In his Divine Body form, Feng Qi's mind gradually transitioned into a state of absolute rationality.
The world before him was completely different from normal vision—he could see its fundamental structures and frameworks with perfect clarity.
At this moment, he launched an assault on the descending pitch-black Giant Hand.
With a single finger pointing toward the sky, there was no need for extravagant spellcasting or complicated formations—the very elements of heaven and earth automatically arranged themselves according to his will.
An Elemental Hand, composed entirely of elemental forces, erupted forward, bringing countless tendrils as it soared toward the heavens.
Boom!
The Elemental Hand collided with the black Giant Hand, while countless multicolored tendrils whipped madly at its sides.
The sky, at the brink of dawn, was instantly dyed in vivid colors, as though it had become a vast canvas, and Feng Qi was painting on it with the elements themselves.
The intense spell bombardment soon caused a rain of multicolored spiritual energy to descend from the sky.
The shattered elemental fragments—exploded from the collision with the Giant Hand—drifted down like stardust, forming a scene of breathtaking beauty.
For a brief moment, the sheer brilliance of the sight stunned all the domain creatures below.
Under Feng Qi's overwhelming assault, the black Giant Hand finally halted its descent—even retreating slightly.
From the inky spatial rift above, an ear-splitting roar erupted.
The Giant Hand trembled, and suddenly, thick veins surfaced on its skin—through them, crimson blood surged like rushing rivers.
The furious super lifeform controlling the black Giant Hand suddenly grasped Feng Qi's Elemental Hand.
Its terrifying grip strength distorted space itself, making the sky resemble a sheet of cracked glass, fractures rapidly spreading outward.
In the super lifeform's monstrous grip, the Elemental Hand began to break apart at an alarming rate.
At the same time, inside the spatial rift, another massive hand appeared, pressing against the edges of the rift.
It was forcing the rift open—trying to break through into this world.
This sight delivered a massive psychological blow to all the domain creatures below, their faces turning deathly pale.
The black Giant Hand alone had already demonstrated a level of power they could barely resist.
If the true body of the monstrous being on the other side of the rift managed to break through completely, they knew—survival would be impossible.
The spatial rift was being torn apart, bit by bit.
Then suddenly, countless streams of inky black liquid gushed out from within.
These black fluids appeared to be alive, twisting and morphing into various forms in mid-air.
Some even had sinister crimson eyes that gleamed with hunger and malice.
When the black liquid hit the ground, it lunged toward the domain creatures, attempting to devour their bodies.
Some of the liquid beings even merged together, their forms rapidly growing larger.
Through the Divine Body's "Elemental Eye", Feng Qi could clearly see that each glob of black liquid carried a faint trace of consciousness.
If his guess was correct, then these liquids were actually fragmented portions of a single massive entity.
The super lifeform beyond the rift, unable to fully break through, had chosen to divide itself into smaller parts—the black liquid beings—to infiltrate this world and reassemble itself.
A being that could split itself into countless parts… Feng Qi couldn't help but think of the colossal Amalgam Super Lifeform that once lay dormant in the world of 1523.
Was this thing the same creature?
There was no time to ponder further.
More and more black liquid poured out of the spatial rift, forming a second wave of black liquid entities.
Faced with this entirely new kind of assault, Feng Qi remained calm.
His body slowly floated upward, until he was ten meters above the ground.
His multicolored Divine Body suddenly erupted with blinding radiance, as brilliant as the sun itself.
The elemental particles drifting in the air, drawn by his will, surged toward him like birds returning to their nest.
In an instant, the airborne elements reorganized themselves according to his thoughts.
There was no need for spellcasting.
In his Divine Body form, Feng Qi had transcended the limitations of conventional magic.
He had achieved "spell programming"—but instead of using incantations or gestures, he cast spells purely with his thoughts.
His will was absolute.
To the elemental particles, his words were divine law.
He raised a finger to his forehead.
In that moment, his thoughts rippled outward, expanding like waves, influencing the surrounding elements.
More and more elemental particles merged and took form.
A Fire Elemental Lifeform formed from flames.
