1992

Howard Stark spent months using his financial influence to search for information on Qin Yi, but he found absolutely nothing.

There were no immigration or emigration records, not a single frame of surveillance footage showed a trace of Qin Yi, and even hospitals yielded no documentation to prove his existence.

It was as if this person had appeared out of thin air, though that was impossible.

Since Maria also grew fond of the child, Qin Yi had been staying at the Howard Estate for the past few months.

After several months of living together, Tony Stark had clearly given up on his research into Qin Yi's supernatural abilities.

Presumably, Tony could not think of a better way to develop such an unreplicable power.

Tony, lost in thought, lay on the living room sofa and looked up to see Qin Yi staring blankly at the television.

The news was playing on the screen.

"Qin, hit me with one of those Healing Spells."

Tony suddenly remembered he had a date with a magazine cover model that evening.

Qin Yi looked at the guy helplessly; he had spent the last few months obsessively researching his superpowers.

He had reached the point of barely sleeping or eating. If Qin Yi hadn't been worried that the guy might drop dead from exhaustion and mess up the timeline, he never would have cast a few Healing Spells on him.

Well, great! The guy had actually gotten addicted to it. He had even sworn that a genius like Tony Stark shouldn't waste time sleeping.

Fortunately, after Howard Stark retired from S.H.I.E.L.D. (currently still the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) based on his own suggestions, and with Maria's persuasion while she took care of him at home, Tony finally gave up on his research.

He returned to his previous lifestyle.

"Are you planning on dating all twelve cover models this year?"

Qin Yi watched as Tony suddenly stood up.

"Oh, that's a great idea. It's the only way to match my status. Do you want me to take you along to learn, Qin? You'll find it useful once you grow up."

Faced with Tony's sudden teasing, Qin Yi shrugged helplessly. He flicked his hand, sending a beam of white light flying toward Tony.

Qin Yi was speechless as he watched Tony puff out his chest and suck in his stomach, waiting for the light to sink into his body.

Just then, the news on the television caught Qin Yi's attention.

"The manned spacecraft that was in distress in space has been rescued thanks to the tireless efforts of the X-Men. All personnel have been brought back safely and arrived at the airport this morning. A large crowd of reporters and family members witnessed this miracle. The X-Men have earned our respect through their repeated adventures..."

Hearing the news report, Tony turned to Qin Yi and asked, "Do you know anyone in there?"

"No. Tony, go ahead and meet your cover model. I'm going to get something to eat."

"Alright then, I'll bring you some burgers tomorrow morning. There's a pretty good Turkish kebab place nearby, too."

Watching Tony head out to party, Qin Yi fell into deep thought.

The beginning of the Dark Phoenix plotline from the X-Men.

It seemed this really was a merged Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the danger level had just gone up.

In this 1992 incident, when Phoenix saved the spacecraft in distress, she accidentally absorbed cosmic energy from outer space, making the Phoenix Force even stronger—so strong that Phoenix herself couldn't control it.

After that, the D'Bari would arrive on Earth, and their leader, Vuk, would take the form of a human woman to absorb the cosmic energy from Jean Grey.

The movie hadn't received high ratings at the time, so he hadn't paid much attention to it. It seemed she had been overwhelmed and exploded during the absorption, and Phoenix eventually vanished, unable to withstand the power of the Phoenix Force.

Wait...

The Phoenix Force! Cosmic energy! This might be worth a shot.

If he could intervene, Phoenix wouldn't have to disappear from being unable to handle the energy, and he might even be able to increase his own Fairy Force fusion rate. It looked like he needed to plan this carefully.

Qin Yi immediately checked his own status.

Qin Yi (male)

7 years old.

System in sleep mode...

Fairy Force fusion rate: 1%...

Hunger: 50%

Healing Spell (can heal and purify all negative effects. Upgradable).

Looking at the 1% fusion rate, Qin Yi couldn't help but feel a bit discouraged.

Currently, the only things he had mastered were modifying reality, manipulating molecular arrangements, and reading or controlling the thoughts of others at will.

Most importantly, with only a 1% fusion rate, the energy he could use was limited. He hadn't even had the chance to test the true strength of his new body after it had fused with the Fairy Force.

