I Hijacked the Timeline (IHT)

Star City Academy, Room 301.

Returning from the principal's office, Feng Qi sat on the sofa, his mind set on his next move.

This time, he decided to re-enter the future dreamline.

His goal was straightforward: capture and kill Three-Tails.

Given his current strength, achieving this would undoubtedly be challenging. However, with Lin Ran's newfound ability to reverse-parasitize the Mist Lord and harness his power, Feng Qi was confident that success was within reach.

For this particular future dreamline, he chose not to explore further or delve into the database for information. Instead, he planned to dedicate all available time to tracking and capturing Three-Tails while further enhancing his abilities.

He reached for the bottle of Clear Mind Brew on the coffee table, twisted off the cap, and took a deep swig.

The chilled liquid flowed down his throat, spreading warmth through his body.

Summoning the status panel, he watched as the energy progress bar fluctuated and steadily climbed.

Moments later, the progress bar reached 100%.

Lying back on the sofa, Feng Qi closed his eyes.

As time passed, drowsiness overtook him, and his expression gradually relaxed.

When he reopened his eyes, a howling, bone-chilling wind swept across his face.

The world before him shifted into the familiar crimson hues of the future dreamline. A sea of undead stretched out endlessly, standing like lifeless scarecrows in a desolate bone field.

A guttural howl echoed nearby.

Turning his head, Feng Qi saw Little Cripple struggling to rise from the ground.

Just as it wobbled and almost fell into a split, Feng Qi stepped forward, delivering a powerful kick that sent its head flying.

The immense force caused its head to shatter mid-flight.

[Poor Little Cripple just wanted to do a split. Would it have killed you to let it finish? After all the timelines you've shared, not even a shred of attachment? Certified scumbag!]

Ignoring the Narrator's mockery, Feng Qi turned westward.

Thick gray mist veiled the path ahead, stretching for miles. Faint, hoarse murmurs drifted from the fog, and spectral figures occasionally flickered within its depths.

Without hesitation, he began walking toward the mist.

After ten minutes of running, he stopped at its edge.

He extended his mental force, shaping it into tendrils that pierced and churned the fog, aiming to lure the Mist Lord.

Taking a deep breath, he shouted into the haze:

"Lin Ran, come out!"

As in previous timelines, the mist churned and contracted. Soon, the face of the Mist Lord materialized before him.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

Feng Qi grinned.

"I'm not here for you. I'm here for Lin Ran. Now, hurry up and die."

The Mist Lord's expression turned to confusion before shifting to fear.

Lin Ran, roused from his dormant state, launched a counter-attack against the consciousness that had suppressed him for centuries.

A fierce mental battle unfolded.

[Qi-ge, let's bet. Loser calls the winner daddy. I'm putting my money on Lin Ran!]

"Just shut up," Feng Qi muttered, rolling his eyes.

Time crawled by as the mist expanded and contracted, the Mist Lord's face repeatedly breaking apart and reassembling.

After thirty minutes, the face stabilized once more.

[Ding! The system confirms that the blue spiritual consciousness cluster belonging to Lin Ran has emerged victorious!]

With those words, the Mist Lord's floating face gazed down at Feng Qi and called out:

"Qi-ge!"

"Well done, Lin Ran," Feng Qi replied with a smile.

"Hold on."

The mist began to condense around the face, drawing toward a single point.

Finally, Lin Ran's figure emerged.

His purple hair shimmered with an eerie glow, his eyes radiating an unnatural purple light.

The Lin Ran before Feng Qi exuded a sinister aura, vastly different from the person he once knew.

Descending from the air, Lin Ran landed with a familiar smile and opened his arms toward Feng Qi.

Stepping forward, Feng Qi embraced him, patting his back in camaraderie.

"Good brother. I know you've got questions, but let's talk as we walk."

"Where to?"

"To catch a certain little creature."

"Uh, what?"

"I'll explain on the way."

