Chapter 360: Terrifying Value

It turned out that the Purple Snow Essence was indeed more potent than the Purple Snow Paste.

After consuming the Purple Snow Essence, whether Hai’er’s Aptitude had improved or not, Su Ming couldn’t tell and had no way to detect. However, the visible effects alone were already incredibly powerful.

Under the influence of the Purple Snow Essence, Hai’er had fully matured, no longer in her juvenile form, and had become a true Nightmare Species. It seemed her life form had undergone some changes, granting her unique abilities.

For instance, the ability to transform into a human, which Su Ming bluntly called “becoming a spirit,” was no longer an illusion created by refracting light with water mist like before. Instead, it genuinely altered her appearance and form.

In her human form, Hai’er could perfectly conceal her demonic nature and fully unleash her spiritual energy. Even if scanned with the most precise Alchemy Instruments, the results would show her as nothing but a human.

In her mermaid form, Hai’er was the complete opposite—she could suppress her spiritual energy and fully unleash her demonic nature, displaying the formidable power of a Nightmare Species. Compared to before, she had grown immeasurably stronger.

Both forms were now Hai’er’s true selves, with neither being more real or fake than the other.

Just like humans, even if they Awaken the ability for Demonization and can transform into Fiends, it doesn’t mean they cease to be human and become Phantom Demons. Hai’er’s form transformation is similar to how high-level Hunters switch between human and Fiend forms. However, unlike high-level Hunters, whose power surges after Demonization, Hai’er’s transformation only changes her appearance and the nature of her abilities, with everything else remaining unchanged.

Yet, Hai’er could freely switch between the two forms without any consumption or side effects.

Su Ming even suspected that, with some time to learn human language, Hai’er would eventually be able to speak like a human.

Moreover, she might even be capable of bearing children like a human.

“…How do I deal with such an overly bold idea suddenly popping into my head?”

Su Ming quickly shook off the dangerous thought to avoid losing his integrity.

“Meow?”

Transformed into her human form, Hai’er stared directly at Su Ming. Her eyes were no longer as pure and innocent as before but carried a meaningful depth, as if she could see right through his thoughts.

“Ahem…”

Su Ming felt a bit guilty under her gaze and quickly coughed dryly, turning his head to look at the pool of Purple Snow Essence.

The fragrance still lingered above it, and it seemed as though not much had been consumed—the water level had barely dropped.

“Good grief, how much Purple Snow Essence is in this pool?”

Su Ming knew he had stumbled upon a massive Treasure Trove this time.

Ordinary Purple Snow Paste was already priceless, so the value of Purple Snow Essence, which was even more potent, needed no further explanation.

And yet, such a precious, invaluable treasure existed in an entire pool.

“According to records, when the historical figure who eventually became a Seven-Star Professional obtained the Purple Snow Paste, it seemed to be only about the volume of a small cup of water.””Those who also consumed Purple Snow Paste, though they didn’t become Seven-Star Professionals, still had their talents improved and all achieved considerable success as Professionals, seemed to have obtained only a tiny amount of Purple Snow Paste, some even just a single drop.”

“And according to research, the more Purple Snow Paste one consumes, the more pronounced and powerful the changes become.”

Thinking of this, Su Ming’s gaze toward that pool of Purple Snow Essence shifted dramatically.

“A single drop of Purple Snow Paste is extremely precious, and now I’ve not only found an entire pool but it’s the even more advanced Purple Snow Essence?”

Just how valuable was this entire pool of Purple Snow Essence then?

Su Ming didn’t dare to ponder further.

“Let’s give it a try.”

Su Ming tentatively took a cup from his backpack and filled it to the brim with Purple Snow Essence.

Then, he submitted this cup of Purple Snow Essence to the Golden Finger Shop in exchange for crystal chips.

In the next second, the number in the crystal chip column of his mental interface jumped sharply.

The original number was—”593.”

During this period, Su Ming had used all the resources converted into crystal chips to open packages, leaving him with less than a thousand chips.

But after exchanging the entire cup of Purple Snow Essence for crystal chips, the number in the column leaped to—”1,083,915.”

A single cup of Purple Snow Essence was worth over a million crystal chips!

“…Am I seeing this right?”

Su Ming was utterly stunned.

After a moment of silence, Su Ming acted without a second thought, directly pulling out his Fire Fang Long Blade from his backpack.

“Clang!”

With a flash of saber light, the pond filled with Purple Snow Essence, along with the ground beneath it, was sliced open, forming a massive stone bowl several meters in diameter.

Su Ming then lifted this entire pond of Purple Snow Essence, hoisting the stone bowl larger than himself, and stored it in his backpack.

Only after completing this did Su Ming feel at ease.

“The greatest gain from this trip to the Hidden Realm is undoubtedly this pool of Purple Snow Essence.”

This harvest undoubtedly surpassed the combined gains of all the teams that entered the Midnight Labyrinth this time.

“Meep!”

