Staring at the photo of the "Bloodstone" on the tablet, Feng Qi froze momentarily.
He was no stranger to the Bloodstone.
In the previous sacrificial timeline, he had served as the deputy commander of the Dawn Second Combat Brigade. During that time, when Mu Qing formed the Second Brigade, a request for an escort mission from the Old Day East Supply Zone had arrived.
Mu Qing had been unavailable for the operation, so Feng Qi personally led his soldiers to the Old Day East Supply Zone. There, he met the person in charge of the Bloodstone, Li Duo, and learned about the miraculous properties of the Bloodstone in the laboratory.
It was also during this escort mission that he discovered the secret—Wang Yi was the Mist Lord.
That sacrificial timeline had ended with his death during the escort mission.
The memories surged as he suddenly realized something important.
Could this escort mission involve meeting Mu Qing?
In the previous timeline, Feng Qi's decision to join the Dawn Brigade had altered Mu Qing's growth trajectory.
In this timeline, where he had chosen not to interfere with the Dawn Brigade, it was highly likely that Mu Qing herself would participate in the escort mission.
In fact, the odds of Mu Qing's involvement were significant.
In the previous sacrificial timeline, a super domain creature had emerged in the final stages of the Bloodstone conflict.
Given the forces deployed by the various domain factions at that time, even combined, they had not been a match for the super domain creature.
It was only thanks to Feng Qi using his detached spirit form and the collective support of the domain factions that they managed to carve out a path to survival.
From this, it was clear that in the normal timeline, there must have been an unknown power strong enough to oppose the super domain creature during the escort mission.
Otherwise, individuals like the Mist Lord and Li Xingchen would never have survived the ordeal.
Upon further reflection, the most plausible explanation for this mysterious force was Mu Qing.
In this stage of the timeline, the Mist Lord was still in his developmental phase and could not possibly contend with a super domain creature.
Only someone as terrifyingly powerful as Mu Qing could confront such a threat without fear.
Realizing this, Feng Qi felt a headache coming on.
Encountering Mu Qing was far from a good thing. It could disrupt his plans for this sacrificial timeline, perhaps even jeopardizing his path as a "villain."
If such a meeting was unavoidable, he would need to prepare a convincing explanation in advance.
Mu Qing must not be allowed to derail his villain arc.
As he pondered this, Feng Qi sank into deep thought.
Three days later.
At 1:00 a.m., Feng Qi was still busy in the commander's office.
The sound of the door opening pulled his attention upward.
"I'm back."
The Mist Lord had completed his closed-door cultivation. Feng Qi, curious, asked, "How many resources did you use during this retreat?"
"About a third, but the improvement to my strength has been significant."
"Use them sparingly. We'll need those resources later. Besides, we're about to distribute another batch of condolence funds. If you run out of resources, it'll be a bit embarrassing when the time comes."
The Mist Lord sat down at the desk and replied, "I've already been conservative. If I'd truly indulged, this batch of resources would have been gone long ago... This just proves that we need to infiltrate a research institute sooner rather than later. That's the only way to secure a steady supply of resources."
"By the way, has anything significant happened recently?"
Hearing this, Feng Qi opened the desk drawer, retrieved the tablet, and navigated to the news article he had saved earlier.
Handing the tablet to the curious Mist Lord, Feng Qi watched as the Mist Lord scanned the contents.
When the Mist Lord's gaze landed on the photo of the Bloodstone, his expression changed, just as Feng Qi's had earlier.
"Is this a miracle artifact?"
"I can't say for sure. The Bloodstone was acquired during an exploration mission by the Black Flag Domain Combat Squad. They stumbled upon a severely injured blue-skinned creature and took it from its grasp."
"Ever since its discovery, the Old Day East Supply Zone has been rife with hidden turmoil. Numerous factions have arrived, and several skirmishes have already broken out over it. Our combat brigade has even deployed a group of soldiers to the recruitment hall area to protect the Bloodstone."
After Feng Qi's explanation, the Mist Lord fell into contemplative silence.
After a while, he raised his head and said, "Alright then, tomorrow morning I'll visit the recruitment hall to observe the Bloodstone up close. If it's confirmed to be a miracle artifact, we must get involved."
"And if it's confirmed to be a miracle artifact, what's your plan to acquire it?" Feng Qi asked, intrigued.
The Mist Lord's lips curved into a sly smile. "Under the cover of night, I'll transform into mist, infiltrate the hall, kill silently, and leave no trace."
Watching the Mist Lord's confident grin, Feng Qi could only suppress a sigh.
The next morning, Feng Qi accompanied the Mist Lord to the recruitment hall.
When they arrived, the soldiers stationed nearby, dispatched by various combat brigades, did not obstruct them upon seeing the Mist Lord.