He really didn't have much of an impression of the Fairy Force's power.

In his past life, it had only appeared a few times in the comics in parallel universes, and it was completely absent from the films.

This level of ability probably wouldn't be enough to face off against Magneto or Professor X, and that D'Bari leader who transformed into a human woman was someone even Magneto couldn't handle.

Not to mention the Dark Phoenix, whose powers would explode after absorbing the cosmic energy.

He was afraid that if he just showed up, he'd be wiped out by them immediately. This was going to be tricky.

The best-case scenario was to avoid interfering with their plotlines as much as possible and see if he could launch a sneak attack; with so many Mutants appearing, the opportunities were vast.

Moreover, the power of the Phoenix Force could theoretically manipulate time, space, matter, and energy in the universe without limit. It was a bug-like existence.

It was much more comfortable than the constant hunger that came with his own Fairy Force, though that was assuming the Phoenix Force's own will wasn't taken into account.

If he waited for his body and the Fairy Force to fuse naturally, heaven knew how many years it would take to finish.

In the coming years, Captain Marvel and the Kree would appear one after another, with various villains taking turns on the stage.

Damn it, he was going for it. The greater the risk, the greater the reward.

Two days later.

"Hey! Qin, your little friends aren't in a great spot right now. That girl named Jean Grey is really strange. She was called a superhero just a few days ago, and not long after, she's wanted by the government."

Tony said this with a cheeky grin while handing over a dozen burgers and some doner kebabs to Qin Yi.

Qin Yi took the burgers and teased Tony.

"So, this is the burger you've been buying for two days?"

"Hey, I can only say that your Healing Spell is really quite long-lasting..."

Looking at Tony speechlessly, Qin Yi suddenly thought of something, looked up, and said to him.

"Hey, brother, do me a favor."

Tony instantly stepped back a few paces, as if recalling some unpleasant memories. He hurriedly raised his hands.

"Don't pry into what I'm thinking, don't manipulate my mind."

Qin Yi smiled helplessly.

"Relax, relax. I promised your mom and dad I wouldn't misuse my superpowers. I just want you to help me find out where Jean Grey is."

Tony sat on the sofa and looked at Qin Yi in surprise.

"Why are you looking for her? That girl seems quite dangerous."

Qin Yi thought about the subsequent plot. He had to follow her; if she disappeared, where would he find such good energy packs? And there were two big energy packs at that.

"I'll let you study my superpowers for another half a year," Qin Yi said after a moment of thought.

Tony replied immediately.

"Three years."

"One year at most. Tony, you should really manage Stark Industries properly; Howard has already retired."

"One and a half years."

"Deal."

Qin Yi said helplessly.

"OK, finding a lost, dangerous little girl is quite simple for a genius like Stark. Qin, you really should read more books. You can't keep relying on your big brother for such simple things in the future."

He watched as Tony walked over to the computer, acting all cheeky while tinkering with something.

"My aunt originally contacted the Xavier Institute, but with this kind of thing happening, I guess that's down the drain."

Qin Yi thought viciously, damn it, he was going to have to start school.

To think he had traveled to another universe, yet he still couldn't escape the fate of going to school, and he had to start from elementary school at that.

Just destroy it all. He was tired.

A moment later, Tony turned back and said to the deep-in-thought Qin Yi.

"The military communications show that a battle just took place on a street in New York. But they've been captured now. Let me see... the order is to send them to the Mutant Control Center."

Qin Yi hurried to the computer and said to Tony.

"Tony, why don't we go take a look? There are aliens appearing later."

Tony stroked his chin in thought.

"Is this your ability to predict the future again? For the sake of the aliens, add another year to the research. Two and a half years."

That wretched two and a half years.

Qin Yi gave Tony the middle finger without hesitation.

"Let's go! Tony."

Tony thought for a moment and added.

"In case Mom asks, you're responsible for coaxing her."

"OK. If we're any slower, it'll be too late."

Qin Yi pulled Tony toward the garage.

On the way to the Mutant Control Center,

Qin Yi looked at the phone in Tony's hand, hesitating for a long time.

