Translator: CinderTL
In the days that followed, Feng Qi devoted all his time to studying, except during class hours.
Through his studies, his understanding of cultivation studies deepened.
A solid foundation would also improve his efficiency in memorizing cultivation techniques within the Dream Realm in the future.
One day after class, as Feng Qi was about to return to his dorm, he received a call from Bai Fusheng.
An aged voice came through the phone: "Feng Qi, come to the Principal's Office immediately."
"What's the matter?" he couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Director Liu from the Tiger Soul Research Institute has come specifically to see you. This is a rare opportunity for you—you might even be granted early admission."
Hearing this, Feng Qi's mind raced with suspicion.
He even wondered if the Tiger Soul Research Institute was scouting for promising "hosts" for the Lord of the Mist to parasitize, thereby promoting the Flesh and Blood Sacrifice.
Feng Qi was well aware of his current influence.
While he didn't feel it deeply within the academy, online discussions about him were rampant.
Many netizens even believed he would lead humanity into a new era of cultivation studies.
At his age, achieving such accomplishments was unprecedented.
If he hadn't known the truth, he would have been flattered that the director of the Tiger Soul Research Institute had come specifically for him. After all, joining the institute had once been his dream.
But now that he knew the Tiger Soul Research Institute had been infiltrated by domain creatures, he only wanted to destroy it.
Thinking of this, he immediately spoke into the phone:
"Grandmaster, what's so good about early admission? Don't you want me to stay and teach at the academy?"
"Of course I want you to stay, but I also know that with your potential, you could have better options. Joining the Tiger Soul Research Institute after graduation might be the only way for you to truly shine."
"Alright, I'll come over right away." After hanging up, Feng Qi turned to Lin Ran beside him and said, "I have something to do at the Principal's Office. You go to the library to study first."
Lin Ran grinned at this. "Brother Qi, if I'm not mistaken, the Tiger Soul Research Institute might be offering you early admission. We might become colleagues in the future."
"I'm not interested in the Tiger Soul Research Institute. I might go to the Technology Research Institute instead."
"You're serious?" Lin Ran's expression was stunned.
"Perhaps," he said, ignoring Lin Ran's disheveled appearance in the wind. He immediately strode toward the Principal's Office.
In truth, he wasn't just talking nonsense when he said those things to Lin Ran; he had genuinely been considering them.
One of his reference points for the next timeline was to personally infiltrate either the Tiger Soul Research Institute or the technology research institute to obtain internal data.
However, compared to the Tiger Soul Research Institute, he actually favored the technology research institute.
Besides the allure of controlling little black, there was another crucial reason.
Between the two institutes, infiltrating the Tiger Soul Research Institute posed significantly greater risks, even the risk of exposing his own secrets.
If he were chosen by the Lord of the Mist as a host, there was a risk of his memories being exposed.
He wasn't sure whether the Lord of the Mist could access the host's memories after consuming their consciousness, but if it could, all the information he left behind in the future could potentially be misleading.
The consequences were dire.
In contrast, the risks associated with the technology research institute were far lower.
At least after reading Le Ping'an's memories, he discovered that the institute's methods of controlling people weren't as sinister as he had initially feared, and the risks remained within manageable limits.
So, if I choose the Future Line focused on infiltrating Domain Force factions, the technology research institute is naturally the more reliable option over the Tiger Soul Research Institute. Even if I don't find a way to control little black, I can still gain valuable information. If I do find a way to control him, entering the Dream Realm in the future will be like activating a cheat before each game, paving the way for an unstoppable rampage.
Lost in thought, Feng Qi arrived at the Principal's Office. After knocking, Bai Fusheng's voice called from within, "Come in."
Pushing open the door, Feng Qi saw a middle-aged man sitting on the sofa. He wore rimless glasses, had short hair, and was dressed in a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his mid-forearms, revealing sun-kissed skin. His deep, piercing eyes, set beneath a high-bridged nose, were fixed on Bai Fusheng as he smiled and chatted.
When they noticed Feng Qi enter, both men turned to look at him.
"Grandmaster, Director Liu," Feng Qi greeted them immediately.
"Come, sit down," Bai Fusheng said, patting the sofa beside him with a smile.
Feng Qi didn't stand on ceremony. He immediately sat down on the sofa to Bai Fusheng's left, facing Director Liu.
After Bai Fusheng introduced them, Director Liu carefully examined Feng Qi before smiling and saying, "Young and accomplished. You've only been at the academy for a short time, yet you've already achieved so much. I have high hopes for your future."
Feng Qi responded modestly to the praise, saying, "Not at all. It's all thanks to my teacher's excellent guidance."
"I spoke with Elder Bai earlier. Your previous teacher was Wang Jinsheng, wasn't he? It's a pity, really. Wang Jinsheng was a promising young talent I had hoped to nurture. Unfortunately, he was stubborn and refused to listen to advice." As he spoke, Director Liu's face wore a look of regret.
Feng Qi felt a slight sense of unease toward Director Liu.
He wasn't sure whether Director Liu was controlled by the domain creatures behind the Tiger Soul Research Institute. But given his position as director, Feng Qi suspected he was likely controlled, or at least not yet fully controlled.
After a few moments of small talk, Director Liu turned to the main topic. Smiling at Feng Qi, he asked, "Feng Qi, have you considered what you want to do after graduation?"
"I want to stay at the academy and teach," Feng Qi replied without hesitation.
He wasn't ready to engage with the Tiger Soul Research Institute just yet. Even if he found a way to infiltrate it in the future, he was confident he could get in whenever he chose.
After all, cultivation studies was his strongest subject.