With that, Feng Qi led Lin Ran toward the abandoned city, explaining everything: his own circumstances, the reason he asked Lin Ran to study reverse-parasitization techniques, and their connection to the Mist Lord.

Lin Ran listened intently, his expression shifting from curiosity to astonishment.

Even after hearing the truth, he found it hard to believe, repeatedly exclaiming in shock.

The concept of traversing timelines was beyond his comprehension.

"By the way, did you gain access to the Mist Lord's memories?" Feng Qi asked, glancing at Lin Ran.

Waving a mist-like tendril to obliterate a nearby undead blocking their path, Lin Ran shook his head.

"I couldn't absorb the Mist Lord's consciousness cluster. It's still intact. No matter how hard I try, I can't destroy it completely, which means I can't access its full memories."

Feng Qi nodded thoughtfully.

"Then how much of the Mist Lord's secrets do you know?"

"During the early stages of possession, I could observe the outside world through the Mist Lord's perspective. But soon, I chose to go dormant. Otherwise, there was a high chance I'd be discovered."

Hearing those words, Feng Qi felt a twinge of regret in his heart.

But he also understood Lin Ran's circumstances at the time.

Back then, Lin Ran was just a fragile consciousness struggling to parasitize the spiritual sea of the Mist Lord. Even maintaining his presence was arduous, let alone observing the outside world without being detected and erased by the Mist Lord.

Lin Ran's ability to endure and survive until now was, in Feng Qi's eyes, already an impressive feat.

At that moment, Lin Ran grinned mischievously and said, "Qi-ge, I've got the situation now. Let's not waste any more time. We should get moving."

"Alright," Feng Qi immediately replied with a nod.

Lin Ran's figure distorted into a mass of mist, which swiftly gathered at Feng Qi's feet and lifted him into the air, heading east at high speed.

The rush of wind pressed against Feng Qi's face as the mist surged forward, cutting their usual travel time by more than ninety percent. In a fraction of the usual time, Lin Ran brought them to the city ruins and landed.

As Feng Qi's feet touched the ground, the mist condensed back into Lin Ran's form.

Surveying the dilapidated scene before them, Feng Qi was reminded of the once-bustling Star City from his memories. Lin Ran's expression mirrored his own from before—full of wistful nostalgia.

Fifteen hundred years later, the world was unrecognizable, filled with decay and ruin.

For Lin Ran, it was akin to waking from a long sleep, only to find that everything had changed.

The stark contrast weighed heavily on Lin Ran's heart, and a trace of sorrow flickered in his eyes.

Although fleeting, Feng Qi's keen observation didn't miss it. He reached out and patted Lin Ran's shoulder reassuringly.

Lin Ran quickly shook off the emotion, forcing a grin as he said, "Qi-ge, let your Narrator start scanning the area. We'll scout as we move along."

"Want to cry it out first?" Feng Qi teased.

"Do I look that fragile?" Lin Ran rolled his eyes and playfully punched Feng Qi in the chest.

Feng Qi chuckled, and their lighthearted banter dispelled much of the lingering sadness.

The pair began walking east along the broken streets, with Feng Qi planning to head to the abandoned hospital first to rendezvous with Suction Cup while keeping an eye out for Three-Tails along the way.

However, after careful consideration, Feng Qi decided this approach carried risks.

If Suction Cup became enraged by Three-Tails' evasive behavior, it might kill it outright in a flash. Three-Tails' speed was formidable, but Suction Cup's rapid movements were even more terrifying—resembling a whirlwind of destruction.

Feng Qi vividly remembered Suction Cup's furious return to the battlefield in a previous dreamline, kicking up a cloud of dust as she barreled across the terrain like a firestorm.

Weighing these factors, Feng Qi abandoned his plan to find Suction Cup immediately. He resolved to seek Suction Cup's aid only when Xiao Hei's arrival seemed imminent, to act as a temporary shield.

As they searched for Three-Tails, the two chatted about historical events. Lin Ran's gaze frequently swept over their surroundings, taking in the ruins of the once-thriving city.

