Star City Academy, Dormitory 301
After finishing lunch, Feng Qi returned to his dormitory and sat down at his desk, beginning to think about the direction of the next future timeline.
Spreading open his notebook, he started mapping out the future.
This time, he decided to abandon the timeline that involved direct confrontation with the Institute of Technological Research.
Before solving the "Bloodline Switch" issue, even if he managed to overthrow the Institute of Technological Research and alter the course of the future, it would still fail to change humanity's ultimate fate of destruction.
Even if he were to dismantle the Institute of Technological Research in that timeline and lead humanity to rapid development, growing Star City's population to millions or even tens of millions in 1,500 years, it would be meaningless.
As the Black Mist Lord had said, the seeds he planted would render any number of people useless.
Once the Bloodline Switch was activated, everyone would merely become his nourishment.
Thus, before internal threats were resolved, pushing for humanity's progress seemed secondary. The only way to ensure the healthy development of human civilization was by addressing the root cause.
Determining which new future timeline to pursue became critically important.
At this thought, his psychic power radiated outward, picking up the pen on his desk, and he began writing in his notebook.
Moments later, two options for the next future timeline were written down:
Future Timeline One: Confess everything to Old Wang, revealing the truths of the future to him, and rely on Old Wang to alter the timeline.
Note 1: If Old Wang truly is the Black Mist Lord, directly exposing the truth could lead to a premature death.
Note 2: Revealing everything could be a way to test if Old Wang really is the Black Mist Lord.
Benefit: If he doesn't face immediate death after exposing the truth, it would suggest that Old Wang was normal before joining the Tiger Soul Research Institute. This increases the likelihood that the problem lies within the Institute itself.
Benefit 2: Old Wang could become an inside source within the Tiger Soul Research Institute, feeding Feng Qi crucial information, effectively turning him into a spy.
This route could also involve collaboration with the Crimson Research Institute. By leveraging their influence, Feng Qi could investigate the Tiger Soul Research Institute more thoroughly.
Future Timeline Two: Lay low and survive long enough to join Mu Qing in establishing the Dawn Rebel Army and come into contact with Mu Yan.
Benefit: If he manages to survive until the formation of the Dawn Rebel Army, he would gain access to a wealth of critical information. He might even acquire a direct link to Mu Yan in the real world, making her and the Crimson Research Institute regular allies in future timelines.
Drawback: Even if he chooses to remain cautious, unforeseen circumstances could still result in an untimely death, leading to no progress at all.
…
Faced with these two options, Feng Qi fell into deep thought.
The second timeline carried significant risks, but the potential rewards were just as substantial.
He suspected that Mu Yan knew the hidden truths behind everything. If he could establish contact with her, many questions might finally be answered.
However, historical data revealed that his record lifespan was a mere 34 years. By the time Mu Qing and Mu Yan formed the Dawn Rebel Army, he would likely have died long ago, leaving him with nothing to gain.
After careful consideration, Feng Qi decided to pursue the first timeline.
He would reach out to Old Wang, attempting to uncover secrets about the Tiger Soul Research Institute and Old Wang himself. During this time, he could also collaborate with the Crimson Research Institute to investigate the Institute's workings from multiple angles.
Having made his decision, he opened a shopping website and spent 1.25 million to purchase materials needed to brew Clear Mind Brew.
Once the spiritual ingredients arrived, he would prepare the brew to replenish his energy progress bar and enter the next Future Dream.
Glancing at the date in the lower-right corner of his laptop screen, Feng Qi stretched his body and then left the dormitory.
The evening was approaching.
The dusk cast a dim glow, the crimson sunset painting the sky in hues of fiery red. The afterglow reflected on the surface of the lake outside the dormitory, turning it into a shimmering canvas of gold.
Walking along the lakeside path in front of the dormitory, he headed toward the academy's main gate. Along the way, he greeted students who waved at him with a warm smile.
Upon exiting the main gate, Feng Qi pulled out his phone to call for a ride, then headed toward his next destination.
Suburbs of Star City, Gentle Breeze Teahouse
The teahouse was designed with a distinct sense of antiquity.
Inside, there were no modern decorations—just square wooden tables, simple stools, and wooden plaques on the walls listing various types of tea.
The teahouse was built beside Mirror Moon Lake, offering patrons a chance to enjoy tea while admiring the lake's scenery.
