Chapter Summaries

After the group shared hot pot and games, Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei worried about the next day’s Phantom Demon mission and discussed their secret duty to protect An Zijin. Yao Beibei asked Jiang Wanyu what she thought of Su Ming, leaving Jiang Wanyu hesitant.

• An Zijin fussed over Su Ming during hot pot, prompting jealousy from the others and making Su Ming the target of everyone’s attacks during games.
• The six agreed to begin their mission the next day, and Jiang Wanyu wrote in her diary about their trip and her devotion to An Zijin.
• Yao Beibei visited Jiang Wanyu, and the two discussed their anxiety about the mission and An Zijin’s lack of combat training.
• Jiang Wanyu hinted at something hidden inside An Zijin, but Yao Beibei warned her not to reveal it because Madam had ordered them to keep it secret.
• Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei reaffirmed their intention to protect An Zijin, then Yao Beibei asked Jiang Wanyu what she thought of Su Ming.

Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei reconsidered their assumptions about Su Ming after noticing that he had changed and that Xu Qianqian cared about his reactions. Worried about his influence on An Zijin, they decided to watch him discreetly, while Su Ming sensed that someone was watching him.

• Jiang Wanyu recalled how she had once considered Su Ming ordinary and doubted he was worthy of An Zijin’s devotion.
• Jiang Wanyu noted that Xu Qianqian had reacted to Su Ming’s outburst on the train much like An Zijin had, making her question their relationship with him.
• Yao Beibei said Su Ming seemed different from before, and Jiang Wanyu trusted her unusual instincts as a mutated Hunter.
• Yao Beibei suggested investigating Su Ming because of his influence on An Zijin, but she and Jiang Wanyu rejected the options they considered.
• Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei decided to keep an eye on Su Ming discreetly, and Su Ming suddenly felt as though someone was watching him.

Su Ming and his friends woke up amid a chaotic, teasing morning before heading to the Administration Building’s Mission Hall to find work and earn Contribution Points. They examined the available missions, which ranged from Rank B to Rank E, and began deciding what difficulty to choose.

• Su Ming and Jiang Wanyu woke first and waited for the others, while Su Ming teased Jiang Wanyu about his childhood closeness with An Zijin.
• An Zijin sleepily came out of her room, clung to Su Ming, and nearly kissed him, prompting Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei to pull her away.
• Lei Hao and Ye Bai joined the commotion, and the group left for the Administration Building while teasing Su Ming.
• The group reached the Mission Hall and saw students registering for missions posted on bulletin boards.
• Su Ming asked what difficulty the group should choose after learning that only Rank B, C, D, and E missions were available.

With two days remaining before the Spirit Fiend Abyss opened, Su Ming’s team selected a Phantom Demon subjugation mission despite concerns about the first-years’ experience. The chapter ended with Su Ming fleeing after accidentally telling An Zijin he had been thinking about her, while the others chased him and Lei Hao lamented their lack of professional ethics.

• Su Ming’s team found that most of the easiest, highest-reward missions had already been claimed and agreed to send one person early to choose missions next time.
• An Zijin, Yao Beibei, and Jiang Wanyu said they could accept some risk, and Lei Hao proposed choosing a Phantom Demon subjugation mission.
• Ye Bai worried that the first-years lacked experience, but Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei explained that their Hunter Families had trained them, while An Zijin promised to stay behind Su Ming.
• Su Ming agreed to the subjugation mission, reasoning that the team’s balanced roles could handle most Lesser Phantasmal Demons and that An Zijin needed experience before the coming battle.
• When An Zijin asked what he was thinking about, Su Ming answered that he was thinking about her, then ran as Ye Bai, Jiang Wanyu, and Yao Beibei chased him.
• Lei Hao stayed behind and complained that they had come to carry out a mission, not to date.

Su Ming and his companions began their first Huaming District mission to exterminate a dangerous Blade Fiend in an abandoned factory. As they entered the factory, Xu Qianqian arranged to protect Su Ming from interference by her family and trusted aides while continuing to investigate the ambush against her.

• Su Ming, Lei Hao, Ye Bai, An Zijin, Yao Beibei, and Jiang Wanyu accepted a C-rank quest to exterminate the Blade Fiend in an abandoned factory.
• The group reached the factory, learned the Blade Fiend had killed its workers, and prepared to raid the site with Lei Hao leading and Su Ming and Ye Bai guarding the others.
• Yao Beibei and Jiang Wanyu pulled An Zijin between them for protection as the six entered the factory.
• Xu Qianqian learned that Su Ming had started his mission and ordered her aide to monitor Huaming District, investigate her attackers, and prevent her people from disturbing him.
• Xu Qianqian warned her aide to report any threat to Su Ming from her family and called him an unfathomable man.

Su Ming and his team fought the Blade Fiend in an abandoned factory, with Lei Hao, Jiang Wanyu, and Yao Beibei engaging it before the Warlocks finished it with Spiritual Arts. After the battle, Su Ming told the three junior schoolmates they needed to review what had happened.

