Translator: CinderTL
At Scarlet Research Institute.
Inside the designated training room.
Feng Qi, his body already rune-modified, was shirtless and dripping with sweat as he worked out in the training room.
After the modification, his training regimen had shifted from physical conditioning to balance exercises, power control drills, and more.
The intensity had decreased, but the difficulty had increased.
He underwent three physical examinations daily to promptly address any potential complications.
The changes in his body after rune modification were striking.
His physical strength had grown rapidly, reaching the evaluation of Black Iron Tier 9. He was on the verge of breaking through to Bronze Tier.
Therefore, he needed to train daily to adapt to the constant changes in his body's strength.
After hours of training, Feng Qi exhaled deeply and looked down at his chest.
There, nestled on his chest, was a thumb-sized, pitch-black rune crystal. Spiderweb-like veins protruded around it.
At this moment, the rune crystal was emitting a faint glow, pulsating rhythmically like breathing, continuously infusing energy into his body.
His body was also undergoing strange transformations as it merged with the rune crystal.
In an instant, his skin was covered in energy, turning pitch-black and translucent. Then, his body suddenly dissolved into a pool of black liquid.
But this state lasted only a few seconds. His body quickly re-condensed, and the black energy on his surface dissipated.
The liquid form he had just taken was the innate ability he had gained after embedding the ferocious shadow rune crystal.
However, he was still unfamiliar with controlling this ability and couldn't move while in liquid form. He would need to practice more.
Feeling exhausted, he walked toward the corner of the training room.
After several hours of physical conditioning, he resumed his training.
For the next two months, Feng Qi devoted himself entirely to training.
Through rune crystal modification, his strength reached Bronze Tier 1.
However, this method of growth felt far less natural than acquiring innate abilities by hunting domain creatures in his dreams. Moreover, it carried numerous hidden risks.
For instance, his emotions often became inexplicably volatile.
He even experienced a brief moment of losing control, but fortunately, he snapped back to his senses in time, suppressing his near-uncontrollable emotions.
After two months of rigorous training, his fusion with the rune crystal stabilized, and his rate of improvement slowed. While he still experienced emotional outbursts, he never lost control again.
According to Wei Wei, his integration with the rune crystal was remarkably high.
She speculated that this might be due to his unwavering willpower during the modification process.
Today was the day he left the Scarlet Research Institute.
After sharing a farewell lunch with Wei Wei and agreeing to stay in touch online, he returned to his room to pack his belongings. He then wheeled his luggage to the base's main gate.
A vehicle was already waiting.
He loaded his luggage into the trunk, and the car carried him out of Scarlet Base.
Watching the Scarlet Base's crimson walls shrink in the rearview mirror, Feng Qi knew his time in Scarlet had come to an end.
His next mission was to build a faction to confront the Technology Research Institute while investigating the Future Research Institute.
That evening, back at the academy, he first visited the Principal's Office to brief Bai Fusheng on the situation before returning to his dorm to meticulously plan his next steps.
At nine o'clock that night, he summoned Liu Yue and other students to the training grounds.
He didn't notify Lin Ran or Mu Qing.
Lin Ran and Mu Qing had their own destinies, which he wouldn't interfere with.
Especially Lin Ran, whose predetermined path might lead to successfully repelling the parasitic Lord of the Mist and gaining its full power.
Leading Liu Yue and the others to a grassy patch on the training grounds, they sat in a circle.
Gazing at their puzzled faces, Feng Qi paused before speaking:
"Everyone, what I'm about to tell you might seem unbelievable, but I can assure you with absolute certainty that everything I say is true, without a single lie."
"Brother Qi, why are you being so mysterious, just like Liu Yue? Just spit it out! I've been with the domain combat team since childhood; we've seen it all," Xia Long grinned.
Upon hearing this, Feng Qi nodded immediately.
He then proceeded to explain in detail his past ability to traverse timelines, the impending extinction of future human civilization, and the infiltration of human society by Domain Force.
Watching the expressions of the crowd shift from indifference to astonishment and finally to terror, Feng Qi understood their inner turmoil.
He had experienced the same shock when he first learned the truth.
The clear vision of victory he had held after consulting the Star City Database had become blurred and illusory. The lie of victory was completely shattered, revealing only the bloody, brutal truth.
But at that moment, he had chosen to face the harsh reality and vowed to change the future.
After a long silence, the monk finally spoke, looking at Feng Qi:
"Brother Qi, so Le Ping'an wasn't dragged away by the Nine Dragons Coffin Pull... you killed him, didn't you?"