When Lin Ran heard about his recognition as a historical figure due to the [Flesh Sacrifice] incident, his expression darkened.

To him, this so-called honor was tainted with the blood of his people and was unworthy of celebration.

"If it wasn't you, someone else would've been chosen. You don't need to feel guilty about this," Feng Qi reassured him, patting Lin Ran's shoulder.

Lin Ran nodded slightly, but his sharp gaze suddenly locked onto something ahead.

Following Lin Ran's line of sight, Feng Qi spotted a massive green domain creature clinging to a crumbling wall. Its body resembled that of a gecko.

The gecko-like domain creature noticed their presence and began trembling. It quickly scrambled upward, attempting to flee.

Before Feng Qi could speak, Lin Ran extended his hand, releasing thick gray mist from his palm. The mist coalesced into a rope-like form and shot toward the gecko creature, swiftly looping around its neck.

The gecko-like creature struggled violently, but its strength was insignificant against the power of the mist. As the noose tightened, its tongue lolled out, and its skin began to shift colors.

With a firm yank, Lin Ran pulled the gecko-like domain creature down from the wall, causing it to crash heavily in front of Feng Qi. Its limbs were bound tightly by the mist, rendering it immobile.

"Qi-ge, here's our first catch!" Lin Ran grinned as he turned to Feng Qi.

Feng Qi didn't hesitate, stepping forward and raining punches down on the creature's head. In just moments, the creature went limp, but Feng Qi continued striking until a blood mist finally emerged from its body.

Only then did Feng Qi stop, absorbing the blood mist into himself.

Checking his stats, he saw his Bloodline Evolution Points had increased by 29, and he had gained a new prefix title and talent.

[Poison (Fusable Talent)]:

Current toxic power: Green Poison.

Talent Description: With each physical strike, a small amount of blood energy is converted into toxic power, which is implanted into the target to inflict continuous damage.

After reviewing the talent, a smile spread across Feng Qi's face.

This was his first time acquiring a fusable talent. He could already predict its potential—future toxic talents would likely merge with this one, gradually increasing its power and versatility.

Diving into his consciousness, Feng Qi noticed a new green orb had appeared alongside the golden-red orbs representing his other talents.

Reaching out with his mind, he connected with the green orb and instantly understood its properties.

Raising his hand, a faint green mist coiled in his palm.

"So this is the talent you gain by plundering domain creatures?" Lin Ran asked curiously, watching from the side.

"That's right. Killing that domain creature earned me a brand-new talent ability capable of unleashing toxic power," Feng Qi responded without hesitation.

"Wow! I didn't even sense how you plundered the ability... but I've got to say, this talent is incredibly powerful. The growth potential is off the charts!" Lin Ran exclaimed in awe.

"You didn't notice the blood mist entering my body earlier?" Feng Qi asked, raising a brow.

"Blood mist? No, I didn't see anything," Lin Ran replied, puzzled.

[It seems the blood mist that appears after killing domain creatures is visible only to us. Other individuals, including Lin Ran, can't perceive it,]the Narrator remarked.

Realizing this, Feng Qi nodded thoughtfully. After briefly discussing the mechanics of his plundering ability with Lin Ran, the two continued their journey through the ruins.

With Lin Ran by his side, exploring the city ruins became an entirely different experience. What was once a cautious and nerve-wracking endeavor was now a confident stride forward, a stark contrast to his earlier timid approach in past timelines. Back then, each step brought trepidation; now, with Lin Ran's support, he felt unstoppable.

Reflecting on his journey, Feng Qi recognized that his progress on the path of salvation was due to the unwavering support of his companions. Lin Ran, Wei Wei, the Crimson Research Institute, Li Xingchen, Wang Jinsheng, Lü Yue—each of them had contributed to his success.

Sharing these thoughts with Lin Ran, Feng Qi was surprised when Lin Ran shook his head seriously.

