Inside the Institute of Technological Research, Feng Qi leaned over a sink, his bare upper body heaving as he coughed up blood.
The side effects of the biochemical modifications were growing increasingly severe.
He felt like he wouldn't last much longer, relying solely on his willpower to push through.
But his body was sending clear signals: it could no longer function normally.
He turned on the faucet, letting the rushing water wash away the startlingly bright red blood from the sink.
Looking up at the mirror, he was confronted by his reflection—pale, scarred, with bloodshot eyes.
Even his hair, once thick and dark, had almost entirely fallen out as a consequence of the modifications.
He looked monstrous, almost unrecognizable.
After rinsing his mouth, Feng Qi bent down, took a breath, and straightened up.
Back in his room, he put on a black uniform, pulling the hat low over his face to cover his bare scalp.
As he stepped out of the room, he turned to the right and froze.
The shadow was there, silently watching him.
Its face remained obscured, but two crimson eyes glowed eerily in the darkness.
"Can you still keep going?" it asked.
"I'm fine," Feng Qi replied coldly.
"The core members of the Institute's inner circle each have their own desires," the shadow began.
"That's what allows them to serve me. I grant them what they want—whether it's longevity, health, wealth, or power.
But you... you're different."
After a moment of silence, it continued:
"You're a pure embodiment of evil. That's why you're my favorite among all the Institute's warriors."
"Should I take that as a compliment?" Feng Qi sneered, his lips curling into a grin.
"It's a shame, really. I had intended to nurture you," the shadow said, its tone laced with regret.
"But you pushed yourself too far, choosing to undergo biochemical modifications to climb to your current position."
"Didn't you claim you could fulfill any wish? Then restore my health," Feng Qi countered, his expression unreadable.
"I can," the shadow replied, its tone unchanging.
"But you've already overdrawn your lifespan. Restoring you would come at a significant cost to me."
"So I'm not worth the effort?"
"That's correct. But I can grant you one final wish before your death."
Hearing this, Feng Qi chuckled darkly in his heart but still posed a question.
"I've always been curious—if humanity were to be destroyed, what would your next move be?"
The shadow fell silent for a long moment before answering:
"We would continue to fight, until my kind and I can survive the arrival of the Great Momentum."
"The Great Momentum?"
"When it comes, we are all insignificant. Whether we live or die will depend entirely on chance.
Humanity is merely an obstacle on our path to survival. Destroying it is necessary for progress, but it is not the end goal."
"Explain further."
"You don't need to know more. You won't live to see that day."
With that, the shadow's form began to fade, its crimson eyes vanishing into the darkness.
Staring at the now-empty space, Feng Qi was lost in thought.
The Great Momentum?
Suddenly, images of Mu Yan's apocalyptic final battle came to mind—a world engulfed in chaos, the heavens and earth collapsing, life withering.
Could that event mark the arrival of the so-called Great Momentum?
Wasn't that day supposed to signify the ultimate victory of the domain forces?
Then what about the creatures that had emerged from the void? Were they enemies even to these domain entities?
The intricate relationships among the domain forces seemed far more complex than he had imagined, shrouded in layers of secrets.
If these forces were to unite, they could easily crush human civilization.
Yet, they chose to operate in the shadows, quietly amassing power.
The domain force behind the Institute provided endless resources to traitorous humans, using their research to strengthen itself.
Meanwhile, the Tiger Soul Research Institute had bided its time for millennia, waiting for the perfect moment to harvest humanity's lifeblood.
Both forces were building toward something—each with its own ultimate weapon.
Could it all be preparation for the arrival of the Great Momentum?
But Feng Qi knew he didn't have the time to uncover those answers.
Exiting the base, he found the soldiers of the Third Combat Brigade already assembled and waiting.
Without a word, he stepped forward, and the brigade automatically parted to make way for him.
As Feng Qi passed, they fell into formation behind him.
A new mission was about to begin.
Recently, the conflict between the Institute and the Tiger Soul Research Institute had grown increasingly intense.
In their current skirmishes, the Institute had the upper hand, both in battle and in public opinion.
Online rumors spread like wildfire, accusing the Tiger Soul Research Institute of being infiltrated by domain forces.
The Institute's backing domain force, clever and methodical, was employing the same strategy that had crushed the Crimson Research Institute in the previous timeline.
But this propaganda was proving far less effective against the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Unlike the enigmatic Crimson Research Institute, the Tiger Soul Research Institute had always maintained a positive public image as a beacon of the cultivation system.
It regularly hosted public events like the Tiger Soul Concept Competition and the Tiger Soul Cultivation System Planning Competition.
As a result, many online commenters sided with the Tiger Soul Research Institute, dismissing the accusations as baseless attacks.
While the propaganda war raged, the combat squads of both sides had clashed multiple times, each suffering losses.
However, thanks to the technological advances spearheaded by "Mo," the Institute maintained an edge in smaller skirmishes.
