Five days later.
Tiger Soul Research Institute Headquarters
3:00 PM
A bus bearing the Star City Academy emblem slowly pulled up at the gates of the Tiger Soul Base.
As the bus door opened, Feng Qi, Lin Ran, and the other students stepped off.
Getting approval to visit Tiger Soul Research Institute wasn't easy.
Each year, many classes from the Cultivation Techniques Department applied, but only a handful were actually approved.
After all, Tiger Soul Research Institute wasn't a museum—its purpose was to advance humanity's cultivation sciences, not to serve as a public exhibition.
But Feng Qi was confident in securing approval.
There were three main reasons:
His class had won the "Tiger Soul Concept Competition", an event hosted by the institute itself.
Tiger Soul Research Institute had previously attempted to recruit him, though he had declined at the time—but he hadn't outright refused.
He was also a recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Humanity Medal, ensuring his application would be taken seriously.
Lin Ran's name was on the visit list.
Lin Ran was highly valuable to Tiger Soul Research Institute—or rather, to the Night Shadow Clan, which secretly controlled it.
In fact, Feng Qi now suspected that when Tiger Soul Research Institute attempted to recruit Lin Ran early, it was because the Night Shadow Clan had recognized his immense talent in spellcraft.
After all, the Night Shadow Clan's core objective was to use Tiger Soul Research Institute's resources and talent to develop a super spell for their race.
And that was more than enough reason for them to be interested.
As everyone stepped off the bus, Feng Qi's gaze landed on the main gates of Tiger Soul Base.
A group of staff members was already waiting.
Seeing Feng Qi, one of them stepped forward to verify identities.
Lifting a scanner, the staff member flashed it over Feng Qi's face. Immediately, his detailed profile appeared on the screen.
After confirming his identity, the staff member gestured to the security team standing at the gates.
With a metallic hiss, the retractable gate slid open, and the armed guards standing watch stepped aside, clearing a path for them.
"Professor Feng, there are many sensitive areas within Tiger Soul Base, so photography is strictly prohibited. We hope for your cooperation."
"Of course. I understand the rules."
Feng Qi nodded in agreement before turning to the students.
"Everyone, place all electronic devices in the security room. You can collect them once we leave."
With that, he walked past the metal gate and placed his phone in the designated storage box at the security checkpoint.
As he passed through the security scanner, there was no alarm.
He turned around, watching as Lin Ran and the others followed suit.
Of course, aside from his phone, Feng Qi still had one more device on him—the tracking chip embedded in the back of his neck.
However, this wasn't just any ordinary tracking chip.
It was developed by the Crimson Research Institute—one of the most advanced labs in the world.
Knowing that he would encounter special security checks, the chip had already been designed to fool detection systems.
After 1,500 years of refinement, this tracking chip could even bypass the Crimson Research Institute's own scanners, seamlessly integrating with his body.
To ensure it wouldn't fall out even when activating Blood Source Mode, the researchers had bonded it directly to his cervical vertebrae, instead of just embedding it into muscle tissue.
This way, even during transformations, the chip would stay securely in place.
One by one, Lin Ran and the others passed through security, storing their electronic devices in the designated lockers.
Just then, their designated tour guide arrived, pulling up in a specially designed sightseeing vehicle.
Feng Qi climbed aboard first, sitting beside the staff member, while Lin Ran and the others followed suit.
As the guide counted the students, Feng Qi subtly glanced at Mu Qing, who was sitting in the fourth row.
She met his gaze and nodded slightly.
Once the headcount was complete, the sightseeing vehicle set off, heading toward the Tiger Soul Base's research complex.
As they traveled, their guide enthusiastically introduced the institute's history.
Much of what he said wasn't in any textbooks.
Tiger Soul Research Institute was founded in the early days of the Great Cataclysm—a time when human cultivation sciences were still in their infancy.
At that time, people had just begun to notice a mysterious new energy in the world.
Scholars called it "spiritual energy."
Desperate to understand its effects, humanity rushed to study its properties.
They wanted to know:
Why did domain creatures grow so strong from absorbing spiritual energy?
Could humans replicate this method of rapid evolution?
Thus, the study of cultivation was born.
Across major cities, hundreds of "spiritual energy research centers" sprang up.
These early research centers were the precursors to modern cultivation research institutes.
However, resources were scarce in those days.
There was no structured supply system—meaning that humanity had extremely limited access to materials from domain fields.
