Recaps

Su Ming learned that An Zijin had received an Extracurricular Sequence Spiritual Art technique book from a mysterious woman she called Black-Clad Sister. He took the book to study and grew wary of the woman’s possible motives, then left An Zijin’s room as she reluctantly asked whether he was leaving before they had even found a towel.

• Su Ming asked An Zijin where she had obtained the rare Extracurricular Sequence Spiritual Art technique book, and she said someone had given it to her.
• An Zijin explained that she had met the veiled, black-clad woman she called Black-Clad Sister while living alone in Yinze City, and that the woman had comforted her and given her the book before she returned to Longyao City.
• Su Ming suspected Black-Clad Sister might have ulterior motives and resolved to pay closer attention to the people around An Zijin.
• An Zijin said she could not learn the technique and offered the book to Su Ming, who agreed to take it home and study it.
• After chatting, Su Ming stood to leave, and An Zijin asked whether he was leaving already because they had not even found a towel.

Su Ming examined an Extracurricular Sequence Spiritual Art that could enslave Phantom Demons, then called Xu Qianqian after his bees returned with signs of the suspicious group. Xu Qianqian left despite Li Wei’s objections and met Su Ming in a secluded corner, where she felt more comfortable with him than with others.

• Su Ming studied the Spiritual Art An Zijin had given him, weighed its risks and benefits, and decided to try learning it while watching for possible tampering.
• Su Ming recognized the bees he had sent to search for the suspicious group and called Xu Qianqian to report that he might have found traces of them.
• Xu Qianqian prepared to leave for the meeting, but Li Wei tried to stop her because she needed rest before the next day’s mission.
• Xu Qianqian brushed past Li Wei and arrived at the secluded meeting place, where Su Ming teased her for being late.
• Xu Qianqian admitted Li Wei had delayed her and privately thought that being with Su Ming felt more comfortable.

Su Ming and Xu Qianqian raced through Huaming District to track a suspicious group pursuing a Phantom Demon that may have fled toward the coming Spirit Fiend Abyss entrance. They reached Warehouse Street, where Xu Qianqian was energized after drinking Su Ming’s blood and he was left exhausted.

• Su Ming explained that his bee-based detection methods suggested the suspicious group was still in Huaming District, and Xu Qianqian agreed they could not easily leave during the emergency.
• Su Ming and Xu Qianqian concluded that the suspicious group had followed its Phantom Demon target into Huaming District, possibly because it was seeking refuge in the Spirit Fiend Abyss.
• Su Ming said the group’s movements would be constrained by the soldiers and Professionals in Huaming District, giving his bees a better chance of locating them.
• Xu Qianqian asked to drink some of Su Ming’s blood to relieve her fatigue, and he realized she was lusting after him.
• Su Ming and Xu Qianqian arrived at Warehouse Street, where Xu Qianqian supported the pale, weak Su Ming after drinking his blood.

After Xu Qianqian nearly drained Su Ming while drinking his blood, the two followed her bees into a warehouse district to investigate a suspicious group. Disguised and prepared to flee if discovered, they infiltrated the warehouses, where a mysterious creature opened its watery-blue eyes.

• Xu Qianqian admitted she had lost control while drinking Su Ming's blood, then refused to swear she would never drink it again.
• Xu Qianqian followed her bees toward the warehouse district and persuaded Su Ming to join her investigation under their contract.
• Su Ming and Xu Qianqian agreed to escape immediately if they were discovered and used disguises to conceal their identities.
• Su Ming and Xu Qianqian quietly infiltrated the warehouse district.
• Deep inside a warehouse, a mysterious creature opened its watery-blue eyes and made a faint, musical cry.

Su Ming and Xu Qianqian infiltrated Warehouse Street to investigate the masked group, using a potion and a distraction to slip past its guards. They reached a heavily guarded area and estimated the group’s strength, but a faint, unusual sound interrupted them before they could decide how to proceed.

• Su Ming and Xu Qianqian found masked, armed guards in Warehouse Street and decided to infiltrate their perimeter.
• Xu Qianqian and Su Ming drank potions that concealed their presence, then used a thrown stone to distract the guards and rushed past them.
• The pair sneaked deeper through the area, evading several groups of One-Star Professionals.
• Su Ming and Xu Qianqian encountered stronger guards and estimated that the group numbered nearly thirty, including a suspected Three-Star leader and several Two-Star Professionals.
• As Xu Qianqian said they could not advance using the same method, Su Ming heard a faint, unusual sound.

Su Ming heard an alluring voice calling “Meiling” and wanted to investigate the guarded area, but he and Xu Qianqian chose to capture a lone patrol member instead. A figure ambushed three One-Star Professionals, leaving them incapacitated.

