Inside the Energy Research Institute, Director's Office.
Yin Ling stood by the window, carefully reviewing the profile file on Lin Ran in her hand.
The gentle breeze from outside lifted her long silver hair, accentuating her ethereal beauty. Her delicate features resembled those of a mythical elf, untouched by the mortal world, while her mesmerizing eyes carried an allure capable of capturing souls.
Just then, the air beside her twisted, and a silver-haired youth holding a jade flute emerged from the distortion.
"Jie, why bother with this nonsense? You don't have to go," the youth said lazily.
Hearing this, Yin Ling's lips curled into a faint smile.
"The Crimson Research Institute is, after all, one of Star City's top powerhouses. I can't outright ignore an assignment from them. Besides…" she paused, her gaze shifting back to the file. "I do have some interest in Lin Ran. I've read about the Seal Formation Flow techniques he developed. He's indeed a highly gifted human."
"You're planning to recruit him?" The silver-haired youth raised an eyebrow curiously.
"Not yet," Yin Ling shook her head. "His talent isn't exceptional enough for me to actively recruit him. Besides, our current mission has nothing to do with gathering human geniuses. Our priority is ensuring our people arrive at the optimal moment and establish control over Star City as quickly as possible."
The silver-haired youth fell silent for a moment before disappearing into thin air.
Yin Ling turned to the clock on the wall and noted the time—a little past ten.
Closing the file, she walked out of her office.
—
Star City, Eastern District.
Atop Building A in Sui Kong Commercial Plaza, a high-end rooftop restaurant.
Feng Qi and Lin Ran were seated inside, waiting for Yin Ling's arrival.
Through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the dazzling skyline of Star City was fully visible.
For this meeting, Lin Ran had gone all out—wearing a freshly pressed outfit, styling his hair differently, and enhancing his overall appearance.
Paired with his usual bright, sunny smile, he exuded a charismatic charm at first glance.
Feng Qi studied him carefully before nodding in approval.
"Not bad, your face value is solid."
Lin Ran chuckled nervously. "Qi-ge, I'll do my best, but I can't guarantee anything. This is cross-species, after all. Using human courting tactics might not even work on her."
"I never said you had to fall in love with her." Feng Qi smirked. "Love is just an excuse to get close. As long as you can earn her trust, even a friendship is enough."
"That takes off a lot of pressure." Lin Ran let out a sigh of relief.
"Just do your thing. I believe in your charm."
Giving Lin Ran a reassuring pat, Feng Qi glanced at his phone, checking the time.
"Alright, it's almost time. I'll take my leave. The rest is up to you."
Standing up, he moved to a distant table, deliberately putting space between himself and Lin Ran.
He waved over a waiter and flashed a radiant smile.
"Menu, please."
—
11:00 AM.
Lin Ran sat patiently.
At last, Yin Ling arrived.
Unlike Lin Ran, who had dressed up, Yin Ling wore a simple, casual outfit. Yet, her peerless beauty alone made her the center of attention the moment she entered the restaurant.
The atmosphere shifted subtly as the gazes of many guests fell upon her.
She approached Lin Ran's table and sat down with an air of effortless grace.
Lin Ran looked up, meeting her eyes.
For a moment, they studied each other.
Yin Ling's exquisite beauty exceeded Lin Ran's expectations.
Even though he had seen her photos before, seeing her in person was an entirely different experience.
A perfectly sculpted nose, lips the color of red jade, and an otherworldly aura that set her apart. Beneath her delicate willow eyebrows, her deep, calm, dark eyes carried an air of detachment.
"Lin Ran." He smiled and extended a hand.
"Yin Ling."
She reached out and shook his hand, her expression unchanged.
Then, her gaze turned slightly curious.
"I do wonder… why did you agree to the Crimson Research Institute's proposal? Are you actually looking for a partner?"
She leaned back, her fingers tapping lightly on the table.
"If we consider pre-cataclysm standards, you wouldn't even be considered an adult."
