Catching the Miracle Bracelet tossed by the Mist Lord, Feng Qi found himself momentarily stunned.
Having interacted with the Mist Lord for so many years, Feng Qi understood just how deeply the Mist Lord craved power. While the Miracle Bracelet's abilities couldn't perfectly complement the Mist Lord's existing strengths like the Bloodstone did, who would consider mastering another system of power to be burdensome?
From the Mist Lord's description, the Miracle Bracelet carried immense potential for growth. As long as one had enough believers, the long-term faith and worship could yield an unfathomable reservoir of faith energy.
Theoretically, this form of advancement was strikingly similar to the "faith ascension to godhood" described in myths—gathering the power of believers and elevating oneself from mere flesh and blood to a "true deity."
Moreover, the Miracle Bracelet allowed its user to establish a mental connection with all believers who provided faith energy, even enabling the transmission of personal power to enhance their capabilities.
As Feng Qi gazed at the Mist Lord, his emotions grew complex.
The Mist Lord had once said that if he ever stood at the summit, Feng Qi would surely have a place by his side.
Whether or not the Mist Lord would truly keep this promise, Feng Qi had never taken those words seriously.
After all, his ultimate goal was to use the Mist Lord and then eliminate him in the cradle, never giving him the chance to rise, let alone stand at the summit.
However, Feng Qi had never denied that the Mist Lord genuinely treated him with sincerity, truly considering him a life-and-death brother.
At this moment, the Mist Lord stood up, smiled at him, and said, "If there's nothing else, head back to the Tiger Soul Research Institute. I'll stay here and keep waiting for a chance to approach the institute. We'll stay in touch."
Suppressing the surge of emotions in his heart, Feng Qi looked up at the Mist Lord and said, "By the way, there's something I need to discuss with you."
The Mist Lord's expression turned curious as Feng Qi continued, "Here's the situation. After joining the Tiger Soul Research Institute over the past few days, I noticed something strange. It seems like the institute is deliberately suppressing research into cultivation techniques while redirecting resources and talent to the spell research department. This doesn't feel normal at all."
"While spell research is undoubtedly important, cultivation techniques are the foundation of cultivation studies. This clearly contradicts the original purpose of the Tiger Soul Research Institute. I think there might be some hidden agenda behind this."
Hearing this, the Mist Lord's expression grew contemplative.
After a moment of silence, he looked at Feng Qi and said, "I think I understand your point. Are you suggesting that the upper echelons of the Tiger Soul Research Institute might have been infiltrated by forces from other domain fields? Perhaps this mysterious force is using the institute's resources and talent to develop new spells for their own species?"
"Exactly, that's my theory," Feng Qi nodded immediately.
Hearing this, the Mist Lord's expression grew serious.
"If a force has indeed infiltrated the Tiger Soul Research Institute, it'll be difficult to carry out our plans."
Seeing the concern in the Mist Lord's eyes, Feng Qi fully understood his sentiments.
From a historical perspective, the Tiger Soul Research Institute would ultimately fall into the Mist Lord's hands.
If the institute's upper ranks had indeed been infiltrated by forces from domain fields, they would still eventually be defeated by the Mist Lord.
But this conclusion came from Feng Qi's understanding of historical events and the trajectory of this timeline.
For the Mist Lord, the situation was entirely different.
The origins and strength of the domain forces possibly controlling the Tiger Soul Research Institute were unknown variables to him.
Reckless action could lead to catastrophic consequences.
For someone who planned millennia ahead to shape the future, there was no way he would act without fully understanding his opponent.
With this in mind, Feng Qi looked at the Mist Lord and said, "Here's the plan. I'll try to investigate further first. Once I uncover any leads, I'll notify you. It's not time to give up yet."
"I never intended to give up," the Mist Lord replied firmly, his tone resolute. "However, the plan to infiltrate the Tiger Soul Research Institute will need to be revised to account for these potential threats."
"But the Tiger Soul Research Institute is a must. It's crucial for the promotion of the Blood Sacrifice cultivation technique."
Watching the Mist Lord speak with such conviction, Feng Qi couldn't help but roll his eyes.
When it came to stubbornness, the Mist Lord could easily claim the title of the most obstinate.
From defeating Mu Qing to becoming a Pillar God… the Mist Lord's words never faltered in the face of challenges.
However, his actions were always meticulous.
For example, during the escort mission against Mu Qing, when the moment of confrontation came, he nearly invented a brand-new invisibility spell on the spot just to avoid facing her.
Upon reflection, it was likely this cautious and deliberate nature that ultimately made him one of the biggest winners in the future.
