Chapter 33 – A Night Destined to Be Restless

After settling the most important matter, Su Ming and Xu Qianqian’s conversation drifted into casual small talk with no concrete outcomes.

Of course, these idle exchanges weren’t entirely devoid of significance.

For instance, the damaged scale Su Ming had handed over to Xu Qianqian last week had already been submitted to an expert for analysis.

According to the research findings, the scale appeared to resemble that of a Corrupted Water Demon.

“Corrupted Water Demon?” Su Ming furrowed his brow and said, “Are you referring to the aquatic Phantom Demons inhabiting the seas of the Spirit Demon Abyss, considered the most common water-dwelling Phantom Demons there?”

“Exactly,” Xu Qianqian nodded. “While there are many types of water-dwelling Phantom Demons in the Spirit Demon Abyss, the Corrupted Water Demons are the most prevalent. They can survive even in the filthiest waters, and among the aquatic Phantom Demons that have emerged from the Spirit Demon Abyss into our world, they currently represent the most frequently encountered species.”

Su Ming was naturally aware of this.

Not only did he know, but he had even undertaken several missions to eliminate Phantom Demons infesting crucial waterways, joining Lei Hao and Ye Bai in subduing Corrupted Water Demons on multiple occasions.

These Corrupted Water Demons were indeed the most common aquatic Phantom Demons. Whenever non-natural disasters related to water occurred, the perpetrators were almost always Corrupted Water Demons.

This illustrated just how prevalent these aquatic Phantom Demons were.

“But I remember Corrupted Water Demon scales don’t look like this,” Su Ming pointed out.

The Corrupted Water Demons Su Ming had encountered resembled mermaid-like Phantom Demons, slightly larger than average adults, standing about two meters tall. They possessed sharp claws and fangs, with blue-skinned bodies. Though they had scales, these were typically limited to areas like arms, thighs, necks, and faces—appearing similar to fish scales, and rather unattractive ones at that.

In contrast, the scale he had discovered was smooth as a mirror, shining brightly like a diamond, quite beautiful actually.

Yet Xu Qianqian claimed this exquisite scale came from a Corrupted Water Demon?

No wonder Su Ming was frowning so deeply.

“I was initially surprised too, but upon reflection, it’s not that strange,” Xu Qianqian explained to Su Ming. “When Phantom Demons evolve from lower to higher ranks, they undergo complete metamorphosis and become entirely new entities, don’t they?”

Su Ming began to grasp what Xu Qianqian was implying.

“So you’re suggesting the owner of that scale actually evolved from a Corrupted Water Demon?” Su Ming fixed his gaze on Xu Qianqian. “That mysterious being the Suspicious Group is hunting—it’s actually a higher-rank Phantom Demon?”

Though it remained unclear whether it was a juvenile, if the scale’s owner had indeed evolved from a Corrupted Water Demon, then the hypothesis of it being a higher-rank Phantom Demon could be directly substantiated.

As Su Ming pondered this, Xu Qianqian offered another, less definitive possibility.

“It might not necessarily be a successfully evolved higher-rank Phantom Demon. Could it possibly be a mutant?”

Xu Qianqian’s suggestion made Su Ming blink in surprise.

“A mutant?”

Su Ming looked at Xu Qianqian with astonishment.

Meeting Su Ming’s gaze, Xu Qianqian began to elaborate.”Lower Rank Phantom Demons will evolve after consuming sufficient blood and accumulating enough power, but evolution doesn’t always guarantee success,” Xu Qianqian explained. “If they encounter unexpected circumstances during the evolution process, or if the accumulated power isn’t enough to support the entire evolution, the Phantom Demon will stop evolving and instead mutate in another direction.”

In other words, this was a mutation.

A mutation occurring due to incomplete evolution.

“Phantom Demons that emerge under such circumstances are called mutants. Though not fully evolved, they have transcended the category of Lower Rank Phantom Demons, existing somewhere between Lower Rank and Upper Rank Phantom Demons.”

Xu Qianqian’s voice clearly reached Su Ming’s ears.

“Not only do Lower Rank Phantom Demons have mutants that failed evolution and turned to mutation, but Upper Rank Phantom Demons also have similar existences.”

The evolution from Lower Rank to Upper Rank Phantom Demon, while considered a complete transformation, doesn’t mark the endpoint for the Phantom Demon species.

Regardless of their type, all Phantom Demons have three opportunities for evolution throughout their lifetime.

The first evolution is from Lower Rank to Upper Rank Phantom Demon, truly standing out from the common rabble and genuinely obtaining the power to change their destiny.

However, Upper Rank Phantom Demons also have their own hierarchy.

The first stage among Upper Rank Phantom Demons is called Hazardous Species – merely the initial, weakest form of Upper Rank Phantom Demons.

Besides Hazardous Species, Upper Rank Phantom Demons also include Nightmare Species and Terror Species.

Individuals that evolve into Upper Rank Hazardous Species, if they continue consuming blood and accumulating power, will undergo a second evolution.

If successful at this stage, they become Nightmare Species.