Lin Ran had already rehearsed countless responses for various possible questions.
After a brief pause, he smiled and answered,
"I think the Crimson Research Institute's proposal makes sense. Human birth rates are an issue we have to address in this new era. I also took the time to learn more about you. I admire your achievements."
"As for the age issue… I don't think it's a problem at all."
To his surprise, Yin Ling nodded in agreement.
"I think their proposal makes sense as well. I also did some research on you and admire your talent."
Lin Ran was caught off guard.
He had expected her to refuse outright, or at least find an excuse to turn him down.
Yet, instead, she was openly acknowledging the idea.
The plan was moving forward in an unexpected direction.
For a brief moment, Lin Ran didn't know how to respond.
But his mental fortitude was strong.
After a short silence, he quickly shifted the conversation by bringing up a topic he had prepared in advance.
He started discussing materials science and skillfully led the conversation by asking questions.
Thanks to his pre-study sessions, he managed to hold his own, steering the discussion in a natural way.
The initial awkwardness faded.
Soon, the two were engaged in a smooth, flowing conversation.
At a distance, Feng Qi glanced over mid-bite, watching their interaction.
Satisfied, he nodded.
Turning to the waiter beside him, he smiled.
"Another plate of rice, please."
As Lin Ran and Yin Ling continued chatting, the discussion gradually shifted toward cultivation studies and spell theory—Lin Ran's strongest subject.
Time passed steadily as they conversed, with Lin Ran managing to hold Yin Ling's interest.
Step one of the plan was a success.
As they delved deeper into the conversation, Lin Ran became more animated, passionately explaining the intricacies of spellcraft. Yin Ling, in turn, listened intently, occasionally posing insightful questions.
It was evident that Yin Ling had a profound interest in spell theory—her questions weren't just surface-level curiosities but highly technical, the kind only an expert would ask.
The initial meeting was unfolding in a completely unexpected yet favorable direction.
By the time the clock struck 5:10 PM, the two had finished their meal and left the restaurant.
Catching a cab, they headed straight for Starlight Lake in the central district.
As dusk settled over the horizon, they strolled along the lakeside path, continuing their discussion on spellcraft.
After a while, they reached a wooden bench by the water.
Yin Ling turned to Lin Ran and suddenly asked, "Do you play chess?"
Lin Ran raised an eyebrow. "What kind of chess?"
"A game I devised," Yin Ling explained, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "It's played using formations of spiritual energy particles to shape pieces on the board."
With a flick of her wrist, golden threads of spiritual energy converged mid-air, weaving an intricate pattern before them.
In the blink of an eye, a luminous chessboard took form, shimmering with soft golden light.
"Want to give it a try?"
Lin Ran's curiosity was piqued. "Sure, but I'll need you to explain the rules."
Yin Ling nodded and began outlining the fundamentals of Spirit Chess.
As she spoke, she illustrated key concepts by conjuring glowing energy pieces and demonstrating moves in real-time.
Lin Ran's intelligence and adaptability shone through—he quickly grasped the mechanics.
Spirit Chess was fundamentally a game of elemental formations, where each turn required the player to trace a sequence of natural elements to summon a corresponding piece.
The game relied on a deep understanding of elemental interactions—strengths, weaknesses, and energy flow—while also requiring foresight akin to traditional chess.
The first match barely lasted five minutes before Lin Ran lost.
His competitive spirit flared.
Though it was his first time encountering Spirit Chess, his instinctual grasp of elemental balance told him that he could improve quickly.
After reviewing his mistakes, he said firmly, "Again."
Yin Ling's eyes sparkled with amusement as she reset the board.
The second match began.
This time, Lin Ran held out for twenty minutes before losing.
By the third round, he lasted over thirty minutes and was growing increasingly familiar with the game's intricacies.
By the fourth match, he had mastered the art of setting traps using elemental sequences.
Yin Ling was genuinely impressed.
