Recaps

Feng Ling and Ye Zheng fought to decide who would kill the Labyrinth Master, wrecking the Safe Zone before agreeing to take turns attacking it. They left for another Safe Zone together, while the others followed.

• Li Qing explained that Feng Ling had to keep growing stronger because the system had identified her as a Hidden Boss.
• Feng Ling and Ye Zheng crashed through the ceiling into the first floor and said they had been fighting over who would kill the Labyrinth Master.
• Ye Zheng criticized Feng Ling's repetitive attacks, but Feng Ling pinned her to the ceiling with her tentacles and asked if she had had enough.
• The fight further damaged the Safe Zone, so Feng Ling told Huangfu Miaomiao, Xu Yiming, and Li Qing to move to another one.
• Feng Ling and Ye Zheng decided they could not fight the Labyrinth Master together and argued about taking turns as they walked away.

Feng Ling’s group rested in a Safe Zone before setting out for the Labyrinth Master, while Feng Ling reflected on survival, her Mark-induced nightmares, and the lessons Mother Feng had taught her. She remained unable to sleep, spending the night with the creatures as the Phantom’s influence continued to fade.

• Feng Ling decided the group would stay in the Safe Zone overnight because the fog was thickening and there was not enough time to reach the Labyrinth Master before dark.
• Huangfu Miaomiao prepared beds and water while Feng Ling and Ye Zheng joked about surprising the people outside the Maze and the Xenomorphs by appearing alive.
• Watching the Rats move through the fog, Feng Ling wondered whether their instinct to survive was much like humanity’s, and Li Qing said emotions and bonds could not be controlled by genes alone.
• Huangfu Miaomiao called Feng Ling upstairs to choose a bed, but Feng Ling stayed behind to pet the Cat Spider and Cat Owl.
• Feng Ling told Li Qing that the Mark gave her nightmares and made her relive painful memories of Mother Feng, who had taught her that actions needed reasons and that she should treat others fairly.

Feng Ling recalled her complicated feelings toward Mother Feng, while Li Qing tried to reassure her about the Labyrinth Master's Mark and her mental health. The next day, Feng Ling and Ye Zheng headed toward the Mountain to plant explosives as Huangfu Miaomiao and Xu Yiming watched for the Wandering Deity Procession.

• Feng Ling told Li Qing that Mother Feng had enforced strict rules at the orphanage, and Li Qing said she no longer seemed to resent her.
• Li Qing admitted he was worried the Labyrinth Master's Mark could influence Feng Ling, and called her his friend.
• Ye Zheng woke from a nightmare, argued with Feng Ling about her mental health, and climbed back onto the wall to sleep.
• Feng Ling fell asleep as Li Qing told her stories about local deities.
• The next day, Huangfu Miaomiao, Xu Yiming, Feng Ling, and Ye Zheng went to the center of the Maze and saw the collapsed Mountain in the mist.
• Feng Ling and Ye Zheng went downstairs with explosives to prepare for the Wandering Deity Procession while Huangfu Miaomiao and Xu Yiming stayed behind to observe.

Feng Ling and Ye Zheng planted explosives deep inside the Meat Mountain after watching it absorb the Wandering Deity Procession and heal its wounds. They watched from a nearby building as Feng Ling detonated the explosives, leaving the Mountain’s response unknown.

• Feng Ling and Ye Zheng heard the Wandering Deity’s music and watched the procession’s Rat Monsters, including the largest Pseudo-God, get absorbed by the Meat Mountain as it healed.
• Feng Ling blasted open a shallow crater at the spot where the Mountain’s black Scales had been exposed.
• Ye Zheng dug a deeper pit with her Tiger Claws and placed a Grenade inside, while Feng Ling pulled her free when the Mountain began swallowing her legs.
• Feng Ling threw the explosives pack directly into the pit, and she and Ye Zheng returned to a nearby building to watch.
• Feng Ling pressed the detonator as she and Ye Zheng waited to see how the Mountain would react.

