After presenting their energy development proposals, the Silver Moon Clan had officially exhausted their usefulness in Feng Qi's eyes.
At that moment, the Mist Lord appeared, blocking the only exit.
Panic spread across the Silver Moon Clan members in the room.
They had assumed this was just a normal strategic discussion about the future of Star City's energy infrastructure, never expecting that they had walked into a trap.
And worst of all—they weren't prepared for it.
Having hidden within human society for decades, their identities were flawless, impossible to trace even using the most advanced database records.
Of course, they had considered the possibility of exposure.
But there was no way it would happen this soon.
They had spent years studying humanity, confident that with human technology, there was no chance their cover could be blown.
They didn't even think Star City would bother investigating them in the first place.
On the surface, they had no weaknesses. They had never harmed Star City's security or even misappropriated resources from the Energy Research Institute.
So when they saw Feng Qi's gesture, a sacred symbol of mourning used by the Silver Moon Clan, their minds refused to believe it.
Their first instinct was that there was a traitor among them.
But that thought was quickly dismissed—they were warriors of the Silver Moon Clan, they knew each other well, and none of them would ever betray their entire species just to help humanity.
And yet, no matter how many questions flooded their minds, one fact was now undeniable—
They had been exposed.
"Break through!"
As the vanguard leader, Yin Ling sprang to her feet, the warmth in her expression vanishing, replaced by an icy, murderous glare as she locked eyes with Feng Qi, who had already shifted into his Blood Titan form.
At that moment, she finally understood why Feng Qi had been watching her so intently earlier.
As soon as Yin Ling's voice fell, over a hundred Silver Moon Clan members erupted into action, rushing toward the exit.
Before they could reach the door, a figure descended from above, smashing into their ranks like a meteor.
The pounding rhythm of a war drum filled the air.
The Silver Moon Clan warriors turned to look—
And saw Feng Qi, engulfed in dark green flames, his fist raised.
Wherever his punch landed, Silver Moon Clan warriors were sent flying, their bodies shattering under the sheer force.
A violent surge of blood energy radiated outward from Feng Qi, forming a shockwave that made the nearby Silver Moon warriors' scalps go numb.
Yin Ling charged at him, a slender silver blade materializing in her grip, stabbing toward Feng Qi's heart.
"Xiao, take the others and break through the main door! I'll hold him off!"
She shouted while launching her attack.
The silver blade gleamed under the light, slicing through the air at an impossible angle, aimed directly at Feng Qi's left chest.
But Feng Qi didn't dodge.
Instead, he swung his fist toward Yin Ling, aiming for the opening in her stance.
Before her sword could pierce his chest, a blast of compressed blood energy exploded outward—
Launching Yin Ling backward like a ragdoll.
Boom!
Her body slammed into a structural pillar, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Even though she was seriously injured, Yin Ling's expression remained cold and focused.
Trembling, she pulled herself off the pillar, determination burning in her eyes.
A silver-white energy began seeping from her forehead, rapidly wrapping around her body.
Feng Qi narrowed his eyes.
She was going all out.
Yin Ling's short-distance teleportation ability was incredibly troublesome.
He had experienced it firsthand before.
So, without hesitation, he launched a preemptive attack—
Over a hundred Silver Moon warriors surged toward the exit, their faces filled with desperation.
Blocking their escape, the Mist Lord stood calmly.
He lifted his left hand and grasped at the air beside him.
In an instant, space twisted, revealing a hidden figure holding a jade flute.
With a casual motion, the Mist Lord's left arm dissolved into fog, bypassed the flute, and wrapped around the warrior's throat, lifting him into the air.
This was Yin Xiao, one of the strongest Silver Moon vanguard warriors.
Struggling frantically, Yin Xiao's face twisted in horror.
The Mist Lord grinned maliciously.
"Trying to ambush me?"
Before Yin Xiao could react, the Mist Lord's right arm turned into dense gray mist, flooding into Yin Xiao's mouth and nose.
Yin Xiao's body convulsed violently.
At that moment, his fellow warriors arrived, launching attacks to save him.
