Translator: CinderTL
Finally, they talked about their time at Star City Academy.
When they recalled Lin Ran drinking too much Merit Wine and jumping into the lake to cool off, they couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Those youthful embarrassments transported them back to their younger days.
But that was just a memory after all.
The "Big Three" who used to devour meals in the north corner of the Academy Cafeteria had long since scattered.
Other friends, Lin Ran, Yang Xiaoxin, the monk, and others, had all gone their separate ways.
As they chatted, it was time for dinner.
Following Lin Ran to the Tiger Soul Branch Base's cafeteria, they packed three full trays of food and some drinks, then headed to the rooftop of the base.
The rooftop of the Tiger Soul Research Institute seemed to be a tea area, furnished with numerous tea tables and teaware.
They followed Lin Ran to a tea table and set down their trays.
"Brother Qi, the cafeteria lacks atmosphere. Let's eat here instead, reminisce about old times, and discuss our future plans."
As Lin Ran spoke, he twisted the cap off a wine bottle.
"It's been years since I last drank. Alcohol hinders my Art Magic Research efficiency, but I'm making an exception for you today."
He handed the bottle to Brother Qi, then opened another.
As the bottles clinked together, a smile spread across Lin Ran's face.
"Brother Qi, tell me about your plans after joining the Tiger Soul Research Institute. Would you like me to recommend you for the Cultivation Method Research Group? With your abilities, being a mere cultivation technique test subject would be a waste of your talents."
"You're trying to pull strings for me the moment I arrive?"
"I despise nepotism, but you're different—you're a true talent with genuine ability. As the saying goes, 'promote the worthy regardless of kinship.' I don't want to see such a gem go to waste." Lin Ran said with genuine earnestness.
"Gold will always shine. No need to rush."
"I disagree with that. Gold will indeed shine, but what about the time wasted before it does? If you're determined to make your mark at the Tiger Soul Research Institute, you should be more assertive."
Lin Ran paused, his expression turning somber.
"The Brother Qi I remember was bold and confident. But you... you seem to have lost that fearless momentum."
A pained look crossed Lin Ran's face.
"Don't try to provoke me with that old trick—I've seen through it too many times... But you're right. Help me get recommended to the Cultivation Technique Research Group."
Hearing Feng Qi agree, Lin Ran's sadness vanished, replaced by joy.
"Brother Qi, you're amazing! I hope you form your own Cultivation Technique Research Group soon and poach me for it."
"Don't even think about it. Focus on your art magic research."
"But maybe I have a natural talent for cultivation technique research? How will I know if I don't try?"
Feng Qi found himself genuinely curious at these words.
Given Lin Ran's exceptional talent and accomplishments in Art Magic Research, it should have been reasonable for Tiger Soul's leadership to grant him an opportunity to try Cultivation Technique Research if he strongly requested it.
This thought sparked his curiosity, and he couldn't help but ask:
"Didn't Tiger Soul ever give you a chance?"
"Not once. Even my Art Magic Research had to follow the tasks assigned by the higher-ups, without any room for creative freedom. It was practically stifling my talent."
Feng Qi's heart trembled at these words.
Developing art magic according to assigned tasks?
From his understanding of cultivation studies, both art magic and cultivation techniques require researchers to have creative freedom—it's the prerequisite for innovation.
Throughout the history of cultivation studies, many now-established concepts arose from sparks of inspiration during free exploration.
Stifling creative freedom was, in essence, stifling the progress of cultivation studies itself.
Tiger Soul's leadership restricting Lin Ran's development in this manner seemed highly abnormal.
He couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that the Tiger Soul Research Institute has been taken over by another Domain Force?
This wasn't just a wild guess.
It aligned perfectly with the intelligence he had previously obtained.
One of the most crucial pieces of intelligence regarding the Technology Research Institute was the capture of the werewolf Le Ping'an.
The purpose of Le Ping'an's infiltration of Star City Academy was for the Technology Research Institute to penetrate a certain Domain Force, planting their spy to gather information.