She had read about Lin Ran's spellcraft expertise in his Crimson Research Institute dossier.
Though she acknowledged his potential, she hadn't considered him exceptional by her own standards.
After all, while Seal Formation Flow was a groundbreaking innovation for humans, it was common knowledge among the Silver Moon Clan.
But this—this was different.
Spirit Chess was not something she had invented; it was an integral part of the Silver Moon Clan's education.
Every member of her race learned it during childhood.
It was more than a game—it was a training method designed to cultivate elemental affinity and tactical thinking.
For Lin Ran to progress so rapidly after just a few matches was nothing short of astonishing.
Yin Ling's deep black eyes shimmered with intrigue.
She had expected him to have talent.
But this level of adaptability?
This was beyond her expectations.
If given enough time and opportunities to grow, Lin Ran would undoubtedly leave a lasting mark on human history.
She decided to push him further.
With a graceful motion, she dispersed the pieces and reset the board.
"Shall we continue?" she asked.
Lin Ran, already engrossed, nodded without hesitation. "Of course!"
As he spoke, he formed a fire-element piece and placed it in the lower-left corner.
The game resumed.
This time, Lin Ran played with utmost focus.
He wasn't just memorizing patterns—he was internalizing the rules, strategizing in real-time, and exploiting elemental synergies.
Gradually, he learned to enhance his own pieces by leveraging elemental resonance while simultaneously using counter-elements to weaken Yin Ling's pieces.
His spellcrafting talent began to manifest within the game.
Throughout history, humanity's battle against Domain invasions had seen the rise of many exceptional talents.
Each had their own era of brilliance.
But among them, only a rare few had shone brightly enough to leave a lasting legacy.
Lin Ran was destined to be one of those legends.
His revolutionary Seal Formation Flow would later become one of the three dominant spellcraft schools.
His subsequent research would be immortalized as the gold standard of spell development.
If not for his tragic betrayal and demise at the hands of Mist Lord, Lin Ran's influence would have continued for decades.
Even 2000 years post-cataclysm, he ranked in the top three of humanity's greatest spellcraft prodigies.
A testament to his unparalleled genius.
No matter how vast the knowledge gap between humans and the Domain races, certain individuals had always defied the odds and rewritten history.
Lin Ran was one of them.
And tonight, through hours of intense matches, Yin Ling realized that he was much more formidable than she had imagined.
Spirit Chess had revealed the depths of his mind—
A mind that could change the future.
Even in several rounds of Spirit Chess, Yin Ling nearly fell into Lin Ran's carefully arranged elemental traps, barely managing to secure victory thanks to her extensive experience.
She had always considered herself highly talented in spellcraft, yet at this moment, she found herself needing to focus entirely on the game.
As one of the Silver Moon Clan's elite, she had been sent ahead to infiltrate human society precisely because she was exceptional. Among her peers, she had always stood at the top.
Spirit Chess had been her favorite mental exercise since childhood, and she had rarely encountered an opponent among her kind who could push her to take it seriously.
Yet now, if she wasn't careful, Lin Ran might actually defeat her.
Time flowed by unnoticed, and before long, Yin Ling found herself just as immersed in the game as Lin Ran.
—
Elsewhere, on the other side of Starlight Lake.
Feng Qi checked his phone.
It was already 11:00 PM.
He had initially expected this date to end fairly quickly—a meal, a short lakeside stroll, and then a polite goodbye.
But now, both of them were completely engrossed in their game.
The moment he saw they were playing chess, he couldn't help but be amused.
It seemed like romance had naturally shifted toward friendship.
But that was fine.
Whether it was love or friendship, as long as trust was established and valuable intel could be extracted, the operation was a success.
With this in mind, Feng Qi stood up and left.
It was time to prepare for the next scripted event.
The first act: A Hero Rescues a Damsel in Distress.
However, not just anyone could play the villain.
A random attack would definitely raise Yin Ling's suspicions.
After all, Star City was highly secure, and major crimes like robbery or assassination were exceedingly rare.
