I Hijacked the Timeline (IHT)

Night had fallen, and the starry sky sparkled brilliantly overhead.

The battle for the bloodstone was still raging.

The canyon that once stood here had been completely leveled, its terrain now unrecognizable. Energy shockwaves radiating outward had uprooted all vegetation, leaving the area bare and desolate. Even fragments of stone had been blasted into oblivion.

Domain forces from all sides fought like beasts vying for prey, desperately competing for control of the bloodstone. The intensity of the conflict was staggering.

Having watched for most of the day, Feng Qi had lost track of how many domain creatures had perished in the chaos.

Throughout the battle, there had been several moments when one side nearly managed to claim the bloodstone, but every time, other forces intervened, shattering their hopes.

At this point, the struggle for the bloodstone had turned into a war of attrition, with lives being recklessly sacrificed in the process.

Some domain factions had already chosen to withdraw.

For instance, the Institute of Technological Research faction led by Li Xingchen had retreated after several fruitless attempts to seize the bloodstone.

When they left, Li Xingchen was in a pitiful state.

Half his body was missing, and the mechanical components on him were damaged and charred. Sparks flew from exposed circuits, and some form of energy liquid dripped from his feet as he limped away.

As for the remaining factions, they showed no signs of stopping.

To these forces, the bloodstone was worth any price, even the annihilation of their people.

This unwavering determination underscored just how valuable the bloodstone was in the eyes of domain factions.

The facts supported this perspective.

From the intelligence Feng Qi had gathered, one of the powerful factions commanding the weak domain alliance he had encountered previously controlled fragments of the bloodstone.

Their method of enslaving weaker domain species was shockingly simple.

With just a few shards of derivative bloodstones, they could command absolute loyalty from these weaker species.

Through Li Duo, Feng Qi had learned that the bloodstone could produce dozens of derivative shards every hour. The value of these shards produced daily was immeasurable.

If this was only a fragment of the bloodstone, the complete form likely produced over a thousand shards per hour. Calling it a "spiritual energy printing machine" was no exaggeration.

Not only could it enhance the potential of an entire race, but it could also generate external wealth.

Much like the Psionic Race's Sacred Spirit Database, the bloodstone was a divine artifact capable of elevating the potential of an entire species.

This explained why domain factions would go to such lengths for the bloodstone.

The battle dragged on late into the night, with no decisive victor in sight.

Several tense moments occurred when it seemed like the bloodstone might be taken, but each time, the factions united to bring down the fleeing domain creature, leaving them no chance to escape.

What was once a canyon now resembled a massive crater, as if struck by a meteor.

The spiritual energy in the surrounding area was in complete turmoil. The air alternated between scorching heat, like a blazing volcano, and bone-chilling cold, like a frozen tundra.

This level of warfare would have been catastrophic in any urban area.

The combatants' clashes generated waves of energy shockwaves that rippled outward.

Every few seconds, a white, circular shockwave would emanate from the center of the crater, expanding outward like a rolling tide.

The surrounding area, now several kilometers in radius, had become a dead zone. All vegetation and wildlife had been obliterated by the shockwaves.

Even the clouds that had once hung in the sky were dispersed by the energy blasts. The night sky was now entirely clear, with stars shining brightly.

Feng Qi, standing at a safe distance, dared not approach the crater.

He feared being caught in the shockwaves.

The crater continued to deepen, and to better observe the battle, Feng Qi extended his spiritual senses, relying on them to monitor the situation.

Through his spiritual perception, the battlefield unfolded with remarkable clarity.

But soon, Feng Qi realized something was wrong.

His spiritual energy was acting up again. As it approached the battle zone, it began uncontrollably absorbing the residual consciousness left behind by the fallen domain creatures.

As a result, his spiritual energy rapidly grew stronger.

However, this growth was chaotic and uncontrollable. The energy he absorbed was an amalgamation of fragmented, incompatible consciousness, akin to forcefully stitching mismatched pieces onto his existing spiritual framework.

Through his consciousness, Feng Qi could see his spiritual sea being flooded with countless multicolored energy fragments.

What was once a pure golden spiritual sea was now stained with chaotic hues, its pristine state disrupted.

As his spiritual power surged, the familiar sensation of physical pain returned, this time far more acute.

It felt as though the connection between his spiritual energy and his physical body was gradually being severed as his spiritual power grew.

Feng Qi shuddered at the thought.

If his body could no longer contain his spiritual power, it might tear free from his flesh entirely, existing independently.