Once inside the hall, they took the elevator down to the underground laboratory.
There, they met Li Duo, the person responsible for researching the Bloodstone. After a brief exchange, they were allowed to examine the Bloodstone, which was displayed in the laboratory.
Upon understanding the Bloodstone's properties and observing it closely, the Mist Lord confirmed one thing—it was indeed a miracle artifact.
Back at the brigade's estate, they began discussing how to seize the miraculous Bloodstone.
The Mist Lord's plan was simple: act under the cover of night, eliminate the opposition, and steal the Bloodstone.
Feng Qi did not object to this proposal.
That very night, the Mist Lord put his plan into action.
Feng Qi, on the other hand, stayed in the commander's office, waiting for news.
By 6:10 the following morning, the office door swung open, and the Mist Lord returned.
"Failed?" Feng Qi asked, noticing the Mist Lord's sour expression.
"Bad luck," the Mist Lord grumbled, his tone filled with frustration. "I didn't expect several factions to have the same idea. We ended up countering each other, and I couldn't make a move."
With that, he plopped into the chair in front of Feng Qi's desk.
"What's the plan now?" Feng Qi pressed, his curiosity piqued.
He had anticipated this outcome. If the Bloodstone could have been stolen easily, there would have been no need for an escort mission later.
"Let's wait and observe. Right now, every faction wants the Bloodstone, but this is our home turf. There's no rush."
Their conversation shifted to strategizing future attempts to claim the artifact.
Over the next few days, the Mist Lord frequently visited the underground laboratory at the recruitment hall to monitor the Bloodstone's status and ensure it wasn't stolen by other factions.
However, an unforeseen event soon disrupted the balance.
Li Duo, the researcher responsible for the Bloodstone, decided to transport it to the Old Day Research Institute via aircraft.
The Mist Lord immediately perceived the risk. If the Bloodstone were successfully moved to the Old Day Research Institute, reclaiming it would become significantly harder—likely falling into the hands of the Psionic Race.
Determined to prevent this, the Mist Lord acted decisively. As soon as the plane took off, he transformed into mist and followed closely behind.
The aircraft had barely left the airfield before he launched a brutal attack, forcing it down.
Feng Qi was caught off guard by this development.
In a previous timeline, Li Duo had told him that the Bloodstone could never be transported out of the supply zone. The transport plane had been shot down back then as well.
What Feng Qi hadn't expected was that it was the Mist Lord who had done it this time.
When asked, the Mist Lord explained that he believed the Bloodstone needed to remain in the supply zone, where it could stay within his sphere of influence.
If it left the supply zone, the battlefield would shift to unfamiliar terrain, no longer favoring him.
In the following days, tension simmered beneath the seemingly calm surface of the Old Day East Supply Zone.
Various factions, alerted to the Bloodstone's existence, began making covert moves.
The recruitment hall faced multiple attacks, and despite Li Duo's best efforts, he could not successfully arrange for the Bloodstone's transport to Old Day City.
Amid this chaos, the Mist Lord devised a new plan to seize the artifact.
He decided to leverage the resources of the Institute of Technological Research and its shadowy backers to assist in his efforts.
With their support, he believed the reinforcements would naturally center around his command, giving him an advantage.
To Feng Qi, this idea sounded promising.
After a brief discussion, the Mist Lord contacted the shadowy faction behind the Institute of Technological Research.
Upon learning about the miraculous artifact in the Old Day East Supply Zone, the faction agreed without hesitation, promising to mobilize reinforcements.
However, due to the ongoing operations of various combat brigades, they explained that it would take some time to assemble the necessary forces.
The timeline shifted subtly once again.
Feng Qi, aware of the timeline's nuances, predicted that the reinforcements dispatched this time would likely mirror those from the previous sacrificial timeline—the Wolf Devourer Domain Combat Squad.
At present, the Wolf Devourer Domain Combat Squad was a formidable unit, ranking among the top-tier brigades.
In the previous sacrificial timeline, Feng Qi had ascended to leadership within the squad only after its high-ranking members were mysteriously assassinated, leaving a power vacuum.
By the time he took charge, the squad's combat strength had significantly diminished, far removed from its earlier glory.
After securing the Institute of Technological Research's backing, the Mist Lord and Feng Qi delved into refining their strategy for the upcoming battle.
The reinforcements were now secured, but taking the Bloodstone remained a significant challenge.
Especially in the Old Day East Supply Zone, which was home to numerous domain combat squads and further complicated by the lurking threats of hidden domain forces.
To seize the Bloodstone within such an environment would require the strength to oppose the entire supply zone—an unlikely feat without overwhelming power.
If they were to take the Bloodstone, they would need to act outside the supply zone.
However, doing so would also drastically increase the risks. Moving the Bloodstone outside the zone would take it beyond their control.
