Hijacking the Timeline

Chapter 217: An Unexpected Turn [2.5k]

TL/N: 🎁 GIVEAWAY ALERT! (Details at the end)

Translator: CinderTL

Time flew by, and graduation season arrived once again.

On this day, Feng Qi skipped his physical training and changed into clean clothes before leaving the Scarlet Research Institute.

Escorted by a Scarlet Garrison military vehicle, he returned to Star City Academy.

The memories of his time here felt like they had happened just yesterday.

After entering the academy gates, he first went to Bai Fusheng's office to deliver three vials of "gene liquid" produced by the Scarlet Research Institute.

Despite not having seen him for years, Bai Fusheng remained as vigorous as ever, his face beaming as he inquired about Feng Qi's recent experiences.

When Feng Qi presented the Human Outstanding Gold Medal, Bai Fusheng's smile widened even further.

After his visit with Bai Fusheng, Feng Qi left the Principal's Office.

The evening sky was ablaze with sunset hues, and twilight was approaching as the graduation gala was about to begin.

Following familiar paths, he arrived at the academy's sports field.

The field was brightly lit, and the grassy area was filled with dining tables, each marked with wooden plaques indicating the respective classes.

At the front of the field stood a red-decorated stage for the gala. As in previous years, Star City Academy's graduation celebration was a grand affair, with numerous celebrities attending to offer their blessings to the graduating students as they embarked on new journeys.

Feng Qi sat down at the table marked "Combat Class Three" and waited.

A moment later, the monk and the others appeared.

Their faces lit up with smiles when they saw him.

"Brother Qi!" they called out, one after another, triggering a flood of memories.

As Liu Yue, the monk, and the others settled in, they eagerly began asking Feng Qi about his experiences over the past year.

Naturally, he wouldn't reveal his true experiences.

Instead, he gave vague answers, claiming he had been focused on Cultivation Technique Research and had made some progress.

As dusk fell, the campus remained brightly lit.

A familiar figure emerged from the distance, striding quickly toward them.

"Brother Qi!" the figure called out, wrapping an arm around Feng Qi's neck as he approached.

Feng Qi turned to see Lin Ran, his face immediately breaking into a smile.

Lin Ran's demanding workload had kept them apart, their contact dwindling over the past year. This was their first reunion in all that time.

"A'Ran, I've been seeing your research breakthroughs everywhere lately. You're really making a name for yourself."

Hearing this, Lin Ran chuckled and sat down beside him.

"I've made some progress, but it's nothing compared to you. I still believe your talent is just waiting to be unleashed. If you asked me who in this world is most likely to develop a deity-tier cultivation technique, I'd bet on you without hesitation!"

"Stop sucking up to me," Feng Qi grinned. "I know my own limitations."

"In my heart, you'll always be the ultimate deity of Cultivation Technique Research—no one can surpass you."

"Simp!" Feng Qi retorted, annoyed but amused.

"Slurp~ Slurp~ Slurp~"

Lin Ran actually struck a pose like a simpering fanboy, sending the entire group into uproarious laughter. Even Feng Qi couldn't help but chuckle.

After so long apart, Lin Ran was still the same Lin Ran he remembered, unchanged in the slightest.

Just then, Liu Yue's voice rang out:

"Senior Mu Qing is here."

Feng Qi immediately followed Liu Yue's gaze toward the south entrance of the training ground.

In the distance, Mu Qing strode forward, clad in a white combat uniform.

Mu Qing had grown noticeably taller, her figure now strikingly slender. Even from afar, the oppressive aura of her qi blood was palpable.

Coupled with her ethereal aura, she truly captivated all eyes.

She slowly approached Feng Qi's left side, a faint smile gracing her lips as she gazed at the assembled group.

"Long time no see," she said.

"Wow, who's this stunning beauty? It can't be Senior Mu Qing, right? After all, she promised to bring us domain beast meat when she returned!"

"Yeah, beautiful lady, you're at the wrong table! We're just missing Senior Mu Qing here."

Cai Guo and Yang Xiaoxin's banter drew hearty laughter from the group.

With Mu Qing's arrival, friends who had once parted ways to pursue different paths finally reunited at Star City Academy.

By now, Lin Ran had become a globally revered genius in Art Magic Research, the undisputed founder of the increasingly popular Hand Seal Flow Art, and held an unparalleled position in the hearts of all cultivators.

Mu Qing, too, had risen to become a supernova on the front lines, hailed as the most promising rising star of this era to challenge for the title of "War God."

As Mu Qing settled into her seat, a familiar warmth flooded Feng Qi's heart.

Mu Qing now appeared more mature and confident than he remembered.

He could only imagine what she had experienced over the past year.