Feng Ling and Ye Zheng discovered that the damaged Mountain was creating Pseudo-Gods, so Feng Ling pursued and destroyed one of the Rat Monsters. As new Pseudo-Gods emerged from the flesh heap, Ye Zheng warned her that there was more than one.

• Feng Ling and Ye Zheng watched Humanoid Rats crawl from the ruined Mountain and form a large, cloaked Pseudo-God.
• Feng Ling reasoned that the Labyrinth Master was seeking Tribute at the remaining Offering Tables, then followed the Wandering Deity Procession toward them.
• Feng Ling threw a Grenade at the procession, but its drum music affected her with Mental Power as she approached.
• Feng Ling used Mental Pressure to pin the Pseudo-God down and tore it apart until its voice faded and it stopped moving.
• Ye Zheng called out as several new Pseudo-Gods began emerging from the heap of mangled flesh.

Feng Ling and Ye Zheng tried to split the four Pseudo-Gods apart to weaken their combined Mental Power, but Feng Ling discovered the white-bearded Pseudo-God attracted Rat Monsters. She was buried under the swarm, leaving her fate uncertain.

• Feng Ling and Ye Zheng discovered that the four Pseudo-Gods shared a Mental Power Field amplified by a black, gaunt Flood Dragon beneath them.
• When a Pseudo-God pointed at Feng Ling, the surrounding Rat Monsters attacked, forcing Feng Ling and Ye Zheng to flee beyond the field's range.
• Feng Ling and Ye Zheng used Grenades to disrupt the Pseudo-Gods, then each grabbed one and ran in opposite directions to separate them.
• Feng Ling realized the white-bearded Pseudo-God was a Rat Lure as Rat Monsters poured into the streets and clung to it.
• The Rat Monsters overwhelmed Feng Ling and buried her beneath their swarm.

Ye Zheng tried to rescue Feng Ling from a fused mass of Rat Monsters and nearly used Radiant Holy Flame before Feng Ling broke free. They realized the remaining Pseudo-Gods were gathering rats to help the Labyrinth Master create another god, and hurried toward the plaza to stop them.

• Ye Zheng leaped into the Rat Monsters and discovered their fused bodies had trapped Feng Ling, while the Pseudo-Gods' Mental Power Field drew closer.
• Ye Zheng prepared to use Radiant Holy Flame, accepting that it might kill Feng Ling as well as the Pseudo-Gods.
• Feng Ling burst out of the Rat Monsters, and she and Ye Zheng realized the other two Pseudo-Gods had left to gather more rats.
• Xu Yiming warned Feng Ling that a huge group of Rat Monsters was heading toward the plaza, and Feng Ling told him to intercept them.
• Feng Ling hurried toward the plaza to stop the Labyrinth Master from creating another Pseudo-God, while Ye Zheng quickly pulled far ahead of her.

Feng Ling fought to protect Ye Zheng from the Pseudo-Gods and the moving Labyrinth Master, a giant flesh-covered creature that absorbed energy. After Ye Zheng retreated to seek the God of Grains, Feng Ling attacked the monster with her Spikes but found that its soft flesh absorbed the force.

• Feng Ling guarded the plaza from Rat Monsters while Ye Zheng battled a Pseudo-God and tore out its tumor-like growths.
• Ye Zheng weakened and lost her Second Form after the Smiling Bodhisattva drained her energy, then retreated to find the God of Grains.
• Feng Ling discovered that the Labyrinth Master had grown into a moving, giant snail-like mass wrapped around the Black Flood Dragon.
• Feng Ling confronted the Labyrinth Master and drove her Spikes into its flesh, but the creature absorbed the attack.

Feng Ling and Ye Zheng fought the Smiling Buddha, but its strange ability drained their strength while its wounds healed quickly. After Feng Ling reasoned that the Labyrinth Master’s endless growth came from exploiting the Idols’ system-powered energy, she proposed another method and asked Huangfu Miaomiao for rope.

