Chapter Summaries

Xu Xiayan revealed that she had accepted a confidential Rank SS Mission and wanted to hire Azure Mercury to help Summer Chasing Smoke complete it in the Hidden Wonderland. Su Ming accepted her offer of 500,000 Contribution Points, leaving both teams set to work together.

• Xu Xiayan told Su Ming and the others that she had accepted a Rank SS Mission commissioned by Tianfeng City's authorities, but kept its details secret.
• Xu Xiayan explained that Summer Chasing Smoke alone might not complete the mission, so she had prepared supplies, strengthened a team member, and sought other teams to hire.
• Chi Qian recalled how True Red's failed Rank S Mission had ended in disaster, then resolved to focus on the present.
• Xu Xiayan offered Azure Mercury 500,000 Contribution Points and access to the Hidden Wonderland's treasures in exchange for helping Summer Chasing Smoke.
• Su Ming accepted the commission, and he and Xu Xiayan shook hands.

Su Ming and Azure Mercury prepared for the Rank SS mission in the Hidden Wonderland, which was expected to appear in a month. Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing'er, Tong Xinyao, and Xiao Hai'er began training or strengthening themselves, while Su Ming used a top-tier Cleansing Potion to draw out his bloodline potential.

• Xu Xiayan confirmed she would notify Azure Mercury of the gathering details for the Hidden Wonderland mission and left after asking Su Ming to prepare.
• Su Ming told Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing'er, and Tong Xinyao to prepare for the mission when they returned to the villa.
• Chi Qian trained with her sword and resolved to adapt her restored right hand and strengthen herself before the mission, while Mu Yan resumed training with her whip.
• Xiao Hai'er consumed a red medicinal stone to grow stronger, and Feng Qing'er and Tong Xinyao also used items to improve their strength.
• Su Ming poured the top-tier Cleansing Potion into a hot bath, deciding to awaken his bloodline potential rather than wait until he reached the peak of five-star strength.

Su Ming spent a month cultivating while Azure Mercury rose from Rank E to Rank C and Chi Qian and the others drew widespread attention. As a Hidden Wonderland prepared to appear near Tianfeng City, Xu Xiayan summoned Su Ming for a reunion, signaling that events were about to begin.

• Su Ming secluded himself to improve his Hunter strength while Chi Qian led Azure Mercury through twelve Rank B Missions and secured its promotion to Rank C.
• Chi Qian became a Six-Star Professional, Mu Yan reached Five-Star, and Feng Qing'er also advanced to Five-Star while Tong Xinyao remained on the verge of breaking through.
• Qiao Zhi repeatedly tried to recruit Chi Qian and the other women, leading to clashes between Jade Dragon Pavilion and Azure Mercury that required the Professional Center to mediate.
• Tianfeng City's powerful teams and families quietly prepared for a Hidden Wonderland expected to appear north of the city, driving up demand for extraordinary items.
• Xu Xiayan messaged Su Ming and invited him to meet for a reunion.

Su Ming and Chi Qian attended Xu Xiayan’s gathering at the Professionals’ Bar after Azure Mercury rose from E-rank to C-rank in record time. Xu Xiayan introduced Su Ming to Wang Di and prepared to introduce them to the other invited leaders.

• Su Ming brought Chi Qian to Xu Xiayan’s gathering, while the other Azure Mercury members stayed away.
• The gathered Professionals watched Su Ming and Chi Qian enter, and Xu Xiayan called them over.
• Xu Xiayan praised Azure Mercury’s rapid rise, and Su Ming credited Chi Qian and the rest of his team.
• Xu Xiayan introduced Wang Di, a Six-Star Professional and her second-in-command, to Su Ming and Chi Qian.
• Wang Di offered Su Ming his help, and Su Ming returned the courtesy while remaining calm.
• Chi Qian clarified that she was now Azure Mercury’s Vice-Leader, and Xu Xiayan began introducing them to the other guests.

