Chapter 356 – Commander… Reached Six-Star…?

“What’s wrong? Little Hai’er!”

Little Hai’er’s sudden unusual behavior made Su Ming’s expression change and his heart tighten.

“Wh-what’s going on?”

Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing’er, and Tong Xinyao—all four of them—saw Little Hai’er suddenly appear and stood up abruptly with a “whoosh.”

As members of Azure Mercury and beings who had signed long-term contracts with Su Ming, although Su Ming still kept many secrets hidden, some were no longer secrets to these four girls.

For instance, the existence of Little Hai’er had been known to them since the day they joined Azure Mercury.

Among them, the more curious Feng Qing’er and the guileless Tong Xinyao often approached Little Hai’er. Over time, they had become quite familiar with her.

Sometimes, Su Ming would even see these two girls playing with Little Hai’er in the underground training ground. Once, they even carelessly frolicked with Little Hai’er in the water, stripping off all their clothes without any reservations, nearly making Su Ming’s eyes pop out and giving him quite a feast for the eyes.

These girls were well aware that in Azure Mercury, Little Hai’er might not have a high profile, but she was Su Ming’s hidden trump card.

With strength comparable to a Six-Star Professional, even surpassing Chi Qian by a significant margin, Little Hai’er’s identity destined her to be positioned as a card Su Ming couldn’t casually reveal. Except within the villa headquarters, she had to remain hidden and concealed, never appearing casually wherever they went.

This time was no exception.

Little Hai’er had been following Su Ming and Azure Mercury all along but never made a move.

Unless absolutely necessary, Su Ming would not easily use Little Hai’er or let her take action.

But now, Little Hai’er had voluntarily dispersed the water mist concealing her and rushed out. Judging by Su Ming’s surprised expression, he was clearly taken aback as well.

This made the girls unable to help but grow tense.

Yet, Little Hai’er continued to stare intently in one direction, her eyes filled with longing. Her restless demeanor made it seem as if she had been captivated by something extraordinary, almost as if her soul had been stolen.

“Girl, what’s really going on with you?”

Su Ming couldn’t hold back any longer and stepped forward to grab Little Hai’er, shaking her awake.

“Meeling! Meeling meeling!”

Little Hai’er waved her arms and danced excitedly at Su Ming. Such fervor was something Su Ming hadn’t seen since she successfully evolved into a Nightmare Species and reunited with him.

Through their spiritual connection with Little Hai’er, Su Ming vaguely understood her meaning.

“You’re saying there’s something really good over there?”

Su Ming blinked, staring blankly at Little Hai’er.

“Meeling!”

Little Hai’er nodded repeatedly, tugging at Su Ming’s hand and bouncing around, nearly shaking his hand numb.

“Commander!”

Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing’er, Tong Xinyao, and the others had rushed over and gathered around Su Ming.

Su Ming glanced at everyone, then turned his gaze back to Little Hai’er.

“Meeling ling!”

Little Hai’er looked at Su Ming with a pitiful expression.

Without a doubt, she wanted Su Ming to go over there.Heading towards whatever was attracting her and instinctively exciting her.

“Could some incredible treasure have appeared?”

Su Ming pondered thoughtfully.

The sixth floor of the Midnight Labyrinth was already considered quite deep, with demonic energy many times denser than on the first floor. It seemed quite normal for something valuable to exist here.

And if that thing could attract Little Hai’er, especially from such a distance, then even if it wasn’t particularly precious, it would definitely be something good for Little Hai’er herself.

Since that was the case…

“You all stay here. I’ll take this girl to check it out.”

Su Ming made his decision.

“Miling miling!”

Little Hai’er cheered happily.

However, Chi Qian and the others didn’t choose to stay behind.

“We’re coming too!”

The four girls spoke in unison, their voices firm and resolute.

Chi Qian even added:

“The risk of splitting up in this kind of Underground Labyrinth is too great. Who knows what might happen? We should move together, Commander.”

Chi Qian expressed her opinion this way.

“But…”

Su Ming furrowed his brows.

It wasn’t that he necessarily wanted to split up, but they had been fighting all day and everyone was somewhat tired, especially Tong Xinyao, who had shown signs of struggling even before entering the sixth floor. Now that they finally had rest time, Su Ming wanted to leave them at the camp to rest properly and avoid unnecessary complications.

“I… I’m fine! Commander!”

Tong Xinyao, realizing it was because of her, quickly voiced her stance.

Mu Yan and Feng Qing’er were even more determined – one staring intently at Su Ming, the other already eager to set off.

Seeing this, Su Ming had no choice but to nod.

“Since that’s the case, we’ll all go together.” Su Ming nodded while saying: “If you can’t hold on, remember to tell me immediately. Don’t push yourselves too hard.”

“Yes!” the girls quickly responded.

“Miling!”

Seeing the matter settled, Little Hai’er immediately transformed into a streak of light, darting into the distance.

Clearly, this mermaid girl truly couldn’t contain herself anymore.

This was enough to show just how enticing the thing attracting her must be.

“Follow her!”