A Water Elemental Lifeform sculpted from liquid.
An Earth Elemental Lifeform, forged from hardened rock.
Even hybrid elemental lifeforms—combinations of opposing elements—emerged under Feng Qi's will.
And yet, this act cost him nothing.
His only energy expenditure was the mental effort to sustain the Divine Body.
A moment later, hundreds of newly-born elemental lifeforms turned toward Feng Qi.
Suspended in the air, he was their absolute ruler.
The elemental world bowed to his will.
With a simple thought, he could create entire armies.
With a single word, he could reshape the battlefield.
His mind became the command—his will became the law.
He pointed at the sky and spoke a single word:
"Kill!"
In an instant, the elemental army surged forward, streaks of multicolored light soaring upward.
The newborn elemental soldiers clashed with the descending black liquid beings, triggering an earth-shaking battle.
The elemental warriors, devoid of fear, threw themselves at the liquid monstrosities, fighting relentlessly under Feng Qi's command.
Meanwhile, Feng Qi's gaze pierced through the spatial rift, locking onto the blood-red eyes staring back at him from the other side.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
In those crimson pupils, Feng Qi felt countless emotions.
Slaughter. Brutality. Death. Destruction.
It was as if all the negative forces in existence had condensed into that one glare of pure malice.
The beast beyond the rift stared at Feng Qi with seething fury, as though it wanted nothing more than to rip him to pieces.
But Feng Qi was fearless.
He had never feared death—so why would he be afraid of mere eye contact?
He lifted a finger toward the spatial rift.
His thoughts turned into resonating waves, sending a message straight into the rift.
"You want a miracle?"
"Come down and take it."
Feng Qi's thoughts reverberated like a resounding bell, echoing in the mind of the super lifeform beyond the spatial rift.
Seemingly understanding his intent, the killing intent in the super creature's gaze grew even stronger, and another furious roar erupted.
The deafening howl crashed through the spatial rift, thundering like a heaven-splitting explosion. The very fabric of this world trembled violently. Many domain creatures below were instantly overwhelmed by the pressure, blood gushing from their seven orifices as they collapsed lifelessly.
Feng Qi had no concern for their survival.
But he had already taken measures to protect the Mist Lord.
A shimmering elemental barrier surrounded the Mist Lord, shielding him from harm.
Feng Qi knew his fate was sealed—his spiritual sea was shattered, and his consciousness now existed entirely within the Divine Body.
His very existence had become a finite resource.
Once his willpower was depleted, his life would come to an end.
Turning toward the Mist Lord, who was trapped behind the elemental barrier, a look of shock and disbelief painted across his face, Feng Qi smiled.
Then, he looked back at the sky.
His battle against the super lifeform was far from over.
Right now, he could flee if he wanted to.
The black Giant Hand in the sky would never be able to stop him.
But before his death, he wanted to pave a path forward for the Mist Lord.
That was the reason he was fighting.
His multicolored Divine Body burned brighter and brighter, radiating light like a brilliant sun, illuminating the entire battlefield.
With a single wave of his hand, countless elemental arrays bloomed around him, forming a network of Elemental Cannons.
His will alone triggered the massive bombardment—a storm of spells erupted into the sky, dyeing it in vivid colors.
The super lifeform had attempted to descend by cutting pieces of itself apart, sending black liquid entities to infiltrate this world.
But under Feng Qi's relentless storm of attacks, it had no way forward.
The first defensive line: an army of elemental lifeforms.
The second defensive line: the Elemental Cannon Formation.
Even if the black liquid beings managed to break through the first, they were obliterated by the second, their bodies evaporating into black smoke.
The super lifeform beyond the rift had finally realized the truth—continuing the fight in this manner was pointless.
It was burning away its own consciousness with no gains in return.
It stopped sending black liquid creatures.
But Feng Qi knew—this creature had no intention of leaving.
Through the inky black rift, he could still see the glowing red eyes filled with undying greed.
It wanted something.
It wanted the Fragmented Bloodstone.
This was the true allure of a Miracle Item—even super lifeforms could not resist its temptation.
The Fragmented Bloodstone may have lost most of its original form, but its effects remained powerful.