There were only two possible outcomes from this situation.

If his consciousness followed his spiritual energy as it left his body, he would undoubtedly become a pure spiritual lifeform.

But if his consciousness failed to accompany the departing spiritual energy, he would surely die. The severed part of him would become like a removed organ, completely disconnected from his main body.

Faced with the adverse effects of absorbing external spiritual energy, Feng Qi decisively chose to ignore them.

To him, gaining strength was always a good thing.

Exchanging lifespan for power was a trade he considered worth making.

As long as his body could endure, every other problem could be dealt with later.

The physical pain caused by the rejection between his spiritual energy and his body? He could handle it.

After all, he had endured far worse in the past.

For instance, the biochemical modifications he had undergone in a previous timeline.

That was true agony—hellish torment that tortured both body and soul. Every day back then felt like living in a nightmare.

Even the rune modification process he experienced was far more excruciating than this stinging sensation.

As his spiritual energy strengthened, the tendrils of spiritual force extending outside his body grew larger and multiplied.

This rapid increase in strength also expanded the range of his spiritual perception.

The speed of this growth felt almost like a cheat code.

He had to admit that Lin Ran's creation of such a wicked cultivation technique was nothing short of genius.

The only downside was its extreme toll on the practitioner's life.

Of course, this didn't bother him. But for an ordinary person, cultivating this technique would be impossible.

For most, there was always the risk that their spiritual strength would surpass the limits of their body, eventually tearing their body apart and leaving the spirit to break free.

This thought reminded him of something Mo Fei often mentioned: mechanical immortality.

In comparison, achieving "spiritual immortality" by cultivating this technique to its peak might genuinely allow for eternal existence as a spirit.

While lost in his thoughts, Feng Qi kept a close eye on the situation surrounding the Mist Lord.

The Mist Lord still appeared to be lying low, and Feng Qi had no idea what opportunity he was waiting for.

But the fact that he hadn't retreated meant that he still had confidence in himself.

At the same time, Feng Qi noticed a specific characteristic of the Mist Lord's abilities.

The mist sword he wielded could siphon away vitality and blood energy from his enemies with just the smallest cut.

Through careful observation using his spiritual senses, Feng Qi discovered that any wound inflicted by the mist sword was coated with an almost invisible layer of gray mist particles.

These particles remained linked to the Mist Lord, allowing him to draw vitality and blood from his victims at will and channel it back into himself.

The Mist Lord's ability to persist in battle for this long was undoubtedly thanks to this power.

Whenever he absorbed enough vitality from his enemies, his injuries would rapidly heal, keeping him in peak combat condition.

Additionally, Feng Qi discovered that the Mist Lord also possessed curse-based abilities.

Curse abilities were a distinct branch of the domain creature abilities cataloged in humanity's current database.

While the database provided a general overview of curse abilities, detailed research on their mechanisms was still lacking in cultivation science.

What was known was that curses inflicted prolonged negative effects on their victims. Those cursed by domain creatures often suffered terrible fates.

Numerous examples had been recorded:

Bodies decaying over time, leading to death.

Continuous loss of vitality, causing eventual death.

Gradual organ failure, resulting in death.

Mental collapse and brain death.

Progressive petrification, turning the body to stone.

The effects of curses were varied and devastating, making them one of the most dreaded abilities faced by frontline warriors.

Unfortunately, current methods to counter curses were limited.

However, one proven solution existed: an exceptionally strong physical constitution.

For individuals like Mu Qing, whose body possessed an unparalleled strength, curses were completely ineffective. The overwhelming vitality within their bodies burned away curse imprints in an instant, rendering them null.

The Mist Lord's curse abilities leaned heavily towards a "siphoning curse."

In other words, his attacks not only harmed his enemies but also enhanced his own strength.

Whenever a target was struck by one of his curse imprints, a blood-red mark would appear on their body. Soon after, their blood energy would go haywire, flowing uncontrollably out of their pores and converging towards the Mist Lord, who would then absorb it.

Calling the Mist Lord a "battlefield blood bank" would not be an exaggeration. His endurance in prolonged battles was extraordinary.

The ability to continuously replenish himself by draining his enemies made him a formidable opponent.

The Mist Lord's tactics left Feng Qi stunned.

While other domain creatures grew weaker as battles dragged on, the Mist Lord seemed to grow stronger.

What's more, Feng Qi noticed that the Mist Lord deliberately avoided provoking powerful opponents, choosing instead to prey on weaker targets.

