Chapter 370: Nightmare Species Mutant

The peculiarity of the Tenth Floor had long been noticed by Su Ming.

No, it wasn’t just Su Ming. Everyone who reached this Tenth Floor would notice this strange phenomenon, unless they were completely oblivious.

The Commanders and Vice Captains seemed to have been suspicious for a while, as they immediately began speaking up upon hearing Xu Xiayan’s words.

“I’ve been wanting to ask – why haven’t we encountered even a single Phantom Demon on this Tenth Floor?”

“The demonic energy here is so intense, yet we haven’t run into any Phantom Demons at all. This is just too strange.”

“I thought it was because the early-arriving Summer Chasing Smoke had used some alchemical tool in this area that repels Phantom Demons and prevents them from approaching.”

“I thought so too.”

Everyone spoke up one after another, creating quite a commotion.

“Wasn’t the current state of this Tenth Floor deliberately arranged by your Summer Chasing Smoke?” Qiao Zhi couldn’t help but question directly. “If not, then what exactly is going on here?”

Everyone turned their attention to Xu Xiayan.

Under everyone’s gaze, Xu Xiayan’s expression became unprecedentedly serious and grave.

Then, the Commander of Summer Chasing Smoke spoke.

“It’s not that there are no Phantom Demons on this Tenth Floor.”

Xu Xiayan spoke in a heavy voice.

“It’s just that there is one and only one Phantom Demon here. The other Phantom Demons don’t dare to enter this floor at all, making it that Phantom Demon’s exclusive territory.”

Upon hearing this, everyone present held their breath.

“One and only one Phantom Demon?”

“Other Phantom Demons don’t dare to approach?”

“Exclusive territory?”

Qiao Liang, Zhu Qian, Zhu Yun, and others also had their expressions change slightly.

This brief statement contained an enormous amount of information.

“What kind of Phantom Demon could occupy an entire floor of the Midnight Labyrinth as its territory, making so many Phantom Demons in the labyrinth not dare to approach even one?”

Chi Qian’s murmur clearly expressed the reason for everyone’s sudden change in expression.

It must be known that the Midnight Labyrinth, as a Hidden Realm, normally doesn’t appear on the surface at all. This results in not only numerous natural treasures that have never been exploited by humans but also countless Phantom Demons fighting, developing, and strengthening themselves here, growing rapidly like Gu Insects with almost no external threats.

This makes the Phantom Demons appearing in the Midnight Labyrinth much stronger than those in ordinary realms.

For example, Su Ming and his team encountered Hazardous Species on the Fifth Floor, Hazardous Species mutants on the Sixth Floor, and the Phantom Demons appearing on the subsequent Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Floors were also of extremely high Rank. The weakest were lower-level Phantom Demons touching the edge of evolution and their mutants, while upper-level Hazardous Species appeared multiple times, with Hazardous Species mutants appearing several times as well.

Su Ming had even personally slain a Hazardous Species on the verge of evolution for the Seven-Colored Eye Fluid later on.

Other teams faced similar situations – after entering the lower floors, they repeatedly encountered powerful enemies, especially Hazardous Species mutants, beings equivalent to Six-Star Professionals. Even B-rank teams had to rely on numbers and tactics to barely overcome them.Even for A-rank teams like the “Brocade Dragon Jade Pavilion” and “Iron Rose,” without Six-Star Professionals like Qiao Liang and Zhu Qian, it would be difficult to confront an existence of that level and overcome it.

Now, someone was telling them that on the tenth floor, there existed something that even Phantom Demons of that level feared or dreaded?

What level could that possibly be?

“A Nightmare Species…?”

Zhu Yun spoke slowly, her tone carrying a hint of gravity and doubt.

Almost everyone present shared similar reactions.

After all, the only Phantom Demon they could imagine that could force all other Phantom Demons—including mutants of Hazardous Species—to keep their distance and claim the tenth floor, the deepest part of the Midnight Labyrinth, as its territory, was a Nightmare Species.

Only a Nightmare Species could make even mutants of Hazardous Species submit, fear, and tremble.

If it were an exceptional Nightmare Species, akin to the Poisonous Insect Queen from the Venomous Insect Cave, then it would be equivalent to the ruler of the entire Midnight Labyrinth—a being comparable to a Seven-Star Professional.

Just as everyone was thinking this, Xu Xiayan revealed something utterly shocking.

“It is indeed a Nightmare Species,” Xu Xiayan said. “But it’s not an ordinary Nightmare Species. It’s a Nightmare Species Mutant.”

