The Future World.
As Feng Qi emerged from the spatial tunnel, the familiar yet desolate ruins of Star City came into view.
Under the blood-red moon, the city bore deep scars of time's relentless erosion. The once-thriving human civilization had long crumbled into history, nothing more than a fading chapter in the records of other races.
Beside him, Mist Lord condensed his form and glanced over.
"My avatar can still hold off Little Black for a while longer. Do you want to visit the Mist King City with me? I can teach you some practical techniques there—it might be useful for the rest of your timeline," he suggested.
Hearing this, Feng Qi grinned.
"Sure! I'm actually quite curious about what your Mist King City looks like."
As he spoke, Feng Qi looked down at Little Suction Cup, still fast asleep in his arms. He reached out and gently ruffled her head.
When he left, he hoped Suction Cup and the Dawn survivors could live under Mist Lord's protection.
But what worried him most was that Suction Cup might refuse to part with him.
If that time came, he could only ask Mist Lord to force her to stay—otherwise, she would inevitably clash with Little Black again.
At that moment, the Narrator's voice echoed in his mind.
[Poor Suction Cup. No matter how many timelines she fights in, she never wins. This time, in the Future Dream Timeline, she doesn't need to take action at all. By the time Old Mist's avatar is defeated, Little Black's power will have been fully released. Even if Suction Cup tries to stall, she obviously won't last long.]
Feng Qi's thoughts aligned with the Narrator's.
That's why, in this timeline, he wanted the Dawn survivors and Suction Cup to live peacefully under Mist Lord's protection, without having to die fighting for him.
As for their future, even Mist Lord was uncertain about what lay ahead—how could Feng Qi possibly know?
Maybe the Dawn survivors and Suction Cup would follow Mist Lord to new heights, fighting against the tide of fate to become pioneers of a new world.
Or maybe, they would perish alongside Mist Lord, in the increasingly brutal struggle between races.
No one could predict the future.
Just then, he felt a sudden weightlessness.
Looking down, he saw that Mist Lord had transformed into a vast sea of gray mist, lifting him into the air and carrying him southward from Star City.
Mist Lord flew at an astonishing speed. Even Feng Qi's enhanced vision struggled to process the rapidly passing scenery, turning everything into a blur.
After a long journey, a massive wall of condensed gray mist energy appeared in the distance.
The towering gray fog wall, standing dozens of meters high, churned with thick mist energy. It stretched far beyond the horizon, forming an impenetrable barrier.
Feng Qi's vision couldn't pierce through the dense fog to see what lay beyond.
Then, Mist Lord carried him through the mist wall.
As they emerged on the other side, Feng Qi was stunned by the sight before him.
The city inside was a perfect fusion of modern human architecture and Mist Clan designs.
Or rather, it was clear that the Mist Clan had inherited and integrated the advanced psionic technology originally developed by the Hei Xuan faction of the Psionic Race into their civilization.
From above, Feng Qi could see an intricate network of mist-energy railways crisscrossing the city. These railways maximized transportation efficiency, allowing rapid movement across the entire metropolis.
Across different zones of the city, massive psionic energy stations stood like sentinels, each embedded with rows of glowing blue gemstones, continuously generating power for the entire city.
Beyond that, there were countless unique buildings—too many for Feng Qi to take in all at once.
This Mist City, stretching beyond the horizon, was far more advanced and prosperous than he had ever imagined.
As they flew toward the city center, Feng Qi engaged Mist Lord in conversation, gradually learning how this city came to be.
Before reviving his people, Mist Lord first rebuilt the Mist Clan's Domain Field—because reviving his kin without a stable home was too dangerous.
The destruction of their original Mist Domain Field had left Mist Lord struggling to survive in the human world, unable to fully adapt to its rules.
Ultimately, he had only survived by relying on Miracle Will to alter his fate and rebuild his body to fit human-world laws.
But his people didn't have Miracle Will.
If they were revived without first adapting to human-world laws, the world itself would reject them.
Without compatibility, they would slowly wither and die, unable to sustain themselves.
Unlike Mist Lord, his people had no Miracle Artifact to rewrite reality for them.
To solve this, Mist Lord first conquered Hei Xuan and then began reconstructing the Mist Domain Field.
