To the west of Old Day City lay the Old Day Mountain Range.
The undulating peaks stretched endlessly, covered with dense greenery, and home to a rich variety of wildlife.
After deciding to enter seclusion, the Mist Lord and Feng Qi searched for an ideal location, eventually settling in this lush forest.
They chose a spot near a mountain stream, cleared an area amidst the dense forest, and constructed a makeshift enclosure from the surrounding trees. It was in this tranquil environment that they began their period of isolation.
Unlike the Mist Lord, who could enter seclusion without food or water, Feng Qi was far less capable in this regard.
Every three days, he had to venture into the forest to hunt game, ensuring his nutritional needs were met.
As for cultivation, it was unnecessary for him.
After undergoing the Demon Dragon transformation, his body underwent fundamental changes, significantly reducing his cultivation efficiency.
The only path left for his growth was honing his physical strength, improving his body's resilience and durability.
Strengthening his physical body also helped mitigate the side effects caused by the rapid growth of his spiritual power.
During this time, the Mist Lord's strength advanced at an astonishing rate.
In the aftermath of the canyon battle, he had absorbed massive amounts of qi and blood, even gaining some from the Super Domain Creature.
These essences had yet to be fully refined, providing him with a reserve of power to draw upon during his seclusion.
Moreover, the Miracle Bloodstone, now fused within the Mist Lord's body, continuously produced pure qi and blood.
Unlike other sources of energy, the bloodstone's output required no refining. It seamlessly integrated with the Mist Lord's body, becoming a part of his strength.
Faced with the Mist Lord's constant fortuitous encounters and rapid progress, Feng Qi was left speechless.
It was as if the Mist Lord was living the life of a classic protagonist—surviving calamities, stumbling upon miraculous opportunities, and always unlocking hidden potential at the brink of death.
Now, he even had a Miracle Bloodstone that perfectly complemented his abilities.
As the Mist Lord put it: even lying down and doing nothing would still result in steady growth.
Comparing this to his own arduous struggle across countless sacrifice lines, Feng Qi couldn't help but feel a bitter ache in his heart.
People compared to the Mist… it was infuriating.
Time passed swiftly, and before long, a month had gone by.
At dusk, under the warm glow of the setting sun, Feng Qi stood by the stream, washing and cleaning a freshly caught rabbit.
Afterward, he skewered it with a branch he had prepared in advance and brought it to the campfire he had already lit.
Having gone without a proper meal for several days, he decided to treat himself to some roasted game as a reward for his efforts.
As time passed, the rabbit's surface began to glisten with oil, sizzling as the flames licked at it.
Suddenly, a swirl of gray mist appeared beside him.
The mist churned and coalesced into the form of the Mist Lord.
"Didn't I teach you how to absorb qi and blood? Why are you still wasting time eating this way?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Feng Qi couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"What you taught only replenishes energy; it doesn't fill my stomach. After spending so much time living among humans, I've gotten used to eating food. Maybe my original species relied on this method to gain nutrients."
"Forget it. I didn't come here to argue about that. I've got great news to share!"
Hearing this, Feng Qi looked at the Mist Lord curiously.
"What is it? Did your strength skyrocket again?"
The Mist Lord's eyes gleamed with a faint purple glow, brimming with excitement as he replied:
"This isn't about my strength. While researching the Bloodstone, I made a significant discovery—something that might allow us to stand at the pinnacle of the world in the future."
Feng Qi felt a wave of skepticism wash over him.
He was sure the Mist Lord was about to start boasting again.
From claims of surpassing Mu Qing to becoming a Pillar God, the Mist Lord always had outlandish ideas every now and then.
Still, Feng Qi's curiosity was piqued. He couldn't help but wonder what grand revelation the Mist Lord had come up with this time.
Sensing Feng Qi's lack of enthusiasm, the Mist Lord continued quickly:
"This time, I'm serious. While examining the Bloodstone, I discovered what I believe to be a 'rule path.'"
"Rule path?"
"Exactly. For example, when we cast a spell, we're essentially following a segment of the universal rules' pathways to shape the energy. This is a manifestation of rule-based power."
"For instance, in certain domain fields, some spells can't be cast because the rules in those domains differ from the outside world. Take the Yellow Sand Domain Field we visited before—water-based spells couldn't be used there because the domain's rules conflicted with their energy configuration."
As the Mist Lord elaborated, Feng Qi began to grasp the concept of a rule path.
Essentially, it was a natural law governing energy configurations.
Casting a spell was akin to following a specific trajectory or formula within these rules, thereby creating a new form of energy.
However, if the required formulas or energy configurations didn't exist within the domain's rules, no matter how meticulously one followed the trajectory, the spell couldn't materialize.
The Mist Lord revealed that he had identified rule trajectories embedded in the Miracle Bloodstone.