————”Nightmare Species Mutant.”

As these words left Xu Xiayan’s lips and echoed throughout the tent, the entire place fell into dead silence.

A moment later, chaos erupted.

“A Nightmare Species Mutant…!?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!?”

Without exception, everyone abruptly rose to their feet.

Including Qiao Liang.

Including Zhu Qian.

Including Chi Qian.

And naturally, including Su Ming.

“A Nightmare Species Mutant…”

Su Ming stood up involuntarily, his face filled with astonishment.

Not only Su Ming, but even in the space behind him, a mist suddenly appeared, swayed violently, and then vanished again.

Unfortunately, no one present noticed this sign.

Their attention had already been completely captured by this sudden, terrifying revelation.

“Captain Xu!” Qiao Liang’s expression turned extremely grim as he looked at Xu Xiayan, his usual composure gone. “We’ve never heard anything about a Nightmare Species Mutant being here!”

This accusation almost perfectly represented the thoughts of everyone present.

“It’s not that I didn’t want to say anything,” Xu Xiayan said with a bitter smile. “But this matter is of great importance, involving an SS-rank mission. Without permission, I couldn’t disclose it casually.”

“You couldn’t disclose it casually?” Qiao Zhi’s face was even darker than Qiao Liang’s, and he raised his voice. “If we’d known there was a Nightmare Species Mutant here, who would have dared to come?”

That was exactly the point.

“Captain Xu,” Zhu Yun said with an incredulous expression. “Did you hire us with the intention of making us face a Nightmare Species Mutant?”

“Impossible,” Zhu Qian said without hesitation, speaking bluntly. “We would die.”

Two simple words, yet they sent a chill through everyone present.

Yes, they would die.

There was no need for further consideration. If they truly encountered a Nightmare Species Mutant, everyone here would die.Even with the numerous Six-Star Professionals here, the many Upper-Rank Professionals, and over a dozen teams with at least B-rank strength, facing such an existence would still mean certain death.

Even Su Ming dared not claim he could handle a Nightmare Species Mutant.

What kind of existence was that?

A simple calculation would make it clear.

Take Hazardous Species as an example: a Hazardous Species that had just successfully evolved into an Upper-Rank Phantom Demon would possess strength between Four-Star and Five-Star—stronger than Four-Star but weaker than Five-Star. Only the most exceptional among them could rival Five-Star Professionals.

If it continued to devour and strengthen itself, reaching the brink of evolution, such a Hazardous Species would be comparable to a Peak Five-Star Professional.

And if it underwent evolution, even if it failed and became a mutant, this Hazardous Species would possess strength rivaling a Six-Star Professional.

Then, if the evolution succeeded, and the Hazardous Species became a Nightmare Species, its power would lie between Six-Star and Seven-Star—stronger than Six-Star but weaker than Seven-Star. As in the previous example, only the most outstanding among them could match Seven-Star Professionals.

Under such circumstances, if this Nightmare Species continued to devour and strengthen itself, reaching the brink of evolution, it would then be comparable to a Peak Seven-Star existence.

In other words, among Phantom Demons, a Nightmare Species that reached the brink of evolution would be invincible even in the human world.

For human Professionals, whose highest rank is Seven-Star, a Peak Seven-Star existence represents the absolute ceiling, the pinnacle of pinnacles, with no rivals within their entire race.

But what did a Nightmare Species Mutant signify?

It was an existence that had failed to evolve into the ultimate Terror Species but still stood higher than a Nightmare Species!

Such beings were exceedingly rare in the Spirit Demon Abyss. Even if not as scarce as Terror Species, which numbered only two or three, they certainly did not exceed ten in total.

At this level, within the Spirit Demon Abyss, they served as the chief enforcers under the Spirit Demon Abyss King, equivalent to the “King’s” right-hand men.

Seven-Star?

No!

A Nightmare Species Mutant had already surpassed Seven-Star Professionals!

In all of recorded human history, such a Phantom Demon had manifested only once—the same number of times as the legendary Terror Species.

And now, Xu Xiayan was telling everyone that there was a Nightmare Species Mutant here?

In that instant, everyone felt a chill run down their spines, as if some terrifying presence was watching them from behind, and waves of fear surged in their hearts.

Seeing this, Su Ming was certain that if Xu Xiayan suggested they all confront the Nightmare Species Mutant together, every single person present would immediately take their leave without hesitation, refusing to remain on this floor.

Even Su Ming himself, if truly forced to face a Nightmare Species Mutant, would have to consider whether to flee with ‘Azure Mercury’.