But the Mist Lord had fully recovered his strength—
The Silver Moon vanguard warriors were no match for him.
He casually waved his hand, summoning a wall of thick fog in front of him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Multiple spells and techniques struck the fog barrier, but they barely caused ripples, unable to penetrate it at all.
Even though fear flickered in the Silver Moon warriors' eyes, they still rushed forward, determined to fight.
But the Mist Lord was done playing with them.
His entire body disintegrated into a massive gray mist, spreading forward like a wave of death.
A monstrous face formed in the swirling fog.
At the same time, the Mist Lord's hand clenched, crushing Yin Xiao into a cloud of blood mist.
Absorbing the blood essence, the Mist Lord's fog surged forward, swallowing everything in its path.
Silver Moon warriors screamed as their blood was drained, their bodies withering away.
Realizing that escaping through the main entrance was impossible, the remaining warriors changed direction, sprinting toward the windows in a desperate bid to escape.
But the Mist Lord didn't give them a chance.
With a thought, the gray mist expanded, enclosing the entire assembly hall, forming an impenetrable fog barrier.
The Silver Moon warriors stared at him in terror.
The massive fog face loomed over them, its eyes devoid of mercy—
The Mist Lord showed no hesitation as he commanded the gray mist to devour them one by one.
Facing Yin Ling's teleportation attacks, Feng Qi immediately switched to Bone Form.
First, he wrapped himself in psychic energy, forming an invisible barrier to prevent sudden close-range attacks.
At the same time, he used telekinesis to track and grab Yin Ling's movements.
After a series of rapid short-distance teleports, Yin Ling's energy began to drain, and her teleportation became noticeably slower.
Her movements grew labored, her breathing ragged.
She was reaching her limit.
This battle… was already over.
Finally, Feng Qi found an opening.
The invisible tendrils formed by his telekinesis coiled around Yin Ling's neck, tightening like a vice.
Her face twisted in pain, struggling against the grip as she gazed at Feng Qi, her voice hoarse as she gasped,
"Why... where did we go wrong?"
Feng Qi didn't answer.
The dark golden brand on his forehead flared brilliantly, and in that instant, his telekinetic force erupted, snuffing out Yin Ling's life.
There was no room for mercy when it came to domain creatures.
As his telekinetic grip receded, Yin Ling's lifeless body collapsed to the floor.
Feng Qi made a hand gesture over her corpse, then turned toward the main entrance.
At that moment, the Mist Lord had also finished his battle.
Every single Silver Moon Clan member, including Yin Xiao, had been devoured by the gray mist.
Traces of scarlet streaks shimmered within the swirling fog, evidence that the Mist Lord was absorbing their blood essence.
With a thought, the golden brand on Feng Qi's forehead shattered, unleashing a surge of blood energy that reconstructed his human form.
Lowering his gaze to Yin Ling's corpse, he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
From the previous sacrificial timeline, he had already learned about Yin Ling and the Silver Moon vanguard's unyielding dedication.
They had fought with conviction, and in some ways, he respected them.
If Yin Ling and her warriors had been human, they would have been hailed as pioneers—a brave force that had ventured into a new world to establish a future homeland for their people.
For decades, they had endured in the shadows, striving toward their goal with discipline and perseverance.
If they had been on humanity's side, their names would have been recorded in history, their sacrifices honored with the highest commendations.
But there was no "if" in war.
To humankind, the Silver Moon Clan would always be the enemy.
Letting out a silent sigh, he turned toward the Mist Lord.
The sea of gray mist began collapsing inward, condensing into the Mist Lord's humanoid form—his signature purple hair and violet eyes.
Grinning, the Mist Lord looked at Feng Qi and said,
"All done. That was fresh."
Feng Qi: …
He stared at the Mist Lord's delighted expression, feeling like he was watching the villain of some dystopian movie.
At that moment, the doors and windows of the Scarlet Assembly Hall slowly opened, letting in the bright daylight from outside.
The interior was a mess—overturned tables, deep craters in the floor, scorch marks from spell blasts on the walls—yet not a single drop of blood remained.