The Mist Lord's voice interrupted Feng Qi's train of thought:
"While you're at the Tiger Soul Research Institute, don't act rashly. You're just a tester right now and don't have access to the institute's core information. Any unusual behavior will only draw attention."
"Don't worry, I'll act according to the situation. I won't risk my life recklessly."
Hearing this, the Mist Lord nodded approvingly.
"Good. Wait until I establish contact with the Tiger Soul Research Institute before planning any further investigations."
After chatting with the Mist Lord for a while longer, Feng Qi left his room.
Stepping out of the hotel, he hailed a taxi.
By the time he returned to the Tiger Soul Research Institute's sub-base, it was already 2 a.m.
After paying the fare via his phone, Feng Qi stepped out of the vehicle.
Looking ahead, he saw the three-meter-high metal gate. Surveillance cameras were installed along the base's perimeter walls, one every ten meters. The watchtowers behind the walls were equipped with sweeping searchlights, scanning the surrounding area to ensure security.
Approaching the metal gate, Feng Qi took out his intern identification card from his pocket.
"Beep!"
As the card was scanned, a green light swept over his body. Moments later, the metal gate slowly opened.
Even in the deep of night, the Tiger Soul sub-base remained brightly lit.
This was typical for every research institute.
The facilities operated 24/7, with no fixed working hours for the researchers inside. Most worked when awake and rested when tired.
It wasn't uncommon for researchers to go a full day and night without rest.
For instance, when inspiration struck, they would need to record their ideas immediately. Failing to do so often meant losing that fleeting spark, potentially missing a breakthrough in spell innovation.
Passing through two layers of security checks, Feng Qi entered the sub-base.
A short while later, he arrived at his room.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Feng Qi looked down at the Miracle Bracelet wrapped around his left wrist.
This bracelet appeared to be made entirely of pure energy. Streams of green light coiled around a central core, forming the circular shape of the bracelet with flowing tails of radiance.
After a moment of contemplation, he stood up and pulled out the metal box containing the "memory-clearing potion" from under his bed.
Unlocking the box, he placed the Miracle Bracelet inside.
To him, in this sacrificial timeline, the Miracle Bracelet was almost useless.
Wearing it would only draw unnecessary attention. It was better to store it away for now.
During his return, he had even considered sending the Miracle Bracelet to the Crimson Research Institute for safekeeping. His plan was to leave it there for 1,500 years so that his alternate self could claim it effortlessly in the future.
This would allow his other self to gain another Miracle Item without lifting a finger.
Additionally, he could test his hypothesis about using the Miracle Bracelet as a medium for transferring power across timelines.
However, after careful consideration, he decided against this plan for now.
For this timeline to progress, he needed to stay close to the Mist Lord.
If he stopped wearing the Miracle Bracelet, the Mist Lord would inevitably grow suspicious and inquire about its whereabouts.
Failing to provide an answer would disrupt the timeline's continuity and affect its future developments.
Thus, keeping the Miracle Bracelet with him was currently the best option.
After placing the green bracelet into the storage compartment of the metal cylinder, Feng Qi pressed the container back into the box.
"Click."
With a sharp metallic sound, the box automatically locked. The three red lights on its top turned green, indicating that the cooling mode was now active.
Pushing the box back under the bed, Feng Qi headed to the washroom to freshen up. After turning off the lights, he lay down on the bed and closed his eyes.
Since returning to Star City, the historical trajectory ahead had become increasingly unclear. All he could do now was take one step at a time.
As his mind wandered over these thoughts, drowsiness washed over him.
Moments later, he drifted off into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Feng Qi met Lin Ran in the base's cafeteria for breakfast.
During the meal, they didn't discuss Feng Qi's absence the previous night.
It was only after returning to the laboratory that Feng Qi proactively explained the situation before Lin Ran could ask.
When Lin Ran learned that the Mist Lord had gifted Feng Qi the Miracle Bracelet, he was visibly surprised:
"Qi-ge, you know, if not for your conflicting stances, you and the Mist Lord could actually be good friends."
Hearing this, Feng Qi shook his head with a faint smile:
"After so many years of interaction, we're already friends. But the issue of differing stances ensures that we'll remain on opposing sides. The path he wants to walk to the summit includes humanity as an obstacle."
Lin Ran remained silent, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.
After explaining the situation, their conversation shifted to how they might investigate the Tiger Soul Research Institute's leadership.
The Mist Lord had suggested waiting for his arrival before proceeding, reasoning that Feng Qi, as a newly recruited intern, lacked the influence and clearance to uncover anything of significance.
Any rash actions would only alert the higher-ups.