During this process, he studied vast amounts of space-related knowledge—even researching the elemental structure and framework of domain fields.
At the time, Mist Lord had no kin left.
Those who followed him were rebels from other races, who had once fought against Hei Xuan's rule.
From these allied outsiders, Mist Lord learned much about spatial structures, domains, and energy manipulation.
After years of research, a blueprint for the new Mist Domain Field took shape in Mist Lord's mind.
Since he was rebuilding from scratch, he saw an opportunity—instead of simply restoring the Old Mist Domain, he could fix its past flaws, ensuring that the new domain would be stronger and more perfect than before.
While helping his followers grow, Mist Lord spent over 500 years to complete the foundation of this new domain.
The cost was immense.
He nearly exhausted all of Hei Xuan's stolen resources.
He even dismantled several of Hei Xuan's carefully constructed independent spaces, including the special training ground where he and Feng Qi once trained together.
Over the next 1500 years, Mist Lord continued gathering vital energy, first reviving the Mist Clan's Elder Council, and then working with them to rebuild their homeland.
To ensure efficient city management, Mist Lord adapted Hei Xuan's psionic technology, originally created for the Psionic Race's personal use.
From nothing, Mist Lord spent 1500 years turning his people into one of the dominant powers of the region.
Now, the Mist Clan was the strongest force in the area, standing on the verge of claiming regional supremacy. Their potential for the future was limitless.
Aside from the Eight Great Royal Clans and a few unique Blue-Skinned Tribes, Mist Lord was confident he could handle any challenge.
Eventually, they arrived before a majestic palace made of dense mist energy.
Mist Lord landed gracefully, his body reforming into his humanoid form—tall, with purple hair and piercing violet eyes.
Feng Qi gazed ahead at the palace's towering structure.
Feng Qi gazed up at the Mist Palace before him. The entire structure seemed to be forged purely from energy, its surface rippling like mist, flickering between reality and illusion. Embedded within the swirling gray fog were numerous energy crystals, seemingly stabilizing the palace's structure.
Following Mist Lord into the grand hall, Feng Qi couldn't help but ask curiously, "Old Mist, why doesn't your palace have any guards?"
Hearing this, Mist Lord shook his head with a sigh.
"What's the point of having guards? To protect me? Assigning some of my people as palace guards is just a waste. I'd rather have them contribute to building the clan's future. Surface-level vanity means nothing to me."
Feng Qi chuckled. "Then why even build a palace? Wouldn't a few straw huts save more resources?"
"That's different," Mist Lord explained calmly. "This palace isn't just for me—it's a symbol for my people. Having a shared belief helps unite the Mist Clan and strengthen their cohesion."
Stepping inside, the first thing Feng Qi saw was a towering statue.
It was a depiction of an elderly man with violet hair and eyes, his face deeply marked by the passage of time. His gaze carried the weight of centuries, as if he had witnessed the rise and fall of countless eras.
Crimson blood-like runes were etched across his body, and on his chest, a cloud-like insignia was engraved.
"This is the forefather of the Mist Clan," Mist Lord said, his voice carrying deep reverence. "He was the one who founded our people and laid the foundation for our future. He will always be a hero of the Mist Clan."
Feng Qi's eyes flickered with amusement. "You mean the guy you once described as slurping up divine blood and suddenly getting stronger?"
Mist Lord let out a rare chuckle. "That's right. Our ancestor's rise did involve some luck—he was once a slave under a powerful clan, and by sheer chance, he unearthed a mineral containing the blood essence of a fallen Pillar God. That was the key to breaking his chains. But what he achieved afterward—leading the Mist Clan to power—wasn't just luck. It was his own perseverance and effort that made it happen."
Feng Qi nodded in understanding.
After witnessing the memories of Ling Zhan's rise, he had grown deeply respectful of pioneers like them.
Everyone could dream of impossible ambitions, but only a rare few actually had the courage to take the first step.
Sure, those who stumbled upon fortuitous encounters were few and far between.
But when looking at the entire world over a long span of time, many had obtained great opportunities.
Yet very few could truly seize them and rise to prominence.
