Winterfell Supply Zone.
2 a.m.
Amidst the swirling snowstorm, Feng Qi drove his snowmobile northward.
Periodically, he glanced at the navigation device mounted on the snowmobile to confirm his direction.
At this moment, Mu Qing had already departed.
Based on the estimated travel speed, it would take roughly half a day to reach the Silent Domain Field.
There would also be around half a day of preparation before officially exploring the domain field.
Thus, there was no rush.
Once he left the main road, the path ahead was completely blanketed in snow. The streetlights were no longer visible, and he relied solely on the snowmobile's headlights to illuminate the way forward.
The snow grew heavier with each passing moment.
Countless snowflakes pelted against the windshield, and the wipers worked tirelessly to maintain visibility.
After confirming his location on the GPS device, Feng Qi stepped on the accelerator.
The engine roared, and the snowmobile's speed surged.
Looking up through the sunroof, he could see the ethereal green aurora rippling across the starry sky.
The sky here was breathtaking, but Feng Qi had no time to appreciate the scenery.
He needed to arrive at the Silent Domain Field before Mu Qing shattered it, then lie in wait for the heavily injured Mist Lord to escape so he could execute the next phase of his plan.
If the first step failed, there would be no point in proceeding further.
Driving for a while longer, Feng Qi reached over and turned on the music player.
The speakers erupted with the intense sound of heavy metal, drowning out the engine's rumble.
It was evident that the previous owner of this snowmobile had been a fan of heavy metal music. The playlist was filled with tracks brimming with raw intensity and emotion.
Although Feng Qi usually wasn't particularly fond of heavy metal, the cold and unyielding rhythm seemed to resonate with his current mood.
For frontline warriors who constantly lived on the edge of life and death, this rugged musical style likely served as a cathartic release for pent-up emotions. The weight of the music seemed to carry away the burden of their struggles.
When the lyrics declared, "This hellish journey ahead is filled with uncertainty," a faint smile tugged at Feng Qi's lips.
The headlights pierced through the night, cutting a path forward as the snowmobile sped on.
The uneven terrain caused the vehicle to jostle, but its design, specifically tailored for such conditions, ensured a steady ride without any issues.
When purchasing the snowmobile at the Winterfell Supply Zone, Feng Qi had listened to the second-hand dealer describe the previous owner's story.
The original owner had been the vice-captain of a C-rank domain combat squad.
Six months ago, during an exploration mission in a domain field, the vice-captain had tragically lost his life. His personal belongings and assets had been returned to his family in the city, while some of his weapons, gear, and other items that couldn't be transported back were entrusted to the supply zone's second-hand shop for sale.
Proceeds from the sales were sent to the families of the deceased frontline warriors.
While browsing the shop's inventory, Feng Qi had felt a pang of emotion as he looked at the displayed items.
The dealer had remarked that every item in the store carried the memory of a fallen warrior.
The music shifted.
The rich, somber tones of a new track began to play—"Main Titles," the theme song from the pre-cataclysm classic series Game of Thrones.
In the post-disaster era, the entertainment industry had largely stagnated, leaving many pre-cataclysm films and TV shows still immensely popular. Game of Thrones was one of them.
As the BGM filled the air, Feng Qi couldn't help but picture the icy Wall of the North, standing tall amidst howling winds.
He envisioned the Night's Watch, torches in hand, reciting their oaths atop the wall, a scene that perfectly matched his current mood.
The snowmobile's headlights carved through the darkness, illuminating the snow-covered path ahead.
Tire tracks left in the snow were quickly erased by the relentless blizzard. In this harsh environment, his only lifeline was the GPS device and map.
Despite hours of driving, he had yet to catch up to Mu Qing's convoy.
He wasn't concerned.
He had already calculated the timing.
At his current speed, he would arrive well before Mu Qing shattered the Silent Domain Field.
Snow Wolf Domain Combat Squad – Convoy
For this joint exploration operation, the Snow Wolf Domain Combat Squad's convoy formed a long chain with the vehicles of other domain combat squads.
Inside one of the military trucks, Mu Qing leaned back in the rear compartment, gazing up at the stars while lost in thought.
It was her first time on the frontlines. She didn't feel fear but was instead overcome with a faint melancholy.
The faces of her friends surfaced in her mind, memories of their farewells before graduation.
Finally, she thought of Feng Qi, recalling the words he had spoken to her after the graduation party.
"Vice-captain? Nah, I've decided to stay at the Crimson Research Institute and focus on research. If you ever need help in the future, feel free to reach out to me."