• Feng Ling carved a deep wound into the Smiling Buddha, but its ability exhausted her and the wound began healing.
• Ye Zheng took over the attack, while the Smiling Buddha ignored her and slowly pursued Feng Ling.
• Xu Yiming shot the monster’s wound, slowing its advance and healing, but Feng Ling and Ye Zheng realized they had run out of explosives.
• Feng Ling worshipped the Idol at the Red Sign Shop and recovered her strength, then reasoned that the Labyrinth Master’s absorbed energy made it grow into a heavy, sluggish body.
• Huangfu Miaomiao reported that she had used all the Grenades, and Feng Ling proposed another method and asked whether she had rope.

Feng Ling attempted to use her Nest Building ability on the Labyrinth Master, hoping to draw out the Black Flood Dragon and drag it into the Safe Zone. The monster resisted and its cries alerted every Rat Monster in the Maze, while Feng Ling caught sight of the Black Scales again.

• Feng Ling and Ye Zheng planned to lure the Labyrinth Master near the Safe Zone, use her hatching ability, and pull the Black Flood Dragon out with a rope.
• Little Skeleton went to notify Xu Yiming while Feng Ling and Ye Zheng led the monster toward the Safe Zone.
• The Labyrinth Master stopped near the Safe Zone because its barrier obscured Feng Ling's Mark, so Feng Ling called Huangfu Miaomiao, Xu Yiming, and Li Qing to help pull the rope.
• Feng Ling struck the monster, pressed her Silver Ring Card against its wound, and shouted "Hatch!" as its flesh began to vanish and black crows emerged.
• The Labyrinth Master struggled and wailed, alerting every Rat Monster in the Maze, while Feng Ling glimpsed the Black Scales inside its flesh.

Feng Ling and the others extracted the Black Flood Dragon from the monster and escaped the Rat Monsters into the Safe Zone. There, they learned it was the Labyrinth Master and that it wanted to die, and Feng Ling struck its throat with Huangfu Miaomiao’s iron spike.

• Feng Ling used her energy to incubate the Black Flood Dragon, while Ye Zheng and the others pulled it free from the monster as Rat Monsters swarmed them.
• Ye Zheng unleashed her Mental Pressure, then carried Feng Ling and the Black Flood Dragon toward the Safe Zone; Xu Yiming, Huangfu Miaomiao, and Li Qing escaped separately.
• The group regrouped in the Safe Zone as Rat Monsters crowded outside, and Feng Ling said the missing incubated pet was not in immediate danger.
• Huangfu Miaomiao confirmed that the gaunt Black Flood Dragon was the Labyrinth Master, and it exposed its throat while asking them to kill it.
• Li Qing explained that the Labyrinth Master had been trapped by endless wishes and suffered pain, so Feng Ling guided Huangfu Miaomiao’s hand and plunged the iron spike into its throat.

After the Maze mission ended and the Labyrinth Master died, Feng Ling absorbed the South Sea Flood Dragon Card, gaining three new abilities at the cost of raising her Corruption Value to 18%. She prepared to leave with her companions, but the Cat Owl reminded her that the Cat Spider was still trapped in its web.

• The Maze mission ended, and the leaderless Rat Monsters devoured the helpless Smiley Face Buddha monster.
• Feng Ling discussed the Black Flood Dragon Card with Li Qing, then absorbed the South Sea Flood Dragon Card.
• Feng Ling's Corruption Value rose from 13% to 18%, and she gained abilities to absorb energy from flesh, mark living beings with nightmares, and influence nearby beings' feelings toward her.
• Feng Ling named two abilities Mother's Appetite and Mother's Longing Version 2.0, then celebrated with her companions and invited them to eat after leaving the Maze.
• The Cat Owl's anxious cry reminded Feng Ling that the Cat Spider was still trapped in its web, so the group could not leave yet.

Feng Ling and her companions left the cleared Maze as the Crow prepared to guide them out, while Ye Zheng’s sharp remark left Xu Yiming subdued. Outside, Feng Ling’s growing fame stirred Su Yuqing’s unease, and Zhou Diao questioned whether someone was manipulating online opinion.