After contemplating this, the Mist Lord devised a new plan.
He decided to personally apply to escort the Bloodstone to Old Day City, then seize it en route.
With this in mind, he approached Li Duo, the researcher in charge of the Bloodstone.
Li Duo was immediately grateful for the Mist Lord's proposal, even revealing that he had been about to discuss arranging the Bloodstone's transport to Old Day City with him.
The Mist Lord believed his plan was halfway to success.
But just as he was preparing for the next steps, an unexpected complication arose.
The following day, Li Duo approached him with startling news:
He had already requested assistance from several well-known combat squads for a joint escort mission. Multiple squads had responded and were now en route to the supply zone.
Upon hearing this, the Mist Lord realized that the situation was spiraling out of control.
With multiple combat squads involved in a joint escort operation, decisions regarding the Bloodstone would no longer rest solely in his hands.
His plan now hinged on whether the other domain squads could be persuaded to cooperate—or at least not interfere.
Still, with the joint escort mission already initiated, the Mist Lord was left with little room to maneuver.
Two days later.
In the estate of the Death Star Third Combat Brigade, Feng Qi walked into the commander's office holding a report.
He approached the Mist Lord and handed him the document.
"Eight combat squads have responded so far. Things don't look good," Feng Qi said grimly.
The Mist Lord took the report and began reading.
It detailed the domain combat squads that had already pledged to participate in the escort mission.
When his gaze landed on the name Dawn Combat Squad, his pupils contracted noticeably.
"Are we going to back out? You might run into her," Feng Qi asked tentatively.
The Mist Lord frowned, shaking his head.
"Backing out isn't an option. The Dawn Combat Squad taking the mission doesn't necessarily mean she'll be there. It's been so many years; even if she comes, she might not recognize me."
The Mist Lord's desire for the Bloodstone burned fiercely.
His ability to manipulate blood meant that, from the moment he first laid eyes on the Bloodstone in the recruitment hall's underground laboratory, he knew the artifact was perfectly compatible with him.
If he could implant the Bloodstone into his body, it would grant him the ability to cultivate and grow his strength automatically.
The Bloodstone's ability to produce primal blood essence continuously would ensure his power steadily increased.
Even if he did nothing, his strength would grow every second.
If he could claim the Bloodstone, it would be a monumental boost to his future development, greatly enhancing his chances of reaching the pinnacle of power.
Faced with such an opportunity, he felt it was worth the risk, no matter the danger.
Taking a seat at the desk, Feng Qi poured himself a cup of tea and asked, his expression serious, "If Mu Qing shows up, along with other lurking forces, what are your odds of seizing the Bloodstone?"
"If she doesn't recognize me, I'd say about 20%," the Mist Lord replied.
"Twenty percent? That high?" Feng Qi raised an eyebrow in surprise.
The Mist Lord nodded.
"When I was in the lab, I discovered something. My blood control ability works on the Bloodstone as well. If the situation devolves into chaos, I might find an opening to integrate the Bloodstone into my body."
"Don't rely on 'might.' This is a gamble with your life," Feng Qi cautioned.
"Fortune favors the bold," the Mist Lord said, gritting his teeth. "This is the shot I've been waiting for."
Seeing the determination in the Mist Lord's eyes, Feng Qi chose to support him, smiling as he added, "Back at Star City Academy, I crossed paths with Mu Qing a few times. Honestly, I never imagined she'd become so terrifyingly powerful. She was so low-key back then."
"You know her?" The Mist Lord asked, intrigued.
"Not really," Feng Qi replied. "We were just students at Star City Academy, so we ran into each other a couple of times. That's all."
Feng Qi's seemingly offhand mention of Mu Qing was deliberate, a subtle precaution.
As the Mist Lord gained higher clearance in the future, historical records would eventually reveal Feng Qi's time at Star City Academy.
By admitting now that he had encountered Mu Qing, Feng Qi preemptively removed any reason for the Mist Lord to question his past or suspect ulterior motives.
"What was she like at Star City Academy? Why haven't you mentioned this before?" the Mist Lord pressed, curiosity piqued.
"She's changed a lot since then," Feng Qi explained. "Back in school, she was completely different. Besides, we weren't close—just acquaintances at most."
The Mist Lord nodded, accepting the explanation without further probing.
They then turned their attention to planning the escort mission.
Their primary advantage lay in the fact that the escort mission was initiated from the Old Day East Supply Zone.
With the Mist Lord serving as the commander of the Death Star Third Combat Brigade, it was inevitable that he would be appointed as the overall commander of the joint operation.
This command authority would grant him the leverage to manipulate the mission to his advantage, creating opportunities to claim the Bloodstone.
Everything was falling into place.
Now, all that remained was to wait for the escort mission to begin.