The lake water was crystal clear, with vibrant green lotus leaves and pink blossoms dotting its surface. Occasionally, a gentle breeze would ripple across the lake, bringing a serene sense of comfort to its visitors.
On the second floor of the teahouse, three young children who had just finished school were sitting at a table, gazing out at the lake while sipping tea. Every so often, one of them would reach for a snack from the table to nibble on.
The bespectacled boy looked at the leader in confusion, asking, "Boss, why here? I don't even like tea."
"This is a classy place," the leader replied, sipping his tea with an air of maturity. "My dad loves coming here to drink tea, fish, and enjoy the lake view. This is the kind of refined life that elite geniuses like us should aspire to. Learn from it."
Hearing this, both the bespectacled boy and the chubby boy nodded in half-understanding. They frowned slightly before taking another reluctant sip of tea.
The leader leaned forward, his expression serious. "Alright, guys. It's time to get down to business—about the formation of the Destiny Association."
He continued, "We all share the same view. The reason human society isn't developing quickly is the irrational distribution of resources. So many resources are wasted on ordinary people who contribute nothing in their entire lives. I believe we have a duty to take up the mantle of this era, to fight for the interests of the elite. That's also a way to advance human society."
The chubby boy shook his head in disagreement. "Boss, I don't think that's right. I asked my dad, and he said you're just a dumb brat. He told me that human progress relies on diversity. The elite may be the minority, but ordinary people make up the majority."
"If society is to progress," he added, "the elite and the common people need to work together. Using the idea of 'helping the less fortunate' to improve the overall capabilities of humanity is the only way to achieve collective progress. Your way will only deepen the divide between the elite and the masses, slowing down human civilization."
Hearing this, the leader slammed the table. "Your dad knows nothing! Right now, humanity is being suppressed by domain expansion. If the domains weren't expanding so slowly, we would've lost already. His outdated thinking only worked in the pre-cataclysmic era, where harmonious social development mattered. This era requires elite-driven progress, or humanity is doomed."
The leader's articulate argument caused the hesitation on the faces of the bespectacled boy and the chubby boy to waver.
Finally, they both nodded firmly. "Alright, Boss. We'll follow your lead. We'll change society's structure."
"Great. Let's start planning the development of our organization," the leader said, his eyes gleaming. "I believe this day will go down in history. Future generations will remember our contributions."
The chubby boy and the bespectacled boy seemed visibly excited at this proclamation. Before officially founding their organization, the three boys began brainstorming their plans for the Destiny Association.
The chubby boy was the first to speak. "I think we should start by recruiting like-minded classmates. Build our Destiny Association from within the school."
"I don't think that's a good idea. I think you all need to be sent to some shady reform school for electrotherapy instead," an unfamiliar voice interjected.
The three boys froze and turned toward the voice, only to find Feng Qi standing nearby with an amused smile, listening to their conversation.
Seeing Feng Qi, the chubby boy instinctively stood up and covered his backside, clearly traumatized from their previous encounter.
"This isn't the place for action. Follow me outside," Feng Qi said, a playful yet menacing tone in his voice.
The butterfly of chaos was ready to stir up storms across the timeline.
"Who do you think you are? You think we're afraid of you? Security! Someone's causing trouble!" the leader called out smartly, knowing the teahouse had security personnel.
Hearing the shout, a security guard hurried up the stairs. His expression serious, he looked at Feng Qi and asked, "Sir, what's going on?"
"He's here to cause trouble and trying to attack us," the leader said, feigning innocence.
The security guard's face darkened slightly as he turned to Feng Qi. "Sir, please leave. This isn't the place for this."
"Apologies, just dealing with a few students," Feng Qi said, pulling out his Star City Academy teacher's ID and handing it to the guard.
The guard examined the ID and froze in place, surprised. "These kids aren't from Star City Academy, right?" he asked cautiously.
"They're not, but their ideas are problematic. I need to teach them a lesson," Feng Qi replied calmly.
"One moment," the guard said, pulling out his phone. Logging into the Star City Academy's official website, he opened the teacher's roster and found Feng Qi's profile at the bottom. His face changed dramatically when he saw Feng Qi's picture and his credentials, including the "Outstanding Contribution to Humanity Medal."
Returning the ID with a bow, the guard stammered, "Apologies for the interruption. Please continue."
The guard left in a hurry, leaving the three boys dumbfounded.
"Well, now it's your turn. Are you coming with me, or do I throw you off the balcony?" Feng Qi asked, his tone playful yet firm.