Fortunately, Feng Qi had already chosen the perfect "villains."
There was only one organization in all of Star City that could provide a convincing assassination attempt on Yin Ling.
The Domain Weak Tribe Alliance.
For them, killing human geniuses was just business.
Whether it was Yin Ling or Lin Ran, it didn't matter—their status as brilliant minds alone made them natural targets.
If the attackers were members of the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance, Yin Ling would simply assume that they had taken on a contract to eliminate a human prodigy.
She wouldn't suspect anything deeper.
Thus, the first step was clear:
Feng Qi had to take control of the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance.
He needed them to cooperate and stage the first scripted event, a "near-death experience" to draw Yin Ling and Lin Ran closer.
This wouldn't be difficult.
In the previous timeline, Feng Qi had already subdued the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance.
This time, it would be even easier.
However, there was no rush to trigger the event.
Relationships needed time to develop naturally.
Otherwise, forced dramatics would make everything too artificial.
Feeling satisfied with his progress, Feng Qi decided to head over to the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance's base to have a chat with its leader—his former "underling" from a previous timeline, Hei Long.
—
1:00 AM.
Yin Ling finally managed to claim victory.
Letting out a deep sigh of relief, she wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead.
She glanced at Lin Ran, who was still analyzing the game board with intense focus.
Inside, she was utterly shaken.
She had never imagined that a human's talent could be this terrifying.
He had almost defeated her in Spirit Chess, a game that was supposed to be her specialty.
What had started as a casual test of Lin Ran's abilities had turned into a fully serious battle.
He had given her one shock after another.
"That's enough for today," Lin Ran finally spoke. "I'll go back and study more. Tomorrow, I'm definitely going to beat you."
Yin Ling's lips curled into a slight smirk.
"Fine, tomorrow it is."
"I'll walk you home."
"No need, I can go back on my own." She shook her head and declined without hesitation.
Lin Ran, still deep in thought about chess tactics, didn't push the matter.
"See you tomorrow, then," he said, turning and walking away.
As Lin Ran's figure disappeared into the night, the air around Yin Ling distorted.
A silver-haired youth stepped out of the void.
"Jie, his spellcraft talent is terrifying."
For the first time, the normally expressionless silver-haired youth looked genuinely shaken.
"If he's given room to grow," Yin Ling said softly, "I believe he could revolutionize human spellcraft."
The youth frowned. "That's… not good for us. His growth could raise Star City's overall combat strength."
He hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"Jie… are we really unable to find a way to coexist with humans?"
"No," Yin Ling's voice was calm but firm. "What we need, humans will never willingly give up. We have no choice but to take it."
"Then… doesn't that mean Lin Ran could become a major threat to us in the future?"
The youth's expression darkened.
"Should I take care of him? His actual combat strength is weak. I could assassinate him before he has a chance to grow."
Yin Ling reached out and ruffled his hair, her lips curving into a gentle yet chilling smile.
"Don't be foolish. If you make a move, you might expose yourself. Even if the risk is low, we can't afford to gamble on this mission. One mistake could ruin our entire operation."
"Killing is always a last resort. Our infiltration plan means we have to remain undetected, no matter what."
The silver-haired youth nodded obediently. "I understand."
At that moment, Yin Ling pulled out a silver-white phone from her backpack.
After confirming her fingerprint and retina scan, she dialed a number.
The line connected.
Her voice shifted, taking on a husky, distorted tone.
"Domain Alliance?"
A deep, gruff voice responded from the other end.
"What do you need?"
"I want to place a contract."
"For?"
"The assassination of a human genius."
The silver-haired youth stood frozen beside her, completely stunned.
A moment ago, she had shut down his assassination proposal.
And now, she was ordering a hit on Lin Ran herself.
Maybe I'm still too young, he thought to himself.
As he listened to his sister calmly negotiating an assassination, he suddenly realized—
There were still too many things he didn't understand.