Chapter 312: Chi Qian's Abnormality

Unconsciously, the ring arrays floating above Su Ming disappeared one after another.

The immense Spirit Power and astonishing Spirit Art were also withdrawn, allowing Su Ming to return to his original state. He now appeared like a newly debuted Sorcerer, making it hard to believe that the cataclysmic Spirit Art earlier had been unleashed by this young novice.

Su Ming’s cessation of power signaled the complete defeat of the enemy.

The once hellish ruins, teeming with Phantom Demons, had been flattened into scorched earth. Deep pits and charred marks were scattered everywhere, emitting an extremely pungent odor.

In such a desolate wasteland, naturally, no survivors remained.

The army of over ten thousand Phantom Demons had been collectively slaughtered. The unlucky ones had evaporated on the spot, while the slightly fortunate were left as charred corpses, a gruesome sight.

Having completed his task, Su Ming finally lifted his head to observe the four figures engaged in fierce combat ahead.

“Roar!”

The Ghoul seemed to have entered a frenzied state, its eyes blazing red, with demonic energy surging like a volcanic eruption. Flapping its wings rapidly, it soared through the air while swinging its claws repeatedly, releasing a barrage of crimson claw beams that sliced toward the three female Fiends assaulting it. The scent of blood permeated the air.

Wherever the claw beams passed, bloody red streaks erupted like unleashed ribbons, causing palpitations merely from watching, let alone facing the onslaught directly.

Su Ming could tell at a glance that there was something unusual about the Ghoul’s attacks.

“Do those attacks affect the mind?”

Indeed, the Ghoul’s claws were not only sharp but also carried intangible psychic vibrations. Each swing of its claws could disturb the mental state of its targets.

Though the effect was minor—merely causing brief moments of dizziness, distraction, or palpitations in opponents—unlike the fierce and lethal erosion of the Demon Emperor Sword, which could drive one utterly mad, it was still significant.

In such high-level combat, even a momentary lapse, distraction, or palpitation could result in decapitation or heart extraction.

Thus, this influence was already fatal.

Unfortunately, facing these claw beams infused with psychic attacks, the three female Fiends showed no fear, resolutely charging forward.

Mu Yan wielded a thorned whip as if holding a bramble, maintaining a fixed distance from the Ghoul while brandishing the Thorned Whip with fierce momentum. The whistling sounds of the whip shadows were incessant, tightly entangling the Ghoul. Her goal was not to strike the enemy but to restrict its speed and the mobility granted by its flight ability.

This ice-cold beauty seemed uninterested in stealing the spotlight, purely playing a supportive role on the sidelines. Fortunately, thanks to her restraint, Chi Qian and Feng Qing’er were not thrown off by the flying Ghoul.

Especially Feng Qing’er, as the weakest among the three, the power gap between her and the Ghoul was the largest. Without Mu Yan’s containment, she might have been defeated instantly.

But now, with Mu Yan’s support, Feng Qing’er displayed overwhelming offensive power.The overly lively and cheerful young beauty wielded a pair of kukris.

The blades of the kukris gleamed brightly, tracing cold, sharp arcs through the air as Feng Qing’er swung them. Her attack frequency was exceptionally high, the weapons spinning, leaping, and slicing in her hands like two whirling sabers. They left wound after wound on the ghoul, splattering blood across its body and provoking furious roars.

Su Ming observed for a moment and realized, “Damn, are those actually High Grade alchemical weapons?”

The kukris Feng Qing’er used were indeed a pair of High Grade alchemical weapons.

Mu Yan’s Thorned Whip was a High Grade alchemical weapon, and Chi Qian’s longsword was of the same quality. For Four-Star and Five-Star Upper-Rank Professionals, this grade of alchemical weapon was already quite impressive.

Yet Feng Qing’er, the weakest of the group, actually possessed High Grade alchemical weapons, which surprised even Su Ming.

Thanks to these High Grade alchemical weapons, Feng Qing’er’s assaults were the most ferocious and posed the greatest threat to the ghoul. Even Chi Qian couldn’t match her, infuriating the ghoul so much that it repeatedly tried to lunge at Feng Qing’er, only to be blocked by Chi Qian’s longsword and Mu Yan’s Thorned Whip. This only fueled its rage, driving it further into a frenzy.

“No wonder Feng Qing’er was the one who survived Crimson’s ordeal a year ago.”

