Chapter 186: Dimensional Rift
In the dim underground plain, as Zhou Ming transformed into his Serpentfolk form, terrifying pressure spread in all directions.
Compared to the Rockscale Giant Python and the Dark-gold Purple-patterned Python, the aura Zhou Ming revealed carried far greater oppression, as if a sovereign had descended upon the underground plain.
Within the Spiritual Sea, the Blood Descendant Secret Technique model was activated. Bloodline aura began to condense, finally forming a gigantic serpent phantom coiled above Zhou Ming’s head.
“Bloodline Absorption.”
At the command, the giant serpent phantom opened its maw like a black hole, its cold-glinting venomous fangs piercing into the Rockscale Giant Python’s body.
The bloodline essence hidden within flesh and blood began to be extracted. Crimson blood threads spread across the surface of the giant serpent phantom, gradually forming extremely profound blood-colored patterns.
This was a bloodline-refining method Zhou Ming had created himself by combining the Blood Descendant Secret Technique, Snake Swarm Will, and the knowledge from advanced bloodline fusion technology.
When the bloodline essence inside the Rockscale Giant Python was completely drained, the Rockscale Giant Python ultimately became a desiccated corpse devoid of any value, looking from afar like a gigantic stone-carved python statue.
At the same time, the blood-colored patterns on the giant serpent phantom began to be refined, eventually forming a fist-sized crimson jewel in its abdomen.
The giant serpent phantom opened its maw and spat out the crimson jewel condensed from bloodline essence, which fell straight into Zhou Ming’s hand.
“It’s a pity that I still can’t make use of this bloodline jewel right now.”
Retracting the giant serpent phantom, Zhou Ming looked at the bloodline jewel in his hand and let out a sigh.
According to his plan, once the Ironthread Snake genetic structure diagram research was successful, he would devour the bloodlines of other serpent-type Ferocious Beasts in his Serpentfolk form, thereby enhancing his own bloodline and Spiritual Power.
And through this method of refining the bloodlines of other serpent-type Ferocious Beasts, he would use Snake Swarm Will to feed them back to the Ironthread Snake swarm, helping the Ironthread Snakes break free from their bloodline shackles.
This entire theoretical framework came from advanced bloodline fusion technology, the feedback knowledge within Beast Knight class advancement materials, the Blood Descendant Secret Technique, Snake Swarm Will, and Zhou Ming’s connection after fusing with the snake swarm.
Among them, the Ironthread Snake genetic structure diagram served as the guiding map to ensure smooth bloodline fusion, avoiding unknown bloodline mutations.
However, he still needed to wait for the final one-third of the Ironthread Snake genetic structure diagram before carrying out his predetermined plan.
At that time, he would have the opportunity to advance to intermediate professional rank.
From then on, even when facing high-level Professional Beast Tamers, with the power amplification brought by the Ironthread Snake swarm, he was confident he could contend against them.
With thoughts slightly stirring, Zhou Ming then stored the bloodline jewel back into his body. Maintaining his Serpentfolk form, he headed toward the Dimensional Rift.
Moments later, the Dimensional Rift radiating silver light appeared several meters in front of Zhou Ming.
“Voidstone.”
Just as Zhou Ming had anticipated, a large quantity of semi-transparent silver crystals was piled up on the ground near the Dimensional Rift.
These crystals emitting spatial aura fluctuations were precisely the first-tier spiritual material Voidstone that he had used before.
By using the spatial energy contained within Voidstone and matching it with the corresponding ritual, a Beast Tamer could open a Beast Taming Space within the Spiritual Sea to seal Phantasmal Beasts.
In essence, it used Voidstone to grant sealing properties to the otherwise intangible Spiritual Sea.
Because Voidstone generally only existed near Dimensional Rifts, this material was almost monopolized by the Alliance and was only sold at low prices to various forces through quota allocations.
The official price was several hundred thousand per piece, but the price in private transactions could reach several million.
This was also why Zhou Ming had spent over a thousand Contribution Points when exchanging for this material at the Hunter Guild, because ordinary Beast Tamers had no purchasing channels at all.