These trajectories, he explained, significantly enhanced physical attributes and the strength of internal qi and blood.
More astonishingly, they could also improve the growth potential of a cultivator's bloodline.
Feng Qi was stunned.
His mind immediately connected this to the future's infamous super cultivation technique, Flesh Sacrifice.
He had always had two theories regarding the origin of Flesh Sacrifice.
The first theory was that the Mist Lord developed it after infiltrating the Tiger Soul Research Institute, leveraging the research foundation built by Wang Jinsheng.
But history proved otherwise. Even after Lin Ran replaced Wang Jinsheng in a certain timeline, Flesh Sacrifice still appeared.
The second theory was that the Mist Lord had independently created it.
Spending time with the Mist Lord had strengthened Feng Qi's belief in the latter theory.
The Mist Lord's learning and research capabilities rivaled even Lin Ran's, and he fully possessed the ability to create such a history-altering super cultivation technique.
Yet, as the Mist Lord explained his findings, Feng Qi suddenly realized that Flesh Sacrifice's creation might be directly linked to the Miracle Bloodstone.
From this angle, he began to suspect that, even in the original historical timeline, the Mist Lord had obtained the Miracle Bloodstone.
Feng Qi pressed the Mist Lord for more details about his understanding of the rule trajectory.
As the Mist Lord elaborated, Feng Qi became increasingly certain that the trajectory imprinted on the Bloodstone was the prototype of Flesh Sacrifice.
In the days that followed, the Mist Lord immersed himself in the study of the Flesh Sacrifice trajectory, entering a period of intense seclusion.
Six months later, while chopping wood, Feng Qi encountered the Mist Lord again.
The Mist Lord approached him with shocking news.
"I've modified the trajectory from the Bloodstone," the Mist Lord announced. "I removed some of its more complex sections, reducing its power, but making it far easier to practice."
The first version of Flesh Sacrifice was officially born.
During his six months of seclusion, the Mist Lord made another groundbreaking discovery.
He experimented with the Flesh Sacrifice trajectory on squirrels in the forest, enabling them to practice the technique.
To his astonishment, the squirrels' offspring inherited the bloodline enhancements granted by Flesh Sacrifice, giving them a higher baseline for growth.
The Mist Lord was ecstatic over this revelation.
"If I can resurrect my clan in the future," he said, his excitement palpable, "I'll ensure they all cultivate this technique. Our tribe's potential for growth will soar to unprecedented heights!"
Watching the Mist Lord dream about his clan's prosperous future, Feng Qi remained silent.
From a historical perspective, Flesh Sacrifice wasn't used to strengthen the Mist Lord's clan. Instead, it evolved into a sacrificial technique that brought calamity to humanity and weaker domain races.
Clearly, there was a missing piece in this process—an event or influence Feng Qi didn't yet understand.
And he couldn't help but wonder if his presence in this timeline would alter that trajectory, creating ripples that reshaped the future.
Late one night, Feng Qi sat cross-legged atop a treetop, gazing at the bright moon above.
Within his mental sea, his spiritual power was undergoing a slow, meticulous purification to remove impurities.
The process was painstakingly slow.
When Lin Ran developed Eternal Spirit, he focused solely on maximizing growth efficiency, paying no attention to spiritual purity or stability.
As a result, Feng Qi was forced to manually sift through and refine his spiritual energy.
At that moment, a swirl of gray mist materialized beside him.
Sensing the familiar presence, Feng Qi opened his eyes.
"I've made my decision," the Mist Lord declared. "I'm abandoning the Crimson Research Institute. Instead, we'll infiltrate the Tiger Soul Research Institute."
"Why?"
Feng Qi was stunned.
For as long as he had known him, the Mist Lord had always prioritized infiltrating the Crimson Research Institute.
Feng Qi himself had been grappling with the problem of how to deter the Mist Lord from targeting the Crimson Research Institute.
After all, the Crimson Research Institute was a pivotal element in every timeline. Its downfall would render all the sacrifices and efforts made on this line of history meaningless.
Yet now, out of the blue, the Mist Lord was voluntarily giving up on the Crimson Research Institute.
"I have a theory," the Mist Lord said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "If it works, the future will be boundless for us."
"Tell me more," Feng Qi said, his curiosity piqued.
"Do you remember how I said I simplified the Bloodstone's trajectory by removing most of its complexities?"
"Yeah, you mentioned that the full trajectory was too intricate, making it unsuitable for cultivation."
The Mist Lord nodded.
"Exactly. Some segments were so convoluted that their cultivation speed was leagues slower than the streamlined version I created. But recently, I started experimenting with the more complex sections. Can you guess what I discovered?"
Staring at the visibly excited Mist Lord, Feng Qi decisively spoke up:
"Just say it already."
"I discovered that after cultivating the complex sections of the Bloodstone, I could draw the blood of experimental squirrels—those practicing the simplified Bloodstone technique—toward me. During one experiment, I accidentally killed one of the squirrels, and its blood actively flowed toward me..."
