Time passed in the blink of an eye, and another six months had gone by.
The Mist Lord finally concluded his secluded cultivation.
Early in the morning, as the first light of dawn began to pierce through the horizon, Feng Qi and the Mist Lord set out from the Old Day Mountains, flying toward Star City.
Seated atop a swirling cloud of gray mist during their journey, Feng Qi couldn't help but notice that the Mist Lord's speed had more than doubled compared to before. This obvious improvement was undoubtedly tied to the significant advancements in his strength.
Over the course of their secluded retreat, the Mist Lord's power had steadily grown under the influence of the Bloodstone.
In addition to that, the Flesh Sacrifice technique had undergone numerous refinements and was now essentially complete.
With its current modifications, Flesh Sacrifice was compatible with any blood-and-flesh lifeform, except for elemental beings.
Through their time together, Feng Qi had come to understand the underlying reason for the Mist Lord's insatiable pursuit of the pinnacle of power.
During one of their discussions, the Mist Lord had candidly remarked that as long as he could reach the peak, he didn't care how many corpses lay beneath his feet.
For the Mist Lord, life was a pyramid. Only those at the very top could avoid exploitation, slaughter, or enslavement at the hands of the stronger species that dominated the domains.
He believed that leading his people to a glorious future required climbing to the summit. It was the only way.
But such a path would undoubtedly be brutal.
The journey would be fraught with countless competitors, and bloodshed would be unavoidable.
At its core, everything was for the future of his people.
Feng Qi could understand this ideology.
But at the end of the day, there was only one truth: their paths diverged too greatly to coexist.
Their races' inherent positions placed them as natural enemies. Humanity would inevitably become an obstacle on the Mist Lord's climb to the peak.
To resolve this clash of ideals, one of two things would need to happen: either the Mist Lord's people would need guaranteed, perpetual safety from external threats, or the Mist Lord would have to abandon his climb entirely.
Yet the very act of not climbing would leave his people without the power to secure that safety.
And climbing required the acquisition of vast resources, which necessitated conflict and slaughter to accelerate development.
As their interactions deepened, Feng Qi found the Mist Lord increasingly fascinating.
Previously, Feng Qi had thought of him as nothing more than a bloodthirsty demon, someone entirely unreasonable and impossible to communicate with.
But in this shared sacrifice timeline, Feng Qi saw the depth of the Mist Lord's resolve, his pain, his desires, his fury, and his fears.
If not for their conflicting stances, Feng Qi felt they might have even become friends.
But their ideological divide was insurmountable.
If there came a day when the Mist Lord was no longer useful, Feng Qi wouldn't hesitate to strike.
The Mist Lord was willing to sacrifice everything for the revival of his people.
Similarly, Feng Qi was willing to do whatever it took to eliminate any force that hindered humanity's growth.
Even if that force once stood beside him as a "brother."
Several days of travel passed as they crossed multiple domain fields along their journey.
Finally, Feng Qi and the Mist Lord arrived at the northern gate of Star City.
Before approaching the gate, they descended near the main road.
Looking ahead, Feng Qi could see the towering city gates. The steel-forged walls stretched outward from the gate, extending for several miles.
Both Feng Qi and the Mist Lord looked disheveled, their clothes tattered from years spent in seclusion. They bore a striking resemblance to desperate refugees fleeing from disaster.
Walking along the main road toward the northern gate, they drew attention from the occasional passerby.
The road itself was bustling with military transport vehicles, many laden with supplies. It was rare to see anyone traveling on foot like they were.
After twenty minutes, they reached the city gates.
Following the flow of vehicles into the city, they passed through a long tunnel where green lights periodically scanned their bodies.
When they emerged from the tunnel, they found a woman waiting for them.
Dressed in the uniform of Star City's garrison forces, she appeared to be either an intern or a contract worker, as her uniform bore no military insignia.
In her hands were three bags of food, and her expression was complicated as she looked at them.
As they approached, the woman hesitated for a moment before speaking apologetically:
"I'm sorry, but the housing quota for scavengers in Star City is currently full. Here are three bags of food. Please take them and leave."
With that, she extended the food bags toward Feng Qi.
Feng Qi: …
"You've misunderstood," he said. "I'm a resident of Star City. My identification number is 11736."
"A resident of Star City?"
The woman froze, then quickly set down the food bags. Pressing a button on the metal wristband she wore, she activated the embedded screen.
After some quick operations, she pulled up a verification page and entered the ID number Feng Qi had provided.
Moments later, Feng Qi's old identification photo—taken during his time at the Star City Academy—appeared on the screen.