Crimson hadn’t only had Chi Qian, Mu Yan, and Feng Qing’er as its Upper-Rank Professionals back then.

There had been others in Crimson stronger than Feng Qing’er, aside from Chi Qian and Mu Yan.

But they had fallen, while Feng Qing’er survived. Besides strength and luck, owning a High Grade alchemical weapon must have played a significant role.

As for Chi Qian…

“Hmm?”

Su Ming watched the intense battle, his brow gradually furrowing.

Under the ghoul’s near-rampaging onslaught, Chi Qian had consistently held the front line, bearing the brunt of the pressure.

This was to be expected.

As a Peak Five-Star Professional, Chi Qian’s strength was only slightly inferior to the nearly evolving ghoul. Facing such ferocious attacks, it was natural for the strongest among them to take the forefront and draw the enemy’s attention away from Mu Yan and Feng Qing’er.

Otherwise, Mu Yan and Feng Qing’er, both Four-Star Hunters, no matter how skilled, would stand no chance against a ghoul on the verge of evolving into a Nightmare Species.

With Chi Qian holding the front, Mu Yan’s restraints and Feng Qing’er’s attacks could be utilized to their fullest, gradually whittling away the ghoul’s vitality.

There was nothing wrong with that.

The problem, in Su Ming’s eyes, was that Chi Qian’s performance was merely passable.

Even though this legendary Peak Five-Star female Professional was somewhat weaker than the ghoul, the gap shouldn’t be large—she should be fully capable of confronting it head-on.

Yet, under Su Ming’s watchful gaze, Chi Qian was repeatedly forced back by the ghoul’s assaults, appearing somewhat disheveled. If not for Mu Yan’s timely interventions, Chi Qian might have already been defeated.

To be honest, her strength was considerably weaker than Su Ming had anticipated.

In his estimation, Chi Qian should have been slightly stronger than Mo Leng, who had also been a Peak Five-Star Professional in the past.However, at this moment, Chi Qian’s performance was not only not stronger than Mo Leng’s, but actually slightly weaker.

“What’s going on?”

Su Ming frowned as he observed, quickly discovering the reason.

But just as Su Ming identified the cause and prepared to intervene, a spectacular surge of Spirit Power suddenly erupted beside him.

“Fifty-Eighth Form: Wind Demon Pursuit!”

Accompanied by a sharp cry, a violent sandstorm whirled up.

“Roar!”

“Roar!”

Amidst the roaring, two sand beasts took shape within the whirlwind, carrying billowing dust as they soared into the sky, pouncing toward the Ghoul.

Wind Demon Pursuit, the fifty-eighth ranked Spell Formula, was the Intermediate Spirit Art with the strongest single-target attack power below Advanced Spirit Art.

In the past, Su Ming had also used this technique to deal with Yi Junchuan, who had consumed the Fiend potion and transformed into an incomplete Fiend.

At that time, Su Ming had not yet advanced to an Upper-Rank Professional, nor had he mastered any Advanced Spirit Art. Thus, Wind Demon Pursuit became one of his strongest Spirit Arts at the time, with considerable power.

Now, this technique was being employed once again.

And the one using it was none other than Tong Xinyao.

This fourteen-year-old genius Sorcerer suddenly made her move in what should have been a high-level battle beyond her ability to intervene.

Moreover, her intervention actually achieved results.

“Roar!”

“Roar!”

The two sand beasts roared with billowing dust, crashing into the Ghoul before it could react.

“Boom—!”

A sandstorm immediately exploded, enveloping the Ghoul’s entire body like a miniature sandstorm raging wildly in mid-air.

“Roar!”

The Ghoul roared within the sandstorm.

However, its cry was now tinged with pain.

As the Spirit Art with the strongest single-target attack power below Advanced Spirit Art, this strike finally inflicted massive damage upon this evolving Hazardous Species.

“Now!”

Chi Qian shouted loudly, prompting Mu Yan and Feng Qing’er to react simultaneously.

The three female Fiends seized this fleeting opportunity, charging into the sandstorm together and surrounding the Ghoul in a triangular formation.

The Ghoul seemed to sense the lethal threat, trembling violently as if attempting to resist.

But Tong Xinyao gave it no such opportunity.

“Yah!”

The little girl, with Spirit Power surging through her, let out a sharp cry as she clasped her small hands together, causing the raging sandstorm in mid-air to momentarily freeze.

