Chapter 290 – Things That Must Be Done

“Commander of an E-Rank team?”

Chi Qian was stunned.

She carefully examined Su Ming and found that he was indeed very young, probably not even twenty years old. He showed no obvious Aura, and his Spirit Power was very weak—likely a complete newcomer who had just started out.

This was quite easy to determine.

Hunters possessed sharp senses, while Sorcerers had exceptional Spirit Sense. It was relatively straightforward to discern whether someone was a Professional and how strong they were.

If the other party was a Hunter, one could gauge their strength by sensing their Aura and vitality.

If the other party was a Sorcerer, one could assess their Spirit Power. Those with Spirit Constitution usually carried a faint, elusive spiritual presence. Even Hunters could detect it with their senses, as Spirit Power inherently countered Phantom Demons. For Hunters who carried Phantom Demon Bloodlines, it was easy to perceive any Spirit Power that could pose a threat to them.

Therefore, unless one had special abilities, techniques, or items to conceal themselves, any Professional with decent strength and sharp senses could roughly determine another’s power level.

As a former legend, Chi Qian naturally possessed such strength and keen perception. Combined with Su Ming’s overly youthful appearance, she instinctively let her guard down.

Little did Chi Qian know just how deeply hidden the young man before her truly was.

If one observed carefully, they would notice a mysterious Bracelet on Su Ming’s right wrist emitting faint, flowing light before quickly fading away.

A Divine Artifact-level alchemical item—the “Blue Demon Ceasefire Ring”—capable of sealing, suppressing, restraining, expelling, guiding, or even absorbing any form of energy according to the user’s will. It could be used on oneself or others.

At this moment, Su Ming activated its power, suppressing the magic and Spirit Power within his body to an extremely low level. Particularly his magic, which Su Ming completely suppressed, causing his Bloodline to cease functioning. His vigorous vitality plummeted, becoming no different from an ordinary person’s.

Under these circumstances, including Chi Qian, anyone who saw Su Ming would only perceive him as a novice Sorcerer who had just begun his journey.

This was precisely why Su Ming had no fear of others seeing through his true capabilities or exposing himself in front of anyone.

Unaware of all this, Chi Qian looked at Su Ming and asked, “Is there something you need?”

Her tone was no longer as sharp or cold as it had been in the Talent Market earlier. Perhaps because she viewed Su Ming as a youngster, her voice had softened somewhat?

In response, Su Ming’s smile remained unchanged. “Nothing much, I was just curious about you, sister, so I followed to take a look.”

As he spoke, Su Ming indeed cast a curious glance at Chi Qian.

This made Chi Qian feel somewhat uncomfortable. “Do you want to invite me to join your team?”

Remembering Su Ming’s earlier self-introduction, she couldn’t help but look at him strangely.

“Kind of,” Su Ming rubbed his nose and said, “After all, you seem quite famous and powerful, sister.”

Su Ming made no attempt to conceal his intentions.

Yes, Su Ming had taken a bit of a liking to Chi Qian.From the moment this young lady attacked Liu Zai and sent him flying with a single blow, Su Ming had already begun to feel intrigued.

Although Chi Qian had somewhat taken advantage of Liu Zai’s unpreparedness at that time, being able to send another Five-Star Professional flying with one strike was enough to prove the strength of this former female legend.

At the very least, in Su Ming’s view, without undergoing Demonization, Chi Qian’s strength might even be slightly greater than Mo Leng’s.

What did this indicate?

It indicated that Chi Qian had very likely reached the Five-Star Peak, just one step away from Six-Star!

How could Su Ming, who had failed to recruit any satisfactory team members for several consecutive days, not start having some thoughts about this?

Unfortunately…

“It’s fine if you want me to join. Bring me Dragon Demon Saliva, and I’ll sign the contract with you immediately.”

Chi Qian didn’t hesitate in the slightest.

Even though Su Ming had already mentioned that he was the Commander of an E-Rank team and appeared to be a complete newcomer who had just debuted, Chi Qian didn’t mind.

As long as she could get Dragon Demon Saliva, what did joining an E-Rank team matter?

Acknowledging a freshly debuted newcomer as her master wasn’t a problem either – as long as she got Dragon Demon Saliva, everything was negotiable.

Thus, the question arose.

“Do you have Dragon Demon Saliva?”

Chi Qian’s questioning was so direct, so straightforward, that it made Su Ming’s eyebrows lift slightly.