Unlike some Miracle Items that could instantly change the tide of battle, the Bloodstone worked differently—its power was a slow, steady flow.
It could generate smaller bloodstones, which could enhance a race's future potential, regardless of bloodline restrictions.
To any flesh-based species, it was an irresistible treasure.
This was why lesser domain races used Fragmented Bloodstone shards as currency.
As the Mist Lord once put it, possessing a Fragmented Bloodstone was like owning a money-printing machine.
Even if one did nothing, the stone would passively generate smaller bloodstones, continuously enhancing one's strength.
But the super lifeform beyond the rift wasn't here to trade for the Bloodstone.
Its goal was likely the same as the Mist Lord's—to use the Bloodstone's passive effects to elevate its bloodline to a higher level, pushing its growth potential to new limits.
For a super lifeform with a near-endless lifespan, an item that could permanently strengthen its bloodline was an incomparable treasure.
A brief standoff followed.
Then, just as Feng Qi expected, the super lifeform attacked again.
Dark energy surged through the rift, clinging onto the Giant Hand like a thick fog.
Then, the massive hand descended once more.
An overwhelming pressure crashed downward—the black mist condensed into dense storm clouds, forming a colossal black mountain, looming above their heads, blotting out the entire sky.
Feng Qi remained calm.
Raising his right hand, he aimed directly at the descending Giant Hand.
Instantly, elemental particles gathered, forming a brilliant, multicolored barrier in the air.
BOOM!
The Giant Hand slammed into the barrier, shaking the entire space like an earth-shattering earthquake.
A split-second later, elemental energy wrapped around the Giant Hand, latching onto its surface.
Then, Feng Qi clenched his fist.
The trapped elements collided and detonated simultaneously, triggering an elemental explosion so vast it turned the sky into blinding daylight.
For a moment—silence.
Then, a force far exceeding a nuclear detonation erupted outward.
The shockwaves spread in every direction.
The ground shook violently, fractures tearing through the battlefield.
The first wave of energy rushed toward the remaining domain creatures below.
For a brief moment, they stood frozen in shock.
Then, the second shockwave struck—and their bodies disintegrated into dust, vanishing into the storm.
Feng Qi didn't care.
His focus never left the Giant Hand.
The elemental detonation had finally pierced its defenses.
From the sky, several drops of thick, black blood rained down—each drop carrying immense weight.
Feng Qi instantly reacted.
With a thought, he wrapped the blood droplets in elemental energy, compressing them.
The black blood solidified into glimmering brown gemstones, which hovered mid-air for a moment before falling into his hand.
A deep, rumbling roar echoed from the rift, carrying howling winds.
But before the storm could reach Feng Qi, it abruptly halted.
The wind elements refused to move—as if they dared not offend their master.
Even nature itself feared his command.
The Divine Body was reaching its limit.
This time, it had lasted several times longer than before.
But its collapse was inevitable.
Gazing at the trembling Giant Hand in the sky, Feng Qi made his final decision—one last strike.
Success or failure, it didn't matter.
This would be his final move for the Mist Lord.
His right hand reached out, grasping a single crimson thread that shimmered in the air.
In his Divine Body state, he could clearly see the world's fundamental framework—an intricate web of elemental forces and rules intertwined.
What he had seized was one of the primary Fire Element threads, a core component that governed all fire-based elements in this world.
As he slowly pulled it free, cracks spread across his Divine Body, spiderwebbing through his form.
At the same time, in his palm, a flaming sword began to take shape, composed entirely of pure fire essence.
The terrifying heat radiating from the sword scorched the air, causing the ground beneath him to crack and dry up instantly, transforming into an expanse of scorched earth.
The very balance of this world seemed to shatter—like a mirror breaking, black spatial fractures rapidly spread across the sky.
When Feng Qi completely extracted the Fire Element thread from the web of reality, the fire sword in his grip finally solidified—a blazing weapon over two meters long.
Gripping the primal essence of fire itself, his Divine Body began to collapse under the strain.
Starting from his arm, his entire body cracked apart.
