The blood moon hung high, and the cold winds howled.
The once-dominant human race had long fallen from its pedestal. Now, domain creatures ruled the world.
When the sun disappeared, and the blood moon completely took over, the creatures of the Domain World no longer referred to this place as the human world—they called it the New World.
A symbol of rebirth, an era where the Domain World rose from the ashes.
By now, the Mist Clan army, which had followed the Mist Lord, had already withdrawn.
Among the ruins of Star City, Feng Qi and the Mist Lord sat at the edge of a crumbling skyscraper, gazing down at a Star City completely different from the one in their memories.
Scenes from the past flickered through Feng Qi's mind, overlapping with the broken cityscape before him.
Time erased many things, but the memories buried deep in one's heart remained untouched.
The cold wind brushed against their faces as Feng Qi and the Mist Lord reminisced about the past and present.
When the conversation shifted to the state of the future, Feng Qi turned to the Mist Lord, curiosity in his eyes.
"Old Mist, do you have the confidence to be the last one standing?"
"I don't know." The Mist Lord's answer came with a trace of hesitation in his eyes.
"That doesn't sound like you." Feng Qi smirked. "I've always seen you as someone with a clear plan, always in control of the situation."
The Mist Lord shook his head helplessly.
"What the hell do you know? You have no idea how complicated things are now. Every race that has survived to this day has a trump card. Even the Lie Tian Divine Clan had a miracle artifact that could temporarily seal me. The other powerful races have even more terrifying aces up their sleeves. This world's competition is far crueler than you can imagine."
"What about the Blue-Skinned Tribe?" Feng Qi pressed on.
"I don't know much about them." The Mist Lord's expression grew serious. "To this day, the Blue-Skinned Tribe remains a mystery. They've never participated in resource battles or conflicts. Instead, they stay hidden in the shadows, constantly collecting miracle artifacts. After 1,500 years of development, they may already have power rivaling that of the Eight Royal Clans. But since they aren't within my domain, I don't know much about them."
Feng Qi's brows furrowed in surprise.
"I thought the Eight Royal Clans were the strongest forces. If the Blue-Skinned Tribe has the potential to match them, are there any other hidden races that haven't revealed their strength?"
The Mist Lord thought for a moment, then nodded.
"There are at least three more hidden forces I know of, each with terrifying potential."
As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed forward.
A dense mist seeped from his fingertips, spreading outward and forming a mist mirror in the air.
The surface of the mist mirror rippled, and soon, the image of a figure appeared—a man wearing a luxurious purple robe.
"I call this guy 'The Collector.' I don't know his exact strength, but he carries countless treasures. The ten rings on his fingers each house a Void Behemoth. I have no idea how strong he truly is, but he's definitely not weak."
Seeing the Shadow City Lord appear in the mist mirror, Feng Qi was momentarily stunned.
According to the original timeline, the Shadow City Lord was supposed to be dead by now.
He clearly remembered a future line where countless lantern jellyfish floated through the sky—evidence that Shadow City had been destroyed, forcing the lantern jellyfish to flee.
"He might not be as strong as you think." Feng Qi commented.
"Really?"
"I've interacted with him before. As far as I know, he only has one miracle artifact. He's probably not a threat to you… But keep in mind, history can change. I don't know what level of power he has reached in this timeline."
The Mist Lord's eyes flickered with interest.
"Regardless, his wealth has been on my radar for a while. When I have time, I'll make sure to pay him a visit."
A smirk appeared on his face as he waved his hand.
The mist mirror rippled, and the image of the Shadow City Lord faded, replaced by a new figure.
This time, the image showed a warrior standing in a pitch-black void, where no sun or moon could be seen.
He was clad in dark armor, forged from an unknown metal, and even his face was hidden beneath a shadowy helmet, revealing only a pair of deep emerald-green eyes.
In his hand, he held a three-meter-long serrated greatsword, covered in sinister black engravings.
The Mist Lord's voice turned cold.
"This guy… I call him Blade Demon. He seems to have no kin, always wandering alone from region to region. I once fought him… and he seriously injured me. Of course, I didn't let him get away unscathed—he was heavily wounded as well."
Feng Qi was shocked.
"Wait, you fought him? Was it over a dispute or resources?"
The Mist Lord sighed, looking frustrated.
"Neither. No grudges, no conflicts of interest. He just showed up in my territory one day, pointed at the sky, and demanded to fight the strongest person in my domain. I didn't take him seriously at first… but I quickly learned that he was far more powerful than I expected. I nearly died in that battle."
Feng Qi stared at the blade-wielding warrior in the mist mirror.
