The Winterfell Supply Zone.
Snowflakes drifted endlessly, and the bitter cold cut through the air like blades.
Stepping out of the airport, Feng Qi braced against the swirling snow, leading Mu Qing and Lü Yue toward the supply zone.
He looked up at the sky.
Without the light pollution of the city, the night sky here was breathtaking. The galaxy stretched like a curtain of pearls before them, countless stars twinkling, seemingly close enough to touch.
Feng Qi was no stranger to the Winterfell Supply Zone.
But for Mu Qing and Lü Yue, everything here was new, especially the stunning scenery.
Far from the chaos of the city, everything here was tranquil and raw.
"I always imagined the frontlines as a battlefield drenched in blood and death. I never expected such beauty," Mu Qing murmured.
"You'll get used to it," Feng Qi said with a smile.
Following the route toward the supply zone, they eventually arrived at a utility store.
As they pushed open the door, a bell rang softly.
The warmth inside was a stark contrast to the freezing cold outside—it felt like stepping into an entirely different world.
Inside, shelves were stocked with various weapons and equipment, some of which bore signs of rust, clearly not brand new.
Seeing the weapons, Lü Yue's expression shifted slightly.
"I can sense the lingering presence of many past owners on these weapons," he noted.
Feng Qi nodded.
"You haven't yet seen the true brutality of the frontlines. Most of the weapons here have changed hands many times. When their previous owners fall, their weapons are reclaimed, repaired, and resold. The earnings from these sales are sent back to their families as compensation."
"I once saw a single weapon change hands eight times in one year."
Hearing this, Lü Yue's gaze darkened, though he quickly suppressed his emotions.
As they spoke, a staff member emerged from the back room.
The man was middle-aged, with a thick beard covering his face. He wore a grease-stained white apron, the scent of oil and metal clinging to him.
Seeing the three of them, he immediately offered an apologetic smile.
"A new batch of battle-damaged weapons just arrived, so I was in the middle of inspecting and repairing them. I didn't notice you come in—sorry about that. What can I get for you?"
Feng Qi wasted no time.
"I need three sets of skiing gear, three portable tents, floodlights…"
As he listed the items, the store owner nodded, noting everything down before disappearing into the back room.
The reason for these purchases was due to a difference in the timeline.
In the previous iteration, Feng Qi had come looking for the Old Mist years later, after Mu Qing had already graduated. By then, the Winterfell Supply Zone had expanded, and the main supply routes had reached the area near the Mist Domain Field.
But in this timeline, according to his research, the main roads leading to the Mist Domain Field hadn't yet been built.
Without proper roads, driving there was impossible—they would have to ski or hike.
On top of that, there were countless environmental hazards to consider.
The biggest issue was the lack of signal towers along the way. A sudden snowstorm could easily cause them to lose their bearings.
The items Feng Qi was buying were all essential for reaching the Mist Domain Field safely.
After some time, the store owner returned, pushing a cart with a large metal crate filled with neatly packed supplies.
Feng Qi paid for everything, and the owner originally planned to have it delivered. But Mu Qing quickly declined.
"Boss, we don't have a place to stay yet. Can you attach shoulder straps to the crate?"
The store owner gave her a surprised look.
"You're going to carry it yourselves?"
"Yeah," Mu Qing nodded.
The store owner was startled but didn't question it further. He was used to dealing with Domain Warriors, knowing they possessed strength far beyond ordinary humans.
However, when he saw Mu Qing effortlessly lift the metal crate and sling it onto her back, his jaw nearly dropped.
It was hard to imagine how such an unassuming girl could possess such terrifying strength.
Leaving the store, Feng Qi led Mu Qing and Lü Yue toward the rental shop.
Traveling the entire distance on foot would take far too long. They needed a vehicle to reach the Mist Domain Field.
Transporting a vehicle from Star City to Winterfell would be a hassle, so renting one locally was the best option.
The rental shop was in one of the busier areas of the supply zone, and as they walked, the number of people around them gradually increased.
Unlike in the city, nearly everyone here was equipped with weapons and gear.
Carrying weapons in the supply zone was a necessity, a lesson learned through history.
Located close to Domain Fields, the Winterfell Supply Zone was always at risk of attacks from Transcendent Domain Creatures.
While frontline warriors pushed into Domain Fields to explore and conquer, there were always instances where creatures escaped, bringing chaos to the outside world.
Danger lurked everywhere.
Being fully armed was not just a precaution—it was a necessity for survival.
