Tiger Soul Research Institute, Core Zone.
Metal wreckage and mechanical components were scattered all around, and the once pristine floor was now riddled with craters from the intense battle.
At this moment, the core personnel of Tiger Soul Research Institute huddled in a corner, while the rest of the core zone was littered with the remains of Night Shadow Clan warriors.
Scanning the surroundings and confirming that no Night Shadow Clan members were left alive, Feng Qi and Mu Qing finally stopped.
Feng Qi's golden-elemental body began to disintegrate, transforming into countless golden light particles that dissipated into the air.
The ice walls sealing the entire core zone collapsed as his divine body deactivated, revealing the pitted and cracked metallic walls beneath.
With the battle over, Feng Qi suppressed his discomfort and took a specialized pair of gloves from his backpack.
As he clenched his fist, a blood-drawing array automatically formed in front of him.
The lifeblood of the fallen Night Shadow warriors was drawn into the formation, flowing like a stream toward him.
Moments later, replenished by the energy-rich blood, Feng Qi reverted to his human form.
In this battle, he had activated Blood Source Form for swift victory and immediately followed it with his divine body state once it ended.
The intense combat had left him utterly exhausted.
Without the physique of his real-world self, the battle's aftermath hit him hard.
A sharp pain throbbed in his mind, reminding him of the consequences of overusing his abilities.
Reaching into his backpack, he pulled out a concentrated mental soothing agent, uncapped it, and drank it down in one gulp.
As for the side effects?
He no longer cared.
Side effects required time to take hold—so in a way, that meant they didn't exist.
A chilling sensation surged through his body, washing away the piercing pain.
Finally, regaining his breath, Feng Qi turned to Mu Qing, who was watching him with a worried expression.
He grinned.
"Senior, I'm fine."
Hearing this, Mu Qing nodded.
Then, both turned their gaze toward the cornered core personnel of Tiger Soul Research Institute.
They still needed these people to fully take over the institute.
But Feng Qi wasn't the least bit worried.
Having done this before, he knew exactly what needed to be done next.
Now that the Night Shadow Clan had been eradicated, once these Tiger Soul core members understood the situation and reclaimed control, the second phase of his scripted plan could begin.
The next operation was something Feng Qi had learned from Black Shadow.
The manipulation tactics of Black Shadow had been a major topic of discussion between him and Wei Wei from Crimson Research Institute.
Among those who had been turned against humanity, the most classic case was undoubtedly Lu Changkong, the former leader of the Blood Wolf Domain Combat Squad.
Then, there was the student spy, Le Ping'an, who had once been planted beside him, as well as his parents.
All of them had one thing in common before being turned: they were in despair, lost in hopelessness, and uncertain about the future.
Lu Changkong's sister's terminal illness and Le Ping'an's own disease were key examples.
Their despair ultimately led Lu Changkong and Le Ping'an's parents to side with Black Shadow and pledge allegiance.
Whether Black Shadow had orchestrated their tragedies didn't matter.
What mattered was that their suffering had left them desperate—and that was why Black Shadow had reached out to them.
He had bet that in a state of hopelessness, these individuals would cling to any glimpse of salvation.
His approach wasn't just about words or persuasion—it was a masterful manipulation of emotions and human psychology.
And now, Feng Qi intended to use this same method—against Yin Ling.
Through Tiger Soul Research Institute, he would push Lin Ran into despair.
He would make Lin Ran feel regret, helplessness, and agony, so that his rebellious instincts would naturally surface…
Of course, this was all an act—but not for Lin Ran.
It was for Yin Ling to see.
The goal was to make her perceive a weakness in Lin Ran.
With Lin Ran's extraordinary talent, this would position him as a prime target for recruitment in Yin Ling's eyes.
This was essentially a reversed version of Black Shadow's mind-control tactics.
Right now, Lin Ran appeared flawless to Yin Ling—which was exactly why she wanted him dead.
To her, Lin Ran was firmly aligned with humanity.
Since he couldn't be turned, he had to be eliminated.
But once the suppression plan took effect, Lin Ran would start showing vulnerabilities in Yin Ling's perspective.
Feng Qi's objective was to manipulate Yin Ling into making the first move—to get her to attempt recruiting Lin Ran into betraying humanity.
If this step succeeded, then the third phase of the plan would naturally fall into place.
At that point, they could extract intel on the Silvermoon Clan and even infiltrate their intelligence network.
If everything went smoothly, the Silvermoon Clan would become a strategic tool in Feng Qi's hands—one he could directly control from the shadows.
Thinking this through, Feng Qi took a step toward the cowering Tiger Soul researchers.
Mu Qing followed right behind him.
Two days later.
Star City Academy.
After hanging up the call, Lin Ran sat in deep thought.
