I Hijacked the Timeline (IHT)

After a brief test, Feng Qi confirmed one thing:

The black orb carried by the blue-skinned assassins possessed the ability to locate miracle artifacts.

From this, he deduced that the blue-skinned assassins were likely on a mission to gather these miraculous items.

However, a new question arose.

He himself was not a miracle, so why was the black orb capable of tracking him?

In the past, he had speculated that he might be carrying a miracle artifact without knowing it.

His first suspicion fell on the Narrator, thinking it might be a "miracle" in some form.

After all, none of the available intelligence ruled out the possibility that miracles could possess independent consciousness.

Even if it wasn't the Narrator, he considered the possibility that it could be himself.

Before becoming a sacrificial line, he could extract blood energy from slain creatures and even seize their innate abilities.

Such a capability was far from "normal," resembling the properties of a miracle artifact that could bestow unique powers.

But regardless of the possibility, it should have nothing to do with his sacrificial-line self.

In his current state, he had lost the ability to plunder abilities or absorb blood energy. The Narrator was no longer by his side.

He was simply an ordinary individual with no remarkable features.

Yet, he couldn't help but wonder if the disappearance of the Narrator and his alternate self had left some kind of mark on him—or if there was a lingering aura that allowed the black orb to track him.

It was all conjecture, though.

For now, there was no concrete answer.

At that moment, Li Duo approached quickly, his expression puzzled. After glancing at Feng Qi, he followed Feng Qi's gaze toward the bloodstone before focusing on him again.

"Captain Feng, is something wrong?"

Feng Qi shook his head and handed the black orb back to Li Duo.

"Apologies, I just sensed energy waves emanating from the orb and traced them. As you said, the black orb's energy signature indeed aligns with the bloodstone."

Hearing this, Li Duo nodded thoughtfully and smiled.

"Captain Feng, now that you've gotten a sense of the situation, is there anything else you'd like to know?"

Feng Qi's expression shifted slightly as he asked, "Supervisor Li, why is there an experimental lab underneath the recruitment hall? Is that necessary?"

Li Duo chuckled and replied, "This lab predates the recruitment hall by quite a margin. Originally, it was an Old Day Research Institute outpost outside the city. Its purpose was to conduct hazardous experiments without endangering urban areas. Later, when the combat squads' headquarters planned the supply zone expansion, this lab became part of the supply zone."

"This underground research facility doesn't usually see much use. I was temporarily dispatched here by the Old Day Research Institute specifically because of the bloodstone."

Feng Qi nodded in understanding.

Earlier, he had wondered why a research lab would be situated in such an unsafe location.

Now it made sense—even Li Duo was a temporary addition.

At present, the bloodstone couldn't be transported out of the supply zone. If it could, it would have long been secured within the Old Day Research Institute.

With this realization, Feng Qi turned to Li Duo and asked, "Supervisor Li, how many combat squads are participating in this escort mission?"

Li Duo nodded and explained, "Including your Dawn Domain Combat Squad, there are eleven other squads: Green Mountain Domain Combat Squad, Qingtian Squad, Desert Squad, and others—twelve in total."

"The mission is scheduled to commence five days from now. You will depart from the recruitment hall, follow the main road, and deliver the bloodstone to the designated Old Day Research Institute personnel in the city."

Each of the squads Li Duo mentioned was a renowned elite force.

Among them was Qingtian Squad, whose captain, Qin Shikong, Feng Qi had met before. Qin Shikong had even read his fortune once.

After understanding the mission's structure, Feng Qi nodded in acknowledgment.

Li Duo added, "Once all the supporting squads arrive, I'll convene a meeting where the squad leaders can discuss and finalize the escort strategy. That's not my expertise; I'll leave it to your collective judgment."

With the details clarified, Feng Qi bid farewell to Li Duo and returned to the hotel with Lü Yue.

Over the next two days, additional supporting squads arrived and were housed in nearby hotels.

During this time, Feng Qi remained busy.

He continued cultivating Eternal Spirit.

The mental assault technique's advantages were evident—every training session brought a noticeable boost to his spiritual power.

However, its drawbacks were also becoming apparent.

Recently, he had started experiencing sporadic stabbing pains throughout his body. His control over his physical form had also begun to decline.

Originally, the ability granted to him by the Demon Dragon allowed for perfect control over his muscles.

However, after practicing Eternal Spirit, that ability was gradually being diminished.