• Su Ming heard a voice that sounded like singing and weeping, identified its direction, and told Xu Qianqian that something important might be there.
• Su Ming and Xu Qianqian considered capturing a lone enemy or creating a diversion, then chose the safer plan of secretly capturing someone for interrogation.
• Three One-Star Professionals patrolled Warehouse Street and complained about being trapped there as the Spirit Fiend Abyss opening and war approached.
• A hidden figure caught the thug’s weapon, struck him in the stomach, and used Seventh Style: Ash Shackles to restrain his two teammates.

Su Ming and Xu Qianqian captured and interrogated several suspicious men, learning they were mercenaries from the underground organization Sin hired by a high-ranking Base City official. The mission was to capture a Phantom Demon, which turned out to be both a Greater Phantasmal Demon cub and a mutant.

• Su Ming used Ash Bind and threats involving a scorpion to frighten the captured thug into cooperating.
• The thug revealed that his group was made up of unregistered Underground Professionals hired for a mission.
• The thug identified the group as mercenaries from Sin, a powerful underground organization with a darknet and Seven-Star Hunter leaders.
• Xu Qianqian told Su Ming that Sin operated across coastal and inland Base Cities, undermining their earlier assumptions about the group.
• The thug revealed that the target was a Greater Phantasmal Demon cub and that the demon itself was a mutant.

Su Ming and Xu Qianqian realized the hunted cub belonged to a Mutated Greater Phantasmal Demon and could evolve into a Nightmare Breed, making its bloodline extraordinarily valuable. As Su Ming questioned why the Base City’s higher-ups had involved Sin in the capture, an explosion erupted deep in Warehouse Street.

• Xu Qianqian explained that the cub could evolve into a Nightmare Breed and that its bloodline could attract factions from many Base Cities.
• Su Ming considered the danger of his own bottle of Nightmare Breed blood being discovered and asked whether humans possessed such bloodlines.
• Su Ming questioned why the higher-ups had posted the capture mission through the dark web and enlisted Sin, then suspected the thug might be hiding something.
• Su Ming raised the scorpion to pressure the terrified thug while Xu Qianqian silently considered the suspicious circumstances.
• An explosion lit up a corner of Warehouse Street, startling the thug, his teammates, Su Ming, and Xu Qianqian.

Su Ming and Xu Qianqian learned that the Phantasmal Demon Cub had escaped and debated whether to intervene or let it return to the Spirit Fiend Abyss. They headed toward the commotion, where Yi Junchuan and the 'Sin' mercenaries were pursuing the cub.

• Su Ming deduced that the escaped cub had caused the explosion, and Xu Qianqian said she could not let it fall into others' hands or endanger Longyao City.
• Su Ming urged Xu Qianqian to let the cub return to the Spirit Fiend Abyss, warning that taking it could trigger a power struggle and further conflict.
• Su Ming knocked out the three Underground Professionals and the scorpion Alchemy Tool, then hid them in a shipping container.
• Xu Qianqian decided to investigate, and Su Ming went with her so they could decide what to do after seeing the situation.
• Yi Junchuan and the 'Sin' mercenaries surrounded the water-vapor Phantasmal Demon Cub, but it fled toward Su Ming and Xu Qianqian.

Xu Qianqian and Su Ming witnessed Yi Junchuan’s underground mercenaries capture a Phantasmal Demon Cub, and Xu Qianqian attacked to stop them. As Yi Junchuan fought her while his men restrained the cub, Su Ming saw his chance to act.

• Xu Qianqian noticed the approaching group and pulled Su Ming into the shadows, where they watched Yi Junchuan’s Warlocks trap the fleeing Phantasmal Demon Cub.
• Yi Junchuan’s men bound the cub with Alchemical Demon Ropes, and he resolved to complete his mission in exchange for help advancing to four stars.
• Xu Qianqian sprang from hiding and stabbed at Yi Junchuan, who used a subordinate as a shield and then fought her with his blade.
• Yi Junchuan ordered his men to keep restraining the cub while he faced Xu Qianqian, and the two Warlocks turned their attention toward her.
• Su Ming watched the group become occupied and recognized an opportunity.

Su Ming revealed his immense Spiritual Power and rescued the Water Mist Phantom Demon by freeing it from its bindings, then devastated the Underground Professionals with powerful Spiritual Arts. After Yi Junchuan knocked Xu Qianqian down and tried to kill her, Su Ming intervened and saved her.

