Chapter 342 : Aina Advances to Transcendent
Chapter 342: Aina Advances to Transcendent
“Reporting to the four lords, my lord has been in secluded cultivation inside the stone tower for the past two years. Even I am currently unable to contact him.”
“However, according to the usual schedule, the stone tower will open temporarily within the next few days to receive supplies. At that time, I can help pass along any messages from the four lords.”
After hearing Su Mei's explanation, although Duanmu Ruibo and the others were somewhat curious about what Zhou Ming was doing, they did not continue asking.
Instead, Duanmu Ruibo turned to Chu Yujie and the other two.
“Since it will still be several days before we can meet Young Friend Zhou Ming, perhaps the three of you should return to Qinghui Base first. There is no need to waste your time accompanying this old man here.”
“Family Head Duanmu, you jest. Since you have come to the territory of our Qinghui Base, it is naturally our duty to fulfill our responsibilities as hosts.”
“We have also heard that an auction is about to be held within the camp. This gives us a good opportunity to broaden our horizons.”
At the side, Qinghui Beast Taming University Principal Chen Siping immediately rejected Duanmu Ruibo's proposal with a smile.
The main reason the three of them had accompanied Duanmu Ruibo was that they feared he might conduct private transactions with Zhou Ming and undermine their interests in Snake King Fortress.
After all, over the past two years, the factions behind the three of them had earned considerable profits through their cooperation with Zhou Ming.
“Since the three of you are in such high spirits today, then let us trouble Chief Steward Su to lead the way and allow us to experience the auction held by Snake King Fortress.”
Duanmu Ruibo had already guessed Chen Siping's intentions, so he could only accept their company.
After all, if he suddenly paid a visit himself, he would likewise harbor various suspicions if he were in their shoes.
After hearing Duanmu Ruibo's request, Su Mei personally led the four of them toward the auction venue.
As Duanmu Ruibo and the others appeared, the many Beast Tamers and Hunters became even more interested in the auction organized by Snake King Fortress.
Meanwhile, Zhou Ming had already noticed the arrival of Duanmu Ruibo and the others.
After all, when Transcendent Experts entered his territory without deliberately concealing their auras, it was impossible for him not to notice.
However, due to a special situation, he could only postpone receiving them for the time being.
Because the Catgirl Aina was currently at the critical stage of advancing to Transcendent Rank.
On the sixth floor of the stone tower, Catgirl Aina sat cross-legged.
Large quantities of Source Crystals and various resources had been placed around her as materials for her advancement to Transcendent Rank.
Possessing the Catgirl bloodline, she required no special ritual formation. She only needed sufficient resources during the advancement process to compensate for the energy demands of her bloodline.
“My lord, I am beginning.”
Looking at the tall and slender figure in the distance, Aina could not help but feel that fate was truly unpredictable.
Back when she had fallen into her lord's hands, she had originally thought she would suffer endless torment. At one point, she had even entertained thoughts of death.
Yet who could have imagined that the Catgirl who had once become a little cook would still have a chance to advance to Transcendent Rank after falling into human hands?
“Begin.”
Hearing Aina seek his approval, Zhou Ming responded calmly.
Upon hearing his voice, Aina took a deep breath before slowly closing her eyes and activating the Catgirl bloodline within her body.
As her Catgirl bloodline became active, her figure immediately turned illusory, as though she were being enveloped by a layer of shadows.
Facing the changes occurring within Aina, Zhou Ming immediately activated his Dark-gold Serpent Pupils, causing the dark-gold patterns around his irises to begin rotating.
The reason he was personally protecting Aina's advancement was not only to prevent accidents but also to collect data on a Transcendent-level Catgirl bloodline.
When the Catgirl bloodline within Aina reached its peak activity, large amounts of Shadow Energy Particles began gathering throughout the sixth floor of the stone tower.
The various materials arranged around Aina were then drawn by the Shadow Energy Particles and gradually refined and absorbed into her body.
Not long afterward, the sixth floor of the stone tower became completely engulfed in black mist.
This was a phenomenon formed purely from Shadow Power.
At this moment, Aina's Catgirl bloodline was undergoing a mysterious transformation with the aid of the various resources and Shadow Power.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the camp, the auction officially began.
Dressed in a formal gown, Su Mei appeared upon the auction platform.
Ordinarily, there was no need for her to personally host the auction. However, with Duanmu Ruibo and the others present, it was only natural for her to appear in person.
The tailored black evening gown perfectly accentuated her figure.
Inside the auction hall, several Beast Tamers who were visiting the camp for the first time noticed Su Mei's appearance. Seeing the combination of sensuality and wild beauty she exuded, they immediately began whispering among themselves.
“I heard the chief steward of Snake King Fortress is extremely powerful. I didn't expect her figure to be this impressive as well. Do you think she climbed to her position through her body?”
“Who knows? For a woman to manage such a massive camp, she must have the support of that lord behind her.”
The group quietly exchanged remarks, their words carrying a hint of vulgarity, causing several nearby Beast Tamers to frown.
However, before anyone could stop them—
A terrifying aura suddenly descended from outside the auction hall.
Inside VIP Room No. 1, Duanmu Ruibo and the other three immediately sensed it.
“It seems someone is advancing to Transcendent Rank.”
“This isn't the aura produced by a Beast Tamer's advancement.”
“I remember Zhou Ming has a Catgirl under his command.”
With only a few brief exchanges, the four immediately realized what was happening and rushed out of the auction venue to investigate.
As for everyone else who was unaware of the situation, panic immediately spread after they sensed the terrifying aura.
Seeing this, Su Mei immediately took out the token bestowed upon her by Zhou Ming and infused it with her own fury, activating the runes spread throughout the camp to suppress the unrest.
“Everyone, there are four Transcendent Experts present at this auction. There is no need to worry about any danger.”
“Anyone who dares use this opportunity to disrupt order will be executed on the spot.”
Empowered by the runes, Su Mei's strength reached the peak of the Professional Rank.
At the same time, her Black Iron Dragon Lizard appeared on the auction platform.
Its appearance was both dragon-like and lizard-like, its entire body covered in black scales as a dragon's might spread throughout the auction hall.
The frightened crowd, after hearing Su Mei's declaration, did not dare make any unnecessary movements.
“Chief Steward Su, may we go outside and take a look?”
“You may. The auction is temporarily suspended.”
Hearing the request, Su Mei immediately agreed because she herself also wanted to know what was happening.
When everyone exited the auction hall, they discovered that the streets of the Nightshade Market were already filled with Beast Tamers and Hunters.
And every one of them was staring in the same direction—
Toward the stone tower.
Within the underground cavern that had previously been brightly illuminated, on the opposite side of Nightshade Market, a storm formed from Shadow Energy Particles had become visible to the naked eye.
“This is...”
Upon seeing this abnormal phenomenon, Su Mei immediately recalled what her lord had told her some time ago.
Without the slightest hesitation, she activated the camp's highest alert level.
All armed forces of Snake King Fortress were mobilized to maintain order.
Meanwhile, the four figures standing in midair—Duanmu Ruibo and the others—had already become completely certain that this phenomenon was caused by someone advancing to Transcendent Rank.
They had never imagined that this visit to Snake King Fortress Camp would allow them to witness the birth of another Transcendent Expert within Snake King Fortress.
For a moment, each of them was lost in their own thoughts.