Chapter 246: Cross-World Mission
Inside the top-floor luxury suite of the Platinum Grand Hotel, Zhou Ming and the Scorpion-Lion sat before the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing at Qinghui Base, which had regained its former prosperity, while discussing secret matters regarding Tamu World.
The appearance of the Dimensional Rift had naturally drawn the attention of Blue Star’s upper echelon in the early days. They had even dispatched personnel into the Dimensional Rift.
It was precisely through such relentless research that Blue Star’s high command gradually gained a more comprehensive understanding of Tamu World beyond the rift.
The reason why the various forces of Blue Star had not entered Tamu World ahead of time through the Dimensional Rift was primarily due to rejection by the World Will.
Ordinary people were too weak in themselves, so Tamu World’s World Will paid little attention to them. Thus, they could remain there for extended periods.
However, as time passed, they would still experience weakness, illness, and even misfortune.
Choking to death while drinking water would not have been unusual.
As for Beast Tamers who had mastered transcendent power, because they possessed formidable strength, they could only survive in Tamu World for short periods, and their strength would be somewhat suppressed.
Moreover, once a certain threshold was exceeded, the suppression would become extremely severe.
According to current research findings, a Professional Beast Tamer could only briefly enter Tamu World three times.
Relying on the number of Professional Beast Tamers within the family, the Duanmu Family had spent a full century reclaiming territory from the Foreign Races and establishing its foundation in Tamu World.
However, this time, the Foreign Race individual responsible for managing the Duanmu Family’s foundation in Tamu World had broken through to High-level Professional Rank and had already begun harboring thoughts of escaping the Duanmu Family’s control.
Within the Duanmu Family, aside from those at Entry-level Professional Rank, most of their Professional Beast Tamers had already entered Tamu World multiple times to deal with various issues that had arisen.
Now that they needed to deal with a High-level Professional Rank Foreign Race existence, the Duanmu Family had not yet found a suitable candidate. That was why the Scorpion-Lion had sought Zhou Ming’s assistance.
“Then why can the Foreign Races enter Blue Star freely without suffering any effects?”
After learning the reason why the Scorpion-Lion had sought his help and hearing more detailed intelligence about Tamu World, Zhou Ming voiced the doubt in his heart.
“If Tamu World’s World Will is a robust, well-built man, then Blue Star’s World Will is a delicate young girl.”
“What do you think would happen if the young girl faced the man?”
Hearing such a vivid analogy, Zhou Ming could only admit that the explanation was painfully accurate.
Blue Star’s World Will was suppressed by Tamu World’s World Will. It was equivalent to the immune system within the human body failing. Naturally, the Foreign Races and Ferocious Beasts could enter and exit Blue Star at will.
When Blue Star was completely devoured by Tamu World, it would be like the man forcibly marrying the girl. The lifeforms of Blue Star would naturally become part of Tamu World.
Therefore, once Blue Star was fully devoured, the native creatures of Blue Star would no longer need to worry about rejection from Tamu World.
“Compensation?”
After understanding the full sequence of events, Zhou Ming did not waste words and directly asked what reward the Scorpion-Lion could offer.
The reason he and the Scorpion-Lion maintained a good relationship was precisely because they always negotiated terms before speaking of friendship.
Once interests were clearly discussed, everyone interacted far more pleasantly.
“Two hundred Sapphire Fish, one low-tier Original Meditation Method, ten thousand Source Crystal Coins, and one rare Transcendent Equipment in exchange.”
“As for asking you to go to Tamu World to eliminate the rebel, you name the condition.”
The value of Sapphire Fish varied according to quantity.
The price difference between one hundred Sapphire Fish and ten Sapphire Fish could reach dozens, even hundreds of times.
Thus, the value of two hundred Sapphire Fish far exceeded that of the previous one hundred.
As for hiring Zhou Ming to take action, the Scorpion-Lion did not quote a fixed price and instead allowed Zhou Ming to name his own terms.
Only that would truly move him.
“The price of the Sapphire Fish is acceptable. As for going to Tamu World…”
“I will accompany you. If I had already advanced to High-level Professional Rank, you would not even have had the opportunity to make money from me.”
“You’re going as well?”
Zhou Ming had originally been unwilling to take excessive risks. He had not expected that the Scorpion-Lion would personally participate, which meant the risk level was not particularly high.
“Did you think being the heir of the Duanmu Family meant having food served to you and clothes laid out for you?”
After a brief moment of contemplation, Zhou Ming understood his meaning.
Within major factions, those younger members who sought greater status would be given opportunities and resources—but they would also bear corresponding risks.
If one merely wanted to live comfortably, those major factions did not mind supporting a few freeloaders, treating them as welfare-bearing breeding tools.
But if someone wanted to freeload, demand more, and even cause trouble for the faction, then their legs would be broken and they would be locked at home.
The Scorpion-Lion had naturally chosen the first path. Even though his grandfather was a Transcendent Master, if he wished to obtain more—or even one day take control of the Duanmu Family—he had to make corresponding contributions.
“Since you’re going as well, then I’ll accompany you this once.”
“As for compensation…”
Zhou Ming was unwilling to let this opportunity slip. He intended to obtain resources from the Duanmu Family that he urgently needed but could not easily purchase on the market.
After a moment, Zhou Ming spoke again.
“I need a set of rune materials. Even basic rune knowledge will suffice.”
“Also, put in a word with Golden Flower Group. Tell them not to trouble me.”
Runes were a transcendent method by which human spellcasters of Tamu World materialized rules. Foreign Races that relied primarily on innate bloodlines rarely mastered them. Usually, only their priests studied such arts.
Thus, Zhou Ming had long wanted rune materials, yet they were almost impossible to acquire on the market.
After Zhou Ming had killed the three Professional Beast Tamer leaders of the Rat Nest, Golden Flower Group had temporarily refrained from investigating further due to matters involving the Panlong Mountain Range.
Now that the hidden threat of the Giant Race had been resolved, they had naturally begun investigating the disappearance of the Rat Nest leaders.
According to Golden Flower Group’s findings, Zhou Ming’s camp was highly suspicious. Recently, their personnel had frequently appeared near Three Mounds Ridge.
Zhou Ming had learned of this from Su Mei.
With Zhou Ming’s strength, he did not fear Golden Flower Group. However, they were still a local power in Qinghui Base. While they might not threaten him directly, they could certainly affect the camp beneath Three Mounds Ridge.
Thus, Zhou Ming intended to borrow the Duanmu Family’s influence to handle the matter swiftly and prevent unforeseen complications.
“It’s not a blood feud, right?”
Compared to rune materials, the Scorpion-Lion had no objection. He was merely concerned that Zhou Ming had formed an irreconcilable grudge with Golden Flower Group, which would make things troublesome.
“They were black gloves who did dirty work for them. They came looking for trouble, so I dealt with their leader along the way.”
“As long as they weren’t internal members of Golden Flower Group.”
Hearing Zhou Ming’s simple explanation, the Scorpion-Lion secretly let out a sigh of relief. Golden Flower Group was not based in Yunhai Base, so certain matters were not as easy to handle as imagined.
Afterward, the two agreed to depart in three days. Only then did Zhou Ming leave with the resources exchanged for the Sapphire Fish.