"Cleaner than a dog's bowl."
Hearing that, the Mist Lord's smile froze, a vein pulsing on his forehead.
"What did you just say?"
"Slip of the tongue… Let's confirm the body count to make sure there are no loose ends."
Feng Qi quickly changed the subject.
This ambush had only one major risk factor—Yin Xiao.
According to Lin Ran's intelligence, the other Silver Moon members had well-documented identities as high-ranking officials within Star City's Western Energy Institutions.
However, Yin Xiao was different.
Unlike the others, he had never officially surfaced, instead using concealment techniques to remain hidden beside Yin Ling at all times.
Since they had invited the other Silver Moon officials through formal means, Yin Xiao was the only variable.
If he hadn't come, it would have altered their strategy drastically.
If Yin Xiao had escaped, it could have jeopardized future extermination plans for the entire Silver Moon Clan.
That's why Feng Qi had prepared a backup plan.
He had instructed Lü Yue to coordinate with the Star City Military to launch a simultaneous operation on the Western Energy Sector.
But the likelihood of Yin Xiao not following Yin Ling was extremely low.
According to Lin Ran's description, Yin Xiao was practically Yin Ling's shadow, following her everywhere in secret.
While strong, he lacked real-world experience, and Yin Ling wouldn't have left him behind.
As expected, the entire Silver Moon group had gathered together—allowing them to be wiped out in one decisive strike.
The ambush was a complete success.
After cross-referencing the Mist Lord's absorbed victims, confirming that no one had escaped, Feng Qi swept his gaze across the ruined assembly hall, then turned and headed for the exit.
Crimson Research Institute personnel would soon arrive to clean up the scene.
Walking side by side with the Mist Lord, under the bright afternoon sun, Feng Qi turned to him and asked,
"Old Mist, what's next for you?"
"Back to training. Once we're done with the Silver Moon Clan, I'll be moving on. I can't stay in Star City forever."
Feng Qi chuckled and nodded.
"Where to? Ever thought about fighting for the Bloodstone when the historical node arrives?"
"Too early to say. I'll decide when the time comes." The Mist Lord smiled and strode toward the Scarlet Base's entrance.
Feng Qi watched him go, shaking his head.
It was impossible to keep the Mist Lord bound to humanity forever.
Their paths would eventually diverge.
His goal was to lead Star City to greatness, transforming it into an impregnable stronghold.
But the Mist Lord had his own ambitions.
He didn't know if the Mist Lord could defy fate in this sacrificial timeline, carving out a glorious future of his own.
But he looked forward to seeing it.
Following the massacre of the Silver Moon Clan, Star City's government issued an emergency announcement.
They claimed that the Crimson Research Institute had been attacked by a Domain Transcendent, resulting in the deaths of over a hundred personnel.
The news sent shockwaves through the Five Great Cities.
For the next several days, media headlines were dominated by the incident.
The disappearance of over a hundred top-ranking officials from the Energy Research Institute couldn't simply be covered up.
Publicizing the attack had always been part of Feng Qi's plan.
After all, the Silver Moon members had spent decades infiltrating human society, starting as students before gradually rising to power.
This wasn't just an extermination—it was a statement.
During this time, the Silver Moon members had colleagues, friends, and even teachers from other cities.
Their complex social connections made it impossible to cover up their disappearance.
Claiming that a Domain Transcendent creature attacked the Crimson Research Institute was the official explanation. The truth, however, didn't matter.
No other city would send personnel to investigate—in fact, they wouldn't even think about it.
After all, Star City had its own investigative agencies.
To the hidden forces of other cities, the death of a group of high-ranking energy officials was an insignificant matter.
Within Star City itself, there was even less concern.
With all three major power institutions standing behind Feng Qi, whatever they declared became the truth.
Feng Qi even felt that he wasn't lying.
After all, the Mist Lord was a Domain Transcendent creature.
So, claiming that they were killed by one was technically accurate.
Yes, completely reasonable.
With the eradication of the Silver Moon Clan, this hidden threat was eliminated once and for all.
