Chapter Summaries

Feng Ling set a plan to lure Queen Mother of the West away from the summit while Pei Xianjue burned the trees, then headed out with Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi to confront the Labyrinth Boss. She admitted she might be badly injured and asked Baozi to recover her body so she could keep returning to fight.

• Feng Ling used Mother's Longing to watch two Fox Demons approach the Ancient Tower, where the Leopard Woman chased them down the mountain.
• Feng Ling decided to draw Queen Mother of the West away while Pei Xianjue burned the trees, and Huangfu Miaomiao stored fruit for the mission.
• Pei Xianjue agreed to burn the trees alone after Feng Ling urged her on, while Li Qing remained with her in the main hall.
• Feng Ling led Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi toward Queen Mother of the West, intending to keep the Boss occupied as Pei Xianjue worked.
• Feng Ling told Baozi to collect her corpse if Queen Mother of the West seriously injured her, so she could recover and continue fighting.

Feng Ling lured the Leopard Woman away from the summit, hoping to exploit the waterfall to weaken it, but the monster blocked her path. She regrouped with Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi and ordered them to flee toward Fox Village.

• Feng Ling used grenades, gunfire, and her Fangs and Claws to draw the Leopard Woman down the mountain and inflict wounds on its legs.
• Feng Ling led the pursuit toward Jade Curtain Waterfall, suspecting water might weaken the Leopard Woman.
• The Leopard Woman leaped ahead of Feng Ling and blocked the route to the waterfall.
• Feng Ling threw several grenades to escape back to the Mountain Path, where Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi caught up.
• Feng Ling shouted for Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi to run to Fox Village.

Feng Ling lured the injured Leopard Woman downhill toward Sanqing Lake with the Purple Fruit, hoping to kill the Labyrinth Master. The Leopard Woman outsmarted Feng Ling by knocking away her grenade bag and cornered her, but Feng Ling used a cabbage to distract her as the chapter ended.

• Feng Ling sent Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi ahead while she stayed behind to cover their escape downhill.
• Feng Ling used the Purple Fruit’s scent to lure the Leopard Woman after her and told Baozi and Huangfu Miaomiao to meet her at Sanqing Lake.
• Feng Ling ran toward the lake, throwing grenades to disrupt the Leopard Woman’s Mental Pressure and slow her down.
• Feng Ling tried to attack the Leopard Woman’s legs, but the Leopard Woman twisted and flung her aside, sending her grenade bag flying away.
• As the Leopard Woman approached, Feng Ling pulled out a huge cabbage and threw it, provoking the monster’s sudden reaction.

Feng Ling sacrificed herself to keep the purple fruit from the Leopard Woman and discovered how the Hive’s evolution should proceed as she lay near death. Baozi and Huangfu Miaomiao carried her to a burned house in Fox Village, where Huangfu Miaomiao fed her fruit juice and stirred the village’s hunger and greed.

• Feng Ling threw the purple fruit toward the lake, then severed two of the Leopard Woman’s tails before the Leopard Woman tore apart her chest and arm.
• An undercurrent carried Feng Ling into a Reed Thicket, where she realized the Hive’s evolution had to prioritize survival.
• Baozi and Huangfu Miaomiao found Feng Ling and carried her ashore, then stumbled into Fox Village while searching for shelter.
• Baozi took Feng Ling into a burned house that Huangfu Miaomiao recognized from Pei Xianjue’s earlier visit.
• Huangfu Miaomiao crushed a fruit and fed its juice to Feng Ling, causing vibrant, hungry colors to fill the village.

Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi guarded the injured Feng Ling from foxes drawn by the Purple Fruit, while Miaomiao struggled with guilt over entering the Maze. Feng Ling regenerated, rose from her bed, and offered the foxes the fruit if they let her pass.

• Foxes gathered around the ruined house, forcing Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi to guard the door and window while Feng Ling recovered.
• Huangfu Miaomiao blamed herself for following the game's rules and entering the Maze, but Baozi used his skill to ease her emotions.
• Feng Ling regenerated her missing body parts with red, mycelium-like growths and stood up despite her grotesque appearance.
• Feng Ling asked Huangfu Miaomiao for the Purple Fruit, then warned the foxes to let her pass or she would kill them all.
• Feng Ling threw the fruit toward the foxes.

Feng Ling left Fox Village with Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi and headed to the lake to ambush the wounded Labyrinth Master. After luring Leopard Woman into the water, Feng Ling mortally wounded it and faced the image of her mother before striking its face with her Bone Blades.

