Translator: CinderTL
Through the account of Li Xingchen's successor, Jia Hui, Feng Qi learned the full story.
As Li Xingchen had predicted, the Domain Force behind the Technology Research Institute had recently launched an internal investigation.
Even Li Xingchen himself became a suspect.
After a series of investigations, realizing his exposure was inevitable, Li Xingchen made the same choice as his predecessor.
He groomed a trustworthy individual to succeed him and instructed his successor to use him as leverage to offer a loyalty pledge to the Domain Force behind the Technology Research Institute.
In the end, Jia Hui, the successor, personally "betrayed" Li Xingchen to the Domain Force.
Li Xingchen's self-sacrifice filled Feng Qi with respect.
As a youth, he had always believed that becoming a "hero," as Old Wang called it, was the coolest thing imaginable.
But since embarking on the arduous path of saving the world, he had come to understand the tragic grandeur and sacrifice hidden behind that word.
A new plan began to unfold after Li Xingchen's death.
In the sewers of Future City's Eastern District, the air hung thick with the sour stench of rotting food. The occasional squeak of rats echoed through the darkness.
Feng Qi was already accustomed to this environment.
As the city fell silent, he emerged from the sewer and navigated the unlit alleys.
Reaching a section with streetlights, he pulled out the encrypted phone provided by the Scarlet Research Institute and pressed the power button.
The screen lit up, displaying a series of messages.
After reviewing them, he opened his contacts list, found "No. 1," and sent a message.
Feng Qi: Are you there?
After a moment, Wei Wei replied.
Wei Wei: Aren't you supposed to be asleep?
Feng Qi: Night is the best time to be active. Get up and party! Why sleep?
Wei Wei: So, why are you contacting me so suddenly? You never reach out unless it's urgent.
Feng Qi: I recently obtained crucial information from Jia Hui. If possible, I want you to use memory implantation technology to transfer this technology to my other self.
Wei Wei: Tell me more about the technology.
Feng Qi: The Future Research Institute holds some technical data on "Spirit Energy Technology" provided by the Technology Research Institute. The Technology Research Institute clearly has no intention of making this data public, so I want to bring it back to reality.
Wei Wei: If you're talking about that, I'm wide awake now. Tell me your plan.
Feng Qi: I intend to bring the Spirit Energy Technology back to reality and then hand it over to your Scarlet Research Institute. I envision transforming your institute into an all-encompassing research powerhouse, armed with the technology I've obtained from the future.
Wei Wei: Young man, you're thinking big (beautiful woman smiles approvingly.jpg).
Feng Qi: There's no other choice. The Technology Research Institute, which controls technology, and the Tiger Soul Research Institute, which controls cultivation techniques, are both under the control of the Domain Force. Both of humanity's main paths of development have been blocked. That's why I want your Scarlet Research Institute to lead technological innovation and cultivation technique advancement. As for the technology itself, I'll find a way to acquire it from the future.
Wei Wei: Oh, wow. So you're saying the Scarlet Research Institute will become a major superpower in some future timeline?
Feng Qi: If my plan succeeds, it's certainly possible.
Wei Wei: (rubbing her hands expectantly.jpg)
Feng Qi: My concern is that you might find the technology overwhelming and struggle to digest it, leading to a massive talent shortage.
Wei Wei: That's not a problem. As long as we have the technology, we can recruit talent. Besides, we have you, right? Just give us a list of potential recruits as a gift later.
Feng Qi: That's exactly what I had in mind. I've placed the data in the sewer next to the Starshine Cafe in Future City's Eastern District. Please retrieve it as soon as possible.
Wei Wei: We'll arrange it immediately.
Wei Wei: By the way, have any other human factions contacted you recently?
Feng Qi: Not yet.
Wei Wei: Well, I can understand their hesitation. Before we knew you possessed the ability to traverse timelines, seeing your seemingly reckless actions, the Scarlet Research Institute wouldn't have reached out. It was safer to continue our Anti-Infiltration Plan to avoid any setbacks caused by you.
Feng Qi: That's why I must continue to strengthen the Dawn Organization's power and influence. I believe allies will emerge, just like Li Xingchen and his group.
Wei Wei: Good luck, Little Brother Feng Qi!
After a casual chat, Feng Qi hung up his phone.
He had personally experienced the power of Spirit Energy Technology on the Sacrifice Line.
This was a super black technology capable of fundamentally altering the landscape of human weaponry.
Currently, human weapons were forged from refined spirit minerals, falling far short of spirit energy weapons.