As Lin Ran had warned, the excessive amplification of his spiritual power had caused his body to experience "incompatibility."

If he continued, his nearly materialized spiritual consciousness could potentially break free from his physical body, transforming him into a pure spiritual entity.

This reminded him of the concept of the "soul theory."

In ancient myths, there were countless stories about the separation of consciousness from the body.

The difference lay in this:

According to Lin Ran, the process of spiritual consciousness breaking free from the physical body was not an illusionary separation or akin to the mythical "primordial soul departing the body."

A developed spiritual body could also become physical.

The process was more like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, tearing apart the shackles of the flesh to become a new form of life.

But in his view, this hidden danger didn't seem to pose any real risk.

The lifespan of this timeline was an unknown variable; exchanging longevity and physicality for power was a clear profit in his eyes.

Thus, not only did he train without any psychological burden, but he also found some amusement in the noticeable strength gains.

In addition to practicing Eternal Spirit, Feng Qi also compiled the intelligence gathered from this mission and sent a detailed report via email to the Crimson Research Institute.

The Crimson Research Institute responded swiftly.

Wei Wei and the other senior members of the institute shared a similar hypothesis: the alternate Feng Qi who carried the Narrator likely possessed abilities granted by a miracle.

Moreover, before splitting off into another timeline, this alternate version might have left behind some kind of residual aura within him, which allowed the black orb to track him.

Thus, the relentless pursuit by the blue-skinned assassins might very well have been a case of mistaken targeting.

However, this was still speculation.

The institute couldn't provide a definitive explanation for the exact cause.

For now, Wei Wei had initiated a new research project, aiming to develop an interrogation device specifically tailored for the blue-skinned assassins. The goal was to extract every last secret from their memories.

Additionally, the Crimson Research Institute decided to coordinate with the Old Day Research Institute once the Miracle-Bloodstone was delivered to Old Day City, hoping to participate in the research project surrounding it.

After reading Wei Wei's letter, Feng Qi decided to stop concerning himself with the matter's developments.

By the time Wei Wei made any progress, he suspected he might no longer be in this beautiful world.

On the evening of the third day, after dinner, Feng Qi and Lü Yue left the hotel and headed toward the recruitment hall.

Upon entering, they were led by staff to the meeting room.

By the time they arrived, several others had already gathered.

Among them was a familiar face—Qin Shikong, whom Feng Qi had met years ago at the Victory Research Institute.

"Feng Qi, isn't it?" Qin Shikong, dressed in his signature Taoist robes, smiled warmly and initiated the greeting.

Feng Qi took a seat beside him and nodded with a grin.

"Captain Qin, it's been eight years since we parted at Victory Academy. I hope you've been well."

Hearing this, Qin Shikong sighed wistfully.

"Back then, I thought your future would be in the top research institutes. Never would I have imagined you stepping onto the frontlines. Had I known, I'd have dragged you into my squad back then."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Lü Yue, standing behind Feng Qi, and his expression turned playful.

"I remember you too. You were the MVP of the freshman championship that year. I tried recruiting you into the Qingtian Squad several times, but you always turned me down. Your name is… Lü Yue, right?"

Lü Yue smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

As they exchanged pleasantries, the leaders of the twelve squads participating in the escort mission gradually arrived.

At that moment, Li Duo entered the room.

He walked to the head of the table and addressed everyone:

"For this escort mission, please feel free to discuss and propose strategies. Once we've reached a consensus, we'll finalize the plan. As for the mission commander, we've tentatively decided on Captain Wang Yi. She's very familiar with the terrain in this area."

Hearing this, Feng Qi and the others turned their attention to the woman seated on the left side of the table, wearing a black iron mask.

In the days leading up to the meeting, Feng Qi had taken the time to gather information about the participating squads.

Among the twelve, the most prominent figure was indeed the masked woman.

Her name was Wang Yi, and she was part of one of the top ten elite squads—the Death Star Squad. She currently served as the captain of Death Star's Third Unit, which was stationed in this supply zone.

Her life was legendary.

Having fought on the frontlines for over twenty years, she survived countless near-death experiences and achieved numerous military accolades.

Rumors circulated about why she always wore a mask. Allegedly, during a mission in a domain field, she had been cursed and disfigured by domain creatures. Since then, she chose to hide her face from the world behind the mask.

At over fifty years old, Wang Yi could easily be considered a veteran in this circle.

Her legendary achievements had even been recorded in historical textbooks.

