Chapter 360 : Supernatural Incident
Chapter 360: Supernatural Incident
The arrival of a Transcendent expert naturally caused quite a stir throughout Ironwood Base.
However, among the base's upper echelon, most had already guessed the purpose of Zhou Ming's visit.
The name "Ironwood" originated from the Iron Pine Trees that grew within a mountain range stretching over a hundred kilometers from north to south, located fifty kilometers west of the base.
This type of tree was as hard as steel, possessed exceptional toughness, and was considerably lighter in weight.
Moreover, it served as an excellent Rune carrier, making it one of the finest materials for constructing special buildings.
As a result, Iron Pine Trees had become one of Ironwood Base's most important resources. Every year, the various factions within the base fought by every possible means to obtain larger harvesting quotas.
To facilitate the collection of Iron Pine Timber, Ironwood Base had even established a small base near the mountain range.
However, one month earlier, that small base had suddenly become engulfed by a dense fog, completely losing contact with Ironwood Base.
Faced with such an abnormal situation, the Alliance officials at Ironwood Base had dispatched multiple investigation teams.
Among them were even two squads composed entirely of Professional Beast Tamers.
Unexpectedly, the small base shrouded in dense fog had become a forbidden land from which there was no return.
Every investigation team that entered vanished without a trace.
It should be known that Ironwood Base possessed fewer than one hundred Professional Beast Tamers in total.
Losing more than ten Professional Beast Tamers had dealt the base an extremely severe blow.
As a result, the matter was reported to Alliance Headquarters to request reinforcements.
However, because Alliance Headquarters currently had no idle Transcendent experts available, the mission was ultimately handed over to the Hunter Guild.
In the end, the task fell into Zhou Ming's hands.
...
In the western district of Ironwood Base stood a highly conspicuous ten-story building.
It was the headquarters of the Hunter Guild.
Compared with Qinshan Base, which was located near the Alliance border, the buildings within Ironwood Base were noticeably taller.
When Zhou Ming's military vehicle arrived, the senior members of the Ironwood Base Hunter Guild, having already received notice, were waiting outside.
“Greetings, Lord Zhou Ming.”
As Zhou Ming stepped out of the vehicle, a group led by a white-bearded old man bowed respectfully before the entrance to the Hunter Guild.
“Lord Zhou Ming, I am Gu Donghai, the Branch President of the Ironwood Base Hunter Guild.”
After introducing himself, the white-bearded elder pointed toward a bespectacled middle-aged man standing beside him.
“This is Ji Changfa, the Council Leader of Ironwood Base.”
“Greetings, Lord Zhou.”
As the administrator of an Alliance Base, Ji Changfa displayed a trace of ingratiating respect toward Zhou Ming.
As for everyone else present, none of them were even qualified to step forward and speak.
“My apologies for troubling you both. I'm only here to complete a Hunter Guild mission, so there's no need for excessive formalities.”
“I'd like to know whether you possess any detailed intelligence regarding this mission.”
Given Zhou Ming's current strength, there was no need to exchange unnecessary pleasantries.
He simply wanted to complete the mission as soon as possible before heading to the coast.
After all, the sooner he obtained the bloodline of that Lord-level sea serpent, the sooner his own strength could advance.
“Well...”
Gu Donghai hesitated briefly before continuing.
“Lord Zhou, perhaps we should first enter the Hunter Guild. I'll explain everything in detail there.”
Hearing Gu Donghai's request, Zhou Ming did not refuse.
...
A short while later, inside the VIP reception room of the Hunter Guild headquarters, Zhou Ming sat upon a genuine leather sofa while listening to Gu Donghai and Ji Changfa's detailed report.
“At night, strange human figures appear inside the dense fog surrounding Xiaolin Base?”
Hearing Gu Donghai's report, Zhou Ming's expression became slightly solemn.
He immediately recalled the information regarding the Supernatural Revival that he had learned while attending the Scorpion-Lion's engagement banquet.
As Blue Star was gradually being devoured by Tamu World, the very essence of Blue Star was slipping into death.
Supernatural incidents would inevitably begin appearing throughout the Alliance.
“Yes, Lord Zhou. That is indeed the case.”
“Because of Xiaolin Base's abnormal condition, we've kept people monitoring it at all times, which is how we discovered these strange phenomena.”
“Previously, several people approached Xiaolin Base too closely and had their minds confused by an unknown force, which lured them into the fog.”
“For that reason, we now conduct all observations from a great distance.”
Gu Donghai dared not conceal anything and immediately explained everything from beginning to end.
“I understand.”
“Arrange a room for me to rest.”
“I'll personally investigate tonight.”
Since there was no additional useful intelligence available, Zhou Ming decided to inspect the place himself that very night.
“Lord Zhou, since you've made the trip all the way here, I've arranged a welcoming banquet. If you would be willing to—”
After Gu Donghai finished explaining the abnormalities surrounding the Xiaolin Forbidden Land, Ji Changfa cautiously lowered his voice and attempted to ask whether Zhou Ming would attend the banquet.
“Council Leader Ji, I appreciate your kindness.”
“But there's no need to hold a banquet.”
Zhou Ming naturally had no interest in wasting his time and energy on meaningless social gatherings, so he directly declined Ji Changfa's goodwill.
Afterward, he dismissed both Gu Donghai and Ji Changfa.
...
Night gradually descended, and a bright full moon rose into the sky.
Zhou Ming's figure appeared outside Ironwood Base.
Riding upon his Innate Force Field, he flew westward.
In less than ten minutes, he crossed several dozen kilometers and arrived near Xiaolin Base, which was enveloped by dense fog.
Xiaolin Base had originally been established to harvest Iron Pine Timber from the Green Pine Mountain Range.
Consequently, the base had been built against the mountains, nestled within a mountain valley.
Beneath the moonlight, Zhou Ming could clearly see that the several-kilometer-wide Xiaolin Base had been completely swallowed by an icy white mist.
As moonlight shone into the fog, it resembled a shadow puppet performance.
Bizarre human silhouettes continuously flickered within the mist.
Ordinarily, the wilderness beneath the night sky was far from silent.
Yet now, not even the chirping of insects nor the roars of Ferocious Beasts could be heard.
It was as though every living creature in the wilderness had sensed the presence of an unknown danger.
Watching the countless shadows continuously emerging within the dense fog, Zhou Ming frowned and did not immediately enter.
Compared to enemies that could be seen and touched, these bizarre Spirit-type entities were incomparably more dangerous.
“The Supernatural Revival...”
“It seems I need to prepare some methods specifically for dealing with supernatural entities.”
At that moment, the first place Zhou Ming thought of was White Bone City.
However, before that, he first needed to resolve the situation before him.
He plucked a single strand of hair and activated the Blood Descendant Secret Technique · Snake Shadow Clones.
As Bloodline Power flowed into the strand of hair, it was immediately wrapped in layers of shadow.
The next moment, another Zhou Ming materialized before him.
After the Blood Descendant Secret Technique had been perfected once more, all of its derivative techniques had likewise been strengthened.
Although the clone's strength had not reached the Transcendent Rank, it could still unleash the power of a High-level Professional Beast Tamer for a short period.
“If I'm unable to return...”
“Destroy this place from the outside.”
The clone possessed Zhou Ming's memories and consciousness.
It had been created through Zhou Ming's Will Rune in conjunction with his Bloodline Power and the Power of Shadow.
It could be said that the clone was an extension of Zhou Ming's will, just as one's limbs were extensions of one's body.
After leaving those final words to his original body, the clone descended to the ground.
Under Zhou Ming's watchful gaze, it immediately sprinted toward the dense white fog ahead.