Since Feng Qi had decided to copy the Mist Lord's strategy, he wasn't going to leave out the script either.
He instructed Mu Qing to repeat the exact lines that the Mist Lord had once said—before unleashing a brutal massacre.
When it came to domain creatures, Mu Qing had no mercy whatsoever.
Her attacks were swift and decisive—every punch she threw obliterated multiple warriors of the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance, reducing them to nothing but blood mist.
Feng Qi understood the hatred Mu Qing harbored toward domain creatures.
This was the deep-seated hatred shared by every single Scavenger.
In the early days, Scavengers had all witnessed their cities being overrun by domain creatures, experiencing the tragic downfall of their homes firsthand.
Their families, friends—all gone in an instant.
Only a handful managed to escape the domain fields, becoming wandering vagabonds, forced to live as homeless scavengers.
This hatred did not fade with time.
It was carved deep into their bones, passed down from one generation to the next.
Mu Qing was no exception.
Her parents had carried this hatred too.
That's why, when they were on the brink of death, they voluntarily joined the Crimson Research Institute's Rune Modification Experiments, choosing to offer their last bit of strength to humanity.
As for why Mu Qing's parents had been so gravely injured—it was because, during a migration, they had been attacked by a transcendent domain creature.
Feng Qi still clearly remembered the memory fragment he had witnessed when Mu Qing had lost control and descended into madness.
In that memory—
A young Mu Qing, barely holding back tears, was standing alone, going through the formalities to obtain her family's death certificates.
She was completely alone.
At that moment, grief and despair had ignited an unquenchable fire of hatred within her.
That was also the moment she resolved to follow Wei Wei, continuing with the Rune Modification Experiments.
Feng Qi was sure of one thing—
If Mu Qing had never met him, she would have spent her entire life consumed by vengeance.
Now, in End of the World Bar, there was not a single innocent domain creature.
Maybe some of them had come to Star City out of desperation.
Maybe they only wanted to secure a future for their weaker tribes.
Maybe they just wanted to complete missions to bring resources back to their people.
But Feng Qi didn't care about their reasons.
All he knew was that these outlaws had stained their hands with human blood.
Like parasites festering inside Star City, they were hindering humanity's progress.
Killing them?
Feng Qi had no regrets whatsoever.
He calmly watched as Mu Qing continued butchering the warriors of the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance, his expression unwavering.
A moment later, Feng Qi suddenly spoke.
"Sha Wujing, stop."
At his command, Mu Qing—still wearing the Sha Wujing mask—halted her slaughter.
Her fist hovered inches from the face of a Domain Weak Tribe warrior, who was wearing a blue ghost-faced mask.
For a split second, the warrior thought he had survived.
But in the next instant—
A shockwave of pure force erupted from Mu Qing's fist.
Before the warrior could even blink, he was blown apart, shattered into blood mist.
Mu Qing then straightened up, sweeping her crimson gaze across the remaining trembling warriors.
"Congratulations, you survived."
Even after hearing those words, the domain creatures remained frozen in fear, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
The overwhelming oppression emanating from Mu Qing had left them traumatized.
Some of them even had the illusion that they were nothing more than livestock, standing in front of a predator at the top of the food chain.
The bloodline suppression was so intense that it felt impossible to breathe.
They had brushed past death itself—their bodies curled up in the corners of the bar, struggling to recover from the sheer terror.
And now, they were suddenly told they could live.
The sudden emotional shift nearly broke their minds completely, amplifying their fear of Mu Qing even further.
Seeing this, a smirk appeared on Feng Qi's lips.
Manipulating emotions—this was another trick he had learned from the Mist Lord.
Making people afraid wasn't enough.
You had to give them hope first, only to crush it immediately after.
That kind of fear would be permanently etched into their souls.
At that moment, Mu Qing stepped toward Feng Qi and gave him a nod.
Feng Qi turned his gaze to the pale-faced bartender, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a business card.
He placed it on the bar counter and slid it forward.
"Tell your boss to contact me. From now on, Star City is under my management."
He paused for a moment, then added casually—
"Oh, and feel free to ignore my rules... but be prepared for the consequences."
With that, Feng Qi turned and walked toward the iron door.
Mu Qing and Lin Ran immediately followed.
The moment they stepped out of the bar, Feng Qi turned his gaze toward Lü Yue, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his sword, watching in silence.
"All done. Next stop."
"Got it."
Lü Yue responded with a simple nod, then fell into step behind them.
Their next target—
The other strongholds of the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance in Star City.
Of course, it was impossible to wipe out all of the Domain Weak Tribe bases in a single night.
After all, there were more than a dozen scattered throughout the city—there simply wasn't enough time.
That wasn't the point.
What Feng Qi wanted was to make an example out of them.
He wanted to display overwhelming power, so the higher-ups behind the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance would realize the true threat he posed.