Looking up at him, the woman carefully scrutinized his face before speaking again:
"My apologies for the error. However, for safety reasons, you'll need to undergo a detailed identity verification process to confirm you're not a domain creature in disguise."
"Alright," Feng Qi agreed without hesitation.
They followed the woman to the verification room, where additional staff arrived to assist. Using specialized instruments, they conducted a thorough scan of both Feng Qi and the Mist Lord.
Feng Qi wasn't concerned in the slightest.
Although his body had undergone extensive Rune Dragon modifications, the Crimson Research Institute had already registered his updated physical data in the Star City database.
As for the Mist Lord, he was even less worried.
The body he had taken over belonged to Wang Yi, and as the Mist Lord was merely controlling it, the identity passed all checks flawlessly.
Within half an hour, both of them were cleared to proceed.
Upon learning that they were both recipients of the Outstanding Contribution to Humanity Medal, the garrison woman offered to escort them into the city personally.
Neither Feng Qi nor the Mist Lord declined her offer.
After briefing her colleagues, the woman invited them into her vehicle. Together, they joined the steady flow of traffic entering Star City.
This was Feng Qi's first time entering Star City through the city gates.
Looking through the car window, he noticed that every ten meters along the way, there was a watchtower. Each tower housed a fully armed team of soldiers scanning the passing vehicles with vigilance.
The vehicle drove for over ten minutes, passing through three tunnel checkpoints.
When the car exited the last tunnel and passed a sign that read "Star City North District," the view ahead opened up dramatically.
In front of them stood towering buildings, and in the distance, he could see a cluster of high-tech structures exuding a futuristic charm. The scene was bustling and vibrant.
Everything before him felt overwhelmingly familiar.
"Where are you headed?" the woman driving asked.
"Just drop us off up ahead," Feng Qi said, pointing to a nearby intersection.
The woman didn't ask further and parked the car at the indicated spot.
After expressing their gratitude, Feng Qi and the Mist Lord got out of the car.
As the woman drove off, the Mist Lord curiously glanced at the backpack Feng Qi carried and asked, "I've noticed something odd. No matter where we go, you're always carrying that backpack. What exactly is in it?"
"These are items I kept from before I lost my memory. They might help me find my people," Feng Qi replied.
Hearing this, the Mist Lord nodded with a look of realization and then asked, "You're more familiar with this place. Find us a place to stay first, and then we can discuss the details of the infiltration plan."
Feng Qi agreed with a nod.
He then led the Mist Lord toward the central avenue in the northern district of Star City. Their general strategy for infiltrating the Tiger Soul Research Institute had already been discussed before their arrival; now, they just needed to refine the details.
Exposing their identities upon entering the city had been a calculated decision.
Before arriving at Star City, they had considered two approaches for infiltrating the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
The first approach was to sneak into Star City and covertly look for an opportunity to infiltrate the institute.
This plan, however, presented an immediate hurdle. Neither of them had any connections to the researchers within the institute, nor did they know much about its internal structure or security arrangements. A reckless attempt to infiltrate could end in failure, perhaps even death.
If they opted for caution, they would have to remain in hiding for an extended period to gather detailed intelligence about the institute before taking any action.
The second approach was to enter Star City openly using their current identities and then look for opportunities to connect with the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
This method involved no immediate risk. While their identities had already been exposed, they were only known to certain domain forces and not to humanity at large. Their identities were still valuable assets that could be discarded if necessary.
The Mist Lord's reasoning was simple: "In their eyes, the domain creature is Wang Yi. What does that have to do with me? Once I switch bodies, I'll essentially be reborn."
This was one of the reasons they chose the second approach.
The only issue was that Feng Qi couldn't casually swap bodies as the Mist Lord could. However, even that problem had a solution.
With the Mist Lord's mastery over flesh manipulation, reshaping someone's facial features was a simple task. After the infiltration plan succeeded, the Mist Lord would help Feng Qi undergo a complete transformation.
Once that happened, both Feng Qi and Wang Yi would effectively disappear. They would re-enter society under entirely new identities, ready to face the world in the guise of fresh personas.
As they chatted, the two arrived at the northern district's commercial street.
They entered a clothing store, discarded their tattered clothes, and changed into fresh outfits. The Mist Lord paid for the purchase using a virtual bank card he had acquired during his time working at the steel factory.
After taking care of this, they checked into a nearby hotel.
For the next stage of their plan, they needed to wait for an opportunity to establish contact with the Tiger Soul Research Institute. Feng Qi wasn't worried about how long it might take. Given the institute's frequent activities and events, it wouldn't be long before a chance presented itself.
