I Hijacked the Timeline (IHT)

Feng Qi opened the email and started reading its contents.

Sender: Crimson Research Institute (Verified)

Recipient: Feng Qi (Star City Academy - Acting Instructor)

Content:

Dear Feng Qi,

I am Wei Wei, the Director of the Gene Division at the Crimson Research Institute.

I happened to see your teaching video on the Star City Academy forum and found your proposed concept, "Cultivation Concept – Planting Deities in the Body," extremely intriguing.

The Crimson Research Institute will be hosting a symposium in the field of biological sciences on July 26. Experts from various scientific disciplines will gather to share insights, exchange ideas, and learn from one another. We would like to formally invite you to participate in this event.

If you are interested, please contact me at the following number: 176212xxxxx.

Best regards,

Wei Wei

Director, Gene Division

Crimson Research Institute

After finishing the email, Feng Qi fell into deep thought.

He hadn't expected his lecture video to catch the attention of someone at the Crimson Research Institute, much less pique their interest to this extent.

But this was a risk he had anticipated and was prepared to face. Hence, he wasn't particularly afraid.

The real question was whether or not to accept their invitation.

In truth, Feng Qi had no desire to engage with the Crimson Research Institute at any level.

In this timeline, he had drawn clear boundaries for himself: both the Crimson Research Institute and the mysterious organizations were taboos he must avoid. Until he had absolute power and influence, the safest approach was to steer clear of them entirely.

This was a task for his future self to tackle. For now, the reality he lived in had to prioritize stability.

Even though Star City Academy had excellent security protocols, an institution as influential as the Crimson Research Institute could easily find an excuse to have him sent to a mental institution—or worse, straight to the guillotine.

The best course of action now was to decline the invitation while concealing any trace of his wariness toward the Crimson Research Institute.

With this in mind, Feng Qi opened his friend list, located Wei Wei's contact information from the email, and sent a friend request.

Moments later, a notification popped up confirming the request had been accepted, followed immediately by an incoming video call request on his desktop.

Feng Qi: …

He had no choice but to click "Accept."

After a brief wait, the video feed connected, revealing a woman on the screen.

She wore a white research lab coat, her hair neatly tied in a bun at the back of her head. Her clear, almond-shaped eyes were bright and sharp, complementing her fair skin, which had a healthy, rosy hue.

The only thing marring her appearance were the dark circles under her eyes, which gave her an air of exhaustion. Despite wearing no jewelry, her demeanor exuded a rare elegance.

Seeing Wei Wei's face, Feng Qi suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity, as though he had seen her somewhere before.

As he pondered, a memory surfaced. During his last reading of Mu Qing's memories, the woman who had taken young Mu Qing away seemed to match this person's appearance exactly.

He still remembered the strong sense of resistance Mu Qing felt when she was taken away.

What truly surprised him was that over a decade had passed since that event, yet Wei Wei's appearance hadn't changed in the slightest. Judging by her looks alone, it was impossible to determine her exact age.

"Hello, Feng Qi. I am Wei Wei, the Director of the Gene Division at the Crimson Research Institute," the woman introduced herself with a friendly smile.

"Hello, Director Wei," Feng Qi replied, nodding politely, his demeanor courteous.

Inwardly, however, he cursed her as an "old witch" and thought to himself, You don't look like someone with good intentions.

"Feng Qi, have you had a chance to consider my invitation? Will you be attending the symposium organized by our Crimson Research Institute?" she asked, her tone gentle but expectant.

Faced with the question, Feng Qi's expression showed a trace of helplessness:

"I'm really sorry. I'm currently tackling a challenging issue in the field of cultivation research, and I can't spare the time to attend right now. If there's another opportunity in the future, I will definitely participate."

Wei Wei's face displayed a hint of surprise at his response, clearly not expecting a refusal.

"That's quite unfortunate... However, some of the content can still be discussed via video," she replied.

Feng Qi: …

"May I ask you a few questions?" she continued.

"Please, go ahead," he answered politely.

"I've looked into your background. Your teacher is Wang Jinsheng, which explains your talent in cultivation research. However, I'm curious—why is your understanding of human anatomy so profound? Also, how did you come up with the concept of 'Cultivation Concept – Planting Deities in the Body'?"

Feng Qi remained calm in the face of her inquiry. He had already prepared thoroughly for situations like this. Smiling, he responded:

"Well, I have a personal interest in ancient mythology. While flipping through a collection of mythological stories, I stumbled upon a record about gods residing within the human organs. That sparked the idea…"

The story he relayed was, in fact, the same experience that the original proponent of this concept had undergone.

As he narrated, a look of realization appeared on Wei Wei's face. She nodded and said:

"The ability to transform a concept into detailed theoretical knowledge is truly impressive. Your talent is no less than that of your teacher, Wang Jinsheng. I find your 'Cultivation Concept – Planting Deities in the Body' highly fascinating. If you make any new progress in your research, please inform me immediately."

"For the Crimson Research Institute to recognize this concept is an honor. If there are any updates, I'll make sure to let you know as soon as possible," Feng Qi replied, attempting to steer the conversation to a close.

However, Wei Wei spoke again:

"Actually, I've long been researching the connection between human physiology and cultivation science. So far, apart from the advancements in Rune-Enhanced Humans, other areas have remained at the conceptual or incomplete theoretical stage with no significant breakthroughs." She sighed softly before continuing, "Feng Qi, may I make a small request?"

Here we go again. Can you just hang up already? Feng Qi thought inwardly but responded courteously:

"Of course, Director Wei. If it's within my capability, I'll be happy to oblige."

"Could I have a vial of your blood?"

"What do you need my blood for?" Feng Qi's expression shifted to one of surprise.

"It's not just you. We collect blood samples from all the exceptionally gifted young talents. The core focus of the Crimson Research Institute is biological sciences, and we are particularly interested in studying individuals with remarkable talent like yours. This is part of one of our research projects."

Her words immediately brought to mind the infamous "genius list" Feng Qi had once seen.

Faced with the request, Feng Qi found himself with no viable reason to refuse. Reluctantly, he replied:

"Sure, how should I provide it?"

"I'll send you an automatic blood collection device. Once you receive it, just pierce the needle into your arm, and it will handle the rest. When it's done, you can ship the sample back to the Crimson Research Institute."

This is ridiculous. Collecting blood from so many geniuses—what are they planning? Feng Qi cursed inwardly but forced a smile as he replied:

"Understood, that won't be a problem."

"One more thing—would you be interested in joining the Crimson Research Institute? I can secure an early admission for you," Wei Wei added casually.

Feng Qi's smile froze instantly.

Accepting Wei Wei's offer now would mean stepping onto a highly dangerous path. It would essentially place his future self in a precarious position, akin to starting a covert operation as an undercover agent.

The potential ramifications were chilling to consider.