Feng Qi was filled with curiosity about the ambush plan the Mist Lord had in mind.
He didn't find it cruel at all.
The Silver Moon Clan were the invaders. If it weren't for Suction Cup and Tian Shu, Star City would have already been engulfed in a massacre.
When that time came, blood would flow like rivers, and the Silver Moon Clan wouldn't show a shred of mercy to humanity.
His only concern was how this ambush plan would unfold.
If they faced the enemy head-on, Star City wouldn't stand a chance, even with the full force of the city. Aside from Tian Shu, no one could contend with them.
But asking Tian Shu to step in was clearly not an option.
Tian Shu's power was undeniable. In a previous timeline, he had single-handedly collapsed the Silver Moon Clan's spatial passage, utterly crushing their invasion.
However, Tian Shu's abilities were highly unstable, and his unpredictable nature posed a major risk.
If things went wrong, he might end up destroying Star City itself.
Faced with Feng Qi's question, the Mist Lord pondered in silence for a long time before finally laying out his plan.
As he listened, Feng Qi nodded continuously.
From the Mist Lord's perspective, the Silver Moon Clan was no longer a threat—instead, they were now a valuable resource for humanity's evolution.
Right now, the Silver Moon Clan was like meat on the chopping block.
All of their hidden movements had been completely exposed.
What was meant to be a surprise attack had now turned into an open hand—every move was under their control.
Now, they could dictate the timing and location of the Silver Moon Clan's arrival.
The Mist Lord believed they could set up an array in advance—a massive Blood Refinement Formation, a perfect trap.
Once the Silver Moon warriors arrived through the spatial passage, they would fall straight into it.
Those who got refined by the array would become a massive source of blood energy, which would in turn fuel Star City's development.
Blood energy would be a crucial resource for cultivating the Blood Refinement Method, helping humanity enhance their bloodline potential.
At this point, the Mist Lord suddenly proposed taking 30% of the blood energy for himself—to use as the foundation of his own forces.
Feng Qi didn't refuse this request.
Setting aside personal sentiment, the success of this ambush plan would heavily depend on the Mist Lord's involvement.
From setting up the Blood Refinement Formation to training warriors to control the array's key nodes, everything would require his expertise.
Even though killing the enemy seemed easy, a lot of preparations had to be made in advance.
By the time they finished discussing, dawn had already arrived.
Feng Qi left the Tiger Soul Research Institute, while the Mist Lord remained in the training room, studying database records.
Feng Qi's next destination—the Star City Military Department.
Star City Military Headquarters.
Stepping out of the Tiger Soul's transport, Feng Qi arrived at the south gate of the Star City Military Headquarters.
The military base was located in the central district of Star City, along Starlight Lake. It had been established long before the Tiger Soul and Crimson Research Institutes.
In its early days, it wasn't even called the Star City Military Department.
Back then, each district of Star City was still an independent city, and hadn't yet merged into a single entity.
When Domain Creatures launched their full-scale invasion, multiple cities united to form the predecessor of the Star City Military Department—the Southern District Joint Combat Division.
In the early days of the Calamity, every battle against the Domain forces resulted in horrific casualties for the Southern District Joint Combat Division.
To replenish their numbers, the Joint Combat Division was expanded, incorporating law enforcement personnel into its ranks.
The military's original structure determined that it would become the first major institution of the newly formed Star City.
Even though it lacked legislative power, it held two core responsibilities—law enforcement and external warfare.
Beneath the military headquarters, there were seven departments:
1. External Combat Division
2. City Law Enforcement Division
3. Command Division
4. Logistics Division
5. Training Division
6. Communications Division
7. Intelligence Division
Each department was under the overall command of the Command Division.
To prepare for emergency situations within Star City, the military established outposts in every district, equipped with advanced weaponry and equipment.
Compared to Tiger Soul and Crimson Research Institute, the military headquarters had a simpler entrance—there were no towering walls, only barbed wire fencing marking the perimeter.
Through the gaps in the wire, Feng Qi could clearly see a large number of weapons and equipment neatly arranged on the base's central square.
Arriving at the south gate, he was met with a routine security check by stationed soldiers.
