The blood moon hung high in the sky, its eerie glow shrouded by oppressive black clouds.
Feng Qi stood atop a tall building, gazing toward the direction of Star City Shelter. This time, he had come directly to the abandoned city ruins without checking any information beforehand, ensuring he had ample time. As expected, there was no sign of Little Black in his vision.
Confirming the temporary safety of his surroundings, Feng Qi leaped off the rooftop. Behind him, the Goat-Headed Demons followed suit, jumping down one after another. The impact of their landings sent dull thuds echoing through the air, accompanied by the sound of scattering rubble as the street cracked beneath their weight.
Raising his gaze, Feng Qi spotted the three-tailed creature not far away. It wagged its tail left and right in an exaggerated manner, its body twisting rhythmically. Its lifted head seemed to challenge him: Come on, hit me if you dare!
With the Goat-Headed Demons protecting him, Feng Qi decisively switched to his human form. He clenched his fist and directed a surge of psychic power toward the three-tailed creature, which rippled forward like a tide.
The three-tailed creature, caught mid-taunt, froze in place, unable to move.
Before Feng Qi could follow up with another move, the creature's eyes filled with a swirling purple mist. The psychic force binding it dissipated instantly, like butter melting against a hot blade. The backlash sent a sharp pain stabbing through Feng Qi's head.
[Oh, mental counter-control ability! This is a solid power. Once you're strong enough, you should definitely take it down. This ability would perfectly complement your melee combat style and help you counter spiritual control techniques.]
Watching the three-tailed creature resume wagging its tails, Feng Qi could only sigh in frustration. It seemed the creature had decided to stick to him like glue.
No matter where he went, the three-tailed creature would follow, persistently staying within his line of sight, twisting its body and mock-dancing like a game player who taunts others by emoting under a tower.
I can't beat you, but I can definitely annoy you.
The problem was, in games, you could tower-dive and try to kill the taunters. Here, Feng Qi couldn't even lay a finger on the three-tailed creature.
Just as he was preparing to ignore it and continue exploring the city ruins, the creature's body began to radiate intense energy waves. Liquid energy materialized above its head, eventually coalescing into an image of Feng Qi himself. Additional energy gathered and formed a three-tailed version of itself.
Under Feng Qi's bewildered gaze, the energy-formed three-tailed creature leaped up and smacked the energy-replica of Feng Qi across the face with its tails, knocking it to the ground.
Like a looping GIF, the three-tailed creature repeated the action, creating an animated scene of it relentlessly beating "him."
[Hahaha, maximum taunt mode activated! This three-tailed creature is something else. I can't stop laughing!]
Feng Qi's veins bulged in irritation, but he chose to lead the Goat-Headed Demons further into the ruins. This was the first time he had encountered such a petty domain creature.
No matter where he looked, the three-tailed creature would jump into his line of sight, ready to stir up trouble.
As he searched the area, he eventually spotted a target worth hunting at the end of a street.
This domain creature resembled a crocodile, its three-meter-long body encased in armor-like plating. A faint blue gemstone was embedded in its forehead, glinting under the blood moon's light. The creature was also watching Feng Qi intently.
Noticing the Goat-Headed Demons behind Feng Qi, the crocodile-like creature hesitated briefly before turning and bolting down a side path.
Having finally found a huntable target, there was no way Feng Qi would let it escape. He lunged forward, his human form rapidly switching to battle form.
His enhanced speed allowed him to close the distance quickly. Before the creature could fully enter a dilapidated building, Feng Qi tackled it, pinning it beneath him.
Blows rained down from his iron fists.
The creature's armor-like hide was incredibly tough, dispersing the force of each punch throughout its body and minimizing the damage. Even so, Feng Qi's strikes managed to hurt it.
As the crocodile-like creature writhed and thrashed, it smashed through several buildings, yet it failed to shake Feng Qi off.
The Goat-Headed Demons, trailing closely behind, sprang into action. They leaped onto the creature, their hands igniting with fiery red energy. They joined Feng Qi in pummeling the creature mercilessly.
Under the combined assault, the crocodile-like domain creature began to weaken rapidly.
Just as Feng Qi thought the hunt was about to end, the three-tailed creature appeared nearby. Its eyes glowed with a vibrant purple light.