From Feng Qi's explanation, he had a clear grasp of the next phase of the plan and his role within it.
To him, this plan wasn't difficult to execute.
Summarized, it had four key steps:
First, develop a new technique and publicly disclose detailed information about its research process to attract as much attention as possible.
Second, ensure that Yin Ling was aware of the research and even involved in the process.
Third, embed a flaw in the technique—a concealed defect—but make sure Yin Ling doesn't detect it. This flaw would set up the blame and suppression from Tiger Soul Research Institute in the next phase.
Fourth, after the staged failure, display depression, despair, and self-doubt, making it seem like Lin Ran had broken down. At this stage, he would need to exhibit anti-human sentiments, subtly guiding Yin Ling into reaching out to him with an offer of betrayal.
…
Though Lin Ran was the one executing these steps, the real target was Yin Ling.
If everything worked as planned, he would eliminate the racial barrier between himself and Yin Ling, making himself a viable candidate for recruitment in her eyes.
After carefully considering the plan, Lin Ran took out his phone and called Yin Ling.
After a short wait, the call connected, and her voice came through.
They arranged to meet that evening at Starlight Lake Park after her work shift.
Hanging up the phone, Lin Ran sank into deeper thought.
The framework of the plan was already set in motion. However, there was still one crucial missing piece.
He needed an exceptional new technique, one that could draw public interest while also carrying an undetectable flaw that would later be exploited in the staged suppression.
He had to make sure Yin Ling wouldn't notice the flaw too early.
Thinking this through, he got up and sat at his desk, powering up his computer.
Logging into Star City's official database, he accessed his personal account and began browsing research papers, searching for inspiration for his new technique.
Within a day, an idea began taking shape in his mind.
He decided to develop an elemental ability.
Although he hadn't started the research yet, he had already come up with a name—"Spiritual Body".
The inspiration for this technique came from Feng Qi's Divine Body.
After reviewing Crimson Research Institute's records and combat footage, he found Divine Body incredibly powerful.
Now, he planned to use it as a blueprint to create a technique that would form an elemental shell around the user's body.
Unlike Divine Body, which fully dissolves and reconstructs the user's flesh, Spiritual Body was purely protective—acting as an external energy armor.
In essence, it resembled a sci-fi mech suit, except that instead of being made from metal, it would be formed entirely from spiritual energy.
With his research direction now determined, Lin Ran checked the time, then left his dormitory.
…
7:30 PM.
Starlight Lake.
The night breeze carried the scent of grilled food from street vendors. The shimmering lake reflected the city lights, adding a tranquil charm to the setting.
As they ate skewers, Lin Ran enthusiastically explained his new technique concept, passionately highlighting its potential benefits.
Yin Ling listened attentively, occasionally nodding while elegantly picking at her food.
However, her thoughts were elsewhere.
Through her time observing Lin Ran, she had already assessed his talent.
There was one thing she had to admit—Lin Ran's talent might surpass her own.
She had been playing Spirit Chess her entire life, yet Lin Ran had only studied it for a few days before becoming a serious threat to her.
Every match with him now required her to be completely focused, without a single mistake.
She had no doubt—if given time, Lin Ran would eventually surpass her in Spirit Chess.
This realization filled her with both frustration and admiration.
As Lin Ran continued sharing his thoughts, Yin Ling subtly analyzed the feasibility of his technique concept.
Yet, as the minutes passed, her gaze softened.
But deep inside, a cold thought arose:
"This one… must not be left alive."
A surge of killing intent rippled through her heart.
Lin Ran's potential had reached the point where he was becoming a genuine threat to the future of the Silvermoon Clan.
Especially after hearing that he was working on multiple new techniques.
If these techniques succeeded, they would undoubtedly become foundational advancements for human cultivation studies.
When the Silvermoon Clan eventually made their move, these techniques could very well become the weapons used to slaughter her people.
The more she interacted with Lin Ran, the more she respected his talent.
But at the same time, the desire to eliminate him grew stronger.
This conflicted emotion was real and inescapable.
"If only he were one of us… what a waste."
She sighed internally.
"Yin Ling, what do you think of this concept?"
Lin Ran's voice snapped her back to reality.
She quickly composed herself and smiled at him.
"It's a great idea," she said, tilting her head slightly. "Where did you get the inspiration?"
"The inspiration for this technique isn't unique—I've had many similar ideas before. But this one caught my interest recently, so I plan to start developing it soon. When the time comes, you'll have to help me test it." Lin Ran took a sip of his cold drink, grinning.
"I only have a basic understanding of cultivation techniques. My opinion won't be very professional," Yin Ling responded, shaking her head lightly.
"It's not about expertise. I just need a test subject, and you're the perfect candidate."