"Don't underestimate yourself," Lin Ran said firmly, noticing Feng Qi's modest expression. "Do you think you've come this far just because of us? Or that fate chose you because of the talented people around you—your teacher Wang Jinsheng, Mu Qing, and the rest?"

Feng Qi hesitated before nodding slightly. He had indeed thought this way more than once. Compared to Lin Ran and others, whose talents seemed insurmountable, his own abilities felt ordinary. Throughout history, he had been a small, unremarkable figure, while Lin Ran, Wang Jinsheng, Lü Yue, and others were legendary figures who had left indelible marks on humanity's timeline.

Sensing Feng Qi's self-doubt, Lin Ran grinned and playfully punched him in the chest.

"Qi-ge, you've never truly seen your greatness."

"Think about this," Lin Ran continued, his tone growing serious. "When you look at history before the cataclysm, why did Liu Bang's core team mostly come from Pei County? Why was such a small place a hub for so much talent?"

"Or Liu Xiu's team from Nanyang Yingchuan? How did such a tiny region gather people capable of changing the world?"

"And Zhu Yuanzhang—his key supporters were mostly from Huai West. Why did this small area produce so many generals and statesmen?"

Lin Ran's words carried an undeniable weight, and his eyes sparkled with conviction as he grinned at Feng Qi.

"You might not realize your brilliance, but to me, you've always been the most dazzling one. Not even Mu Qing or anyone else shines as brightly as you. You're the backbone of our group."

[Classic Lin Ran. That level of flattery is almost poetic. I'm speechless—bravo!]the Narrator interjected.

Feng Qi couldn't help but laugh at Lin Ran's infectious grin. Wei Wei had once said something similar to him, but hearing Lin Ran reaffirm it stirred a sense of warmth within. While Feng Qi had never looked down on his capabilities, he had always believed his talents paled compared to his companions. Yet Lin Ran's words brought him a newfound sense of satisfaction.

Feng Qi noted that in 1,500 years, Lin Ran's ability to flatter had evolved exponentially.

As they bantered, the two continued exploring the area. Along the way, Feng Qi frequently asked the Narrator if there were any signs of Three-Tails.

Navigating through the ruins, filled with debris and collapsed buildings, Feng Qi soon spotted a domain creature frantically fleeing in the distance.

"It seems your presence intimidates these creatures. Many of them are sensitive enough to sense you before we even get close, and they're running before we arrive," the Narrator commented dryly.

"But if I lay eyes on them, there's no escape!" Lin Ran declared with a grin. Stretching out his hand, he conjured a misty projection that shot forward like a giant hand.

In mere moments, the fleeing domain creature was caught in the gray mist and brought back.

When the mist dissipated, a brightly colored armadillo-like domain creature was revealed. Its back was covered with thick scales, and its sharp claws gleamed menacingly. However, bound by the mist, it couldn't move.

"Qi-ge, all yours!" Lin Ran said cheerfully.

Without hesitation, Feng Qi stepped forward and clenched his fists. As he struck the creature's head, he activated his newly acquired toxic ability. Green, translucent mist began to swirl around his fists with each punch, injecting venom into the creature's body.

However, the toxin's effect wasn't as potent as he had anticipated. From the creature's exterior, there were no visible changes.

As the armadillo-like domain creature writhed in pain, Feng Qi continued pummeling it, landing dozens of heavy blows before it finally died.

With the creature's death, a familiar blood mist surged into his body, and he felt a noticeable enhancement in his physical strength.

Opening his status panel, he saw that he had acquired a new talent ability:

[Claws (Non-upgradable Prefix Title)]:

Talent Description: Your nails undergo a significant increase in hardness. The enhancement scales with your physical strength.

First, it was Fangs, and now it was Claws.

Compared to Fangs, Feng Qi found Claws much more practical. His combat style was rooted in close-quarters fighting, and biting wasn't a natural part of his technique.