Now, Feng Qi shifted his focus elsewhere.
He had been monitoring the Mist Lord's training program.
Out of the original 3,000 warriors, only 2,300 remained.
Those who endured were deemed worthy by the Mist Lord, possessing strong willpower and significant potential.
However, the final goal of the Blood Refinement Warrior program was to select only 1,800 soldiers.
So, the training and elimination process would continue.
It wasn't that they couldn't train more.
But 1,800 warriors was the optimal number needed to activate the Blood Refinement Formation.
Moreover, the resources required for training were immense—particularly blood energy supplies.
These resources usually went to the Crimson Research Institute, and now, some would be redirected for this purpose.
1,800 elite warriors were enough.
A few backup candidates would be kept, but any more than that would unnecessarily drain resources.
The primary goal of the first batch of Blood Refinement Warriors was to deploy the formation and test its effectiveness.
It wasn't necessary to overinvest in training at the cost of Crimson Research Institute's resource distribution.
Aside from that, Feng Qi's greatest concern was space technology.
Lin Ran had provided information about the Silver Moon Clan's spatial coordinates and communication methods.
But the real challenge was building a functional space teleportation array.
The Crimson Research Institute had some knowledge of spatial technology, but it came from early research on domain field spatial nodes rather than advanced scientific breakthroughs.
It was an incomplete technology, requiring spatial crystals to function.
Like learning to pull a trigger without knowing how to build the gun.
Originally, the Crimson Research Institute had pursued this research in hopes of sending warriors into domain worlds to sever their connection to humanity.
They had even created a group of domain-adapted humans, warriors who were willing to sacrifice themselves for humanity's survival.
This project was called the Reverse Infiltration Plan.
But it had failed.
Those sent into the domain world via spatial crystals never returned.
After Feng Qi took charge, the Crimson Research Institute abandoned the project entirely, redirecting resources elsewhere.
Fortunately, the Mist Lord possessed spatial technology knowledge.
Before initiating the trap for the Silver Moon Clan, the Mist Lord had already planned for this.
The Mist Tribe had originally entered Tongtian Path through a spatial portal.
So, they had mastered spatial teleportation techniques.
The only problem was that the Mist Lord wasn't sure if the knowledge in his mind was entirely accurate or if it needed adjustments.
Back then, the Mist Tribe's teleportation project wasn't entirely his responsibility.
As the tribe leader, he steered the ship but didn't handle every technical detail.
The Mist Tribe's Elders had designed and managed most of the spatial portal's construction.
So, while the Mist Lord had the knowledge, he couldn't guarantee its full accuracy.
Before attempting to construct a teleportation channel connected to the Silver Moon Clan's coordinates, the technology needed rigorous testing.
For the next year, Feng Qi dedicated himself to this endeavor.
The Crimson Research Institute finally deciphered and refined the spatial technology provided by the Mist Lord.
Now, they were ready for the first prototype test of the spatial portal.
The energy supply issue had already been designed by the Silver Moon Clan, so the Crimson Research Institute only needed to follow their implementation plan.
The only problem was that constructing a large-scale teleportation array required an immense amount of energy.
That was precisely why the Silver Moon Clan had infiltrated the Western Energy Institutions in the first place.
To solve this problem, Feng Qi decided to use their own strategy against them.
Before the initial space technology test, Feng Qi notified Star City's three major power institutions and sent public announcements to all city departments and residents.
At noon, following Feng Qi's directive, all major media outlets and government agencies broadcasted the official announcement:
[Star City Supreme Council]
Notice on Star City's Energy Transmission System Upgrade
On May 26, 2025, at 8:00 AM, Star City will undergo a technological upgrade to its energy transmission system.
During this period, all energy transportation will be completely halted.
All institutions and residents are advised to prepare for a temporary energy blackout and minimize unnecessary losses.
Estimated time of energy restoration: May 27, 2025, at 8:00 AM (24-hour duration).
Participating organizations in this technological evaluation:
Star City Military Department, Tiger Soul Research Institute, Crimson Research Institute, Energy Research Institute, Star Energy Research Institute…