Similarly, when Nightmare Species consume enough blood, accumulate sufficient power, and trigger the third – and final – evolution, they will become Terror Species upon success.

That is the endpoint for Phantom Demons.

That is the ultimate stage Phantom Demon lifeforms can reach.

Only by becoming Terror Species can they become the strongest Phantom Demons, ruling over the entire Spirit Demon Abyss.

At that point, they possess the power to dominate the entire Spirit Demon Abyss, becoming the true King of Phantom Demons.

However, this evolutionary path isn’t easily completed.

Not to mention the astonishing amount of blood nourishment required to reach the final stage, the evolution process itself carries the risk of failure.

While failed evolution can result in mutants stronger than Phantom Demons of the same rank, it also means the Phantom Demon permanently loses any chance for further evolution, forever stuck at its current stage.

These are what we call mutants.

Considering this, Xu Qianqian proposed this possibility.

That the mysterious Phantom Demon being pursued by the Suspicious Group might be an evolution-failed mutant.

“Of course, a mutant from a Lower Rank Phantom Demon probably wouldn’t warrant Base City higher-ups deploying their private forces for pursuit.”

This was Xu Qianqian’s assessment.

“Therefore, the true identity of this Phantom Demon most likely is an Upper Rank Phantom Demon’s offspring.”

This was the conclusion drawn from investigating that scale.”This really is a troublesome matter.” Su Ming scratched his head and said, “Have you already reported this to the high-ranking officials in the Base City who assigned you the mission?”

“Yes, I’ve reported it.” Xu Qianqian admitted. “They’ve started taking this matter seriously, but with the Spirit Demon Abyss entrance about to appear within the Base City’s urban area, the higher-ups might not be able to handle this promptly.”

“That has nothing to do with me then.” Su Ming spread his hands, adopting an indifferent attitude. “I’m only responsible for completing the investigation mission you commissioned. Everything else is beyond my scope.”

“I know.” Xu Qianqian had already become familiar with Su Ming’s character and wasn’t surprised at all. “Dealing with that Suspicious Group and the suspected high-level Phantom Demon Cub is for the higher-ups to decide. We’re just students—our job is to investigate.”

“OK.” Su Ming snapped his fingers and smiled. “That makes things much simpler.”

Just being responsible for the investigation and nothing else—Su Ming had already decided to do exactly that.

“I’ll head back now.” Su Ming stood up and said to Xu Qianqian, “About the transaction, please keep pushing to help me complete it as soon as possible.”

“I will.” Xu Qianqian replied calmly. “If you get any news or have anything to discuss, you can contact me immediately.”

“Alright.” Su Ming agreed.

Only then did Xu Qianqian summon the butler and have him escort Su Ming out of the villa.

Under the butler’s seemingly respectful yet watchful gaze, Su Ming left the villa and returned to the Academy.

……

For the next day, everything remained peaceful.

The Demon Hunter Academy was still bustling with activity, with people busy everywhere, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere.

Su Ming, Lei Hao, Ye Bai, An Zijin, Yao Beibei, and Jiang Wanyu—the team members—didn’t waste any time either. Starting the next day, they began preparing for their expedition.

Some needed to organize their weapons, others had to prepare tools, and everyone pooled funds to buy supplies. Along with a couple of group meals, they gradually became more familiar with each other.

Well, mainly Ye Bai wanted to get closer to An Zijin, while Lei Hao idly tried to flirt with those two fierce and tall junior female students. However, those two fierce and tall junior female students paid little attention to Lei Hao. Instead, they intentionally or unintentionally positioned themselves between An Zijin—who also didn’t really want to engage with Ye Bai—and the innocent, pitiable Su Ming, preventing An Zijin from clinging to Su Ming.

This… could probably be considered becoming familiar, right?

At the very least, Su Ming had completely seen through all the various love-hate conflicts within this team and recognized everyone’s true colors. In a way, he had become familiar with these people, hadn’t he?

Under such circumstances, the day of departure gradually approached.

……

The night was deep.

Tonight at the Demon Hunter Academy was destined to be restless.

Because at dawn tomorrow, the students here would set out together for Huaming District to participate in the battle against the Phantom Demons.

Because of this, many people seemed unable to sleep peacefully, keeping the dormitory lights brightly lit.

At this moment, Su Ming quietly left the dormitory and even left the Academy.

He had received a message.

A message from Xu Qianqian.

“Come to my place.”The brief message conveyed more than words could express.

When Su Ming, brimming with excitement, arrived at Mirror Lake District and entered Xu Qianqian’s Villa, a large truck was already parked in the courtyard.

Xu Qianqian was not present.

Only a few staff members and the elderly butler were there.

“Young Miss is preparing for tomorrow’s expedition, but she has instructed me to deliver this shipment to Young Master Su,” the elderly butler said as he opened the rear door of the truck.

In the next moment, Su Ming’s eyes fell upon countless neatly arranged Extraordinary Items.

Su Ming immediately broke into a smile.

Tonight would indeed be a sleepless night.

(End of Chapter)