Curious, he extended his hands, and his nails grew visibly longer within moments. Although the nails retained their natural color, their sharpness was undeniable.

Testing his new ability, he approached a large rock nearby and swiped at it. With a flash of cold light, the one-meter-high boulder was sliced into several pieces, and Feng Qi felt only a faint resistance.

Reverting his nails to their original state, he couldn't help but smile. This ability, he realized, complemented his combat style perfectly.

Feng Qi had always relied on his fists as his primary weapons during battles. Now, with the addition of "Claw", it felt as if he had been handed a blade alongside his trusted hammer. This new combination opened up more tactical possibilities. Switching between fists and claws during combat could lead to surprising results.

He was quite satisfied with this newfound ability.

["Tsk... A real man settles scores with his fists. Only wimps claw at their enemies. Aim for blood-pumping, bone-crushing brawls—that's the path you should follow for true growth."]

Ignoring the Narrator's taunts, Feng Qi glanced at Lin Ran.

"Done. This new ability is decent."

Lin Ran gave a thumbs-up. "Keep it up. If we can't find Three-Tails, let's just raze this entire abandoned city. Use all the domain creatures here to gear yourself up with abilities."

Feng Qi couldn't help but grin at Lin Ran's blunt enthusiasm. Having a companion on this future dreamline made everything more enjoyable.

The two of them continued eastward.

It seemed that Lin Ran's presence exuded a natural aura of dominance. Most domain creatures fled before they even got close. Those that appeared within sight weren't spared; Lin Ran subdued them one after another, gifting Feng Qi with a steady flow of new abilities.

After obtaining "Claw", Feng Qi acquired two more abilities. Along the way, his "Resilience " skill leveled up to LV8 after he eliminated a domain creature resembling a Death Worm.

This prompted a realization: upgrading abilities didn't necessarily require killing the same species of domain creature. As long as the slain creature shared similar characteristics, its essence could reinforce an existing skill.

The two new abilities he gained were "Boil" and "Stun".

Of the two, "Boil" felt underwhelming to Feng Qi. Its effect was to consume a large amount of his vital energy to temporarily enhance his physical attributes.

The ability seemed like a lesser version of "Blood Source", offering only about a fifth of its overall enhancement while consuming the same amount of energy. In Feng Qi's eyes, "Boil" was even less useful than "Sluggishness", making it the new reigning champion for his most underwhelming ability.

"Stun", however, was a different story.

This ability allowed him to channel a portion of his vital energy into a special sedative-like force with each strike, which would infiltrate his target's body. The actual effectiveness of the stun depended on the target's physical resilience.

The most promising aspect of "Stun" was that its effect could stack. Each punch added another layer of stun energy. With enough hits, even powerful enemies could be incapacitated—assuming he survived long enough to deliver the finishing blow.

["Stun has great potential for growth but isn't very practical in its current state. Low-level stun energy can be easily neutralized by opponents with strong recovery abilities. But at higher levels, you might be able to stun-lock enemies to death. That's something to look forward to."]

These new abilities put Feng Qi in high spirits.

With Lin Ran by his side, navigating the abandoned city felt as comforting as returning home. He almost wished a domain creature would jump out and challenge them, just so he could harvest more abilities and grow stronger.

Although some abilities were relatively weak, every new skill contributed to his overall progression. His Bloodline Evolution Points had reached 1653/10000 for the intermediate tier. Since most domain creatures only provided tens to a few hundred points each, reaching the next tier would still take considerable effort.

During their idle conversations, Lin Ran couldn't help but ask, "Qi-ge, what kind of ability would you gain if you killed me? How many evolution points do you think I'm worth?"

Feng Qi: …

He wasn't even remotely tempted by Lin Ran's dark humor.

From his experiences in the future dreamlines, Feng Qi was almost certain of one thing: any domain creature he killed would be permanently erased from existence. None of the creatures he had slain had ever reappeared, at least not in the same timeline.

