Chapter 293 – Secured—The First Team Member

The next day, early morning.

When Su Ming emerged from the villa once again, he no longer rushed to the Talent Market at the Professional Center first thing in the morning like before.

Today, Su Ming headed toward the Dragonheart District station while yawning repeatedly.

The Dragonheart District station was bustling with activity, very lively. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry, pulling suitcases as they rushed in and out, forming a rather crowded stream of people.

Su Ming arrived here empty-handed, standing out somewhat incongruously.

But Su Ming still entered the station, without buying a ticket, and directly headed toward a special passageway.

Around him, many people were also heading toward this special passageway, just like Su Ming.

These people had some obvious characteristics.

For instance, some traveled in groups.

For instance, some were fully armed.

And for instance, some had an extraordinary Aura.

These people were clearly all Professionals.

They shared the same goal as Su Ming—that special Professional passageway. They didn’t need to buy tickets either; they just used their Terminals for scanning to confirm their Professional credentials, allowing them to enter this passageway and ride for free.

This was one of the privileges for Professionals in Tianfeng City.

Because Professionals in Tianfeng City often needed to leave the Base City to carry out missions—either heading toward the direction of the Chaos Demon Cave or traveling to some nearby wonderland—as one of their privileges, they could all use the special Professional passageway for free and ride without charge to the border areas of Tianfeng City.

Those Professionals who were either in groups, fully armed, or had an extraordinary Aura, all heading for this Professional passageway, were clearly intending to leave Tianfeng City at this moment to carry out missions outside.

And today, Su Ming was the same as them.

Yes, Su Ming was also preparing to leave Tianfeng City and head to a wonderland outside the Base City.

However, his goal wasn’t to complete a certain mission, but to fulfill the agreement he made with someone yesterday.

When Su Ming passed through the Professional passageway and arrived at the Professional-exclusive platform, in one corner of the area, a rather conspicuous woman had already arrived early.

She carried a long Sword on her back, had a waist pouch at her side, wore a combat suit, and was draped in a long robe that somewhat concealed her face—which wasn’t very presentable—and her severed right hand. However, it couldn’t hide her voluptuous and alluring body curves, causing the surrounding Professionals to involuntarily glance her way.

Su Ming approached nonchalantly as if no one else was around, which also attracted quite a bit of attention.

However, when they saw Su Ming’s youthful, even somewhat childish appearance, the onlookers withdrew their gazes and didn’t pay him much more attention.

Under such circumstances, Su Ming came before the conspicuous woman.

“Sorry, I’m late.”

Su Ming was still yawning repeatedly, making his apology seem insincere.

Fortunately, the woman didn’t mind.

“You’re not late. There are still a few minutes until the agreed meeting time. I just arrived early myself.” The woman glanced at Su Ming and reminded him, “However, when you’re on a mission in the future, it’s best to remember to maintain sufficient alertness to avoid accidents due to carelessness.”

It seemed the woman was somewhat concerned about Su Ming’s yawning appearance.”Sorry, sorry.” Su Ming wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes and spread his hands, saying, “I’ve been studying an Ancient Blade Art recently and spent quite a few Contribution Points on a set of alchemical potions to assist with training. I’ve been staying up late in the training ground these past few days.”

Indeed, Su Ming had been entirely focused on researching that Ancient Blade Art and using the set of alchemical potions that could enhance training efficiency and rapidly increase strength.

These two items had cost Su Ming over 100,000 Contribution Points—an exorbitant price.

Yet, Su Ming could now say with certainty that these Contribution Points were absolutely well spent.

Especially the set of alchemical potions, which Su Ming had been using daily with surprisingly excellent effects.

The set contained twelve bottles, not for oral consumption but for external application.

Su Ming used one bottle each day while training in Blade Art at the training ground, applying the alchemical potion all over his body.

He discovered that after using the potion, his physical strength visibly improved during Blade Art practice.

Moreover, Su Ming also possessed the Blue Demon Cessation Ring. Since wearing this Divine Artifact-level alchemical item, it had been continuously suppressing the Demon Emperor Sword within his right hand and even absorbing its power, allowing Su Ming’s strength to grow rapidly.