As the Mist Lord continued, his voice grew increasingly animated.
Finally, he took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with exhilaration.
"If my assumption is correct, those complex trajectories are the core of the rule—the 'main pathway.' Think of it like the natural flow of spiritual energy in cultivation, all gathering at the dantian, like rivers converging into the sea."
"I have an idea. I'll split this Flesh Sacrifice into two distinct cultivation techniques. The complex portion will serve as the source, which I'll call Blood Furnace. The other, simplified version, I'll name Flesh Sacrifice."
"All beings cultivating the Flesh Sacrifice technique will ultimately become nourishment for the source. With just a thought, their blood and flesh will collapse, and the blood bearing the imprinted trajectories will flow to me, fueling my growth..."
Listening to the Mist Lord's explanation, Feng Qi finally understood the evolution of events.
Through countless refinements, this technique—initially meant to uplift the Mist Lord's clan—had gradually morphed into the historical scourge known as Flesh Sacrifice.
The Mist Lord's sudden decision to target the Tiger Soul Research Institute now made sense.
He needed a platform to disseminate Flesh Sacrifice.
Compared to the enigmatic and low-profile Crimson Research Institute, the Tiger Soul Research Institute was a far better choice.
After all, the Tiger Soul Research Institute was one of the largest cultivation research institutions, widely respected for its credibility.
Any new cultivation technique certified by the Tiger Soul Research Institute was guaranteed to attract countless practitioners eager to experiment.
If the Mist Lord could infiltrate the Tiger Soul Research Institute, he could leverage its influence and access to prominent cultivation media to promote Flesh Sacrifice, rapidly increasing its adoption.
Understanding this, Feng Qi was struck with a sense of clarity.
It was apparent that the Mist Lord had undergone a similar process of evolution in the original timeline.
While the Crimson Research Institute offered relative secrecy and safety, it lacked the Tiger Soul Research Institute's widespread visibility.
The Tiger Soul Research Institute published weekly journals and frequently hosted cultivation competitions, making it a celebrity institution.
Even personnel changes within its ranks were newsworthy events.
From a safety standpoint, infiltrating the Crimson Research Institute was the better option.
But from the perspective of disseminating Flesh Sacrifice, the Tiger Soul Research Institute was the optimal choice.
This shift in priority was driven entirely by the development of Flesh Sacrifice.
Feng Qi now realized that Flesh Sacrifice had two distinct parts.
The Mist Lord had mastered the "Blood Furnace," which acted as the central source, while the rest of humanity cultivated the sacrificial aspect, Flesh Sacrifice.
The Mist Lord continued describing his vision for Flesh Sacrifice's future, brimming with enthusiasm.
As he spoke, his excitement was palpable, and at the height of his fervor, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"I'll keep refining Flesh Sacrifice," he declared, "to enhance the 'convergence' effect of the Blood Furnace."
"But there's one critical issue that needs to be addressed."
"Species vary in their internal meridian pathways. If Flesh Sacrifice relies on a fixed meridian route, it will only be suitable for one species."
However, the Mist Lord assured Feng Qi that this issue could be resolved.
"Flesh Sacrifice is fundamentally a technique for tempering bloodlines, and its connection to meridian pathways is minimal," the Mist Lord explained. "I can completely transform it into a purely physical refinement technique."
He spoke with confidence, citing his experience.
The experimental squirrels had been practicing a purely physical refinement version of Flesh Sacrifice.
Though this version had been stripped of several processes and was far from perfect, the Mist Lord was confident that he could refine it into a universal technique for all species.
Only then could it achieve its full potential.
As he spoke, the Mist Lord stood atop the treetops, basking in the moonlight.
He raised his hands toward the sky, his silhouette bathed in a silvery glow.
"Feng Qi, our ambition shouldn't be limited to humanity. Every being in every domain should be part of our grand plan. Once they've experienced the benefits of cultivating Flesh Sacrifice, they'll promote it within their clans, ensuring that even their descendants bear the imprinted trajectories in their bloodlines."
"Flesh Sacrifice will spread like a virus, infecting the world's living beings. In the end, they'll all become the nourishment for our growth."
"And at that time, we will become the Pillar Gods of a new world!"
"To achieve the pinnacle by sacrificing most of the world's living beings—isn't that too cruel?" Feng Qi questioned.
The Mist Lord turned to Feng Qi with a smile.
"You've studied human history, haven't you? Then you must have realized that decline is merely the flip side of prosperity. You could even say that decline accumulates the energy needed for resurgence. This is the complete cycle of life. Every world operates this way."
"To stand at the peak, does it matter if millions—or even billions—lie beneath our feet?"
"As we bring destruction, we'll also create a new world, one brimming with the prosperity we dictate."