Chapter Summaries

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.

Feng Ling agreed to visit Pei Xianjue in Yuquan City, then returned to Qingjiang with Ye Zheng and watched an extravagant fireworks display. As Zhou Diao and the crowd called her name, Feng Ling stood atop the Truck and compared the feeling to being a mom.

• Pei Xianjue lied about having new clothing fabric to persuade Feng Ling to meet her, and Feng Ling agreed to visit in a couple of days.
• Feng Ling told Ye Zheng about Pei Xianjue's bodyguards, and Ye Zheng said she pitied Pei Xianjue for being placed in danger without proper training.
• Feng Ling and Ye Zheng returned to Qingjiang late at night and watched fireworks that Ye Zheng recognized as Su Yuqing's extravagant display.
• A Supervision Bureau convoy approached, and Ye Zheng retreated into the Truck when Feng Ling spotted Zhou Diao.
• Zhou Diao shouted Feng Ling's name, and people in the streets echoed it as Feng Ling watched from the Truck's roof.

Feng Ling returned to the Qingjiang Financial Center Building with Xu Yiming and brought the Cat Spider’s cocoon inside. After Feng Ling and Ye Zheng argued over Xu Yiming’s Press Conference outfit, they fought, while Xu Yiming assured the shocked Su Yuqing that it happened all the time.

• Feng Ling and Xu Yiming carried the Cat Spider’s cocoon into the underground Parking Lot, and Xu Yiming said he would stay at Lao Su’s and prepare for the Press Conference.
• Feng Ling suggested Xu Yiming wear bright colors, while Ye Zheng advised him to wear casual clothes and reveal his Four-Horned Sheep horns.
• After Xu Yiming left to ask Lao Su about his speech draft, Feng Ling and Ye Zheng discussed whether he had recognized Ye Zheng in the Maze.
• Feng Ling and Ye Zheng blamed each other for being obvious around Xu Yiming, then started fighting.
• Su Yuqing moved to break up the fight, but Xu Yiming stopped him and said Feng Ling and Ye Zheng did this all the time.

Feng Ling warned Ye Zheng about the risks of Su Yuqing’s proposed swimming pool and discussed the search for Starlight with Li Qing. After learning of two Mazes abroad, Feng Ling asked Li Qing to use his divination to locate Starlight.

• Feng Ling and Ye Zheng fought without using Mental Pressure or Second Form, and Feng Ling returned to the Sales Office injured.
• Su Yuqing’s Construction Team began digging for a heated Swimming Pool, prompting Ye Zheng to object over the noise and security risks.
• Feng Ling told Ye Zheng she would meet Pei Xianjue in Yuquan City and said they needed to find Starlight before autumn made it harder for Little Third Child to observe people’s collarbones.
• Li Qing told Feng Ling that two Mazes with confirmed locations were abroad, and Feng Ling said the other Administrators should provide clues about the Star Society to earn priority for their Mazes.
• Feng Ling asked Li Qing to use his Diviner ability to calculate Starlight’s location.

Feng Ling and Li Qing planned a way to narrow down Starlight’s location, though its Eye of Horus Card might let it detect them and flee. At Guangshan City’s press conference, Xu Yiming presented footage of the Maze and described Feng Ling’s role in defeating its Labyrinth Master.

• Li Qing divined a direction for Starlight, and Feng Ling plotted a route to intersect with a second divination line in another city.
• Li Qing warned Feng Ling that Starlight might sense their approach and escape, and Feng Ling decided they would try narrowing down its location by plane.
• Feng Ling told Li Qing to conserve his divination uses, while Xu Yiming stayed up late preparing his press conference speech.
• At the livestreamed press conference, Xu Yiming showed footage of the Wandering Deity Procession and a gigantic Mountain made of body parts.
• Xu Yiming said Feng Ling emerged from the Maze uninjured, leaving the reporters and viewers to judge how difficult her battle had been.

Pei Xianjue worried that public opinion would keep comparing her unfavorably with Feng Ling, but Feng Ling invited her to lunch in Yuquan City. At the restaurant, Feng Ling gave Pei Xianjue and Baozi parts of Little Third Child so they could communicate without phones and alert her to emergencies.

• As Xu Yiming praised Feng Ling in a livestream, commenters debated her achievements and Pei Xianjue's role alongside her.
• Pei Xianjue fretted over becoming Feng Ling's foil online and wondered how to repair their relationship.
• Feng Ling called Pei Xianjue from Yuquan City and invited her and Baozi to lunch, saying she had brought a mysterious gift.
• Pei Xianjue hurried to prepare for the meal and had Baozi retrieve a semi-finished fabric sample from the Research Department.
• At the restaurant, Pei Xianjue gave Feng Ling the fabric sample, and Feng Ling brought out two parts of Little Third Child for Pei Xianjue and Baozi to use as messengers.