However, the Mist Lord was unaware of one crucial detail: Lin Ran was by Feng Qi's side.
Lin Ran's position within the Tiger Soul Research Institute was extraordinarily unique.
Despite his young age, he was already recognized as the founder of a spell school. In the spell research community, his status was unmatched.
His popularity far exceeded that of any other researcher in the institute, whether they specialized in spells or cultivation techniques.
Although Lin Ran had not yet been promoted to the core leadership of the Tiger Soul Research Institute, most of his requests were typically approved by the institute.
However, expecting the possible hidden forces from the domain to reveal themselves just because of their investigation into the Tiger Soul leadership was unlikely.
During their discussion, Feng Qi proposed a plan.
They needed to set a bait—a highly tempting one—to lure out the hidden forces.
If these suspected domain forces were using the Tiger Soul Research Institute to advance their spell research, they could bait them with a greater promise.
A well-crafted illusion of opportunity could coax the "fox" out of hiding.
As they continued refining the idea, the plan became increasingly detailed.
By evening, they decided to officially put it into action.
Before proceeding, Feng Qi made a call to the Mist Lord.
The phone rang for quite some time before it was answered.
The background noise on the other end was chaotic, and Feng Qi quickly realized that the Mist Lord seemed to be in a noisy place.
"Where are you right now?" Feng Qi asked curiously.
"I'm at a nightclub. I don't understand why shaking their heads and flailing around brings humans so much joy."
Feng Qi: …
Realizing that the Mist Lord was once again "experiencing" human life, Feng Qi felt speechless but said, "Find a quieter place where we can talk."
"One moment," replied the Mist Lord.
The background noise on the other end gradually faded.
After a while, the Mist Lord's voice returned, "I've left that ridiculous place. Go ahead."
Hearing this, Feng Qi nodded and said, "In a bit, I'll send you a list of items. Keep an eye on the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance in Star City and let me know if you notice anything unusual."
"What's this about?" The Mist Lord sounded surprised.
"I want to fish for the big catch."
Feng Qi's "fishing plan" wasn't overly complicated.
If the Tiger Soul Research Institute had indeed been infiltrated by domain forces, then one thing was certain.
The resource allocation favoring spell research and the transfer of talents to spell departments indicated a clear intent to exploit the institute's resources and personnel for their spell advancements.
This would also explain why spell research tasks assigned by the leadership seemed so critical—they were aligned with what the domain forces needed.
Since they were so eager for results, Feng Qi would present them with a tantalizing bait that exceeded their expectations.
However, preparing this "bait" required certain conditions.
Once the plan began, Lin Ran would draft an email addressed to the upper echelons of the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
In the email, Lin Ran would explain:
By chance, the intern Feng Qi had stumbled upon the spell data for their assigned task. To Lin Ran's surprise, Feng Qi had constructed an exceptionally advanced framework for the requested spell.
Lin Ran would emphasize that, after thorough examination, this framework was entirely feasible and could be brought to fruition.
This email was intended to deliver three key messages to the Tiger Soul leadership:
Feng Qi had accidentally accessed the spell research data and developed a framework far exceeding the requirements of the task.
Feng Qi appeared to possess an extraordinary, almost unimaginable talent for spell research.
After professional evaluation, Lin Ran believed Feng Qi's spell framework could be fully realized.
After sending the email, Lin Ran would then present a series of demands to the leadership.
However, these wouldn't be ordinary requests.
Among them, he would ask for specific, rare materials unavailable through conventional channels to test whether the leadership was under domain influence.
For instance, he would request Miracle Bloodstone (derivatives).
Lin Ran would describe the need for a highly purified blood essence to be used in spell experiments. Miracle Bloodstone, the hard currency within the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance, didn't exist in human society.
Bloodstone fragments were just one item on the list.
Other rare materials would also be described in such a way that potential domain forces could easily recognize what was needed.
Feng Qi believed that as long as the bait was enticing enough, the "fish" would bite.
Once the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance in Star City caught wind of this, they might even act as mercenaries to procure the requested resources, just like when the Mist Lord had hired them for the mission on Black Desolation Island.
If any cracks in their cover appeared, the Mist Lord would be the first to detect them.
This was the primary reason why Feng Qi had asked the Mist Lord to monitor the alliance.
However, the fishing plan wasn't without risks.
The greatest concern was the possibility that no domain forces were actually involved with the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
In that case, their actions could inadvertently cause trouble for Lin Ran.
Fortunately, failure in spell research was a common occurrence.
Still, such an elaborate and high-profile effort followed by failure might result in Lin Ran facing severe criticism from the Tiger Soul leadership.