• Feng Ling explained that she planned to kill the Labyrinth Master before Queen Mother of the West returned to the Mountain, and Baozi and Huangfu Miaomiao followed her despite their worries.
• Feng Ling left Fox Village with Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi, took the fruit, and headed for the lake where Leopard Woman was waiting.
• Feng Ling used the fruit to lure Leopard Woman into the shallows, then attacked it from underwater with Bone Blades and Fangs and Claws.
• After Leopard Woman collapsed, its head showed Feng Ling an image of her mother, and Feng Ling called herself the most well-behaved before driving her Bone Blades into the face.

Feng Ling killed the Labyrinth Master and obtained the Queen Mother of the West Card, while the survivors learned they could close the maze. As Pei Xianjue headed down the mountain to reunite with Feng Ling and Baozi, Li Qing discovered announcements warning that the Hidden Boss Hive had rapidly matured and was extremely dangerous.

• Feng Ling obtained the Queen Mother of the West Card after the Leopard Woman's corpse condensed into the Labyrinth Master's Card.
• Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi reunited with Feng Ling, gave her a blanket and her damaged phone, and heard that the maze might disappear now that its master was dead.
• Feng Ling used the recovered phone to message Pei Xianjue.
• Pei Xianjue learned from Li Qing that the Labyrinth Master had been killed and that he could now close the maze, then set out to find Feng Ling and Baozi.
• Li Qing saw announcements that the Hidden Boss Hive had advanced to its Mature Form and warned players to keep their distance and stay safe.

After Feng Ling digested the Queen Mother of the West's Card, she gained new skills and a stronger form, while Li Qing and Pei Xianjue learned she had completed the kill. The group reunited at Goddess Peak as Li Qing prepared to close the Maze, which would return them to Sanqing Mountain and leave the Maze to die and eventually crumble away.

• Feng Ling digested the Queen Mother of the West's Card, gained Mother's Majesty and Mother's Knock, and recovered a stronger Nest Building ability.
• Huangfu Miaomiao noticed Feng Ling's advancement, and Feng Ling agreed to show her new form another time.
• Feng Ling received Pei Xianjue's message and headed with Baozi and Huangfu Miaomiao to meet Li Qing and Pei Xianjue at Goddess Peak.
• Li Qing explained that the storm came from the Maze separating from the real world and said closing it would return them to Sanqing Mountain.
• Pei Xianjue asked what would happen to the Maze, and Li Qing explained that its lifeforms would die as it became a barren space and gradually crumbled away.

After breaching the Sanqing Mountain Maze, Feng Ling, Pei Xianjue, and the others emerged into a storm and reunited with the Yuquan City Branch. As they left the mountain under escort, Pei Xianjue announced the operation’s success to the waiting crowd.

• Li Qing shut down the Maze, and the group discovered that their phones had regained signal as thunder and heavy rain swept over Sanqing Mountain.
• Pei Xianjue called Captain Shen, reported the Maze’s breach and Liang Zhou’s death, and learned that a team had gone missing in Daling Forest and headquarters had sent personnel to Yuquan City.
• Pei Xianjue told Feng Ling and Baozi to attend a meeting and report on the operation, then the group headed for the cable car as power returned on the mountain.
• Yuquan Branch members welcomed the group, gave them raincoats to hide their identities from reporters, and escorted them and the enlarged Cat Spider and Cat Owl down the mountain.
• As the crowd pressed toward their van, Pei Xianjue raised her fist and announced that they had breached the Xenomorphs’ Maze, prompting thunderous applause.

After escaping the Xenomorph Maze, Feng Ling and Pei Xianjue traveled to the Yuquan City Supervision Bureau, where Pei revealed her family had planned a publicity campaign to make her famous. As the news boosted Pei’s popularity and the Pei Corporation’s stock, an online post drew attention to a familiar-looking eight-legged monster in a photo.

• Feng Ling and Pei Xianjue rode with the Special Forces convoy toward the Yuquan City Supervision Bureau, while Feng Ling learned they would stay in Yuquan City for an emergency meeting.
• Pei Xianjue showed Feng Ling that their Maze operation was trending and explained that her family had arranged media coverage to build her fame, even preparing to present her as a martyr if she died.
• Feng Ling laughed at Pei Xianjue’s candid explanation, and Pei Xianjue rested, pleased that she had moved closer to her dream of fame.
• News coverage made Pei Xianjue a popular heroine, while Pei's Mother shared a training photo and the Pei Corporation’s product orders and stock rose.
• A netizen circled an eight-legged monster in a news photo and asked whether it looked familiar.