The memory brought a faint smile to her face, and she clenched her fist as if making a silent promise.
She understood Feng Qi's choice.
In her eyes, Feng Qi was an even more exceptional talent than Lin Ran. With the Crimson Research Institute nurturing him, his future prospects were limitless.
Coming to the frontlines as a combatant might have been a waste of his talent.
Though they shared the same goal, their paths would not converge.
This thought brought a touch of sadness to her expression.
Reaching into her bag, she pulled out the white harmonica Feng Qi had given her.
She brought it to her lips and began to play.
The gentle melody filled the compartment, and the others, including Wild Bull, fell silent, listening intently.
This journey into the unknown weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.
None of them could be certain they would return safely.
Before every mission, they wrote farewell letters. This time was no exception.
The atmosphere grew solemn as the music played.
After finishing her tune, Mu Qing carefully placed the white harmonica back into its metal case. She looked up and said, "Brother Niu, can you tell me what it takes to be the core of a team?"
Wild Bull nodded immediately, his expression serious.
The convoy pressed forward for several more hours, and by the time they stopped, it was already 7 a.m.
The sky remained dim.
With the region close to the polar night, the northernmost areas experienced only a few hours of sunlight. Once the polar night fully set in, there would be no sun at all for twenty-four hours straight.
The convoy began to slow down and eventually came to a stop in an open clearing.
"Disembark and start preparing!"
The voice of the squad leader, Tuo Yan, rang out from the front.
Hearing the order, the warriors climbed out of their vehicles. Mu Qing hoisted her large rucksack and followed the others to disembark.
After a brief assembly, they began following Tuo Yan's instructions to set up tents and start fires for cooking.
Putting her rucksack down, Mu Qing turned her gaze to the north.
Piercing through the darkness, her eyes focused on the towering gray barrier that seemed to rise infinitely, blocking the convoy's path like a wall of the heavens.
Upon closer inspection, she noticed a thin black line at the boundary where the real world and the gray domain field met.
The black line twisted and stretched, slowly creeping outward as if consuming the world around it.
This was their destination—the Silent Domain Field.
Mu Qing had confidence in her strength, but even she wasn't entirely sure of her limits.
Growing up in the Crimson Research Institute, her body had undergone countless physical strength tests.
However, even years before her enrollment at Star City Academy, Wei Wei had found it impossible to accurately measure her physical capabilities.
The academy's physical exams had been no different.
The advanced instruments simply couldn't determine her true strength.
As she neared the battlefield, there wasn't even a trace of fear in her heart. Instead, she felt an uncontrollable urge to leap into the fray.
"Mu Qing, hurry up and set up your tent, then come over to help," Wild Bull called out from a distance.
"Got it."
Turning her gaze away from the Silent Domain Field, Mu Qing put down her rucksack and pulled out a metal case containing a collapsible tent.
She got to work quickly.
Moments later, her tent was set up.
With her rucksack slung over her back, she made her way toward the area where others were cooking and preparing food.
By 9 a.m., Feng Qi had been driving for hours.
He glanced at the map and eased off the gas pedal.
The snowmobile coasted for a short distance before coming to a halt.
At this point, he was close enough to the Silent Domain Field that he decided not to drive any further.
The rumble of the snowmobile's engine would undoubtedly alert the united squads.
Feng Qi had no intention of running into Mu Qing just yet.
In this sacrificial timeline, their futures were destined to diverge completely.
He removed the tablet used for navigation and slung his backpack over his shoulder before stepping out of the vehicle.
The snow was thick, and he sank waist-deep into it as soon as he stepped down.
A surge of mental energy enveloped his body, allowing him to lift himself out of the snow and land lightly on top of the vehicle.
Opening his backpack, he saw an array of emergency supplies, compressed food, and the most critical item—a "Vitality Needle," stored securely in a specially designed metal case.
This needle was the key to preserving his memories.
If it were lost, all his efforts in this sacrificial timeline could go to waste.
Feng Qi took out several compressed biscuits and quickly ate them.
After finishing three packs, he finally felt a sense of fullness.
Next, he retrieved snowboards and bindings from the snowmobile's trunk, strapping them onto his boots before beginning to ski forward.
He left the snowmobile behind for now.
The morning sunlight began to break through the clouds, casting a faint glow over the snowy expanse.
As he skied further, his vision expanded, and he spotted smoke rising in the distance.
After advancing a bit more, he saw the united squads' encampment in the distance.
Feng Qi slowed his pace.
