Hijacking the Timeline

Chapter 170 - 170: Mid-Autumn Festival [2.6k]



Translator: CinderTL

Feng Qi stared at the two miracle stones on the table, lost in thought.

He had no idea how to use them or what their value was.

Yet, according to the Domain Assassin, they were incredibly rare and precious.

As he pondered, the clock struck midnight.

The academy officially entered its rest period as the midnight bell echoed across the campus.

Lights were extinguished across the academy, including the Star City Academy Library, where librarians began cleaning and inventorying books.

After waiting another hour, Feng Qi cautiously opened his window to observe the surroundings.

Still in his Battle Body Form, he couldn't risk being seen.

His only option was to use his telekinesis under the cover of darkness to slip out the window and fly directly to the deserted back mountain of Star City Academy.

There, he could hunt animals to replenish his Qi and Blood Power.

As his gaze swept across the tree-lined path outside his window, a thought struck him.

"Narrator, you can scan the surroundings, why didn't you check for anyone nearby?"

[You didn't ask me to.]

"You can't take initiative without being asked?"

[Even capitalists don't treat their employees like this! No salary, and now you want me to work overtime? Before capitalists start exploiting their workers, they at least dangle carrots and talk about ideals. You just dismiss me with a simple 'take initiative'?"]

Feng Qi was stunned by this outburst, feeling a bit embarrassed. "The problem is, I don't have anything you want. Otherwise, I'd definitely give it to you."

[Who says you don't? I just want to hear you call me 'Dad'.]

"Asshole System, go eat shit!"

After this exchange of verbal sparring, the Narrator finally relented and offered a hint.

Confirming that no one was around, Feng Qi released his telekinesis to envelop his entire body. He then flew out the window, soaring through the night sky.

Moments later, he landed on the back mountain.

The night was hazy, but in his Battle Body Form, his eyes burned like two flames, allowing him to see clearly through the darkness.

"Narrator, get to work! Find me some prey!"

In response to his demand, the Narrator grumbled and began scanning the back mountain.

It soon replied:

[I've only detected five wild boars here. The rest are mostly small animals like snakes, earthworms, and rabbits. They won't satisfy your qi blood needs. Looks like you're in for a busy night.]

"Location," Feng Qi said without hesitation.

Twelve o'clock, three earthworms in the soil.

Feng Qi: ...

"Asshole System, even a mountain of earthworms wouldn't fill a gap in my teeth. Find me something else."

After another round of verbal sparring, Feng Qi began his hunt.

Following the Narrator's instructions, he moved through the back mountain's forest, hunting wild animals to absorb their qi blood power.

Hours later, after killing a wild boar with a single punch, Feng Qi absorbed a dense ball of qi blood.

Feeling his qi blood power gradually recover, he knew he was close to transforming.

At that moment, the Narrator's deliberately hushed voice echoed in his mind:

[Why did the back mountain's wild rabbits meet such a bizarre and gruesome end? Why did the black-skinned wild boar howl in the dead of night? Was the skeletal figure bathed in moonlight human or ghost? What hidden secrets lay behind the mysterious deaths of countless wild animals in the academy's back mountain? Was this a sign of moral decay or a perversion of human nature? Did an unseen hand orchestrate this bloody slaughter?]

[Let's journey to 3 AM and delve into the Bone Man's inner world, unraveling the secrets behind his existence. I am the Narrator, here to guide you through this tale.]

Feng Qi: ...

His forehead veins throbbed, and he couldn't help but speak:

"Stop messing around. Hurry up and move on to the next one. We risk exposure if it gets light."

[Got it!]

For the next hour, Feng Qi raced through the back mountain, frantically gathering qi blood.

Finally, after an hour, he had absorbed enough.

With a thought, a thick layer of qi blood power enveloped his body, and in the blink of an eye, he reverted to his original form.

The threat of exposure averted, he breathed a sigh of relief and immediately levitated into the air.

Moments later, he floated back through the window into his dorm room.

He sat down at his desk, his gaze falling on the two miracle stones still resting there.

Even now, he still didn't understand the purpose of the miracle stone.

Should you try eating it? Just like when you gnawed on the rune crystal, maybe it contains immense energy.]

[Hearing the Narrator's suggestion, he nodded immediately.

He had considered asking his future Dream Realm self to try it first, which would have been safer. After all, the miracle stone might be poisonous, and accidental ingestion could lead to poisoning.

But on second thought, he realized that wouldn't work. His future self would have lost all his innate abilities, and even a weak toxin could prove fatal, wasting a life for nothing.

His Reality Line self was different. Not only was his physical constitution far superior to his Sacrifice Line self, but he could also instantly switch to his Battle Body Form in case of an emergency, eliminating the risk of the poison spreading through his blood.

So he decided to try it himself.

Picking up a miracle stone the size of his thumb, he brought it to his mouth and took a small bite.

With the Adamant Fangs innate ability active, his teeth easily broke off a small piece of the stone, which he chewed and swallowed.

He summoned his status panel, switched the energy replenishment progress bar to the attribute section, and began waiting for the miracle stone's effects to kick in.

As he waited, his attributes on the panel indeed began to change.

His bloodline evolution points, which had been at 423/10,000, began to tick upward slowly, each tick adding one point.

After only a dozen beats, the bloodline evolution points stopped moving.