Online attention shifted from the Pei family to the Cat Spiders, and people connected one to the creature seen during the Mengjia Hotel incident and praised the mysterious Feng Ling. As Su Yuqing left for an emergency meeting in Yuquan City, Zhou Diao worried about Feng Ling, Ye Zheng, and his own lack of progress.

• Influencers circulated Cat Spider photos, and commenters identified one as the spider from the Mengjia Hotel incident and speculated about its connection to Feng Ling.
• Netizens praised the helpful civilian’s role in the hotel operation and Maze breakthrough, while some considered moving to Qingjiang City for safety.
• After reporters asked Su Yuqing about Feng Ling, he said to wait for the next day’s announcement and prepared to travel to Yuquan City for an emergency meeting.
• Zhou Diao told Su Yuqing to persuade Feng Ling to stay in Qingjiang City, but Su Yuqing replied that she would protect people wherever she went.
• After Su Yuqing left, Zhou Diao worried about the missing Ye Zheng and questioned whether his own strength was enough to protect the land.

Feng Ling questioned Li Qing after Huangfu Miaomiao caught him trying to escape, and learned he wanted to investigate the system and the game’s arrival. She Marked him and said she would neither help him escape nor stop him, leaving his escape to his own abilities.

• Feng Ling finished bathing and asked Huangfu Miaomiao to bring Li Qing to her.
• Huangfu Miaomiao caught Li Qing trying to sneak out through a window and took him to Feng Ling.
• Feng Ling asked Li Qing why he had not logged out after the Maze was conquered.
• Li Qing explained that logging out would cost him his administrative abilities and that he wanted to investigate the system, the Players, and the game’s arrival.
• Feng Ling Marked Li Qing and told him she would neither help nor hinder his escape.

Feng Ling discussed the Sanqing Mountain Maze with Li Qing before attending a delayed meeting at the Yuquan Branch. She noticed the agenda included Hunter Universalization, and Pei Xianjue explained that the Hunter Alliance Plan might expand from one hundred Hunters to far more.

• Feng Ling marked Li Qing, assured him the Mark would not affect his escape, and asked him about the Maze.
• The meeting was delayed until eight because news media vehicles caused traffic near the Yuquan Branch.
• Feng Ling told Pei Xianjue and Baozi about her work as a sparring partner and explained why she preferred it to being a bodyguard.
• Feng Ling, Pei Xianjue, and Baozi entered the conference room and reviewed the meeting agenda, which included Hunter Universalization.
• Pei Xianjue explained that the Hunter Alliance Plan could expand if its one hundred Hunters became positive examples, then asked Feng Ling what she thought.

At a public meeting, Pei Xianjue reported how she and Feng Ling escaped the Maze, while officials praised the survivors and asked about the dangers inside. The chapter left Pei Xianjue struggling to answer questions about the giant python as she looked to Feng Ling for help.

• Pei Xianjue told Feng Ling that her family supported the Hunter Alliance Plan and promoted special clothing for Hunters.
• Shen Mu introduced Feng Ling to the meeting, where she reunited with Su Yuqing and noticed that much of his hair had turned white.
• Shen Mu called for applause for Feng Ling, Pei Xianjue, and Baozi before Pei Xianjue began her report.
• Pei Xianjue described the Maze escape, explained that the Fox Demons’ linked Mental Power sustained Fox Village’s illusions, and accepted responsibility for Liang Zhou’s death.
• The Old General praised Pei Xianjue and asked how soldiers should handle the enormous python, prompting Pei Xianjue to glance at Feng Ling for help.

At a meeting, Feng Ling explained her encounters with Xenomorphs and analyzed the weaknesses of the Maze’s creatures. The officials discussed ways to support the Inspectors and Research Team trapped in Daling Forest, while Su Yuqing seemed distracted.

• The Old General reviewed Feng Ling’s record, and she explained that the Xenomorph game system had marked her as a Hidden Boss.
• Feng Ling told the meeting that fear turned into excitement for her, and the Old General criticized the Supervisor General Bureau for failing to recruit her.
• Feng Ling described the giant python and other Maze creatures as flawed products of Gene Evolution, but called the Queen Mother of the West perfect.
• Shen Mu urged the attendees to share ideas for supporting the team trapped in the Maze, and they discussed research, evacuations, patrols, and drones.
• Feng Ling noticed that Su Yuqing seemed distracted as the discussion continued.

Feng Ling attended a late-night meeting where officials debated whether to expand the Hunter system, and Pei Xianjue recommended waiting before promoting it further. After the meeting, Su Yuqing told Feng Ling she could no longer stay at his apartment because her two pets had grown too large.

