Through the email messages, Feng Qi discovered that the version of himself in this future timeline had chosen a multi-pronged approach to shaping the future.
His actions went far beyond what he initially planned.
Aside from Mu Qing, the future version of him sought to influence the future and uncover historical intelligence from every possible angle.
While this increased risks and introduced countless uncertainties, Feng Qi understood why his future self had taken this path.
The moment his future self realized this timeline would end in his own sacrifice, he had already disregarded life and death. His only goal was to gather as much information as possible for Feng Qi.
With lingering doubts about history, Feng Qi continued scrolling through the email logs.
121. Old Wang's suspicions might be correct. The Institute of Technological Research seems to be infiltrating the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Likewise, the Tiger Soul Research Institute might be infiltrating the Institute of Technological Research. Perhaps, in the crucial moments before Little Black was created, the Tiger Soul Research Institute sabotaged the Institute of Technological Research.
I've been considering this:
Could you choose a future timeline where you join either the Institute of Technological Research or the Tiger Soul Research Institute?
Using the intelligence you possess, you could assist one domain force to annihilate the other.
If this is truly feasible, it would lead to yet another major shift in the future.
At the same time, joining one of these forces would grant us valuable internal intelligence.
138. Today, Old Wang published his first article at the Tiger Soul Research Institute, aiming to redefine the cultivation system.
The article caused a sensation the moment it was published.
He chose to continue excelling in his field to lure out the dark forces and establish contact with them, all to gather information for me.
152. Old Wang's new cultivation technique has been released, and his first creation earned a four-star rating.
That's my teacher for you.
His brilliance warrants every ounce of praise.
236. Old Wang's achievements are piling up. Just yesterday, he received the S-Rank Human Elite Medal and the Outstanding Contribution to Humanity Gold Medal.
Today, Old Wang contacted me.
He's noticed some abnormalities in his body.
He told me that every night when he dreams, he hears faint whispers in his mind.
He added:
"If I hadn't spoken to you before, I might have thought this was due to stress. But now, I believe I'm being invaded by some sort of consciousness."
Fearing that his memory and information could be extracted, he decided to develop a technique to fortify his mental willpower.
This technique would protect him against mental intrusion and ensure his memories wouldn't be tampered with.
278. Today, I had a long conversation with Lü Yue.
I asked him about information regarding the Path to Ascension and Mu Yan.
But Lü Yue didn't reveal the truth to me.
He said I wasn't qualified to learn about the Path to Ascension until a miracle found me.
As expected, information about the Path to Ascension is tied to Mu Yan.
Her presence seems like an invitation to the Path to Ascension, leading to detailed revelations about it.
Damn it. The Lü Yue lead seems to be a dead end. You'll have to find another way to approach Mu Yan.
282. Old Wang's condition has been worsening lately. He frequently experiences nightmares and sometimes appears mentally disoriented.
He told me that the dark forces might have identified him as the ideal candidate to propagate the Bloodline Switch and are preparing to exert mental control over him.
However, Old Wang also mentioned that he had successfully developed a unique technique to greatly strengthen his mental resilience, enabling him to resist external invasions.
But the technique has a flaw: if his mental will is breached, he will experience instantaneous brain death.
I know he designed this flaw intentionally.
Old Wang understood that if he were to be controlled and his memory extracted, everything—except the secrets stored in this email—would be compromised.
302. Today, I video-called Old Wang. He looked utterly exhausted.
In just a few years, his temples had turned gray.
Throughout the video call, he kept smiling, but I could tell he was under immense pressure.
342. The Institute of Technological Research has begun targeting the Crimson Research Institute, and I've been caught in the crossfire.
This is because of my close collaboration with the Crimson Research Institute, including the numerous biotech advancements I've helped them implement.
As expected, this future version of me has been recklessly audacious.
Pull one thread, and the whole web quivers. I hope the Institute of Technological Research doesn't focus its attention on me. Otherwise, I might have to leave this beautiful world earlier than expected.
352. Old Wang's condition is deteriorating by the day. In his dreams, he often sees himself shrouded in mist, with voices constantly whispering in his mind.
If my guess is correct, the voice belongs to the Black Mist Lord.
If the Black Mist Lord takes over Old Wang's body, he will live on as Old Wang.
This explains why Mu Yan referred to him as Wang Jinsheng.
The Black Mist Lord's true intentions are now clear.
He wants to use Old Wang's influence to promote the Bloodline Switch, encouraging all of humanity to cultivate a super technique laced with hidden dangers, only to reap his harvest in the future.
This was the foreshadowing the Black Mist Lord mentioned, planted a thousand years ago.
378. Old Wang is dead.
It wasn't murder—it was suicide.
Before his death, he sent me a video.
(Video attached)
Taking a deep breath, Feng Qi clicked on the video attachment from the email.
The screen displayed a laboratory within the Tiger Soul Research Institute, where Old Wang sat at an experiment station.
This Old Wang was nothing like the figure Feng Qi remembered. His hair had turned white at the temples, unkempt and wild. His sunken eyes gave him a look of extreme exhaustion and frailty.
