Tiger Soul private aircraft.
Feng Qi leaned against the window, gazing into the distance at the variously colored barriers of domain fields.
Compared to the route he remembered that led to Winterfell, many domain fields had vanished or changed color.
During the hundred-plus years he'd been away, the domain fields in the human world had clearly undergone significant shifts.
Some domain factions must have fallen, becoming wandering or even obsolete forces.
Others likely expanded through war, devouring rival domains and absorbing their resources and territory.
In such a brutal environment, peace was never an option.
Those peace-loving ideologies like pacifism and vegetarianism from before the Cataclysm had all been swept into history's trash heap by harsh reality.
Humanity needed warriors—more importantly, it needed military geniuses.
Maybe there once were peace-seeking forces among domain factions, but their choices were always destined to go unsupported and be erased by time.
If you don't attack me, then I'll attack you first.
I'll take your resources. I'll enslave your people. The protests of the weak hold no meaning.
The raw truth of the New World was this—if you don't advance, you choose to be eliminated. Neutrality didn't exist.
Once the mask of civility was stripped away, every race was a bloodthirsty beast.
Even the so-called moral rule of "not harming women and children" didn't apply in war between races.
The human race was no exception if it wanted to survive.
When faced with a domain field held by a weaker race rich in spiritual resources, humanity wouldn't hesitate to act.
His thoughts returned to the present, and Feng Qi asked in his mind:
"Dao-ge, have you thought it through? Will you help me?"
Just moments ago, he had proposed the plan of sealing Jian Ji to the Demon Blade.
The suggestion had originally come from the Mist Lord—if it worked, it would completely neutralize the Jian Ji threat and bring Winterfell into the Breaking Dawn alliance, massively boosting humanity's strength.
But there was one hurdle left—the Demon Blade.
He had seen the Demon Blade's memories, so he understood exactly how deep the hatred ran.
To the Demon Blade, Jian Ji wasn't just a traitor—it was the one who had slaughtered his kin.
The entire Blade Clan had been destroyed by Jian Ji.
That deep, unforgettable hatred was what had driven the former Chao Tian to walk the blood-forging path and transform himself into the Demon Blade.
Killing Jian Ji had become his obsession.
So Feng Qi's suggestion might not be what the Demon Blade truly wanted.
Since proposing the idea, the Demon Blade had never given a clear answer—only silence.
Feng Qi knew what that meant.
The Demon Blade was at war with himself—fighting against his own obsession.
Seeing the Demon Blade still unresponsive, Feng Qi continued:
"Dao-ge, sealing Jian Ji for one thousand five hundred years isn't letting him off the hook. It just means killing him in one thousand five hundred years. I know that's a long time for you."
Still no reply.
Just as Feng Qi sighed inwardly and resolved to wait, the Demon Blade's aged voice finally echoed in his mind:
"As long as we can win, I'll wait one thousand five hundred years."
"Dao-ge, so you agree?"
"In the original timeline, there's no guarantee I could beat Jian Ji even after one thousand five hundred years. But if this works, then it's worth waiting. If we go through with the sealing plan, I want him to suffer through every one of those years."
"No problem. I'll make sure that happens."
"Honestly, your proposal is very tempting. If the main timeline version of you can kill Jian Ji and erase him entirely, that's even more satisfying than just killing him outright. But what I can't let go of is the fact that I wouldn't get to do it myself—that's my obsession."
"That's easy. One thousand five hundred years from now, come find me. I'll take up the blade again and hold your hand as we chop off that dog's head together."
With the Demon Blade's agreement, Feng Qi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
To defeat Jian Ji, the Demon Blade was key.
On this sacrificial timeline, all his power came from the Demon Blade. Without that support, he was just a guy who could borrow some talent abilities—nothing more.
As for the Demon Blade's demands, Feng Qi was confident he could fulfill them.
At that moment, a flashing light above the seat's tablet caught Feng Qi's attention.
He reached out, picked up the tablet, and turned on the screen—it was a message from Star City.
When he saw the headline about an impending war between the Dawn Army and Winterfell, Feng Qi's pupils instantly shrank.
He tapped the message open and began reviewing the intelligence sent from Winterfell in detail.
The report had come from an undercover investigation team Star City had quietly sent into Winterfell.
Truth was, the conflict between the Dawn Army and Winterfell had started some time ago.
But things had been kept under control early on—most of the friction had been minor skirmishes, tests between small squads.
Now, though, it was different.
The Dawn Army and Winterfell were about to go to full-scale war.
The tension had reached a breaking point.
The investigation team speculated that this might be connected to the recent mysterious disappearance of several researchers from a Rune Enhancement Laboratory.