Feng Qi's next mission was to lead the Third Combat Brigade north, intercepting a shipment of domain resources destined for the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
The stakes were growing higher with each mission.
The Tiger Soul Research Institute had become increasingly cautious in the face of the Institute's aggression.
This time, there was a high likelihood that their combat squads would intercept Feng Qi's team.
The danger of death loomed large.
But this was exactly what Feng Qi wanted.
As long as the conflict escalated, the domain forces behind both research institutes would eventually step in.
What was happening now was just the prelude.
The real war was yet to come.
When two tigers fight, one is bound to be wounded.
Perhaps, even after his death, the Crimson Research Institute could capitalize on the ensuing chaos to gather crucial intelligence.
Feng Qi led the Third Combat Brigade across days of arduous travel, finally arriving at an abandoned airfield in a desolate region.
This airfield was one of the transfer points for domain resources.
Unlike ancient times, resources harvested from domain fields didn't need escort caravans. Instead, they were transported to transfer stations and then flown directly to the research institutes via transport planes.
For the purpose of intercepting Tiger Soul Research Institute's resources, targeting a transfer station was the most strategic choice.
Hidden in the forest surrounding the airfield, the Third Combat Brigade used drones to track and monitor the incoming resource convoy.
After half a day of waiting, the resource escort team arrived at the transfer station, their vehicles laden with supplies.
Two Tiger Soul Research Institute transport planes were already stationed on the tarmac, waiting to load the cargo.
Sensing the opportune moment, Feng Qi issued the attack command.
The soldiers of the Third Combat Brigade, armed to the teeth, charged out of the forest toward the airfield.
Drones in the sky dropped explosives, destroying the two transport planes and cutting off the Tiger Soul convoy's retreat.
However, the Tiger Soul Research Institute had clearly anticipated an attack.
The escort team, comprising hundreds of soldiers, quickly launched a counterattack.
Positioned at strategic points, each soldier unleashed their spiritual energy, forming intricate golden patterns beneath their feet.
These interlocking patterns linked all the soldiers, creating a massive, earth-colored energy array.
Standing at the rear, Feng Qi observed the unfolding battle. He made no move to join the fray.
His body was in an irreversible state of deterioration, incapable of handling any high-intensity combat.
But he was determined to use what little time he had left to gather as much intelligence as possible.
Every day alive was another day of value.
The Tiger Soul Research Institute's preparations were formidable.
Despite the Third Combat Brigade's advanced spiritual energy weapons, breaking through the Tiger Soul soldiers' integrated defensive array proved challenging.
The battle dragged on, reaching a stalemate.
However, the Third Combat Brigade had the advantage in numbers.
It was only a matter of time before the defensive array collapsed.
Especially with the deployment of the "Aura Suppression Sphere," which had dispersed spiritual energy within a one-kilometer radius.
Deprived of their energy reserves, the Tiger Soul soldiers were steadily losing ground.
As Feng Qi had predicted, after three hours of intense fighting, the defensive array shattered.
Fragments of spiritual energy rained down like droplets, scattering across the battlefield.
From that moment, the battle turned into a one-sided slaughter.
Tiger Soul soldiers fell in rapid succession, their blood staining the ground.
Feng Qi, standing back, contacted the Institute's logistics department to arrange for transport planes to retrieve the seized resources.
But then, the situation took an abrupt turn.
From the forest behind the airfield, a large contingent of soldiers suddenly emerged, launching a surprise attack.
Before Feng Qi could react, he found himself surrounded and captured.
It didn't take long for him to recognize the markings on their uniforms, confirming their identity.
The soldiers belonged to the United Military Department.
The United soldiers swiftly turned their attention to the Third Combat Brigade, engaging in a brutal confrontation.
Caught off guard, the Third Combat Brigade struggled to defend themselves.
These United soldiers were no ordinary fighters; each was a highly trained elite, their combat prowess exceptional.
In mere moments, the Third Combat Brigade suffered catastrophic losses, with over half their soldiers slain.
One of the officers standing beside Feng Qi spoke, his expression conflicted:
"We received a distress call from the Tiger Soul Research Institute, warning that this batch of resources would be targeted by looters.
But I never expected the attackers to be from the Institute of Technological Research.
It seems there's something seriously wrong within your organization."
Hearing this, Feng Qi immediately understood the situation.
They had fallen into a trap orchestrated by the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Clearly, the Tiger Soul Research Institute had known about the Institute of Technological Research's plans to intercept this shipment.
They had preemptively informed the United Military Department, framing the attack as a potential threat from an unknown force that required immediate intervention.
By the time the United Military Department arrived, the ambush had been set.
With the Third Combat Brigade caught red-handed, the Tiger Soul Research Institute had achieved its goal.
It was a calculated move: sacrificing some of their own soldiers to manipulate public perception and direct blame toward the Institute of Technological Research.
