Chapter 385 - 357: Wonder: Eternal Hunting Tomb
The Reward Card was a resplendent Card, its entire surface shimmering with fine gold dust.
Its effect was to increase the final reward tier by +1.
This bonus could be applied to rewards from Breakthrough Cards and Home Task Cards, but not to the overall map-clear reward.
Qin Ziwen immediately figured out how to use this Card. He would have someone complete a Tier 2 task, then use the Reward Card to upgrade the reward directly from Tier 2 to Tier 3.
That way, he could directly obtain an Extraordinary Being of the highest reward tier.
The rewards from Home tasks, on the other hand, were just material possessions.
’True strength comes from within. Material things are as fleeting and insubstantial as the moon’s reflection on water.’
He put away the Reward Card, took out the Functional Card Anchor Chain, and crushed it.
[Function Activated: Level 4 Anchor Connection]
[Authority increased. Current Authority: Level 4 Authority (12/16)]
[Level 4 Anchor Connection: ① Omitted, ② Omitted, ③ Added Retention Zone function. Current anchor capacity: 4]
[Generating Retention Zone...]
Original Rule: At the conclusion of cross-map activity, all Transmigrators are forcibly returned to their Home worlds.
New Rule: After activating an anchor chain passage across maps, a separate, special space can now be generated in its vicinity.
Retention Mechanism: Once an anchor’s active period ends, it can enter a dormant state instead of being recalled. This allows the special space to exist indefinitely. As long as Transmigrators do not actively leave this generated space, they can evade forced repatriation and remain in the other map.
Spatial Characteristics: The space is an "interstitial zone" protected by the anchor chain’s power and is relatively isolated from the host map. Its stability and size are dependent on the user’s authority Level.
Qin Ziwen scanned the new function and understood. ’So now I can stay on other maps long-term.’
He subconsciously thought of the person who had been raising the Giant Rock Dragon.
’That person only left behind an anchor point imprint, not a retention zone. Does that mean their anchor chain function was only Level 3 and hadn’t reached Level 4?’
’Considering they had Level 4 Authority, I shouldn’t be any weaker than them in that regard. I might even surpass them in certain functions.’
...
The next day, Mogu returned from his deep-sea explorations with a new piece of Extraordinary prey.
It was an ocean sunfish.
[Extraordinary Heavy Car Fish: ☆☆☆☆★] Level 1 Rigid Muscles
By the time it was brought ashore, however, it was already on the verge of death. Its body was covered in a thick layer of mucus, its eyes were bulging, and trickles of blood seeped from its gills as its mouth gaped open and shut.
"It looks like it has internal injuries," Qin Ziwen observed.
Mogu explained, "I found it a thousand meters below the surface. Its body is incredibly heavy, and it relies on the pressure of the deep sea for structural support. Once it left that environment and came ashore, its own muscles crushed its internal organs. They’re basically pulp now."
Qin Ziwen was astonished. ’What a bizarre creature.’
’It doesn’t even need anyone to kill it; it just dies the moment it’s on land.’
"No matter," he said. "It’s perfect to bring back for materials."
Qin Ziwen did a quick mental tally. ’Unknowingly, I’ve already collected eleven types of Extraordinary prey.’
Giant Rock Dragon, Silver Thread Snake, Black Nest Sea Urchin, Glowing Tridacna, Crowned Ribbonfish, Silver Bobbit Worm, Skull Spider, Spiritual Sheath Jellyfish, Bloodthirsty Sea Mite, Heavy Car Fish, and Short-snouted Black-scaled Fierce Snake.
The Spiritual Sheath Jellyfish and the Short-snouted Black-scaled Fierce Snake were currently being held in captivity, so he only had corpses for nine of them. Of course, the two captive creatures could be slaughtered and put to use at any time.
Just then, Liu San rushed over, a panicked expression on his face.
"Chief, the Spiritual Sheath Jellyfish we were raising... it’s dead."
Qin Ziwen’s expression remained neutral. ’Well, that settles that. No need to agonize over the decision now.’
The jellyfish had made the choice for him.
Still, he asked, "How did it die?"
"It killed itself. That Spiritual Sheath Jellyfish had been restless ever since we captured it, always trying to crawl onto land. This time, when the caretaker wasn’t looking, it climbed out of its pool and dried to death on the shore."
Qin Ziwen frowned at first, but then his expression relaxed.
’Extraordinary Beasts are wild and difficult to tame. Accidents are to be expected.’
"And the snake?"
"The new Big White Snake is quite docile. It just eats and sleeps all day," Liu San said, terrified. He was worried he would be blamed for the accident with the Spiritual Sheath Jellyfish.
The jellyfish was a rare creature his master was raising, and he had heard stories of servants being beaten to death for letting a noble’s pet die.
Seeing Liu San’s frightened state, Qin Ziwen said, "It’s dead, and that’s that. The jellyfish was highly venomous, and you were all very cautious while handling it. Accidents are bound to happen."
Liu San was so grateful he was moved to tears. "You are too benevolent, Chief!"
Although it was a pity, Qin Ziwen truly didn’t blame Liu San and his men.
He had already expected that raising Extraordinary Creatures would be difficult.
Besides, as far as he knew, jellyfish were fragile creatures to begin with and died easily in captivity. Not to mention, it was highly venomous and couldn’t be touched carelessly.
"You may go."
After dismissing Liu San, Qin Ziwen took Mogu to the cellar dedicated to storing the corpses of his Extraordinary prey.
They carried the corpses out. In the case of the Giant Rock Dragon, only its head remained. The Card had noted that Extraordinary Spoils of War could be either a complete corpse or a significant vital organ.
Drawing on his experience with the Abyssal Ruins, Qin Ziwen went to an empty plot of land beside it. He piled the various prey before him and activated the Card!
VMMMM—
The colorful Miracle Card flew out, a transparent ripple spreading from its surface.
The ten Spoils of War below were engulfed by the light and absorbed into the Card.
The Card then enveloped an 80-by-100-meter area of empty ground before him.
This footprint was as large as most Advanced Buildings.
When the light faded, a long ladder reaching toward the sky had appeared.
At the top of the ladder was a massive stone gate.
The stone gate was ten meters wide and twenty meters high.
In the very center of the gate swirled a vortex that looked like a starry nebula.
[Miracle: Eternal Hunting Tomb - Level 1]
[Miracle Effect: Burial]
[Current Growth Progress: 0/100,000]
As he focused on the word "Burial," profound, esoteric knowledge flooded his mind.
Burial: By burying prey in the Eternal Hunting Tomb, a Hunting Artifact for that specific species will be generated. This Hunting Artifact can grow indefinitely by consuming the corpses of its corresponding species.
When used to hunt that species, the Hunting Artifact will gain a species-bane property, granting it a significant boost in killing power.
[Prompt: Each time a Hunting Artifact levels up, it will permanently gain a new ability.]
Qin Ziwen found it all a bit esoteric. ’This Hunting Artifact sounds like a big deal.’
He would have to experiment to see its actual effects, though. He still had a spare corpse from the Glowing Tridacna he’d hunted earlier.
He had Mogu shoulder the corpse, and the two of them ascended the long ladder to the gate.
Passing through the stone gate, the scenery before them opened up dramatically.
Before them was a plain that stretched as far as the eye could see. Countless gray feathers drifted down from the sky, melting the instant they touched the ground and merging with the earth.
The landscape was barren, with no tombstones or graves in sight.
"Dig. Dig a hole and bury it."
...
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