The encampment's sentries were all focused on the Silent Domain Field, so he wasn't too concerned about being discovered.
Mu Qing stood near the cooking area, her gaze once again drawn to the imposing gray barrier of the domain field in the distance.
The swirling black line at its edge seemed to writhe with a life of its own, a constant reminder of the domain's encroaching threat.
"Mu Qing, grab a plate," Wild Bull called, breaking her focus.
She nodded and joined the others around the fire.
Everyone's faces reflected a mix of solemnity and anticipation as they prepared for the unknown dangers ahead.
To be safe, Feng Qi kept his distance.
Noticing that the united battle squad had yet to take action, he leaned against a large exposed rock nearby, took off his backpack, and resumed eating.
In the northern polar region during winter, nights were longer than days. A few hours later, darkness once again shrouded the land.
The extreme cold was unrelenting. Even someone as physically strong as Feng Qi could feel the biting chill creeping in.
However, the temperature was still within his tolerance, and he saw no need to take any measures to warm himself.
Peeking over the rock, he glanced at the distant camp.
The campfires had been extinguished, and apart from the patrolling sentries, most of the warriors had retreated into their tents to rest.
Resting and conserving energy were essential for the exploration ahead.
Leaning back against the rock, Feng Qi gazed at the night sky and eventually closed his eyes.
He had no idea how long he had slept when distant noises pulled him back to wakefulness.
Alert, he turned to peek over the rock.
In the gray sky of the Silent Domain Field, a massive hand of mist reached out, snatching a fleeing warrior with force.
In an instant, blood gushed from the warrior's pores, draining him dry and leaving him lifeless.
The camp descended into chaos.
Figures scrambled to organize a rescue effort, but Feng Qi's focus remained on the hand of mist.
He recognized it immediately—it could only belong to the Mist Lord, the ruler of the Silent Domain Field.
The sudden attack threw the camp into disarray, but soon preparations for exploration began.
After several hours, the squads finally mobilized.
Each team moved in separate directions, beginning their search within the domain.
Feng Qi knew that Mu Qing's confrontation with the Mist Lord was imminent.
He leaped over the rock and started skiing toward the Silent Domain Field.
Since some warriors remained in the camp for logistical support, he circled around to avoid detection.
Once close to the domain, Feng Qi halted instead of entering.
For now, he decided to bide his time near the outskirts, waiting for the right opportunity.
Time passed slowly. Suddenly, the ground beneath him trembled violently.
Even from outside the Silent Domain Field, the quakes were palpable.
He continued to wait, and soon saw shadows darting out from the domain.
Among them was Mu Qing.
Her eyes glowed crimson like a god of death, exuding an aura of terror and dominance.
It seemed she was struggling to control herself. She abruptly turned back and re-entered the Silent Domain Field.
Moments later, the tremors within the domain grew even stronger.
The intensity of the ongoing battle was undeniable.
Feng Qi, however, remained unfazed. He already knew how this confrontation would end and wasn't worried about Mu Qing's safety.
He didn't know how much time had passed when a cracking sound echoed through the air.
Looking up, he saw fractures spreading across the gray barrier of the domain.
The cracks stretched rapidly, accompanied by the trembling of the earth.
Above the barrier, a mass of gray mist emerged and fled into the distance.
Recognizing it as the escaping Mist Lord, Feng Qi enveloped himself in mental energy and took to the air, pursuing it.
The Mist Lord moved with astonishing speed.
Even in its heavily wounded state, it was far beyond his ability to keep up. After following for a while, he lost sight of it.
But he didn't panic.
Given the Mist Lord's severe injuries, Feng Qi doubted it could flee much farther.
After flying for a while longer, he descended and began a methodical search.
An hour passed. Feng Qi eventually found himself in a snowy forest.
At this point, he had little hope left of locating the Mist Lord.
He realized he had underestimated it—even gravely injured, it had managed to flee such a great distance.
Now, he could only make rough guesses about its direction.
Entering the forest, Feng Qi continued his systematic search.
After traveling a bit further, he noticed broken branches ahead.
Following the trail downward, he spotted a purple-haired boy lying motionless beneath a tree, his hands buried in the snow.
The boy showed no signs of movement.
Seeing this, a smile spread across Feng Qi's face.
Finally, his plan could move forward.
Approaching the unconscious Mist Lord, Feng Qi crouched down.
Using his mental energy, he scanned its condition.
The smile on his face froze.
The Mist Lord had no signs of life.
"Damn it! Don't tell me it's already dead!"