Su Ming quickly called to the others, swiftly chasing after Little Hai’er.

Chi Qian and the others didn’t dare delay, immediately abandoning the supplies in the camp to follow Su Ming in a frantic sprint.

……

“Whoosh!”

Amid the sound of cutting through air, Little Hai’er moved with astonishing speed, fast as lightning, shooting toward the distance like an arrow released from its bow. Her speed kept increasing, to the point that Su Ming and the others following behind could only see a streak of light rapidly passing through the air, nearly losing track of her.

“That girl isn’t even paying attention to us anymore.”

Su Ming’s frown deepened, feeling quite helpless.

Not just Su Ming, even Chi Qian and the others were having trouble keeping up.

“What’s gotten into Little Hai’er?”

Feng Qing’er had already pushed her speed to the limit but still felt like she couldn’t keep up, beginning to breathe heavily.

Mu Yan also gritted her teeth, her figure sweeping past like a swift wind, yet still barely managing to follow.

Chi Qian remained relatively composed, carrying Tong Xinyao while moving with flying speed, creating gusts of air as her figure drifted swiftly and gracefully like a phantom.Even so, facing Little Hai’er who was soaring through the sky at an increasingly rapid speed, Chi Qian, a Six-Star Professional running on the ground, would eventually tire and fall behind.

Seeing this, Su Ming made a decisive command.

“I’ll go first,” Su Ming said to Chi Qian. “Chi Qian, keep an eye on them and don’t lose track.”

“Alright!” Chi Qian didn’t insist and nodded in agreement.

Only then did Su Ming unleash his full speed, transforming into a bullet with a sonic boom as he blasted forward, kicking up a whirlwind of sand and dust in his wake.

“So… so fast…!?”

Mu Yan, Feng Qing’er, and Tong Xinyao were all astonished.

Even Chi Qian’s pupils contracted in shock.

“With such speed, what Rank has the Commander’s Hunter strength reached now?”

As one of the few aware of Su Ming’s identity as a Dual Professional, Chi Qian had learned from him about his approximate strength.

As a Dual Professional, Su Ming’s Hunter Rank and Sorcerer Rank were both Five-Star, and he had only recently advanced in both.

Especially his Hunter Rank—Su Ming had only successfully advanced after arriving in Tianfeng City.

And Su Ming had been in Tianfeng City for barely two months, if even that.

In other words, Su Ming had only advanced to a Five-Star Hunter within the last month or two.

Yet the speed Su Ming displayed now was completely on par with hers, even slightly surpassing it.

Could it be…

“The Commander… has reached Six-Star…?”

Chi Qian couldn’t believe her own thoughts.

Advancing from a newly promoted Five-Star to Six-Star in just a month or two?

Was… that even possible?

Unbeknownst to the disbelieving Chi Qian, this month, Su Ming had used a top-tier alchemical potion—the Cleansing Potion—that could tap into the power of one’s Bloodline. The higher the Bloodline, the greater the boost in strength.

She was even more unaware that last year, Su Ming hadn’t even been a Hunter, having only become one a few months ago.

In just a few short months, Su Ming had gone from being a mere Sorcerer to a Dual Professional. On the very day he obtained the Phantom Demon Bloodline, he possessed the strength of a Three-Star Hunter. Then, through rapid growth driven by the continuous transformation of his Nightmare Species Bloodline, the power modification of the Demon Emperor Sword, the enhancement and guidance of the Blue Demon Cessation Ring, and various resources and Destiny, he advanced from Three-Star to Four-Star, and then from Four-Star to Five-Star.

This entire process had taken less than half a year.

Now, after a month or two, with the transformative enhancements from the Cleansing Potion, the Demon Emperor Sword, the Blue Demon Cessation Ring, and numerous packages opened this month yielding various resources to improve himself, how could Su Ming possibly remain the newly advanced Five-Star Hunter he once was?

His strength as a Hunter had long surpassed that of his Sorcerer abilities this month.

The power Su Ming displayed now was merely the tip of the iceberg.

Thus, Su Ming transformed into a whirlwind, racing like the wind with multiple afterimages, sand, dust, and shockwaves in his wake, successfully catching up to Little Hai’er who was flying through the air.

Master and servant, one rushing ahead and the other chasing closely behind, their speeds were now nearly equal.

Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last.

Just as Little Hai’er sped unabated into a territory, a savage demonic aura suddenly emerged.

“Roar—!”With a furious roar, a massive figure emerged from the depths of the territory.

It was a giant resembling a small hill, crouched amidst the ruins. Initially motionless like a lifeless object, it suddenly straightened its body, standing over ten meters tall.

The giant bore a striking resemblance to the trolls—considered one of the strongest among the lower Phantom Demons—with a body composed entirely of rock, a beast-like head, a humanoid torso, and limbs like stone pillars. Yet its size was countless times larger than that of a troll, evoking sheer terror.

Little Hai’er encountered and collided with the giant Phantom Demon that resembled a troll.

“Boom!”

The deafening roar echoed in all directions.

(End of Chapter)