Moreover, having plagiarized a vast number of cultivation techniques from the future database, he knew he could join the Tiger Soul Research Institute anytime he wanted, just like Wang Jinsheng.
But right now, he wanted nothing to do with the institute.
He might be targeted as a potential vessel for the Lord of the Mist, and that would be a serious problem.
Hearing Feng Qi's response, Bai Fusheng's eyes widened. He kept glancing at Feng Qi, as if urging him not to miss this rare opportunity.
Feng Qi simply ignored him.
Feng Qi's answer clearly surprised Director Liu. A brief look of astonishment flashed across his face before he continued to smile.
"Just as I'd expect from Wang Jinsheng's student—your thinking is exactly the same. You both want to become teachers and nurture talent for humanity."
He paused mid-sentence, then continued after a moment:
"But I still must advise you. Your talent is better suited for a position at the Tiger Soul Research Institute, where you can shine in Cultivation Technique Research. There are plenty of suitable people to teach and educate; it doesn't have to be you."
"How many people can you influence by teaching? But if you research a cultivation technique that advances cultivation studies, you can impact tens of millions of cultivators, perhaps even billions, and shape the future of Human Civilization."
Hearing this, Bai Fusheng, standing nearby, couldn't help but nod.
Clearly, these words resonated deeply with him.
Though he deeply admired Feng Qi as a student, he knew that Feng Qi's talents would be better utilized at the Tiger Soul Research Institute rather than remaining at the academy.
But Feng Qi remained completely unmoved by these words.
Had he heard them before gaining the ability to enter the Dream Realm and before learning the truth about the Tiger Soul Research Institute, he might have been deeply moved. But now, his heart remained utterly still.
The Tiger Soul Research Institute was undoubtedly a den of dragons and tigers.
Wang Jinsheng had become the Lord of the Mist, and Lin Ran, a genius with exceptional talent, had developed a cultivation technique that went disastrously wrong, making him a historical criminal.
A review of history revealed that it was better to be mediocre at the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Developing excellent cultivation techniques that didn't fundamentally alter the course of human cultivation studies posed no danger. But if one's brilliance shone too brightly, the Domain Force behind the institute would view them as a thorn in their side.
Lin Ran, the historical criminal, was a prime example.
Initially, Feng Qi had believed Lin Ran's failure in Cultivation Technique Research was due to his own shortcomings. But based on current information, it was clear that Lin Ran had simply been too brilliant.
His brilliance had made the Domain Force behind the Tiger Soul Research Institute fear that his emergence would cause Human Civilization to rise too rapidly.
As for how to stifle genius, the Domain Force behind the Tiger Soul Research Institute had plenty of methods.
Smear campaigns, assassinations, mind control—the list went on.
Feng Qi believed the institute had specifically sought him out this time precisely because of his current influence in the outside world.
To promote the Flesh and Blood Sacrifice, they needed a cultivation technique researcher with significant influence.
Just like Lin Ran in the Future Line, hailed as a super genius by the outside world, his cultivation techniques immediately attracted a massive following eager to try them.
At this point, Wang Jinsheng hadn't yet expressed his desire to rejoin the Tiger Soul Research Institute, making Lin Ran and Feng Qi the best choices.
Lin Ran had already been pre-admitted by the institute and was likely a pending target.
Feng Qi immediately smiled and said, "Director Liu, my current plan is to teach at Star City Academy. Perhaps my mind will change in the future, but for now, I have no such intentions."
Feng Qi's words were clear enough. Director Liu, momentarily stunned, nodded.
"Since you have your own plans, I won't force you. If your mind ever changes, the Tiger Soul Research Institute will always welcome you."
With that, Director Liu stood up and turned to Bai Fusheng. "Elder Bai, I must leave now. We'll catch up again when we have time."
After some polite conversation, Feng Qi and Bai Fusheng escorted Director Liu to the entrance of the office building.
Back in the Principal's Office, Bai Fusheng's expression immediately changed.
"You brat, tell me, did you see the signal I gave you just now?"
"I saw it. I pretended not to," Feng Qi replied truthfully.
Hearing this, Bai Fusheng bristled with indignation.
"I fell out with Jinsheng over this matter back then, and now you're pulling the same stunt on me? Don't you realize your own worth? Staying here would only waste your talent."
Ignoring Bai Fusheng's scolding, Feng Qi grinned.
"Grandmaster, don't be angry. Sit down and have some tea."
With that, Feng Qi pulled Bai Fusheng onto the sofa and handed him a teacup from the coffee table.
After Bai Fusheng took the cup, Feng Qi continued, "Grandmaster, please don't be upset. I was just leaving myself some room for negotiation. I didn't say I definitely wouldn't go, just that I don't have any plans for now."
"Director Liu's intentions were clear today: he wanted to offer you an early admission spot. And you just let it slip away! You should know that such an opportunity is something others would kill for."
Bai Fusheng finished his tea in one gulp, then glared at Feng Qi with a mixture of disappointment and frustration.
Realizing Bai Fusheng was still angry, Feng Qi grinned. "I know an early admission to the Tiger Soul Research Institute is rare, Grandmaster, but you have to understand—with my talent, getting into the institute is hardly a challenge."
"For others, early admission is a dream. For me, it's practically within my grasp."
Bai Fusheng: ...
Watching Feng Qi, who had gradually slipped back into his usual arrogant demeanor, Bai Fusheng felt a complex mix of emotions. He realized that compared to Wang Jinsheng, Feng Qi had one more distinctive trait: he was exceptionally good at putting on airs.
The problem was, when Feng Qi acted like this, Bai Fusheng couldn't find a valid reason to argue back.
(End of the Chapter)
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