Chapter 376 – Not That Noble

“Beep!”

Amidst the faint mechanical sounds, one alchemy instrument after another was activated.

Under everyone’s protection, Bai Ruxiang and Bai Xiaoyan connected and configured the various alchemy instruments and devices, beginning their work.

Qiao Liang and Zhu Qian stood guard silently beside them, occasionally glancing over and other times scanning their surroundings with full vigilance, keeping watch for Bai Ruxiang and Bai Xiaoyan.

Meanwhile, Xu Xiayan, Wang Di, and Wang Qian observed the state of the massive dark beast through the mountain wall, occasionally taking out their terminals to record something, seemingly gathering intelligence and information.

Seeing there was nothing for him to do, Su Ming thought for a moment and eventually stepped out from behind the mountain wall, approaching the Hell Beast slightly.

“Commander!”

Chi Qian quickly called out, startling everyone.

“It’s fine.” Su Ming didn’t turn back, merely waving his hand dismissively at the group. “I’m just taking a look.”

With that, Su Ming didn’t get too close to the Hell Beast, only walking about a few meters out from the mountain wall before stopping.

Seeing this, everyone felt slightly more at ease.

“You little rascal, you really have no regard for your life.”

Xu Xiayan came over to Su Ming’s side and chided him.

“I’m just getting a closer look. I’m not that reckless.”

Su Ming shrugged, then lifted his gaze to stare at the massive dark beast ahead.

Only by approaching like this could Su Ming truly experience how enormous and terrifying this Hell Beast was.

Its colossal form, darker than darkness itself and more profound than blackness, truly resembled a breathing small mountain. Even its slight movements could cause low, rumbling atmospheric vibrations, which was quite intimidating.

However, Su Ming could clearly see numerous visible wounds covering the beast’s body, occasionally oozing blood that dripped onto the ground.

This blood didn’t stain the earth red or form puddles. Instead, upon hitting the ground, it immediately suspended like an egg, then wriggled and transformed into either a person or a Phantom Demon.

These people and Phantom Demons had dull eyes and frighteningly pale complexions, resembling moving corpses as they staggered about, joining the wandering group of the living dead.

“Just as you said, this Nightmare Species Mutant’s injuries haven’t healed, which is why there are so many wandering living dead here.”

Su Ming couldn’t help but murmur softly.

“All that information came from the Tianfeng City Executives. I was just explaining it to you based on their intelligence.” Xu Xiayan sighed. “But confirming that this Hell Beast’s injuries truly haven’t healed makes this trip worthwhile.”

“Perhaps.” Su Ming responded noncommittally. “I really wonder what level of strength those human experts who surrounded and attacked this Hell Beast back then possessed, to leave this beast still covered in wounds after all these years.”

“They must have possessed power far beyond what we can achieve now.” Xu Xiayan smiled. “Human experts capable of surrounding and killing a Nightmare Species Mutant would need to be at least Seven-Star Professionals at the very minimum.””And Seven-Star Professionals either wield top-tier alchemical weapons, even those Sub-Divine Artifacts ranked in the top ten of the weapon rankings, or they can use Forbidden Arts. If they’re willing to pay a great price, causing permanently incurable severe injuries is an effortless matter.”

Even the terrifying species hailed as the Spirit Demon Abyss King was nearly eternally sealed after humanity paid a tremendous sacrifice. A Nightmare Species Mutant, no matter how powerful or fearsome, couldn’t possibly escape unscathed without any lasting consequences when facing human experts who fear no sacrifice.

This, perhaps, is the only thing humanity can take pride in when confronting Phantom Demons.

A human expert who fears neither death nor sacrifice is undoubtedly terrifying.

Especially those Sorcerers who have mastered Forbidden Arts—to Phantom Demons, they are simply the most dreadful natural enemies.

“In the future, you might reach that level and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these great figures in history.”

Xu Xiayan looked at Su Ming and spoke these words.

In her view, Su Ming had the potential to become a Seven-Star Sorcerer. Being able to use Advanced Spirit Art at the age of eighteen meant that, as long as he didn’t fall prematurely or meet an untimely end, becoming one of the most outstanding experts in human history was practically a foregone conclusion.

“Enough, I’m not that great.”

Su Ming, however, politely declined.

Though he wanted to grow stronger, he had no desire to become some sacrifice-fearing great figure.

He wasn’t that noble, nor did he possess such lofty ideals or sentiments. His relentless, low-key development was driven purely by the desire to become invincible, so he could act as he pleased without constraints.

In a world like this, without power or formidable strength, one would constantly worry about becoming some Phantom Demon’s next meal.

Su Ming’s desire to grow stronger was, at most, for self-preservation and his own sake.

If possible, he’d rather be an extra than a hero or a protagonist.

Heroes meant having to care for others, even sacrifice for them.

Protagonists meant bearing the weight of destiny and shouldering the development of an entire world.