The super lifeform in the spatial rift seemed to realize the impending catastrophe.
A hint of fear crept into its roar, and the Giant Hand started to withdraw, attempting to escape.
But Feng Qi had already made up his mind.
His right hand trembled as he struggled to raise the sword.
At this moment, he resembled a god holding a torch, a being of pure light and destruction.
Even the rising sun paled in comparison to his blazing figure.
Despite his failing body, he swung the sword.
A single flaming arc—only a meter wide at first—shot toward the sky.
Compared to the massive Giant Hand, the fire crescent seemed insignificant.
But as it traveled, it expanded rapidly.
3 meters… 10 meters… 100 meters…
In the blink of an eye, the crescent flame arc had grown over a thousand meters wide.
It surged through the sky like a pair of blazing wings, radiating heat so intense that even space itself warped under its pressure.
At last, the fire crescent reached the retreating Giant Hand, slashing directly at its wrist.
A piercing, agonized scream echoed from the rift.
A moment later—
The severed hand fell from the sky.
Feng Qi, having exhausted all his strength, finally let go of the Fire Element thread.
Instantly, his right arm shattered into pieces.
The pure Fire Element energy he had held onto dissipated, dissolving back into the world's structure, returning to its original state.
He lifted his head, watching as the spatial rift slowly began to close.
Feng Qi knew—he had won.
This time, he hadn't run away.
He had used his strength to drive back the super lifeform.
He didn't know if the black monstrosity would ever return, but for now, that was no longer his concern.
Right now, he needed to leave immediately.
He turned toward the Mist Lord, who stood there in shock, unable to utter a single word.
With a flick of his remaining hand, the protective barrier around the Mist Lord shattered, and elemental energy wrapped around him, lifting him into the air.
At the same time, Feng Qi used elemental power to secure the severed black hand and the Fragmented Bloodstone.
Then, without another word, he flew away, carrying the Mist Lord and the spoils of battle into the distance.
Thirty minutes later
Beside a small, overgrown stream, Feng Qi reverted to his skeletal form.
His entire body was covered in cracks, and the fractures were still spreading.
Beside him, the Mist Lord was frantically pouring his own life force into Feng Qi's broken body, desperately trying to keep him alive.
The scene was eerily similar to a past timeline.
Back then, he had also used Spirit Eternal and had ended up on the brink of death.
The Mist Lord had tried to save him, but in the end, he had walked away without looking back.
That decision had turned him into the infamous shadowy figure who stole from the sacrificial altars, the strange deity feared by Weaving Moon.
But this time…
This time, the Mist Lord was truly trying to save him.
Feng Qi knew—it was pointless.
The life energy flooding into him was like a cup of water trying to put out a wildfire.
The regeneration process began, flesh forming over his skeletal frame.
But his consciousness was already fading.
His spiritual sea had exploded.
From the moment it shattered, his mind had no home—his awareness had been running purely on borrowed time.
His Divine Body had already burned through most of his soul.
Now that it was gone, his remaining willpower was fading rapidly.
Lin Ran had spent two whole timelines developing "Spirit Eternal."
Combining it with the Divine Body technique had granted Feng Qi unparalleled power, but in the end, it was still a suicidal technique.
A one-time miracle.
And this time, there was no escaping death.
The Mist Lord's panicked expression blurred in his fading vision.
Feng Qi knew he had mere moments left.
Seizing his final bit of clarity, he whispered:
"Mist Lord… after I die, cut off my head."
The Mist Lord's eyes widened, flickering with hope.
"You… have a way to revive yourself?"
Feng Qi's lips twitched weakly.
"…Y-Yeah… That's right…"
He nodded slightly, deciding to lie one last time.
Only this way… would the Mist Lord truly follow his intended plan.
"Tell me what to do, I'll bring you back, no matter what."
Feng Qi nodded, then continued, voice barely above a whisper:
"Once my consciousness fades, use your life force to keep my head preserved…"
"Bring it back to our hotel room in the Eastern Supply Zone."
"In my backpack, there's a Brain Activity Needle—it'll keep my brain functioning."