After using those alchemical potions, Su Ming found that his absorption rate of the Demon Emperor Sword’s power had significantly accelerated, bringing him repeated pleasant surprises.

Thus, over the past few days, Su Ming had practically been living in the Villa Underground Training Ground, immersed in the sensation of his rapidly increasing strength.

Combined with his research on the Ancient Blade Art, Su Ming could faintly sense that he might soon reach the limit of a Four-Star Hunter.

That’s right.

In just about two months, Su Ming was already approaching the peak of Four-Star Hunter.

It was worth noting that roughly two months ago, he had only just broken through the Three-Star physical constraints underground in the Longyao City Ruins, Awakening his Demonization ability and officially advancing to a Four-Star Hunter.

Now, he was already nearing the Four-Star Hunter limit—a speed that would undoubtedly shock countless Professionals if revealed.

This wasn’t solely due to the continuous transformation potential brought by his Nightmare Species Bloodline.

Without the interference of the Demon Emperor Sword’s power and the assistance of the Blue Demon Cessation Ring, even Su Ming with his Nightmare Species Bloodline couldn’t have approached the Four-Star limit so quickly.

And the training efficiency enhancement from the alchemical potion set accelerated this process, propelling Su Ming toward the Four-Star limit at an even faster pace.

“At this rate, it probably won’t be long before I advance to a Five-Star Hunter, right?”

It was precisely this prospect that delighted Su Ming, causing him to immerse himself completely over the past few days—spending every day in the Villa Underground Training Ground, studying Ancient Blade Art while training himself, rapidly enhancing his strength.

Although Chi Qian was unaware of all this, she could understand Su Ming’s approach.

“I get it. Significant strength improvement is indeed an irresistible temptation for us Professionals.”

Chi Qian nodded in profound agreement.

However, today, Chi Qian hadn’t come to chat idly with Su Ming.”Allow me to confirm one more time.” Chi Qian fixed her intense gaze on Su Ming, asking word by word: “Do you truly have a way to rescue my companion from the Venomous Insect Cave?”

This was what Su Ming had promised her yesterday.

Therefore, Su Ming didn’t make another promise, instead responding with a question of his own.

“Let me also confirm one more time.” Su Ming smiled faintly and said: “As long as I rescue your companion from the Venomous Insect Cave, you will join my team, correct?”

This was what Chi Qian had promised after Su Ming made his guarantee yesterday.

Without any hesitation, Chi Qian confirmed in an indifferent tone.

“As long as you can truly rescue my companion from the Venomous Insect Cave, then, as agreed yesterday, I will unconditionally join your team, sign a lifelong contract with you, serve you for life, and be at your disposal.”

Chi Qian wanted the Dragon Demon Saliva primarily to rescue her companion.

If Su Ming could accomplish this, she would join his team as previously decided and sign the lifelong contract.

“Then it’s settled.”

Su Ming took out a contract from his backpack.

“Here, sign the contract.”

Hearing this, Chi Qian took the contract from Su Ming’s hand.

Without needing careful examination, just by the texture and the faint demonic aura she could sense, Chi Qian could confirm that this contract was of no low quality.

The quality of a contract determines its binding power after use.

The higher the quality and Rank of the contract, the stronger its binding power. Once violated, the curse inflicted would be more severe.

Conversely, the lower the quality and Rank of the contract, the weaker its binding power. In such cases, even if someone violated the contract, the consequences might be bearable.

Su Ming had previously signed a contract with Xu Qianqian prohibiting disclosure of information about him. That contract was approximately High Grade, carrying a curse powerful enough to cause any lower-Rank Professional to suffer physical deterioration or even instant death. Its binding power was quite substantial, as only Upper-Rank Professionals could withstand the curse from violating it without being killed.

The Four Coastal Bases had once signed a contract among themselves for mutual exchange, assistance, and non-aggression. That contract was at least of a premium grade. Violating it would instantly generate a curse likely to affect the entire Base City, leading to widespread suffering. Thus, its binding power was extremely strong, ensuring that the Four Base Cities had never harmed each other over the years, at most causing minor inconveniences.