If tonight's massacre wasn't enough to make them fear him—
Then he would continue his slaughter for the next several days.
He would keep knocking on their doors—
Until they had no choice but to come find him.
For the next few days, Feng Qi continued leading Mu Qing, Lü Yue, and Lin Ran in a bloodbath against the strongholds of the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance.
With detailed coordinates of each base, they didn't have to waste time searching for them.
Feng Qi's relentless attacks quickly forced the upper ranks of the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance to take action.
Before long, a call came through on Feng Qi's encrypted phone.
The voice on the other end didn't beat around the bush, directly stating their purpose—they wanted to negotiate.
Hearing this, Feng Qi knew that his plan had already succeeded halfway.
Now, he just needed to follow the Mist Lord's approach—intimidate first, then entice.
The leaders of the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance were only interested in benefits.
As long as he gripped their lives in his hands, then offered them incentives, they would have no choice but to obey.
If this step went smoothly, he would soon gain control over the intelligence network of the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance within Star City.
After setting up a meeting with the high-ranking members of the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance, Feng Qi made a trip to Tiger Soul Research Institute.
If he wanted the leaders of the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance to fall in line, he needed more than threats—he needed leverage.
The problem was, he barely had enough cash to buy cultivation resources, let alone bribe the entire Domain Weak Tribe Alliance leadership.
If he tried, they might choose to retaliate instead—after all, these were desperate outlaws, not people who would bend easily.
That was why, after delivering his punishment, he now needed to offer the carrot.
Back in the Mist Lord's timeline, the strategy was to use Tiger Soul Research Institute's resources to win them over.
So now, Feng Qi needed Tiger Soul's help as well.
As for the Crimson Research Institute, its underground storage had already been drained over 1,500 years, meaning its resources were far too scarce to bother them.
Arriving at Tiger Soul Research Institute, Feng Qi explained the situation to the higher-ups.
As expected, they agreed to fully support him.
With that assurance secured, Feng Qi made one more request—
He wanted to visit the underground prison at Tiger Soul's branch base to see Tian Shu.
His request was granted almost immediately.
With the help of the current director of Tiger Soul Research Institute, Feng Qi was granted top-level clearance, giving him access to everything.
Before he left, the director repeatedly warned him—
"Tian Shu is extremely dangerous. He frequently falls into uncontrollable states of mental instability. Never, under any circumstances, open his specially reinforced cell. If you do, it could cost you your life."
Feng Qi nodded, keeping that warning in mind.
According to Tiger Soul Research Institute's classified records, Tian Shu's power level was off the charts—to the point where even modern instruments couldn't measure it.
His origins were even more mysterious.
Tian Shu had been imprisoned in Tiger Soul's underground facility since the institute was first established.
Meaning—
He had been alive for over 400 years.
Even the current director of Tiger Soul wasn't sure how powerful Tian Shu truly was.
What was even stranger—
Tian Shu had willingly come to Tiger Soul Research Institute and voluntarily chosen to imprison himself.
The only people who truly knew his past were the earliest founders of Tiger Soul Research Institute.
And by now—
They were all long dead.
Hearing this explanation, Feng Qi became even more intrigued.
But before visiting Tian Shu, he decided to make a quick stop at Star City Academy.
Since he had Blood Source powers, he wasn't too afraid of Tian Shu's strength.
However—
If something unexpected happened, it was better to be cautious.
Bringing Mu Qing along would give him an extra layer of security.
After all—
No matter how strong Tian Shu was, could he really be stronger than Mu Qing?
Power was everything—
And if there was ever a crisis, Mu Qing could simply crush it with raw strength.
8:00 PM.
A Tiger Soul Research Institute transport vehicle arrived at Star City Academy's front gate.
Feng Qi and Mu Qing, who had been waiting in advance, immediately boarded the vehicle, and it headed toward Tiger Soul's branch base.
Before leaving, Feng Qi had informed Bai Fusheng and requested leave.
Bai Fusheng fully supported it, as he had already received a call from the current director of Tiger Soul, who explained their cooperation.
1 Hour Later.
The Tiger Soul military vehicle entered the branch base.
After stepping out, they were led by staff to the entrance of the underground facility.
At this point, the staff stopped and bowed slightly.
"I'm sorry, but my clearance doesn't allow me to proceed any further."
Feng Qi nodded in understanding before stepping into the elevator with Mu Qing.
As soon as the metal doors sealed shut, a mechanized voice echoed inside the cabin.
"Verifying identity... Identity confirmed. You possess top-level clearance. You may select any floor."
Without hesitation, Feng Qi pressed the button for the 40th underground floor.
Tiger Soul's underground facility had a total of 40 levels.
Beyond the 30th floor, high-level clearance was required—without proper authorization, entry was impossible.
These floors contained high-value resources, classified documents, and historical records.
And the final floor—
Was where Tian Shu was imprisoned.
