Eastern outskirts of Star City.
Beneath a hundred-meter-tall, semi-circular monolith, a vast plaza capable of holding thirty thousand people stretched across the ground.
The plaza floor, appearing to be paved with cobblestones, was uneven. A closer look revealed faintly glowing blue conduits interwoven within the gaps between the stones.
At night, the entire Spatial Plaza emitted a soft blue radiance, creating a truly breathtaking sight.
Today was a momentous occasion, drawing the presence of Star City's most influential figures.
After decades of painstaking work, the Spatial Transmission Array Project was finally reaching completion.
This array would soon be linked to the transmission network of the Mist Clan, an event of historic significance that would forever be recorded in human history.
Reporters and members of the spatial engineering team crowded around the entrance to the transmission array, eager to witness this epoch-making moment with their own eyes.
For many of them, this project had consumed half their lives.
To them, it was more than just a mission—it was a testament to their dedication, the crowning achievement of their careers, their greatest honor.
Their names would be etched forever onto the back of the monolith, preserved for generations to come.
The scheduled activation time for the transmission array had arrived, yet none of Star City's officials gave the order to begin.
All eyes turned toward the entrance of the plaza, awaiting the arrival of an elderly figure.
After a long wait, a tiger-marked specialized vehicle finally pulled up at the plaza's entrance.
The moment a frail, silver-haired man in a wheelchair emerged, the entire crowd fell silent.
A path automatically opened before him as the gathering parted to make way.
Stepping down from the vehicle, Gu Sha pushed the wheelchair, guiding Feng Qi into the plaza's center.
The chilling winter air carried a damp, bone-piercing cold, burrowing into their very flesh.
"Cough, cough…"
The gusting wind triggered a fit of coughing from Feng Qi.
Opening his palm, he saw a streak of crimson. Yet, without a change in expression, he simply lowered his hand.
The plaza's uneven terrain made for a bumpy ride, but thankfully, his wheelchair had been specially designed by Crimson Research Institute's Technology Division, equipped with shock absorption mechanisms to minimize the impact.
Without it, the jolts would have been enough to claim his life on the spot.
After a long journey, he finally reached the designated location for the activation ceremony.
"Old Feng."
"Old Feng."
As soon as Feng Qi arrived, Star City's top officials respectfully greeted him.
His gaze swept over the crowd, acknowledging them with slight nods.
Many of the faces before him were unfamiliar.
So many years had passed, and Star City's leadership had undergone generational change.
Some old comrades still held their positions, but many had long since retired.
The new generation had grown up under Star City's reformed education system—they would carry forward its legacy, bringing with them renewed vitality and innovation.
"Apologies for the delay. Let's begin the ceremony."
As Feng Qi's words fell, Star City's Military Commanding Officer, who had long been awaiting the cue, nodded decisively and pressed the cylindrical "Connect" switch before him.
The one-meter-tall pillar at the center of the plaza activated, its surface rippling with warped patterns.
A moment later, it slowly retracted into the ground.
Click!
The sharp sound of connection rang out as energy stations located over ten kilometers away powered on.
With a thunderous hum, compressed energy surged through the transport conduits, flooding toward Spatial Plaza's core.
At the center of the semi-circular monolith, a blue energy core materialized, crackling with arcs of electricity.
As the core rotated, faint spatial fractures flickered in and out of existence around it.
With time, the entire Spatial Plaza illuminated as countless crystalline blue particles rose from the ground, spiraling toward the accelerating energy core.
Boom!
A pitch-black spatial fissure suddenly appeared, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
The space around it quickly stabilized, but then another rift flashed into existence.
Activating a spatial transmission array required a long initialization process.
Feng Qi wasn't surprised.
Even now, humanity had only scratched the surface of spatial technology—so much remained unknown.
During its construction, this transmission array had not only expanded humanity's knowledge of spatial mechanics, but had also resulted in countless setbacks and irreversible mistakes.
Yet, simply achieving a successful build was already an immense victory.
With a solid foundation laid, future generations would refine and perfect spatial technology—in time, it would become fully stabilized.
The spatial distortions grew more intense, causing visible tremors across the plaza floor.
In that moment, everyone present held their breath.
The project had demanded an astronomical investment and countless sacrifices. Many had given their lives for this endeavor, never living to witness its completion.
For many engineers, this project was more important than their own lives—the culmination of their life's work, the final proof of their relentless efforts.
Even Feng Qi's breathing grew heavier.
The construction process had encountered numerous critical issues—if the linkage ceremony failed, the entire transmission array could collapse, rendering decades of labor meaningless.
The longer the Spatial Transmission Array took to stabilize, the greater the anxiety weighing on everyone's hearts.
If the transmission project were to fail now, it would take an astronomical amount of resources and manpower to rebuild it from scratch.
Though the Spatial Plaza appeared simple on the surface, it was in fact incredibly intricate.
If one examined the cobblestones under a microscope, they would notice that each stone contained precise trajectory engravings made with nano-level technology.