Su Ming learned why Xu Xiayan had gathered eleven powerful teams for the Rank SS mission and heard her explain the backgrounds of the two A-class teams, Iron Rose and Jade Dragon Pavilion. The teams’ strengths and rivalries were laid bare as the group prepared for the mission.

• Xu Xiayan told Su Ming that eleven teams, including Azure Mercury, had accepted her employment, and highlighted Iron Rose and Jade Dragon Pavilion as A-class teams.
• Su Ming and Chi Qian recognized Iron Rose’s Zhu Yun and Jade Dragon Pavilion’s Qiao Zhi, who watched them with hostility.
• Xu Xiayan explained that Zhu Qian led Iron Rose, a team with seven High-level Professionals, and that Zhu Yun admired Chi Qian and had repeatedly invited her to join.
• Xu Xiayan explained that Iron Rose recruited only women because of the Zhu Family’s bloodline and the team’s origins.
• Xu Xiayan described the Qiao brothers’ Jade Dragon Pavilion as an old team with the most High-level Professionals in Tianfeng City, though it lacked a Six-Star Professional besides Qiao Liang.

Su Ming learned that Jade Dragon Pavilion was pursuing Chi Qian because it lacked Six-Star combat power, then confronted Vice-Leader Qiao Zhi when he tried to recruit her. The chapter left Su Ming challenging Qiao Zhi to explain why he thought he was entitled to judge Su Ming’s worth.

• Xu Xiayan explained that Jade Dragon Pavilion had many High-level Professionals but only one Six-Star Professional, which drove Qiao Zhi’s repeated efforts to recruit Chi Qian.
• Chi Qian said Qiao Zhi should focus on breaking through to Six-Star, while Xu Xiayan suggested he may have given up after repeated failures and turned to managing the team’s affairs.
• Xu Xiayan offered to introduce Su Ming to other team leaders, but Su Ming noticed Qiao Zhi approaching with his attendants.
• Qiao Zhi went straight to Su Ming and offered Jade Dragon Pavilion’s full support in fulfilling one condition if Su Ming transferred Chi Qian’s allegiance and gave up her Contract Scroll.
• Su Ming rejected Qiao Zhi’s offer and reminded him that he had recruited Chi Qian after Qiao Zhi had failed for a year, then asked what made Qiao Zhi think he could judge Su Ming.

Su Ming defended Azure Mercury’s worth to Qiao Zhi, while Chi Qian publicly declared she would never leave the team. After Qiao Zhi departed, Xu Xiayan confirmed the teams would gather in three days to set out for the Hidden Wonderland, and Su Ming learned that major team leaders were courting Azure Mercury because of its potential.

• Su Ming challenged Qiao Zhi’s assumptions about Azure Mercury and argued that Chi Qian had joined because the team offered what she wanted.
• Chi Qian declared that loyalty to Su Ming and her former companions meant she would never leave Azure Mercury, and Xu Xiayan warned Qiao Zhi to stop pestering her.
• Qiao Zhi threatened that Chi Qian would regret her choice, then left the bar with Jade Dragon Pavilion after Xu Xiayan announced the gathering at Tianfeng City’s north gate in three mornings.
• Xu Xiayan told the assembled team leaders to meet at the north gate in three mornings and set out together for the Hidden Wonderland.
• Leaders from major teams approached Su Ming to make friends, and Xu Xiayan explained they wanted to avoid offending Azure Mercury because of its rapid growth and Chi Qian’s presence.

Su Ming and Azure Mercury arrived at the wilderness north of Tianfeng City, where a descending black-city mirage drew large teams and the army. Su Ming reunited with Bai Ruxiang, Bai Xuefei, and Bai Xiaoyan, who had joined Xu Xiayan’s team and were impressed by how much he had accomplished.

• Professionals and soldiers gathered around the Hidden Wonderland as a black-city mirage descended from the sky.
• Su Ming and Azure Mercury met Xu Xiayan, who explained that the army was there partly to enforce the entry restrictions and maintain order.
• Su Ming was surprised to see Bai Ruxiang, Bai Xuefei, and Bai Xiaoyan accompanying Xu Xiayan.
• Bai Ruxiang explained that she and Bai Xiaoyan had joined Summer Chasing Smoke, while Bai Xuefei had been recruited for special cultivation.
• Su Ming noticed how much the three Bai Family Hunters had grown stronger, and Bai Xuefei acknowledged him with a nod.
• The three women reflected on Su Ming’s rise and recognized that he had built Azure Mercury into a team with multiple High-level Professionals.