The preciousness of Dragon Demon Saliva was beyond doubt.

It could only be secreted by the Dragon Demon, which had only appeared three times throughout history, and each Dragon Demon could only secrete one drop in its entire lifetime. This wasn’t just rare or uncommon.

The effects of Dragon Demon Saliva were equally extraordinary.

It served as the main material for many legendary-grade alchemical potions. Those alchemical potions refined with it as the primary ingredient, even if not Divine Grade, were still the cream of the crop – treasures that could be encountered by chance but not sought after.

For example, Su Ming had previously obtained a bottle of alchemical potion called “Dragon Blood Potion (Fake)” from a package.

Dragon Blood Potion (Fake): An alchemical potion manufactured by imitating the factors of the legendary Dragon. When consumed by a Hunter, it temporarily grants power comparable to that of Dragon species.

Su Ming had given this alchemical potion to Xu Qianqian during their confrontation with the Underground Professional group sent by 『Sin』 to capture Little Hai’er at Huaming District Warehouse Street. At that time, Xu Qianqian, who was only Two-Star, could even confront the Three-Star Yi Junchuan head-on. Even after Yi Junchuan consumed the Demonization potion and underwent incomplete Demonization, Xu Qianqian, who had drunk that alchemical potion, still possessed some ability to resist.

This demonstrated that even the (Fake) Dragon Blood Potion had remarkable effects.

And Dragon Demon Saliva was the most crucial main ingredient used to refine the Dragon Blood Potion.

The Dragon Blood Potion referred to here wasn’t the counterfeit, but the genuine Dragon Blood Potion.

Dragon Blood Potion (True): An alchemical potion manufactured using the factors of the legendary Dragon as the main material. When consumed by a Hunter, it grants power comparable to that of Dragon species.

This was the effect of the genuine Dragon Blood Potion.

It might seem like there wasn’t much difference from the counterfeit, but there was a fundamental gap between the two.

The Dragon Blood Potion (Fake) was an alchemical potion that could only temporarily grant power comparable to that of Dragon species.The Dragon Blood Potion (True) can grant one strength comparable to that of a Dragon Species, with no time limit—it is a permanent enhancement.

Moreover, the latter’s effects far surpass the former’s.

Although the Dragon Blood Potion (False) allows one to temporarily gain power akin to a Dragon Species, Xu Qianqian’s inability to single-handedly defeat even a Three-Star Half-Fiend clearly demonstrates its limited efficacy, falling far short of matching a true Dragon Species.

The Dragon Blood Potion (True), however, is entirely different.

In the past, a powerful individual consumed the genuine Dragon Blood Potion, acquiring an unrivaled robust physique. Even when wrestling with a true Dragon Demon, they showed no sign of inferiority. Relying on this strength, they repeatedly succeeded in challenging opponents of higher Ranks, rivaling top-tier Seven-Star experts while still at the Six-Star level.

The world bestowed upon this individual the title “Dragon Man,” and they ultimately sacrificed their life in a battle against a Phantom Demon army from the Spirit Demon Abyss, perishing together with a rare Nightmare Species Mutant. This act earned them a place in history as a hero.

Dragon Demon Saliva, as the main material for the Dragon Blood Potion (True), contains Dragon Species factors. In the hands of a highly skilled Great Master Alchemist, it holds the potential to bring this legendary alchemical potion back into existence.

Beyond that, Dragon Demon Saliva can also be used to craft several other top-tier alchemical potions, no less remarkable than the Dragon Blood Potion (True). Were it not for its extreme rarity, humanity might have produced numerous super-powered individuals capable of altering the world’s balance.

Such a priceless treasure, even if someone truly possessed it, would not be given to Chi Qian—not even in exchange for the lifelong loyalty of a future Six-Star Professional.

This includes Su Ming as well.

Of course, Su Ming did not voice this directly.

“May I ask what you intend to use the Dragon Demon Saliva for?”

Su Ming finally voiced the question he was most curious about.

He had already asked that storytelling brother of his, but the man claimed not to know, saying Chi Qian had never mentioned it.

However, that brother did suggest one possibility.

“Perhaps she wants to use it to brew some precious healing potion to restore her ruined appearance and severed hand.”

This was the reason many speculated.

Regenerating severed limbs and restoring youth—these are effects only the highest-grade healing potions can achieve.

Perhaps there is such an alchemical potion that requires Dragon Demon Saliva as a material, which might explain why Chi Qian is pursuing it so fervently.