The nearly lifeless crocodile-like creature suddenly erupted into a frenzy of struggle.
[Oh, mental manipulation again. It seems this ability only works on targets already in a weakened state. Otherwise, it would have controlled the Goat-Headed Demons to attack you long ago.]
Following the narrator's hint, Feng Qi glanced at the three-tailed creature, which was lying on the ground watching the fight like a casual spectator.
When it noticed his gaze, the creature's head began emitting energy, creating another animated scene of it beating an energy-replica of Feng Qi.
Frustrated, Feng Qi refocused on the task at hand. Raising his fist, he channeled psychic energy to bolster his strike, delivering a crushing blow to the crocodile-like creature's head.
With this final attack, the creature stopped moving entirely.
Its body began to emit a crimson mist, which flowed toward Feng Qi, seeping into him under the guidance of an unseen force.
Summoning his status panel, Feng Qi discovered a new talent had been added.
[Hard Skin (Upgradeable Talent)]:
Talent Description: Enhances the toughness and resilience of the skin by 5%, reducing physical damage to some extent (damage reduction scales with body strength).
While not overly powerful, the new talent was significantly better than "Swift." It synergized well with his self-healing abilities, boosting his durability.
Rising to his feet, Feng Qi shot a sharp glare at the three-tailed creature, which was still wagging its tails mockingly. Ignoring it, he turned and led the Goat-Headed Demons further east.
The further east they traveled, the more frequently domain creatures appeared.
Soon, Feng Qi encountered a formidable opponent—a fire elemental creature he recognized immediately. It was the same type of entity that had fought and wounded the Crimson Eyes before its demise.
Though the fire elemental had ultimately been killed by Crimson Eyes' psychic abilities, its last burst of power had dealt severe damage to its opponent, allowing Feng Qi to finish off Crimson Eyes and gain the immensely versatile talent "Malice."
This time, Feng Qi didn't dare underestimate the fire elemental. He mentally prepared himself to activate his Blood Source state at any moment.
The flame elemental resembled a humanoid figure, crouched low, its fiery form scorching the remains of a domain creature. It appeared to be absorbing some form of energy.
Noticing Feng Qi's approach, the flame elemental turned its head, the flames on its surface flaring upward as though warning him not to come closer.
Feng Qi ignored the warning, reaching behind to grab one of the Goat-Headed Demons. Before the demon could react, he hurled it directly at the flame elemental.
The Goat-Headed Demon spun through the air, closing the distance quickly. The flames on the elemental's surface surged, instantly engulfing the demon.
Caught in the flames, the demon let out an ear-piercing scream. Its hands flailed wildly as green flames ignited in its palms, attempting to counter the red flames enveloping it.
However, the green flames were quickly extinguished, and before Feng Qi's astonished eyes, the demon was reduced to a charred corpse within moments.
Seeing this, Feng Qi felt a chill run through him.
"Good thing I tested it first," he thought. "If I'd charged in recklessly, I'd already be a pile of ashes."
This future dreamscape was unlike any of his previous experiences. If he died prematurely here, it wouldn't just cost him one million credits. There was a very real chance he'd lose his life altogether.
Taking no chances, he turned and led the remaining Goat-Headed Demons away, opting to find a safer route.
The flame elemental was far too strong for him to handle right now.
As they retreated, Feng Qi glanced upward to see the three-tailed creature perched on a building. It swayed its body mockingly, and an energy animation appeared above its head, depicting Feng Qi fleeing from the flame elemental in panic.
"One day, I'll tear you apart!" Feng Qi snarled, glaring at the three-tailed creature before continuing on his way.
After traveling some distance, he climbed atop another tall building to get a better view of the surroundings. Scanning the western horizon, he spotted a small black dot moving toward the city ruins from the direction of Star City Shelter.
Little Black was already on its way.
Realizing this, Feng Qi jumped off the building and decided to head toward the abandoned hospital where Suction Cup was likely located. He planned to hunt nearby domain creatures, preparing to deploy Suction Cup as a last resort when Little Black arrived.
Hours passed as Feng Qi and his group moved closer to the hospital. However, he chose not to enter directly.