Su Ming didn’t want to be a hero or a protagonist—he just wanted to be an invincible extra, living life on his own terms.

Thus, even if he could master Forbidden Arts like those great Sorcerers and become the nightmare of countless Phantom Demons, he had no interest.

In Su Ming’s view, his pursuit as a Sorcerer would likely peak at Advanced Spirit Arts ranked around ninetieth in the sequence.

As for the ten Forbidden Arts ranked 90-100 in the sequence, even if they were laid right before him, Su Ming wouldn’t want to learn them.

He had no desire to become one of those so-called great figures who made immense sacrifices for all of humanity.

So, regarding Xu Xiayan’s words, Su Ming remained noncommittal.

Xu Xiayan might have glimpsed a hint of Su Ming’s thoughts but said nothing, merely chuckling softly.

Soon, however, Xu Xiayan posed a question.

“By the way, little brother Ming, can you tell your sister what level of strength you actually have?” Xu Xiayan finally asked this question, gazing at Su Ming with immense curiosity. “Judging by your performance along the way, I find you more and more mysterious, increasingly hard to read. Are you really just a One-Star Sorcerer? At eighteen?”Clearly, Xu Xiayan was genuinely startled by Su Ming’s performance, which prompted her to ask this question.

Originally, in her eyes, Su Ming was merely a promising junior.

But now, seeing how Su Ming remained unfazed even when facing a Hell Beast at such close range, and recalling the seven ring arrays he had casually released earlier, Xu Xiayan had come to realize that this junior wasn’t just full of potential—he already possessed strength she couldn’t comprehend.

“Could it be that you’re really an Upper-Rank Professional?”

Xu Xiayan smiled as she spoke, unable to keep a hint of anticipation out of her tone.

It couldn’t be helped.

If Su Ming truly was an Upper-Rank Professional, that would make him an eighteen-year-old Upper-Rank Professional.

While it might not be unprecedented in history, it was certainly a first.

If Su Ming really was an Upper-Rank Professional, he would have broken the world record by a full five years.

This achievement was undeniably remarkable.

If such an accomplishment was truly achieved by a junior she had brought from her hometown, Xu Xiayan felt she had done something great.

This made her feel expectant.

Su Ming glanced at Xu Xiayan, then cast a look behind him, noticing that the movements there had also slowed considerably.

Even without seeing it directly, Su Ming could sense what was happening.

Qiao Liang and Zhu Qian were likely distracted, watching this side and eavesdropping intently.

Wang Di and Wang Qian seemed to have heard Xu Xiayan’s words as well, their gazes carrying a trace of surprise as they looked at Su Ming.

Bai Ruxiang and Bai Xiaoyan had stopped what they were doing, seemingly astonished by Xu Xiayan’s statement.

Only Chi Qian remained silent, quietly watching Su Ming’s back.

Among those present, only this former female legend knew exactly what level Su Ming had reached now.

An Upper-Rank Professional?

No.

“The Commander is no ordinary Upper-Rank Professional,” Chi Qian sighed inwardly.

Chi Qian was certain that even the hopeful Xu Xiayan only thought Su Ming might have advanced to the Upper-Rank, becoming an eighteen-year-old Upper-Rank Professional.

Little did she know that this eighteen-year-old Upper-Rank Professional was far beyond what a newly advanced Upper-Rank could compare to.

Thinking of Su Ming’s identity as a Dual Professional, and the Commander’s consistently demonstrated strength comparable to a Six-Star Hunter, Chi Qian felt a surge of emotions.

“The Commander’s existence is nothing short of a miracle.”

This was Chi Qian’s most direct thought.

As for Su Ming, facing Xu Xiayan’s expectant gaze and the subtle attention from behind, he curled his lips into a smile.

“Guess?”

Su Ming’s answer made Xu Xiayan feel like hitting him.

“I’m not guessing,” Xu Xiayan slapped Su Ming’s shoulder and chided, “Playing coy with your sister? What an ungrateful brat.”

“This isn’t playing coy,” Su Ming objected. “A man should maintain some mystery, you know.”

“You? A man?” Xu Xiayan scoffed. “At best, you’re a boy. Forever a little brother.”

At these words, Su Ming immediately grew angry.

Damn, he couldn’t just let that slide.

Just as Su Ming was about to say something, his extraordinary Spirit Sense suddenly triggered a sharp sense of alert within him.

“What’s wrong?”

Xu Xiayan was waiting for Su Ming’s retort when she saw him suddenly freeze, standing there dazed.

“We’re in trouble.”Su Ming muttered under his breath, then grabbed Xu Xiayan by the arm.

“Hurry, hide.”

With that, Su Ming ignored Xu Xiayan’s reaction and dragged her back into the corner, between the mountain walls.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing this, the others who had been observing Su Ming all gathered around at once.

But before Su Ming could explain, a series of sharp whistling sounds suddenly pierced through the air, capturing everyone’s attention.

(End of Chapter)