Spirit Energy Technology was essentially an enchantment applied to weapons originally crafted from spirit minerals.
It altered the internal structure of the weapon while imprinting it with spirit formation patterns.
For example, a weapon inscribed with the "Spirit Gathering Array" would automatically absorb heaven and earth spiritual energy and channel it into the wielder's body.
Similarly, a weapon inscribed with the "Slaughter Array" would, with each strike, trigger heaven and earth spiritual energy to spontaneously manifest corresponding art magic, dramatically enhancing its lethality.
This technological breakthrough held profound significance.
The Technology Research Institute was unlikely to publicly release its technical data on Spirit Energy Technology, so Feng Qi devised a plan.
He intended to steal the technical data, effectively freeloading off the institute's research at a physical level, and then have the Scarlet Research Institute publish it.
Fortunately, the Future Research Institute already possessed some related data on Spirit Energy Technology.
Faced with his request, Li Xingchen's successor, Jia Hui, didn't refuse and immediately handed over the relevant materials.
He had contacted Wei Wei earlier to arrange for the Scarlet Research Institute to retrieve the technical data.
This move was a win-win.
It boosted the Scarlet Research Institute's influence while also promoting the dissemination of Spirit Energy Technology.
When Old Wang eventually developed a counter-cultivation technique for the Flesh and Blood Sacrifice, it would undoubtedly be released under the Scarlet Research Institute's name.
Therefore, strengthening the Scarlet Research Institute's overall capabilities and influence was beneficial for both him and the future of humanity.
In his eyes, the Technology Research Institute was now a treasure trove.
Through the Future Research Institute, he could access many of the institute's most advanced technologies.
If he could truly strip the Technology Research Institute clean of its technology, the Scarlet Research Institute might even have a chance of developing Spirit Energy Nanoworm technology similar to little black's.
But on closer reflection, he realized this was unrealistic.
Spirit Energy Nanoworms were the Technology Research Institute's most core technology, and they would never share it with the Future Research Institute.
Even if he obtained the technology to create Spirit Energy Nanoworms, replicating little black would be impossible.
The Narrator had stated that little black was definitely constructed from some kind of super material.
Feng Qi had no way to obtain such a super material.
Lost in thought, he followed the dim streetlights out of the alley.
It was late at night, and the streets were deserted, with no pedestrians in sight.
After waiting for a moment under a streetlight, Liu Yue appeared beside him.
"You smell a bit rank," Liu Yue said.
Feng Qi lowered his head and sniffed, then smiled calmly. "Well, it's the sewers. A little odor is to be expected."
As he spoke, the rune crystal on his chest flashed, its light sweeping over his body and clothes, dispelling the unpleasant smell.
Turning to Liu Yue, he saw him still carrying Jianlan on his back, dressed like a modern swordsman.
"Where have you been sleeping lately?"
"Forest Park. It's relatively comfortable there."
Feng Qi nodded. "Let's go. Next target."
With that, he took the lead, heading west. Liu Yue immediately fell in step behind him.
For the next few hours, they followed the list Li Xingchen had provided, recruiting new members. This had become Feng Qi's routine lately.
The individuals on the Technology Research Institute's assassination list were all influential talents in their respective fields. Their addition to the Dawn Organization would greatly accelerate its growth.
For now, Feng Qi had set aside his plans to confront the Technology Research Institute, focusing instead on developing the Dawn Organization.
Two years later, 1:00 AM.
Feng Qi, clad in worn-out clothes, leaned against a streetlight, scrolling through encrypted intelligence on his phone.
Over the past two years, with Jia Hui's cooperation, the Dawn Organization had secretly established a vast intelligence network within Future City.
Now, beyond the initial core members, the organization included teachers from the technology academy, staff from the Spirit Array Research Institute, and members from all walks of life.
Every night, when the city fell silent, they would compile the useful information they had gathered that day and pass it up their chain of command. The consolidated intelligence would eventually reach Feng Qi.
Through these years of relentless work, Feng Qi's approach to problem-solving had matured. He managed the Dawn Organization with remarkable efficiency.
However, the organization's growth faced a dilemma.
For security reasons, the Dawn Organization had no fixed headquarters. All members only interacted with their direct contacts.
Except for Feng Qi, who possessed the complete list of members, even two members might meet without recognizing each other as comrades.
While this enhanced security, it also created a relatively loose structure, making it impossible to concentrate their forces for external operations.