Feng Qi didn't evade the question. He nodded.
"Once I discovered he was a spy for the Technology Research Institute, I knew I had to remove this time bomb planted beside me as quickly as possible."
Turning to the astonished faces of the crowd, he continued, "I need your help, but I know you still have doubts about what I've said. I will now prove it to you, one by one."
"I believe I've known from the very beginning that Human Civilization was on the brink of collapse," Liu Yue suddenly said.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"Liu Yue, how did you know?" Xia Long asked gravely.
Liu Yue didn't answer, but instead looked at Feng Qi. "I'll help you."
"Brother Qi, we three brothers believe in you too. We'll follow your orders from now on, even if it means sacrificing our lives," Xia Long added.
"I believe too. Most of my ancestors died fighting in the Domain Fields. I can't wait to graduate and join a domain combat team on the front lines," Yan Fu chimed in.
With four people already willing to help, Feng Qi turned his gaze to Cai Guo, Yang Xiaoxin, and the others.
"If you haven't made up your minds, you can take some time to think it over."
"Brother Qi, there's something I don't understand. Please don't hit me for saying this," the monk said cautiously.
"Speak," Feng Qi nodded.
"Even if the future of humanity is already set, we in this era are safe. Why bother struggling? Wouldn't it be better to just lie low and live out our lives in peace?"
Looking at the monk, Feng Qi smiled faintly. "Because I carry the dreams of many people, including yours."
After saying those words, countless images flashed through his mind.
The serene sacrifice kneeling before the execution block, facing death with composure. Mu Qing, fighting on the front lines, branded as a demon. Wei Wei, toiling tirelessly in the laboratory year after year... And then there was Old Wang, the Scarlet Research Institute's high-ranking officials, and the countless letters filled with hopes for a brighter future.
He had come a long way since the days when he had passionately declared his ambition to change the world. Now, burdened with the dreams of so many, his resolve to alter humanity's fate had only grown stronger.
"Brother Qi, are you talking about the us from the Sacrifice Line? Could you tell us more about it?" Xia Long asked curiously.
Feng Qi nodded and began to recount the stories of the Sacrifice Line. However, he avoided dwelling on his own tragic fate. He didn't want to use it as a means to persuade others. He simply wanted his students to understand that the blossoming of a glorious era required effort, and that countless individuals had dedicated their entire lives to this dream.
As he spoke, everyone present was deeply moved.
When he finished, he looked at their tear-filled eyes and smiled gently:
"I don't expect you to accept this so quickly. Go back and think it over carefully. Whether you agree or not, I hope you'll keep today's secret. It's crucial to my future plans."
"I chose to tell you because I trust you."
"Fate is a terrible screenwriter. This isn't how the human story should end, but at least I'll play my part well. Brother Qi, I'm willing to help you change the future." Yang Xiaoxin stood up at this moment, her voice firm.
"Brother Qi, I'm willing to help too," Jia Yi said, also rising to his feet.
Eventually, everyone stood up.
Perhaps they still harbored doubts, but one thing was certain:
Each of them carried a vision of an ideal future in their hearts. Though these visions might differ, they were all linked to something beautiful.
Every dream deserves to be protected.
Fighting for the future means safeguarding the dreams of others and their own.
Gazing at Feng Qi's smiling face, the others suddenly began to laugh as well.
They remembered a line from his story about the Future Line:
He had said that perhaps one day, standing amidst a glorious era, he would look back and realize that...
The most glorious moment of his life wasn't standing in a prosperous era to welcome a bright future.
It was the moment when, amidst lament and despair, he conceived the idea of changing the future and chose to bravely tread a rugged path.
"Brother Qi, I used to think you were a once-in-a-millennium genius," Jia Yi said with emotion. "Now I realize that compared to your grand ambitions, your innate ability seems almost insignificant."
At that moment, the gazes of the others turned to Feng Qi with newfound respect.
Feng Qi had shown them that the journey toward a brilliant era was just as important as the destination itself.
A gentle night breeze rustled through the air as they stood beneath the starry sky, exchanging smiles.
In the days that followed, the Dawn Organization was officially established.
Under Feng Qi's leadership, they secretly recruited talent from Star City Academy, steadily growing in strength.
During this time, they never neglected their own growth.
Relying on the future cultivation studies knowledge Feng Qi provided, the organization members' cultivation progressed rapidly.