He couldn't be certain Suction Cup was inside the hospital. It might be roaming the surrounding area, and if it spotted him, there would be no avoiding it. Suction Cup would forcefully attach itself to him, cutting off any further opportunities to grow stronger by hunting domain creatures.
Suction Cup was both a blessing and a curse—a double-edged sword. While it offered protection, it also halted his path to greater strength.
[Suction Cup is a double-edged blade, sharp against enemies but just as capable of cutting its wielder.]
"Couldn't agree more," Feng Qi muttered in agreement.
He decided to patrol the area with the Goat-Headed Demons, searching for other domain creatures to hunt. The density of creatures in this zone had increased significantly, and it wasn't long before he found a new target.
The domain creature he spotted was bizarre, with green, leathery skin and a massive, bloated belly. It stood atop a collapsed building, gnawing on the leg bone of some larger creature it had scavenged.
"Hey, narrator!" Feng Qi called out.
[It's a tough one, but you can handle it!] the narrator replied instantly.
Reassured, Feng Qi raised his hand. The center of his palm split open, and white liquid gushed out, quickly forming into a sturdy leg bone club.
Planting his foot firmly on the ground, Feng Qi launched himself forward like a cannonball, aiming straight for the bloated creature.
As he closed in, he swung his improvised bone club, targeting the creature's left leg.
The monster reacted swiftly, leaping straight up and narrowly avoiding Feng Qi's attack. It twisted mid-air and landed just three meters away, the ground shaking under its massive weight.
"ROAR!" the creature bellowed, its voice reverberating through the ruins.
"Chirp chirp chirp!" The three-tailed creature appeared atop a nearby building, mimicking the bloated creature's roar. However, its squeaky attempts were more comedic than threatening.
"Shut up!" Feng Qi growled. "You're next."
He surged forward again, swinging his club with all his might. The bloated creature countered with its own leg bone club, the two weapons clashing violently. Feng Qi was sent flying by the impact, his club cracking under the force.
The bloated creature wasn't unscathed, either. It stumbled backward, landing heavily on a pile of debris and kicking up a cloud of dust.
The Goat-Headed Demons finally snapped out of their daze and joined the fight. They conjured fireballs and hurled them at the bloated creature, creating a barrage of flaming projectiles that resembled a meteor shower. The creature hissed in pain as the fireballs scorched its hide, letting out another guttural roar.
Seizing the opportunity, Feng Qi charged forward again. The cracks in his bone club had already healed, and he swung it with renewed force, aiming for the creature's left knee.
The blow landed squarely, causing the monster to buckle and fall to one knee.
Without hesitation, Feng Qi leaped into the air, aiming a devastating blow at the creature's head.
Before he could land the hit, the creature's massive hand shot up, grabbing him mid-air. Feng Qi's vision spun as the monster slammed him into the ground.
Pinned under its crushing grip, Feng Qi felt his body being squeezed tighter and tighter. If he didn't break free soon, he'd be forced to leave the dreamscape prematurely.
With no other choice, he activated his Blood Source ability.
A surge of energy coursed through him as his muscles expanded rapidly. His entire body was soon enveloped in a crimson glow, and his strength surged exponentially.
In seconds, Feng Qi had grown to over three meters tall, his blood-red muscles rippling with power. He now stood nearly eye-to-eye with the bloated creature, only slightly shorter.
The creature's eyes widened in shock as it took in Feng Qi's transformed state.
"Let's arm wrestle, buddy," Feng Qi said with a menacing grin.
Grabbing the creature's arm, he twisted his body and executed a textbook over-the-shoulder throw.
BOOM!
The bloated creature's massive body slammed into the ground, causing the earth to quake violently.
Feng Qi didn't give the giant creature any chance to fight back. His fist, as large as a basin, smashed down on the monster's face, sending its grotesque teeth flying. The creature let out a heart-wrenching howl.
But Feng Qi's second punch immediately followed, slamming into its mouth and shattering what remained of its teeth.
In his Blood Source form, his strength was amplified multiple times over. He had abandoned any pretense of technique; raw power was enough to crush his opponent.
The Goat-Headed Demons quickly swarmed in, leaping onto the giant and restraining it. For a moment, it seemed the creature was subdued.