"Then… go to my dorm at Old Day Academy. There's… two letters I left there… for you…"
His voice weakened.
By the end of the sentence, even he couldn't hear his own words anymore.
His mind collapsed into darkness.
Even the Mist Lord's desperate shouting faded away.
His last conscious thought drifted away with a faint, fading smile:
"…Mist Lord, did I look cool just now?"
A moment later, the last fragments of his mind disintegrated.
He had entrusted his final mission to the Mist Lord, leaving behind a path for his future.
The Fragmented Bloodstone.
The super lifeform's severed hand.
These artifacts would become the foundation of the Mist Lord's rise to power.
Half a month later.
The long-sealed dormitory door creaked open, and a figure with purple hair stepped inside.
Walking over to the bed, he reached out and pulled open the curtains.
Sunlight spilled through the window, illuminating the entire room. Even the dust particles floating in the air became clearly visible under the golden rays.
The Mist Lord's gaze swept across the room before finally settling on a customized backpack placed on the sofa.
Sitting down, he reached for the backpack and unzipped it.
The first thing he retrieved was a box of Brain Activity Needles, followed by a pair of customized blood-extraction gloves.
Digging further to the bottom of the bag, he found two letters.
One of the letters had a line of words scrawled on the envelope:
"Don't open me yet. Read the other one first."
Seeing this, the Mist Lord couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle softly. Then, he picked up the other letter and tore it open.
Feng Qi:
Brother, if you're reading this letter, then I'm already gone.
You must be wondering—how did I predict danger in the mission before it even began?
Curious?
Telling you outright would be boring. Just follow the steps I've outlined, and the truth will gradually reveal itself before your eyes.
The Brain Activity Needles in the bag should keep my brain functioning for about half a year.
In that time, you need to grow stronger—fast. Then, head to the Tiger Soul Research Institute in Star City and hand my brain over to the current director. He'll give you the answers you seek.
(Reminder: When you go to the Tiger Soul Research Institute, don't let Hei Xuan notice you. If he finds out, all my efforts will be wasted. You must be extremely careful... As for how to evade Hei Xuan's surveillance, that's up to you to figure out. I don't have a perfect solution. Just make sure you escape his watchful eye for a while!!!)
As for the second letter, don't open it yet. Even if you do, you won't understand it.
I've encrypted all the contents. You only need to give this letter to the current director of the Tiger Soul Research Institute and wait for him to contact you.
Sounds fun, right? I left you a decryption puzzle even after I died.
Follow my instructions, and you'll uncover the truth. My secrets are far beyond what you can imagine.
Writing this letter brings mixed feelings.
Anyway, old friend, grow stronger—quickly. Fulfill all my last wishes.
Oh, and when you get to the Tiger Soul Research Institute, if things go south, just say my name. My name carries a lot of weight there.
After reading the letter, the Mist Lord was filled with confusion.
But then he recalled Feng Qi's last words before he died—as long as he followed the instructions, he could bring him back to life.
A spark of determination ignited within him again.
"You promised to reach the peak with me... I'll be waiting for your return."
With that, the Mist Lord's gaze shifted toward the second letter.
Even though Feng Qi had explicitly told him not to open it yet, he still chose to tear it open.
Inside, he found a series of complex numbers.
Clearly, these numbers corresponded to specific positions in a certain book.
But which book? There was no clue.
Feeling frustrated, the Mist Lord put the Brain Activity Needle box and the special gloves back into the backpack, along with the two letters.
He stood up, swept his gaze across the room one last time, then turned and left.
Half a year later.
Star City.
Under the shroud of night, a mass of gray mist streaked across the sky at high speed, descending into Star City.
The mist coalesced into the form of a purple-haired youth in an uninhabited area.
After scanning his surroundings, the Mist Lord followed the Star City map in his memory, heading toward the location of the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
He had actually considered entering Star City through the front gates.
But Star City had been under lockdown for years now. Outsiders had to go through layers of strict approval processes to enter, making it an extremely complicated ordeal.
Having finally escaped Hei Xuan's surveillance, the Mist Lord wasn't about to waste time on bureaucratic nonsense.
