I Hijacked the Timeline (IHT)

This was a research room filled with various scientific instruments.

The walls were covered in mathematical formulas and plastered with numerous photos.

One photo, in particular, caught Feng Qi's attention. To his astonishment, it featured none other than Little Black.

Why was there a photo of Little Black in this laboratory?

Perplexed, he began searching through the remaining materials in the room, hoping to find any documents related to Little Black.

However, the papers in the lab had long since deteriorated. They crumbled into dust at the slightest touch, rendering any attempt to extract information futile.

Frustrated, Feng Qi approached the wall and took down the photo of Little Black for a closer look.

The photograph, made from an unknown material, had not decayed despite the passage of time.

The image was taken from a distance. Little Black was shrouded in black mist, but the scarlet eyes glowing within the haze were unmistakable, exuding a sinister, terrifying aura under the blood moon.

Turning the photo over, he discovered several lines of text written on the back.

Unknown Domain Creature - T:

Strength Level: Unknown

Domain Characteristics: Unknown

Origin: Unknown

Description: First sighted in "Future City," this unique, solitary domain creature has been temporarily named T. Its intelligence level cannot be determined. This creature cannot coexist with other domain creatures and will attack all lifeforms (including other domain creatures) within its line of sight, exhibiting particularly aggressive behavior towards humans. It is suspected that the destruction of Future City is related to this creature.

Update 2: All domain creatures become highly agitated upon seeing T, though the cause remains unknown.

Update 3: T's form can switch between physical and incorporeal states at will, rendering it nearly immune to physical damage.

Feng Qi had initially hoped to uncover Little Black's origins within the Star City Shelter.

But even the people of the future seemed unable to determine Little Black's exact nature. This meant that understanding why Little Black was relentlessly pursuing him would remain an unsolved mystery.

That said, the descriptions on the back of the photo confirmed things he had already observed firsthand.

Little Black's physiology was extraordinary. The only time it had been repelled was during its battle with the Crimson Eye.

During its fight with the One-Horned Domain Creature, Little Black's body turned incorporeal upon impact with the horn, evading damage entirely before returning to its original state.

At the time, Feng Qi had been utterly dumbfounded by Little Black's abilities.

Returning the photograph to its place on the wall, Feng Qi chose to leave the room.

Although there was likely more information to uncover here, he simply didn't have the time to stay. For all he knew, Little Black could already be on its way. He needed to use every second wisely to search for answers.

Exiting the room, he approached the next door and resumed his method of violently kicking down the metal barrier.

Moments later, the door fell inward with a loud crash.

He stepped into the room, flicking the light switch to illuminate its interior.

The floor here wasn't made of metal like the others; instead, it was soil, with a greenhouse structure erected within. The ceiling was lined with several bright lamps.

Realizing this was a room for cultivating plants, Feng Qi immediately exited and moved on to the next door, continuing his routine of breaking in.

After kicking down three more doors and briefly glancing inside each room, he left them one by one.

None of these rooms contained the answers he was searching for.

Standing in the underground plaza of the shelter, surrounded by hundreds of metal doors, Feng Qi understood that there simply wasn't enough time to check them all.

With time running out, he had no choice but to abandon his search.

Deciding that for every future visit to the Dream Realm, he would kick down a few doors at a time, Feng Qi resolved that eventually, he would explore all the rooms in the underground shelter.

Leaving the current room, he headed straight for the database terminal.

He began searching for foundational courses on cultivation techniques.

Once he returned to the real world, he would officially start his teaching duties. Without sufficient knowledge, he would struggle to conduct lessons effectively.

Moreover, he had already promised the cultivation class students a lecture on the methodology of cultivation technique development. He had to back up his bold claims.

For this, he turned to the future database, hoping to find shortcuts.

Browsing through the listings, numerous course titles appeared on the screen:

[Fundamental Research Ideas in Cultivation Techniques (First Session - Video Tutorial)]

[Fundamental Research Ideas in Cultivation Techniques (Second Session - Video Tutorial)]

[Advanced Cultivation Research Methodologies (Complete Video Tutorial)]

[Cultivation: A Detailed Explanation of the Relationship Between Human Meridians and Spiritual Energy (First Session - Video Tutorial)]

[Cultivation Theory: Differences in Developing Physical and Spiritual Cultivation Techniques (Third Session - Video Tutorial)]

To his delight, these foundational research tutorials were not restricted by cultivation technique access permissions.

In other words, he could view these tutorials as much as he wanted, provided he had the time.

Without hesitation, he clicked on "Fundamental Research Ideas in Cultivation Techniques (First Session)".

As the video began to play, a middle-aged woman in a research uniform appeared on the screen, launching into an explanation of basic cultivation research methodologies.

Feng Qi always felt a sense of drive when it came to learning.

After adjusting his mindset, he devoted his full attention to the lecture.

Compared to the cultivation research theories of the present, the knowledge presented by the people of the future was far more refined, with a solid and well-organized foundational framework.

The first session primarily covered the interconnections between various meridian points in the human body. This bore many similarities to ancient medical concepts of the "Complete Cycle of the Human Body."

As spiritual energy flowed through the body, it cleared blockages within the meridians, allowing the energy to circulate smoothly.

The purpose of cultivating techniques was to harness spiritual energy effectively—utilizing its circulation to nourish the body, strengthen blood vitality, fortify the internal organs, and ultimately transform it into specialized energy that the body could store and use.

The strength of a cultivation technique depended not only on the efficiency of spiritual energy conversion but also on the physical effects induced by activating specific meridian points.

Different cultivation techniques channeled spiritual energy through distinct meridian pathways, resulting in unique qualities of spiritual energy that could integrate with the body.

Spiritual energy, much like the lines in a "connect-the-dots" game, weaved through various meridian points. Some techniques required it to revisit certain points multiple times while avoiding critical deadlocks. This made cultivation studies an incredibly intricate and sophisticated discipline.

Throughout the lecture, Feng Qi nodded frequently, absorbing numerous valuable insights from the tutorial.

As two hours passed, the video concluded.

To ensure he could deliver a high-quality lesson back in the real world, he replayed the session to reinforce his understanding.

He had no idea where Little Black was currently. Waiting aimlessly outside was clearly a waste of time, so he chose to study while waiting.

Halfway through his second viewing, a deliberate coughing sound echoed in his mind—the familiar signal from the narrator:

"Ahem!"

Recognizing the cue immediately, Feng Qi turned toward the metal corridor.

Sure enough, Little Black, shrouded in black mist, was descending through the corridor.

Upon seeing this, Feng Qi glanced at the peacefully sleeping Suction Cup on his chest and solemnly said:

"Sorry about this. I'll avenge you next time!"