Early the next morning.
After finishing breakfast, Feng Qi and Mist Lord took leave from Old Day Academy.
At 8:00 AM, they arrived at a slaughterhouse in the northern district of Old Day City.
Even though Mist Lord had already decided to accept the recruitment offer from the Psionic Race, he still wanted to restore his strength as much as possible before officially joining, just in case any unforeseen incidents occurred.
After paying for the ride, they got out of the vehicle. In front of them stood a modern processing facility.
The roads around the area were clean, and transport trucks were continuously leaving the plant, delivering processed goods to different locations in the northern district.
Feng Qi curiously looked to the other side of the slaughterhouse.
There, a cluster of tents had been set up, and wisps of cooking smoke rose from large iron pots. The air carried a thick aroma of meat, and many raggedly dressed figures could be seen chatting and playing nearby.
They looked impoverished, yet their faces were filled with smiles, as if they were completely content with their current lives.
"These are human scavengers that Old Day City recently took in. For now, they've been temporarily housed here, with the slaughterhouse providing for them… Just idling their days away." Mist Lord explained.
Hearing this, Feng Qi carefully observed the scavengers.
Then, a smile appeared on his face:
"Look how happy they are."
"What's the point of being happy? They're just wasting time," Mist Lord shook his head.
"They can find joy in wasting time, which means they're actually making use of time and enjoying it. On the other hand, working tirelessly for the rise of a race—now that's what you'd call a true waste of time, even if it's a necessary one."
Mist Lord was about to retort, but then he suddenly paused, realizing something.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he nodded:
"You're not wrong. Striving for a race's prosperity is indeed a forced waste of time. But in the end, the goal is still to let our people enjoy their time… Ah Qi, you see things further than I do."
"I was just saying whatever came to mind. Don't take it too seriously. If everyone chose to just enjoy life, how would a race have any future? Pioneers who bear the burden of progress are the true future of a civilization," Feng Qi grinned and then shifted his gaze toward the slaughterhouse.
"Let's go."
Mist Lord nodded.
The two walked to the entrance of the slaughterhouse and, after verifying their appointment, were allowed entry.
After negotiating with the manager, they placed an order for a batch of blood food. Mist Lord paid the deposit, and then they returned to Old Day Academy.
The shipment would soon be delivered to the academy by transport vehicles.
In the following days, Feng Qi and Mist Lord waited for Hei Xuan to return.
There was some discussion among their classmates about Hei Xuan's mysterious disappearance, but the higher-ups at Old Day Academy remained unfazed.
Feng Qi and Mist Lord weren't surprised.
Old Day City was already running under the control of the Psionic Race. Getting an exchange student into Old Day Academy was no problem for them. As for Hei Xuan's disappearance, the higher-ups at the academy didn't even need a detailed explanation—just a simple reason would suffice.
A week passed quickly.
On this day, Hei Xuan reappeared at Old Day Academy.
After a brief conversation, they followed him back to Mist Lord's dormitory. Then, once again, they were teleported to a mysterious location.
As their vision cleared, familiar scenery appeared before Feng Qi's eyes.
The towering golden energy tree at the center of the plaza, the transparent crystal tiles beneath their feet, the pulsing vein-like energy transmission tubes overhead… The air here wasn't just filled with dense spiritual energy—it was of exceptionally high quality, making this place a prime cultivation ground.
The only difference this time was that not far from the teleportation platform, there was now a pool of crimson liquid.
Hei Xuan smiled and turned to Mist Lord:
"Absorbing this entire pool of blood will be enough to fully restore your strength, and you may even see some improvements. Consider it a welcome gift from the Psionic Race… Mist Lord, you're a smart man. Make your decision."
At this point, Mist Lord had no intention of hiding his stance any longer. He knew that if he didn't agree now, the Psionic Race wouldn't continue to negotiate with patience.
He nodded and said:
"Alright, I agree to serve the Psionic Race for a period of time. But I have one condition."
Hei Xuan furrowed his brow slightly, but after a moment of silence, he nodded.
"State your condition."
"My brother, Feng Qi, must join with me."
Hei Xuan turned his gaze to Feng Qi, who was standing to the side. Without hesitation, he nodded and said:
"No problem. But our clan does not waste resources on trash."
Feng Qi: @%!&x?!
Hearing Hei Xuan openly call him trash, Feng Qi felt his mind explode. He had the sudden urge to transform into his Blood Source Form, pin Hei Xuan to the ground, and rub his face into the floor before punching his damn head off.
But that was just a fleeting thought.
After all, stepping back meant more information. Stepping forward meant instant death.
He understood this principle well.
"My brother isn't weak. I think you should at least try training him," Mist Lord frowned and said seriously.