This was no joke—such recklessness was beyond mere foolishness.

That was an existence surpassing Seven-Star Professionals, second only to Terror Species in the entire Spirit Demon Abyss.

If it were just an ordinary Nightmare Species, Su Ming could still rely on his abilities as a Dual Professional to put up a fight.Even if it were a top-tier Nightmare Species like the Poisonous Insect Queen, capable of rivaling a Seven-Star Professional, Su Ming would dare to fight with Hai’er, who had already grown up, assisting him from the side. After all, it wasn’t as if he hadn’t fought such battles before.

But this was a Nightmare Species Mutant—a being far beyond the reach of ordinary Nightmare Species.

Against such an existence, even if Su Ming and Hai’er joined forces, let alone adding everyone present, all the Professionals in the Midnight Labyrinth, or even the S-rank teams outside the Midnight Labyrinth and the Tianfeng City army, it would still be uncertain whether they could overwhelm this boss through sheer numbers.

Thus, even Su Ming had no desire to confront such a being.

At the very least, not at this stage.

Fortunately, while everyone present was losing their nerve, Xu Xiayan shared some good news.

“Everyone, there’s no need to panic,” Xu Xiayan remained calm, as if she had anticipated everyone’s reaction. “That Nightmare Species Mutant has sustained severe injuries, and its strength has been reduced to less than one-tenth of its original power. It’s not as terrifying as you imagine.”

Hearing this, the crowd exchanged uncertain glances.

“It’s injured?”

Su Ming and the others also looked puzzled.

Seeing this, Xu Xiayan revealed another secret.

“This Nightmare Species Mutant is actually the former general under that Terror Species that once manifested in the world—the same being that invaded the human realm alongside the historical Spirit Demon Abyss King.”

The only recorded instance of a Nightmare Species Mutant manifesting in human history occurred during the same period as the sole manifestation of a Terror Species.

According to records, this Nightmare Species Mutant emerged from the Chaos Demon Cave alongside the Spirit Demon Abyss King, a Terror Species, and served as the most powerful combatant under that “King.”

Afterward, the Spirit Demon Abyss King, as a Terror Species, was completely sealed at the continent’s border by human heroes at great sacrifice. Only the Nightmare Species Mutant remained, wreaking havoc on the land until it was severely wounded by the few remaining Seven-Star Professionals leading a large force, after which it fled.

“Historically, after this Nightmare Species Mutant escaped, it suddenly vanished.”

“However, from that time on, Tianfeng City has been tracking its whereabouts, collecting its fur, blood, skin fragments, and information on its magical energy and demonic nature. Over the years, they have continuously used the latest Alchemy Devices and Alchemy Instruments to track and scan, aiming to locate its presence.”

“It wasn’t until six months ago, when signs of the Midnight Labyrinth’s emergence were detected by Tianfeng City’s surveillance department, that the city’s monitoring personnel were surprised to find some Alchemy Devices and Alchemy Instruments reacting to the demonic and life signals emanating from the labyrinth’s deepest level.”

“After comparisons and reviewing records, Tianfeng City finally confirmed that the Nightmare Species Mutant, which had eluded human search for years, was located at the very bottom of the Midnight Labyrinth.”

Xu Xiayan explained with a serious expression.

“When its presence was detected, the surveillance department also confirmed that this Nightmare Species Mutant remained severely injured and had not recovered, seemingly unable to heal its wounds over all these years.”

This was entirely normal.Although Phantom Demons possess astonishing regenerative abilities, if they are severely wounded by extremely powerful Spirit Arts or alchemical weapons, their regeneration becomes completely ineffective. It is entirely normal for such injuries to remain unhealed even after countless years.

Just like Little Hai’er in the past—had Su Ming and Xu Qianqian not rescued her after she was grievously wounded by Crow of 『Sin』, she would have long since exhausted her life force and died.

The severity of an injury that even a Nightmare Species Mutant is forced to endure makes recovery infinitely more complicated than Little Hai’er’s past condition. No amount of blood consumption may ever restore it completely.

“To be frank, the mission Tianfeng City assigned me this time, aside from locating the Golden Dream Sprite Thread, is to confirm the extent of the Nightmare Species Mutant’s injuries,” Xu Xiayan stated.

“Once confirmed, Tianfeng City will likely dispatch powerful experts to eliminate this long-standing scourge.”

This constitutes the entirety of Xu Xiayan’s SS-rank mission.

(End of Chapter)