Faced with Feng Qi's threat, the three boys instantly caved. They couldn't understand why this mysterious violent maniac had reappeared to disrupt their plans for the Destiny Association's formation.
More importantly, they had no doubt that if they didn't cooperate, this maniac would actually throw them off the balcony.
Recalling the beating they had endured before, their expressions turned fearful.
"Let's go," Feng Qi said again, turning to walk downstairs.
The three boys hesitated only for a moment before standing up and obediently following him.
Feng Qi walked out of the teahouse and headed toward the lakeside. Without hesitation, he grabbed the leader of the boys by the collar and delivered a ferocious series of smacks to his backside, a brutal "Butterfly Chain Palm" assault.
He was determined to discipline these three brats, ensuring they gave up their ridiculous idea of forming the Destiny Association once and for all.
The leader, though clearly in pain, remained stoic. His face turned red, but he refused to make a sound. However, under Feng Qi's relentless barrage, his resistance finally crumbled, and he burst into tears.
The chubby boy and the bespectacled boy, watching this unfold, seemed to see their own impending fate reflected in their leader's suffering. Their faces grew pale with terror.
Yet, out of "brotherly loyalty," they chose not to run.
Just as they feared, after making the leader cry, Feng Qi turned his attention toward them. The "Butterfly Palm" was next directed at their backsides.
Though these three boys weren't yet spreading the harmful ideology of the future "Destiny Association," they were its founders. Without their existence, there would be no Destiny Association poisoning humanity's collective thought.
Given his limited lifespan, Feng Qi couldn't prevent the Association's rise in the distant future. But as for events occurring in his current timeline, he could absolutely intervene.
It was his responsibility to deal with these three boys now. After all, this was about clearing away a significant obstacle to the development of human civilization.
In the end, all three children succumbed to tears, wailing uncontrollably.
Feng Qi waved his hand dismissively and said sternly, "I already warned you before. If this happens again, I'll come back. Why don't you believe me?"
He paused, his tone sharp, "Now, let me ask you one more time: are you still planning to form the Destiny Association?"
The three boys, who had never been punished so severely before, quickly shook their heads. They admitted defeat, their fear of Feng Qi deeply rooted in their hearts.
"Remember this: the term 'elite' is something granted by ordinary people to those who excel. The role of the elite is to lead humanity toward progress, not to use resources given by ordinary people to entrench their power and oppress them. Your ideas were wrong from the start. Got it?"
The boys nodded fervently again.
"I don't care whether you actually understand or not," Feng Qi continued coldly. "But if this happens again, I'll be back."
"And if you think you're up for another challenge, I suggest you prepare yourselves, because it won't end so simply next time."
"We won't!" the chubby boy cried out between sobs.
"I hope so," Feng Qi said with a faint smile. "Consider yourselves lucky this time. But if fate wills it, we may meet again."
With that, he turned and walked away.
As he departed, Feng Qi made a mental note to check the future database for more details about the Destiny Association. If further issues arose, the "Butterfly Palm" would undoubtedly return with a vengeance.
The setting sun cast a warm glow, the sky turning darker as lights along the lakeside gradually flickered on. Feng Qi's figure grew smaller and smaller in the distance.
Not long after Feng Qi left, the leader of the boys wiped away his tears. "He's just a stumbling block in our path to creating the Destiny Association. We haven't lost yet."
Hearing this, the chubby boy shivered. "Boss, let's just give up. That guy's way too scary. Changing society's structure doesn't have to fall on us."
"Yeah… better to live and fight another day," the bespectacled boy added nervously. "Let's just drop it for now. I have a feeling that no matter where we go, he'll find us."
Even the leader couldn't help but tremble at their words. "Then… for now, let's take a break. We'll regroup later."
In the fading light of dusk, the three boys hobbled along, supporting one another. Every few steps, they winced and groaned in pain.
As they recalled Feng Qi's merciless demeanor during their punishment, tears flowed uncontrollably from their eyes.
This day was etched into their memories forever.
Even now, they couldn't figure out how Feng Qi had tracked them down despite changing locations. And yet, here he was again, unleashing another unexplained, brutal beating.
Under the relentless onslaught of the "Butterfly Palm," the boys' resolve began to waver.
Their inner changes were like ripples caused by a single drop of water in the vast river of time. Those ripples expanded outward, eventually creating waves that would alter the future profoundly.
And so, history shifted once more.