Two months after their arrival in Star City.
One afternoon, after finishing lunch, Feng Qi lay on the hotel bed, casually browsing news updates on his tablet.
After scrolling for a while, he habitually opened the official website of the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
A pinned announcement immediately caught his attention:
[Tiger Soul Research Institute Recruitment: Professional Cultivation Technique Testers]
Job Requirements: Participants will be required to attempt cultivation of newly developed techniques and collaborate with staff to document their physical conditions.
[Notice for Professional Cultivation Technique Testers]
Details: Cultivation techniques for testers have already undergone data simulation, animal testing, and three rounds of safety checks. The safety rate has been confirmed at 99.99%.
Recruitment Requirements:
At least five years of experience in cultivation techniques, with proficiency in no fewer than five techniques (evaluation ratings of the techniques are not required).
High physical fitness; bloodline strength must not be below 1580 points.
Basic understanding of cultivation studies (a test will be administered).
Note: Basic knowledge of cultivation theory is required to correct potential errors in technique operation. Without this, testers could suffer irreparable damage.
Age between 20-50 years, with no history of severe injuries or illnesses (as certain conditions may interfere with cultivation).
Graduates from well-known academies specializing in cultivation techniques will be given priority.
Retired frontline soldiers or those transitioning to become technique testers will also receive priority consideration (provided they meet the theoretical knowledge requirements).
Recruitment Notes:
Applicants meeting the above criteria should apply before December 3rd. After passing the initial review, exam times will be scheduled separately.
Reading through the recruitment announcement, Feng Qi realized this was the opportunity he had been waiting for.
Initially, he and the Mist Lord had planned to use events hosted by the Tiger Soul Research Institute as a stepping stone for making initial contact, such as cultivation concept competitions. However, this open recruitment for technique testers presented a far more direct route to accessing the institute's personnel.
That afternoon, Feng Qi filled out the application form and submitted it.
With everything prepared, all that remained was to wait for the institute's response. Based on his credentials, Feng Qi was confident he would qualify. After all, the Outstanding Human Contribution Medal he had earned was directly tied to his accomplishments in developing cultivation techniques.
Additionally, he met all the other stated requirements. The only issue was that the Mist Lord would not be able to apply for the tester position to enter the institute. His current identity as "Wang Yi," a member of the Dead Star Third Combat Corps, would make a sudden application suspicious. Moreover, his age did not fit the recruitment criteria.
After discussing the matter, they decided Feng Qi would first infiltrate the institute alone to gather information.
The next morning.
Feng Qi received a call from the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
On the other end, a staff member informed him he could report to the institute and begin the onboarding process at his earliest convenience.
Feng Qi wasn't surprised. Despite how the outside world might perceive him, his accomplishments in cultivation studies were undeniable. In his prime, he had been hailed as a historical genius who could revolutionize cultivation practices.
Given his resume, not only was he overqualified for the position of technique tester, but he could have easily joined the institute as a full-fledged researcher. Applying as a tester was simply a matter of lowering the bar to ensure acceptance.
As the Mist Lord put it, this was a "dimensional reduction attack." The Mist Lord even joked that it reminded him of a novel he had read while working at the steel factory: "The Supreme Immortal Returns as a Security Guard in the City." The concept was essentially the same—a case of tremendous talent being applied to mundane tasks.
After receiving confirmation from the institute, Feng Qi and the Mist Lord finalized their infiltration plans. It was decided that Feng Qi would enter first to investigate, while the Mist Lord would wait for the next opportunity—perhaps an event hosted by the institute—to establish contact.
Later that day.
With his belongings packed, Feng Qi departed for the Tiger Soul Research Institute's branch base located in the northern outskirts of Star City.
Upon arrival, he stepped out of the vehicle and spotted the staff member who had been assigned to meet him waiting by the gate.
After a brief introduction, the staff member guided him through the security checkpoint and into the facility. The base exuded an advanced, futuristic atmosphere. The glowing pathways illuminated the interior, and Feng Qi passed several workspaces filled with massive computational machines.
They walked about a hundred meters, eventually arriving at a room marked by a simple door.
"This is the place. Please go inside," the staff member said.
Feng Qi didn't hesitate. He opened the door and stepped in.
The room was sparsely furnished. The walls were lined with diagrams of human acupuncture points, and the desk was piled with stacks of documents.
Behind the desk sat someone engrossed in writing.
Feng Qi couldn't help but feel that the figure looked somewhat familiar.
At that moment, the person looked up.
Their eyes met, and a warm, familiar smile appeared on the individual's face.
"Qi-ge, it's been a while!"