"If he can prove his potential, we will naturally be willing to nurture his growth," Hei Xuan said with a smile.
Mist Lord turned to look at Feng Qi.
"Ah Qi, what do you think?"
With things having developed to this point, Feng Qi knew there was no reason to keep hiding. He immediately nodded.
"Alright, how do I prove myself?"
A trace of curiosity flashed through Hei Xuan's eyes as he smiled and said,
"I will be your target. Use your strongest attack on me."
Feng Qi's gaze shifted.
"If I end up destroying this place, you won't blame me, right?"
"Go ahead," Hei Xuan nodded without hesitation.
Mist Lord immediately stepped back, widening the distance.
Taking a deep breath, Feng Qi decisively activated his Blood Source Talent.
His heartbeat accelerated instantly, pounding like a war drum, resonating through his body. The primal savagery of a berserker, long suppressed, now erupted uncontrollably.
A blood mist enveloped him as his body began to grow at a visible speed.
Hei Xuan's expression shifted, clear surprise appearing in his eyes.
He had known through Star City's Domain Alliance that Feng Qi could transform into another form, but seeing it in person made him realize this transformation was far stronger than he had imagined.
A terrifying surge of blood energy washed over him, as if Feng Qi had shed his original human form and taken on the body of a demon.
But the transformation wasn't over yet.
Thick muscle fibers, as sturdy as steel, grew rapidly across his body. In the blink of an eye, his height had surged to nearly five meters.
Boom!
Suddenly, dark green flames ignited in his eyes, swiftly spreading across his entire body.
From the center of his chest, purple markings expanded outward, crawling across his torso and back to form an eerie, glowing sigil.
His fingers slowly clenched into a fist, his bones emitting sharp cracking sounds as they interlocked.
A terrifying force brewed within Feng Qi's body, his presence growing more oppressive by the second. The violent energy radiating from him spread outward in waves.
Hei Xuan, standing not far in front of him, couldn't hide his change in expression.
Feng Qi lifted his head, his fiery gaze blazing intensely. The ground beneath his feet cracked open, and in an instant, his figure disappeared.
Before Hei Xuan could react, Feng Qi materialized in front of him, his massive hand closing around Hei Xuan's throat and slamming him into the ground.
Boom!
Fragments of the transparent crystal floor exploded outward from the impact. Hei Xuan's flesh crumbled away from the force, revealing the black energy form concealed beneath his body.
"Smash you to death, you stupid bastard!"
Fueled by fury, Feng Qi's veins bulged along his right arm as he gripped Hei Xuan's neck tighter. With a swift motion, he lifted Hei Xuan into the air and swung him downward, intending to crush him into the ground again.
Just as his body was about to collide with the floor, the golden mark on Hei Xuan's forehead suddenly gleamed, unleashing an invisible force.
The energy struck Feng Qi's right arm, making it go numb. Before he could react, a second force slammed into his chest, sending him flying backward.
Flipping mid-air, Feng Qi landed steadily.
Hei Xuan floated back up from the ground. With a wave of his hand, golden runes overflowed from his forehead, swiftly assembling into an ancient script.
Immediately, the spiritual energy in the air was drawn toward Feng Qi, forming a golden prison around him.
Seeing the incoming restriction, Feng Qi didn't hesitate—he punched forward.
A surge of raw blood energy and immense force erupted from his fist, colliding with the golden barrier.
Boom!
A deafening explosion shook the surroundings as ripples of energy swept across the space. A crack instantly appeared on the golden cage.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Feng Qi relentlessly attacked, each blow hammering the barrier with the force of an unstoppable tide. The golden prison flickered, its integrity rapidly deteriorating.
Hei Xuan acted again.
The golden runes rearranged themselves into a new sequence.
The surrounding spiritual energy surged under their influence, outlining a formation in the air. As soon as Feng Qi shattered the golden cage, dozens of golden chains emerged, swiftly binding his limbs.
The other ends of the chains disappeared into the void, suspending Feng Qi midair in a spread-eagle position.
The chains tightened, exerting greater pressure.
In response, the green flames in Feng Qi's eyes intensified, his muscles stretching taut.
If he wanted to gain the Psionic Race's full attention, he had to prove his worth. This was not the time to hold back.
His muscles bulged, the Purple Soul Markings across his body pulsating with light. The oppressive force of the chains weakened under the glowing inscriptions, allowing him to gradually break free.
With a thunderous roar, Feng Qi unleashed all his strength.
The golden chains snapped apart, disintegrating into specks of radiant light.
The moment his feet hit the ground, his body shot forward like a feral beast, lunging straight at Hei Xuan.
Just as he was about to make contact, Hei Xuan waved his hand.