“Other than Sapphire Fish, I’ve finally mastered a second precious resource.”
Seeing the mountain-like piles of Voidstone, a trace of joy involuntarily surfaced on Zhou Ming’s face.
Aside from helping Beast Tamers open Beast Taming Spaces, Voidstone could also be refined to extract spatial energy to manufacture various kinds of spatial storage equipment.
However, the technologies for refining spatial energy and manufacturing spatial storage equipment were mastered by only a handful of major powers besides the Alliance itself.
To maximize the benefits of Voidstone in a short period of time was far beyond what Zhou Ming’s current strength could achieve, but he was already very satisfied with the gains from this cave exploration.
Just as Zhou Ming was considering how to make use of Voidstone, the spatial fluctuations of the Dimensional Rift suddenly changed abnormally.
In the next moment, a giant lizard head over one meter long passed through the Dimensional Rift and appeared before Zhou Ming.
However, the instant the giant lizard saw Zhou Ming, terror filled its eyes, and without the slightest hesitation it immediately retreated back behind the Dimensional Rift.
Zhou Ming was not overly surprised by this situation.
A low-tier giant lizard Ferocious Beast, when facing an existence whose strength far exceeded its own, would naturally choose to flee at the first opportunity.
The only thing that made Zhou Ming curious was what kind of world existed behind the Dimensional Rift.
Judging from the alien races that had appeared on Blue Star, there should be a transcendent civilization behind the Dimensional Rift.
As thoughts continued to stir in his mind, Zhou Ming grew increasingly curious about the world beyond the Dimensional Rift.
After a brief consideration, the flesh and blood of Zhou Ming’s arm began to writhe, and an ordinary Ironthread Snake appeared.
Using the descending-spirit power of the Dark-gold Serpent Pupils, he attached his own consciousness to the Ironthread Snake and immediately drove it into the Dimensional Rift.
However, in just an instant, Zhou Ming felt that he had lost control over the Ironthread Snake, and the spiritual consciousness attached to it was severed.
With his spiritual consciousness damaged, an incomparably intense stabbing pain rose in his mind, and his face turned somewhat pale.
“I was careless. The separation between two worlds is something my petty methods still can’t overcome.”
Zhou Ming revealed a bitter smile and immediately took out a low-grade Spirit Nourishing Potion and consumed it.
Several seconds later, a cold and tranquil aura appeared in his mind, alleviating the pain brought about by the damage to his Spiritual Power.
“I’ll wait until I advance to intermediate professional rank before considering whether to enter the Dimensional Rift.”
Although the Dimensional Rift could be entered and exited freely, Zhou Ming had no intention of trying it now.
After all, with his current level, when facing some powerful high-tier Ferocious Beasts, he was still unable to guarantee his own safety.
Since Voidstone could not be stored in a Spatial Ring, and with his Spiritual Power damaged, Zhou Ming did not bother with the Voidstone near the Dimensional Rift. Instead, he found a place to meditate and recover from his injuries.
Ten days later, with the aid of Spirit Nourishing Potions, Sapphire Fish, and Blood Jade Royal Jelly, Zhou Ming fully restored his damaged Spiritual Power.
Over the following several days, he focused his attention on the underground world before him.
Through Zhou Ming’s meticulous exploration, various Beast Tamer resources were found one after another.
Although they were only ordinary resources, relying on quantity still amounted to a considerable harvest.
In addition, at the location where the Rockscale Giant Python had appeared, Zhou Ming also discovered a small Blacksteel ore vein.
This was a special metal formed after ordinary iron ore was affected by elemental energy particles following the appearance of the Dimensional Rift, and it was also a fundamental material required for various alloys.
However, developing a Blacksteel ore vein was not something that could be done in a short time.
Only when Zhou Ming’s own strength and his camp reached a certain scale would he be able to truly make use of this small underground world before him.
In the end, Zhou Ming could only bring back part of the discovered resources, along with several pieces of Voidstone, and return to the camp.