"So he's just some battle maniac?"
The Mist Lord nodded.
"That's exactly it. He's traveling the world, challenging the strongest fighters wherever he goes. He claims he's doing it for the ultimate training—apparently, it has something to do with a miracle artifact he possesses."
The Mist Lord waved his hand once more, and the mist mirror rippled like water, shifting to reveal a new image.
This time, what appeared was not a person, but a dark red egg wrapped in eerie flames. The egg's surface was covered with intricate crimson patterns, pulsating with an unsettling glow. Even through the mist mirror, Feng Qi could feel a faint sense of dread creeping up his spine.
"What the hell is that?"
The Mist Lord gave him a serious look.
"Don't underestimate this egg. Several races have already been wiped out by it. Every life it consumes—flesh, spirit, everything—is completely absorbed. It's as if something monstrous is gestating inside, waiting to hatch. When it's absorbed enough blood energy, whatever emerges is going to be truly terrifying."
Feng Qi's expression darkened.
The Mist Lord continued.
"Remember what I told you before? Some beings are simply born stronger. Their starting point is beyond what an entire weak race could achieve in a lifetime. This egg is the perfect example. It hasn't even hatched yet, and it already possesses terrifying power. Can you imagine what it will be capable of once it breaks free? There are even rumors that this egg is the reincarnation of a being close to the Pillar Gods."
Hearing this, Feng Qi felt a chill run down his spine.
Even the narrator's voice chimed in with a sigh.
[This is what it means to be born lucky. Its ancestors have already paved the way, setting its starting point at a level others could never reach.]
The Mist Lord let out a rare sigh.
"The Eight Royal Clans have vast lands and infinite resources thanks to their fusion with multiple domain fields. Their power is undeniable. But beyond them, many hidden titans still lurk in the shadows. Even I don't know the full extent of the threats out there. We might have 500 years, maybe 1,000 years, before the Great Momentum arrives… but I still have a long road ahead."
Feng Qi fell silent for a moment before asking.
"So… weak races don't even have the privilege of witnessing the arrival of the Great Momentum?"
The Mist Lord nodded.
"Everyone fears the Great Momentum, but only a select few will actually live to see it. In fact, it's entirely possible that only the final victor will be left standing, trembling as they bear witness to its arrival."
"Has no faction ever considered cooperation? Uniting races together to face the Great Momentum?"
At this, the Mist Lord scoffed, shaking his head.
"Qi-ge, you already know the answer to that. True balance between races is impossible. The question of who leads and who follows will always create conflict. Eventually, such cooperation would devolve into oppression."
The Mist Lord gestured toward the ruins of Star City below them.
"Let me ask you—would humans be willing to build their civilization alongside monkeys? Would humans share their resources equally with them?"
Feng Qi frowned but remained silent.
The Mist Lord smirked.
"Even if humans truly did attempt such equality, problems would arise over time. Eventually, they'd ask themselves: Why are we giving resources to monkeys? Humans are clearly more efficient in utilizing these resources, while sharing with monkeys only hinders progress."
He turned to face Feng Qi, his voice cold and sharp.
"Now apply that logic to the relationship between strong races and weak races. Stronger races undeniably make better use of resources. So what does cooperation achieve? More population? No—it actually slows the strong race's progress."
The Mist Lord paused for a moment before continuing.
"Beyond inefficiency, cooperation breeds hidden dangers. Even if peace is maintained for a time, it will eventually collapse into oppression."
His tone grew even colder.
"At some point, the weaker race will refuse to accept being ruled. They will resist. Meanwhile, the stronger race will never feel secure and will tighten its grip, enforcing control more brutally. We've seen this play out before—the Lingneng Clan rebelled under my rule. And let's not forget how I once served under Hei Xuan, only to turn the tables on him."
Feng Qi exhaled, his gaze heavy.
"So in your view, cooperation is meaningless? You believe it's better to wipe out weak races entirely and claim their resources?"
The Mist Lord nodded without hesitation.
"That's exactly it. Cooperation is a joke. If a strong race truly wants to secure its future, it's far better to simply eradicate weaker competitors. That way, resources are maximized, and future threats are eliminated at the root."
Feng Qi clenched his fists but forced himself to remain calm.
After a moment, he asked.
"Then why is it that your forces include members of other races?"
The Mist Lord smirked.
"That's different. My core force is still the Mist Clan. The outsiders I recruit are merely individuals—not entire races."