The floating golden runes rearranged once more.
Suddenly, a dimensional rift tore open beside Feng Qi. From within, a massive golden hand emerged, grabbing him mid-air and slamming him into the ground.
Boom!
The ground trembled violently as Feng Qi was slammed down hard.
However, his powerful regenerative ability allowed him to recover almost instantly, his mind briefly dazed before snapping back into clarity.
A burning force surged within his chest. With a sudden movement, he threw his fist forward, meeting the massive golden fist descending upon him.
The instant they collided, a visible shockwave of spiritual energy rippled outward, sweeping across the surroundings.
The rate at which his blood energy drained surged dramatically, pushing Feng Qi's body into an overclocked state.
Just as he was about to unleash his full power, the golden arm that had emerged from the void suddenly vanished.
Looking up, he saw Hei Xuan watching him with a calm smile.
"I didn't expect you to possess such a formidable physique. This must be your true body, right? Congratulations, you've passed my initial test. You now qualify for a support package. As expected, someone recognized by the Mist Lord could never be weak."
Hearing this, Feng Qi couldn't help but ask curiously,
"How does my support package compare to Old Mist's?"
"There's no comparison," Hei Xuan replied bluntly. "They're on completely different levels."
"Why? You didn't even test him." Feng Qi rolled his eyes.
"He doesn't need testing. We know him well. He was once someone my Psionic Race could only look up to," Hei Xuan said, turning toward the Mist Lord with a smile.
The Mist Lord's expression remained indifferent, completely unmoved by the praise.
Feng Qi understood why.
Pledging loyalty to the Psionic Race was absolutely not a glorious choice for the Mist Lord.
The Psionic Race had once been a subjugated faction, ruthlessly exploited by the Mist Clan. Even ordinary Mist Clan members looked down on them, let alone the Mist Lord himself.
This was like a former pet suddenly becoming the master.
Now, after years of separation, this "pet" stood in front of its former owner, boasting about its greatness, urging the owner to submit and promising a well-fed future in return.
For the Mist Lord, hearing praise from the Psionic Race only brought humiliation.
Feng Qi had known Old Mist for years and could read him like a book.
Even though the Mist Lord must have felt utter humiliation, he wouldn't sacrifice his life for mere pride.
Because as long as he was alive, there was always a chance to turn the tables.
Death was the lowest, most worthless outcome.
The Mist Lord turned to Hei Xuan.
"Now that I've agreed, it's time for you to tell us exactly what you need us to do."
Hei Xuan shook his head.
"No rush. First, we sign a contract."
With that, Hei Xuan walked toward a stone platform in the distance.
Feng Qi and the Mist Lord immediately followed.
A moment later, an ancient contract scroll materialized in midair. With a wave of his hand, Hei Xuan erased the blood-colored text that had previously been inscribed on it, leaving the scroll blank.
Then, a golden light shot out from Hei Xuan's forehead, weaving through the air as it began engraving new words onto the scroll.
After ten seconds, the contract was complete, filled once more with mysterious symbols.
Hei Xuan turned toward the Mist Lord.
"Use your blood to sign your name in the lower right corner."
The Mist Lord frowned slightly.
He couldn't read the ancient text on the contract, so he had no way to verify if there were any hidden traps.
Hei Xuan seemed to notice the Mist Lord's hesitation.
With a wave of his hand, a semi-transparent golden tendril extended from his forehead, reaching toward Feng Qi and the Mist Lord.
Neither of them chose to dodge.
By now, their lives were already in the hands of the Psionic Race.
If Hei Xuan wanted them dead, they wouldn't even have the chance to run.
As the golden tendril touched their foreheads, its tip gently pressed in, slowly merging with their skin.
Feng Qi felt no discomfort—only a cool sensation spreading through his forehead, as if something was seeping into his mind.
Gradually, a faint golden mark appeared on both their foreheads.
This mark was then imprinted onto the ancient scroll, and suddenly, the previously indecipherable text became readable.
Hei Xuan's voice echoed in their minds.
"I've now implanted the knowledge of this language into you. Next, I'll help establish a deeper connection with the Sacred Spirit Consciousness Vault. Do not resist—just stay relaxed."
Hearing this, Feng Qi immediately closed his eyes, calming his thoughts.
He didn't know how much time passed, but suddenly, glimmering stars appeared in his vision.
It was as if he were drifting through a vast cosmic river, countless stars passing by as he continued traveling deeper and deeper into the unknown.
After what felt like an eternity, a colossal stone monument covered in rust and age came into view.
At the center of the monument, a line of boldly engraved words gleamed under the celestial light:
"I can endure a lifetime of suffering, but my people must not!"