With so few domain materials available, each research institute was left struggling for resources.
Faced with this problem, Star City's leadership made a bold decision:
Instead of distributing resources thinly across many small labs, they would consolidate everything into a single, centralized institute.
And so, Tiger Soul Research Institute was born.
In hindsight, this was one of the wisest decisions they could have made.
Rather than scattering resources across multiple institutions, pooling talent and funding into a single research hub drastically accelerated the advancement of cultivation sciences.
But the early years were brutal.
At the time, no one had mapped out a database of domain resources.
This meant that many of Tiger Soul's early researchers were constantly exposed to unknown energy radiation, often suffering severe physical deterioration.
Most of them never lived past the age of 40.
Just like Shennong tasting herbs, the early cultivation records were essentially built on the lives of researchers who risked themselves to explore the unknown.
Back then, Tiger Soul Research Institute was filled with talent, continuously refining and expanding the concept of cultivation sciences, contributing immensely to its development.
At its peak, Tiger Soul Research Institute even surpassed Galaxy Research Institute, becoming the most prestigious research institution for cultivation techniques of its time.
The sightseeing vehicle came to a stop before a large aircraft statue.
In front of the statue, a white stone monument was engraved with numerous names.
Seated behind Feng Qi, Lin Ran curiously asked,
"What's the story behind this statue?"
In response, the staff member piloting the vehicle pulled closer to the aircraft statue, pointing toward the stone monument.
"These names belong to the early pilots of the Great Cataclysm era."
"Pilots?"
Hearing this, Lin Ran's curiosity deepened. He clearly didn't understand why a memorial for pilots was placed inside Tiger Soul Base.
"Yes," the staff member nodded, "They made an irreplaceable contribution to the growth of Tiger Soul Research Institute. In fact, without their daring sacrifices in transporting domain field resources, Tiger Soul Research Institute would not exist today."
The staff member went on to explain the major challenge Tiger Soul Research Institute faced in its early days—resource scarcity.
Star City's decision to consolidate the scattered spiritual energy research labs into one unified institute had greatly accelerated the development of cultivation sciences.
But another huge problem arose—how to transport resources.
At the time, transporting domain field materials was extremely dangerous.
There were no established air safety zones, no navigational markers warning of domain field anomalies.
Many transport pilots unknowingly flew into unstable domain fields, caught in unpredictable rules and distortions, ultimately paying with their lives.
The air routes used today—the ones considered safe for transport—were paved by the sacrifices of these pilots.
Feng Qi was already familiar with this history from his time managing Tiger Soul Research Institute under the Mist Lord in a previous timeline.
But he still felt a deep respect hearing it again.
Every inch of land in Tiger Soul Base carried a legacy of honor—it was once a beacon of humanity's hope, illuminating the path forward.
And now…
His task was to cleanse the filth that tainted it and restore its former glory.
Of course, it wasn't the right time yet.
He needed to wait for the right moment.
As long as he could enter the core facility of Tiger Soul Research Institute, he would have a chance to solve this problem.
The sightseeing vehicle continued forward, with the staff member providing detailed explanations about each historical building they passed.
Each story carried weight, filled with sacrifice, perseverance, and hope.
Listening to these accounts, Feng Qi visualized the past—
He could almost see those figures in black-and-white, busy at work, their passion burning, striving to create a brighter future for humanity.
Generations planted the seeds, so those who came later could find shade.
Undeniably, human nature is inherently selfish.
But it was precisely because of the selflessness of a few that human civilization endured.
This spirit of sacrifice had been etched into the hearts of generations, a legacy passed down endlessly.
And now—
The responsibility of this era had fallen onto his shoulders.
He had no reason to refuse.
As they passed by numerous statues of legendary figures, it felt as if he was receiving the baton of history itself.
Feng Qi silently made a promise to himself.
By the time the sun had set, Tiger Soul Base was illuminated with brilliant lights.
The sightseeing vehicle drove toward the most prominent landmark—the main headquarters building.
Located at the very center of the base, its golden facade shone under the lights, resembling a massive sword piercing into the sky.
The vehicle halted before the headquarters, and Feng Qi and the students disembarked one after another.
"This three-day visit has just begun," the staff member announced.
"We'll continue exploring other areas tomorrow, but for now, let's head to the dining hall for dinner."
Turning toward Feng Qi, the staff member smiled.
