Chapter 487: A Miracle Reappears
Future City.
Technology Research Institute Base.
The once-thriving base had been transformed. The smooth ground was now cratered, littered with rubble and architectural debris.
The aftermath of the battle had nearly plowed the Technology Research Institute’s plaza from end to end.
The conflict, which had persisted for over half a day, was no longer merely a clash between Future City and Star City.
Domain combat teams, unwilling to see the war continue, had begun to arrive in succession, even without the approval of city leaders or the battle group headquarters.
Wei Fa, who had first smashed the Smash the Domain Dogheads Seventh Group’s defenses, was the first to arrive, followed by the figures now swarming the area.
The once-clear situation had devolved into chaos with the arrival of these domain combat teams.
Fortunately, Mu Qing finally appeared, easing Feng Qi’s anxiety.
But just as Mu Qing was about to reach him, Wei Fa stepped forward to block her path.
Feng Qi could already foresee what would happen next.
Even the black shadow hovering nearby couldn’t help but shake its head.
It had personally witnessed Mu Qing’s power, which even the chimera demon couldn’t match. No mortal body could possibly withstand it.
In the black shadow’s eyes, Wei Fa’s actions were like an egg striking a stone—the outcome was inevitable.
When the scarlet and golden light collided, the golden light was instantly devoured by the scarlet, and Wei Fa’s body disintegrated at a visible rate.
But just as Wei Fa was about to perish, a black flash streaked past, and his figure vanished from the spot.
Seeing this, Feng Qi immediately turned his gaze to his right.
There stood a white-haired elder in a black robe, supporting the blood-vomiting Wei Fa with one hand. His eyes locked onto Mu Qing, who had halted her charge.
Upon closer inspection, Feng Qi was astonished to recognize the elder.
The newcomer was Jiang Nanqiu.
Their last encounter had been at Star City Academy, when Jiang Nanqiu had come to give a lecture and had specifically requested to meet Feng Qi.
Feng Qi remembered Jiang Nanqiu asking him a question:
“If submitting to the Domain Force could grant you longevity, power, and everything you desire, would you betray humanity?”
Jiang Nanqiu had left a deep impression on Feng Qi.
Wang Jinsheng, during his history class, had devoted considerable time to discussing Jiang Nanqiu, describing him as the era’s most outstanding warrior and one of the Ten Great War Gods.
Yet Feng Qi had understood that Jiang Nanqiu had long since retired from the front lines due to injuries and illness. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen to continue shining through public speaking.
But Jiang Nanqiu’s recent rescue of Wei Fa from Mu Qing proved he had been concealing his true strength all along. The textbook’s account of his injury-induced retirement was clearly a fabrication.
“Jiang Nanqiu?!” The black shadow hovering beside him spoke in a low voice.
“You know him?” Feng Qi turned to the shadow, curious.
“Of course! He was one of the Ten Great War Gods! I’ve studied human history!”
Feng Qi: ……
The shadow’s response immediately reminded him of Old Mist.
These two domain creatures, lurking within human society, seemed to share a common interest: studying human history.
As Old Mist put it, understanding history was essential to comprehending a race’s rise and fall, as well as its strengths and weaknesses.
“Senior Sister!” Feng Qi shouted, his voice cutting through the tension.
Hearing his call, Mu Qing, who had been locked in a silent confrontation with Jiang Nanqiu, flickered into existence beside him.
At that moment, Jiang Nanqiu smoothly shifted his gaze to Feng Qi, his calm eyes seeming to pierce through all pretense.
“Feng Qi, do you remember the promise you once made to me?”
Even in his blood source-activated form, Jiang Nanqiu instantly recognized Feng Qi’s true identity.
“Old Jiang, how did you recognize me?” Feng Qi demanded immediately.
Jiang Nanqiu didn’t answer. He handed the unconscious Wei Fa to someone behind him and then produced a small black bead from his sleeve.
Feng Qi recognized it instantly: it was the tracking bead carried by the Blue-skinned Assassin.
Jiang Nanqiu’s possession of this bead proved he had once killed a creature from the blue-skinned tribe.
Seeing this, Feng Qi immediately understood something.
When Jiang Nanqiu had met him before, he had clearly used this Miracle Positioning Bead to locate him.
Now, Feng Qi suddenly understood why Jiang Nanqiu had asked him those questions back then.
Jiang Nanqiu had evidently used the Miracle Positioning Bead to confirm that Feng Qi possessed a miracle item, believing it would have a profound impact on the future of humanity.
This had been Jiang Nanqiu’s test for him—to determine whether someone wielding a miracle item would become a potential threat to Human Civilization.
However, Feng Qi remained deeply puzzled by Jiang Nanqiu’s continued concealment of his true strength and identity.
“Feng Qi, you’ve disappointed me,” Jiang Nanqiu said, shaking his head and sighing.
“Old Jiang, perhaps you’ll hear my explanation first?” Facing this venerable elder, Feng Qi decided to try appeasement first.
“Answer me this: will you withdraw your troops?”
“No!”
Feng Qi’s refusal was unwavering.
Hearing this, Jiang Nanqiu’s qi momentum began to surge, his black robes billowing with overflowing energy as waves of spiritual energy radiated outward.
Seeing this, Mu Qing decisively stepped forward to stand before Feng Qi.
Clenching her fist, she was enveloped in flowing jade light.
“Leave this to me!”
At that moment, the energy waves tore through Jiang Nanqiu’s black robes, revealing the body beneath.
Feng Qi was astonished to see that Jiang Nanqiu’s battle-hardened body bore not a single scar. His skin glowed with a warm, jade-like luster, and five gemstones—red, blue, green, black, and gold—were embedded in his chest.
Unlike the irregularly shaped rune crystals, these five gemstones were all identical rhomboids.
With a soft incantation, the black gemstone on Jiang Nanqiu’s chest lit up.
Dense black energy surged from behind him, coalescing above his head into a twisted, nightmarish creature of pure darkness.
The black energy continued to spread, soon enveloping Jiang Nanqiu’s entire body.
Even his eyes turned pitch-black.
In an instant, Jiang Nanqiu vanished from his spot, reappearing directly in front of Mu Qing.
Mu Qing immediately threw a punch.
Boom!
The collision of their fists unleashed a shockwave that shattered the ground beneath them.
The terrifying aftershock radiated outward, sending Feng Qi and the black shadow flying backward, crashing into the rear of the Technology Research Institute’s main building.
Members of the domain combat team who had landed nearby were also caught in the blast, sent tumbling through the air.
To Feng Qi’s disbelief, Jiang Nanqiu’s power didn’t seem to falter against Mu Qing’s onslaught.
Even though Mu Qing wasn’t at her peak, she was still far beyond what any human could withstand.
With this in mind, Feng Qi’s gaze immediately focused on the five gemstones embedded in Jiang Nanqiu’s body.
Remembering that Jiang Nanqiu carried a Miracle Positioning Bead belonging to the blue-skinned creatures, Feng Qi had reason to suspect that the gemstones were part of a miracle item.
The clash of power continued unabated.
Shockwaves radiated outward in concentric circles, causing the Earth to tremble and crumble under the strain. The ground beneath them had already completely shattered.
(End of the Chapter)