Qin Shikong's explanation gave Feng Qi a deeper understanding of the power of Miracle Items.
At this stage, Feng Qi had identified four Miracle Items:
The first, without a doubt, was the material used to create Little Black.
It granted Little Black an almost indestructible body, immunity to energy-based attacks, and the terrifying ability to absorb massive amounts of energy.
The second was the Psionic Race's "Sacred Spirit," essentially their consciousness database.
This database allowed the Psionic Race to accumulate infinite knowledge. Any newly born member of the race could "download" all the knowledge stored in the Sacred Spirit. To acquire additional knowledge, one only needed to access the database.
As long as this race continued to thrive, their next generation would always surpass the previous, making the Sacred Spirit the ultimate tool for cultivating future talents.
The third was the "Bloodstone" being escorted during this mission.
It was evident that the Bloodstone was merely a fragment and not a complete Miracle Item.
Compared to the other Miracle Items, its effects appeared weaker.
However, this "weakness" was relative. Even as a fragment, the Bloodstone could produce "small Bloodstones" that raised the upper limit of bloodline strength. This alone made it a massive boon to the development of any race.
If the Sacred Spirit could grant endless knowledge, the Bloodstone could enhance a race's genetic and physical potential.
To illustrate, if a being were to consume enough Bloodstones, even a pig could gain a terrifyingly powerful physique. Its offspring could inherit dragon-like strength and resilience.
The Bloodstone fundamentally enhanced the genetic potential of a species, pushing their biological evolution to unprecedented heights.
The fourth Miracle Item was Qin Shikong's ability, which Feng Qi temporarily called "Deduction."
According to Qin Shikong, what he consumed back then was merely a fragment.
Even so, this incomplete Miracle Item granted him the ability to deduce the future and unravel the mysteries of fate.
Had Qin Shikong's Deduction ability not been so erratic and dependent on random triggers, he could have transformed countless lives and even steered humanity's civilization toward ultimate victory.
For example, Qin Shikong could continually deduce his future and identify which actions would alter its trajectory. This iterative process would allow him to systematically trial-and-error his way to changing outcomes.
However, the incomplete nature of the "Miracle—Deduction" rendered it an auxiliary ability, unable to fully rewrite the future.
Beyond these four known Miracle Items, Feng Qi suspected that he himself harbored two Miracles.
The first was the Narrator.
It lacked physical form but was parasitic to his consciousness, capable of perceiving the outside world and engaging in mental dialogue with him.
The second was his ability to extract talents and bloodline evolution points after killing domain creatures.
This ability was undoubtedly extraordinary and aligned with the unique powers bestowed by Miracle Items.
However, Feng Qi considered another possibility: perhaps he only possessed one Miracle Item—the Narrator.
The talent-extraction ability might also originate from the Narrator.
This theory gained traction when Feng Qi realized that after the Narrator left this timeline, he lost his ability to extract talents.
Regardless of the true nature of his abilities, Feng Qi was convinced that he carried at least one Miracle Item.
The residual aura of this Miracle Item might have drawn the relentless pursuit of the blue-skinned assassins, who were systematically collecting Miracles.
This notion was further corroborated by Qin Shikong's situation. Like Feng Qi, Qin Shikong was also targeted by these assassins.
Still, one question lingered:
Which domain faction did the blue-skinned assassins belong to, and how did they create the mystical orbs capable of tracking Miracle Items?
The sheer scale of their operation—dispatching agents across countless locations to search for Miracles—attested to their faction's immense strength.
Feng Qi even speculated that a super-domain creature might be orchestrating the collection of Miracles, laying the groundwork for a grand scheme.
Yet these mysteries could only be unraveled with time. It was possible that in this timeline, Feng Qi would never uncover the truth.
Only the "main timeline" version of him, who persistently gathered intelligence, might eventually solve this puzzle.
As Feng Qi sank into deep thought, Qin Shikong broke the silence with a curious question:
"The battle in the gorge is so intense. Why would Lü Yue risk her life to go there?"
Feng Qi replied without hesitation, "To save someone."
"Who?" Qin Shikong asked.
"Wang Yi," Feng Qi said matter-of-factly.
"Why save her? She's likely a domain creature. Haven't you already noticed?" Qin Shikong asked in bewilderment.
"She is indeed a domain creature, but she still holds value in my plans. I must ensure she survives; otherwise, the subsequent steps won't proceed," Feng Qi replied calmly.