"Professor Feng, have you ever visited Tiger Soul Base before?"
"No, this is my first time," Feng Qi shook his head without hesitation.
He was well aware of the base's layout.
Back in a previous timeline, when the Mist Lord entered seclusion, he had been in charge of all Tiger Soul operations.
During that time, he had thoroughly studied the structure and departments of Tiger Soul Research Institute.
But, of course—
He couldn't say that out loud.
Following the staff member, they entered the dining hall, where the group enjoyed their meal.
During dinner, the staff member took the opportunity to introduce Tiger Soul Research Institute's dietary standards and the origin of its ingredients.
Once they finished eating, they continued touring the publicly accessible research departments, learning about various cultivation technique research projects.
By the time they returned to the accommodation area, it was already 10:00 PM.
The staff member assigned them all to double rooms.
Before leaving, he warned them not to wander around the base at night, stating that doing so would result in serious consequences.
Feng Qi nodded in compliance, giving a firm assurance.
Each room accommodated two people.
Feng Qi was paired with Lin Ran.
The moment they entered their room, Lin Ran immediately began scanning the room, checking every corner.
"What are you doing?" Feng Qi asked.
Lin Ran gestured for silence, then whispered:
"I'm checking for listening devices. Better safe than sorry."
Feng Qi chuckled and waved him off.
"Relax. There's no surveillance here."
Seeing Lin Ran's doubtful expression, he added,
"I've spent years in this place—I know its layout better than anyone."
Lin Ran's caution was understandable.
But the Night Shadow Clan, which secretly controlled Tiger Soul Research Institute, didn't see Feng Qi and the students as a threat—at least, not yet.
There was no need for them to monitor their every move.
And that worked perfectly for Feng Qi's plan.
Because starting tonight—
He was going to shake this place to its core.
From Tiger Soul Research Institute's perspective, Feng Qi and his team were just ordinary visitors.
No matter how thoroughly they checked background records or documents, there wouldn't be any loopholes.
Hearing Feng Qi's explanation, Lin Ran finally exhaled in relief.
"Don't worry," Feng Qi assured, "as long as we follow the plan, nothing will go wrong."
Feng Qi had already mapped out Tiger Soul Base's layout and had Lin Ran and the others memorize it.
The first step of their plan—gaining control of the core command center.
As long as they secured access, any disturbances within Tiger Soul Base wouldn't be transmitted externally.
As for the Night Shadow Clan's combat strength—
Feng Qi didn't think much of them.
With Mu Qing present, the Night Shadow Clan wouldn't last a single round.
While flipping through a book, Feng Qi glanced at Lin Ran.
Lin Ran immediately got out of bed and walked to the door.
Opening it, he found a middle-aged man standing outside.
The man wore frameless glasses, had short black hair, a healthy wheat-colored complexion, and deep-set eyes with a sharp gaze.
He was dressed in a white shirt, his straight nose and upright posture exuding professionalism.
Feng Qi knew this man well.
He was Director Liu, the same person who had once personally visited Star City Academy in an attempt to recruit Feng Qi ahead of graduation.
And more importantly—
The invitation email for this Tiger Soul Research Institute visit had also been sent under Director Liu's name.
Recognizing him, Feng Qi immediately stood up and greeted him:
"Director Liu."
Based on intel from his previous timeline, Feng Qi was now certain that Director Liu had already been compromised by the Night Shadow Clan.
Or rather—
This wasn't just mind control.
Director Liu had actively defected and aligned himself with the Night Shadow Clan's agenda.
Feng Qi despised traitors.
But of course, none of that showed on his face.
Instead, he warmly welcomed Director Liu inside, offering him a seat while smiling courteously:
"Director Liu, I really appreciate your help in making this visit to Tiger Soul Research Institute possible."
After a bit of small talk, Director Liu got straight to the point:
"Feng Qi, your talents are undeniable. Staying at Star City Academy would only limit your potential."
"I'm here on behalf of Tiger Soul Research Institute to extend another invitation—"
"I hope you'll consider joining us and putting your abilities to even greater use."
Then, as if changing topics, he added:
"By the way, Feng Qi—have you ever studied spell research?"
Feng Qi instantly understood why Director Liu was here.
Recruiting him for his cultivation research skills? That was just a pretense.
What the Night Shadow Clan truly cared about was whether Feng Qi had talent in spellcraft.