As spring turned to autumn, time flew by like a white horse passing through a crack in a wall. Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
Through rigorous screening and evaluation, the Dawn Organization's membership reached 103, each a top-ranked student at Star City Academy.
They could have chosen to pursue the paths they had already planned after graduation.
But after learning the truth, they chose to stand with Feng Qi.
The phrase "Study for the Rise of Humanity" was far from empty rhetoric.
They were willing to work tirelessly for their ideal future, even if they wouldn't live to witness its glorious dawn.
They only hoped that 1,500 years from now, their descendants, standing under the same starry sky, would still see the brilliance of the stars.
Through their interactions, they came to revere Feng Qi as a beacon of light.
They were willing to believe in the light, draw closer to it, and then follow it, even to the point of becoming luminaries in the annals of history like Feng Qi himself, even if that light might be obscured by darkness, unseen by the world.
In their fourth year, graduation season arrived.
The plan to confront the Technology Research Institute finally launched.
Feng Qi led over 300 members of the Dawn Organization from Star City Academy to Future City.
For security reasons, the Dawn Organization didn't establish a permanent base in Future City, opting instead for periodic, randomly chosen meeting locations.
Each member also had their own unique code phrase.
To further the Dawn Organization's development, Feng Qi led a surge against Warehouse One of the Technology Research Institute in Future City's western district that year.
This operation confirmed one thing for Feng Qi:
The Technology Research Institute's warehouses were guarded by battle groups under the Future Research Institute's command.
The two institutes maintained close ties.
During the raid, the Future Research Institute garrison guarding the warehouse was completely caught off guard. Liu Yue shattered the warehouse door with a single sword strike.
The Future Research Institute's defenses offered no resistance. The resources stockpiled inside became the Dawn Organization's first fortune, fueling its growth.
In addition, Feng Qi discovered a cache of sealed black technology devices within the warehouse.
However, he chose not to take them. He couldn't guarantee they weren't equipped with tracking devices.
From then on, the Dawn Organization became a dark force secretly confronting the Technology Research Institute.
Their actions carried the constant risk of exposure, but Feng Qi had long prepared for that eventuality.
The Future Research Institute struck first, deploying a city-wide dragnet to hunt them down.
Through their intelligence network, they quickly pieced together the Dawn Organization's general structure.
They also learned that its leader was none other than Feng Qi, once hailed as the "Light of Humanity."
Thus began the hunt for Feng Qi and the campaign to eradicate the Dawn Organization.
Even after years of planning, many members of the Dawn Organization still fell in subsequent missions.
The City Defense Force of the Future Research Institute, in particular, significantly hampered the Dawn Organization's operations.
But Feng Qi and his comrades had long been prepared for death.
With a mere 300-odd members, the Dawn Organization's confrontation with the Technology Research Institute and the Future Research Institute was like a mayfly trying to shake a giant tree.
He and Wei Wei had analyzed the situation: the Dawn Organization's shallow foundations made it impossible to stand against the formidable Technology Research Institute and Future Research Institute.
While the Dawn Organization was developing, so were the two institutes.
Moreover, the institutes had far greater resources, leaving the Dawn Organization outmatched in both manpower and supplies.
Therefore, in the timeline where the future was changed, the Dawn Organization must have received assistance from other human factions—there was no other explanation.
This was why Feng Qi had chosen such a reckless approach.
He hoped to find allies.
And through his actions, he wanted to tell those human factions who had chosen to lie dormant and endure:
There are still those who resist. There are still those who fight. You are not alone!
Future City, eastern suburbs.
Under the cover of night, Feng Qi and Liu Yue stealthily moved through the dense undergrowth, approaching Warehouse Two of the Technology Research Institute.
This time, he had brought only Liu Yue, with no intention of launching a surprise attack on the warehouse.
Security at all warehouses had been tightened, and without a guaranteed victory, he didn't want to risk another confrontation. Even though Liu Yue's current strength was enough to withstand an entire domain combat team, Feng Qi remained cautious.
After reaching Warehouse Two, they bypassed the garrison and arrived at the ventilation shaft.
"Wait for me here. I'll go inside to scout the area."
"Be careful," Liu Yue replied immediately, nodding.
Feng Qi's body transformed into black liquid, entering the ventilation shaft to probe the interior.
Moments later, he reached the warehouse interior and began surveying the layout.
After memorizing the warehouse's layout and the patrol routes of the guards, he prepared to retreat.