After confirming his identity, he was escorted inside by a soldier, who drove him to the Main Command Building.
Once they arrived, the soldier led him up to the sixth floor before stepping away.
Feng Qi took a deep breath, then knocked on the door.
A familiar voice called out from inside:
"Come in."
Pushing open the door, the first thing he saw was a large office desk, stacked high with documents. To the left of a monitor, a small military flag of Star City stood upright.
Behind the desk, two larger flags were mounted diagonally.
The left flag bore the emblem of Star City, while the right flag displayed the insignia of the Star City Military Department.
To the left side of the room, there was a detailed 3D model of Star City.
Numerous small military flags were pinned to it—each representing a military outpost within the city.
Apart from this, there were other strategic placements marked across the city.
Clearly, this room was not a place an outsider could casually enter.
Even Domain Creatures, if they tried to infiltrate, would find it nearly impossible to gain access—and even if they did, they still wouldn't be able to control the operations of the military.
The military regulations of Star City were clear and absolute—their only duty was to protect Star City and humanity.
Any Domain faction attempting to manipulate the military for their own benefit would encounter tremendous resistance. Even if they somehow gained control of the commander's authority, it wouldn't work.
For example, if someone ordered the military to slaughter Star City's citizens, even if the order came from the highest command, it would be rejected by lower-ranking officers.
To mobilize the Star City military, only two conditions had to be met:
1. The action must be deemed necessary for the survival of humanity or the security of Star City.
2. The operation must be approved by the highest-ranking military council and receive unanimous consent from the leaders of all seven military divisions.
Beyond that, all military actions were subject to oversight by the Star City Supreme Council.
For this reason, it was almost impossible for outside forces to infiltrate the Star City military. Any command that threatened human civilization would be blocked before it could ever be executed.
Even if someone managed to issue such an order, it would be vetoed long before it could take effect.
Sitting at the office desk, a silver-haired, imposing elder in a well-tailored military uniform was carefully reviewing classified reports sent from other regions of Star City.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up from the documents, his gaze sharp yet calm.
"Commander Li Huanyan." Feng Qi spoke respectfully as he stepped forward.
The old man put down his pen and smiled faintly. "You're here. Take a seat."
He stood up from behind the desk and walked over to the sofa, his movements steady and measured.
Feng Qi sat across from him, and without wasting time, he got straight to the point.
"Commander Li, I need to borrow some soldiers to carry out the next phase of my plan."
Li Huanyan's expression remained neutral.
"How many do you need?"
"I need 1,800 elite soldiers to serve as core nodes for the Blood Refinement Formation—they will be responsible for operating the array during the ambush. However, I would like to borrow 3,000 soldiers so that the Mist Lord can personally select the best candidates and eliminate any unsuitable recruits before finalizing the team."
Li Huanyan's eyes flickered at the mention of the Mist Lord.
"Is this 'Mist Lord' the Domain creature that Director Lü Yue mentioned?"
Feng Qi nodded.
"He has journeyed with me through multiple timelines. In this sacrifice line, he will walk with us, and in the future, the Mist Clan will be one of humanity's strongest allies."
Li Huanyan fell silent for a long time.
After a few moments, he finally nodded.
"To be honest, the idea that you can travel across different timelines is still difficult for me to fully comprehend. But Director Lü has already convinced me. For the future development of Star City, I will give you my full support. Borrowing 3,000 soldiers is not an issue."
"I will personally select 3,000 trustworthy and highly talented warriors for you."
"Where do you plan to train them?"
Feng Qi had already considered this.
The Tiger Soul Research Institute's base only had small-scale training facilities—training 3,000 soldiers at once was out of the question.
The only place in Star City with sufficient military training facilities was the Star City Military Department, which had state-of-the-art equipment and advanced training fields.
He turned to Li Huanyan and said,
"Commander Li, I will also need a dedicated training ground to conduct the program."
Li Huanyan smiled and nodded.
"All of your requests will be granted. I have only one condition—regardless of how much you trust the Mist Lord, you must always remain cautious when dealing with Domain creatures. No matter how reliable he seems, you must always prepare for potential risks."
