Chapter 421 – The Missing Yun Langyue

Even with countless words left unspoken, they could only be buried deep within under the current circumstances.

This was a hope.

A hope to vent today’s emotions at a later time.

Thus, under Su Ming’s instructions, everyone eventually departed.

Su Ming’s parents looked back repeatedly at their son, who seemed to have grown up and become somewhat unfamiliar, as they followed the main group escorted by Chi Qian and others, heading out of Longyao City.

Xu Qianqian and An Zijin also kept watching Su Ming until his figure disappeared from sight. One then continued expressionlessly on her journey, while the other left with tearful prayers.

Su Ming watched as everyone departed. Though worry lingered in his eyes, this was all he could do.

“With Chi Qian here, it should be fine.”

Su Ming could only comfort himself this way.

But it wasn’t exactly empty comfort!

According to Xu Qianqian, the Commander and Vice Captain of 『Sin』, along with Li Qingqing who wielded a Divine Artifact, had already entered the Underground Ruins.

With the Commander, Vice Captain, and Li Qingqing all absent, the strongest enemies above ground would at most be characters like the 『Ten Demons』, with their strength peaking at Six-Star Peak level.

Chi Qian was already a Six-Star Professional. Combined with Upper-Rank Professionals like Mu Yan, Feng Qing’er, and An Zijin, as long as they weren’t collectively besieged by other Upper-Rank Professionals, they shouldn’t encounter any trouble.

That being said, the possibility of something going wrong still existed.

Since that was the case…

“Hai’er.”

Su Ming called out to the mermaid who had become his shadow, his soul companion.

“Meep.”

A heavenly voice sounded as Hai’er’s breathtakingly beautiful figure appeared before Su Ming amidst dissipating mist.

“Huh?”

Just as Su Ming was about to speak, he suddenly gasped in surprise.

The reason was simple.

Through his Spirit Sense, the Hai’er before him seemed different from before.

That demonic aura, vast and boundless as the ocean, endless and unfathomable, left Su Ming astonished.

“Have you reached Seven-Star? Hai’er?”

Su Ming was both shocked and pleasantly surprised.

“Meep.”

Hai’er nodded, gracing Su Ming with her stunning smile.

Yes.

Hai’er had advanced to Seven-Star.

Or rather, her power had finally made significant progress, allowing her to grow considerably and escape the awkward phase of being a newly-formed Nightmare Species.

When first becoming a Nightmare Species, any Phantom Demon’s strength would fall between Six-Star and Seven-Star—stronger than Six-Star but weaker than Seven-Star.

Only after a period of consolidation, consuming more blood, and accumulating greater power could Nightmare Species grow increasingly stronger, eventually rivaling Seven-Star Professionals.

Like the Poisonous Insect Queen in the Venomous Insect Cave, who used both the cave and her special ability to control poisonous insect Phantom Demons to plunder blood sustenance on a large scale, enhancing her power to become an outstanding figure among Nightmare Species capable of competing with genuine Seven-Star Professionals.

Because Hai’er had previously been in a juvenile state, she couldn’t mature into a full Nightmare Species until she consumed the Purple Snow Essence, broke through her life limits, and finally became a mature Nightmare Species.Now, Hai’er had grown once again. While Su Ming was immersed in his own advancement, she had somehow accumulated considerable power, becoming a top-tier Nightmare Species capable of rivaling a Seven-Star Professional.

“What happened?”

Though pleasantly surprised, Su Ming was also deeply puzzled.

Why had Hai’er grown so rapidly all of a sudden?

Could it be that, like him, she had rapidly enhanced her strength by digesting vast resources?

But he hadn’t given Hai’er any resources.

Or was it the effect of the Purple Snow Essence that unlocked her potential, allowing her to improve again after a period of adaptation?

Su Ming didn’t fully understand but suspected it was due to the Purple Snow Essence.

His own rapid improvement in such a short time was thanks to the Purple Snow Essence dramatically boosting his potential, enabling him to digest massive resources and advance at an unimaginable pace.

For others, even if given abundant resources, they wouldn’t be able to digest them.

Human potential and talent are limited; once one’s potential is exhausted, no amount of precious resources would bring any improvement.

Even Su Ming in the past had limited potential and couldn’t have digested vast resources to rapidly enhance his strength in just a few days.

Only after consuming nearly an entire pool of Purple Snow Essence, which elevated his life to what seemed like another Realm, did his potential skyrocket unimaginably. He could now digest any resource in an extremely short time, like a bottomless pit, ultimately achieving earth-shattering changes in just a few days.

Hai’er hadn’t consumed as much Purple Snow Essence as Su Ming—far less, in fact.

But Purple Snow Essence was inherently more precious than Purple Snow Paste. A single small cup of Purple Snow Paste could transform someone, giving them a chance to advance to Seven-Star. Hai’er had swallowed about a large cup’s worth of Purple Snow Essence in the Sixth Floor of the Midnight Labyrinth—not only superior in quality but also greater in quantity—so her potential must have increased significantly.

Under these circumstances, with ample resources, Hai’er could rapidly digest and enhance her strength just like Su Ming.

The only question was: where did Hai’er’s resources come from?