At the time, Le Ping'an studied and cultivated diligently at the academy, particularly focusing on Cultivation Technique Research.
Combined with the later revelation that the Tiger Soul Research Institute had been infiltrated by the Domain Force, he was certain that the Technology Research Institute had arranged for Le Ping'an to study at Star City Academy so he could act as a spy within the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
However, this once-certain hypothesis now seemed riddled with flaws.
Firstly, when Le Ping'an joined Star City Academy, the Lord of the Mist had not yet become a Domain-Transcending Creature. He was still plotting within the Silent Domain Field to resurrect his clansmen and expand the Domain Field's area.
Therefore, the Black Shadow Faction behind the Technology Research Institute could not have been targeting the Lord of the Mist when they planted Le Ping'an in the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
This made him wonder:
Before the Lord of the Mist infiltrated the Tiger Soul Research Institute, was it under the control of another power? Or indirectly controlled?
When Lin Ran mentioned that the Tiger Soul Research Institute restricted his freedom of development, especially his research direction, which had to follow the tasks set by the institute's higher-ups, it further confirmed the characteristics of infiltration by a Domain Force.
For Domain Forces, human cultivation techniques are largely useless. The defining feature of human cultivation techniques is guiding external spiritual energy into the body, circulating it along the meridians to nourish the body, and then compressing and storing it in the dantian. Different circulation paths can alter the energy's attributes and purity during its journey.
However, domain creatures have vastly different body structures and completely different meridian systems from humans. Attempting to cultivate using human techniques would inevitably lead them into a state akin to "qi deviation" or "madness." Only pure body-tempering techniques are acceptable to domain creatures.
In contrast, art magic developed by humans can be fully learned and mastered by domain creatures. Art magic involves guiding spiritual energy along fixed trajectories, outlining and arranging it, and then condensing it to form the magic. It's like a formula.
Following the formulaic trajectory of art magic leads to predictable results.
Moreover, most art magic requires tracing its trajectory externally.
This means that any art magic developed by humans could be easily learned and mastered by Domain Forces.
Now he had reason to suspect:
The higher-ups at the Tiger Soul Research Institute had abandoned the idea of Lin Ran developing a cultivation technique because even the most advanced cultivation techniques would be useless against a potential Behind-the-Scenes Domain Faction.
After all, their physical structures and meridians were completely different.
But the art magic Lin Ran developed could be easily mastered by the Behind-the-Scenes Domain Faction.
Furthermore, Lin Ran was forced to conduct his research according to the mission's requirements, which made it seem as if the Behind-the-Scenes Domain Faction was manipulating him to develop powerful art magic for their own race.
"Brother Qi, are you drunk?"
Lin Ran waved his hand in front of him, jolting him back to reality.
"It's nothing. I just suddenly remembered many past events," Feng Qi said with a wistful smile.
He raised his wine bottle.
Seeing this, Lin Ran immediately raised his own bottle to clink against it:
"Brother Qi, since you've made up your mind, I'll write you a recommendation letter tomorrow. Let's get you into the Cultivation Technique Research Group as soon as possible. That way, I can be freed from this soon."
"I never said I was taking you with me."
"I'm your brother. Could you really watch me die and do nothing?"
Looking at Lin Ran's hopeful face, he couldn't be certain his suspicions were correct.
Perhaps he was overthinking things.
Everything at the Tiger Soul Research Institute might actually be normal, and the reasons behind Tiger Soul's restrictions on Lin Ran's research freedom could be legitimate.
But regardless of the answer, he would investigate further.
If the Tiger Soul Research Institute had been infiltrated by other Domain Forces, he would find a way to eradicate them completely.
The Sacrifice Line must fall into the hands of the Lord of the Mist.
Only then could the Lord of the Mist grow stronger more quickly, allowing him to use the Lord of the Mist as a starting point to gather more intelligence.
(End of the Chapter)
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