"You have my word," Feng Qi said firmly.
After discussing the training plans in detail, Feng Qi stood up and bid farewell to Li Huanyan, leaving the Star City Military Department.
A few minutes later, a group of escorting soldiers met him outside the headquarters and escorted him away.
Central Star City, Training Ground No. 3.
A total of 3,000 fully armed soldiers stood in perfect formation, waiting for their new instructor to arrive.
The sun was blazing overhead, but not a single soldier complained. No one spoke, no one moved—their expressions were cold and disciplined.
These soldiers came from all seven military divisions, and each of them had been hand-picked for this training.
However, they had been given very little information about the mission.
All they knew was that only 1,800 out of 3,000 would be selected for an important task—but until they passed the training requirements, they had no right to know what the mission actually was.
Despite their uncertainty, every single one of them was determined to make it through.
As they stood waiting, the gates to the training field opened.
Feng Qi and the Mist Lord stepped in.
After verifying their identities at the entrance, they walked toward the formation of 3,000 soldiers.
Feng Qi took a moment to observe the lineup, then stepped aside, allowing the Mist Lord to take charge.
At this moment, the 3,000 elite soldiers stared at the Mist Lord, their expressions filled with curiosity and confusion.
Until now, none of them had heard of this so-called 'Mist Lord'.
What puzzled them even more was his appearance—his violet hair and violet eyes stood out like a sore thumb.
His youthful and almost carefree look was nothing like the experienced battlefield instructors they had expected.
The Mist Lord smirked.
"I can already tell—you guys don't think I look like a proper instructor, huh?"
His voice carried a playful tone, but it was calm and steady.
"You expected a battle-hardened veteran, maybe with a huge scar across his face, right?"
A few soldiers glanced at each other but remained silent, maintaining strict discipline.
They simply stood still, waiting for his next words.
But then—
The atmosphere suddenly shifted.
The Mist Lord's gaze darkened, and an overwhelming killing intent exploded from his body.
It was cold, suffocating, and razor-sharp.
A deadly pressure surged through the air, making their bodies tense up involuntarily.
Even the most seasoned veterans among them felt an instinctive chill run down their spines.
It was as if they were standing face-to-face with death itself.
For the first time, they realized something terrifying—
This man was no ordinary instructor.
This was a true monster of the battlefield.
The Mist Lord's voice rang out, carrying an undeniable weight.
"Look into my eyes. The first round of training begins now. Let's see just how strong your willpower really is."
At his command, every soldier present lifted their heads and stared directly into his violet eyes.
In that instant, their vision blurred—it was as if their entire world began to distort. The Mist Lord's violet irises swirled hypnotically, pulling at their minds, as though trying to drag their consciousness into an abyss.
Then, a low, whispering murmur crept into their thoughts.
The Mist Lord's mental coercion had begun.
Feng Qi watched calmly from the sidelines.
This power was not unfamiliar to him.
He vividly remembered his first experience in the Future Dream Realm—when he dared not step westward due to the eerie whispers emanating from the fog. Instead, he had followed the narrator's suggestion and moved eastward, escaping the unknown horror.
Now, that same oppressive force was bearing down on the soldiers.
Sweat beaded on their foreheads.
Their faces contorted in pain as they struggled to resist an invisible force invading their minds.
The whispering voices in their heads grew louder—they twisted their thoughts, clawing at their deepest fears.
For thirty grueling minutes, the soldiers endured pure mental torment.
Then, at last, the Mist Lord withdrew his power and gave a satisfied nod.
"Physically, you're all pretty weak, but I'll admit—your willpower is impressive. I didn't expect a single one of you to last through the first round without collapsing."
A wicked grin spread across his face.
"But let me warn you—the difficulty is only going to increase. Some of you will be crippled, some of you may even die. If you're having second thoughts, now is your last chance to leave."
His words were chilling.
But not a single soldier wavered.
They had already prepared themselves before accepting this mission. Many had written their wills in advance.
Feng Qi watched from the side, nodding to himself.
These weren't just any soldiers—they were the elite of Star City's military. Their mental fortitude and resolve were already beyond question.