The Dawn Army may have discovered clues, possibly confirming that the missing researchers had fallen into the hands of the Sword Clan.
To the Dawn Army, the Rune Enhancement Project represented hope for humanity's future.
These researchers were of immense value to the Dawn Army.
That may be the reason they're now pressuring Winterfell with military action, trying to force them to hand over the scientists.
But the truth remained uncertain—even the investigation team couldn't give a definitive answer.
At the end of the message, Star City's upper command urged Feng Qi to be cautious.
This Tiger Soul aircraft heading to Winterfell might not be able to land safely.
Star City had long since taken a public stand supporting the Dawn Army, and Winterfell's attitude toward Star City had already shifted dramatically.
Now, on the brink of war with the Dawn Army, Winterfell had officially banned all Star City flights.
Feng Qi set down the tablet and immediately pressed the call button beside his seat to speak with the pilot.
Just in case, he decided that once the plane entered the northern airspace of Winterfell, he would jump—he wouldn't let the Tiger Soul aircraft risk a landing inside Winterfell.
If the plane flew in recklessly, it would likely be shot down on the spot.
After cutting off the comms, Feng Qi picked the tablet back up and turned on the positioning system.
They still had more than half a day of flight left before reaching Winterfell.
Even if the war broke out now, he'd make it in time to join the fight. He wasn't worried.
History had shown that even if Mu Qing wasn't a match for Jian Ji, she could still hold her own against him for several days.
The current Mu Qing had grown decades beyond the version from the previous sacrificial timeline. Her strength must have significantly increased.
There was no doubt she could hold out until he arrived.
Honestly, he always believed the best tactic was to lure Jian Ji out of Winterfell, then kill him.
Without Winterfell, Jian Ji wouldn't be able to use the "enhancement gems" to activate the Sword Spirit Formation—his strength would drop significantly.
The problem was, Jian Ji would never leave Winterfell alone.
He had planted Sword Clan warriors beside Mu Qing, which meant he understood how strong she truly was.
The citizens of Winterfell who had practiced special sword styles were also a key part of Jian Ji's strength. He had no absolute confidence in facing Mu Qing alone outside the city.
Any attempt to bait him out would be pointless.
Feng Qi had considered countless strategies for this, but none worked.
And delaying the confrontation would only make Jian Ji stronger.
His solo-enhancement path meant his growth speed wouldn't be any slower than Mu Qing's—maybe even faster.
Feng Qi found his cultivation pattern extremely dangerous.
Jian Ji's Sword Spirit Formation required a massive number of citizens from Winterfell to sacrifice themselves as sword spirits.
He wasn't training alone—the entire city was part of his cultivation system.
The more citizens practiced sword spirit techniques, and the stronger they became, the more terrifying the formation would be once activated.
Jian Ji hadn't launched it yet because he was still cultivating the sword spirits.
He was waiting for the offerings to multiply and grow stronger.
If allowed to continue, when he finally activated the Sword Spirit Formation, it might cost the lives of the entire population of Winterfell.
That's why Jian Ji was such a difficult threat to deal with.
Mu Qing's growth potential far surpassed his, but she never chose the path of individual power.
They couldn't afford to wait, but Feng Qi also couldn't gain the strength to beat Jian Ji right away by opening a sacrificial timeline.
Now was about the best timing they'd get.
War was about to erupt—and with Mu Qing and Mu Yan fighting by his side, the odds of killing Jian Ji would increase.
Time passed.
Half a day later.
The plane broke through heavy clouds, and snow blanketed Feng Qi's view.
It was as if they had suddenly entered a world of ice and snow—everything outside was wrapped in white.
Realizing they'd entered the northern region of Winterfell, Feng Qi immediately reached out to wake Xiao You.
"Boss, did we eat yet?"
Xiao You snapped her eyes open, sounding a little excited.
"We're jumping. If we don't go now, we're getting served a missile." Feng Qi chuckled and rubbed her head.
"What's a missile? Is it tasty?"
Looking at her adorably blank face, Feng Qi couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Just as he was about to lead Xiao You and the others to the cabin door, the pilot's urgent voice rang out beside him:
"Boss Feng, the scanners show we've been locked onto by Viper anti-air missiles."
Hearing this, Feng Qi's expression turned serious.
He wasn't unfamiliar with the Viper missile.
This weapon came from the Institute of Technological Research—it was developed by the Viper Division, where Mo Fei worked.
Star City had also bought a batch of Viper missiles, placing them on the outer perimeter for air defense and anti-aircraft operations.
He had assumed that as long as they didn't enter Winterfell's airspace, they'd be safe.
