Chapter 15: Exploration
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
Even though Lin Ze had already ascended to the rank of Martial Artist and gained immense strength far beyond his previous capabilities, the sense of crisis deep in his heart had not diminished one bit.
The mysteries shrouding the descent of the apocalypse remained unresolved, cloaked in an impenetrable veil of uncertainty.
In Weifeng City, countless Monstrous Beasts roamed, and among them were terrifying Savage Types with unparalleled power. This left Lin Ze with no room to relax in his pursuit of strength.
Only by continually advancing his power could he gain a sliver of inner peace.
Brushing aside his thoughts, Lin Ze left Baiyun Forest Park and returned to his residential area. The unease brought by the Blood Moon only deepened his desire to grow stronger.
Back home, Lin Ze began planning his next steps.
The first priority was to find more Martial Dao True Steles.
The importance of martial techniques in enhancing a martial artist’s combat effectiveness was beyond dispute. The more techniques one mastered, the stronger their combat abilities, granting greater adaptability in various situations.
The argument that time and effort were limited, and thus quality should outweigh quantity, did not apply to the Vampires, who possessed limitless lifespans.
Lin Ze had more than enough time to practice numerous techniques.
More importantly, the signs displayed when cultivating the Black Blade technique had shown that breakthroughs in techniques allowed the body to absorb vast amounts of world energy, causing a dramatic surge in True Qi.
In other words, mastering more techniques and achieving breakthroughs would allow him to expand his True Qi reserves more quickly and open his acupoints faster.
This approach would not only enhance his combat strength but also accelerate the unlocking of acupoints, achieving both goals simultaneously!
Thus, training in more techniques was imperative.
To find more techniques, Lin Ze needed to locate additional Martial Dao True Steles.
Entering his bedroom, Lin Ze’s eyes landed on the oversized custom map of Weifeng City that now covered nearly half the wall, replacing the decorative items and paintings that previously adorned it. The map, measuring 1.4 meters by 1.1 meters, had been sourced from the City Library, perfectly suited for his upcoming exploration plans.
Taking a pencil, Lin Ze drew a small stele icon at the location of Weifeng’s First Hospital, annotating it with the word “Black Blade.”
After some thought, he marked a pawprint icon at the intersection nearby and labeled it “Frost Blade Leopard.”
“Apart from the Martial Dao True Steles, the locations of Savage Types and large groups of Monstrous Beasts must also be marked,” he murmured.
Weifeng City was teeming with Monstrous Beasts, and even if Savage Types comprised only a fraction of a percent, their numbers were still staggering.
Mapping out the approximate distribution of these Savage Types would help improve his hunting efficiency, making it easier to gather Exotic Beast Materials, while also allowing him to avoid particularly dangerous creatures.
He recalled the horrifying beasts he had once seen on television in other cities, like the Scarlet Giant Python, Golden-Backed Giant Ape, and Dragon.
Their sheer size and aura indicated they were far superior to the Black-Armored Python. Their Life Energy Levels were likely close to 20 or even surpassed it, placing them among the Forbidden Species, which were of an even higher tier than Savage Types.
If a True Qi Stage Martial Artist encountered such beasts, escape would be the only option.
And even managing to flee would be a stroke of luck.
“It’s unfortunate that the Heritage Information only activates upon seeing the creature in person. Memories alone aren’t enough to determine the levels of these three beasts,” Lin Ze thought to himself. “I wonder if such beasts exist in Weifeng City?”
After contemplating for a moment, Lin Ze marked the Jinxing Square and the artificial lake behind his residential area with corresponding icons, labeled as “Unknown Ant Swarm” and “Unknown Crocodilian Monstrous Beast.”
These locations were based on the information he had overheard from other residents on the day of the Blood-Eyed Wolf attack.
The monstrous beast inhabiting the artificial lake, particularly the massive crocodilian creature, was especially intimidating. Spanning over thirty meters in length, it was undoubtedly a Savage Type beast. Such aquatic beasts were far more challenging to handle than their land-based counterparts.
For a predator of this magnitude, only those cultivating Martial Arts Techniques that specifically required its materials would dare confront it. Otherwise, avoiding such a dangerous entity was the wisest course of action.
“I need to identify a Dormancy site soon, even if it feels early. It’s better to plan ahead,” Lin Ze muttered.
For vampires, the choice of Dormancy location was of paramount importance. Any disturbance during this period could force premature awakening, disrupting the blood transformation process and requiring significant recovery time. Thus, selecting a site that was both secure and secluded was essential.
Higher-ranking vampires, such as those of baron status, often commanded thralls to guard their Dormancy sanctuaries, ensuring no external interference. Unfortunately, Lin Ze had yet to achieve Knight Rank and awaken the power of the First Embrace, which meant he couldn’t create thralls. He had no choice but to locate a site that guaranteed solitude on his own.
Thankfully, in the depopulated apocalyptic world, finding an uninhabited location was not difficult. The wilderness offered countless areas that met these conditions. Most monstrous beasts had migrated to cities to hunt humans, leaving the countryside relatively less dangerous. If needed, Lin Ze could retreat into a remote mountain forest, dig a hole, bury a coffin, and seal himself away.
“Before my Blood Factor Concentration reaches 100%, securing a Dormancy location is a priority.”
With this goal in mind, Lin Ze refocused his attention on the map. Weifeng City was a second-tier city, sprawling across approximately 3,000 square kilometers. It would take two to three hours to traverse the city by car. However, thoroughly exploring the entire area was a monumental task that Lin Ze couldn’t complete alone.
Collaboration was necessary. Weifeng City still harbored survivors with whom Lin Ze could exchange intelligence, reducing the workload. Ideally, if ordinary survivors had access to Heritage Information, he could have enlisted them, developed a survivor faction, and delegated exploration tasks. Unfortunately, ordinary survivors lacked the ability to accurately assess the dangers posed by monstrous beasts. As a result, Lin Ze had to personally gather such crucial intelligence.
“Starting tomorrow night, I’ll spend a few hours each evening exploring Flat Ridge Town,” Lin Ze decided.
Flat Ridge Town, his current place of residence, was situated in the southwestern part of Weifeng City. With a relatively small population, the area had seen fewer Savage Types over the past four months of the apocalypse. Among the various districts of Weifeng City, Flat Ridge Town was one of the least challenging areas to navigate. Completing a detailed survey here would provide a solid foundation for Lin Ze’s future operations.
Having settled his plan, Lin Ze returned to the living room. He cooked a meal of Beast Meat and Black-Armored Python Skin, consumed it, and began cultivating.
At the First Layer of the True Qi Stage, Lin Ze had only unlocked a single acupoint. The road ahead remained arduous and lengthy. Thankfully, his Martial Arts Techniques synergized perfectly with the special abilities of his vampiric lineage, accelerating his progress. Without this advantage, relying solely on his vampiric powers, he had no idea how long it would take to raise his Blood Factor Concentration to a level capable of challenging Savage Types.