Feng Qi, Mu Qing, and Lü Yue continued east along the main road.
A convoy rumbled past, carrying exhausted soldiers with bloodstains still clinging to their uniforms. The muffled groans of the wounded mixed with the sound of crunching snow beneath the vehicle wheels.
The falling snow quickly erased any traces of the convoy's passage.
Each year, countless fresh recruits arrived at this place with dreams of contributing to humanity's survival.
Yet most of them left in iron coffins, their existence reduced to memorials and empty graves—proof that they had once fought and fallen.
Time was a merciless blade, cutting away the presence of many in history.
But some spirits never faded.
Sorrow, anger—these emotions became the catalyst for warriors to shed their naivety and step into the cruel world of battle.
As they reached the bustling southern sector of the Winterfell Supply Zone, the roads became noticeably different.
The pavement here was treated with anti-snow compounds, causing the falling flakes to melt instantly and drain into the underground sewers.
They soon arrived at the rental shop.
The area was vast, with rows of neatly arranged vehicles and heavy-duty transport equipment, alongside racks of weapons and gear.
A staff member quickly came forward upon hearing their approach.
Feng Qi explained his needs, then moved to the counter to sign a rental agreement.
After paying the deposit, he successfully secured a high-powered, all-terrain snow vehicle.
Once the transaction was complete, Feng Qi drove the snow vehicle out of the rental shop's side passage and merged onto the main road.
The night was deep, but he had no intention of wasting time.
He drove directly toward the Mist Domain Field.
An hour later, the "Winterfell Supply Zone" sign disappeared behind them as they entered the main road leading toward the Domain Fields.
The dazzling lights of the supply zone gradually faded into the distance.
All around them, the world was covered in silver, the vast galaxy hanging above the horizon, breathtaking in its splendor.
Inside the vehicle, the air was cold enough that every breath became a visible mist.
But for Feng Qi, Mu Qing, and Lü Yue, it wasn't even a minor inconvenience. They didn't even bother turning on the vehicle's heating system.
Using the onboard navigation, they continued adjusting their course as they traveled.
The roads leading to the Domain Fields weren't a straight path—numerous forks and branching routes appeared along the way.
If one were to view the region from above, the roads extending north from the Winterfell Supply Zone resembled the roots of a growing tree, stretching toward various Domain Fields.
Each year, these roads extended further.
But every inch of progress had been paid for with the lives of frontline warriors.
As they traveled, Feng Qi and Lü Yue began discussing Tian Shu.
When Feng Qi brought up what Tian Shu had mentioned about the "Path of Ascension," Lü Yue finally admitted that he was connected to it.
He even echoed Tian Shu's words almost verbatim.
Feng Qi wasn't surprised by Lü Yue's secrecy—he understood it completely.
Logically, since Feng Qi had already shared his time-traveling secret, Lü Yue should have reciprocated by revealing his own past.
But Lü Yue was different.
After interacting with him across multiple timelines, Feng Qi knew that Lü Yue was rigid and unwavering, a man who held his beliefs with absolute conviction.
A vow, once made, was something Lü Yue would uphold with his life.
No matter the circumstances, he wouldn't betray the principles he had set for himself.
That was why, in previous timelines, whenever Feng Qi asked about the "Path of Ascension," Lü Yue had always given the same answer:
"The day a miracle finds you is the day you will understand the truth about the Path of Ascension."
That was Lü Yue's nature—no unnecessary words, no flowery language.
But once he accepted someone, he would give everything for them, even his life.
Jokingly, Feng Qi often called him a "walking riddle," but in reality, who wouldn't want a friend and brother like that?
When he asked if Lü Yue had ever heard of Tian Shu, Lü Yue shook his head.
He said that during his time on the Path of Ascension, he had never encountered anyone named Tian Shu.
However, he did recall hearing about an individual known as "The Lone Guardian of Route 32."
For more than thirty years, this man had single-handedly defended the road against invading forces.
Legend had it that, in his boredom, he had paved an entire road with the bones of slain Domain Creatures.
That road still existed to this day, known among the warriors of the Path of Ascension as the "White Bone Underworld Road."
For any Domain Forces that dared to step onto it, it was considered an omen of death—every step forward was a challenge to their survival.
Listening to Lü Yue's stories about Tian Shu's past, Feng Qi gained a deeper understanding of the man's tragic life.
Loneliness. Endless slaughter.
Tian Shu's path to salvation had been paved with suffering.
In the end, he had chosen to seal himself away, sacrificing his freedom, but his resolve had never wavered.
