Staring at the two Miracle Stones placed on the desk, Feng Qi fell into deep thought.
He had no idea how to use these Miracle Stones. Their purpose and value were a mystery to him. However, based on what the domain assassin had said, these stones seemed to be extremely rare and precious.
While pondering, time quietly slipped into midnight.
As the clock struck twelve, its chime echoed above the campus, signaling the start of official rest hours. Lights across the Star City Academy went dark, including the library, where staff began cleaning and cataloging the books.
An hour later, Feng Qi cautiously opened the window to survey the surroundings.
Still in his combat form, he couldn't risk being seen. The only solution he could think of was to leave through the window under the cover of darkness, using telekinesis to fly to the uninhabited rear mountain of Star City Academy. There, he could hunt animals to replenish his blood energy.
His gaze swept across the shadowy paths outside, and an idea struck him.
"Narrator, since you can scan the surroundings, why don't you check if anyone is nearby?"
[You didn't ask me to, did you?]
"Do I have to ask? Can't you be a little proactive?"
[What am I, your unpaid intern? You didn't even bother to promise me a reward or a dream to strive for. All you said was 'be proactive,' and that's supposed to cut it?]
Hearing this, Feng Qi froze for a moment. Feeling a twinge of guilt, he awkwardly replied, "The problem is I don't have anything you want. Otherwise, I'd definitely give it to you."
[Says who? You can call me 'Daddy.' That'll do.]
"Stupid system, go eat crap!"
After a round of verbal sparring, the Narrator finally relented and scanned the area. Once assured no one was nearby, Feng Qi enveloped himself in telekinetic energy and floated out of the window, soaring through the night sky.
Moments later, he descended upon the rear mountain.
The night was hazy, but in his combat form, his eyes glowed like flames, illuminating the dark forest around him.
"Narrator, get to work. Find me some prey!"
The Narrator grumbled but began scanning the area. Soon, it delivered its report:
[There are five wild boars in the area. Other creatures include snakes, earthworms, and rabbits, but they're all too small to meet your blood energy needs. Looks like you're in for a busy night.]
"Locations," Feng Qi said decisively.
[Twelve o'clock direction. There are three earthworms in the soil.]
Feng Qi: …
"Stupid system, even a thousand earthworms wouldn't be enough to fill my teeth. Find me something bigger."
After another bout of bickering, Feng Qi began his hunt. Following the Narrator's guidance, he traversed the rear mountain, hunting down wild animals to extract their blood energy.
Hours later, after dispatching a wild boar with a single punch, he absorbed a sizable amount of blood energy. Feeling his reserves gradually replenishing, he knew he was close to regaining his human form.
At that moment, the Narrator's voice dropped to a mockingly ominous tone:
[Why have rabbits mysteriously died in the rear mountain? Why do black-skinned boars wail into the night? Under the moonlight, is that skeletal figure human or ghost? The strange deaths of countless animals here—are they the result of moral corruption or a twisted nature? Behind the bloody slaughter, could there be unseen hands pulling the strings? Join me at 3 a.m. as we delve into the heart of the Bone Man, uncovering the secrets of his grim actions. I'm your host, Narrator, and this is your exclusive report.]
Feng Qi: …
His veins bulged as he growled, "Stop fooling around. Move to the next target. If dawn breaks, I'll be exposed."
[On it!]
For the next hour, Feng Qi continued his rampage through the rear mountain, finally gathering enough blood energy. With a thought, a surge of energy enveloped his body, and moments later, his skeletal frame was replaced by his human form once more.
Relieved, he floated back to his dormitory through the window.
Seated at his desk, Feng Qi's gaze returned to the Miracle Stones. He still couldn't figure out their purpose or potential.
[Why not eat one? Just like when you gnawed on those rune crystals. Maybe these stones hold immense energy within.]
The Narrator's suggestion made Feng Qi pause. He had considered testing the stones in the future dream realm, where the risks would be minimal. However, he realized that without his abilities, his future self might succumb to even mild toxins. Wasting a life seemed unnecessary.
His current self, on the other hand, was far more durable. With his superior physique and the ability to switch to combat form, he could handle any potential adverse effects.
Making up his mind, Feng Qi grabbed one of the thumb-sized stones and bit off a small piece. Thanks to his Steel Fang ability, his teeth easily broke through the stone's surface. He chewed and swallowed, then opened his attribute panel to monitor the results.