Su Ming reunited with Xu Xiayan’s team and learned that Wang Qian had advanced to Six-Star, bringing 'Summer Chasing Smoke' close to S-class strength. Xu Xiayan explained that completing the SS-level mission could earn the team S-class status, then revealed that the army was guarding the Hidden Wonderland against Phantom Demons escaping and heading for Tianfeng City.

• Su Ming asked about Wang Yihan and learned that the Wang family was cultivating her as a direct descendant at its main residence.
• Xu Xiayan introduced Wang Qian, a veteran of 'Summer Chasing Smoke' who had used the Crimson Vein Stone to advance from Five-Star Peak Level to Six-Star.
• Su Ming realized that 'Summer Chasing Smoke' now had three Six-Star Professionals and could surpass some S-class Teams in strength.
• Xu Xiayan explained that completing the SS-level mission could provide the achievements 'Summer Chasing Smoke' needed to become an S-class Team.
• Feng Qing'er and Tong Xinyao asked why the army had surrounded the area, and Xu Xiayan revealed that it was guarding against Phantom Demons escaping the Hidden Wonderland and heading toward Tianfeng City.

Xu Xiayan explained the Hidden Wonderland mission’s rules and dangers to Su Ming and his companions, including the S-class Teams guarding Tianfeng City while A-rank teams entered. The teams would explore separately for seven days before gathering at a destination on the labyrinth’s tenth level, where the mission would begin.

• Xu Xiayan explained that Tianfeng City's S-class Teams would hunt Phantom Demons outside the Hidden Wonderland, while teams ranked A or below entered to explore.
• Xu Xiayan told Su Ming and Chi Qian that the Wonderland would open around dusk, remain accessible for about ten days, and require them to move quickly away from its entrance.
• Xu Xiayan sent Su Ming a topographical map showing the Wonderland's ten-level inverted-pyramid labyrinth, where deeper levels held greater treasures and stronger Phantom Demons.
• Xu Xiayan instructed the teams to explore separately and gather resources before meeting at the marked destination on the tenth level seven days later to begin the mission.
• Su Ming and his companions examined the map and prepared to venture into the Wonderland.

The Hidden Wonderland’s entrance opened in the wasteland, and Su Ming’s group jumped inside. Nearby, the vice-leader of Sin gathered Underground Professionals and prepared to act now that the Wonderland had entered the world.

• The mirage struck the ground, creating a vast, bottomless opening as a sandstorm forced nearby teams to retreat.
• After the sandstorm cleared, professionals recognized the opening as the Hidden Wonderland’s entrance and rushed to jump inside.
• Su Ming carried Tong Xinyao into the opening, followed by Mu Yan, Feng Qing'er, and Chi Qian.
• In a nearby mountain, a young girl and a gathering of Underground Professionals watched the events unfold among the bodies of slain Phantom Demons.
• The vice-leader of Sin revealed that he had been waiting for the Hidden Wonderland to enter the world.

A vicious Underground Professionals group led by a Seven-Star Hunter and his seemingly innocent niece, Qingqing, moved toward the Hidden Wonderland, while a section of Tianfeng City's encirclement was mysteriously wiped out. Su Ming and the Azure Mercury group entered the Extreme Night Maze and found its first layer packed with valuable treasures, triggering a frenzy among the arriving Professionals.