Yet, he still faced the camera with a smile and began speaking:
"Ah Qi, I think I'm nearing my limit. That entity of consciousness is close to breaking through my mental defenses."
"I prepared for this eventuality, but what I didn't anticipate was its ability to erode the mental safeguards I put in place for myself. I had assumed that once my mental defenses were breached, the safeguards would immediately activate and end my life."
"But now, this consciousness is eating away at those safeguards. If it succeeds, I will completely lose the ability to resist, and it will be able to extract all my memories."
"There's only one path left for me."
"I can't walk this road with you any further. It's now irrefutable that the Tiger Soul Research Institute has been infiltrated. I've investigated the core technique researchers around me, and their consciousnesses are being eroded as well. They've begun to experience the same mental disorientation as I have."
"But with me, they won't succeed. For now, the initiative remains in my hands."
Watching the image of Wang Jinsheng, Feng Qi already knew what was about to happen.
In the final moments of the video, Wang Jinsheng looked directly into the camera with a faint smile:
"Ah Qi, keep going. Humanity's future depends on you."
353. Old Wang is gone. The day after sending me the video, he was found dead in the laboratory.
My heart feels heavy.
In the end, he held on to the initiative. He didn't become a puppet of the Black Mist Lord.
And he didn't compromise with his fate.
354. I got drunk.
In my dreams, I returned to my middle school years.
I saw Old Wang pacing back and forth in the classroom, writing and erasing on the blackboard with his slightly gaunt hands. He taught us knowledge and told us to always remain hopeful about the future.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the tree branches outside the window, casting light and shadow onto him. But his figure grew fainter and fainter.
Like ink soaking into water, he gradually became indistinct.
When I woke up, I spent a long time in thought before regaining my composure.
But on the road to a brighter future, Old Wang has forever been left behind in the past.
He was my savior, someone worthy of being remembered as a historical luminary.
Teachers are common, but mentors are rare.
I was fortunate to be his student, lucky to have walked alongside him for part of the journey. Farewell.
362. The Institute of Technological Research is preparing to take action against me.
While targeting the Crimson Research Institute, they haven't forgotten about me. Today, I was interrogated by law enforcement officers from the Star City Military Department.
The measures they'll take next should be similar to those from the previous timelines.
In the end, I'll likely be branded a traitor to humanity and sent to the execution ground.
As the end approaches, I feel no sadness.
I've been prepared for this day for a long time. I just regret not being able to go further and provide you with more valuable information.
363. The Institute of Technological Research's media campaign against me has begun.
The headlines are filled with accusations, claiming I'm under the control of domain creatures or that I might even be a domain creature masquerading as a human.
I don't blame those who criticize me.
Their anger stems from their love for this world, even though their eyes have been blinded by lies.
I've already entrusted Lü Yue with my final instructions.
I told him to grow in secret and never reveal himself. Only after becoming strong should he move to destroy the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
From the intelligence we've gathered so far, the Tiger Soul Research Institute is more deeply hidden and poses a greater threat than the Institute of Technological Research.
If the Bloodline Switch is still implemented in the future, humanity's extinction will be at the whim of the Black Mist Lord.
365. Tomorrow, I'll stand trial in the Star City Court. But I know it's just a formality; my fate is already sealed.
In this timeline, I wasn't able to provide you with much useful information, and for that, I'm sorry.
After tomorrow, I'll hand over the email account to Wei Wei. She'll continue providing you with future intelligence.
I suddenly feel a sense of relief. My moment of release is near.
As for you, you must continue to carry the dreams of our classmates, Old Wang, Wei Wei, Mu Qing… and everyone else. Keep moving forward.
Tired? If you're tired, then you're on the right track. Comfort is for people like me—the dead.
Don't envy me. Haha.
The email ended there.
After reading its contents, Feng Qi couldn't help but sigh.
He could vividly imagine the turmoil his future self must have felt in his final moments. His heart must have been weighed down by unspeakable pain.
Especially Old Wang's death—it must have been a devastating blow to him.
As someone who had been an orphan from a young age, Feng Qi's worldview had been shaped by Old Wang's teachings.
Had it not been for Old Wang, Feng Qi doubted whether he would have had the resolve to shoulder this burden after gaining the ability to traverse future dreamscapes, to dedicate himself to saving the world.
The casual farewell in the email was just a front, meant to spare him any guilt.
In the end, his future self, who had tirelessly fought for humanity's rise, walked to the execution ground amid the scorn and doubt of the masses.
And the true culprits, the Institute of Technological Research, would likely laugh at his death, viewing it as nothing more than the removal of another obstacle to humanity's progress.
But his future self had been powerless to change anything. The sense of helplessness in the face of despair must have consumed every corner of his heart.
Feng Qi clenched his fists tightly.
Narrator: "Ah Qi, every version of you in these timelines has chosen to burn yourself to illuminate the path ahead. Don't let any of them down. Keep moving forward!"
Hearing this, Feng Qi nodded resolutely.
"No matter how many obstacles and challenges lie ahead, they won't stop my pursuit of a better world. And they won't shackle my vision of a glorious future."
The anger burning in his heart transformed into the drive to press on.