As he waited, the panel's numbers shifted.
The bloodline evolution points, originally at 423/10,000, began to increment slowly. Each pulse added one point. However, after only a dozen increases, the counter stopped moving.
"That's it?" Feng Qi was stunned.
He had expected the Miracle Stone to possess miraculous effects, but all it gave him was 13 bloodline evolution points.
"I feel cheated," he muttered, staring at the now-dented stone. Disappointment settled over him. What he had thought was a treasure turned out to be nothing more than a dud.
[I think I understand now—this thing is indeed a treasure, and an extremely valuable one at that!]
"What makes you say that?" Feng Qi asked immediately.
[Your body is unique, possessing the ability to devour and evolve, but other species don't have that privilege. For their life forms to evolve, it often requires generations of efforts, passing down traits and nurturing superior offspring to create a stronger bloodline.]
[For example, abilities that seem easy for you to acquire require an immense cost for those domain creatures. Do you know how much effort it takes for them to engrave a technique into their bloodline as a racial talent?]
[That's why this miracle stone, which can directly enhance bloodline strength, is an incredibly precious item for any species. But for you, it's not that useful. In the future dream realm, you can easily obtain the same amount of bloodline evolution points by hunting a random domain creature.]
Hearing this analysis, Feng Qi suddenly understood why the shadow assassin had been so reluctant to part with the miracle stone.
For any species striving for strength, bloodline power was undeniably crucial.
Among domain creatures, there were both the strong and the weak. Some were born with power that others could never achieve in a lifetime of effort, all due to bloodline inheritance.
Although the miracle stone's enhancement to bloodline strength seemed minor, it could amplify a species' future potential.
Realizing the importance of the miracle stone, Feng Qi threw the remaining larger piece into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed.
The miracle stone only provided him with 52 bloodline evolution points in total—better than nothing.
As for the other stone, he initially planned to consume it as well but thought of the shadow assassin. This stone might be better used as a bargaining chip for information or for leveraging the assassin to carry out tasks in the future.
With that in mind, he took out a metallic box from his desk drawer, opened it, and placed the miracle stone inside.
Leaning back in his chair, he began to organize the newly acquired intelligence and evaluate the potential impacts of his actions on the future.
The next two days, outside of class time, Feng Qi devoted himself entirely to planning for the future and learning.
On one such evening, around 7 PM, he was at his desk, engrossed in studying programming techniques.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
Picking it up from the desk, he saw it was Lin Ran calling.
"Qi-ge, the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration is about to start. Where are you?"
"I'm on my way!" Feng Qi replied without hesitation.
Ending the call, he stood up, left his dormitory, and headed directly toward the school field.
Moments later, he arrived at the brightly lit field.
Colorful lanterns, hung on transparent threads, floated in the air, and ribbons dangling from them bore riddles for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
On the lush grass, small tables were placed three steps apart, arranged neatly.
Each table held a pot of osmanthus wine, a bronze wine vessel, and a box of exquisitely crafted mooncakes, imprinted with Bai Fusheng's Mid-Autumn blessings for the students. Beneath each table was a red gift bag.
At the front of the field stood the stage for the festival evening.
Before the official start, the large screen on the stage displayed introductions to Mid-Autumn Festival customs, accompanied by a broadcast of the song "When Will the Moon Be Clear and Bright."
The festive atmosphere was palpable.
Scanning the field, Feng Qi searched for the section allocated to his class.
"Qi-ge, over here!" A familiar voice called out.
Looking toward the sound, he saw Lin Ran, clad in traditional Chinese clothing, cheerfully waving at him.
Nearby, Lü Yue and others had already arrived, and even the usually shy Mu Qing was seated, her gaze fixed intently on the mooncakes—her intentions evident.
Feng Qi walked over to the table marked with his name and sat down, glancing at Lin Ran.
"What's with the outfit?" he asked.
"Just getting into the festive spirit! The school provided these costumes for free. Anyone interested can get one from the gymnasium. I went early and snagged one that fits perfectly. I bet a whole crowd in traditional attire will show up soon."
True to Lin Ran's words, Feng Qi soon noticed a group of students dressed in historical costumes making their way onto the field.