If that were the case, Su Ming would be willing to help Chi Qian.

During the Huaming Campaign, after helping Xu Qianqian repel the Xu Family’s attackers, Su Ming had obtained a vial of the highest-grade healing potion from that small cabin in the mountain forest.

Its effects far surpassed the alchemical potion Gao Xu had used to heal Xu Yanyan’s half-severed neck. Regrowing a severed limb or restoring a ruined appearance would not be beyond its capabilities.

If this alchemical potion were auctioned at the Wanbao Auction House, its final price would undoubtedly not fall below what the Mo Family paid for Xiong Wen.

If it could secure the lifelong loyalty of a future Six-Star Professional, that would be a worthwhile exchange.

But Su Ming felt that Chi Qian’s desire for Dragon Demon Saliva was probably not for her own use.

The reason was simple.

Chi Qian needed not one drop of Dragon Demon Saliva, but four.If it were for my own use, a single drop would suffice—why would I need so many?

Moreover, Su Ming could roughly tell that Chi Qian didn’t take her appearance or severed hand seriously at all.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have remained so composed under the scrutiny of so many judgmental gazes.

As expected…

“There are things I must do, and for that, I need Dragon Demon Saliva.”

Chi Qian didn’t mention her own affairs at all, instead phrasing it this way.

“What kind of things?” Su Ming narrowed his eyes and asked.

Chi Qian didn’t answer.

“In short, if you want me to join your team, bring me Dragon Demon Saliva.”

Chi Qian’s numb yet incomparably determined gaze fell upon Su Ming.

“Bring me four drops of Dragon Demon Saliva, and my entire life will be yours.”

With those words, Chi Qian turned and left.

She seemed to believe that Su Ming couldn’t possibly produce Dragon Demon Saliva.

And rightly so.

How could a newcomer who had just debuted possess such a priceless treasure?

Chi Qian had only spoken to Su Ming in the hope of seizing some opportunity, trying her luck.

Su Ming watched Chi Qian’s retreating figure, pondered for a moment, and then continued to follow her.

Chi Qian frowned but paid him no mind.

Yet Su Ming kept following, neither speaking nor desperately trying to persuade her like others from other teams. He simply trailed closely behind her.

This made Chi Qian’s frown deepen, and she grew increasingly impatient.

“Hah!”

At one point, Chi Qian lost her patience. Her figure transformed into a gust of wind, swiftly disappearing amid the exclamations of passersby, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Su Ming was momentarily stunned, then chuckled to himself.

“It seems this legendary woman is also the impatient and impulsive type.”

Well, if she weren’t, she wouldn’t be so relentless.

Su Ming then resumed his steps, strolling leisurely forward.

His Spirit Sense had already expanded, enveloping the area to its maximum range.

Soon, Su Ming located his target.

……

Tianfeng City, outskirts of Dragonheart District.

A gust of wind blew from afar, revealing Chi Qian’s figure as she appeared there.

Only after arriving did Chi Qian’s tightly furrowed brow relax, and her pace returned to its original rhythm.

The surroundings were utterly silent, with no signs of anything unusual.

As if accustomed to such silence, Chi Qian lifted her gaze and walked forward.

As for Su Ming, she had already put him out of her mind.

A newcomer who had just debuted couldn’t possibly keep up with her, nor could he fulfill her wishes by bringing her what she desired.

Thus, Chi Qian had completely forgotten about Su Ming, not even remembering his name.

Her destination, however, was a house situated in these outskirts.

It was a modest, somewhat crude wooden cabin—neither too large nor too small.

Beside the cabin was a lake, behind it a forest, and a wooden pathway extended all the way to the cabin’s door.

It was surprising to find such a structure in Tianfeng City.

Yet, one had to admit, the scene of this forest cabin, preserved in its primitive ecology, held a certain aesthetic charm that was truly remarkable.Chi Qian stepped onto the forest path and arrived before the small cabin.

“I’m back.”

With a soft murmur, Chi Qian opened the cabin door and entered.

The interior was cold and silent, with no one responding to Chi Qian.

Staring blankly at the scene, a lonely expression involuntarily surfaced in her eyes.

This was not Chi Qian’s residence.

No—it had essentially become her dwelling now.

But in the past, this place served as the base for a team.

A team founded by Chi Qian, exclusively recruiting female Professionals, which rose to B-Rank in just two years—the base of 『Crimson』.

(End of Chapter)