Hearing this, Yin Ling rolled her eyes but still nodded. "Alright."
In truth, she was quite interested in this technique.
But she also knew she wouldn't live to see it completed.
After all, the Domain Weak Tribe Alliance's assassination attempt had failed once, and they were bound to make another move.
Last time, Lin Ran had been lucky—he had turned the tables on his assassin in a desperate situation.
But luck never lasts forever.
The previous failure would only make the alliance more determined, and their next strike would be even more thorough. Lin Ran's days were numbered.
After finishing their late-night meal, Lin Ran and Yin Ling strolled toward a quiet corner of the lake park.
Sitting down on a stone bench, Lin Ran reached out and sketched a chessboard in the air, then looked at Yin Ling expectantly.
The cool night breeze brushed against their faces, lifting strands of Yin Ling's long hair. Under the moonlight, her figure seemed to shimmer with a soft, silvery glow, making her appear like a celestial maiden untouched by the mortal world.
For a moment, Lin Ran stared blankly.
Then, realizing what he was doing, he mentally scolded himself.
"She's nothing but a pretty skeleton under that skin."
Shaking off his momentary daze, he grinned and said, "Come on, tonight's the night I finally beat you."
"Try me," Yin Ling raised an eyebrow, issuing a silent challenge.
She lifted her right hand, conjuring an elemental chess piece before placing it in the lower left corner of the board.
Lin Ran studied her move briefly before materializing his own chess piece and making a countermove.
The game began.
Round after round, Yin Ling's forehead gradually became damp with sweat—each match ended with her winning by only a slight margin.
The pressure from Lin Ran's strategic growth forced her into absolute focus.
After the games, they reviewed the key turning points in each match, discussing moves and counterplays.
While they talked, the night wind played with Yin Ling's hair.
At one point, she lifted her gaze to the sky, looking at the endless canopy of stars. The shimmering celestial expanse was like a giant movie screen, playing flashes of memories from her past.
For the first time in a long while, she felt a deep weariness settle over her heart.
If Lin Ran hadn't appeared in her life, she would still be completely immersed in her mission.
Ever since coming to the human world, loneliness had been her constant companion.
Even though her younger brother was here too, he was too naïve and innocent to truly understand her burdens.
She knew she could never go home again.
So, helping her people descend into this world became her only purpose—her sole driving force.
For years, she had never stopped moving forward.
From studying relentlessly to working tirelessly, she climbed her way to the top, eventually becoming the Director of the Energy Research Institute.
Not once did she slow down.
At times, she even felt like she was nothing more than a machine—a tool designed to secure the future of her people.
She wasn't meant to have personal emotions.
But ever since meeting Lin Ran, she found herself experiencing feelings she had long forgotten.
Happiness, anticipation, excitement—even nervousness.
Competing with Lin Ran over Spirit Chess reminded her of her youth, when she competed with her peers back home.
Back then, their rivalry was pure—a contest of skill and intellect, one that made her heart race with excitement rather than calculation.
And then there was the time when Lin Ran risked his life to protect her.
That moment had truly shaken her.
Even though she still intended to kill him, she couldn't deny that it had left a lasting impression.
She had come to appreciate many things about him.
Even though she still firmly believed he had to die, a part of her couldn't help but feel a strange sense of regret.
"If only he were one of my people…"
She stared at Lin Ran, watching him analyze their last game with complete focus.
A rare sentiment flickered in her heart—reluctance.
She knew these would be her final days with him.
The next assassination attempt would leave Lin Ran as nothing more than a memory.
A fleeting figure from the past.
That thought lingered in her mind, and she made a sudden decision.
If their time together was limited, why not drop the act—even if just for a moment?
Why not set aside the racial divide and be his friend, just for this brief period?
This thought planted itself in her mind and took root.
With that realization, she abruptly interrupted Lin Ran's analysis.
"Lin Ran," she said softly. "I have tomorrow off. Want to grab breakfast together?"
"Huh? Oh… yeah, sure!" Lin Ran blinked, clearly caught off guard by her sudden shift in attitude.
For a moment, he seemed uncertain.
Then, he smiled.
"Want to keep playing? I think I've finally got your strategy figured out—I might just beat you this time."
"Enough talking, show me what you've got. I'll even let you go first."
"Girls should speak more politely," Lin Ran teased.
"Who cares? Just play, you scrub."
The night breeze drifted across the lake, carrying wisps of cloud across the moonlit sky.
By the water's edge, the two continued their playful banter, locking into another intense game of Spirit Chess.
Their battle of wits unfolded beneath the flickering stars and the gentle swaying of tree shadows.
For now, in this moment, they weren't enemies.
They were just two people enjoying a game under the stars.
But deep in Yin Ling's heart, her killing intent had not faded—it had only been buried for now.