As the elevator descended, Feng Qi turned to Mu Qing and said—
"If he loses control, I'll leave it to you."
Mu Qing clenched her fist confidently and grinned.
"No problem."
The elevator plummeted at high speed, sending a brief sensation of weightlessness through their bodies.
Then—
With a soft "ding", the metal doors slid open.
A dimly lit corridor stretched before them.
It was evident that no one had set foot here for a long time—the overhead bulbs were old-fashioned, probably older than Feng Qi himself.
As he led Mu Qing deeper into the passage, the flickering lights cast erratic shadows, and the bulbs seemed as if they could burn out at any moment.
The air was damp, and the walls on either side were already overgrown with moss.
After walking several dozen meters, they turned a corner and were met with the sight of a specialized prison cell.
Even after 400 years, the cell still gleamed with a black metallic sheen under the dim hallway lights, showing no signs of corrosion. It was clear that it had been forged from a special metal produced within domain fields.
Through the bars, he peered inside. The cell was pitch-black, making it impossible to see anything within.
That surprised Feng Qi.
His enhanced physique granted him night vision, allowing him to see clearly even in total darkness—yet his sight couldn't penetrate this cell's shadows.
It was as if the darkness inside was actively swallowing light, making it impossible to perceive what lay within.
Just then—
There was movement inside.
A sound of metal chains dragging across the floor echoed through the silent corridor.
Feng Qi's gaze swept around the cell's exterior before he walked over to an old, rusted switch and pressed it down.
Pa!
With a soft click, the electrical circuit connected, and the lightbulb above the cell flickered to life.
Inside the illuminated space—
A gaunt man with sunken cheeks sat slumped on the ground. His skin was pale, his forehead bore a black marking, and his long black hair was disheveled. His body was so thin that he seemed on the verge of starvation.
The sudden light caused him to squint for a moment before he slowly turned his head towards them.
Their gazes met.
But the skeletal man remained indifferent, not saying a word.
Feng Qi frowned.
For some reason, this man seemed oddly familiar.
Yet he was certain—this was the first time they had ever met.
Then suddenly—
A memory surfaced in his mind.
A boy's face flashed through his thoughts.
And then it hit him.
He had seen this man not in another timeline, but in a future dream.
More specifically—
He had seen him in Mu Yan's fragmented memories.
Back then, the boy had been much younger, but the marking on his forehead was identical to the one on this man.
He was one of the "Miracles" that Mu Yan had found.
(Author's Note: This reference appears in Chapters 115–116, where a mysterious boy is mentioned.)
In that memory fragment, Mu Yan had tracked down a mysterious young boy and attempted to persuade him to join the cause.
But the boy ignored him entirely, focusing solely on his meal.
Seeing the boy's indifference, Mu Yan shamelessly declared that his silence meant he had agreed to dedicate himself to humanity's rise.
Then the memory cut off.
Feng Qi had never known what happened afterward.
And now—
That mysterious boy was somehow here, voluntarily imprisoning himself in the underground facility of Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Something must have happened in between.
Feng Qi was filled with questions.
But at least one thing was certain—
If Mu Yan had chosen him as a "Miracle", then he was on humanity's side.
Mu Yan, Ye Huang, the first director of Crimson Research Institute, Mu Qing…
Every figure that had shaped human history had been recognized by Mu Yan.
It was almost as if Mu Yan was a second time traveler, always able to pinpoint the people who would shape the course of history.
Or perhaps—
Mu Yan's presence was the very thing that turned them into legends.
Feng Qi took a deep breath and spoke.
"Tian Shu?"
The sound of chains dragging filled the room as the gaunt man slowly rose to his feet.
His skeletal frame looked as though his bones could pierce through his skin at any moment.
Once upright, Tian Shu didn't respond.
Instead—
His gaze shifted to Mu Qing.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Mu Qing's crimson pupils gleamed ominously—as if she had just encountered a lifelong nemesis.
As her aura surged, a faint purple mist flickered in Tian Shu's eyes, and his own presence began to shift.
Then—
A roar erupted.
Above Mu Qing, a blurry shadow materialized and let out a deafening howl, directed straight at Tian Shu inside the cell.
The moment its presence manifested—
Tian Shu was forced several steps backward.
For the first time, his expression shifted—a flicker of shock crossed his usually impassive face.
Then, he spoke.
"Scarlet Origin?"
Feng Qi's brows furrowed.
It was clear that Tian Shu recognized the Scarlet Rune Crystal embedded within Mu Qing.
Seeing an opportunity, he immediately followed up.
"Tian Shu, can we talk?"
Tian Shu turned his gaze toward Feng Qi, pausing for a moment.
Then—
Without saying a word—
He looked right back at Mu Qing, a hint of excitement flickering in his eyes.
Feng Qi: ...
He realized—
He was being ignored.
Tian Shu had no interest in talking to him at all.