As the battle subsided, Feng Qi and the surviving members of the Third Combat Brigade were escorted onto a transport plane dispatched by the United Military Department.
He knew exactly what awaited them next.
Feng Qi also knew how the Institute of Technological Research would respond.
In the eyes of the domain force behind the Institute, he and the Third Combat Brigade were nothing more than pawns.
When faced with a scandal of this magnitude, the first step would be to issue a public statement denying responsibility, followed by abandoning the implicated parties.
As Feng Qi had expected, the news spread rapidly.
Public outrage erupted online as people questioned why the "Devouring Wolf Domain Combat Squad," under the Institute of Technological Research, would attack a Tiger Soul Research Institute resource convoy.
The Tiger Soul Research Institute wasted no time, issuing a public statement condemning the attack.
Feigning shock and disbelief, they demanded answers from the Institute of Technological Research.
It was as if they, too, had been blindsided by the incident.
The response from the Institute of Technological Research was swift and definitive.
They claimed that the Devouring Wolf Domain Combat Squad might have been compromised by a domain force, and the actions of the brigade had nothing to do with the Institute.
This explanation was widely accepted by the public.
However, skeptics questioned the plausibility of the claim. After all, the Devouring Wolf Domain Combat Squad was under the Institute's command. How could an entire brigade mobilize without the Institute being aware of their actions or intentions?
Meanwhile, Feng Qi, at the center of this controversy, was imprisoned in the United Military Department's detention center.
His fate was sealed—a trial that the entire world would be watching.
During this time, an unexpected event occurred.
All of the Third Combat Brigade soldiers captured alongside Feng Qi suddenly died.
Their bodies disintegrated under the corrosive effect of spiritual energy, leaving no trace.
Only Feng Qi remained alive.
When Feng Qi learned about this during his interrogation, he immediately understood what had happened.
The domain entity controlling the Institute of Technological Research had remotely activated death marks placed within the soldiers, ensuring their instant deaths.
This was done to prevent any information that could harm the Institute from being revealed.
But Feng Qi was an exception.
The death mark within his body had been neutralized by Wei Wei long ago.
What remained was an empty shell of the mark, designed to deceive the domain entity overseeing the Institute.
Thus, when the activation occurred, he was unaffected.
The incident sent shockwaves through the United Military Department's upper ranks.
That same night, Feng Qi was restrained with "Spirit-Sealing Handcuffs" to prevent him from manipulating his internal energy or triggering any latent lethal mechanisms within his body.
He was also subjected to a series of physical examinations to ensure he would remain alive until his trial.
Feng Qi already knew what the trial's outcome would be.
Whether or not he had been compromised by a domain force, the verdict was certain: death.
The crime of betrayal was unforgivable.
Sitting in the dimly lit prison cell, Feng Qi felt no emotional turbulence.
He had anticipated this day for a long time.
His body was failing, incapable of carrying him any further down the path.
He could no longer walk this road for his other self.
Strangely, this realization brought him a sense of relief.
He was tired—exhausted from everything he had endured. Finally, he could rest.
Three days later, dressed in prison garb, Feng Qi was escorted out of his cell.
His destination: the United Research Institute's courtroom.
Representatives from all major research institutes were present, and the entire trial was broadcast live online.
Under heavy guard by United soldiers, Feng Qi ascended the defendant's platform.
"Feng Qi, explain your actions to the world. Confess to the crimes you've committed…"
Despite the interrogator's relentless questioning, Feng Qi remained silent.
He refused to give the Tiger Soul Research Institute what they wanted.
What he desired was a balance of power between the Institute of Technological Research and the Tiger Soul Research Institute—not for the Tiger Soul Research Institute to exploit him to suppress their rival.
He even looked forward to the escalation of the conflict between the two entities.
But he knew he wouldn't live to see it.
When pressed about why he had done what he did, Feng Qi continued to remain silent, offering no explanation.
Explaining himself felt pointless—it would only make him appear guilty.
He thought about how future generations would label him a "traitor to humanity."
The memory of a conversation with Old Wang resurfaced in his mind:
"History books are too small to contain the complexities of a person's life.
And yet, they're too large—turning a single page might encapsulate someone's grand, tumultuous existence."
The trial concluded without any resolution.
Feng Qi was returned to his cell to await further punishment.
What followed was an unrelenting cycle of torture.
Devices akin to the Institute of Technological Research's "Truth Device" were used in attempts to extract information.
However, Feng Qi's deteriorating body couldn't endure such severe treatment.
He vomited blood and lost consciousness before the torture could even begin in earnest.
Out of options, the United Research Institute consulted with other institutes and decided to publicly execute Feng Qi as a warning to others.
When he learned of his impending execution, Feng Qi showed no fear.
Instead, he calmly asked his guards:
"What's today's date?"
Upon receiving the answer, a faint smile appeared on his face as he murmured to himself:
"I broke the record. If the narrator were here, they'd definitely cheer for me."