The Mist Clan, the Psionic Race, and other major forces—their ascension might seem like luck, but in truth, their own efforts played a huge role.
History had proven time and again that even those blessed with miraculous artifacts often failed to grasp their fate and ended up erased from existence.
Just like the humanoid tribe on Hei Jue Island—
They possessed a Miracle Bracelet with mysterious powers, yet they never left a mark in history.
Even if Feng Qi and Mist Lord hadn't taken the bracelet, that tribe would have perished anyway.
To assume that all powerful races only succeeded because they stumbled upon Miracle Artifacts was nothing more than a survivor's bias.
As Mist Lord had once said:
"Possessing power and mastering power are two different things. If a race lacks true strength, no matter how many Miracle Artifacts they acquire, they will still collapse from within."
Leaving the statue behind, they entered the main hall, where murals stretched across the walls.
These murals depicted the Mist Clan's history, each phase of their rise and fall carefully recorded.
History was a mirror, reflecting the cycles of prosperity and decline.
As Feng Qi studied them, he realized that the Mist Clan's growth followed a pattern—
They would rise rapidly, only to fall just as hard.
After several cycles of decline, they had nearly faded into obscurity.
It was only when Mist Lord emerged that the Mist Clan finally reversed their fate, expanding their influence once again.
The Mist Clan's journey was paved with countless struggles.
Aside from external threats, internal conflicts had also pushed them to the brink.
And this was precisely the challenge Feng Qi himself would have to face—
How to lead humanity forward without repeating the same mistakes.
Deep in thought, he turned to Mist Lord.
"Old Mist, how do you think a race can stay strong forever?"
Mist Lord paused for a moment, then gestured at the murals.
"History has shown us that no dynasty lasts forever," he said with a sigh. "Keeping a civilization at its peak indefinitely is nearly impossible. External threats are one challenge, but internal conflicts are an even bigger issue."
Feng Qi pressed further. "Then how do you prevent those internal conflicts from tearing a race apart?"
"There are many methods."
Mist Lord's eyes gleamed with wisdom.
"Most races use war—by constantly waging battles against outsiders, they keep their people united under a common enemy. This strategy works well… but only in the short term."
He paused before continuing.
"But war doesn't solve the root problem. Once external threats disappear, internal divisions only grow worse. The only way to maintain unity is to keep fighting, ensuring that the race always focuses on outside threats instead of turning on itself."
Mist Lord narrowed his eyes.
"If a race doesn't collapse from endless war, and it finally reaches the peak, then it faces a new problem—with no enemies left, internal divisions explode. That's when civil war begins. The dynasty falls, and a new cycle of struggle begins."
Feng Qi frowned.
"So… there's no way to break this cycle?"
Mist Lord smirked.
"There is one exception," he said.
"If a civilization has an immortal figurehead—someone who never dies and continuously guides the people, then that race's unity can be preserved indefinitely. As long as this leader remains, their ideology will never be questioned, and no internal conflicts will arise."
Feng Qi's heart trembled.
He suddenly thought of Ling Zhan.
When Ling Zhan was alive, the Psionic Race was unstoppable—united, driven, and dedicated to their rise.
But the moment Ling Zhan fell, their internal issues surfaced.
Hei Xuan's rebellion was the first major crack.
Feng Qi watched as Mist Lord waved his hand, causing the thick blood mist from the central pool to surge outward. The dense crimson energy coiled like living tendrils, reaching toward them.
"Mist Lord," he said, his expression solemn. "If humanity wants to rise, we need to enhance our bloodline potential. Your Mist Clan's cultivation methods may not suit humans, but if there's something we can adapt, it would be invaluable."
Mist Lord's voice was calm yet firm. "That's why I brought you here. The method I'm about to teach you is specifically designed for humans—a blood refinement technique tailored to strengthen your race's physical potential."
"If implemented for 1,500 years, humanity's bloodline resilience will improve significantly."
Realizing that Mist Lord had planned this all along, Feng Qi immediately straightened up and focused.
In the air before them, Mist Lord controlled his energy, forming an intricate diagram of the human body, where countless pathways were interwoven like celestial constellations.
A sphere of compressed blood energy moved through the diagram, tracing a precise circulation route, finally closing into a continuous cycle.
