Chapter 284: The Correct Choice
“Unexpectedly, this trip to the Endless Forest Sea actually yielded a Dragon Transformation Fruit by chance.”
“Now that the purpose of coming to the Endless Forest Sea has been achieved, it’s time to return.”
Standing atop a cliff face, Zhou Ming looked back into the distance. Only after confirming that the other party had not pursued him did he finally relax.
Recalling the threat brought by the Raging Flame Thunder Tiger, he no longer intended to continue taking risks. If he were to encounter a lord-level Ferocious Beast, it would truly be a case of nine deaths and one life.
Two days later, the towering, majestic walls of the Blood-colored Fortress once again came into view. Looking at the densely distributed artillery muzzles at every firepower point, even he felt an inexplicable sense of reassurance.
It was precisely these fortresses within the Furious Flood Dragon Mountain Range that had ensured the Alliance’s stability for several hundred years.
After giving it a brief glance, Zhou Ming re-entered the fortress.
Not long afterward, inside the command room of the fortress, Chai Shengping once again received news regarding Zhou Ming.
“Returned safely? It seems the rumors recently circulating at Alliance Headquarters are true. I wonder how the Yang Family will respond.”
The Yang Family’s actions and losses had already been deliberately leaked within the Alliance.
Judging from the situation, someone intended to use this to damage the Yang Family’s reputation and undermine their attempt to secure Lei Yuan.
However, Chai Shengping did not continue paying attention to Zhou Ming’s safe return, because he did not believe that Zhou Ming had relied solely on his own strength to escape the Yang Family’s ambush.
What truly concerned Chai Shengping was the recent turbulence stirred by the Alliance’s changes—the transformation brought about by Blue Star’s fusion with Tamu World.
Although there were still nearly a hundred years before Blue Star would fully merge with Tamu World, that timeline had been deduced based on current conditions. The actual time could very well come even earlier.
For these major forces, or for those in high positions of authority, such a span of time was not long.
If preparations were not made in advance, the inheritances of various factions might dissipate like smoke, ultimately vanishing into the river of history.
As for Zhou Ming, he himself was still unaware that after this incident, his reputation had already begun to emerge among the Alliance’s upper echelons.
After returning to the Blood-colored Fortress, Zhou Ming did not immediately head back to Qinghui Base. Instead, he took advantage of the opportunity to purchase the resources he needed.
After all, whether in variety or quality, the resources available within the Blood-colored Fortress far surpassed those in most other parts of the Alliance.
Before advancing to Transcendent Master, he was unlikely to come again, so he did not want to miss this opportunity.
In just two or three days, Zhou Ming entered various auction houses and well-known shops within the fortress, spending nearly all of his remaining Source Crystal Coins before finally boarding a passenger vehicle back to Morninglight Base.
Now, aside from the resources filling his Spatial Storage Equipment, he had only several dozen Source Crystal Coins left, along with the high-grade Source Crystals obtained from the Secret Realm Tower.
Meanwhile, as Zhou Ming was returning, far away in the Underground Dark River Camp, Lu Tao was holding a letter in his hand, lost in thought.
Hesitation, struggle, and indecision shifted constantly across his face.
“Dad, Mom says it’s time to eat.”
Just as Lu Tao was wavering, two small children burst into the room—his own son and daughter.
It had already been five years since Zhou Ming took control of the Underground Dark River Camp. As one of the first to pledge allegiance, Lu Tao had not only risen to the camp’s upper ranks but had also found a suitable partner two years later.
When the Giant Clan had descended upon the Panlong Mountain Range, Lu Tao had been greatly alarmed upon hearing the news because his wife had just given birth to twins—a boy and a girl.
With a family and descendants, one naturally had attachments.
Looking at his fair and adorable children, Lu Tao casually tucked the letter away and revealed a loving smile.
“You two little rascals, was it fun at the nursery today?”
The nursery belonged to the Department of Internal Affairs. It was primarily responsible for caring for young children and also served as a place for early education within the camp.
“It was fun! Teacher showed us lots and lots of big monster pictures—they were really nice!”
The two little ones, still unable to speak clearly, immediately burrowed into Lu Tao’s arms and began chattering about what they had seen at the nursery.
Though noisy, Lu Tao listened with great interest.
“Still busy?”
A gentle-looking woman dressed simply, an apron tied around her waist, walked in from outside the door.
She was Li Ya, Lu Tao’s wife—just past twenty, still carrying youthful innocence along with the subtle charm unique to a young married woman.
Relying on the authority in his hands, Lu Tao had indeed secured considerable benefits for himself.
“You two, stop bothering your father. Go wash your hands and eat.”
Noticing the unusual expression on her husband’s face, Li Ya sent the children away before stepping forward with concern.
“Is something happening in the camp? You’ve seemed distracted lately.”
“It’s nothing.”
Lu Tao was exceptionally satisfied with his petite wife. With his original status, even within an Alliance base, he would have struggled to find someone like her.
“Is it because of the bloodline modification matter? Chief Su and my lord disagreed—it’s for your own good. If your physical constitution doesn’t meet the standard, the risk is too great.”
“Even if you won’t think about yourself, you should think about Lu Xiang and Lu Li.”
Held gently in her husband’s arms, Li Ya advised him like a young girl.
Looking at his tender wife and thinking of his children, the knot in Lu Tao’s heart suddenly loosened.
As a financial fraudster who had once been exiled, Lu Tao was far from unintelligent. He understood that things could not be judged merely by appearances.
Once the distracting thoughts in his mind settled, he quickly reached a decision.
“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”
“You go eat first. I need to see Chief Su about something.”
Seeing her husband’s expression change and his former confidence return, Li Ya’s faint unease finally eased.
She quickly rose and personally helped him put on the clothes hanging from the rack.
Dressed in a sharp suit, Lu Tao exuded the bearing of someone in authority.
After several years in a high position within the camp, he was no longer the man who had once bowed and scraped for a full meal.
Now, he controlled the daily necessities of thousands in the camp. The materials that passed through his hands had exceeded hundreds of millions of Alliance Coins.
After kissing his wife, Lu Tao took a deep breath and walked toward where Su Mei worked.
“Minister Lu.”
“Minister Lu.”
…
The camp guards greeted him proactively as he passed.
After briefly responding, he suddenly recalled what things had been like before Zhou Ming arrived at the camp.
Who would have imagined that he, once barely clinging to survival, would achieve such a position today?
Moments later, Lu Tao knocked on the door of Su Mei’s office.
“It seems you still know how to rein in at the cliff’s edge.”
After hearing Lu Tao’s report, Su Mei remained calm, as if she had already known. Instead, she offered him a measured compliment.
“Chief Su already knew?”
Lu Tao was startled, not expecting that his every move had been within her sight.
“Have you forgotten? I also came from the Wilderness. And I survived there far longer than you did.”
“In the Wilderness, betrayal can happen for nothing more than a piece of meat to fill one’s stomach.”
Lu Tao had survived alone in the Wilderness for less than a year before encountering Zhou Ming. Su Mei, however, had wandered the Wilderness with her father for ten years.
“Since you’ve made the correct choice, my lord instructed me to hand this to you today.”
Su Mei bent down and took a potion from the drawer.
“This Low-grade Enhancement Potion has the effect of strengthening the physique. As for the rest, we’ll discuss it after my lord returns.”
“Thank you, my lord, and Chief Su, for your magnanimity.”
Seeing the Enhancement Potion in Su Mei’s hand shimmering with radiant light, Lu Tao immediately bowed and expressed his sincere gratitude.