Immediately after, the sand within the storm transformed into numerous sand chains, wrapping around the Ghoul’s body and firmly restraining it.

This binding would last for a very short time.

But at this moment, it was sufficient.

“Stab!””Stab!””Stab!”

In the one second when the Ghoul was immobilized, unable to struggle or counterattack, several weapons simultaneously pierced its body.

Chi Qian’s long Sword passed through the Ghoul’s chest, piercing its heart and emerging from its back.

Feng Qing’er’s curved Saber penetrated the Ghoul’s flank, sinking deep into its body.Mu Yan’s thorned whip had transformed into genuine thorns, piercing through the ghoul’s lower back and emerging from its abdomen.

“————”

The ghoul’s movements abruptly froze, its roar cutting off mid-sound.

Blood spread across its body.

“Guh…”

With fierce light flashing in its eyes, this Hazardous Species stretched its claws with difficulty toward Chi Qian standing before it, as if unwilling to accept defeat.

This became the ghoul’s final movement.

“Yao Yao!”

While shouting, Chi Qian simultaneously withdrew her weapon alongside Mu Yan and Feng Qing’er, all three leaping backward in retreat.

Below, Tong Xinyao raised her hand in understanding, five circular arrays floating above her wrist.

“Forty-Seventh Form: Blazing Lotus Scarlet Flame!”

An Intermediate Spirit Art equivalent to an advanced version of the Twenty-Eighth Form: Spiral Fire was unleashed from Tong Xinyao’s hands.

Sheets of flame transformed into raging scarlet lotus fire, erupting from the ground to strike the ghoul.

“BOOM!!!”

An explosion resounded through the air.

Blazing flames and firewaves detonated at the ghoul’s location, dyeing a corner of the sky crimson.

The Hazardous Species on the verge of evolving into a Nightmare Species, officially designated as “Ghoul” by Tianfeng City authorities, was now burning within this scarlet lotus inferno.

Soon after, a charred corpse devoid of breath fell from the explosive flames and firewaves, crashing heavily onto the ground, never to move again.

“Huu…”

Chi Qian, Mu Yan, and Feng Qing’er descended from the air, landing simultaneously before Su Ming with their backs to him, their Auras surging wildly.

Their silhouettes and postures radiated heroic spirit.

“Sister Qian Qian! Sister Yan Yan! Sister Qing’er!”

Tong Xinyao hurried over.

Su Ming also lifted his feet, slowly approaching Chi Qian and the others.

The three female Fiends canceled their Demonization after confirming the battle’s end, gradually returning to their original appearances.

“Yay! Success!”

Feng Qing’er made a victory sign with her saber, overflowing with joy.

Chi Qian and Mu Yan remained relatively calm, showing no particular excitement.

Especially Chi Qian – not only was she not excited, but a shadow briefly crossed her face.

Su Ming arrived before the women in this situation.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Su Ming offered his appreciation to the group.

“Giggle, it was nothing really.”

Feng Qing’er said this cheerfully, though without any particular smugness – simply pure happiness.

“Seeing your performance, you’ve recovered your skills quite well.” Su Ming remarked. “I thought being frozen for a year and just freed a few days ago might require some rehabilitation.”

To this, Mu Yan responded:

“Sister Qian Qian gave us extremely high-quality alchemical potions immediately after our release. They not only healed our injuries but also eliminated the aftereffects from being frozen for a year. So we can display our full strength without needing rehabilitation.”

Mu Yan stated this matter-of-factly, unaware that her words about “displaying full strength” made Chi Qian beside her lower her head slightly.

Only Su Ming noticed this.

Su Ming glanced at Chi Qian before turning his gaze back to Mu Yan and the others.”Since the mission target has been successfully defeated, you should go collect the proof tokens now.”

For subjugation missions, it’s generally required to obtain corresponding materials from the mission target after completion, serving as proof tokens to be submitted to the Professional Center for verification and confirmation.

Without these proof tokens, one cannot demonstrate having defeated the Phantom Demon, and the mission cannot be considered complete.

Mu Yan, Feng Qing’er, and Tong Xinyao were naturally very familiar with this procedure and immediately went to collect the materials.

Only Su Ming and Chi Qian remained at the scene, exchanging glances in silence.

“Speak up.”

Su Ming spoke without any preamble.

“It’s already affecting your combat performance. How do you plan to deal with the injuries you’ve sustained?”

Hearing this, Chi Qian was left speechless.

(End of Chapter)