Just as Feng Qi thought the battle was over, the monster's body temperature skyrocketed. Its frame visibly expanded, muscles rippling as clear veins bulged beneath its crimson skin.
"Roar!"
With a deafening bellow, the giant flipped over, sending Feng Qi flying through the air. The Goat-Headed Demons were similarly tossed aside like ragdolls.
Now emitting smoke from its body, the giant had entered some kind of berserk state. Its power surged dramatically, but its eyes became dull and vacant, as though it had lost consciousness.
Driven purely by instinct, it lunged at Feng Qi.
Having regained his footing, Feng Qi charged forward to meet it head-on. Their fists collided in mid-air, creating a shockwave that sent debris flying in all directions.
"Roar!"
"Shut up!" Feng Qi shouted, delivering a left hook that knocked the giant to the ground.
But the berserk creature seemed numb to pain. It immediately rose and hurled itself at Feng Qi like a cannonball.
As the behemoth bore down on him, a wave of fury surged within Feng Qi.
Clenching his fist, he struck the monster squarely in its bloated stomach. His fist sank deep into its flesh but failed to penetrate its thick hide.
Seizing the opportunity, Feng Qi wrapped his left arm around the creature's waist, muscles straining as he lifted it off the ground. With a roar, he slammed the giant into the rubble-strewn earth.
Before the monster could recover, Feng Qi drove his elbow into its face. Blood and flesh splattered as the blow landed.
The creature retaliated, opening its ruined mouth to bite down on Feng Qi's right arm. However, its toothless gums posed no threat, unable to break through his defenses.
Feng Qi smirked. "That's it?"
He shoved his right fist into the creature's mouth, hoisting it up and slamming it into the side of a dilapidated building. The already fragile structure collapsed, burying them both in a cloud of debris.
Seconds later, Feng Qi emerged from the rubble, dragging the monster's limp form behind him. He threw it to the ground, and the Goat-Headed Demons immediately swarmed, channeling fire into its dislocated jaw. Flames burst from the creature's throat, causing its body to convulse violently.
Not giving it a moment's reprieve, Feng Qi launched a series of devastating punches at the monster's head. Each blow cracked its skull further, until its struggles finally ceased.
Panting heavily, Feng Qi felt a primal satisfaction well up inside him. The raw, unrelenting brutality of this fight had allowed him to fully unleash his pent-up rage.
Compared to battles against domain creatures reliant on mental attacks or techniques, this pure physical brawl was far more exhilarating.
As the monster's body lay still, a thick cloud of blood mist rose from its form and was absorbed into Feng Qi.
Summoning his attribute panel, he noticed a new talent had been added:
[Herculean Strength (Non-Upgradable Passive)]
Talent Description: Enhances muscle strength by 10% and increases overall defense by 1%. Effectiveness scales with physical fitness.
…
[Impressive! This is a fantastic close-combat ability. You're truly committing to the path of the muscle-bound juggernaut. Congratulations!]
Rolling his eyes at the narrator's comment, Feng Qi couldn't help but grin as he felt his strength increase once more.
Looking around, he spotted the three-tailed creature sitting not far away. It let out a human-like sigh, its expression forlorn.
Seeing this, Feng Qi smirked.
The creature seemed to notice his gaze and immediately straightened up. It began swishing its tails mockingly again, trying to provoke him.
Taking advantage of his still-active Blood Source state, Feng Qi pushed off the ground with explosive force, lunging at the creature.
Caught off guard, the three-tailed creature flinched in panic and darted away in a flash of blue light. Despite its hasty retreat, it moved with such speed that Feng Qi's grasp fell short.
Refusing to give up, Feng Qi charged after it, demolishing buildings in his path. Meanwhile, the three-tailed creature navigated the ruins effortlessly, its lithe form gliding through the chaos.
Moments later, Feng Qi's Blood Source ability faded, returning him to his combat form. He came to a stop, glaring at the creature, which had resumed its usual taunting pose not far away. With a resigned sigh, he decided to abandon the chase.
His stamina depleted, Feng Qi needed to hunt more domain creatures to replenish his vitality. He climbed a nearby tall building to reassess the situation.
From his vantage point, he saw that Little Black was now dangerously close. Deciding it was time to move, he headed toward the abandoned hospital where Suction Cup was located.