"For example, take the Dark God Clan. After reviving their deity, they themselves became fuel for their god's rebirth. In the end, the only one truly serving me is the Dark God, not his people. And he has no other choice but to cling to me. Alone, he stands no chance against the strong clans. His only hope for survival is to follow me and gamble on a future for himself."
The Mist Lord's brief words had given Feng Qi a deeper understanding of the relationships between races.
At this moment, he recalled Lin Ran's oath in this sacrificial timeline.
His goal was to forge humanity into a power that stood above all races, establishing order and balance through absolute strength, ensuring that all races could coexist in harmony.
But such an ambition was far too grand, even to Feng Qi, it felt like a distant dream.
The issues between races were too numerous, and the finite resources of the world would always be an insurmountable barrier.
Yet, despite knowing how difficult it was, he still held onto hope for Lin Ran's dream.
After all, just as he had told Lin Ran before—all great achievements begin with what seems like an impossible dream.
The Mist Lord suddenly stood up, his gaze fixed on the distance, his expression serious.
"Little Black is here."
Hearing this, Feng Qi wasn't surprised.
He gently stroked Suction Cup, who lay curled up in his arms, then looked at the Mist Lord.
"The information you've shared has been incredibly useful to me. But before I go, I have one last request."
The Mist Lord turned his gaze to him.
"You want to entrust Suction Cup and the remaining Dawn survivors to me, don't you?"
Without hesitation, Feng Qi nodded.
"Before I leave, I can't rest easy knowing their fate is uncertain. The Dawn survivors and Suction Cup have been waiting for me for 1,500 years… I owe them too much."
The Mist Lord smirked.
"You trust me that much? Aren't you afraid that once you're gone, I might do something to them?"
"I trust you—just as I always have."
Seeing the unwavering smile on Feng Qi's face, the Mist Lord was momentarily stunned. Then, after a brief silence, he nodded.
"As long as I remain in control of the Mist Clan, I promise to take care of them for you."
"Thank you."
Feng Qi stood up, looking toward the direction Little Black was approaching from. He prepared himself.
The Mist Lord glanced at him and smirked.
"Don't be so eager to die. Maybe I can stall Little Black for you a little."
As he spoke, a dense black mist seeped from his body, gradually forming into a shadowy duplicate in front of him.
"This is my avatar. It might be able to buy you some time. But first, let's find a way to strengthen you before you face him."
Without another word, the Mist Lord turned his gaze toward the distant dark speck on the horizon.
His mist avatar turned into a gray fog, racing toward Little Black.
"Wait!" Feng Qi immediately called out.
The Mist Lord turned back, curious.
"What is it?"
"When fighting Little Black, don't reveal too much power right away. Instead, slowly increase your strength in response to his."
Through multiple future dream sequences, Feng Qi had gradually unraveled Little Black's pattern of power growth.
Little Black's strength was seemingly limitless, but it never started at full power.
From what Feng Qi observed, Little Black acted more like an old man taking a leisurely stroll to the market—it never seemed in a rush to kill him.
That was why he had managed to delay his own death by using other creatures to intercept Little Black in the past.
However, the stronger the resistance against Little Black, the faster its power would escalate.
For example, in one past dream timeline, Suction Cup had unleashed overwhelming power right from the start, completely suppressing Little Black.
The result?
Little Black immediately responded by unlocking far greater strength, quickly surpassing its previous limits.
The awakened Little Black from that timeline was burned into Feng Qi's memory—an existence capable of destroying worlds.
Even though Suction Cup had displayed the terrifying ability to devour all things, in the end, it had no chance against Little Black once it had fully unsealed its strength.
From this, Feng Qi had reached a conclusion:
Little Black was like a compressed spring. The harder you pushed against it, the stronger its counterforce would be.
The best way to prolong survival was to gradually increase resistance in tandem with Little Black's power unsealing process.
While this wouldn't stop Little Black, it would stretch out the time before its full awakening, creating a longer window to act.
The Mist Lord listened intently, then nodded.
"Understood. I won't let my avatar unleash too much power too soon. Now, let's go find something to kill and strengthen you."
Just as Feng Qi was about to agree, a sudden thought flashed through his mind.
He turned to the Mist Lord, a grin creeping onto his face.
"Hey, Old Mist… In a previous timeline, I once lured Little Black to Shadow City, using its power to kill the Shadow City Lord and destroy the entire city. Do you think we could… replicate that?"
The Mist Lord narrowed his eyes in intrigue.
Feng Qi's grin widened.
"For example, what if… before Little Black arrives, you drop me off at the territory of your greatest enemy? Then, when Little Black inevitably comes for me, it'll wipe them out instead. That way, before I die, I can help eliminate one of your obstacles."