He didn't expect there to already be launch platforms stationed out here—armed with Viper missiles.
Just then, a sharp sense of danger surged over him.
At the same moment, the pilot shouted from the front:
"Boss Feng, the missile's been launched! Danger—!"
Feng Qi acted instantly. He grabbed the still-drowsy Xiao You under his arm, while his right hand tightened around the floating Demon Blade beside him.
"Go!"
As soon as he spoke, his figure turned into a streak of black light, slashing open the cockpit door straight ahead.
Time seemed to slow as a Viper missile, trailing blue flames, streaked toward the aircraft—less than ten meters away from the glass cockpit.
The pilot, tense and focused, was just about to press the defense button.
The Viper missile's hallmark was speed—lightning fast.
There was no time for the pilot to react. Feng Qi swung the Demon Blade without hesitation.
A streak of black light tore through the cockpit glass and shot directly at the incoming missile.
All of it happened in under a second.
A massive explosion followed. Fire erupted in every direction. Feng Qi shoved the Demon Blade forward, shielding the pilot with an energy barrier formed by the blade.
Boom!
The front of the aircraft shattered under the shockwave, and the entire plane disintegrated midair.
Looking down at Xiao You, still flailing in his armpit, Feng Qi glanced behind at Po Jia and the others.
Thankfully, no one had been hurt.
Just then, Feng Qi's gaze snapped downward—more Viper missiles were rising from the ground, trailing blue flames and flying at incredible speed.
Before he could act, Po Jia suddenly clenched his fists. A ferocious phantom beast surged from his body, enveloping him completely.
His figure flickered, slicing through two of the incoming missiles at breakneck speed.
Boom! Boom!
Two bursts of flame erupted almost simultaneously. But wrapped in that savage beast projection, Po Jia emerged unscathed. The explosions couldn't breach his soul-form defense.
Then Po Jia locked his gaze on the anti-air missile platform on the ground.
His figure flickered rapidly across the sky and landed before the launch site. With one punch from the phantom beast surrounding him, the entire platform was smashed deep into the earth.
Another weapons platform rose from the distant ground.
Its turret rotated, locking onto Feng Qi and the others in the sky.
But before it could fire, Lei Ting raised his hand and pointed at the turret:
"Blow it up!"
As his voice rang out, a purple bolt of lightning burst from thin air, ripped through the sky, and struck the platform in an instant.
A deafening blast followed. The entire platform exploded in a firestorm.
With the threat neutralized, Feng Qi looked toward the pilot still wrapped in his energy shield.
"You alright?"
"Boss Feng, I'm fine."
The well-trained pilot had already regained his composure. He nodded firmly in response.
"Good."
"Boss, I'm not alright… You squashed me. I couldn't breathe," came Xiao You's voice from under his arm.
Feng Qi looked down and quickly let her go.
"Whew… I almost suffocated," she gasped.
Seeing her limp body and heavy breathing, Feng Qi looked a little embarrassed.
It had been an emergency. Po Jia, Lei Ting, and Taihang could take care of themselves. Even a direct missile hit wouldn't faze them.
But Xiao You was different.
She didn't follow a body-refinement path, nor did she train much. Although her physical strength far surpassed that of normal humans, it wasn't nearly enough to tank a missile blast.
When danger struck, Feng Qi's first instinct had been to protect her.
Once he saw the pilot in trouble too, he had no choice but to tuck Xiao You under his arm and rush to save the pilot.
Thankfully, nothing went wrong.
They landed swiftly. As soon as Feng Qi touched the ground, he released the Demon Blade's energy barrier around the pilot.
Before he could speak, the pilot beat him to it.
"Boss Feng, please go on to Winterfell. I'll find my way back. Don't worry about me."
"You sure you can make it back?"
The pilot nodded without hesitation.
"Don't worry, Boss Feng. Before I joined the Tiger Soul Research Institute, I spent more than ten years on the frontlines. I was stationed in the Winterfell frontline for seven of those. I know this terrain well. Plus, I've got a tracking device sewn into my uniform. Someone will come for me."
Hearing this, Feng Qi relaxed a bit.
Still, the northern region of Winterfell was a harsh, frozen wasteland. Even cultivators would struggle to find food here.
Though he accepted the pilot's choice, Feng Qi still pulled out some spiritual plants and even a bit of Lei Ting's tightly-rationed spiritual liquor from his spatial ring—just enough to keep the pilot going until help arrived.
Maybe not wanting to be a burden, the pilot took the supplies and turned south without another word, quickly vanishing into the snowy haze.
Watching him go, Feng Qi turned to face the north.
Next, he was going to fly the rest of the way to Winterfell at top speed.