Future City.
A large number of reconnaissance drones hovered above Future City, their cameras sweeping across the ruined cityscape.
Behind the lens, citizens from various cities watched the devastated city with heavy hearts. Just days ago, this place had been a bustling metropolis. Once boasting the most advanced urban infrastructure and cutting-edge technology, Future City had provided its residents with an unparalleled level of convenience, a source of pride as the pinnacle of human technological achievement.
But now, viewed from above, the city presented a completely different sight. Collapsed buildings littered the landscape, the once-busy aerial highways now eerily silent. Cracked roads stretched into the distance, covered in piles of rubble. The futuristic utopia had been reduced to a war-torn wasteland, utterly unrecognizable.
The war had gripped the hearts of countless people, yet they were powerless to influence its course. All they could do was watch the live footage from the front lines, their emotions fluctuating with each passing moment.
Meanwhile, frontline reporters from Star City relayed real-time battle footage via drones. Unlike the residents of other cities, who felt mostly anger and sorrow, the people of Star City harbored a different sentiment.
Their loved ones were on that battlefield—sons, daughters, parents, friends. They had wagered everything on this war, and for them, victory was the only acceptable outcome.
Inside a live-streaming room broadcasting the war from the front lines, Star City's citizens engaged in fervent discussions.
Floating Dream: "Seeing the warriors of Future City sacrifice themselves to defend their home really pains me, but honestly, I just want us to win. The forces at the southern and western gates have already pushed forward to the Institute of Technological Research. Victory is within our grasp."
I Am Your Grandpa: "I didn't believe in Feng Qi at first—not because of his emotional speeches in the broadcasts, but because time travel is too fantastical to be real. But after seeing how accurately he predicted major incidents in other cities, I can't deny the truth anymore. Especially when he foresaw the Bloodstone Battle at the Old Day Supply Zone three days before it happened. That was just insane."
Invisible Hand: "To be honest, I doubted Feng Qi in the beginning. I even contacted my friends in other cities to tell them that something felt off about Star City. But then he kept making predictions, and they all came true. Everything is unfolding exactly as he described. So now, I fully support this war."
There's Always Someone Carrying the Burden: "Has anyone considered this possibility—what if Feng Qi is actually the real villain? Sure, he can travel through time, but what if he keeps losing to the righteous side in every timeline? Maybe that's why he keeps going back, trying to rewrite history so he doesn't get defeated by justice."
Black Humor (Replying to There's Always Someone Carrying the Burden): "You ever wonder why Feng Qi only reveals his predictions three days in advance? It's to prevent idiots like you from spreading nonsense."
Endless Possibilities: "I know most people support Feng Qi, but there are still a few conspiracy theorists out there. Let me list a few reasons why Feng Qi is trustworthy, so you can all shut up."
First, the trust of Star City's top brass.
I want to ask those who doubt Feng Qi—how much do you really know? You're just ordinary citizens. Do you honestly think you know more than the leadership of Star City? The Crimson Research Institute, the Star City Military Department, the Tiger Soul Research Institute—these institutions house the greatest minds of our civilization. Do you really think your judgment surpasses theirs? (And if you think so, why aren't you working in those institutes?) The fact that the higher-ups trust Feng Qi means they possess key information that hasn't been disclosed to the public. Stop questioning their decisions—they are smarter than you.
Second, before the war started, the media investigated Feng Qi's background.
I don't know if you've watched the documentary Feng Qi, but I watched the whole thing. Conspiracy theorists, do you even know how Feng Qi's parents died? Do you know that his childhood dream was to become a researcher of cultivation techniques? Do you know that the eastern district library of Star City still holds records of the countless cultivation books he borrowed as a student? A person who dedicated his life to humanity's progress—does that sound like a traitor to you?
Third, the emergence of Tiger Fist, Soul Reaper, and the Concept of Planting Deities in the Body.
When Feng Qi first entered Star City Academy, his talent for cultivation research was remarkable. People saw him as a once-in-a-millennium genius. But then, something changed. Before that, he was merely a top student—not the kind of genius that could revolutionize cultivation techniques. His sudden transformation seems odd, doesn't it?
At the time, we didn't question it. We didn't understand what was happening. But now, in hindsight, the answer is clear.
Feng Qi stepped forward, his body trembling as he reached the massive metal door leading to the restricted zone of the Institute of Technological Research. He ran his fingers across its cold surface, recognizing the familiar texture. This door was forged from the mysterious metal provided by Tian Shu. If he were still in his Blood Source state, he had absolute confidence that he could shatter the door and stride inside. But now that he had reverted to his human form, his entire body was weak, completely devoid of any qi and blood energy. The cracks covering his bones served as proof—he was already at his limit, unable to force his way forward through sheer strength.
His gaze drifted to the right side of the door, where the identity verification panel was located. Then, he turned to look at the shadowy figure slumped against the far wall. Aside from waiting for Mu Qing to arrive, it seemed the only one who could open this door now was the Black Shadow itself. With that thought, he forced himself to move, his body trembling as he crouched beside the shadowy figure.
"You… want to go inside?" The Black Shadow slowly raised its head and spoke with difficulty. There was a hint of mockery in its eyes, making Feng Qi realize that brute force would never make it submit.
"You seem to know this place well… Ever since I stepped into the Institute of Technological Research, I noticed… If my guess is correct, you want to take control of the Black Reaper Project from me. Only that project would be worth starting a war over." The Black Shadow's energy body flickered erratically, as though it could collapse at any moment.
"I'm curious—how did you learn all this? But… don't expect to get anything from me." Before it could finish speaking, Feng Qi clenched his fist and punched the Black Shadow in the face. Already unstable, its energy body instantly crumbled under his heavy strike. The collapse spread rapidly downward, and in the blink of an eye, the Black Shadow had dissipated into a cloud of black mist.