As they chatted, the clock struck 8 PM.
The lights on the stage brightened, and Bai Fusheng appeared, dressed in a dark traditional robe, smiling as he delivered the opening speech for the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration.
When Bai Fusheng declared the event officially open, thunderous applause erupted across the field.
The evening's performances began.
The only thing that dampened Feng Qi's spirits slightly was the inability to enjoy the moon due to the heavy clouds blanketing the sky.
As he mused about this, a streak of light suddenly zipped through the sky, heading straight toward the academy grounds.
All the students present, just like Feng Qi, looked up at the sky.
In the clouds above, a figure pierced through the thick layer, releasing a dazzling burst of light. The once-dense clouds were pushed aside, revealing a bright, full moon in the sky.
Realizing that the academy had invited an immensely powerful individual, the students' faces lit with curiosity, eager to know the identity of this human powerhouse.
However, after clearing the clouds, the figure turned into a streak of light and disappeared from sight.
The festivities continued.
Compared to the graduation party at Star City High School, the Mid-Autumn Festival event at Star City Academy was grand and elaborate. The performers on stage were renowned dancers, singers, and artists from outside the academy.
Remarkably, the academy did not spend a single penny on their presence.
For many, performing at Star City Academy was a dream. Once the academy announced such events, professionals from all fields rushed to sign up, eager for the chance.
Additionally, all expenses for the Mid-Autumn Festival were sponsored by prominent business figures.
Sipping on osmanthus wine and gazing at the luminous full moon overhead, Feng Qi found himself immersed in the festive atmosphere.
The eight-pointed wind chimes beneath the lanterns above his head jingled softly in the breeze. For the first time in a while, his usually tense heart felt a rare sense of calm.
"Qi-ge, this osmanthus wine is amazing!" Lin Ran exclaimed, holding up a bronze cup with a look of delight.
Feng Qi responded with a smile, lifting his cup to drink along with Lin Ran.
Opening the box of mooncakes on his table, he found ten mooncakes of various flavors. Each one bore a single character, and together they formed the phrase:
"The moon rises from the sea; we share this moment no matter the distance."
The festive atmosphere grew livelier with performances, moon-viewing, mooncakes, and osmanthus wine.
As the evening approached midnight, Bai Fusheng appeared on stage once more.
With a faint flush on his face, he read aloud heartfelt Mid-Autumn Festival blessings to the students before instructing them to retrieve the red bags under their tables.
Feng Qi reached under his table and pulled out a bag containing a folded Kongming lantern, a sheet of paper, and a pen.
The next activity marked the final segment of the festival: writing Mid-Autumn wishes and releasing the prayer lanterns.
Lin Ran leaned over, trying to sneak a peek. "Qi-ge, let me see what you wrote!"
"I wrote, 'May I live a long and healthy life.'" Feng Qi grinned.
"A cultivator with such low aspirations?" Lin Ran teased.
"Such a goal is harder to achieve than you'd think."
Seeing Lin Ran's puzzled look, Feng Qi didn't explain further. Instead, he turned the question around. "What about you? What's your wish?"
"Of course, I hope to become an outstanding cultivation technique researcher in the future," Lin Ran replied, smirking.
"What about you, Senior Sister?" Feng Qi turned to Mu Qing, who was seated nearby.
"I wish for a better future, where everyone is happy," Mu Qing said with a smile.
Feng Qi returned the smile, knowing that Mu Qing's seemingly simple wish masked a journey filled with challenges and hardships. Yet, she remained unwavering in her pursuit of her ideals.
Folding the paper, Feng Qi placed it inside the Kongming lantern. He pressed the ignition button on the lantern, and the flame inside flickered to life, illuminating the lantern with a soft, warm glow.
When Bai Fusheng finished his final remarks and called out, "Release your wishes," Feng Qi, along with the other students, let go of their lanterns.
The field transformed into a mesmerizing scene as countless lanterns floated upward, carried by the wind.
As the prayer lanterns rose higher and higher, their light painted the sky in brilliant colors. Amidst the laughter and chatter, the academy's midnight bell rang.
Watching the illuminated sky filled with ascending lanterns, Feng Qi's face lit up with a genuine smile.
Moments like these—this beauty and harmony—were the very things he vowed to protect, even at the cost of his life.