What troubled Feng Qi even more was that, even now, no other human underground forces had contacted them.
He had two theories about this.
First, these human underground forces had their own future plans and had no interest in allying with the currently weak Dawn Organization, considering it too risky.
Second, like the Technology Research Institute, these forces might have ideas but simply couldn't find a way to contact Dawn Organization members.
This second theory was entirely valid.
Over the past year, the Dawn Organization had chosen to develop in secret.
They had largely ceased open confrontations with the Technology Research Institute, so the Institute had never managed to fully integrate into Future City society.
But this also meant that any human underground forces wanting to contact them had no way to find their contact information.
This created a dilemma.
Exposing themselves might allow them to connect with other human underground forces, but it would drastically increase the risk of being wiped out by the Domain Force behind the Technology Research Institute.
Remaining hidden meant they would never know who else was out there.
How to choose? Feng Qi discussed the matter with Wei Wei and other senior members of the Scarlet Research Institute.
In the end, Feng Qi was left with only two paths.
The first was to continue secretly developing the Dawn Organization, waiting for the day when the time was ripe to rise up and overthrow the Technology Research Institute's rule over Future City.
However, this path faced numerous challenges and had a low success rate. After all, the Dawn Organization was ultimately an underground force. Its clandestine development had its limits, and without a base of operations, it couldn't effectively consolidate its combat strength.
The only source of combat support for the Dawn Organization was the Future Research Institute, which controlled a portion of the city's defenses and elite battle groups. But against the Domain Force backing the Technology Research Institute, the Future Research Institute stood no chance.
To make this path viable, the best option would be to relocate the Dawn Organization from Future City, leaving only a small contingent to continue gathering intelligence.
But as Feng Qi pondered this, he realized it was precisely the path Mu Qing had chosen. She had left the city to develop her forces outside, relying on the scavengers to rapidly expand the Dawn Army before launching attacks on major cities.
At this thought, he suddenly felt a pang of empathy. Only after experiencing it himself did he truly understand how difficult it was to make this path work.
The second path was even more perilous.
Reveal the truth to the world: that the Technology Research Institute is controlled by Domain Force.
This path was difficult to tread before, but now a turning point has emerged.
In the past, the Dawn Organization's influence was extremely limited. Even if they had spoken the truth, the world wouldn't have believed them. The only outcome would have been the Technology Research Institute, which controlled public opinion, turning the tables on them.
But now, the Dawn Organization boasts several members with significant influence in Future City. They include academy teachers, scholars, researchers, and more.
If they chose this path, all Dawn Organization members would need to publicly announce the truth together. The impact would be immense. Even if the Technology Research Institute tried to suppress the ensuing public outcry, it would be difficult to prevent the information from spreading further.
Meanwhile, the Scarlet Research Institute in Star City would secretly cooperate, fanning the flames of public opinion there.
However, this path was undoubtedly a scorched-earth strategy. Choosing it meant choosing self-exposure.
As for the consequences of exposure, one thing was certain: the Dawn Organization would be swiftly crushed by the Technology Research Institute. The subsequent repercussions were shrouded in uncertainty.
During discussions with Scarlet's top brass, Feng Qi considered three possible outcomes:
1. Human sleeper cells surface, even uniting to confront the Technology Research Institute.
If this speculation proves true, the Scarlet Research Institute would help him identify and mark all exposed human sleeper cells, then pass the information to his future self.
This would be like using exposure to find a group of like-minded forces.
2. Various human sleeper cells choose to remain hidden, unwilling to reveal themselves.
If this outcome occurs, the Dawn Organization's exposure operation would be nearly a complete failure, yielding no useful information.
However, it wouldn't be entirely without a silver lining.
3. Human society is shaken, prompting many enlightened individuals to step forward, launch an investigation into the Technology Research Institute, gradually form alliances during the investigation, and ultimately launch a coordinated effort to confront the institute.
If the Future Line that chose to confront the Technology Research Institute could bring about such drastic changes in the world 1,500 years later, then there must be a correct choice.
Whether to remain hidden or expose himself could both be ways to break the deadlock.
Feng Qi hesitated over how to decide.
If he chose correctly, he would meet the Future People in his Reality Line.
But if he chose wrong, only Little Cripple would be there to greet another version of himself.
The plan for this Future Line was designed to allow another version of him to contact the Future People and gather more intelligence.
Time passed.
Lost in thought, Feng Qi sighed, then his gaze hardened.
He made his decision.
He would reveal the truth to the world.
(End of the Chapter)
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