Others might suspect that Hai’er had secretly gone out to suck blood, gaining power by consuming large amounts of it.

But Su Ming wouldn’t think that.

Their spiritual connection told him that Hai’er was still the same Hai’er—not only disliking bloodsucking but somewhat repulsed by it. Compared to a certain female vampire who would drain anyone she caught, she was like a truly immaculate fairy. (Xu Qianqian: Should I leave then?)

Thus, Su Ming didn’t suspect at all that Hai’er had gained strength by sucking blood.

And that was indeed the case.

“Meow!”

Hai’er softly chirped at Su Ming.

“You’re saying this is a gift from a powerful, dying Phantom Demon?”

Su Ming was stunned.

“Meow.”

Hai’er nodded.

In other words, a powerful, dying Phantom Demon had converted most of its power into pure demonic energy and given it to Hai’er. With her greatly enhanced potential from consuming the Purple Snow Essence, she was able to quickly digest it and use it to boost her own strength.According to Hai’er, there remained a considerable amount of pure demonic essence.

If fully absorbed, she could use it to reach the peak of the Nightmare Species and touch the threshold of evolution.

By then, Hai’er’s strength would surpass most Seven-Star Professionals—even those of the second tier would likely be unable to contend with her.

Once Hai’er evolved, even if the evolution failed, she would become a mutant of the Nightmare Species, capable of overwhelming nearly all Seven-Star Professionals. Only a Dual Professional like Old Ling, unrivaled in the world, might stand a chance against her.

And if the evolution succeeded? That went without saying.

A Terror Species stood at the apex of Phantom Demon life. Only three existed in the Spirit Demon Abyss, and throughout history, just one had ever appeared in the mortal realm—a being as terrifying as the name implied.

If Hai’er could truly become such an existence, she could return to the Spirit Demon Abyss and claim kingship.

Of course, it certainly wouldn’t be easy.

“A powerful Phantom Demon on the verge of death… is it?”

Su Ming seemed to ponder something and fell silent.

After a moment, he patted Hai’er’s shoulder.

“In that case, focus on absorbing its power,” Su Ming said with emotion.

“Meow.”

Hai’er naturally intended to do just that.

Then, Su Ming brought up the main matter.

“Perfect timing—follow Chi Qian, Little Jin, and Young Miss Xu from the shadows. Ensure they leave Longyao City safely,” Su Ming emphasized gravely. “Better safe than sorry. I’m worried they might face a siege by powerful enemies or other unforeseen dangers. With you accompanying them, I can rest assured.”

After all, Chi Qian was only a Six-Star Professional, making her highly vulnerable to accidents or formidable foes.

Hai’er was different.

Already rivaling a Seven-Star Professional, even if she encountered beings like the ‘Ten Demons’ or faced a siege, she could effortlessly dominate the situation and retreat unscathed with the others.

Only by sending Hai’er could Su Ming be completely at ease.

“Meow.”

But unlike before, Hai’er didn’t immediately comply. Instead, she let out a concerned cry.

“Don’t worry about me,” Su Ming chuckled. “As I am now, I truly fear no enemy.”

Hai’er believed him.

Through their spiritual connection, she understood just how powerful Su Ming had become.

He was no longer the person he once was.

At the very least, among all the beings Hai’er had encountered, she believed none could match the current Su Ming.

Not even Old Ling.

“Meow!”

Hai’er nodded firmly, gave Su Ming a deep look, then stirred the water, transforming into a streak of aqueous light that shot toward the horizon.

After the watery gleam vanished into the sky, Su Ming also turned into a stream of light, speeding toward another part of Longyao City.

……

Longyao City Center, Yun Family Estate.

When Su Ming appeared above the Yun Family mansion, his expression shifted as he gazed at the scene below.

The mansion he had once visited—unfamiliar yet memorable—was now a complete ruin, engulfed in raging flames.

The fire illuminated the surroundings.

Flames ceaselessly consumed everything within the rubble.

Su Ming expanded his Spirit Sense, enveloping the entire ruins as his eyes scanned every corner.

Amid the debris, charred corpses lay buried under the wreckage—not a single survivor remained.”‘Sin’…”

Su Ming suppressed the rage in his heart and continued searching.

After a while, Su Ming felt slightly relieved.

He hadn’t found Yun Langyue.

But neither had he found her body.

In other words, it was highly likely that Yun Langyue hadn’t met with misfortune.

“That makes sense,” Su Ming thought to himself. “Even the Xu Family understood the importance of preserving their legacy, having their younger generation evacuate and take refuge first. The Yun Family Estate is merely a business family that built itself from nothing—they had no reason to participate in such a large-scale battle. With Yun Langyue’s cleverness, she would definitely organize her people to evacuate Longyao City immediately and seek refuge elsewhere.”

Su Ming hoped that was the case.

Otherwise, if anything happened to Yun Langyue…

At this thought, Su Ming shook his head vigorously, casting aside those unsettling emotions.

A moment later, Su Ming suddenly turned his head and looked in a certain direction.

There lay the Underground Ruins where the Wang Family Tomb was located.

A cold glint flashed in Su Ming’s eyes as his figure blurred, darting swiftly toward that direction.

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(End of Chapter)