• Su Ming used Sickle Arc Slash to sever the Water Mist Phantom Demon’s restraints, allowing it to escape as Yi Junchuan ordered the Underground Professionals to pursue it.
• Su Ming unleashed Scorching Flame Hot Plain across Warehouse Street, killing more than half of the Underground Professionals and badly burning two Two-Star Hunters.
• A scorpion poisoned one Two-Star Warlock, and Su Ming killed the other with Sickle Arc Slash.
• Enraged by his losses, Yi Junchuan drove Xu Qianqian into a shipping container and battered her until she fell, then raised his giant blade to strike her.
• Su Ming struck Yi Junchuan with Sickle Arc Slash and sent him crashing away, then told Xu Qianqian that he had warned her not to make a move.

Su Ming rescued Xu Qianqian and defeated the Underground Professionals with powerful Spiritual Arts and prepared traps. As he restrained Yi Junchuan and tried to stop him from taking a potion, Yi Junchuan crushed the bottle in his teeth and swallowed it, unleashing a fierce aura.

• Su Ming gave Xu Qianqian an Alchemy Potion after his Spiritual Art wiped out the enemy Professionals around Warehouse Street.
• Su Ming and Xu Qianqian faced Yi Junchuan as he attacked from the sky, but Su Ming's Bubble Mines and invisible chains trapped him.
• Su Ming prepared a powerful Spiritual Art, then blasted the potion bottle from Yi Junchuan's hand with Flying Arrow.
• Yi Junchuan tore off one arm to break free from part of the restraints and crushed the potion bottle in his teeth.
• Yi Junchuan swallowed the potion and fragments, and a fierce, violent aura began to rise from his body.

Yi Junchuan used a Demonization Elixir and transformed into a powerful monster, forcing Su Ming and Xu Qianqian into a desperate fight. Su Ming and Xu Qianqian fought back with Spiritual Arts, chains, and an Alchemy Potion, gaining a faint ability to resist him.

• Yi Junchuan transformed through Demonization after taking an elixir, and Xu Qianqian identified it as a Demonization Elixir.
• Su Ming gave Xu Qianqian a bottle of Alchemy Potion and tried to hide as Yi Junchuan broke free of his restraints and charged.
• Yi Junchuan endured Su Ming's Bubble Mines and dispersed his Spiral Fire with a punch before striking what appeared to be Su Ming.
• Su Ming escaped the blow and bound Yi Junchuan with Stagnation Lock while Xu Qianqian attacked him with her daggers.
• Xu Qianqian drank the Dragon Blood Elixir (Imitation), strengthened her attacks, and wounded Yi Junchuan.
• Su Ming repeatedly restrained Yi Junchuan with Stagnation Lock while Xu Qianqian evaded his blows and continued attacking.

Su Ming and Xu Qianqian realized Yi Junchuan’s Demonization was incomplete and used their techniques and Alchemy Tools to turn the fight against him. After Su Ming tricked Yi Junchuan with a Strawman and Xu Qianqian struck him with Dragon Blood Elixir-enhanced strength, the wind-and-sand beasts buried him beneath the rubble.

• Su Ming and Xu Qianqian recognized that Yi Junchuan’s incomplete Demonization left him vulnerable and renewed their attack.
• Su Ming unleashed Style 58: Wind Demon Chasing Roar, sending two wind-and-sand beasts after Yi Junchuan through the warehouse district.
• Yi Junchuan fled the beasts and, unable to locate Su Ming, charged at Xu Qianqian to force Su Ming out of hiding.
• Yi Junchuan struck a Strawman disguised as Xu Qianqian, and the decoy shattered to reveal Su Ming’s trick.
• Xu Qianqian kicked Yi Junchuan with strength enhanced by the Dragon Blood Elixir, and the two beasts of wind and sand slammed him into the ground and buried him in rubble.

Su Ming and Xu Qianqian believed they had defeated the Demonized Yi Junchuan, but he launched a final attack as they tried to leave. An Ice Spear from the sky stopped his strike, allowing Su Ming to finish him off, while the source of the spear remained unknown.

• Su Ming and Xu Qianqian discussed how rare and powerful High-level Professionals were, then turned to leave before the army arrived.
• Yi Junchuan burst out of the rubble and swung a devastating punch at Su Ming and Xu Qianqian.
• Xu Qianqian shielded Su Ming as Yi Junchuan's punch came down, and an indistinct pattern briefly appeared on Su Ming's forehead.
• An Ice Spear plunged through Yi Junchuan just before his punch struck Xu Qianqian.
• Su Ming used Style 28 · Spiral Fire to burn Yi Junchuan, who collapsed and died.