After a short journey, Feng Qi arrived at the hospital—or rather, what used to be the hospital. The area had transformed into a derelict residential complex, returning to its original state.
Standing outside, he let out a loud shout. Moments later, Suction Cup poked its head out from a third-floor window, its expression dazed.
As soon as it spotted Feng Qi, its eyes lit up like stars. With a joyful leap, it launched itself from the window.
Feng Qi caught Suction Cup mid-air, cradling it as he rubbed its head. His gaze then shifted toward the three-tailed creature in the distance, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Since Little Black hadn't arrived yet, Feng Qi decided to give Suction Cup a warm-up exercise.
But before he could toss Suction Cup at the creature, the three-tailed beast seemed to sense the impending danger. Its fur bristled, and in the blink of an eye, it vanished from view.
[Hah! That thing is the very definition of cowardice. But hey, a survivalist attitude like that is probably why it's still alive in this monster-infested apocalypse.]
Feng Qi, Suction Cup still in hand, reluctantly lowered his arm. There was no point chasing a creature that had already fled.
With nothing else to do, he settled down to wait for Little Black's inevitable arrival.
Feng Qi didn't bother trying to access the underground secret door. In this future timeline, he had no connection with the Crimson Research Institute, making entry without brute force impossible. Moreover, even if he did break in, it was unlikely to yield any useful information.
After another ten minutes or so, Feng Qi stood on the rooftop of an abandoned residential building. From his elevated vantage point, he spotted Little Black approaching rapidly from the direction of the Star City Shelter.
Just as he raised Suction Cup in preparation to throw, the narrator's voice rang out in his mind:
[Go, Suction Cup, for the billionth time! Remember Feng Qi's promises—they're just that, promises. Don't take them seriously!]
Veins throbbed on Feng Qi's forehead at the sarcastic tone, but he didn't hesitate. With a forceful toss, he hurled Suction Cup toward the black mist-like form of Little Black that was rapidly approaching.
As Suction Cup and Little Black clashed in an explosive confrontation, Feng Qi jumped off the rooftop with the Goat-Headed Demons in tow. His destination was clear: the vast plains east of the city ruins.
His next target was the magic-immunity stone statue, a domain creature that might hold the key to his survival.
Whether it was the technological forces behind the Institute of Technology or the spiritual practitioners tied to the Tiger Soul Research Institute, both heavily relied on mental and spell-based techniques. If he could gain an ability to partially nullify such attacks, his chances of survival upon returning to the present would greatly increase—even if he couldn't outright defeat his enemies.
He ran along streets overgrown with weeds and lined with crumbling buildings. As he progressed, the towering skyscrapers thinned out, replaced by dense greenery.
It was then that Feng Qi noticed, to his exasperation, the familiar sight of the three-tailed creature blocking his path again. The little pest wagged its tails provocatively, its body swaying as if mocking him.
"Why won't you leave me alone?" Feng Qi muttered under his breath.
This creature was like a persistent piece of chewing gum stuck to his shoe—impossible to get rid of. What made it worse was its uncanny instinct for danger; it always knew when to retreat and when it was safe to approach.
[Hahaha! It won't fight you, but it sure knows how to get under your skin. What are you gonna do about it, huh?]
"What can I do? Just let it be!" Feng Qi snapped irritably, then resumed his journey.
Hours of trekking later, he finally left the urban ruins behind and entered a sprawling plain. The area was blanketed in white flowers, their petals swaying gently in the breeze like waves on the ocean.
Feng Qi immediately began searching for the stone statue. With the plains offering an unobstructed view, it didn't take long for him to spot his quarry standing toward the eastern edge. The massive statue resembled a small hill, its sheer size imposing.
[Feng Qi, you'd better prepare yourself. Taking it down with your current strength is almost impossible. There's a real chance it might kill you instead.]
"I don't have time to hesitate. I'll give it everything I've got!" Feng Qi replied resolutely.
With determination burning in his eyes, he led the Goat-Headed Demons into the flower-strewn plains. But before engaging the stone statue, he decided to hunt down another domain creature to replenish the blood energy he had depleted during his earlier battle with the giant monster.