As for the contract signed by the various Families in Tianfeng City to honor the Royal Family as their masters and never seize power, in recognition of the Royal Family’s great sacrifices, it was said to have reached the legendary Divine Grade.

The curse from that contract, once triggered, would plague the violating Family for generations. The best outcome would be the complete loss of the Family’s Bloodline, reducing them to ordinary people forever, unable to possess supernatural powers again. The worst could be the entire Family being cursed to death.

In summary, the higher the quality of the contract, the stronger the curse upon violation, and the more terrifying and unbreakable its binding power becomes.The contract Su Ming signed at the Professional Center when establishing his team was of the lowest grade among Low Grade items, its curse likely incapable of killing even a One-Star Professional.

There was no helping it—Tianfeng City had millions of Professionals and tens of thousands of established teams. Even with the backing of the city’s authorities and abundant resources, the Professional Center couldn’t provide large quantities of high-quality contracts for every team Commander to sign.

Though these contract-like documents were low in quality and effectiveness, if anyone violated their terms, the contract would immediately combust. While this couldn’t punish the violator through curses, the Professional Center would be instantly notified of the breach and could dispatch personnel to handle the matter.

Given this, for the Professional Center, the lowest Rank contract sufficed for team establishment.

As for the contract Su Ming now produced, Chi Qian estimated its quality to be at least the finest among High Grade items, if not approaching the pinnacle grade.

Contracts of this level could exact a price even from Upper-Rank Professionals who breached them.

Not to mention a Five-Star Professional like Chi Qian—even a top-tier Seven-Star Professional violating such a contract would, at minimum, be severely stripped of their defenses if not killed.

“You certainly think highly of me,” Chi Qian couldn’t help but side-eye Su Ming.

According to industry standards, even Upper-Rank Professionals often signed contracts merely approaching the High Grade, with most being ordinary High Grade quality.

High Grade Extraordinary Items were inherently uncommon—rare treasures worthy of the Third Floor auctions at Wanbao Auction House, not something every team could produce.

Consequently, many teams couldn’t procure contracts capable of fully restraining Upper-Rank Professionals.

While High Grade contracts undoubtedly bound lower-Rank Professionals effectively, they fell somewhat short against Upper-Rank ones.

Major teams could only strive to obtain contracts nearing the High Grade for Upper-Rank Professionals to sign. Such contracts, though unable to inflict significant harm, still exerted some effect and restraint.

Only when recruiting Six-Star or Seven-Star Professionals would people spend vast sums to acquire a High Grade contract.

Naturally, organizations capable of recruiting Professionals of that caliber wouldn’t lack means to obtain High Grade contracts.

High Grade contracts could inflict substantial curses on Six-Star Professionals, with only Seven-Star Professionals able to withstand them.

Thus, generally speaking, High Grade contracts were premium goods reserved for Professionals of that Rank.

Now, Su Ming was presenting a contract approaching the pinnacle grade for her, a mere Five-Star Professional, to sign. While highly restrictive, it seemed somewhat wasteful.

Unless Su Ming believed she, Chi Qian, had the potential to advance to Seven-Star—that would be a different matter.

But she herself didn’t believe she could reach that level—why would Su Ming have such confidence in her?

To this, Su Ming responded nonchalantly, “No matter, I have plenty of these.”This was the truth.

From the package, Su Ming unpacked many contracts of various grades.

There were Low Grade contracts, High Grade contracts, quite a few Premium Grade ones, and even two Supreme Grade contracts.

No matter what, Chi Qian was a former female legend and a future Six-Star Professional. Given some opportunities, she might even advance to Seven-Star in the future.

For such a promising talent, using a contract close to Supreme Grade was not a loss for Su Ming.

Chi Qian didn’t know whether Su Ming’s words were true or false, nor did she care.

She glanced at the contents of the contract, confirmed everything was correct, and signed her name.

Seeing this, Su Ming suddenly smiled.

His first team member was secured.

(End of Chapter)