When it was announced that she would be the one commanding this mission, no one had any objections. Her reputation alone made it a natural choice.

Wang Yi stood up and pressed a hand against the conference table.

A 3D map projection appeared above the table. She began explaining the planned escort route, detailing the defense responsibilities of each squad along the way.

During this time, the other squad leaders offered their own insights and suggestions.

Several hours later, a finalized escort plan was agreed upon. Feng Qi's Dawn Domain Combat Squad was assigned to guard the left rear flank of the convoy.

After reiterating the plan to ensure everyone understood their roles, the meeting adjourned.

Two days later.

At dawn, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the darkness, bathing the horizon in golden light.

Feng Qi inspected the equipment and supplies his warriors carried and then led them toward the recruitment hall.

When they arrived, several other squads were already waiting.

As he approached, the other squad leaders greeted him warmly.

Feng Qi responded to each with a polite smile and nod.

After some time, Wang Yi arrived with the Death Star Third Unit.

The members of her unit were equipped with top-tier gear forged from high-grade spirit minerals extracted from domain fields. Their armor was uniformly black, and each soldier wore a black iron mask.

The sight of them exuded an oppressive aura of killing intent.

"Fellow squad leaders, please confirm your teams' readiness. If everything is in order, we'll move out now," Wang Yi said.

Hearing her words, Feng Qi and the other leaders confirmed that their squads were ready.

Following this, members of the Death Star Unit distributed pre-calibrated communication devices to everyone for maintaining contact during the mission.

Once preparations were complete, Wang Yi issued the command, and the convoy began boarding their vehicles.

At the convoy's center was the vehicle carrying the mission's core—the Bloodstone.

It was covered with a black cloth and guarded personally by Wang Yi and her elite troops.

The convoy quickly departed the supply zone. Once they reached the main road, their speed decreased, and the squads spread out into a formation resembling a spider's web. Each squad moved to their assigned defensive positions.

Only the vehicle carrying the Bloodstone remained on the main road, while the other vehicles veered into the surrounding desert terrain.

The rugged terrain slowed their progress, but the specially designed military vehicles were equipped to handle such conditions with ease.

Dust billowed behind the convoy as it advanced.

Feng Qi and Lü Yue stood atop one of the military vehicles at the left rear flank, scanning the rear for any potential threats.

"Do you think domain forces will show up to steal it?" Lü Yue asked, turning to Feng Qi.

"Most likely," Feng Qi replied with a faint smile.

"Why do you think so?"

"From my experience across multiple timelines, miracle items are incredibly valuable to domain forces. They won't miss the opportunity to seize one."

"For instance, the Bloodstone we're escorting can produce small stones that enhance the bloodline potential of an entire race. With it, a powerful faction could easily dominate weaker domain species and compel them to serve. Its value is immeasurable."

"Any domain faction that learns about the Bloodstone in the supply zone will undoubtedly make a move. This escort mission will be highly challenging, and we might even see domain forces hidden within human society joining the fray."

Lü Yue nodded thoughtfully at Feng Qi's analysis.

At that moment, a raspy voice crackled through the communication device:

"A force has appeared on the convoy's right flank. I've sent a team to make contact. Initial reports indicate it's the Devouring Wolf Domain Squad, here to assist with the escort. Commander Wang, have you received confirmation of this?"

Wang Yi's voice came through the device, calm and authoritative:

"The Devouring Wolf Domain Squad is part of the auxiliary forces listed for this mission. They were unlikely to join because of their ongoing task, but it seems their mission has concluded. Allow them to join the escort."

Hearing this exchange, Feng Qi's expression shifted slightly.

He was very familiar with the Devouring Wolf Squad.

In a previous timeline, he had even served as their commander.

Now, it seemed the first domain faction to intervene in this mission had appeared, and it was none other than the shadowy force backing the Institute of Technological Research.

"This is going to get lively," Feng Qi murmured. "I wouldn't be surprised if there's already a mole among the twelve escort squads."

"Don't worry. I'll protect you," Lü Yue said calmly.

Feng Qi chuckled at her comment.

"If things spiral out of control, you should prioritize your safety. I don't need you dying for me."

Lü Yue didn't respond, his expression remaining as composed as ever as he gazed into the distance.

Seeing this, Feng Qi shook his head with a wry smile.

As always, Lü Yue remained his sharpest blade and his strongest shield.

His only flaw was his unyielding stubbornness.