Tony said while driving, "I'll buy you one later."

Qin Yi pondered for a moment.

"Tony, what do you think about this possibility? Remove the physical keyboard from mobile phones, make the screen larger, and add other features like navigation or video calls. Do you think there's potential there?"

Good heavens, Steve Jobs, I really didn't mean to steal your ideas.

It was just that the mobile phones of 1992 were truly nothing to write home about.

Even though this was the Marvel universe.

The tech tree in this era had grown a bit crooked; phones still had massive keypads and tiny screens.

Not to mention other functions—they were actually more useful as bricks during a fight.

After listening to Qin Yi, Tony pondered for a while before suddenly speaking up.

"I never expected you to have such a genius idea, Qin. When we get back, I'll start a new company and we can look into it. Tony Stark Communications? How does that sound?"

"Anything works, anything works. Let's just hide once we arrive. If we can get our hands on an alien to study, that would be even better."

Hearing the mention of aliens, Tony accelerated toward the Mutant Control Center.

When Qin Yi and Tony arrived, the moving train had already been torn apart by Phoenix.

Accompanied by the roaring sounds of explosions and fire, the remaining members of the X-Men were safely placed on the ground by Phoenix.

Qin Yi pulled Tony to hide beside a ruin. With a wave of his hand, a surge of energy shielded them, blending them into their surroundings.

"Why does that bald guy look so familiar?"

Tony poked Qin Yi's arm, his eyes drifting toward the X-Men.

Qin Yi looked at Professor X, who was lying on the ground.

"Professor X, a man worthy of respect, dedicated to maintaining the peaceful coexistence of mutants and humans. But his thinking is too simple. The high-level officials in your United States have always aimed to eliminate mutants."

"However, looking at it from another level, mutants are also a part of human strength. Without external conflicts or threats, the internal contradictions between humans and mutants cannot maintain balance for long just by trying to keep the peace."

"External conflicts and threats? What kind of aspects?"

Qin Yi pointed at the people rushing toward Jean Grey from all directions.

"These guys, the alien race known as the D'Bari."

"So we came here for these so-called D'Bari? They look no different from us. Holy crap. That girl is fierce."

Tony stared, dumbfounded, as Jean Grey wreaked havoc. With a wave of her hand, the D'Bari rushing toward her vanished into dust like popped bubbles.

"Is this the same as your molecular manipulation?"

Seeing Tony's renewed interest in mutant abilities, Qin Yi suddenly had a bold idea: why not cooperate with Professor X and start something like the Avengers or the Illuminati early?

Being the boss oneself was always better than working for others.

To hell with the President of the United States; I want to be the ultimate powerhouse...

But given his current strength, forget it. Let you guys off the hook for now.

I'd better keep a low profile first.

When the X-Men are targeted by the U.S. government later, I'll let Tony step in to negotiate.

"More or less, it's all about the control of energy," Qin Yi said to the stunned Tony.

Suddenly, the white-haired D'Bari leader, Vuk, sprinted toward Jean Grey and grabbed her by the throat. Surging energy instantly poured out of Jean, being absorbed into Vuk's body.

The scattered Phoenix Force swirled around the two of them, like water being pumped from one pool into another.

However, Jean's pool was like an ocean; in no time at all, Vuk's small pool couldn't contain it anymore.

She struggled in agony, watching her skin crack all over, wanting to pull back the hand gripping Jean's throat.

But Jean instantly grabbed her hand. "You want this energy? Then take it."

The Phoenix Force surrounding the two surged outward like a floodgate opening, occupying the space they were in within moments and spreading in all directions.

Cyclops looked worriedly at Jean, who was caught in the energy vortex. He couldn't help but step forward, only to find that the moment he touched the energy, his hand began to slowly fragment.

"Jean!" Cyclops's pained voice echoed.

Looking at her boyfriend and her X-Men family being ravaged by her own energy, Phoenix hesitated.

At this moment, Vuk said in agony, "You can't control this energy. If you kill me, you'll kill them too."

Phoenix looked at Professor X with determination. Under the Professor's reluctant gaze, she took Vuk and shot straight into the sky. Like a phoenix, the two flew directly into space, surrounded by the vortex of energy.