At that moment, all the acupuncture points within the diagram lit up, resembling a sky full of shimmering stars.
Mist Lord gestured at the projection. "This technique is based on your Divine Repository Concept, but I have refined it further. Instead of merely nurturing the organs, I have mapped out a network of meridians—each one acting as a celestial node. When fully activated, these nodes form a closed circulation, allowing the body to purge impurities and purify the bloodline."
Feng Qi was momentarily stunned.
It was clear that Mist Lord had anticipated his arrival and had prepared this technique specifically for him.
The beating he had received earlier was merely a way for Mist Lord to vent his frustrations over Feng Qi's "lies." But deep down, Mist Lord had already accepted him and was willing to pass down knowledge that could alter the fate of humanity.
Suppressing his emotions, Feng Qi quickly focused on studying the technique.
As Mist Lord explained, he listened intently, occasionally asking detailed questions.
When it came to cultivation techniques, he didn't dare to be careless.
Even though he planned to submit this method to the Tiger Soul Research Institute for testing before introducing it to the world, he needed to master it himself first.
Without that foundation, there would be no next step.
Time passed as he immersed himself in learning.
This blood refinement technique was far more intricate than any cultivation method Feng Qi had studied before. It surpassed even the top-tier techniques stored in Star City Shelter.
After all, even 1,500 years into the future, humanity's understanding of cultivation was still far from reaching Mist Lord's level.
Whenever he struggled with a concept, Mist Lord patiently guided him, sometimes even demonstrating the energy flow himself.
Finally, Mist Lord handed him a small guiding rod, specially crafted to help Feng Qi manipulate blood energy despite his unique timeline-restricted physique.
Feng Qi experimented multiple times, ensuring that he fully grasped the method before Mist Lord finally waved his hand.
In an instant, the blood mist receded like a retreating tide, returning to the central pool.
Now that he had mastered the technique, another thought suddenly came to Feng Qi's mind.
He turned to Mist Lord and asked, "Old Mist, do you know how to counter the effects of Blood Sacrifice?"
Mist Lord's expression flickered with surprise before realization dawned upon him.
"You intend to harness the power boost from Blood Sacrifice while negating its hidden dangers, don't you?"
Feng Qi nodded in agreement. "Exactly. A version of Blood Sacrifice without any hidden dangers would be a perfect foundational cultivation method for humanity."
Mist Lord shook his head slightly. "After deciding to abandon Blood Sacrifice, I stopped paying attention to it. There was a time when I considered making my clan practice it, just as I had done in other timelines."
"But after deeper analysis, I realized the potential risks were too great… You should know that I only obtained a fragmented Bloodstone, and there are still other pieces scattered across different races and individuals. I can't guarantee that they won't figure out a method to create a technique similar to the Blood Flesh Cauldron. Even if they don't have it now, it doesn't mean they won't in the future. The moment such a method appears, they would just need to activate the Blood Flesh Cauldron, and my 1,500 years of effort would be completely ruined. My people would become nothing more than offerings for someone else's growth."
Feng Qi understood Mist Lord's reasoning but still felt a slight sense of regret.
To a strong race like the Mist Clan, Blood Sacrifice wasn't particularly valuable. Only weaker races relied on it, proving that its allure was limited once a race had better options.
But for humanity, which was still in the early stages of cultivation, Blood Sacrifice held immense value.
It was a god-tier foundational technique, perfect for a race starting from scratch.
Seeing the thoughts swirling in Feng Qi's mind, Mist Lord chuckled. "Even if I were to research it for you now, it would be too late. You won't live to see that day."
Feng Qi rolled his eyes.
Did he not want to live longer? But the problem was… would Little Black allow him to?
Judging by Little Black's current strength, it was practically invincible. Even Mist Lord—who was on the verge of ascending to a royal race—wouldn't dare fight it. That meant even if Feng Qi reached Mist Lord's level, he still wouldn't be able to win.
Maybe only by reaching the Pillar God level could he crush Little Black's third transformation.
The path to power was still long.
The ruins of Star City were merely a beginner's zone, filled with Domain Beasts—a starting point. Eventually, he would have to leave.
His journey ahead would inevitably lead to large-scale conflicts between races.