Su Ming and Xu Qianqian survived Yi Junchuan’s attack after a mysterious mist-shrouded figure struck him down, and the Phantasmal Demon Cub escaped. They returned to the Academy District, where Xu Qianqian planned to report the conspiracy but assured Su Ming that the people behind it would not have time to pursue the cub.

• A mist-shrouded figure sent an Ice Spear into Yi Junchuan, killing him, then vanished into the night sky.
• Xu Qianqian told Su Ming that she had protected him instinctively, and Su Ming said he owed her a favor he could never repay.
• Su Ming confirmed that the Phantasmal Demon Cub had escaped, and he and Xu Qianqian left before Base City’s armed helicopters arrived.
• Back in the Academy District, Xu Qianqian said she would report the plot to obtain a Nightmare Breed bloodline but would not reveal Su Ming’s involvement.
• Su Ming worried that the report would put the cub in danger, and Xu Qianqian replied that the people above would not have time to act.

With the Spirit Fiend Abyss entrance set to open the next day, Xu Qianqian and Su Ming discussed why the Base City officials were unlikely to act quickly over the Phantasmal Demon Cub. After their mission ended, Li Wei confronted Xu Qianqian about her closeness to Su Ming, and she insisted Su Ming was different from him.

• Xu Qianqian explained that political infighting and the approaching Spirit Fiend Abyss opening would keep Base City officials from making a major move to capture the Phantasmal Demon Cub.
• Xu Qianqian told Su Ming she would rather risk her life protecting someone she cared about, then confirmed their commission was complete after the cub escaped and the Sin mercenaries were wiped out.
• Xu Qianqian questioned why Su Ming had hidden his strength, but he called it a secret; she then drank a little of his blood before leaving for her residence.
• Li Wei told Xu Qianqian he had seen her with Su Ming and asked whether they were together, but she rejected his feelings and warned him not to force her to expose his motives.
• When Li Wei asked whether Su Ming had approached her with ulterior motives, Xu Qianqian said he was different from him, and Li Wei vowed to find out how.

After a dangerous encounter reminded Su Ming that his three-star strength was still inadequate, he resolved to accelerate his growth by pursuing the bloodline of a Nightmare Breed. He called someone who might help refine his Phantasmal Demon Blood, and the chapter ended as a pleasant voice answered.

• Su Ming returned to Suite 404 unnoticed but could not sleep as he recalled the danger and the young lady who had protected him.
• Su Ming reconsidered his strength and resolved to keep developing until he became the world's strongest side character.
• Su Ming considered awakening Pattern Sight but concluded that he could not force the process.
• Su Ming decided to seek a Nightmare Breed bloodline by having an alchemist refine his Phantasmal Demon Blood into Phantasmal Demon Elixir.
• Su Ming reluctantly called a number, and an extremely pleasant voice answered.

Su Ming called a teasing old acquaintance and asked her to find an alchemist capable of refining Nightmare Breed blood into Phantasmal Demon Elixir. She agreed in exchange for his company and warned him not to get involved with other women before her, leaving Su Ming resigned to her terms as he focused on the Huaming District battle.

• Su Ming called the girl late at night and asked her to find a highly skilled alchemist.
• Su Ming explained that the alchemist needed to refine Nightmare Breed blood into Phantasmal Demon Elixir, and the girl realized how serious the request was.
• The girl agreed to help if Su Ming would accompany her shopping, and Su Ming reluctantly accepted her terms.
• The girl warned Su Ming not to pursue the girl next door, his cold School Belle senior, or the two pretty junior girls before doing something good with her.
• The girl told Su Ming to focus on the Huaming District battle while she searched for an alchemist.

A Longyao City official argued with a leader of the underground organization "Sin" after their attempt to capture a Phantasmal Demon Cub failed, then arranged to retaliate against Xu Qianqian. The next morning, Su Ming caught up on sleep after a sleepless night, but someone entered his room.

• A High-level Professional blamed his contact in "Sin" for the failed mission and suspected they had used the operation to create chaos in Longyao City.
• The contact promised to keep the cub from leaving the present world before the Spirit Fiend Abyss entrance opened, while the High-level Professional agreed to conceal their cooperation.
• The High-level Professional ordered someone to have Xu Family members trouble Xu Qianqian and vowed to settle his own score with her.
• After dawn, Su Ming and his companions went to the Mission Hall at different times because Ye Bai had lost rock-paper-scissors and had to go first.
• Su Ming, exhausted from a sleepless night, went back to sleep, but someone slipped into his room.

Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei sneaked into Su Ming’s room to investigate his suspicious behavior, but found little in his luggage. The chapter ended with Jiang Wanyu deciding to search Su Ming himself as he slept.