Guided by the narrator's directions, Feng Qi found his next target: a chubby, slightly comical-looking domain creature. Despite its unthreatening appearance, Feng Qi didn't hold back. After swiftly killing the creature, his blood energy was restored, and he gained a new talent ability:
[Ambush (Non-Upgradable Talent)]
Ability Description: Consumes blood energy to accelerate movement speed and increase strength for a short duration. The effects depend on the user's blood energy levels.
…
This was another active talent ability, joining the ranks of his "Malice" and "Blood Source" talents.
Feng Qi now had a better understanding of how talent abilities worked. Every time he acquired a new talent, an additional gem appeared orbiting the golden-red core in his sea of consciousness. Activating an active ability essentially meant triggering the corresponding gem to unleash its power. Meanwhile, passive abilities were connected directly to the golden-red core and provided continuous effects without activation.
With his blood energy replenished, Feng Qi turned his gaze toward the distant stone statue. Taking a deep breath, he led the Goat-Headed Demons closer to his target.
Stopping about 50 meters away, Feng Qi sized up the statue. The five-meter-tall figure loomed like a small mountain, its body engraved with intricate purple runes glowing faintly under the blood moon's light. Embedded in its chest was a black rune crystal that shimmered ominously.
[Fate is fickle, prosperity uncertain. Feng Qi, charge! If you win, you might just reach the pinnacle of your life in one go.]
Encouraged by the narrator's dramatic cheer, Feng Qi activated his Blood Source ability. Blood mist enveloped him as muscles rapidly grew over his frame. Taking another deep breath, he launched himself forward like a cannonball.
His first punch connected with the statue's surface, causing the purple runes to light up as if they had been activated. A low, rumbling roar echoed from within the statue, and it shifted slightly before smashing into Feng Qi, sending him flying backward.
Seeing Feng Qi in trouble, the Goat-Headed Demons immediately launched their attacks. Green fireballs rained down on the statue, but its glowing runes absorbed the impact, extinguishing the flames into harmless sparks.
Feng Qi picked himself up from the ground and charged again. His second punch created a small crack in the statue's surface, but it failed to inflict significant damage. Once again, he was knocked back by the statue's sheer force.
The stone behemoth began advancing toward him. Its movement was slow, but each step crushed the white flowers beneath it, sending tremors through the ground.
Gritting his teeth against the pain in his chest, Feng Qi charged forward again. The statue's strength was overwhelming, but its sluggish speed was a noticeable weakness. However, its resistance to long-range attacks rendered kiting strategies ineffective, making close combat unavoidable.
The Goat-Headed Demons swarmed the statue, climbing its massive frame and striking with all their might. Yet their efforts barely scratched the statue's tough exterior. One unfortunate demon lost its footing, falling only to be crushed under the statue's relentless march.
Realizing brute force wasn't working, Feng Qi decided to adjust his strategy. Instead of standing his ground, he began a hit-and-run approach. Darting in close, he landed a punch on the statue before activating his newly acquired "Ambush" ability to retreat and create distance.
The fight turned into a deadly game of cat and mouse as Feng Qi and the demons worked together to chip away at the unyielding colossus.
Feng Qi's current strategy seemed to minimize further injuries, but he knew it came with a significant risk. The blood energy within him was the key to maintaining his Blood Source state, and activating the "Ambush" ability rapidly depleted it, shortening the time he could sustain his enhanced form.
But there was no other choice.
His stamina began to wane quickly, his body's recovery ability and the Ambush talent draining his blood energy at an alarming rate. Despite his repeated strikes, the stone statue showed only minor cracks across its surface, seemingly unbothered by the damage.
If the battle continued at this pace, Feng Qi's Blood Source state would inevitably come to an end.
Just as he resolved to make one last, desperate attempt, one of the Goat-Headed Demons climbing the statue suddenly let out a fierce roar. The sound was soon echoed by the others as they all raised their arms skyward.
To Feng Qi's astonishment, dark green flames ignited across the demons' bodies. Their foreheads began to glow, revealing a mysterious sigil resembling the one he had seen in the Flesh Cavern. The flames intensified, and the demons began chanting in an unknown language, their voices carrying a solemn, ritualistic cadence.
