Translator: CinderTL
After reading the email, Feng Qi's mind remained in turmoil for a long time.
The truth was far more brutal than he had imagined.
He had initially believed that the Scarlet Research Institute was conducting a series of cruel experiments, even using living humans as test subjects, making it an utterly malevolent research institution.
However, he had never doubted their fundamental allegiance.
Though he disapproved of their inhumane research practices, he had always believed their ultimate goal was the advancement of humanity and achieving final victory against domain creatures.
Now, he realized the reality was far more complex than he had ever imagined.
The email from the future revealed several critical pieces of information, the most crucial being this:
The Scarlet Research Institute had likely been infiltrated and controlled by Domain-Transcending Creatures, and they were actively carrying out a plan to assassinate human geniuses.
Suddenly, he understood why every time he entered the Dream Realm, he was met with apocalyptic scenarios.
When internal corruption festers, humanity's progress becomes like a tree with rotting roots. No matter how high it grows, it is destined to collapse.
Moreover, the Scarlet Research Institute was an extremely influential research organization with numerous privileges. They even conducted the forbidden rune augment project, undoubtedly wielding immense power over human development.
Over time, this influence would act like a poison, gradually spreading and permeating throughout history, silently driving human civilization to its doom.
If this were the truth, Feng Qi suddenly understood why cultivation techniques rated three stars or higher in the database were kept secret rather than fully shared.
Perhaps the Scarlet Research Institute had even participated in creating the Star City Database, deliberately restricting access to hinder humanity's rapid advancement.
Of course, he couldn't be certain of this; it was merely speculation.
However, the possibility of the Scarlet Research Institute being infiltrated by domain creatures was now an almost undeniable certainty.
With this realization, Feng Qi made a decision.
He had to find a way to destroy the Scarlet Research Institute, to completely eradicate this poison from the course of human civilization's development.
But how to achieve this remained a mystery.
What else can you do? Find a way to bankrupt those bastards!
"Narrator, do you have any ideas?" Feng Qi immediately asked upon hearing the Narrator's voice.
When in doubt, ask the Narrator: Narrator, do you know what to do? Yuanfang, what's your take on this? What the hell am I supposed to see? I'm just a heartless hint-giving robot... But perhaps you should keep digging through your email messages for answers!
Feng Qi: ...
When it came to messing with his mind, the Narrator never disappointed.
But after the snarky commentary, the Narrator still pointed him in a direction.
So Feng Qi reopened his email and began reviewing "his" past messages.
As he scrolled, one message sparked a flicker of inspiration:
Learn from my mistakes. The Scarlet Research Institute's influence is immense. Until you possess the power to rival them, never reveal your secret. No one will believe you; they'll just think you're insane.
Feng Qi had long harbored an idea:
To collaborate with the nation's top leaders. He believed that with the country's backing, his forays into the Dream Realm would yield maximum benefits. He wouldn't have to worry about running out of funds to replenish his energy, and future issues like database access restrictions could be easily resolved. When the Star City Database was established, they could even grant him special access privileges, ensuring he could access all the information upon his arrival.
After all, individual effort could never compare to the support of a national institution. He had always believed that collaborating with the state was the most correct and optimal choice.
But now he had changed his mind. His future self had already tried that approach, only to fail due to the Scarlet Research Institute's multifaceted influence.
Worse still, no one believed his claims, dismissing them as signs of mental instability.
Therefore, he resolved to heed his future self's warning: until he possessed the strength to rival the Scarlet Research Institute, he would keep his secrets hidden.
As for how to acquire such power, several avenues emerged in his thoughts.
Enhancing his personal strength was paramount. With sufficient power, he could defend himself against assassination attempts and, at a certain point, even single-handedly destroy the entire Scarlet Research Institute.
However, his current method of strengthening himself was slow. He needed to constantly hunt domain creatures in the Dream Realm, and under little black's relentless pursuit, his stays in the dream were always brief.
If he could solve the energy replenishment problem, he could achieve significant daily progress in his strength.
But resolving this issue was currently too risky; the cost of death was far too high.
Beyond improving his own strength, an idea surfaced in his mind:
Could he establish a powerful force to oppose the Scarlet Research Institute?
He immediately thought of Lin Ran, Mu Qing, Wang Jinsheng... With the future database at his disposal, he felt confident he could recruit the era's most brilliant minds and bring them into an organization he would create.
This would not only protect them from assassination but also allow him to confront the Scarlet Research Institute with the collective strength of these geniuses.
As he pondered, his plans for the future gradually crystallized.
He envisioned three parallel paths of growth that could be pursued simultaneously in the real world:
First, enhancing his own strength. Each time he entered the Dream Realm, he would hunt as many domain creatures as possible to ensure his self-preservation and even achieve formidable power.
Second, protecting the era's threatened geniuses while secretly building an organization to oppose the Scarlet Research Institute, aiming to completely eradicate it.
Third, continuing to copy cultivation techniques from the future database and bring them back to the real world, using this future knowledge to advance human development. Once he formally enrolled in the academy, he could apply to become a teacher and impart his knowledge to others.
As for other plans, he hadn't thought them through yet.
Glancing at the time, he decided to brainstorm the details after returning. For now, the priority was to use the limited time to gather more information.
After all, little black remained an intractable headache.
Like a relentless reaper, it constantly pursued him, waiting for the perfect moment to drag him before King Yama.
Next, he entered Mu Qing's name into the database.
Clicking search, relevant results appeared:
Mu Qing (Leader of the Dawn Rebels)
Description: Originally a student at Star City Academy, she joined the Domain Combat Team after graduation, becoming a warrior. During an investigation mission, she betrayed her team and personally killed the group leader. Afterward, she recruited a large number of scavengers, established the human rebel group "Dawn," and restarted the rune augment project, initiating a war against humanity.
Her hands are stained with the blood of countless innocents. She led the rebels in the slaughter of several cities, committing heinous crimes that will forever be condemned by future generations.
Tags: Rune Augment, Dawn Rebels Leader, Human Traitor
Personality: Brutal, cold-blooded, unscrupulous
User Reviews:
Windwalker: Pfft! Here's a spit for you, human traitor! Good riddance!
History Enthusiast: I've thoroughly reviewed Mu Qing's historical records and found that much of the information is classified. However, from the limited data available, I've noticed a discrepancy. Her actions after graduating seemed perfectly normal, with no indication of hatred toward humanity. Why did she suddenly transform into a completely different person? I suspect there might be hidden circumstances, but the fact remains that Mu Qing's crimes are undeniable. Because of her, human civilization has regressed by at least a century.
Feng Qi had already anticipated the future netizens' evaluation of Mu Qing, so he wasn't surprised.
But when he scrolled to one particular comment, his expression immediately changed.
Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots: After reviewing historical records related to Mu Qing, one passage left a deep impression on me. At that time, Mu Qing hadn't yet betrayed humanity, but her best friend, Feng Qi, was on the verge of a mental breakdown, rambling incoherently day and night.
Faced with public condemnation of Feng Qi, Mu Qing, already a renowned domain combat team leader, once drunkenly told him at a school reunion:
"When I was ostracized, you stood by me. So now, when the whole world condemns you, I'm willing to believe everything you say and stand by your side, even if you're completely drunk and reeking of alcohol."
Reading this, I couldn't help but wonder: if Feng Qi had lived, would Mu Qing still have betrayed all of humanity?
Or perhaps Mu Qing's betrayal was connected to the world's doubts about Feng Qi and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death.
(End of the Chapter)
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