Taking advantage of the cover of darkness, he evaded Star City's monitoring systems and entered the city undetected.
He wasn't sure if his presence had triggered Star City's energy detection system, but escaping the landing zone as quickly as possible was his top priority.
After traveling for a while, the steel walls of the Tiger Soul Research Institute's base came into view.
Now, he faced two choices:
Break in directly.
Use Feng Qi's name to gain entry.
Forcing his way in would only cause trouble and might even trigger a full-scale confrontation, making it difficult to meet the director.
After some hesitation, he approached the security camera embedded in the steel wall.
The camera lens rotated, locking onto the Mist Lord's face. A mechanized warning voice sounded:
"Warning! You have entered a restricted area. Please leave immediately, or we will take forceful action."
Before the second warning could fully play, the Mist Lord spoke directly to the camera:
"Feng Qi. Feng Qi sent me here."
The warning alarm cut off abruptly.
A brief silence followed. Then, a female voice responded:
"Hold on. I'll report this."
Ten minutes passed.
The massive steel gates of the Tiger Soul Research Institute slowly slid open. A military vehicle with the Tiger Soul insignia stopped at the entrance.
An elderly man with white hair stepped out of the vehicle.
His sharp eyes studied the Mist Lord's appearance, as if examining every detail.
After a few seconds, he spoke in a calm, emotionless voice:
"Come with me."
The Mist Lord boarded the vehicle without hesitation.
He had just settled into his seat when the elderly man turned to him and asked:
"You have Feng Qi's head, don't you?"
The Mist Lord's expression stiffened.
"...How do you know that?"
At that moment, his mind was filled with a thousand unanswered questions.
Everything about this situation felt far too normal—as if the elderly man had expected all of this in advance.
Had everything that happened so far... been predicted?
Feng Qi had never mentioned any connection to the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Yet, this man was treating the situation as if it had all been arranged beforehand.
What exactly had Feng Qi planned?
The realization hit him like a tidal wave—Feng Qi had been hiding many secrets from him.
The Mist Lord frowned instinctively, but the memory of Feng Qi risking his life to save him flashed in his mind, and his confusion gradually turned into a silent sigh.
There was no doubt that Feng Qi had concealed things from him, but the willingness to sacrifice himself for his sake was real.
That sentiment, that bond, was genuine.
Secrecy or not, in the face of such selfless devotion, it no longer mattered.
The vehicle came to a slow halt in front of the main base building of the Tiger Soul Research Institute. The Mist Lord followed the old director out of the car and into the depths of the facility.
After a short walk, they arrived at the core research sector of the institute.
When the Tiger Soul Director took out a specialized containment vessel designed for preserving brains, the Mist Lord finally couldn't hold back his question any longer.
"Did you already know Feng Qi was going to die? And that I would bring his brain back?"
The old director glanced at him before responding in a calm tone.
"We knew Feng Qi would die. We also knew that his brain would likely be retrieved and returned here. The only surprise... was that you were the one to bring it back."
The Mist Lord's expression changed slightly.
"You know me?"
The old director smiled faintly.
"Mi Yun, Chief of the Mist Clan."
The Mist Lord froze.
His real name—he had never revealed it to anyone.
Not even Feng Qi had known.
Yet this elderly man—whom he had never met before—had spoken his name without hesitation.
It was beyond incomprehensible.
A whirlpool of uncertainty and unease formed in his mind. What the hell was happening?
The old director remained composed as he continued,
"Did Feng Qi leave you any message for us?"
The Mist Lord took a deep breath. With a wave of his hand, a custom backpack appeared in his grasp. He unzipped it and pulled out an envelope.
"This letter was left by Feng Qi. But the numbers written on it... I can't decipher them. Maybe you can."
The old director took the envelope, carefully tearing it open before scanning the contents.
"What does it say?"
The director hesitated for a moment, then chuckled lightly.
"I have no idea."
The Mist Lord's eyes twitched. "...What?"
"But someone else might. I'll need to contact them. If possible, come back in a month."
Silence stretched between them. The Mist Lord remained quiet for a few seconds before finally nodding in agreement.