If he killed Lin Ran now, it was highly likely that Lin Ran would vanish from reality upon Feng Qi's return.

Rolling his eyes, Feng Qi retorted, "Stop joking. I already told you—whatever I kill gets wiped out completely."

"Yeah, but what if I survive as the Mist Lord instead of me?" Lin Ran pressed, his curiosity evident.

"Enough with the 'what ifs.' I'm not killing my bro. End of story."

Lin Ran chuckled and gave him a playful nod. "Alright, Qi-ge. Just saying—I still want to tag along for the next timeline."

They continued eastward through the city's ruins, chatting as they went.

The abandoned Star City covered about a third of the original Star City's area, but it was still vast. Without any precise leads, their only option was a thorough, systematic search.

After some time, Feng Qi turned to Lin Ran.

"Ah Ran, fly up and see if Little Black is heading our way."

"Got it."

Lin Ran transformed into a misty form and ascended into the sky. He scanned the western horizon and quickly spotted a dense cloud of black mist racing toward them.

Descending back to Feng Qi's side, Lin Ran's expression turned serious. "Qi-ge, Little Black is closing in fast."

"Let's go pick up Suction Cup."

"Isn't that Little Mu Qing, the clone of Mu Qing-jie?" Lin Ran asked curiously.

"That's right. I mentioned earlier—she's a juvenile clone of Mu Qing."

Hearing this, Lin Ran's curiosity deepened.

The two quickened their pace toward the abandoned hospital.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived in the hospital's vicinity.

Standing at the edge of the ruins, Feng Qi cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Suction Cup!"

Shouting didn't matter; what mattered was drawing the attention of Suction Cup.

The overgrown weeds in the abandoned hospital rustled as Suction Cup's small, bewildered head emerged. Its dazed expression was strikingly similar to Mu Qing when she was left speechless.

The moment Suction Cup spotted Feng Qi, its eyes sparkled like stars.

After a brief stare-off, Suction Cup moved all four limbs and darted toward him. Feng Qi spread his arms and embraced the incoming Suction Cup, the force making him stagger back.

Lin Ran quickly reacted, using mist to stabilize Feng Qi's backward tilt and help him regain his balance.

[Ding! Successfully acquired an automatic combat weapon! This weapon can be thrown at designated targets, functioning as a single-use item. Retrieval is not possible post-use.]

Ignoring the Narrator's antics, Feng Qi reached out to pat Suction Cup's head with a smile on his face.

In a past dreamline, if it hadn't been for Suction Cup's protection, many things wouldn't have been accomplished, and his time in the future dreamline would've been drastically cut short.

For Suction Cup, Feng Qi always felt deep gratitude.

[For how many dreamlines did you abandon Suction Cup? And you still say you're grateful? Your gratitude sounds like "next time, for sure!" This kind of gratitude makes you seem like a scumbag.]

"Shut up!" Feng Qi mentally flipped a middle finger at the Narrator.

"Qi-ge, this miniature version of Mu Qing-jie is so tiny! If I wasn't paying close attention, I wouldn't have spotted her," Lin Ran said, marveling at the small Suction Cup in Feng Qi's hands.

Feng Qi laughed and nodded.

"Yeah, the white hair and gray eyes make her look a bit different from Mu Qing, but if you look closely, there's a resemblance. I didn't recognize her at first either."

"So, how did you figure it out later?" Lin Ran asked curiously.

"During a collaboration with the Crimson Research Institute, Wei Wei told me that Suction Cup is actually Mu Qing's clone."

Lin Ran was about to nod when his gaze abruptly shifted to the far end of the street.

Feng Qi noticed and turned to look as well.

Little Black's figure appeared in the distance, rapidly closing in on them.

Glancing at Suction Cup in his hands, Feng Qi sighed inwardly.

[Revolution always comes with sacrifices, especially Suction Cup's sacrifices.]

As Little Black drew near, Feng Qi decisively tossed Suction Cup forward.