Witnessing Su Ming suddenly spring into action and swiftly collect the incredibly precious pool of Purple Snow Essence, Hai’er almost failed to react.

It wasn’t until the fragrance in the cavern gradually faded, leaving no trace that such a valuable pool of Purple Snow Essence had ever existed here, that Hai’er finally responded. She moved slowly, walking unsteadily toward Su Ming with the wobbling gait of a toddler learning to walk.

Finding it too unstable, Hai’er simply reverted to her mermaid form and swam to Su Ming’s side.

Snapping out of his boundless joy, Su Ming observed this scene.

“It seems I’ll need to properly teach this mermaid about the human world from now on.”

Since Hai’er had encountered such a fate, breaking through the limitations of her life and acquiring a human body and form, there would be no need for her to hide anymore, shrouding herself in mist all day, too afraid to show her face.

Now, Hai’er was no different from a human and could live openly, moving freely alongside Su Ming and the others.

Once Hai’er learned the human language and integrated into human society, as long as she didn’t transform back into a mermaid in front of others, who would ever realize she was actually a Phantom Demon?At that time, this hidden card could be openly revealed, and it would suffice to announce to the outside world that she was a newly joined Advanced Professional of “Azure Mercury.”

I believe that with Hai’er’s current strength, joining the “Azure Mercury” team would immediately spark intense discussions, right?

After all, Nightmare Species exist between Six-Star and Seven-Star, surpassing Six-Star Professionals and approaching Seven-Star Professionals.

Hai’er now possesses such strength and power.

If she were to receive Su Ming’s Spirit Power, which resonates with her spiritually, and her spiritual and demonic natures fully erupted, how formidable would her strength become then?

Presumably, it shouldn’t be weaker than that Poisonous Insect Queen in the Venomous Insect Cave, which had been developing for a long time, right?

“Commander!”

“Commander!”

Just as Su Ming was feeling anticipation for this, calls came from outside the cave.

Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing’er, Tong Xinyao, and the others finally arrived, entered the cave, and found Su Ming.

“Commander, are you alri—”

The impulsive Feng Qing’er was the first to speak but suddenly stopped.

“This is…?”

Chi Qian, Mu Yan, and Tong Xinyao were also stunned.

The reason was simple.

“Meow.”

Hai’er nodded slightly to everyone and let out a soft murmur.

Her uniquely captivating voice and her cry, so distinct from that of a human, told all the girls that this mermaid, who resembled an Empress, was the Little Hai’er they knew.

But…

“You, you, you, you, you…”

Feng Qing’er was astounded, pointing at Hai’er in shock and exclaiming.

“Little Hai’er…?”

“No way?”

Chi Qian and Mu Yan also murmured in disbelief, their eyes wide.

“So big!”

Tong Xinyao covered her small mouth and, without thinking, let out a surprised cry.

This made Su Ming want to ask the little girl:

“What exactly are you referring to as ‘so big’?”

Don’t misunderstand.

It’s just curiosity, nothing more. jpg

“Commander.” Chi Qian hurried to Su Ming’s side, cautiously asking while gazing at Hai’er, who radiated breathtaking beauty, “Did something happen?”

It was obvious that without something happening, things wouldn’t have turned out like this.

Especially Hai’er, who had suddenly transformed into her current appearance, making Chi Qian almost unable to believe her eyes.

Looking at Hai’er’s stunningly beautiful appearance, her curvaceous figure—so different from her former youthful vitality—now fully matured into a bewitching, mature woman, Chi Qian felt a pang of inadequacy in that moment.

If even Chi Qian felt this way, the other girls were no exception.

Feng Qing’er was even jealous.

“How can someone have such a perfect figure and such an unfairly captivating femininity?”

Feng Qing’er lowered her head, glanced at herself, and nearly fell into despair.

Tong Xinyao gazed at Hai’er with admiration and longing.

As for Mu Yan, she had already closed her eyes.

Forget it, I won’t look anymore. If I keep looking, I’ll really die of envy.

Hai’er now possessed an appearance that made any woman feel inferior and thoughts of inadequacy.

Not to mention the girls present, even if Qin Qing from the Wanbao Auction House were here, she would likely see Hai’er as a formidable rival.

At the very least, whether it was Su Ming, Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing’er, Tong Xinyao, or anyone else, no matter how hard they racked their brains, they couldn’t think of another woman who could rival Hai’er.In terms of appearance, she had already reached a level beyond human.

In terms of figure, she was second to none.

As for her aura—does an Empress-like presence even need further explanation?

Even in femininity and personal charm, this mermaid had reached an utterly unfair level.

Perhaps there were still many in this world who could surpass Hai’er in strength.

But as a woman, Hai’er was undeniably peerless across the globe.

Realizing they had lost not to a human, but to a Phantom Demon, the group of young ladies couldn’t help but fall into a slight depression.

Had Su Ming known their thoughts, he would surely have remarked:

“Indeed, humans have limits.”

I’m done being human.jpg

(End of Chapter)