• Shen Mu argued that Hunters could help protect citizens and relieve the Inspectors and Special Forces, while others raised concerns about crime and the lack of training.
• The Old General asked Pei Xianjue whether the Hunter Plan should be promoted, and Pei Xianjue said they should wait for the new system to operate before deciding.
• Shen Mu agreed to set the proposal aside and hold another discussion after the Hunter system had run for a month, then ended the meeting.
• Feng Ling left the supper gathering, and Su Yuqing approached her after other people had been preparing to recruit her.
• Feng Ling invited Su Yuqing to see her grown pets, and Su Yuqing said she could no longer stay in his apartment because they needed more space.

Feng Ling discussed new housing arrangements with Su Yuqing, who helped her consider spacious sites around Qingjiang City. Their conversation about the planned Hunter Alliance revealed to Feng Ling that Su Yuqing, too, felt a subtle superiority toward people without Cards.

• Su Yuqing offered to help Feng Ling find a larger place where Cat Spider and Cat Owl would not disturb ordinary residents.
• Feng Ling and Su Yuqing returned to her room, where he calmly petted Cat Spider and met Huangfu Miaomiao.
• Su Yuqing showed Feng Ling marked housing options around Qingjiang City and explained that living downtown would help her respond to cases.
• Feng Ling asked why Su Yuqing had not spoken at the meeting, and he explained that the Hunter Alliance proposal was already set to be implemented despite the planned further discussion.
• Feng Ling noticed a faint sense of superiority in Su Yuqing's attitude toward people without Cards.

Feng Ling chose the abandoned Qingjiang Financial Center as her future home, while Su Yuqing told her about Ye Zheng’s dangerous Maze mission and showed her Ye Zheng’s cryptic final message. Feng Ling became obsessed with the word “Squirrel” and interrupted Li Qing’s escape to ask what it meant.

• Feng Ling chose the unfinished Qingjiang Financial Center, and Su Yuqing offered to secure several years of usage rights and renovate its sales office using her bonus.
• Su Yuqing told Feng Ling that Ye Zheng had killed the Labyrinth Master in Daling Forest’s Maze but had not yet led her team out.
• Su Yuqing privately showed Feng Ling Ye Zheng’s last message, which contained only the word “Squirrel.”
• Feng Ling went to Li Qing’s room and found him escaping down a bedsheet rope through the rain.
• Feng Ling climbed outside with an umbrella and asked Li Qing what “Squirrel” meant as he continued his escape.

Feng Ling helped Li Qing escape from the Supervision Building, and he explained how Squirrel Card holders could be used as living card stores and human bombs. Feng Ling suspected the Squirrel Card found among the Underground Cave Contaminant’s cards had caused its corruption, and she wondered whether to warn Su Yuqing as Li Qing prepared to leave.

• Feng Ling helped Li Qing climb down from the ninth floor and enter the seventh-floor medical area through a window opened by his Green Weasel.
• Li Qing changed into a caretaker’s uniform and explained that Administrators could access card and Player information but were bound by the rule against revealing information about the original world.
• Li Qing told Feng Ling that Squirrels could store Cards and that Players sometimes kept them captive as card packs.
• Li Qing explained that when a Squirrel died, its stored Cards burst out and could overwhelm an enemy with Corruption, turning them into a Contaminant.
• Feng Ling recalled finding a Squirrel Card among the cards produced by an Underground Cave Contaminant and wondered whether it had been attacked by a Squirrel.
• Li Qing warned Feng Ling to be careful around whoever had encountered a Squirrel, while Feng Ling considered whether to tell Su Yuqing.

Feng Ling worried about Squirrel’s threat, then felt reassured after deciding to keep Li Qing nearby so he could identify Players and their Cards. The next morning, she read Forum posts linking her to the five people who emerged from the Sanqing Palace Maze and proposing an attack on the Yuquan City Supervision Bureau.

• Feng Ling heard Li Qing’s escape plan and offered him a place to sleep in her RV and money for the trip back to Sanqing Mountain, but he left in frustration.
• Feng Ling considered how Squirrel could ruin a Card Deck and decided she would catch Li Qing again after daylight so she could use his Labyrinth Administrator ability to detect Players and their Cards.
• After the rain cleared, Feng Ling read that the Northern Maze Expedition had returned safely and congratulated Su Yuqing.
• Huangfu Miaomiao read Forum posts speculating that Feng Ling had entered a Maze, defeated its Labyrinth Master, and advanced to Mature Form.
• Huangfu Miaomiao read a post suggesting Feng Ling was among the five people who emerged from the Sanqing Palace Maze and proposing that Players attack the Yuquan City Supervision Bureau.