The graduation party's entertainment program began.

Suddenly, Mu Qing turned to him and said, "Vice-Commander, I'm planning to form a battle group."

Hearing this, everyone's eyes turned to Feng Qi, awaiting his response.

They all vividly remembered the promise he had made to Mu Qing when she graduated last year.

Faced with Mu Qing's invitation, Feng Qi nodded. "I'll join you once I finish my current mission."

He didn't immediately accept because he felt the timing wasn't right. His involvement might prematurely alter history, introducing unforeseen variables to the Dawn Army's formation.

He still believed the optimal time to join Dawn was after Mu Yao found Mu Qing.

That was when the Dawn Army would be established.

She could learn many truths from Mu Yao and uncover the reasons behind the city's massacre through the Dawn Army's records.

Hearing his response, a smile bloomed on Mu Qing's face, and she nodded firmly.

After several rounds of drinks, Yang Xiaoxin and the others began sharing their post-graduation plans.

Feng Qi offered each of them his blessings.

After the banquet concluded, Mu Qing and Lin Ran departed early.

By then, Mu Qing had already risen to become the vice-commander of the Snow Wolf Battle Group, burdened with heavy responsibilities that left her little time to linger.

Lin Ran was in an even more precarious position. Securing leave from his demanding research duties to attend the gathering had been a difficult feat in itself.

After their brief reunion, they resumed their journeys toward their respective ideals.

Feng Qi didn't leave early. He stood at the main gate of Star City Academy, watching each student depart.

When Liu Yue, Jianlan strapped to his back, approached the gate, a smile spread across his face.

"Brother Qi, until we meet again."

"Where are you headed?"

"The front lines."

"Since you're both going to the front lines, why not travel with Mu Qing?"

Liu Yue shook his head. "I'm better suited to be a domain wanderer. Battle groups aren't for me."

"Want to be a lone wolf? What if you get injured? There won't be anyone to save you. That's not cool at all."

"Just dying in battle, then. I've never feared death."

"Ironheaded Fool!" Feng Qi exclaimed, glaring at Liu Yue's impassive expression.

Liu Yue remained unchanged, his demeanor consistent across every timeline, never wavering.

Multiple timelines flashed through his mind, each depicting days spent alongside Liu Yue.

In this timeline, he had made his decision:

He would recruit Liu Yue into the Dawn Battle Group, making him his companion once more.

He knew that Liu Yue's dream, like his own, was for humanity's ultimate victory.

With this thought, he turned to Liu Yue and smiled.

"Liu Yue, I invite you once again to become my companion."

Seeing Liu Yue's puzzled expression, he pointed to the Scarlet Research Institute's military vehicle parked nearby.

"How about joining me for a ride?"

"Alright," Liu Yue replied without hesitation, showing no trace of suspicion.

Moments later, after seeing off Yan Yue, who was the last to leave, Feng Qi led Liu Yue into the military vehicle.

The vehicle then sped toward the Scarlet Research Institute.

Upon returning to the institute, Feng Qi revealed his secrets to Liu Yue without reservation.

He didn't dwell on the pain he had endured across the timelines, but the revelations still left Liu Yue stunned for quite some time.

When Feng Qi extended his invitation again, Liu Yue didn't hesitate. He decisively accepted, resolving to follow Feng Qi from then on.

Hearing this affirmative response, Feng Qi beamed with joy.

In this timeline, the sharp sword returned to its sheath, continuing to accompany him.

In the days that followed, Feng Qi continued his rigorous training regimen.

Liu Yue became his sparring partner.

As he trained relentlessly day after day, he also kept a close eye on news from Mu Qing's side.

Three months later, he received word that Mu Qing had established the Dawn Battle Group.

After that, good news arrived almost daily.

Mu Qing's growth was remarkably rapid, and during this time, several scavenger warriors who refused to cooperate with the city's battle groups defected to join her ranks.

During this period, Mu Qing sent him an email, informing him that the position of vice-commander in the Dawn Battle Group remained reserved for him.

Faced with this renewed invitation, Feng Qi hesitated repeatedly but ultimately declined. He replied to Mu Qing that he still had unfinished research tasks and would join her as soon as they were completed.

In the email, he specifically stated that the vice-commander position did not need to be held for him, emphasizing that it should be given to the most capable candidate.

A month later, Mu Qing sent him a new reply, declaring that the vice-commander position would forever remain vacant, awaiting his arrival.

Feng Qi felt a sense of helplessness at this unwavering resolve.

Feng Qi didn't care about the vice-commander position, but Mu Qing's mind was made up, and he couldn't dissuade her.

He simply replied, "We'll meet again someday."

With that delay, five years passed in the blink of an eye.

