Chapter 187: Taking the Initiative
The process of exploring the underground cave was very short. Zhou Ming had actually only spent a single day.
Originally, he had wanted to relax a bit while also checking whether the camp faced the risk of being flooded by the underground dark river. Unexpectedly, however, he ended up with an unforeseen gain.
As for the underground world he had discovered, Zhou Ming did not yet have the ability to develop it. At most, he could rely on Voidstone to exchange it for benefits.
Whether it was excavating the Blacksteel Ore Vein, using the dense elemental energy particles of the underground world to establish a medicinal garden, or even setting up a private base of his own, all of it would require an enormous upfront investment.
Moreover, once the news leaked out, the forces he would face would no longer be small characters like the Qi Family. At the very least, they would be major powers possessing high-level professional experts.
After repeated deliberation, Zhou Ming chose to temporarily set the matter aside and wait until his strength was sufficient to swallow this benefit before reconsidering it.
After returning to the camp, Lu Tao immediately presented the intelligence sent over by the Han Family.
In addition to introducing the hidden forces outside Qinghui Base, it also included major events that had recently occurred within the Alliance.
“Didn’t expect the situation outside Qinghui Base to be even more complicated than I imagined.”
In the living room, Zhou Ming tossed the intelligence in his hand onto the table, picked up a cup of freshly prepared Honey Water, drank it, and only then slowly gave his evaluation.
According to the intelligence provided by the Han Family, there were more than a dozen forces of varying sizes surviving outside Qinghui Base, including the Dark Card Organization branch that Zhou Ming was familiar with.
Aside from the underground forces of the shadow world, there were also the black gloves of those major powers within Qinghui Base, specifically used to handle things that could not see the light of day.
According to the Han Family’s intelligence, the force that had previously attacked the external operations squad was called Rat Nest, the black glove of the Golden Flower Group within Qinghui Base.
Its primary duty was to capture slaves.
When Rat Nest discovered a Wildfolk camp, they generally would not completely destroy it. Instead, they would force the other side to hand over members with exceptionally outstanding Beast Taming talent or women of extraordinary beauty.
In short, they treated the Wildfolk outside the base like pigs to be raised, while also not cutting off all paths of survival for them. After all, other forces would also need Wildfolk.
For example, the Dark Card Organization required a large number of Wildfolk as materials for their human experimentation.
“It seems that my earlier move to absorb the Wildfolk touched Rat Nest’s interests. They only issued a simple warning because of my strength as a Professional Beast Tamer.”
After a brief analysis, Zhou Ming understood the reason behind the attack on the external operations squad.
“The Golden Flower Group is not an opponent I can afford to provoke right now. They already possess the ability to influence decisions of the base council.”
“Whether it’s mobilizing official forces or the Golden Flower Group’s own strength, I’m not qualified to contend with them yet.”
Since Rat Nest had a powerful backer, Zhou Ming had no intention of retaliating. Instead, he chose to continue suspending the absorption of Wildfolk.
Moreover, the camp’s scale had expanded several times over the course of half a year, and it also needed time to properly digest that growth.
After making his decision, Zhou Ming set aside the matter of the external operations squad being attacked and continued flipping through the intelligence regarding recent major events within the Alliance.
“Energy pulse communication technology has begun to be promoted, and some bases have started building supporting base stations. Have Lei Yuan’s research results begun to be applied?”
Seeing news related to Lei Yuan once again, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Zhou Ming’s mouth.
As for Lei Yuan, Zhou Ming could not clearly say whether it was genuine affection. After all, his original motive for approaching her had not been pure.
He only felt that being with her was very comfortable, without scheming intrigues or petty calculations. Perhaps, on the lonely path of pursuing transcendent power, having someone worth caring about could also be considered a blessing.
Since energy pulse communication technology had begun to be promoted, Lei Yuan had at least gained the Alliance’s recognition. Thus, Zhou Ming did not worry too much about her.
The intelligence in his hand continued to turn, and information that ordinary civilians found hard to obtain appeared before Zhou Ming.
Relics left behind from the Doomsday Era had once again been discovered, with many forces participating in the scramble for the scientific research results within them.
Conflicts between the Alliance and the alien races were growing increasingly intense. Multiple incidents of alien infiltration within the Alliance had been discovered, along with cases of humans defecting to the alien races.
The number of Dimensional Rifts was increasing. The Alliance’s upper echelons had already dispatched personnel to destroy small Dimensional Rifts near bases, while also increasing research efforts to study how to destroy large Dimensional Rifts.
……
Zhou Ming leisurely flipped through the intelligence in his hands, occasionally lifting the cup of water infused with Blood Jade Royal Jelly and taking a sip.
Rarely enjoying such relaxation, he did not immediately throw himself into research and meditation. After all, cultivation also required a balance between tension and relaxation.
“Sir.”
A voice filled with reverence broke the leisurely moment. The person who arrived was none other than Lin Hai, the Minister of the External Affairs Department.
Within the camp, those who could directly meet Zhou Ming without going through the Snake Guards were only a few core figures.
“What is it?”
Zhou Ming asked without even lifting his head, the cup still at his lips.
“I want to accept bloodline modification.”
Lin Hai’s answer caused a trace of surprise to appear on Zhou Ming’s face. He then put down the intelligence in his hand and examined the other party.
Under Zhou Ming’s gaze, Lin Hai straightened his posture, his face showing a resolute expression, as if accepting an inspection.
“Throw a punch. Let me see.”
Lin Hai was momentarily stunned, but immediately reacted in the next instant.
He stepped forward with his left foot, and his right fist blasted through the air, a burst of forceful wind resounding within the living room.
“Barely qualified.”
With such a simple test, Zhou Ming had already more or less grasped Lin Hai’s physical strength at a glance.
“Have you thought it through?”
The Snake Guards had been established for half a year. Others in the camp had more or less interacted with them and naturally noticed their changes.
These changes were not merely improvements in strength, but rather a peculiar psychological transformation.
Although they retained self-awareness and even their original personalities, when facing Zhou Ming, there was only submission.
Many people secretly speculated that if Zhou Ming ordered the Snake Guards to commit suicide, they might actually comply.
As a result, quite a few people within the camp maintained a resistant attitude toward bloodline modification.
Of course, there were also many who worshipped Zhou Ming fervently and hoped they could obtain the opportunity for bloodline modification.
Zhou Ming did not pay much attention to either situation. After all, bloodline modification had fairly high requirements.
Even if someone was willing to accept bloodline modification, if their physical quality was not up to standard, Zhou Ming was unwilling to waste his potions.
“Reporting to you, sir, I’ve already thought it through.”
Among those in the camp, Lin Hai was one of the few who felt the changes most deeply.
The emergence of the Snake Guards, the Su father and daughter, Mu Ye, and Ding Mowen made Lin Hai feel that his position was becoming somewhat unstable.
From an inconspicuous hidden sentry in the original Wildfolk camp to becoming the Minister of External Affairs within the camp, controlling three to four hundred elite armed personnel, Lin Hai did not want to lose everything he currently had.
“Since you’ve already thought it through, then follow me.”
Zhou Ming did not ask further. As for the reason Lin Hai was willing to accept bloodline modification, he did not wish to know in detail.
Because Lin Hai would definitely not be the last person to proactively request bloodline modification.
The temptation of power was something the vast majority of people could not resist.
Zhou Ming led Lin Hai directly to the laboratory used by Su Ningfeng.