"Plans? What plans?" Qin Shikong pressed, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
Feng Qi didn't intend to hide the truth and briefly explained his circumstances.
Upon hearing the explanation, Qin Shikong's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Are you serious? I thought having the Deduction ability was extraordinary enough, and now you're telling me you can traverse timelines?"
"There's no reason to lie at this point. Besides, my ability likely originates from a Miracle as well, similar to your Deduction," Feng Qi said, his tone steady.
It took a moment for Qin Shikong to recover. He sighed, a trace of self-deprecation in his voice.
"I've always thought I was the protagonist of this world because of my Deduction ability. But compared to you, your powers make you seem more like the protagonist."
Feng Qi chuckled. "The real protagonist is your future superior. From the perspective of humanity's history, he's undoubtedly the strongest protagonist of this era."
"Who are you talking about?" Qin Shikong's expression turned serious.
"Mu Qing," Feng Qi replied.
At the mention of Mu Qing, Qin Shikong's eyes widened in shock.
"I've been considering seeking him out. His actions lately have been nothing short of extraordinary. I even used Deduction to glimpse his future. One thing is clear: he is this era's greatest variable."
Feng Qi's mind drifted to the formation of the Dawn Army.
In this timeline, one of the most pivotal events shaping the future—and one deeply etched into history—was undoubtedly the emergence of the Dawn Army and the wars it waged against humanity.
From a historical perspective, Qin Shikong's claim that Mu Qing was the greatest variable made perfect sense.
Feng Qi shifted his gaze toward the gorge, where Lü Yue hovered in the air above, surveying the battlefield below. His focus was on Wang Yi, also known as the Mist Lord.
The fierce wind howled, causing Lü Yue's flowing hair to dance wildly in the air. His poised and commanding presence resembled that of a legendary sword immortal.
Feng Qi turned to Qin Shikong.
"I'm heading closer to observe the situation. If something unexpected happens, I'll need to support Lü Yue."
Without waiting for a response, Feng Qi began making his way toward the gorge, keeping a safe distance to avoid being caught in the crossfire while remaining close enough to provide aid if needed.
Before long, Qin Shikong reappeared at his side, smiling.
"Feng Qi, I'll join you."
Feng Qi raised an eyebrow. "Don't you need to look after your battle squad?"
"Hold on." Qin Shikong pulled out a communication device from somewhere and pressed a button. His tone turned commanding.
"Old Wang, take everyone back to the supply zone."
A gruff, aged voice replied through the device.
"What about you?"
"I've got more important matters to handle. Ensure the team's safety."
"Understood!"
After ending the call, Qin Shikong smiled at Feng Qi.
"All set. I can accompany you now."
"Thank you," Feng Qi said with a nod.
The two soon arrived at the outskirts of the gorge, where the battle was raging. From here, they could observe more closely, with their attention focused on the Mist Lord.
In this timeline, Feng Qi believed there was a high probability that Lin Ran would eventually counter-parasite the Mist Lord in the future dream realm. Thus, the Mist Lord had to survive.
If Lin Ran succeeded, it would significantly bolster the other version of Feng Qi's strength in a short time.
Moreover, the other Feng Qi urgently needed to address a pressing issue:
How to mitigate the accumulation of negative emotions and their impact.
Even if his alternate self activated the immensely powerful "Blood Source Form," capturing the agile and elusive Three-Tails would remain a formidable challenge.
However, with Lin Ran—strengthened by counter-parasiting the Mist Lord—capturing Three-Tails would no longer be an insurmountable task.
The Mist Lord held immense strategic value. Ensuring his survival was non-negotiable.
In the future, when everything was under control, the other Feng Qi could always eliminate the Mist Lord in the main timeline if necessary.
With this thought, Feng Qi glanced at Lü Yue, who was still surveying the battlefield from above.
Though Lü Yue was incredibly strong, the domain creatures below were even stronger, leaving him at a distinct disadvantage.
If the Mist Lord were to encounter an unexpected situation at this moment, saving him would undoubtedly come with significant risks to one's life.
However, this was a risk Feng Qi had to take.
Everything was for the sake of ensuring the other version of himself could continue down the path he had paved.
"You keep an eye on the battle. Let me know if anything happens. I'll prepare an array just in case," Qin Shikong said, breaking Feng Qi's train of thought.
As he spoke, Qin Shikong loosened his robes.