"Holy crap." Watching the two fly directly into space, surrounded by the energy vortex like a phoenix, Qin Yi felt dizzy. How could he have forgotten this part? The cooked duck... it flew away.

Tony, who had been watching with great interest, suddenly felt a terrifying aura reviving beside him.

It was like an ancient beast that had been imprisoned for tens of thousands of years; that aura made it difficult for him to even breathe.

Tony patted Qin Yi's shoulder with difficulty, but was repelled by the aura on Qin Yi's body. He was sent flying out of Qin Yi's shield and crashed into a tree behind him before finally stopping.

Tony climbed up from the ground and watched helplessly as Qin Yi took flight, charging straight toward the energy vortex.

The remaining X-Men immediately spotted and surrounded Tony, while Beast walked up to him, carrying Professor X.

"I think you owe us an explanation."

Enveloped by the Fairy Force, Qin Yi reached space in mere moments.

Phoenix and the D'Bari leader Vuk were entangled in the Phoenix Force vortex, both struggling desperately against its erosion.

Qin Yi's eyes glowed with a green light, much like a big bad wolf eyeing two lambs locked in a struggle.

Good thing I didn't miss it. I won't be polite then. Fairy Force, activate.

Like a reawakening black hole, a massive, swirling energy vortex appeared above Qin Yi's head.

The vortex's terrifying suction tore through the Phoenix Force surrounding Phoenix and Vuk, forcibly dragging the scattered energy into its center to be ravenously devoured by the Fairy Force.

As the Phoenix Force dissipating around them, Phoenix and Vuk were clearly stunned.

Vuk felt lucky to be alive, but the thought of the energy he had just acquired vanishing made him furious. He demanded, "Who are you?"

Qin Yi watched the insatiable energy vortex above his head as it swallowed the Phoenix Force and fused it into his own body.

Two energy arms formed instantly behind Qin Yi and lunged toward the pair.

Caught in the energy arms, Phoenix and Vuk felt their own energy draining away rapidly.

Surging power poured from the vortex into Qin Yi's body, causing cracks to appear on his skin and spread everywhere, like a shattered glass bottle.

Qin Yi pushed the Fairy Force to its limit while casting Healing Spell on himself.

The cracks on his body flickered between fading and splitting, yet the influx of massive energy only made his body feel hungrier.

As the personal energy of Phoenix and Vuk was completely absorbed, both of them passed out within the energy arms.

Suddenly, a golden circle appeared before Qin Yi.

Looking at the golden portal, Qin Yi's expression turned difficult. Did I really attract the attention of this big shot?

An elegant figure stepped out from the golden circle, her eyes filled with the light of wisdom as she looked at Qin Yi.

"Little one, if you keep this up, you will kill her."

Qin Yi was visibly stunned, contemplating whether he could handle Ancient One right now and snatch the Time Stone.

Although the gains from swallowing the Time Stone's energy would be immense, the current risks were also quite high. Maybe I should wait a bit longer.

Having convinced himself, Qin Yi rubbed the back of his head and chuckled, "Greetings, Sorcerer. This alien wanted to destroy Earth, so I was just planning to eliminate her."

Qin Yi pointed at Vuk, who was still held in the energy arms, and watched as Ancient One did not interrupt him.

Vuk's body was pulled directly into the energy vortex above Qin Yi's head and vanished. A moment later, a surge of energy fused into Qin Yi's body.

Time to bolt.

"Come with me," Ancient One said to Qin Yi, who was preparing to slip away.

Qin Yi gave an awkward smile.

He snuck a glance at his status panel.

Qin Yi (Male)

7 years old.

System in hibernation...

Fairy Force fusion rate: 6%...

Hunger level: 55%

Healing Spell (Can heal and purify all negative effects. Upgradable).

Consumed: Phoenix Force (Fragmented), D'Bari leader Vuk

Ancient One looked at Qin Yi, then picked up Phoenix and stepped into the portal.

Qin Yi hesitated, then lifted his legs to follow, saying, "Sorcerer, we need to be quick, or my family will worry about me."