• Lei Hao confronted the Blade Fiend while Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei joined the fight.
• The Blade Fiend nearly struck Jiang Wanyu, but Lei Hao knocked it away and protected her.
• Yao Beibei smashed the Blade Fiend through the factory with her heavy hammer, injuring it, but its wounds quickly healed.
• Su Ming directed Ye Bai to restrain the Blade Fiend while An Zijin and Su Ming prepared their attacks.
• Ye Bai trapped the Blade Fiend, An Zijin blasted it with Roaring Cannon, and Su Ming skewered it with Earth Net Punishment, killing it.
• Su Ming told Jiang Wanyu, Yao Beibei, and An Zijin that they needed to review their performance, and the three lowered their heads in shame.

After the battle at the abandoned factory, Su Ming, Lei Hao, and Ye Bai evaluated the juniors’ mistakes and taught them how Hunters and Warlocks should fight Phantom Demons. The group finished the debriefing with An Zijin reflecting on Su Ming’s advice, while Su Ming anticipated that he would soon be able to cultivate both paths.

• Lei Hao reprimanded Jiang Wanyu for freezing against the Blade Fiend, and Ye Bai criticized Yao Beibei for losing her composure after striking it.
• Lei Hao and Ye Bai explained that Hunters must keep attacking without exposing openings, since Phantom Demons regenerate and can kill them even when badly wounded.
• Su Ming praised Yao Beibei’s strength and senses and Jiang Wanyu’s speed and weapon skill, advising both to build their composure and experience.
• An Zijin asked Su Ming to assess her performance, and he praised her talent while warning that her uncontrolled Thirteen Art had scattered Ye Bai’s Ash Bind and nearly let the Blade Fiend escape.
• Su Ming explained that Warlocks must think tactically, coordinate with Hunters, and choose the right Spiritual Art for each situation; An Zijin considered his advice.

After the Blade Fiend mission, Su Ming’s skill with advanced low-level Spiritual Arts drew attention, and Yao Beibei and Jiang Wanyu grew curious about what he was hiding. The six-person team completed two more missions and earned enough Contribution Points to move closer to their 10,000-point goal.

• Jiang Wanyu, Yao Beibei, and An Zijin praised Su Ming’s Form Twenty-One Spiritual Art, while Ye Bai and Lei Hao questioned why his academy ranking did not reflect his ability.
• Su Ming dodged their questions and hurried to collect proof from the Blade Fiend, prompting Yao Beibei and Jiang Wanyu to suspect he was concealing something and plan to investigate him further.
• The six-person team divided the Blade Fiend mission’s 3,000 Contribution Points, giving Su Ming, Ye Bai, and Lei Hao 2,000 and the three junior girls 1,000.
• Su Ming exchanged the Blade Fiend’s remaining materials for Crystals, while Lei Hao kept its blades and Jiang Wanyu took some other materials.
• The team completed two more Phantom Demon missions and earned another 5,000 Contribution Points, splitting 3,000 among Su Ming, Ye Bai, and Lei Hao and 2,000 among the three junior girls.

Su Ming visited An Zijin late at night to ask about her Spiritual Arts, while Jiang Wanyu, Yao Beibei, and Ye Bai secretly watched from outside. He learned that An Zijin had mastered Scorching Sparrow's Cry, the strongest low-level Spiritual Art.

• Su Ming and his companions ate dinner, where An Zijin doted on him and the others teased him about their team.
• Su Ming went to An Zijin's room at night, drawing suspicious stares from Jiang Wanyu, Yao Beibei, and Ye Bai.
• Jiang Wanyu, Yao Beibei, and Ye Bai pressed their ears against An Zijin's door, and Su Ming slammed it to knock them away.
• Su Ming asked An Zijin which Spiritual Arts she had learned, and she listed Flying Arrow, Cannon Blast, and Scorching Sparrow's Cry.
• Su Ming realized An Zijin had learned Scorching Sparrow's Cry, ranked thirtieth among the Hundred Spiritual Arts and strongest among low-level techniques.

Su Ming gave An Zijin a manual for the powerful defensive Style 55: Octagonal Crystal Barrier after learning she could already use Scorching Sparrow's Cry. An Zijin then gave Su Ming a manual for an Extracurricular Sequence technique, leaving him surprised by her gift.

• Su Ming confirmed that An Zijin could successfully use Scorching Sparrow's Cry and recognized her exceptional talent.
• Su Ming decided not to teach An Zijin intermediate Spiritual Arts himself, since doing so could reveal his concealed strength.
• Su Ming gave An Zijin the Style 55: Octagonal Crystal Barrier manual and encouraged her to try learning it without forcing herself.
• An Zijin searched her suitcase and gave Su Ming a technique manual for an Extracurricular Sequence Spiritual Art.

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.