• Jiang Wanyu persuaded the hesitant Yao Beibei to sneak into Su Ming’s room while he slept and investigate his belongings.
• Jiang Wanyu sent Yao Beibei to search Su Ming’s luggage while she searched the other side of the room.
• Yao Beibei accidentally pulled a pair of Su Ming’s shorts from his suitcase, startling both girls before she explained it was a coincidence.
• Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei found only daily necessities and wondered why Su Ming had no potions, tools, or demon materials among his belongings.
• Jiang Wanyu proposed searching Su Ming while he slept, then climbed onto his bed and told Yao Beibei to take the left side.

Su Ming woke to find Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei in his room after accidentally headbutting Jiang Wanyu and grabbing Yao Beibei. At breakfast, the three tried to hide what happened from An Zijin, while Su Ming insisted he had no idea why the girls had entered his room.

• Su Ming dreamed that two devils were searching his body, then woke and headbutted Jiang Wanyu as he sat up.
• Su Ming accidentally grabbed Yao Beibei while trying to catch himself, and both girls cried out as he realized they were in his room.
• At breakfast in Suite 404, Su Ming, Jiang Wanyu, and Yao Beibei repeatedly claimed nothing had happened, making An Zijin and Lei Hao suspicious.
• An Zijin worried that Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei had betrayed her, while Yao Beibei privately blamed Su Ming for the embarrassing incident.
• Su Ming focused on eating and protested that he had simply been sleeping and did not know why the girls had entered his room.

Su Ming's group prepared to complete five urgent missions and earn enough Contribution Points before the Spirit Fiend Abyss opened. After Ye Bai revealed Base City’s 100,000-point reward for reporting a mysterious Phantom Demon, Su Ming recognized the announcement as another attempt by the authorities to find him and silently challenged them to keep searching.

• An Zijin interrogated Su Ming without success, then told Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei that she had something important to discuss with them later.
• Su Ming teased Lei Hao about his family's supposed traditional craft, and An Zijin pinched Su Ming when she suspected his thoughts had become improper.
• Ye Bai returned exhausted from the Mission Hall and reported that he had secured five urgent missions worth nearly 60,000 Contribution Points in total.
• Ye Bai explained that completing the missions would help all six team members meet the academy's Contribution Point requirement before the Spirit Fiend Abyss opened the next day.
• Ye Bai reported that Base City was offering 100,000 Contribution Points for information about a mist-covered Phantom Demon that fled instead of attacking people.
• Su Ming recognized the search announcement as another effort by Base City's higher-ups to find him and silently dismissed their attempt.

Su Ming's squad completed seven missions, met the academy's Contribution Point requirements, and learned that students would be sent to defend Huaming District when the Spirit Fiend Abyss opened. As Su Ming wondered how the coming battle could end, he thought of Xu Qianqian saving him and froze at the possibility that he might be falling for her.

• Su Ming's squad completed five easy missions, then accepted and finished two Rank C extermination missions, earning nearly 80,000 Contribution Points.
• After dividing their rewards, the squad learned that they had easily met the academy's requirements, while An Zijin, Jiang Wanyu, and Yao Beibei heard that students had died during missions.
• Su Ming explained that the deaths resulted from squads taking missions beyond their abilities or members sabotaging one another, reassuring the three juniors.
• Su Ming, Ye Bai, and Lei Hao explained that students would need to accept defense-line missions when the Spirit Fiend Abyss opened, and that their performance would affect their evaluations.
• Su Ming worried that the Phantom Demon invasion could continue endlessly and wondered about the battle's victory condition.
• Su Ming recalled Xu Qianqian risking her life to save him and froze as he wondered whether a hero could fall for the person he saved.

Su Ming arranged through a trusted girl to meet a renowned alchemist after the Huaming District battle and have Nightmare Breed blood refined into a Phantasmal Demon Elixir. Meanwhile, a mysterious figure agreed with his collaborator to wait near the Spirit Fiend Abyss entrance and stop a cub from returning there, as their wider plans targeted the four Base Cities and the world.

• Su Ming spent the evening resting with his group while students and professionals prepared for the Spirit Fiend Abyss entrance to open the next day.
• The girl told Su Ming she had found Longyao City's most accomplished alchemist, whose reputation and skill made him a promising choice to refine the Nightmare Breed blood.
• Su Ming agreed to meet the alchemist after the Huaming District battle and worried that accepting the girl's help would leave him owing her a favor.
• A mysterious figure called his collaborator and confirmed that he would wait near the Spirit Fiend Abyss entrance to stop a cub from returning there.
• The collaborator said their plans could proceed even if Longyao City fell, and revealed that their targets extended beyond the four Base Cities to the world.