If the Spatial Transmission Array had to be restarted, it would delay Star City's technological progress for years.
As the agonizing wait continued, Feng Qi suddenly felt a tightness in his chest and couldn't help but let out a hacking cough.
The surrounding officials immediately turned their attention toward him, their expressions filled with concern.
The Military Commanding Officer in charge of overseeing the activation ceremony stepped forward and spoke with urgency:
"Old Feng, you don't need to push yourself. We can handle this. Why don't you go back and rest?"
"No need… this project was my vision from the beginning. I need to see it succeed with my own eyes… cough, cough."
Before he could finish his sentence, another violent coughing fit took hold of him.
His decaying body, like a candle flickering in the wind, could no longer withstand any emotional turbulence.
Each time his mood fluctuated, an unbearable itch spread through his throat, making it harder to breathe. Each inhale came with a rasping wheeze.
Even so, he endured the discomfort and continued to watch the project unfold.
At the core of the array, the Spatial Energy Core was repeatedly tearing open rifts in space, unleashing such immense energy fluctuations that even the sky above them distorted.
Each passing second consumed a terrifying amount of energy.
The most draining phase was always the initial activation. The energy reserves had to be filled with spirit stones, as only spirit stones could sustain this level of power output.
Once the Spatial Transmission Array stabilized, the energy consumption would decrease significantly.
However, even in its stable state, maintaining the array would become one of Star City's primary long-term resource expenditures.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion erupted from the sky, causing the ground beneath them to tremble violently.
Feng Qi lifted his gaze toward the center of the transmission array.
The ground beneath the core was paved with a type of spirit-conductive jade stone, specifically designed for energy transmission—this section was known as the "Transmission Zone".
At that moment, the floating energy core emitted a brilliant beam of light, striking the Transmission Zone directly.
Instantly, the surrounding space began warping, thick inky-black mist bubbling into existence from the void itself.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the final moment.
Then, the dense black mist suddenly contracted, condensing into a single, minuscule black dot.
Buzz—Buzz—
A low hum resonated through the plaza.
The next moment, the tiny black dot expanded abruptly, forming a shimmering blue portal.
Seeing this, Feng Qi's eyes flashed with excitement.
Through the brilliant glow of the energy field, a tall figure with purple hair and violet eyes stepped through the portal.
Their gaze swept across the crowd before locking onto Feng Qi, and with a calm smirk, they raised a thumbs-up toward him.
The entire crowd erupted into cheers, followed by thunderous applause.
The process had been full of challenges, but the final result was undeniably a success.
After decades of effort, the Spatial Engineering Project had officially been completed.
With the Spatial Transmission Array now linked to the Mist Clan's network, their cooperation with Star City had been fully initiated.
The future would bring mutual exchange of resources, collaborative military support, and a new era of interspecies cooperation.
As he watched the celebrating crowd, a genuine smile appeared on Feng Qi's face.
Yet, as his emotions fluctuated, his vision suddenly darkened, his head growing heavy.
Just before the world faded to black, a familiar voice rang in his ears:
"Brother, stay with me. I didn't come here just to attend your funeral…"
And then, he lost consciousness.
It was unclear how much time had passed.
When he awoke, he found himself lying inside a medical recovery pod at Tiger Soul Research Institute.
This machine had been specially delivered from Crimson Research Institute, built to extend his life.
Reaching out, he pressed a button on the control panel, allowing the recovery liquid to drain through the waste ducts.
The glass cover above him slowly lifted open.
As he sat up, he immediately noticed the Mist Lord, standing nearby with a calm smile.
"You still holding on?"
"No problem… Just a few more years, and Mu Yan should be arriving. I'll last until then."
The Mist Lord nodded and stepped forward, helping him down from the recovery pod and into his wheelchair.
"Damn it, Old Mist, why do you still look like you're in your prime?"
Pushing him toward the exit of the medical facility, the Mist Lord chuckled.
"Our Mist Clan's physique is special. Even without cultivation, we can live over a thousand years. I'm still young."
"The hell? Your people outlive even Xiao Wen."
"Bloodline strength is just one factor in determining lifespan. Take turtles, for example—they don't have strong bloodlines, yet they live longer than most humans."
"So you guys are basically the thousand-year-old turtles of the Domain Forces?"
The Mist Lord: …
Amused banter filled the air as they exited Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Originally, Gu Sha had planned to accompany them, but Feng Qi convinced him to stay behind.
As they strolled along the forest path outside the institute, their conversation shifted to the future of their alliance—discussing the next steps in inter-species cooperation.
Eventually, their talk drifted toward the past.
With age, the mind holds more and more memories.
He finally understood why so many elders could sit in silence for hours, simply staring into the distance.
The sheer weight of memories made their recollections feel endless.
For Feng Qi, the effect was even more pronounced due to his accumulated memories from multiple timelines.
His recollections stretched on infinitely, looping over themselves.