Watching Suction Cup's bewildered expression, a pang of guilt rose in his heart, but he quickly turned and signaled Lin Ran to retreat.

Listening to the fierce sounds of battle erupting behind them, Lin Ran couldn't help but ask, "Qi-ge, what are the odds if I team up with Suction Cup to fight Little Black?"

"Do you want the honest answer?"

"Of course. Don't sugarcoat it; just tell me."

"Pretty much zero. Based on everything I know about the power systems so far, none of them can counter Little Black. Even if you team up, Little Black killing you both is just a matter of time. Plus, don't forget, it has a third form you can't deal with. You'd stand no chance."

Lin Ran clicked his tongue in amazement. "Guess I was being reckless. Forget I asked."

Using Suction Cup to stall Little Black, the two of them hurriedly continued eastward.

After traveling some distance, they passed through a devastated street flanked by crumbled buildings. The Narrator's voice suddenly rang in Feng Qi's mind:

[Look at ten o'clock! That proud little head, the cocky gleam in its eyes, and those three fluffy tails. Isn't that the Three-Tails we've been waiting for?]

Feng Qi immediately turned to the indicated direction.

Sure enough, about a hundred meters away, Three-Tails was grooming its tails with its tongue.

Sensing Feng Qi's gaze, Three-Tails abruptly stopped and turned to look at him. After a brief moment of eye contact, it seemed to realize the danger and vanished, transforming into a streak of purple light as it darted away.

"Lin Ran, it's that one! Don't let it escape!" Feng Qi shouted, pointing in the direction Three-Tails had fled.

Lin Ran's form twisted, dissolving into mist, and he rushed after Three-Tails at lightning speed.

The mist moved incredibly fast, vanishing from Feng Qi's sight in an instant.

Watching the direction in which Lin Ran and Three-Tails disappeared, Feng Qi chose to stay put.

With his speed, he couldn't even catch up to watch the chase, let alone intervene.

Three-Tails' burst of speed earlier was even faster than Feng Qi remembered, but he had faith in Lin Ran.

[No, you have faith in the power of the Mist Lord.]

"Same difference."

In the chase, Three-Tails unleashed its full power. Agile and swift, it darted through the ruins of buildings, each leap propelling it over ten meters.

Lin Ran, by contrast, was like a wrecking ball. The gray mist bulldozed through the remnants of structures, leaving destruction in its wake.

Under Lin Ran's relentless pursuit, Three-Tails lost its earlier composure and seemed genuinely panicked. Gone was the relaxed demeanor it had shown Feng Qi.

Lin Ran quickly closed the distance, extending misty tendrils toward Three-Tails' hind legs.

But just as the misty tendrils were about to ensnare it, a flash of purple light radiated from Three-Tails' body, unleashing a mental counterforce that shattered the misty tendrils instantly.

The recoil propelled Three-Tails forward, boosting its speed even further.

To Lin Ran, however, this was just a desperate struggle.

The mist surged forward again, concentrating its energy. With an overwhelming burst of speed, it coiled around Three-Tails' right hind leg.

No matter how much Three-Tails struggled, it couldn't break free this time.

From the mist emerged a face—Lin Ran's smug grin resembled that of a classic villain.

Using the mist, Lin Ran hoisted Three-Tails by its hind leg. Ignoring its frantic squirming, he floated back toward Feng Qi.

Moments later, Lin Ran appeared before Feng Qi, holding Three-Tails.

"Qi-ge, this little rascal runs fast, but it's no match for me," Lin Ran said smugly.

Feng Qi grinned at the sight of the subdued Three-Tails.

Without hesitation, he activated his [Blood Source] ability, transforming into his blood-giant form. Stepping forward, he grabbed both of Three-Tails' ears.

The mist released its grip, spreading outward to form walls around the area, ensuring Three-Tails had no chance of escaping.

Facing the helplessly struggling Three-Tails, Feng Qi felt a surge of killing intent rise in his heart.