Whenever he became the focus of a stronger foe, he would immediately retreat, seeking a new target to hunt.

Feng Qi had initially thought that the Mist Lord was in a precarious situation, but a closer observation through his spiritual senses revealed an entirely different picture. While others were fighting to the death, the Mist Lord seemed to be leveling up amidst the chaos, farming experience at an alarming pace.

This, Feng Qi thought, was the Mist Lord he knew—a cunning schemer who never engaged in battles without absolute confidence.

The Mist Lord's meticulous planning over millennia, his patience, and his ability to devise elaborate schemes spoke volumes of his terrifying potential.

Such enemies were often referred to as "old foxes."

Feng Qi could imagine how, if he had chosen to walk the reality line and grow stronger without gathering intelligence, even if he eventually became invincible in this era, he would still fall to the Mist Lord 1,500 years later.

That would leave humanity doomed to extinction, with him as the sole survivor—a fate filled with sorrow.

"Formation completed. I just hope the Mist Lord you spoke of has the means to escape on his own, so we don't have to take unnecessary risks," Qin Shikong's voice broke through Feng Qi's thoughts.

As he spoke, golden patterns appeared beneath their feet. Moments later, a golden pillar of light shot into the sky, only to quickly dim and enter a concealed state.

After a brief exchange, both of them turned their attention back to the central battlefield.

As they waited, a crimson sun rose in the eastern sky.

It was now six in the morning, but the battle among the domain forces showed no signs of ending. The intensity remained unabated.

Feng Qi couldn't predict how much longer this battle would last.

However, he knew that if the conflict continued, once Mu Qing completed her mission and returned to the Dawn Manor, she would undoubtedly come to support them.

With Mu Qing's involvement, the situation would become much more manageable.

Feng Qi wasn't sure if Mu Qing could face so many domain powerhouses at once, but he was confident that no one could stop her from leaving if she chose to.

If Mu Qing were so easy to kill, there wouldn't have been a historical demon king in the first place. The domain forces would have assassinated her long ago.

"Something's wrong. The situation has changed!" Qin Shikong's sudden exclamation interrupted Feng Qi's thoughts.

Hearing this, Feng Qi immediately followed Qin Shikong's gaze upward.

A massive black hand had torn through the fabric of space in the sky. With a wave, it unleashed a black curtain that rapidly expanded and descended upon the battlefield.

In the blink of an eye, the black curtain enveloped the sky, covering the battlefield and the surrounding area, including where Feng Qi and Qin Shikong stood.

As the ominous scene unfolded, Qin Shikong activated his Eight Trigrams Disk with a swift slap and focused his gaze on the sky.

While Feng Qi was still puzzled, Qin Shikong grabbed the spinning disk, a bitter expression on his face as he turned to Feng Qi.

"I ran a rough deduction of the fate line for whatever is above us. The details aren't clear, but its fate is incredibly strong. If I'm not mistaken, this is a super domain creature."

Feng Qi's expression turned grim at these words.

Super domain creatures referred to those rated at the Zhu Yin level, the fourth tier of domain creature classification.

Such creatures were extremely rare. The only recorded one was the semi-real, semi-illusory island lifeform in the middle of the ocean.

Historically, creatures rated at the Zhu Yin level were exceedingly few.

Little Black was one of them.

Of course, these were just ratings. Due to limited interaction with Little Black in the future timeline, the evaluations weren't entirely accurate.

From Feng Qi's understanding, Little Black's abilities clearly surpassed the Zhu Yin level.

At the very least, none of the known powers of this era could threaten Little Black.

Physical attacks were ineffective, energy attacks were invalid. With just these two traits, Little Black could maintain an unassailable position against any opponent.

For Little Black, defeating a Zhu Yin-level creature wasn't a matter of difficulty—it was merely a question of how long it would take.

Moreover, Little Black's mysterious third ultimate form remained unexplored, leaving its upper limits unknown.

Still, Zhu Yin-level creatures were formidable.

The standard for this classification was the ability to destroy a human city using their own strength.

This demonstrated their immense power.

When Qin Shikong mentioned that the domain creature above might be Zhu Yin-level, Feng Qi immediately grasped the severity of the situation.

The creature was clearly trying to seal off the area.

If it succeeded, all life within the sealed region would likely perish.

But by now, it was too late to escape. The black curtain touched the ground with a deafening roar, completely isolating this part of the world from the outside.

The domain powerhouses battling for the Bloodstone also recognized the impending danger. They stopped fighting and looked skyward with solemn expressions.