Scarlet Research Institute, Body Tempering Room.

Feng Qi was engaged in his usual high-intensity physical training.

Over the years, his compatibility with the demon dragon's rune crystal had steadily increased, but his strength had plateaued, nearing its limit.

After fusing with the rune crystal, his power had primarily grown by the crystal's energy reshaping his body's physical strength.

However, this process had a ceiling.

Like mixing hot and cold water, the final temperature would eventually stabilize.

The Demon Dragon Rune Crystal's modifications to his body were nearing their maximum potential.

Wei Wei explained that this was one of the drawbacks of rune modification and enhancement.

While the modification granted a significant short-term boost in strength, once the rune crystal's power was fully assimilated, further growth became stagnant, making improvement difficult.

But there were exceptions.

The Scarlet Rune Crystal embedded in Mu Qing's body possessed nearly limitless potential.

With sufficient sustenance, the crystal could endlessly draw energy, convert it, and channel it back to Mu Qing.

As for Feng Qi, who lacked the ability to devour and evolve, his future growth would depend solely on cultivation.

However, the rune modification had reduced the compatibility between his body and cultivation techniques, hindering his training efficiency.

Faced with this dilemma, Feng Qi made a decision.

When he reached his cultivation bottleneck, he would transition to cultivation to continue enhancing his strength.

Currently at High-Tier Silver, Feng Qi considered his power insufficient.

The path ahead was fraught with peril; survival was paramount to gathering more intelligence.

After three hours of strength training, he set down the specially forged iron chains and prepared to replenish his nutrient solution.

But as he stepped out of the training room, his heart suddenly began to race, and a sharp sense of danger washed over him.

The Demon Dragon Rune Crystal had awakened his primal instincts, alerting him to the approaching malice.

Without hesitation, he spun around and delivered a swift side kick.

Thud!

A dull impact echoed as he watched a pale blue figure fly backward.

He finally got a clear look at the assassin.

It had a humanoid form, standing about 1.5 meters tall. A white eye was embedded in its forehead, blinking slightly as an invisible force enveloped its body, freezing its airborne form mid-flight.

Seeing the assassin's appearance, his heart sank, confirming a long-held suspicion.

He had always suspected that hidden assassins were targeting him, causing his repeated premature deaths.

In previous timelines, he had died silently several times.

His primary suspects had always been the Technology Research Institute and the Tiger Soul Research Institute.

The Technology Research Institute, in particular, had been implicated in multiple premature deaths.

But as more information surfaced, he realized that some of his deaths didn't fit the patterns of either institute.

It was as if he were under a death curse, destined to meet his end at a specific moment in time.

Moreover, this death node would shift along with historical changes.

From the beginning, he had suspected that an unknown third party might be behind his assassination.

Now, staring at the blue-skinned assassin, he was certain of his theory.

The assassin, frozen in mid-air, blinked his third eye on his forehead. Suddenly, the man felt his body grow heavy, and countless black dots swarmed his vision until his entire eye was consumed by darkness.

His sight was plunged into absolute darkness, as if he had been imprisoned in a pitch-black cell, cut off from all external stimuli.

Simultaneously, he could sense his consciousness being rapidly devoured by the darkness. If he didn't escape this mental prison soon, his consciousness would collapse, leading to brain death.

Yet he remained calm.

Closing his eyes in the darkness, he focused on sensing the Demon Dragon Rune Crystal connected to his consciousness.

Instantly, the crystal stone materialized within his mind.

Without hesitation, he activated the "Frenzy" ability.

In an instant, the special energy within the rune crystal surged into his body. His skin turned as red as a boiled shrimp, steam rising from its surface. At that moment, his imprisoned consciousness broke free from control.

More accurately, he had lost consciousness entirely.

The defining characteristic of Frenzy was trading wisdom for enhanced physical power.

The dumber I am, the more immune I become to mental control, allowing me to fight purely on instinct.

He lunged straight at the blue figure.

His steam-shrouded fist slammed into the blue figure's face, sending it flying backward in disbelief.

Without pausing, the unconscious Feng Qi closed the distance again, seized the blue figure's arm, and tore it off with a violent wrench.

Blue blood splattered as the assassin shrieked in agony. Its third eye swiveled once more, unleashing a terrifying, invisible force that hurled Feng Qi backward.

The impact left a visible dent in his chest.

Yet, thanks to his formidable self-healing abilities, the wound closed in an instant. The unconscious Feng Qi charged at the assassin again.

Seeing this, a flicker of terror flashed in the assassin's eyes.

Unbeknownst to Feng Qi, the surveillance footage from the Body Tempering Room showed only him fighting against empty air, completely missing the assassin's presence.

(End of the Chapter)

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