Chapter 262: Returning to Blue Star
After leaving the Secret Realm, Zhou Ming rode Silver Scale back to the mine.
Not long after reaching the vicinity of the mine, he heard rumbling sounds coming from ahead.
“Steam machinery?”
As Zhou Ming approached, on a hill at the edge of the mine, he saw dozens of massive machines continuously emitting plumes of steam.
The microscopic rules of Tamu World differed from those of Blue Star, yet in terms of macroscopic rules, they were largely aligned.
Steam machinery as a power source might appear somewhat outdated on Blue Star, but in Tamu World, it could be put to proper use.
Moreover, according to what Zhou Ming had learned, steam machinery had already undergone tremendous changes.
There was a special substance that, upon contact with water, could instantly release an enormous amount of heat. As a result, modern steam boilers no longer required the most primitive method of boiling water through combustion.
It was precisely with the help of steam machinery that the Duanmu Family had been able to mine large quantities of ore and refine the Black Rock Gold they needed.
After observing for a few moments, Zhou Ming did not linger and headed straight toward the castle beside the mine.
“I thought you would risk staying in Tamu World.”
Upon seeing Zhou Ming return, the Scorpion-Tailed Lion finally let out a sigh of relief.
There had once been many stubborn individuals who refused to believe in the elusive concept of misfortune and forcefully chose to remain in Tamu World.
In the end, every one of them had died in various accidents.
The only difference among them had been how long they managed to survive in Tamu World.
“Even the Tamu World Will can repel a True God beyond the world itself. How would I dare to challenge such an existence?”
The more he understood, the more Zhou Ming realized that certain matters were absolutely untouchable.
“How is the situation at the mine?”
After making a self-deprecating remark, Zhou Ming casually inquired about the mine’s condition.
Although Black Rock Gold could not be considered an extremely precious mineral, it could at least be used to forge ordinary Transcendent Equipment. Even simply engraving runes onto armor and weapons forged from Black Rock Gold could turn them into ordinary Transcendent Equipment.
Therefore, for the Duanmu Family, the mine was of utmost importance. If something went wrong, it would deal a severe blow to their foundation.
“The mine guards suffered considerable losses, but it hasn’t had much impact on the mining of Black Rock Gold.”
“The main issue is that the Red Coral Tribe wants to raise their share of Black Rock Gold to sixty percent.”
At this moment, the Scorpion-Tailed Lion shook his head helplessly.
Zhou Ming frowned slightly upon hearing this and immediately guessed that the Scorpion-Tailed Lion had already agreed to their demand.
The Red Coral Tribe was the overlord of this sea region and the force that sheltered the Duanmu Family’s mine on Black Reef Island.
At the same time, the Red Coral Tribe was part of the Sea Race Tidal Empire. Now that they were increasing their share of Black Rock Gold by another ten percent, the Duanmu Family, in its current state, simply had no qualification to refuse.
If it were not for the fact that the Red Coral Tribe, who lived in the sea, were unsuited to life on land and had not mastered the techniques of mining and refining Black Rock Gold, they would never have cooperated with the Duanmu Family in the first place.
After a brief silence, the two did not continue discussing the matter. In Tamu World, without strength, one could only accept reality.
Unless the Duanmu Family was willing to give up the profits brought by Black Rock Gold, even if the Scorpion-Tailed Lion’s grandfather came personally to Tamu World, it would be difficult to change the current situation.
After all, although the Red Coral Tribe was mostly composed of lower-tier Sea Race Mermen, relying on their numbers and the abundant resources nurtured by the sea, they still possessed several Transcendent-level existences.
After confirming that there were no other matters to handle, the two decided to return to the Blue Star World that very day.
The longer they stayed in Tamu World, the stronger the suppression on them became. It felt as if shackles were fastened onto their bodies, making them deeply uncomfortable.
Since there was nothing else to attend to, neither of them wished to remain any longer.
Entering the cave where the Dimensional Rift was located, they successfully returned to the Duanmu Family’s private base in the Northern Wasteland.
“Little Lion, how did the mission go this time?”
Upon their return to the Duanmu Family’s private base, the older generation of the Duanmu Family, having received the news, came to welcome them.
The elder who had previously clashed in aura with Zhou Ming immediately asked the Scorpion-Tailed Lion about the mission.
“Fourth Granduncle, Dulag has been dealt with. We even had some unexpected gains because of it, but…”
“Did something else happen?”
Seeing the rare hesitation on the Scorpion-Tailed Lion’s face, the elder instantly sensed that there had been an unexpected development.
The Scorpion-Tailed Lion did not delay and promptly recounted the matter of the Secret Realm as well as the Red Coral Tribe raising their share of Black Rock Gold by ten percent.
“It seems that the Transcendent-level lord within the Red Coral Tribe has passed away.”
As for the Secret Realm, the elder did not comment much. After all, it counted as a personal gain for Zhou Ming and the Scorpion-Tailed Lion.
For the Duanmu Family to obtain an Ownerless Artificial Secret Realm could be considered an unexpected delight.
Regarding the increase in the Red Coral Tribe’s share of Black Rock Gold, the elder pondered briefly before seemingly realizing something.
“Fourth Granduncle, could it be that the lord we once unintentionally rescued has…”
At the elder’s reminder, the Scorpion-Tailed Lion immediately understood.
The reason the Duanmu Family had been able to gain a foothold on Black Reef Island and receive the Red Coral Tribe’s protection was that, during their exploration of the island, they had accidentally rescued a severely injured Merman elder.
It was that unintended act which had truly allowed the Duanmu Family to stand firm on Black Reef Island.
After all, purchasing slaves of the Foreign Races and establishing a mine would have been extremely difficult for the Duanmu Family to accomplish in the vast ocean with their strength in Tamu World.
“Only under such circumstances would the Red Coral Tribe suddenly make such a demand.”
“You need not blame yourself. Being able to find an unclaimed Artificial Secret Realm for the family together with Ten Thousand Snakes has already offset the family’s losses.”
“Moreover, your eldest uncle has already advanced to War Knight. The family will obtain more resources on Blue Star, so even if the Red Coral Tribe takes an additional ten percent of the Black Rock Gold, the impact on our Duanmu Family will not be significant.”
“That’s right, Little Lion. With a Secret Realm, it is enough to make up for the loss of Black Rock Gold.”
The other elders of the Duanmu Family also spoke up to comfort the Scorpion-Tailed Lion.
It seemed that the Scorpion-Tailed Lion was greatly favored among the older generation of the Duanmu Family, as they did not appear overly concerned about the Red Coral Tribe taking an additional ten percent.
After all, they understood that under the current circumstances, where the Duanmu Family could not freely enter Tamu World, any dissatisfaction would have to be swallowed.
Furthermore, the strength of the Red Coral Tribe was far beyond what the Duanmu Family could currently contend with.
After learning about what had transpired in Tamu World, the elders of the Duanmu Family immediately invited Zhou Ming to attend a welcoming banquet, treating it as a reception feast for him and the Scorpion-Tailed Lion.
Zhou Ming’s strength had already earned their recognition, and coupled with his relationship with the Scorpion-Tailed Lion, the Duanmu Family naturally did not mind building a good relationship with such a promising young man.
Zhou Ming naturally did not refuse such an invitation.
As for his plan to return to Qinghui Base, it was postponed to the next day so that he could return together with the Scorpion-Tailed Lion.