Unlike human cultivation techniques, which were incompatible with the Night Shadow Clan's physiology, spells were linked to natural laws and elemental forces.
As long as the right spell framework was developed, it could be used universally, regardless of species.
Thus, the Night Shadow Clan's goal in controlling Tiger Soul Research Institute was clear—
They wanted to leverage the expertise of top human scholars to create a super spell that could enhance their entire race.
Feng Qi's gaze flickered toward Lin Ran.
It made perfect sense now—
The Night Shadow Clan's real reason for recruiting Lin Ran early under the cover of Tiger Soul Research Institute.
They had recognized his spellcraft genius and wanted to exploit it for their own research and development.
Lin Ran was, after all—
The greatest spellcraft prodigy of this era, and someone whose name would be immortalized in history.
Feng Qi turned back to Director Liu and calmly responded:
"I appreciate the offer, Director Liu, but I have no intention of leaving Star City Academy for now."
"And as for spell research—"
"I haven't really delved into it."
Hearing this, Director Liu visibly showed disappointment.
But he wasn't giving up just yet.
Smiling, he said:
"No need to decide now. Come with me to my office later—I have something to show you."
"Something that might change your mind."
Feng Qi raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
"Some historical records about Tiger Soul Research Institute," Director Liu replied.
"You might find them very interesting."
Feng Qi smiled.
"I'd love to learn more about Tiger Soul Research Institute's history."
After another round of casual conversation, Feng Qi left the dormitory with Director Liu, heading toward Tiger Soul Research Institute's core facility.
Of course, he knew—
Director Liu wasn't actually taking him to see historical records.
Thanks to his previous timeline's intel, Feng Qi already knew what was coming.
The Night Shadow Clan wasn't ready to give up on him.
They believed he might have hidden spellcraft potential, and they wanted to test him personally.
To them—
This was the perfect setup.
At Star City Academy, they couldn't make a move against him.
But here?
Tiger Soul Research Institute was their domain.
And the Night Shadow Clan had one unique racial ability—
Mental Manipulation.
It wasn't hard to guess what would happen next.
But Feng Qi wasn't afraid.
Not even a little.
His current battle form was already engraved with Purple Soul Runes—
Mind control wouldn't work on him.
And more importantly—
He was finally about to enter Tiger Soul's core zone.
And there—
He would meet the Night Shadow Clan face to face.
To Feng Qi—
The Night Shadow Clan was laughably weak.
If not for the risk of exposing his plans too soon, Mu Qing alone could wipe them all out with ease.
As they walked, Feng Qi subtly signaled to Lin Ran before leaving.
Lin Ran understood immediately.
Following Director Liu along a familiar route, they soon arrived at Tiger Soul Research Institute's core area.
The first thing that came into view—
The Central Command Console.
This console held the highest level of authority within Tiger Soul Research Institute.
It could control the operations of every facility within the base.
It could shut down security systems, isolate communications, and even cut power to the entire institute.
Feng Qi only glanced at the command console before shifting his focus back to Director Liu.
Following behind him, they continued down the corridor until they reached Room A-1 in the core area.
Director Liu pushed open the door and entered first.
Feng Qi followed without hesitation.
Inside, the room looked more like a laboratory than an office.
Various research instruments and devices were scattered around, some of them clearly experimental models.
However, something felt off.
Many of the devices were covered with talisman-like yellow paper, giving the entire room an eerie and unusual atmosphere.
Walking past a pile of equipment, Director Liu suddenly turned to face Feng Qi, a smile spreading across his face.
He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small remote device, and pressed a button.
Instantly—
A clicking sound echoed from the door, followed by the clear locking of mechanical gears.
The room was now sealed shut.
"Feng Qi, we've shown a great deal of sincerity toward you. Originally, we didn't plan to force control over you. Instead, we wanted to invest resources in nurturing your potential."
"Control me?" Feng Qi feigned surprise. "What do you mean?"
"To be honest, we believe that someone with your unprecedented talent in cultivation research is also capable of achieving great breakthroughs in spellcraft. That's precisely why we haven't directly taken control of you yet."
"After all—" Director Liu pointed to his temple and smirked, "Mind control can sometimes cause irreparable damage. It could impair your cognitive functions, which would reduce your value for further research."
Hearing this, Feng Qi remained unfazed.
In his previous timeline, he had always wondered why the Night Shadow Clan had never directly mind-controlled Lin Ran, instead choosing to manipulate him through deception.