By the end of training, only 1,800 of them would remain.
These would not only serve as the core nodes of the Blood Refinement Formation, but they would also become the first test subjects for the Blood Refinement Technique.
From these 1,800 soldiers, the Blood Refinement Technique would eventually spread across Star City.
Beyond that, they would also be the first to test new military advancements—virtual simulations, living combat armor, and other cutting-edge tech.
They would be the first batch of warriors under Feng Qi's Humanity's Rise Plan.
But first—they had to survive the trials ahead.
The second round of the Mist Lord's training began.
This time, it was a test of physical endurance.
"Follow my movements. Hold each stance for ten minutes while synchronizing your breath to the rhythm I dictate…"
For hours, they trained.
By the time the session ended, the 3,000 soldiers were shaking from exhaustion, yet none had fallen.
The Mist Lord nodded approvingly.
"Congratulations. You've made it through the warm-up. Now the real test begins. Good luck."
Dripping with sweat, the soldiers couldn't even respond.
Any trace of arrogance or doubt they had felt toward the Mist Lord was completely gone.
Throughout the training, the Mist Lord had barely broken a sweat. His body seemed limitless, leagues beyond anything they could comprehend.
Feng Qi had seen enough.
He trusted the Mist Lord to handle this.
Now, he had something far more urgent to take care of.
He left the training grounds and returned to the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
There was one more critical matter to resolve—something vital to ensuring the success of the Silver Moon Clan extermination plan.
He needed to eliminate the Silver Moon Clan spies hiding within Star City.
From the previous timeline, Lin Ran had already mapped out their exact locations and passed the intelligence to him.
Before executing the ambush, those hidden Silver Moon operatives had to be neutralized.
Otherwise, they could disrupt the plan at a critical moment.
However, Feng Qi had delayed taking action against them.
Not because of mercy—but because they still had value.
For now, the Silver Moon Clan was actually helping Star City's development.
In particular, Yin Ling, the head of Star City's energy sector, had recently proposed a groundbreaking new energy architecture.
Her proposed design could increase energy efficiency by 7%, reducing waste during transmission.
7% might seem small, but over time, it translated into massive savings.
This was why Feng Qi had yet to eliminate them.
It was pointless to kill them too soon—better to squeeze every last drop of use from them first.
After all, why kill the livestock before the harvest?
For the next several days, he issued multiple directives to expedite the completion of Yin Ling's energy project.
Through the Tiger Soul Research Institute, the Crimson Research Institute, and the Star City Military Department, he continuously pressured her to finalize the new design as quickly as possible.
There was no doubt about Yin Ling's capabilities.
She had become the director of the energy sector at a young age, proving her brilliance.
Unlike the Night Shadow Clan, who had infiltrated the Tiger Soul Research Institute using mental manipulation, the Silver Moon Clan had achieved their influence through sheer merit.
They had spent decades embedding themselves into Star City's energy infrastructure, slowly gaining authority over time.
If it weren't for Feng Qi uncovering their plans, they would have never been exposed.
Truthfully, the Silver Moon Clan had made significant contributions to Star City's energy development.
Feng Qi had no intention of letting the Silver Moon Clan live much longer in this timeline.
Compared to their contributions to energy development, completely exterminating the Silver Moon Clan would provide far greater benefits to Star City's future.
But before that could happen, preparations had to be made.
Once Yin Ling and the other key figures in the energy sector were eliminated, there had to be a replacement team ready to take over, ensuring that Star City's energy infrastructure remained operational.
Feng Qi had already devised a plan.
He intended to train a group of personnel from the Tiger Soul Research Institute, having them familiarize themselves with the energy system in advance. They didn't need to innovate or push new developments; they simply needed to keep the system running smoothly.
During a high-level meeting of the Star City Supreme Council, Yin Ling finally submitted the new energy framework proposal for Star City.
The moment Feng Qi saw the schematics, he knew—the plan could now proceed.
He had been waiting for this document for a long time.
As for whether the new energy model was feasible—he had no doubts. After all, history had already proven its success.