Suddenly, a green beam scanned over him, triggering a deafening alarm.
Realizing he had been detected, he immediately accelerated his stealth movement.
A barrage of bullets rained down on him.
In stealth mode, his body's resistance to physical damage increased. Though these spirit energy bullets were incredibly powerful, they couldn't harm him.
Just as he was about to slip back into the ventilation shaft, a tall, slender figure in military uniform blocked his path.
A barrier of spiritual energy materialized before him.
Seeing this, Feng Qi's heart sank. He immediately decided to force his way through.
But to his astonishment, no matter how hard he struck, the barrier remained unyielding.
Then the barrier contracted, trapping him.
Under the pressure of the spiritual energy, Feng Qi's liquid body twisted and contorted, finally reverting to its original form.
Clenching his fists, he shattered the barrier and glared at the figure standing a short distance away.
The man before him was nearly two meters tall, dressed in the uniform of the Star City Garrison. His expression was cold and indifferent as he stared back.
Soon, more garrison members arrived, surrounding him completely.
Facing this encirclement, Feng Qi knew his fate was sealed. Still, he clenched his fists tighter.
With a roar of defiance, he launched a desperate assault.
Liu Yue was still outside. He was on his own now.
In the desperate struggle, his wounds multiplied. Finally, the leading garrison warrior subdued him.
"Boss, we've got him. What do we do now?"
Holding his communicator, the uniformed man reported the situation.
"Good. I'll meet you at Warehouse Two."
To ensure Feng Qi couldn't escape, the uniformed man put down the communicator and delivered a final series of kicks and punches to the already half-dead Feng Qi.
Moments later, the warehouse door swung open, revealing five military vehicles from the Future Research Institute.
A bald, burly man stepped out of the lead military vehicle. It was Li Xingchen, the current dean of the Future Research Institute.
He strode over to Feng Qi with his subordinates, knelt down, and sneered, "You're quite a nuisance, but you still lost."
At that moment, Feng Qi confirmed his suspicions: Li Xingchen was indeed a puppet dean installed by the Technology Research Institute.
The previous dean's mysterious death had clearly been orchestrated to pave the way for the controllable Li Xingchen's rise to power.
He raised his head, squinting through swollen eyelids to glance at Li Xingchen, and let out a contemptuous snort.
"What are you laughing at?"
"To be born human, yet willingly become a dog... how pathetic."
"Hahaha, well said! I am indeed a dog!" Li Xingchen showed no shame, instead bursting into laughter.
"Kill him!"
"Killing you isn't enough. We'll have to torture you first, force you to reveal some secrets," Li Xingchen said with a mocking tone, his words dripping with menace.
But such threats held no power over Feng Qi, who felt not a trace of fear.
Gazing at Li Xingchen, he smiled calmly. "You can try."
"Can you tell me one thing?" Li Xingchen suddenly asked.
"Ask. I might answer, depending on my mood."
"Knowing you were destined to lose, why did you still stand up?"
"Someone had to stand up. Why shouldn't it be me?"
Hearing Li Xingchen's words, Feng Qi felt as if he had heard the world's funniest joke and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Then, a murderous glint flashed in his eyes. With a wave of his hand, the sleeve of his right arm was shattered, revealing a black metal prosthetic.
A fierce wind swept through the warehouse. Feng Qi opened his eyes, raised his head, and prepared to face death head-on.
But to his surprise, the mechanical arm suddenly veered off course and plunged into the chest of the uniformed man standing behind him.
Blood dripped onto his head, leaving Feng Qi stunned.
"Leave none alive!" Li Xingchen sneered.
As his words fell, the soldiers behind him surged forward, launching an assault on the warehouse garrison.
Moments later, Li Xingchen knelt before Feng Qi, lit a cigarette, and smiled faintly. "Can you still walk?"
"Yes!"
Li Xingchen nodded, then pulled out his communicator. After switching it on, he spoke in a stern voice: "Warehouse Two is under attack by the Dawn Organization led by Feng Qi! Are the City Defense Force nearby eating shit? Hundreds of people approached Warehouse Two without anyone noticing! Get over here immediately! If Warehouse Two falls, don't blame me for snapping your necks!"
Turning to his subordinates who were spreading fuel around the warehouse, Li Xingchen roared, "Hurry up! We still have to search the entire city for Feng Qi later. We're busy here!"
"That bastard Feng Qi actually burned down Warehouse Two! It's infuriating!"
Feng Qi: ...
(End of the Chapter)
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