As they chanted, their bodies dissolved into the flames, reducing them to pure blood energy. The dense blood mist coalesced into glowing spheres, which were drawn toward Feng Qi as though pulled by an invisible force.
[Oh ho! Looks like you're saved!]
"What just happened? Why did all the Goat-Headed Demons suddenly die?" Feng Qi gasped, his chest heaving as he tried to make sense of the situation.
[Those Goat-Headed Demons' abilities are derived from the same bloodline as your Blood Source talent. They chose to self-sacrifice, converting their own blood energy to replenish yours. You're about to experience a massive power-up—but keep in mind, it's temporary. Once the energy is depleted, it's gone for good.]
Before Feng Qi could respond, the twenty-six globes of blood mist surged into his body. As the blood energy coursed through him, his muscles swelled, and his body began to transform.
A faint, shadowy figure resembling a deity appeared behind him, its outline ethereal but unmistakable. Horns similar to those of the Goat-Headed Demons sprouted from Feng Qi's head, while black and dark red runes etched themselves into his skin in intricate patterns. His body grew rapidly, reaching a height of five meters, matching the size of the stone statue.
Dark green flames ignited across his body, flickering with an ominous light. At that moment, Feng Qi looked like a demon risen straight from the depths of hell—terrifying and awe-inspiring.
Overwhelmed by the surging power within him, Feng Qi felt as if his body was on the verge of exploding. If he didn't unleash this energy soon, he feared it would consume him from within.
He stepped forward, his right fist clenched tightly, and struck out at the statue with all his might.
The force of the punch carried the full brunt of his blood energy. As it landed, the shadowy figure behind him opened its eyes, and the blood energy surged outward, creating a shockwave that lifted the stone statue off the ground. Cracks spread rapidly across its surface as it hovered mid-air.
Before the statue could hit the ground, Feng Qi followed up with a second punch, then a third.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each strike landed with devastating force, shattering more and more of the statue's outer shell. The purple runes flickered wildly, unable to withstand the relentless onslaught. Finally, the statue crumbled under the barrage, breaking apart entirely. Even the black rune crystal embedded in its chest was reduced to fragments.
With his blood energy expended, Feng Qi's body returned to its smaller, three-meter form. He stood amidst the rubble, gasping for air, his chest rising and falling heavily. The prolonged and intense battle had drained him to the point of exhaustion.
Yet, something felt off.
Unlike previous victories, this time he did not absorb any blood energy, nor did he gain a new talent ability. Confused, Feng Qi sifted through the debris. Among the shattered remains, he discovered a small, pulsating lump of flesh.
The flesh resembled a fist-sized sphere covered in blood vessels, beating rhythmically like a heart. Realizing this was likely the stone statue's true core, Feng Qi wasted no time. He raised his foot and crushed it beneath his heel.
As the core burst apart, a dense blood mist emerged, which was quickly absorbed into Feng Qi's body. A sudden and intense feedback coursed through him. His body temperature skyrocketed as a burning pain spread from his chest. Purple runes appeared on his skin, spreading outward and forming an intricate, sinister pattern.
The pain lasted for several minutes before finally subsiding. As he returned to his combat form, he noticed the purple runes had etched themselves not only onto his skin but also onto his bones, visible beneath the surface.
Curious, Feng Qi summoned his attribute panel to examine the changes. The results left him stunned:
[Attributes Panel]:
Strength Level: Bronze · Upper Tier
Mental Strength: Weak
Prefix Titles:
Very Strong: Enhances physical strength by 30% and significantly boosts self-recovery abilities.
Resilience, Nightmare, Blood Source, Malice, Steel Fang, Regeneration, Thorns, Steel Bones, Swift, Bone Veins, Herculean Strength, Hard Skin, Ambush.
Purple Soul (Non-Upgradable Prefix Title): Grants enhanced protection against spell-based damage and mental control, reduces effects of restriction abilities, and allows temporary freezing of energy forms. Effectiveness depends on blood energy levels.
Bloodline:
Human (Intermediate)
Bloodline Evolution Points: 423/10,000
…
At this point, after defeating the stone statue, Feng Qi's strength had officially reached the Bronze · Upper Tier.
If he activated his Blood Source ability, he estimated that his combat power could rival that of a Silver-level fighter.