At that moment, the narrator's voice rang in his mind:
[If the Star City ruins are the beginner's zone, then the War of Ten Thousand Races is the mid-game, and the Great Momentum is the endgame… Interesting analogy.]
Ignoring the narrator's commentary, Feng Qi refocused.
Since there was still time, he decided to learn as much as possible from Mist Lord.
Turning toward him, Feng Qi said, "Mist Lord, what else can you teach me? Tell me everything you can so I can pass it down to my past self 1,500 years ago."
Mist Lord smirked. "Shameless human, why not just say it directly?"
Feng Qi: …
After a brief silence, Mist Lord listed several areas of study.
When he mentioned "Spatial Abilities", Feng Qi's eyes lit up.
He had always been interested in space-based techniques.
Aside from wanting a personal storage space, he was curious about the ability to tear open space and create spatial portals.
If he could master spatial travel, he would never have to worry about long-distance travel again.
One rip, one step, and he could go anywhere he wanted.
Even in the Crimson Research Institute, one of their sacrifice timelines had been focused on researching spatial transmission technology. Their goal was to set up spatial portals between the Five Great Cities to maximize inter-city cooperation and resource-sharing efficiency.
But at present, humanity's understanding of spatial technology was still in its infancy.
They were barely scratching the surface, using scattered information to take their first step into the unknown.
Now that he had Mist Lord as a teacher, he decided it was time to help the Crimson Research Institute advance in this field.
As for himself… he knew he wouldn't be able to use spatial abilities.
Feng Qi was well aware of his limitations.
His main timeline body was unique—he could only gain abilities through hunting and extracting talents. His body wasn't compatible with spiritual energy or elemental forces.
Even if he learned how to manipulate space, he wouldn't have the energy to power it.
His goal was not to master spatial techniques for himself, but to bring new knowledge back to Crimson Research Institute.
Hearing his request, Mist Lord began explaining spatial abilities in detail.
However, Feng Qi interrupted him constantly.
The reason was simple: spatial abilities were far more complex than a single branch of study.
It wasn't just about tearing open space or creating spatial doors—it involved elemental interactions, spatial layering, dimensional distortions, inverse space currents, and more.
Mist Lord found this somewhat frustrating, but he still patiently continued his lecture.
After covering the basics, Feng Qi's desire for spatial abilities grew stronger.
Compared to telekinesis-based flight, spatial abilities were on a completely different level.
For example, one of Mist Lord's three-headed subordinates didn't even need to walk.
It didn't matter where its feet were—it teleported effortlessly, moving between locations in an instant.
Feng Qi was extremely envious of this ability.
If a physically powerful warrior like him could also instantaneously teleport, he would be unstoppable.
At that moment, the narrator's voice chimed in:
[If you kill the three-headed subordinate, you might be able to extract a short-range teleportation ability. Interested?]
Feng Qi: …
He was definitely tempted, but only for a moment.
Asking Mist Lord to sacrifice one of his subordinates just for him to gain a new ability was something he could never do.
If he had subordinates who had followed him since the beginning, suffering through countless hardships, he wouldn't let anyone kill them for personal gain either.
Mist Lord clearly understood this principle too.
After watching Ling Zhan's downfall, Mist Lord knew that a ruler must value loyalty.
If he betrayed his followers, the entire Mist Clan would lose faith in him.
So even though Feng Qi never asked, he never expected Mist Lord to hand over one of his people.
With that thought in mind, he continued to absorb as much knowledge as he could.
Mist Lord's words were clear:
"Spatial abilities are vast and boundless. Even I haven't fully mastered them."
Even though he hadn't fully mastered spatial abilities, Mist Lord estimated that learning everything stored in his mind on the subject would take at least several decades.
All this knowledge was accumulated through years of painstaking study when he was working to establish the Mist Clan's territory.
Upon realizing the sheer volume of knowledge involved, Feng Qi felt a wave of sorrow.
The world was vast, and it seemed that no matter how much he learned, there would always be more to master.
Cultivation, spiritual plant identification, alchemy, elemental studies, spatial theory, geography… The gaps in humanity's knowledge were far from being filled.
For him to learn all of this, he would need not only his Infinite Memory ability to absorb information rapidly but also an extremely long lifespan.
