t need to worry so much.”
Zhou Ming sighed as he put his clothes back on.
If Sapphire Fish could be freely cultivated, the number and quality of Beast Tamers in the Blue Star Alliance would at least double.
However, this unexpected gain was already extremely lucky, so Zhou Ming did not make excessive demands.
Afterward, Zhou Ming came to the island at the center of the lake. It was completely bare, and there were no other gains.
Seeing that there was nothing else to explore, Zhou Ming immediately began catching Sapphire Fish to eat.
After all, he had only just officially advanced to a professional Beast Tamer today, and he planned to take this opportunity to stabilize his professional rank.
One day later, Zhou Ming finally returned to the camp.
“My lord.”
Upon seeing Zhou Ming return, Lin Hai and Lu Tao immediately came forward to greet him.
“Both of you listen carefully to the prohibition I’m giving you. From now on, this dark river is strictly forbidden from being used to discharge sewage or garbage. Urinating and defecating are absolutely prohibited.”
“Whoever violates this, regardless of age or gender, will be shot on the spot.”
The first thing Zhou Ming thought about after returning to the camp was how to protect the water quality environment of the underground lake.
Previously, because the hydraulic generator existed, the camp’s miscellaneous waste was discarded into another dark river tributary, but some sewage still entered the underground lake.
Now, Zhou Ming intended to completely resolve this issue.
“Yes.”
Hearing Zhou Ming issue such a serious order, the two immediately accepted it.
Afterward, Zhou Ming gave a few simple instructions regarding the camp’s construction and issued specific directives on future garbage and sewage disposal, then prepared to head for Qinghui Base.
Now that Sapphire Fish existed, he naturally intended to develop the camp as his base.