When he had once asked Night Shadow Second Elder about it, the response had been clear—
Mind control carried significant risks.
During the process, there was always a chance that the target could suffer permanent mental damage or even become completely deranged.
And since Lin Ran's spellcraft genius was one of a kind, the Night Shadow Clan wasn't willing to take that gamble.
But now—
It was clear that they had lost their patience when it came to Feng Qi.
Feng Qi's expression darkened slightly.
"You plan to kill me?" He scoffed. "Aren't you afraid that Star City Academy will demand answers when I disappear?"
"If you do anything to me, the surveillance logs from Tiger Soul Research Institute will show exactly who I was last seen with."
Director Liu chuckled and shook his head.
"Relax. I disabled the surveillance feeds before we even entered."
"And also—" His smile widened. "You made a small mistake in your thinking."
"It's not just me who wants you dead."
"The entire Tiger Soul Research Institute does."
"And as for Star City Academy?"
"You, yourself, will personally explain everything to them once you're under our control."
As he finished speaking, Director Liu took a step back and bowed slightly.
Feng Qi's gaze sharpened—
Suddenly, several figures emerged from behind the laboratory equipment.
Leading them was a very familiar face.
A humanoid figure with pale blue skin, its body shape resembling a human but its glowing purple eyes exuding a sinister aura.
Staring directly at it felt like being pulled into an abyss.
Feng Qi didn't know its real name, but—
After Tiger Soul Research Institute had been taken over by the Fog Lord in his past timeline, this creature had come to be known as:
Night Shadow Second Elder.
The moment their eyes met, Night Shadow Second Elder's lips curved into a slow, chilling smile.
Feng Qi couldn't help but laugh in his heart.
What a coincidence… We meet again.
Night Shadow Second Elder didn't waste any words.
He reached into his robe, pulled out a remote-like device, and pressed a button.
Steel cables shot down from the ceiling, wrapping tightly around Feng Qi's limbs.
The cables retracted instantly, hoisting him into midair.
At the same time—
The talisman-covered devices around the room came to life, releasing an overwhelming wave of spiritual energy that flooded the air.
A massive formation materialized on the ground, glowing ominously.
Seeing this, Feng Qi couldn't help but be impressed.
So the Night Shadow Clan had actually developed a complete system for mentally controlling people.
It was clear now—
Every device and tool in this room had been custom-built to amplify the effectiveness of mental manipulation techniques.
Seeing Feng Qi helplessly bound, Night Shadow Second Elder grinned with excitement.
To him, this was no longer a battle—
It was just slaughtering a lamb.
But then—
Feng Qi suddenly smiled too.
"Before we begin—"
He casually tilted his head.
"Mind telling me what time it is?"
Night Shadow Second Elder frowned.
"Why does that matter?"
"Just humor me," Feng Qi said lightly. "Consider it my last wish before losing my freedom."
Glancing at the remote in his hand, Night Shadow Second Elder responded without hesitation:
"It's 1:10 AM."
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion erupted from outside the building, causing the entire floor to shake violently.
Night Shadow Second Elder's smug expression twisted into shock.
"What—"
Before he could react—
Feng Qi's smile turned wicked.
"Well then…"
"Looks like the game's over."
BA-THUMP!
His heartbeat suddenly intensified, hammering like a war drum.
BA-THUMP! BA-THUMP! BA-THUMP!
A deep crimson mist erupted from his body, rapidly expanding outward.
As the Night Shadow Clan members watched in disbelief, his entire frame started stretching taller, muscle fibers rapidly thickening beneath boiling blood energy.
His skin turned dark, covered in interwoven purple and blood-red runes.
From within, dark green flames burst forth, consuming his form in an aura of pure destruction.
A horrifying pressure surged through the room, causing every Night Shadow Clan member to freeze in terror.
SNAP! SNAP!
The steel cables binding his limbs shattered instantly, sending metal fragments flying.
With a heavy impact, Feng Qi landed on the formation beneath him.
Standing at the center of the glowing spell array, he looked like a devil risen from the abyss.
Dark flames flickered in his scarlet eyes, his body radiating an aura of absolute dominance.
Crack. Crack.
As he flexed his fingers, the sound of bone and muscle coiling with raw power echoed in the air.
Glancing at the stunned Night Shadow Clan members, he grinned.
"Now then…"
"It's MY turn."