While the excitement of his newfound power surged through him, a sharp cracking noise interrupted his thoughts, followed by an unexpected collapse to the ground. The sound of bones fracturing echoed through his body, and cracks spread across his frame like the shattering of porcelain.
[High-intensity combat, combined with the Goat-Headed Demons' sacrificial blood energy, has pushed your body far beyond its limit. Your bones can't take it anymore.]
"No big deal," Feng Qi said with a crooked grin. He immediately tried to activate his bone reconstruction ability, hoping to repair his shattered skeleton.
To his surprise, nothing happened.
[Didn't I just tell you? You've exceeded your limit. There's no energy left in your bones to fuel your Bone Veins ability. You'll have to let them heal naturally.]
Hearing this explanation, Feng Qi sighed in realization. However, a victorious smile still lingered on his face—he had successfully defeated the stone statue.
Suddenly, his vision was blocked by three fluffy tails swaying in front of him.
Startled, Feng Qi looked up to see the familiar three-tailed creature wiggling its rear left and right in a taunting manner. This time, it was adding a new layer of mockery by practically rubbing it in his face.
Listening to the mocking laughter of the narrator in his mind and watching the furry backside swaying before him, Feng Qi felt utterly helpless. He had never encountered such a petty and vindictive domain creature.
To avoid further irritation, he decided to close his eyes.
But to his utter disbelief, the three-tailed creature used its energy to pry his eyelids open, forcing him to endure its taunting dance.
[Hahaha! This domain creature is really something else. It doesn't even want to kill you; it just wants to torture you mentally. It's like it's trying to give you the ultimate lesson in humiliation.]
"Shut up," Feng Qi muttered through gritted teeth.
As he waited, his bones slowly began to heal themselves. Before the process could finish, however, Little Black arrived on the scene.
The moment the three-tailed creature noticed Little Black, it seemed to be struck by fear. With a swish, it disappeared from view.
Watching Little Black's dark misty form drift closer, Feng Qi struggled to lift his nearly healed right arm and defiantly raised his middle finger.
A second later, darkness consumed his vision entirely.
…
The moment Feng Qi opened his eyes, he bolted for the dormitory door. However, as he moved, thick black mist began pouring in through the cracks around the doorframe.
Realization struck him like a thunderbolt—his earlier intel was completely wrong.
The transcendent domain creature hadn't appeared thirteen minutes after he fell asleep. It had been there all along, lying in wait the moment he succumbed to slumber. It had chosen its moment to strike exactly thirteen minutes later.
Just as he was about to make a move, the black mist coalesced into a humanoid form. Its icy, bone-chilling hand had already reached his chest before he could react.
Feng Qi suddenly found himself paralyzed.
Panic began to set in, but he soon noticed that the freezing sensation was rapidly fading. Realization dawned—his Purple Soul ability had activated.
A surge of joy filled his heart.
"Hmm?" The black mist creature let out a curious sound of surprise.
Moments later, a sharp misty blade formed in its hand and stabbed toward Feng Qi's chest.
In response, Feng Qi decisively switched to his combat form. His flesh dissolved into a bloody vapor under the shocked gaze of the misty figure, revealing his skeletal frame underneath.
Seeing Feng Qi reduced to nothing but bones, the black mist creature hesitated, confusion and fear evident in its posture.
"Blood Source!" Feng Qi snarled, his skeletal face twisting into a menacing grin.
In an instant, blood energy erupted from within him, transforming him into a towering blood giant. He reached out and grabbed the black mist figure in his massive hand.
The purple runes on his body shimmered with a faint glow, and the domain creature struggled, finding that it could no longer dissipate into mist.
As he watched the creature writhe in terror, Feng Qi came to a startling realization.
This so-called assassin wasn't that strong after all.
[I see it too. Turns out we overestimated it. This assassin's power isn't even close to your current level… Well, maybe it would've been a real threat before you got the Purple Soul ability. Without that, it probably could've killed you through sheer control. In any case, it was more than enough to kill your sacrificial timeline version with no talents left.]
Hearing the narrator's analysis, Feng Qi couldn't help but grin.
He tightened his grip on the dark figure, his sinister smile widening.
"Well, little brother, care for a game of arm wrestling?"