As soon as the council meeting concluded, Feng Qi convened a private session at the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Attending the meeting were top officials from the Crimson Research Institute, the Star City Military, and the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
The topic was straightforward—how to completely eliminate the Silver Moon Clan.
Directly attacking the energy facilities was not an option.
That would cause too much chaos, alerting the Silver Moon Clan prematurely. Worse, they would have to launch multiple simultaneous raids across different energy sectors, increasing the risk of leaks or escapees.
The last time he had successfully hunted the Silver Moon Clan, it was because he had planted a tracking chip in Lin Ran, allowing him to pursue their every movement.
But if even one Silver Moon operative managed to flee, the entire ambush would be ruined.
Violent methods were not the best solution.
During the meeting, representatives from the three institutions each presented their own strategies.
Gradually, a clear plan began to take shape.
There was a precedent for this approach.
In a previous timeline, the Crimson Research Institute had once collaborated with Mu Qing to lure various infiltrators from Domain factions to an important conference. Then, once they had gathered inside the meeting hall, Mu Qing had slaughtered every last one of them.
This was a proven method.
It was just a matter of replicating it.
Once the meeting ended, preparations began immediately.
The three major institutions sent out official invitations to the directors of Star City's Western Energy Division, calling for a high-level summit to discuss Star City's future energy development.
The conference was scheduled for three months later, with strict attendance requirements—every key official had to be present in person.
Additionally, several detailed pre-conference requirements were sent to the invitees, ensuring that they would spend the next three months focusing on finalizing their plans.
Rather than a simple invitation, framing it as a mandatory summit made it harder for them to refuse.
The Crimson Research Institute.
A convoy of vehicles from the Western Energy Division arrived at the entrance of Crimson Base, undergoing identity verification before being allowed inside.
An hour later, inside the Crimson Assembly Hall.
Security personnel meticulously checked the attendee list.
If even one name was missing, the operation couldn't proceed—a thorough headcount was critical.
From his seat in the corner of the hall, Feng Qi silently scanned the faces of the guests, his gaze eventually landing on Yin Ling.
She was dressed in the official uniform of the Energy Research Institute, flipping through a thick stack of proposal documents, entirely focused on her upcoming presentation.
Suddenly, she seemed to sense his gaze.
She looked up, her flawless features filled with mild curiosity as she locked eyes with him.
Feng Qi smiled casually and waved in greeting.
Seeing this, Yin Ling gave a polite nod and a small smile before turning her attention back to her files.
Feng Qi then shifted his gaze, studying the other attendees.
Just then, his phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
A single message appeared:
[Headcount confirmed. All Silver Moon Clan members on the list are present.]
A smirk appeared on Feng Qi's face.
But he wasn't in a hurry to execute the plan just yet.
Before eliminating them, he wanted to extract every last ounce of value from the Silver Moon Clan's knowledge.
The energy framework proposals they had submitted might still be useful for Star City's future.
One by one, representatives from various energy divisions took the stage, each presenting their vision for Star City's energy future.
Meanwhile, several staff members from the Crimson Research Institute diligently recorded every detail of the discussions.
Time ticked by, and as noon approached, the final speaker finished their presentation.
Feng Qi rose from his seat and walked toward the stage.
The Silver Moon Clan members turned to him in confusion, unsure why he was suddenly taking the floor.
Standing before them, Feng Qi swept his gaze across the hall, then smiled and spoke:
"May the Silver Moon God bless you."
The moment the words left his mouth, he placed his right hand over his heart, forming a specific hand gesture.
Instantly, shock and fear spread across the faces of the Silver Moon Clan members.
Because that hand gesture was a sacred mourning symbol—a prayer for the dead.
A gesture only used to honor the fallen.
Before they could react, the main doors of the hall slammed shut.
Heavy metal shutters descended over the windows, sealing the room completely.
A low, rhythmic thudding echoed through the chamber—like the beating of a war drum, reverberating deep into their souls.
Feng Qi's body began to change, his frame growing taller, his presence intensifying.
At the far end of the hall, the Mist Lord appeared silently by the door.
His violet eyes glowed ominously, and a cruel grin spread across his face.
His form began to dissolve into mist, drifting toward the Silver Moon Clan members like a shroud of death.