He had come so far, yet the road ahead remained endless.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Feng Qi refocused and continued listening attentively as Mist Lord elaborated on spatial abilities.
[The sea of knowledge is boundless, and once you step in, there's no turning back!]
…
He had no idea how much time had passed. Throughout the lesson, he was completely immersed in the study.
Through Mist Lord's explanations, he finally developed a basic understanding of spatial abilities.
Just as he was fully engrossed in the lesson, he noticed Mist Lord suddenly furrowing his brows.
"My avatar is already under immense pressure. It's struggling to keep up with Little Black, who is gradually unleashing more of its power."
These words were akin to a death notice, signaling that his time was running out.
Feng Qi lowered his head, looking at Suction Cup, who was curled up in his arms.
It was time to say goodbye.
Yet, he had no idea how to break the news.
He didn't want Suction Cup to die with him again, trapped in an endless cycle of dying alongside him at Little Black's hands.
Sensing his shift in emotions, the peacefully sleeping Suction Cup slowly opened her eyes, blinking up at him.
"|ω`) Qi-ge…"
Feng Qi gently ruffled her small head and made up his mind. He smiled and said softly, "Suction Cup, I have to go somewhere far away. Can you wait for me here?"
"(ω) Suction Cup wants to go too. Suction Cup is very strong!"
"No, this place isn't safe for you. You're the best, right? You'll listen to me, won't you?"
"(`皿) No! Suction Cup won't listen!"
Seeing her stubborn refusal, Feng Qi continued stroking her head to comfort her. His voice was gentle.
"Suction Cup, the place I'm going isn't dangerous. You just have to wait for me to come back."
Hearing this, Suction Cup's expression turned instantly pitiful.
"(T ^ T) Suction Cup doesn't want that! Suction Cup wants to go together!"
"You have to stay here and learn from this big brother. When you've learned everything, I'll come back. That's our deal, okay? I'll bring you something delicious…"
Faced with Suction Cup's unwavering resistance, Feng Qi kept coaxing her gently.
Finally, she hesitantly raised her head.
"Really? You promise you'll come back when I finish learning?"
"Yes. After I leave, follow this big brother and learn everything you can. When you're done, I'll come pick you up."
Seemingly sensing the finality in Feng Qi's tone, Suction Cup lowered her head, feeling wronged. But in the end, she nodded reluctantly.
Placing her down gently, Feng Qi turned to look at Mist Lord and smiled calmly.
"Mist Lord, I'll be leaving Suction Cup in your care."
"Rest assured." Mist Lord nodded solemnly.
"Then let's go."
Since Mist Palace had a spatial interference device, he couldn't leave through teleportation. Instead, he followed Mist Lord out along the same path they had come in.
Once outside, Mist Lord raised his hand and made a slicing motion in the air.
A pitch-black rift in space tore open before them, slowly expanding under his control.
"This portal will take you back to the Star City Ruins."
Feng Qi nodded. Then, with a grin, he joked, "When I die, don't put up a memorial for me. And if you do, don't let Suction Cup see it…"
"I understand. I'll bury you in Star City according to human customs."
"And then steal my offerings, right?"
"What do you mean steal? It's a legitimate offering. This is our Mist Clan's custom—a sign of respect for the dead."
"Either you eat me, or I eat you. The cycle of fate really does turn, huh… Anyway, take care. I'm heading off first."
With that, Feng Qi turned and prepared to step into the rift.
Just as he was about to enter, he suddenly saw a tiny figure dashing toward him from Mist Palace, moving at full speed.
She crashed straight into his arms.
"o(TωT)o Qi-ge!"
Holding the sniffling Suction Cup, Feng Qi felt a deep ache in his chest.
But he hardened his heart, gently setting her down, then turned away and stepped into the spatial rift.
After walking a few steps, he turned back to look.
Suction Cup stood right where he had left her, tears streaming down her face, sobbing heartbrokenly.
Her cries felt like daggers stabbing into his heart.
His eyes turned slightly red, but he didn't stop.
Step by step, he walked toward the portal's end.
As the spatial passage gradually closed, a single tear slipped down his face, glistening within the fading rift…