• Feng Ling dragged the web-wrapped Cat Spider out of the Safe Zone while Ye Zheng chased off the lingering Rat Monsters.
• Feng Ling named the newly hatched creature Undead Raven, and the Crow arrived to thank her before leading the group toward the Maze entrance.
• Li Qing explained why the Maze entrance was the safest exit, and Xu Yiming admitted he wanted to become stronger before entering another Maze.
• Ye Zheng called Xu Yiming overconfident, leaving him subdued; Feng Ling told Huangfu Miaomiao that Ye Zheng was protecting him.
• As the group approached the entrance in heavier rain, news and gossip about Feng Ling spread widely outside the Maze.
• Su Yuqing worried that the praise surrounding Feng Ling might lead to trouble, and Zhou Diao asked whether someone was manipulating online sentiment.

Su Yuqing and Zhou Diao investigated the intense coverage surrounding Feng Ling and learned it was tied to a new religion spreading in several Southwest countries. The chapter left them aware that officials were publicizing actions against Xenomorphs to counter the religion’s message of human coexistence with them.

• Zhou Diao and Su Yuqing suspected the higher-ups were driving the coverage of Feng Ling, but neither knew what prompted the attention.
• Su Yuqing decided to ask Pei Xianjue for information because of her ties to the Pei Clan Group, the Research Institute, and Feng Ling.
• Su Yuqing called Pei Xianjue under the pretext of asking why Yuquan City's quota in the new personnel expansion plan was zero.
• Pei Xianjue told Su Yuqing that official media coverage of Feng Ling appeared connected to a new religion promoting humanity's apocalypse and coexistence with Xenomorphs.
• Pei Xianjue explained that the authorities were publicizing actions against Xenomorphs to inspire the public and preserve its will to resist.

Su Yuqing and Zhou Diao discussed the effects of anti-Xenomorph operations and the risks of public attention surrounding Feng Ling. Three days later, with Feng Ling and Ye Zheng still missing, public anger turned against the Inspectors, and Su Yuqing hoped they would emerge from the Maze before the backlash worsened.

• Su Yuqing questioned Pei Xianjue about publicity around Feng Ling, and Pei explained that recent Xenomorph smuggling cases might reflect the creatures seeking new hunting grounds.
• Su Yuqing told Zhou Diao that recent victories had driven Xenomorphs away from Qingjiang, while Zhou dismissed concerns about the impact on neighboring countries.
• Zhou Diao received a dispatch about a suspected Contaminant attacking pedestrians at 23 Donglin Road and left to respond.
• Alone in his office, Su Yuqing looked at a photograph of himself and Ye Zheng, then withdrew his hand from the frame after seeing his white hair reflected in the glass.
• On the third day without news of Feng Ling or Ye Zheng, public opinion turned against Feng Ling, the Guangshan City branch, and the Supervision Bureau; Zhou Diao angrily confronted Su Yuqing about the online abuse.
• Su Yuqing said the public opinion department would wait before intervening and explained that the ideal outcome was for Ye Zheng and Feng Ling to return from the Maze.

Pei Xianjue watched public anger over Feng Ling’s Maze mission and tried to avoid getting caught in the backlash. After her mother publicly criticized Feng Ling to promote Pei, a sudden rainstorm struck Guangshan City while Feng Ling was still inside the Maze.

• Pei Xianjue read hostile online comments about Feng Ling and the Supervision Bureau, then went to train to escape the pressure.
• Shen Mu warned Pei Xianjue to monitor public opinion and not attack Feng Ling during Guangshan City’s sensitive situation.
• Pei Xianjue discovered her mother had posted a criticism of Feng Ling under the Guangshan City Maze topic and was arguing with commenters.
• Pei Xianjue called her mother and demanded she delete the post, while her mother insisted she had acted to help Pei.
• A weather alert announced that a sudden torrential rainstorm had struck Guangshan City, and Pei Xianjue’s fingers began to tremble.

After Feng Ling emerged from the Maze, Pei Xianjue prepared to handle the public backlash caused by her mother’s post while Han Xu and Duan Fei guarded the restricted zone. A Large Contaminant appeared near the gathered media, and Han Xu rushed to respond as Feng Ling tried to call him.