Seemingly sensing this, Three-Tails' eyes suddenly rolled back, and it passed out on the spot.

Activating his [Steel Fang] ability, Feng Qi's nails extended by a full inch as he reached for Three-Tails' head.

But what happened next completely stunned him.

Three-Tails' body began to glow with a purple hue before it started to shrink. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a flat purple token, resembling a small, intricate medallion.

The token was palm-sized, with shimmering purple light coursing across its surface, giving it an extraordinary aura.

"Where did Three-Tails go?" Lin Ran asked, dumbfounded.

"Narrator, what's happening?" Feng Qi immediately inquired.

[If my guess is correct, we're witnessing some sort of inexplicable and mysterious phenomenon.]

Hearing this vague response, Feng Qi rolled his eyes.

He carefully examined the purple token but couldn't decipher how Three-Tails had turned into this object.

Then, something unbelievable happened.

The token began to melt, its liquid form seeping into Feng Qi's skin.

Startled, Feng Qi stepped back instinctively, but it was too late. He felt his blood boiling uncontrollably, forcing him to clench his fists tightly.

The sensation of his blood surging came quickly and subsided just as fast.

As the strange feeling faded, Feng Qi realized that something within his body had changed, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what. Driven by curiosity, he quickly opened his attribute panel.

To his shock, he discovered a new attribute line added to his stats.

[Boil· Sluggishness · Poison · Slow · Recoil · Purple Soul · Ambush · Herculean Strength · Hard Skin · Bone Veins · Swift · Steel Bones · Thorns · Regeneration · Steel Fang · Malice · Blood Source · Nightmare · Resilience · Very Strong Zombie: Feng Qi]

Detailed Prefix Titles: ...

Strength Level: Silver - Upper Tier (Blood Source Form)

Mental Power Intensity: Weak

Miracle Collectible: Evolution

Miracle-Conferred Ability: Can absorb talent abilities, converting them into talent points. Talent points can be used to enhance or evolve abilities.

Miracle Notes: The higher the tier of the ability, the more talent points are required for its evolution.

Bloodline: Human (Intermediate)

Bloodline Evolution Points: 1777/10000 points

"Qi-ge, why did that purple stone merge with your body? Are you feeling unwell?" Lin Ran's anxious voice snapped Feng Qi out of his thoughts.

After reading through his updated stats, Feng Qi took a deep breath and reached an understanding.

Three-Tails' transformation into a token wasn't due to some inexplicable event. Instead, the purple token had always been its true form.

The addition of "Miracle Collectible" to his attribute panel made everything clear—Three-Tails was a miracle item all along.

["No wonder Three-Tails was so different from other domain creatures. I didn't expect it to actually be a miracle item… Wait, miracle items can take on the form of small animals? Suddenly, I feel like I might be a miracle item too. No way, right?!"]

Hearing the Narrator's startled exclamation, Feng Qi couldn't help but laugh.

Initially, he had thought killing Three-Tails would grant him a purification-related ability. He hadn't expected to end up acquiring a miracle item instead.

This was a huge win.

But despite this windfall, Feng Qi was clueless about how to use [Miracle: Evolution].

Determined to understand its workings, he sank his consciousness into his spiritual sea.

After a brief moment of meditation, his awareness entered the spiritual domain, where a golden ocean stretched out before him. The water represented his manifested mental power.

At the center of this vast sea, a golden-red orb spun slowly. Surrounding it were twenty smaller orbs of various colors, each representing abilities he had extracted from different domain creatures.

The difference this time was the presence of a purple token hovering above the golden-red orb.

This was clearly [Miracle: Evolution].

He attempted to touch the token with his consciousness, and his entire spiritual sea rippled violently. Feng Qi felt a surge of energy rapidly draining from his body.

Startled, he opened his eyes immediately.

He saw a stream of purple energy flowing out of his chest, gathering and condensing in front of him.

In the end, a proud-looking Three-Tails materialized before him, wagging its tail arrogantly.