Chapter Summaries

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.

As the Spirit Fiend Abyss was set to open at dusk, Su Ming and his squad discussed which defensive-line mission to take. Su Ming favored a safer position to avoid unnecessary risk, and the squad had yet to choose a location.

• The Academy notified students that the Spirit Fiend Abyss would open at dusk and ordered squads to accept defensive-line missions before noon and reach their positions before three.
• Su Ming joined An Zijin, Jiang Wanyu, Yao Beibei, and Lei Hao, then teased the two girls about their secretive behavior from the previous night.
• An Zijin and Su Ming unsettled Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei by suggesting they would question and discipline them later, while Lei Hao remained confused.
• The squad discussed the risks and rewards of choosing a defensive line, including the chance to earn more Contribution Points by facing Phantom Demons near the front.
• Su Ming proposed guarding a safer defensive line because the squad had already met the Academy's Contribution Points requirements, while An Zijin pointed out that greater rewards could help them obtain valuable items.

Su Ming and his teammates decided not to risk their lives chasing Contribution Points and waited for Ye Bai to scout the Huaming District’s defensive lines. They chose a relatively safe post, but their assignment reached someone with ulterior motives, setting an unknown scheme in motion.

• Su Ming explained why the Base City’s Contribution Point rewards were unlikely to benefit ordinary students and asked his teammates whether they wanted to take the risk.
• Jiang Wanyu, Yao Beibei, An Zijin, and Lei Hao rejected dangerous missions, while Lei Hao joked about pursuing his goddess and teased Su Ming about An Zijin.
• Su Ming decided the team would choose a safe defensive line after Ye Bai returned with a deployment map.
• Ye Bai returned two hours later with the map, and Su Ming’s group selected a relatively safe defensive line.
• After the group reported and registered its choice, the information reached someone with ulterior motives, and an unknown scheme began.

Su Ming and his group arrived at the northern defense line and learned that a High-level Professional would guard it. The chapter ended when Xu Qianqian arrived with another team and Su Ming recognized her.

• Su Ming and the others reached the camp in Huaming District and were shown their lodging.
• Su Ming asked the military guide about the deployment, and the guide explained that the teams would receive a briefing before the Spirit Fiend Abyss opened.
• The guide said Base City would send a team with at least one High-level Professional to defend the line, prompting the group to speculate that the Professional would be a Four-star Hunter.
• Su Ming and the others saw Xu Qianqian arrive with another team, and Su Ming remembered her saving his life.

Su Ming's team met Li Wei's elite team at a defensive line, where Li Wei hinted that he wanted to test Su Ming because Xu Qianqian valued him. After the teams settled into their assigned rooms, Li Wei's two followers urged him to teach Su Ming a lesson.

• Su Ming's team encountered Li Wei's elite team, and An Zijin reacted warily when she saw Xu Qianqian.
• Li Wei approached Su Ming and explained that his team had been assigned to the defensive line at an important figure's request.
• Li Wei told Su Ming he looked forward to seeing what he could do, then left with his team while Xu Qianqian watched Su Ming before departing.
• An Zijin grew jealous when she saw Su Ming watching Xu Qianqian leave, and she tugged him into their residential building.
• Su Ming's team settled into two dormitories, while Xu Qianqian and the other members of Li Wei's team moved into their assigned rooms.
• Li Wei's two followers urged him to punish Su Ming for getting close to Xu Qianqian.

Li Wei weighed the risk of confronting Su Ming because Xu Qianqian would likely defend him, but he allowed two lackeys to go after Su Ming while keeping himself at a distance. The lackeys eagerly set out to teach Su Ming a lesson, unaware that Li Wei was willing to abandon them if necessary.

• Li Wei recalled that Su Ming had disrupted his attempt to test him and had become close to Xu Qianqian, making him a threat despite his apparent status as an ordinary student.
• Li Wei rejected the lackeys' suggestion that he personally confront Su Ming because Xu Qianqian might retaliate or involve the Xu Family.
• Li Wei warned the lackeys that Su Ming was hiding something and decided he wanted to uncover his secrets.
• The lackeys offered to confront Su Ming themselves, believing Xu Qianqian would not pursue them.
• Li Wei gave them permission to act as long as they caused no deaths or excessive trouble, intending to disown them if things went wrong.
• The lackeys eagerly promised to teach Su Ming a lesson, while Li Wei smiled and left the matter to them.