• A Seven-Star Hunter told Qingqing that the Hidden Wonderland entrance had opened, and she promised to help him succeed this time with the ancient blade at her waist.
• About half an hour later, a section of Tianfeng City's encirclement lost contact, and its soldiers and S-class Team were later found dead.
• Su Ming carried Tong Xinyao as he and Chi Qian, Mu Yan, and Feng Qing'er landed on the first layer of the Extreme Night Maze.
• Mu Yan, Chi Qian, and Su Ming noted that the dense demon nature made the maze uncomfortable for humans, though Hunters and Warlocks could resist its effects.
• Professionals discovered valuable materials and treasures throughout the maze, and their excitement turned into a frantic search.

On the first day in the Extreme Night Maze, Su Ming led his group away from the entrance and focused on reaching the deeper floors rather than competing for nearby treasures. After they defeated an ambushing pack of Phantom Demons, he told everyone to conserve their strength and avoid unnecessary fights as they searched for the next floor.

• Su Ming led Feng Qing'er, Chi Qian, Mu Yan, and Tong Xinyao away from the entrance, warning that the commotion would attract Phantom Demons and that the deeper floors held better treasures.
• The group navigated the maze’s vast, tangled first floor while keeping track of its passages and chambers.
• A pack of Lesser Phantasmal Demons, including several Mutated Lesser Phantasmal Demons, ambushed the group, but Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing'er, Tong Xinyao, and Su Ming defeated them.
• The group noted that the Phantom Demons were unusually strong for the first floor, and Su Ming urged everyone to conserve their stamina and energy.
• Su Ming set their priorities as finding the next floor first, collecting resources second, and avoiding fights whenever possible; he and Tong Xinyao would use spiritual perception to scout ahead.

Su Ming and his companions searched the first level of the Extreme Night Maze for the entrance to the next level while avoiding fights. When Chi Qian and the others captured a group of predatory Professionals, they explained their hard-earned approach to dealing with threats, while a more ruthless group entered the maze.

• Su Ming's group mapped the first level, exchanged information with other teams, and avoided unnecessary fights and treasure hunting.
• A group of ill-intentioned Professionals eyed Su Ming's companions but fled after recognizing Chi Qian, Mu Yan, and Feng Qing'er.
• Mu Yan knocked down the fleeing Professionals, and Feng Qing'er tied them up while Su Ming watched in confusion.
• Chi Qian explained that the women had learned to capture dangerous Professionals after suffering harassment and losses while with 'True Red.'
• Chi Qian warned Su Ming that people could be more frightening than Phantom Demons, and he felt reassured by the girls' resolve.
• A black-clad group entered the first level of the Extreme Night Maze, beginning a slaughter.

Su Ming and Azure Mercury hurried through the Extreme Night Maze, reached the sixth floor, and collected Hazard Breed materials and an Amber Fruit after a fierce battle. As the group rested by a river, Xiao Hai'er emerged from the mist and stared toward something with longing.

• Summer Chasing Smoke found the entrance to the second floor, and Su Ming’s group continued descending through the maze while avoiding unnecessary fights.
• Su Ming and the others reached the fifth floor, rested, and then encountered a Greater Phantasmal Demon and its Phantom Demon horde.
• Su Ming burned through the horde, while Mu Yan restrained the Greater Phantasmal Demon and Feng Qing’er killed it.
• Su Ming collected the Hazard Breed’s materials and picked an Amber Fruit, preserving it in his backpack.
• After reaching the sixth floor, the group camped beside a river, where Chi Qian and Mu Yan discussed Su Ming’s seemingly limitless storage ability.
• Xiao Hai’er appeared behind Su Ming and gazed in one direction with longing.

Xiao Hai'er sensed something alluring in the sixth floor of the Extreme Night Maze and led Su Ming and the others toward it. Su Ming caught up with her, but their advance ended when a giant troll-like Phantom Demon appeared and collided with Xiao Hai'er.

• Xiao Hai'er suddenly emerged from concealment, excitedly told Su Ming that something good lay nearby, and urged him to follow her.
• Su Ming agreed to investigate, and Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing'er, and Tong Xinyao insisted on going with him despite their fatigue.
• Xiao Hai'er raced ahead so quickly that Su Ming told Chi Qian to watch over the others, then unleashed his full speed to catch up with her.
• Chi Qian wondered whether Su Ming had already reached Six-Star Hunter strength after seeing how fast he moved.
• A giant rock-bodied Phantom Demon resembling a troll rose from the ruins and collided with Xiao Hai'er as she entered its territory.