• Pei Xianjue told Mother Pei she would take over her accounts and manage the coming public relations crisis after Feng Ling cleared the Maze.
• Han Xu and Duan Fei patrolled the restricted zone as torrential rain fell, and Han Xu warned that Xenomorphs might target Feng Ling while she was vulnerable.
• A team member reported that a Large Contaminant had appeared on Fenglin Avenue, near the gathered reporters.
• Han Xu ordered the crowd evacuated and rushed toward Fenglin Avenue in his transformed form, while Duan Fei followed him.
• Feng Ling called Han Xu, but he did not answer.

Feng Ling and her companions learned that a Multi-headed Leech had appeared outside the cordon during the torrential rain, and they continued toward the evacuation area. They met Duan Fei, who warned them that the street was dangerous and urged them to get in his car while Han Xu organized an evacuation nearby.

• Feng Ling sent Third Child, her Human-faced Crow, to scout beyond the cordon and learned that a shapeshifting creature had dissolved into the water after soldiers tried to stop it.
• Li Qing identified the creature as a Multi-headed Leech, while Feng Ling learned that the evacuation had caused injuries and crashes but no reported casualties from the Leech itself.
• Ye Zheng concluded that the Xenomorphs had used the Leech to test the Inspectors and Hunters before attacking Feng Ling and her companions.
• As the group walked through rising floodwater, Feng Ling and Ye Zheng prepared for combat in the rain-soaked street.
• Duan Fei found Feng Ling and her companions, told them that a Large Contaminant had appeared nearby and that Han Xu was organizing an evacuation, then urged them to get in his car.

Feng Ling and Ye Zheng fought the water-hiding Leech while Duan Fei’s team kept their distance. After tracking and capturing it, Feng Ling removed the living eye parasitizing its body, then used a livestream to send Starlight a threatening message.

• Feng Ling warned Duan Fei that his Patrol Car could not carry everyone and gave her flashlight to Feng Ling’s group as the water began to surge.
• Ye Zheng attacked the Leech, but it repeatedly melted into the water and reappeared, forcing Feng Ling to strike at its hidden position.
• Feng Ling Marked the Leech and used Mental Pressure to drag it from the water, but it escaped when Li Qing warned that it was immune to Mental Power.
• Han Xu’s people arrived with bullets and lights as Feng Ling tracked the Leech through a drainage ditch and trapped it with her Fangs and Claws.
• Feng Ling removed the living eye from the Leech, then told Starlight through a female streamer’s camera that she would find him.

Starlight and Gray Squirrel discussed their failed attempt against Feng Ling and planned to exploit the Hunters they had hired. Gray Squirrel recognized one of the bodyguards waiting downstairs as Fang Ye.

• Gray Squirrel raged over Feng Ling’s livestream confrontation, but Starlight argued that attacking the Hidden Boss was not worth the risk yet.
• Starlight spoke with Cang Wu, learned she had fewer than a thousand Points left, and accepted responsibility for misjudging Feng Ling’s strength.
• Starlight revealed that one of the hired Hunter bodyguards had a Card suited to Gray Squirrel, who planned to stage an attack as though it came from a Contaminant.
• Starlight and Gray Squirrel went downstairs to meet the Hunters, and Gray Squirrel recognized the man on the right as Fang Ye.

Gray Squirrel watched Starlight interview Hunters Fang Ye and He Su, probing their abilities and how they had acquired their Cards. After the Hunters left to inspect the neighborhood, He Su complained about being treated like a servant, while Fang Ye struggled with his own feelings about their work.