Before leaving, he retrieved Feng Qi's brain from his spatial crystal, placing it into the special containment vessel.
As the old director escorted him out of the Tiger Soul Institute, the Mist Lord turned back, staring deeply at him.
Then, without another word, he soared into the sky.
After the Mist Lord departed, the Tiger Soul Director returned to the core sector of the research institute.
He picked up the letter placed beside the containment unit.
The sequence of numbers was utterly meaningless to him.
But he knew one thing for certain—the Crimson Research Institute could decode it.
Reaching for the communication terminal, he punched in a long sequence of encrypted codes.
After a long wait, the connection finally went through, and a familiar voice echoed through the receiver.
The Tiger Soul Director spoke,
"Captain Gu Ke, Feng Qi's brain has been delivered. I need to establish contact with Crimson Research Institute. Can you help me get in touch with Wei Wei? There's something urgent I need to confirm."
"I can try, but it'll take some time. The Crimson Research Institute only opens its external communications at fixed intervals. Their network is completely isolated otherwise, and I can't reach them at will."
"I'll wait for your response."
Three days later, Gu Ke arrived at the Tiger Soul Research Institute, personally retrieving Feng Qi's brain along with the mysterious letter.
Half a month passed.
Gu Ke and his team returned to Tiger Soul Institute—bringing back a translated version of the letter, along with a large-scale device.
Another two weeks later.
The Mist Lord returned to the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Once again, the old director personally greeted him and escorted him to the core research sector.
"Has the letter been decoded?"
The Mist Lord's voice was cold and sharp.
The old director nodded before handing over the translated document.
Taking the letter, the Mist Lord began reading.
Feng Qi:
Brother, if you're reading this letter, it means you've successfully delivered my brain to the Tiger Soul Research Institute. You didn't let my sacrifice go to waste.
I bet you're confused again. This letter was written before the Bloodstone Escort Mission even began, so how did I know something unexpected would happen? How did I predict that I would die saving you?
The truth is long and complicated…
To put it simply, I have the ability to foresee the future—nah, just kidding.
Actually, I've walked this timeline many, many times.
I already know everything that's going to happen.
I owe you an apology, though. Because the truth is, I've been using you from the very beginning.
From the moment I met you, your fate was already bound to mine. I've been guiding you forward, step by step, down the path I planned.
At the time, you probably thought I saved you out of kindness—that a dying person like you held no value to me, so my actions must have been out of pure goodwill.
But in reality, I knew exactly what would happen.
Everything was premeditated.
Including Mu Qing injuring you— I arranged that.
Your enrollment in the Old Day Academy, your invitation from Hei Xuan— all part of my plan.
Reading this, I bet you're furious. You treated me as a brother, yet I played with your fate like a puppet master.
But before you start cursing me, let me make one thing clear.
My brotherhood with you? That was real.
It wasn't a lie.
Of course, knowing you, I'm sure you won't believe me right now.
To prove everything I've said, please cooperate with the Tiger Soul Director from this point onward. Then, you will understand the truth behind it all.
I won't go into details here—you'll see for yourself soon enough.
The Mist Lord put down the letter, his expression clouded with disbelief.
He even felt that the contents of the letter were false, unable to imagine that the Feng Qi he had placed his trust in had been manipulating his fate all along.
Rage suddenly surged within him.
He had once firmly believed that, after the fall of his people, Feng Qi was his only family left.
Scenes flashed through his mind—Feng Qi carrying him out of the Northern Territory, working side by side in the breeding farm, struggling through battle after battle…
He clenched his fists tightly.
"Mist Clan Chief, if you want to know the truth behind all this, please cooperate with me next."
"Fine." The Mist Lord answered without hesitation, his tone laced with suppressed fury.
Following the Tiger Soul Director, the Mist Lord arrived at a laboratory.
Soon, over a dozen researchers in Tiger Soul uniforms entered the room, guiding the Mist Lord onto the operating table.
The Tiger Soul Director stepped over to a refrigerated storage unit and retrieved a metal container.
With a precise input of passcodes, the container unlocked, and as the cOld Mist dispersed, three tubes of green liquid were revealed, each labeled with a numerical sequence.