He was a warrior deserving of the highest respect.
Six hours passed as they drove, the darkness outside unrelenting.
It was the season of long nights and short days.
The sun wouldn't rise again for several months.
The sky was filled with countless stars, their brilliance illuminating the world even in the absence of the sun and moon. The falling snow constantly battered the windows of the vehicle, the wipers sweeping back and forth rhythmically.
In the silence that followed their conversation, only the low hum of the engine could be heard.
Finally, the vehicle reached a point where it could no longer advance.
Ahead, the dense snow-covered trees blocked the way, making it impossible to drive further. The path had yet to be developed, and no cleared roads existed for smooth passage.
Parking the vehicle at the roadside, Feng Qi, Mu Qing, and Lü Yue stepped out into the cold.
Retrieving the metal case from the back of the vehicle, they began equipping themselves.
The path ahead was buried under thick snow, and without maintenance teams clearing the way, each step forward would sink them waist-deep into the ice.
Though their psychic abilities could allow them to fly, the journey ahead was long, and sustaining flight the entire way would drain Feng Qi's mental strength too quickly.
This was precisely why they had purchased ski equipment at the supply store.
After spending some time putting on their gear, Feng Qi detached the navigation tablet from the vehicle.
Since the main route had not yet reached this area, many signal towers were still absent, making it highly likely that their navigation would become useless further ahead.
For now, while they were still within signal coverage, they could rely on the tablet for directions.
The three figures moved through the snow-covered forest, leaving a trail of tracks behind them.
Half a day later, the navigation system lost functionality. Feng Qi stowed it away in his backpack.
From this point on, they would have to rely solely on memory to navigate.
However, some features of the landscape differed slightly from his recollections, making it difficult to distinguish the correct direction.
Using a compass was also out of the question. In polar regions, the deviation in the magnetic field was extreme, making standard navigation methods unreliable.
As a result, Feng Qi slowed their pace, frequently adjusting their direction using instinct and memory.
With his enhanced mental strength, his memory had significantly improved, allowing him to recognize key landmarks along the way—such as large boulders protruding from the snow.
They pressed on without stopping for 28 hours. Feng Qi's stamina remained full, while Mu Qing showed no signs of fatigue.
For her, this level of exertion was insignificant.
Lü Yue, however, was beginning to show signs of exhaustion.
Unlike Feng Qi and Mu Qing, Lü Yue's greatest strength lay in his mastery of sword intent rather than sheer physical endurance.
Despite this, he had not uttered a single word of complaint, remaining closely behind them at all times.
Noticing Lü Yue's condition, Feng Qi decided to halt their advance temporarily.
It was time to make use of their portable tents.
After setting up camp in the nearby snow-covered forest, he retrieved compressed energy paste and other rations from his backpack.
The food was tasteless, like chewing wax.
However, it was compact, easy to carry, and provided all the necessary nutrients to replenish their energy quickly.
There was no urgency in reaching the Mist Domain Field.
After finishing their meal, Feng Qi opted to rest for the time being.
They each retreated into their tents. Feng Qi closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.
The area near the Domain Field was one of the most dangerous regions, teeming with powerful creatures.
Attacks could come at any time.
But Feng Qi wasn't concerned.
His ability to sense danger had become instinctive, allowing him to wake at the slightest sign of trouble.
Besides, the three of them were more than capable of handling any ordinary Domain Beasts, especially with Mu Qing present.
No matter how many threats appeared, she could easily crush them all.
In this land of long nights and short days, one's perception of time was dulled.
After sleeping for more than ten hours, they woke up one after another.
Stepping out of the tent, Feng Qi saw Mu Qing munching on a compressed biscuit.
"Hungry?" he asked.
"Mhm, a little. But just some biscuits will do," Mu Qing admitted without hesitation, completely at ease.
To her, Feng Qi was already family.
There was no need for formalities between them.
At that moment, Lü Yue emerged from his tent as well, his earlier exhaustion completely gone.
"Let's move on. We should be close now."
They packed up, made final preparations, and continued toward the Mist Domain Field.
Half a day later, they arrived.
At the edge of their vision, a thick fog obscured the Domain Field's boundary, its shimmering energy barrier stretching toward the sky, merging seamlessly with the horizon.
"Stick to the plan," Feng Qi instructed. "Lü Yue, you stay outside and handle any hostiles. Mu Qing and I will go in to find the Old Mist."
Hearing his orders, both Mu Qing and Lü Yue nodded without hesitation.