• Gray Squirrel recalled being killed by Feng Ling during his first investigation and watched Fang Ye with wary interest.
• Starlight asked Fang Ye and He Su to demonstrate their abilities, and Fang Ye showed his fish-fin arms while He Su dodged his attacks at high speed.
• He Su explained that he had acquired his Card after a Xenomorph died during the Qianhui Mall incident, while Fang Ye said he had found a Fishmen corpse and taken its Card.
• Gray Squirrel questioned Fang Ye about the Fishmen's death, but Starlight stopped him and sent the Hunters to inspect the neighborhood.
• Outside, He Su angrily complained that Starlight and Gray Squirrel had treated them like circus performers and security guards, while Fang Ye urged him to finish the two-week assignment and gain experience.

Fang Ye told He Su he believed they could achieve great things as Hunters, while Feng Ling and her companions rested after the Leech incident in Guangshan City. After recovering her phone from the Leech, Feng Ling realized it had been targeting the two Cards stored on it and left for Qingjiang to study them.

• Fang Ye encouraged He Su to believe they could accomplish something big as Hunters and vowed to make everyone remember his name.
• Feng Ling and her companions waited in the Truck while Han Xu and Duan Fei handled the aftermath of the Leech's attack.
• Ye Zheng explained that Han Xu had lost an arm while trying to save the former Surveillance Team captain and suggested Duan Fei might become his successor.
• Duan Fei returned Feng Ling's phone, which had been recovered from the Leech's body, and Feng Ling realized the creature had been targeting the two Cards on it.
• Feng Ling left for Qingjiang to study the Cards and assigned Xu Yiming to handle the press conference and Maze report.

Feng Ling kept the Gu Worm Master and Egg Sac Cards despite the danger of the Star Society pursuing her, while Li Qing explained how Players could log out. As the truck headed back toward Qingjiang, Su Yuqing arranged an escort for them on the Guangqing Expressway.

• Li Qing explained that the Star Society had lost control of its parasites after Feng Ling killed the Bug King, and that the rare Gu Worm Master Card could make Feng Ling a target.
• Feng Ling decided to keep the Gu Worm Master and Egg Sac Cards until the group returned to Qingjiang.
• Li Qing described the manual, voice-activated, and scheduled logout methods, and Feng Ling suspected the Leech had escaped by scheduling a logout.
• Su Yuqing called Feng Ling, confirmed the group was safe, and said she had sent a vehicle to meet them on the road.
• Su Yuqing told Feng Ling that the Flower Convoy would escort them through the Guangqing Expressway section and asked her to cooperate.

Feng Ling agreed to make an appearance with her flying crows instead of transforming, and Ye Zheng proposed using them to scout Qingjiang City for Starlight’s companions. Meanwhile, Pei Xianjue faced a wave of online backlash over her mother’s post about Feng Ling.

• Feng Ling rejected the Flower Convoy’s request that she avoid alarming the public and suggested showing her true form, but Su Yuqing and Li Qing refused.
• Feng Ling explained that Third Child and its flock were flying above the Truck, and Ye Zheng learned they could split into about nine hundred thousand small crows.
• Feng Ling proposed having the crows scout for people with eyes on their collarbones, while Ye Zheng suggested first securing Qingjiang City and asked whether the task would burden Feng Ling.
• Su Yuqing agreed that the crows could make an appearance and asked Feng Ling what she wanted to eat; Feng Ling said she would not be hungry for several days.
• Pei Xianjue posted a joking response to the backlash over her mother’s remarks, but commenters continued criticizing her and questioning her friendship with Feng Ling.

Pei Xianjue dealt with the backlash from her mother’s online remarks and refused her father’s offer to use his connections to defend her. She tried to enlist Feng Ling’s support, but Feng Ling turned down her invitation, leaving Pei Xianjue unsure how to change public opinion.

• Pei Xianjue considered asking Feng Ling to support her online but hesitated because Feng Ling had no social media account.
• Pei Xianjue told Baozi and Big Bear that public expectations made the controversy different from ordinary competition, and that her mother’s remarks had damaged her reputation.
• Pei Xianjue told her father that her mother’s words had undermined her hard-won standing as an Inspector, then declined his offer to ask Huang Yi and Director Mei to speak up for her.
• Pei Xianjue invited Feng Ling to celebrate her latest Maze clearance over a meal, but Feng Ling said she was busy for the next few days.