The inner lining of his daoist robe was lined with talismans. Each talisman was meticulously inscribed with high-purity spiritual energy, forming intricate golden trajectories.
Moments later, Qin Shikong's body trembled slightly, and the golden talismans adhered to his robes detached themselves one by one, floating midair.
Feng Qi immediately sensed a surge of spiritual energy waves emanating from them.
Under the pull of Qin Shikong's spiritual energy, the talismans began to orbit around him in a steady, rhythmic motion.
Although Feng Qi wasn't well-versed in array techniques, he knew a thing or two about the subject.
Array techniques were a significant branch of cultivation studies. They emerged later than cultivation techniques and spellcraft but quickly became indispensable in every combat squad.
Array masters could use tools like talismans and array flags—pre-inscribed with spiritual energy patterns—to create controlled domains for both offensive and defensive purposes, allowing for large-scale strategic maneuvers.
Arrays were generally categorized into two types: mobile arrays and stationary arrays.
As the name suggests, mobile arrays could move with the array master, often utilizing tools like array flags.
For example, Jia Yi's small-scale arrays, deployed with flags, fell under this category.
Stationary arrays, on the other hand, were fixed in place and unable to move once established. Large-scale arrays typically belonged to this type, boasting extensive coverage and immense power.
While arrays were powerful, they had an inherent flaw—they took time to set up.
Without teammates to provide cover, array masters were vulnerable to being eliminated before the array could be fully formed.
This was especially true for large-scale arrays, which required significant preparation time and were impossible to deploy quickly.
However, Qin Shikong's array setup speed was astonishing.
Every so often, he would extend his hand in a specific direction, and a talisman orbiting him would shoot toward the corresponding spot, locking into place.
As time passed, more and more talismans were anchored into position.
Golden lines of spiritual energy began to connect the talismans, gradually forming the structure of the array.
The array was circular, covering a radius of over a hundred meters. From its center, a faint golden barrier shimmered at its outermost edge, barely perceptible.
As the setup continued, a glowing golden sphere materialized at the array's center.
This sphere was the array's core, also known as its "eye."
The array eye served as the control hub, allowing the array master to make real-time adjustments. However, it was also the array's weakest point.
If the eye were destroyed, the energy lines connecting the talismans or array flags would instantly sever, causing the entire array to collapse.
Standing at the center of the array for the first time, Feng Qi couldn't help but marvel at the process. It was akin to watching an architect construct a magnificent building.
Time passed, and Qin Shikong showed no signs of slowing down. Feng Qi shifted his gaze back to the battlefield.
The battle raged on, escalating to an even more intense level.
The Mist Lord, the focal point of Feng Qi's concern, had lost nearly all his subordinate combat squad members. Forced out of the core conflict zone, he no longer dared to recklessly charge in for the bloodstone.
The competition was utterly brutal.
Lives in the core zone were as insignificant as grass, easily snuffed out by stray attacks.
Without sufficient strength, even the shockwaves from the core battle could prove fatal.
Yet, despite his precarious position, Feng Qi felt that the Mist Lord still had something up his sleeve.
The Mist Lord might not be particularly remarkable in this era, but 1,500 years in the future, he was an undisputed overlord.
By then, many of the once-dominant domain species, including those backing the Institute of Technological Research, would have fallen.
Yet the Mist Lord survived, orchestrating a millennium-long scheme to annihilate humanity while taking down countless domain species.
Now, however, he was visibly at a disadvantage—unable to reenter the core conflict zone. Yet he made no attempt to leave.
It defied logic.
From what Feng Qi knew of the Mist Lord, he wasn't the type to act recklessly.
He vividly recalled how the Mist Lord decisively fled when he realized Little Black was an unbeatable opponent.
There was no way the Mist Lord would risk his life here without a plan.
If he was staying, it could only mean one thing—he still had confidence in his ability to secure the bloodstone.
Feng Qi decided to wait and observe the Mist Lord's final move.
His only concern was that his actions might have altered history, potentially disrupting the Mist Lord's trajectory.
If the Mist Lord failed to secure the bloodstone and instead perished here, the counter-parasite plan for this timeline would be a complete failure.
This would mean the other Feng Qi would never meet Lin Ran 1,500 years later, robbing him of a powerful ally.
The thought made Feng Qi uneasy.
He never expected that one day he'd risk his life to save a domain creature.
But what choice did he have?
The Mist Lord was simply too valuable.