As he and the Mist Lord reminisced about the past, their conversation soon turned to hilarious stories, and both couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Then, a violent coughing fit suddenly overtook Feng Qi.
Eight years later.
Winterfell City.
Beneath the brilliant starlit sky, a streak of silver light flashed across the heavens like a shooting star, descending onto an empty street in the northern district.
It was already late at night, and the streets were completely deserted.
As the silver glow dissipated, the silhouette of a young girl emerged.
She was dressed in a vibrant neon outfit, her fair skin glowing under the streetlights. She stood about 1.68 meters tall, with a long single ponytail cascading down her back.
Her eyes twinkled like stars, and her expression was filled with playful mischief.
She took a quick glance around, then grinned widely, revealing pearly white teeth:
"I'm back! Ahahaha!"
At that moment, a snow-clearing robot rolled up beside her, its mechanical voice echoing in the empty street:
"Please do not obstruct my path."
Hearing the electronic monotone, the girl instantly stepped aside, saluting the robot with a mock-serious pose:
∠(°ゝ°)
"You're welcome!"
With that, she strode confidently into Winterfell City.
She had barely taken a few steps when she suddenly caught a whiff of something delicious drifting through the air.
Her silver eyes sparkled with excitement.
Following the enticing aroma, she arrived at a small noodle shop on the street corner.
Glancing up at the shop's old wooden sign, she took a deep breath, then pushed open the door and stepped inside.
At this late hour, the shop was empty, with only the elderly owner sitting behind the counter, idly scrolling through his phone.
When he noticed the girl entering, he immediately smiled and asked:
"What would you like to eat?"
"Boss, I want this, this, and this… actually, I want everything!"
The girl's eyes shone as she pointed eagerly at the menu on the wall.
Hearing her bold order, the shop owner froze for a moment.
"Are you sure you can eat that much?"
"Of course!" She nodded decisively, then plopped down onto a seat.
As she waited for her meal, impatience quickly set in.
Unable to sit still, she grabbed a bottle of seasoning from the table and poured a small amount directly into her mouth.
For a moment, she sat in silence, savoring the flavor.
Then, a bright smile spread across her face:
"Food tastes so good!"
After a short wait, the shop owner arrived with a steaming bowl of beef noodles.
"Here you go."
"Thanks, Boss!"
Flashing a sweet smile, the girl grabbed her chopsticks, sprinkled some scallions over the noodles, and immediately dug in.
The rising steam warmed her rosy cheeks.
She picked up a chunk of tender beef and popped it into her mouth.
As she chewed, a look of pure bliss spread across her face:
"Delicious! So delicious!"
In the blink of an eye, she slurped down the entire bowl, not even leaving behind a single drop of broth.
Then, she gazed longingly at the shop owner, eagerly waiting for her next bowl.
The shop owner, somewhat astonished by her incredible eating speed, didn't comment—he simply smiled and quickened his pace.
Soon, the second bowl, the third bowl…
Before long, empty bowls were stacked over a meter high beside her.
Yet, she showed no signs of being full.
Unable to contain his curiosity, the shop owner finally asked:
"You must be a frontline warrior, huh?"
"Something like that. But Boss, please hurry up—I'm starving!"
Watching her impatiently tapping her chopsticks against the table, the shop owner sighed and picked up the pace.
Hours later, the floor around her was covered with empty bowls.
Leaning back in her chair, she let out a satisfied sigh, flashing a bright smile.
"Boss, thanks for the meal! May Yao Ri bless you!"
With that, she stood up, ready to leave.
"Hold on, little girl—you haven't paid yet!"
Just as she was about to step out, the middle-aged shop owner called after her.
For a brief moment, the girl froze.
Then, as if just remembering something, she turned back around.
Seeing the shop owner waiting expectantly, she paused for a long time.
Finally, her bracelet flickered with light, and she slammed a black stone onto the table.
With a bold grin, she declared:
"Boss, this must be fate! Consider this Fire Yao Stone my payment!"
The shop owner stared at the black stone, bewildered.
"What… is this?"
"A rare mineral!" The girl nodded earnestly, looking completely serious.
"Is this some kind of resource crystal from a Domain Field?"
"Just think of it that way. Alright, Boss—goodbye!"
Without waiting for a response, she turned and strolled out of the shop.
The shop owner, still holding the mysterious black stone, stood there completely dumbfounded.
He had a strange feeling—as if he had just been scammed, yet at the same time, he couldn't bring himself to doubt her.
There was something about the girl's presence—an undeniable warmth that made it impossible not to trust her.
After a moment of hesitation, he took out his phone and called his son, who was stationed on the frontlines.
Minutes later, a look of pure shock overtook his face.
Staring at the black stone on the table, he suddenly felt like he was in a dream.
"Did I just serve a one-billion-dollar meal?"
Meanwhile, outside the noodle shop, the girl skipped down the street, moving like a playful deer through the quiet night.
"Hmm… Miracle, Miracle… where are you?"