Beneath the tubes, in the lower compartment of the container, there was an instruction manual. The cover bore a title:
[Memory Extraction & Implantation Technology: User Manual]
This was the hidden key left behind in Feng Qi's second letter.
The letter had been written in two separate sections.
The first section wasn't meant for the Mist Lord—it was addressed to Wei Wei of the Crimson Research Institute.
This entire setup had been inspired by Lin Ran.
Previously, Lin Ran had wanted to preserve his and Yin Ling's memories, intending to pass them on to another version of himself in the future.
Before embarking on the Bloodstone Escort Mission, Feng Qi had been racking his brain, trying to figure out a way to ensure his brain would be delivered back to the Crimson Research Institute.
After extensive deliberation, he realized that the Mist Lord was the only one who could break this cycle.
At the same time, another thought emerged—how could he truly earn the Mist Lord's trust?
Lin Ran's approach gave him an idea.
He decided to reveal the truth to this version of the Mist Lord.
The Memory Extraction Technology allowed memories to be edited and extracted, enabling a person to relive events as if they were experiencing them firsthand.
This method would work perfectly on the Mist Lord.
No matter how many words he used, nothing would be as convincing as letting him see it with his own eyes.
Back then, Feng Qi had already made his decision—since the Mist Lord had already come into contact with the Tiger Soul Research Institute, why not let him see the entire truth?
Let him personally relive their first meeting on the original timeline, all the way through their countless encounters thereafter.
He would use facts, not words, to prove his sincerity.
Emotions were difficult to convey through speech alone—but through firsthand experience, they could be truly understood.
Following Feng Qi's instructions, Wei Wei extracted and edited Feng Qi's memories.
She copied all the moments between Feng Qi and the Mist Lord, then produced three tubes of Memory Extraction Fluid.
Revealing the truth to the Mist Lord was a risky move, but it was also Feng Qi's attempt to win him over.
If the Mist Lord acknowledged this bond—
Then, in the main timeline, he could be drawn in the same way, and humanity would gain a powerful ally.
The road ahead was long, but humanity's future no longer had to be walked alone.
Whether or not this ideal future could come to fruition depended on the results of this attempt.
The Tiger Soul Director retrieved one of the tubes from the frost-covered container and handed it to his assistant.
The other researchers swiftly got to work, following Gu Ke's provided manual to activate the device.
Lights flickered within the chamber as mechanical restraints secured the Mist Lord to the operating table.
A purple scanning beam swept across his body, conducting an exact positioning scan.
The Mist Lord's face remained ice-cold, his body tensed, ready to explode into action at a moment's notice.
Being placed in an environment beyond his control sent his instincts into high alert.
Yet, he still chose to endure.
He needed to know the truth.
Finally, the device powered up completely, and a needle-tipped mechanical arm descended toward his forehead.
"Don't resist. Relax your body." The Tiger Soul Director instructed.
Just as the Mist Lord was about to break free, he took a deep breath and ultimately chose to trust the man who, in another life, had been his brother.
The moment the cold liquid was injected into his brain, it erupted.
Shattered fragments of memories flooded his vision, rapidly piecing together into moving scenes.
He saw the Northern Territory, blanketed in heavy snow—Feng Qi, covered in blood, fighting desperately to protect him.
He saw a remote island, where Feng Qi lost an arm saving his life, coming within inches of death.
Each scene played out as if he were reliving it, delivering an overwhelming emotional impact.
For the first time, he could feel everything—Feng Qi's initial use of him, and later, his genuine acceptance of him as a brother.
Then came the final scene.
A single tear fell onto a gravestone, carrying the weight of Feng Qi's regret.
"Old Mist, I finished the offerings. I'm leaving now. If I survive, I'll come back every year to see you."
"You Mist Clan people are seriously twisted, having some weird tradition of eating the offerings left for the dead. But whatever… since you're my brother, I'll put up with it."
Countless images blurred together—until, at the very end, a smiling figure of Feng Qi appeared before him.
"Old Mist, if fate allows, we'll meet again in the future."