Feng Qi's plan was straightforward—first appear weak, then strike hard.
From what he knew about the Old Mist, if they launched a direct and aggressive attack from the start, his cautious nature would immediately put him on guard, possibly preventing him from showing himself at all.
If Mu Qing displayed too much of her strength right away, the Old Mist might abandon the Mist Domain Field altogether and flee.
Letting him escape would be planting a hidden threat not only for Star City but for all of human civilization.
Even if this altered timeline prevented the Old Mist from developing the Flesh Sacrifice Ritual, with his capabilities, he would surely create some other insidious danger in the future.
That was why their approach to exploring the Mist Domain Field had to be steady and calculated.
They needed to lure the Old Mist out before delivering a fatal strike, leaving him no chance to escape.
Lü Yue, stationed outside, was their final line of defense—a last resort to eliminate the Old Mist if he managed to get out.
After repeating the details of the plan, Lü Yue formed a sword seal with his fingers and gently flicked it. Instantly, the sword on his back, Jian Lan, let out a resonant hum before floating into the air beside him.
Jian Lan was unsheathed, and an intense sword aura coiled around Lü Yue, sharp and unstoppable.
Feng Qi and Mu Qing, now rid of their ski gear, stepped forward and entered the Mist Domain Field.
As their bodies made contact with the field's barrier, they felt a slight resistance before effortlessly passing through.
Their vision was instantly obscured by thick, dense mist.
Even with enhanced night vision, they couldn't make out their surroundings.
But Mu Qing was an exception.
Her gaze pierced through the materialized fog as though it wasn't there, allowing her to clearly see into the distance.
"Qi-ge, there are a lot of wandering shadows in the mist," Mu Qing warned.
"Our target is the Old Mist. Ignore the ghosts—they're just the remnants of his dead clansmen," Feng Qi responded.
The Mist Domain Field had arrived along with the Old Mist's people, as well as various spirit plants unique to this region.
As they advanced, they saw clusters of blood-red flowers blooming within the mist. The petals seemed to release a faint, swirling blood mist, carrying a rich fragrance through the air.
Feng Qi recognized these flowers immediately.
The Old Mist had once explained them to him.
The Mist Tribe had two main sources of sustenance in the Domain World. The first was through the domestication of weaker species—just like humans raised livestock, the Mist Tribe captured and bred races with high-quality flesh and potent life force as a renewable food source.
Like how humans played soothing music for farm animals to improve their well-being and meat quality, the Mist Tribe ensured that their captive species lived happily.
But in the end, they all became food.
The second method was through the blood-red flowers that filled the Mist Domain Field. Consuming these flowers provided high-purity life force, making them an essential part of the Mist Tribe's diet.
In the previous timeline, when Feng Qi and the Old Mist had worked together in a steel factory, the Old Mist had often reminisced about his homeland's "Blood Orchid" and repeatedly complained about human food, claiming that it was unfit even for the livestock they raised as food.
Moving through the thick fog, countless fragmented memories surfaced in Feng Qi's mind.
In the previous timeline, the Old Mist had often turned into mist to envelop and carry him while they traveled. Sometimes, he even used his mist form to shield Feng Qi from danger.
But in this timeline, they were destined to be enemies.
After walking a while longer, Feng Qi suddenly stopped.
He felt his blood stirring, as if some unseen force was reaching into his body, trying to manipulate its flow.
This ability was all too familiar—he knew the Old Mist had arrived.
At this moment, he had two ways to counter the effect.
The first was shifting into his Blood Source Form, converting his blood into raw energy to create a physical vessel immune to control.
The second was switching to his Bone Form.
But he chose neither.
If he wanted to lure out the Old Mist, he had to take some risks.
He gave up resistance, letting out a painful scream as blood oozed from his pores, drawn into the mist by an invisible force.
Mu Qing hesitated for a brief moment, then suddenly shouted in alarm, "Qi-ge! What's wrong? Are you okay?!"
Feng Qi: …
Hearing Mu Qing's over-the-top acting, he was speechless.
Before he could comment on it, a hoarse, sinister laugh echoed from within the dark mist, followed by eerie whispers.
The sound carried an unnatural force, stirring up subconscious fears and subtly lowering their combat effectiveness.
But the moment the voice emerged, Feng Qi and Mu Qing locked onto the Old Mist's location.
"Old friend, I've been waiting for you!"
At that moment, Mu Qing raised her fist, her body enveloped in a radiant jade-colored glow.