Su Ming and Xiao Hai'er battled a mutant Hazard Breed Giant Phantasmal Demon blocking their way on the Extreme Night Maze’s sixth floor. After Su Ming strengthened Xiao Hai'er through spiritual resonance, he struck the demon with his Silver Arm, causing a tremendous upheaval across the maze; the Giant Phantasmal Demon exploded.

• Xiao Hai'er clashed with the Giant Phantasmal Demon, while Su Ming recognized it as a mutant Hazard Breed powerful enough to match a Six-Star Professional.
• Xiao Hai'er’s attacks failed to overcome the Giant Phantasmal Demon, and the two became locked in a stalemate.
• Su Ming channeled his Spiritual Power into Xiao Hai'er through spiritual resonance, greatly amplifying her blizzard and forcing the Giant Phantasmal Demon backward.
• Su Ming charged the retreating demon and struck its chest with Silver Arm · One-Tenth · Boxing.
• The impact shook the sixth floor and the adjacent floors, endangering Professional teams and forcing Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing'er, Tong Xinyao, and the others to protect themselves.
• The Giant Phantasmal Demon exploded amid the violent upheaval.

After defeating the Giant Phantasmal Demon, Su Ming discovered the treasure Xiao Hai'er had led him to: a pool of Purple Snow Sap Essence. He identified it as an extraordinarily rare treasure that could permanently improve growth and talent, but wondered how it differed from ordinary Purple Snow Sap.

• Su Ming recovered from his attack and stored the Giant Phantasmal Demon's heart in his backpack.
• Su Ming scolded Xiao Hai'er for rushing ahead and provoking the Giant Phantasmal Demon, then learned she had been drawn toward a treasure in its territory.
• Su Ming followed Xiao Hai'er into a cavern, where a fragrant pool of purple-white liquid awaited them.
• Su Ming appraised the liquid and identified it as Purple Snow Sap Essence, a rare treasure that could help lifeforms break through their limits.
• Su Ming recognized the fame and value of Purple Snow Sap but wondered what made Purple Snow Sap Essence different.

Su Ming let Hai'er consume the Purple Snow Sap Essence, which transformed her into an adult Nightmare Breed with a mature human form. The chapter ended with Hai'er freely switching between her human and mermaid forms, confirming that she had become a spirit.

• Su Ming recognized the Purple Snow Sap Essence as an extraordinary treasure and let Hai'er take it.
• Hai'er kissed Su Ming before drinking the essence, then underwent a transformation that matured her body and strengthened her demonic nature, spirituality, and blood energy.
• Hai'er grew legs, changed her water-blue hair to black, and entered adulthood as a complete Nightmare Breed.
• Su Ming began calling her Hai'er, and she showed that their spiritual resonance had grown stronger.
• Hai'er demonstrated that she could freely switch between human and mermaid forms, leading Su Ming to realize she had become a spirit.

After Purple Snow Sap Essence transformed Xiao Hai'er into a mature Nightmare Breed with a genuine human form, Su Ming discovered that a single cup of the essence was worth more than a million Crystals and collected the entire pool. He planned to help Xiao Hai'er enter human society, but Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing'er, and Tong Xinyao arrived and were stunned by her transformation.

• Xiao Hai'er consumed Purple Snow Sap Essence and gained mature mermaid and human forms, each able to conceal either her demonic nature or her spirituality.
• Su Ming exchanged a cup of Purple Snow Sap Essence for 1,083,915 Crystals, then carved out and stored the entire pool in his backpack.
• Xiao Hai'er struggled to walk in her new human form, so she changed back into a mermaid and swam to Su Ming.
• Su Ming decided to teach Xiao Hai'er human language and help her live openly as a High-level Professional with Azure Mercury.
• Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing'er, and Tong Xinyao entered the cavern, recognized Xiao Hai'er, and reacted with shock and envy at her appearance.