"If you don't want to talk, then die." Feng Qi muttered as he slumped against the wall and slid to the ground. His situation was dire. The cracks spreading across his bones signaled that his body was nearing complete collapse. But he wasn't willing to die—not before he uncovered the secrets hidden behind the metal door.
Mu Qing might be able to investigate whatever lay inside, but compared to searching for answers in records from fifteen hundred years in the future, he trusted his own eyes more. He had no strength left to open the door himself, so all he could do was wait for Mu Qing to arrive. He had faith in her. The domain warriors sent to stop this war were elite fighters, but their numbers were limited. They might be able to slow Mu Qing down, but they would never stop her.
As he waited, a heavy drowsiness began creeping over him. It was as if a black curtain was slowly descending, pulling him away from reality. Just as he felt his consciousness slipping, the metal door at the end of the corridor suddenly slid open.
The sound made Feng Qi turn his head immediately. Standing there was a small boy, no older than seven or eight, dressed in a simple, thin shirt with a black backpack slung over his shoulders. The boy was smiling at him. "Mo?" Feng Qi used telepathic resonance to ask.
"It's me." The boy responded without hesitation.
Finally seeing the mysterious figure he'd been chasing for so long, Feng Qi was filled with countless questions. Forcing himself to stand, he steadied his weak body. "You seem to have a lot of questions for me?" Mo asked with a smile.
"Tell me… Are you the creator of the Black Reaper Project?"
Mo nodded at Feng Qi's question but then shook his head. "You could say that I am, but not entirely. It's more like a collection of rules that I merely assembled. Its power was innate."
Halfway through his explanation, Mo's eyes flashed with curiosity. "I heard your entire conversation with the Black Shadow just now. I'm very curious—how did you learn about the Black Reaper Project?"
"Many within the Institute of Technological Research are aware of the project, yet few understand its true significance. You were willing to pay such a heavy price to uncover this secret. That suggests you already know a great deal of the truth."
Mo's calm gaze seemed to pierce through reality itself. He showed no fear in the face of Feng Qi's current state, his demeanor relaxed and composed.
Before Feng Qi could answer, Mo continued, "I just detected spatial fluctuations. If I'm not mistaken, the Psionic Race is on its way here. If you plan to take the Black Reaper, you'd better hurry… But just so you know, there's no way to control it right now. Once it's released, you're as good as dead."
Saying this, Mo stepped aside, making way for him.
Feng Qi was momentarily stunned by Mo's cooperation. However, taking the Black Reaper wasn't his main priority. What mattered most was discovering a method to control it—and understanding why it was hunting him.
With that thought, he looked at Mo and asked, "How do you control the Black Reaper?"
"It hasn't been figured out yet." Mo spread his hands, his face full of helplessness.
Feng Qi had already expected this answer and wasn't surprised. After all, history had shown that the Black Reaper had never been controlled.
In fact, Future City's destruction in previous timelines had been directly linked to the Black Reaper going berserk.
But he didn't believe Mo's claim that no control method existed. The Black Shadow wouldn't have created a super-being without a way to control it. There had to be a method—it just wasn't practical at the moment.
What confused him even more was why the Black Reaper was relentlessly hunting him.
Before asking that question, he locked eyes with Mo and asked, "Are you human, or are you a domain creature?"
"Does it matter?"
"Not really. Let me rephrase—do you stand with humanity, or with the domains?"
"I stand with the future," Mo replied with a smile.
"What do you mean?"
"Whoever owns the future, whoever becomes its ultimate victor—I stand with them," Mo explained, still smiling.
Feng Qi immediately realized that Mo held many secrets.
It seemed that the Black Shadow was merely Mo's bet on the future. And now that this gamble had failed, he was looking for another piece to wager on.
"Alright, little skeleton, I'm leaving. The Psionic Race will be here soon. If you don't run now, it'll be too late."
As he spoke, Mo stepped forward and placed a small, palm-sized device into Feng Qi's hands. The device was simple, with only a single red button on it.
Mo smiled and said, "This is a psionic nuclear weapon, custom-made for the Black Shadow. When the Psionic Race arrives, you won't be able to stop them. If you're doomed to die, at least make it count—take some of them with you."
With that, Mo turned to leave, intending to walk past Feng Qi.
Seeing this, Feng Qi immediately blocked the path of the boy with the small backpack. "Wait! I have one more question!"
Mo's figure flickered and reappeared a short distance behind him. Without looking back, he waved a hand dismissively.
"If fate allows, I'll answer you in the future. Right now, you're not worthy of being my bet for the future. I have no time to chat. Maybe we'll meet again."
Feng Qi wanted to stop him, but he was powerless to do so.
"If you want to know the secrets of the Black Reaper Project, there's some information in the research lab. If you can understand it, check it yourself."
As he spoke, Mo pressed a device on his wrist, and a distorted spatial passage appeared in front of him. Without hesitation, he stepped through.
Just as Mo was disappearing into the spatial passage, Feng Qi shouted after him. "Mo! Why is the Black Reaper hunting me?"
Hearing this, Mo, who had been walking away casually, suddenly stopped. He turned his head and looked at Feng Qi with an expression of genuine surprise.
"It's hunting you?"
"Yes. It has always been hunting me."
Mo's eyes flickered with intrigue before a playful smile crept onto his lips. "Let me tell you a secret. In this world, there exists a special kind of vessel—one specifically designed to imprison those who break the rules."
"What do you mean?"
As the spatial passage gradually shrank, Mo looked at the utterly confused Feng Qi and waved his hand.
"That vessel, used to seal away the strongest beings who defy the rules… is called a human."