"That's it?" Feng Qi was stunned.

He had expected the miracle stone to have some extraordinary effect, but it had only provided him with 13 bloodline evolution points.

"I feel like I've been tricked," he muttered, clutching the chipped miracle stone with mixed emotions.

He had thought he was holding a treasure, only to discover it was practically useless.

[I think I understand now. This thing truly is a treasure, a priceless one at that!]

"What makes you say that?" he asked immediately.

[Your body is exceptionally unique, possessing the ability to devour and evolve. But other species don't have that. For them to evolve their life-rank, it often takes generations of clansmen working together to cultivate their offspring to be even better than the last, thus forming a superior bloodline.]

[For example, what seems easy to you—acquiring innate abilities—do you know the cost domain creatures pay to imprint an art magic into their bloodline as a racial innate ability?]

[Therefore, this miracle stone, which directly enhances bloodline strength, is an incredibly precious treasure for any species... But for you, it's practically useless. You can get about the same number of bloodline evolution points from hunting a single domain creature in the Dream Realm.]

After hearing the Narrator's analysis, he suddenly understood why the black shadow was so protective of the miracle stone.

For a race to grow strong, the strength of its bloodline was crucial.

Among domain creatures, there were strong and weak. Some were born far above what even the most diligent weak domain creatures could ever achieve, and this was directly linked to bloodline inheritance.

The miracle stone might seem to offer only a slight boost to bloodline strength, but it actually enhanced the future potential of an entire race.

Realizing the stone's significance, he tossed the remaining half into his mouth, chewing and swallowing it.

A single miracle stone granted him a mere 52 bloodline evolution points, but it was better than nothing.

As for the last miracle stone, he had initially planned to consume it as well, but then he thought of the Domain Assassin. Perhaps he could trade the stone for information or even use the assassin for certain tasks.

With this in mind, he pulled the metal box from his desk, opened it, and dropped the miracle stone inside.

Leaning back in his chair, he fell into deep thought. He began compiling the latest intelligence and considering the potential consequences of his altered Reality Line on the future.

For the next two days, Feng Qi devoted himself entirely to planning for the future and studying.

That evening at seven, he was at his desk, searching for programming knowledge online.

His phone rang.

He picked up the phone from his desk and saw it was Lin Ran calling.

"Brother Qi, the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala is about to start. Where are you?" Lin Ran's voice came through the phone.

"I'm on my way!" Feng Qi replied immediately.

He hung up the phone, stood up, and left his dorm room, heading straight for the sports field.

A moment later, he arrived at the field.

The field was brightly lit, with colorful lanterns strung together by transparent threads floating in the air. Ribbons hanging from the lanterns were inscribed with Mid-Autumn Festival riddles.

On the lush green grass, tables were arranged every three steps in neat rows.

Each table held a pot of Osmanthus Wine, a bronze jue for drinking, and a box of exquisitely packaged mooncakes.

Bai Fusheng's Mid-Autumn Festival message to the students was printed on top of the box, and a red bag was placed beneath each table.

At the front of the field stood the stage for the gala.

Before the official start of the gala, the large screen on stage displayed an introduction to Mid-Autumn Festival customs, while the broadcast played "When Will the Bright Moon Appear?"

The festive atmosphere hit him the moment he stepped onto the field.

Scanning the signs planted in the lush green grass, he began searching for his class's designated spot.

"Brother Qi, over here!" he heard Lin Ran shout.

Looking in the direction of the voice, he saw Lin Ran in Hanfu waving at him with a mischievous grin.

Liu Yue and the others had already arrived, even the usually shy Mu Qing had taken her seat, though her eyes were fixed on the mooncakes, her intentions clear.

He sat down at the table bearing his name and turned to Lin Ran. "Why the change of clothes?"

"To better immerse myself in the festive spirit, of course! The academy is providing these costumes for free. Anyone who wants one can go to the gymnasium to change. I got here early and snagged a well-fitting set. I bet the ancient costume army will be here soon."

As Lin Ran finished speaking, Feng Qi saw a group of figures in ancient garb approaching the field from outside.

As they chatted, the clock struck eight in the evening.

With the stage lights blazing, Bai Fusheng, dressed in a dark-colored ancient formal robe, stepped onto the stage. Smiling, he began reading the opening remarks for the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala.

When Bai Fusheng declared the gala officially open, thunderous applause erupted across the field.

The Mid-Autumn Festival Gala officially began.

Feng Qi's only regret was that the most fitting activity for the occasion—moon viewing—couldn't take place. The sky was completely obscured by thick clouds.

Just as he was lamenting this, a streak of light flashed in the distance and arrived above the academy.

The other students, like Feng Qi, looked up.

They saw the figure in the sky pierce through the clouds. Suddenly, brilliant light flashed within the cloud layer, and the dense clouds were pushed apart, revealing a radiant full moon.

Realizing that the academy had invited a super-powered expert, the students exchanged curious glances, eager to know the identity of this human powerhouse.

But after parting the clouds, the figure transformed into a streak of light and vanished from sight.

The gala continued.

Compared to Star City High School's graduation ceremony, the Star City Academy's gala was far more elaborate. The performers on stage were renowned dancers, singers, and artists from the outside world.

The academy hadn't spent a single cent to bring them here.

Performing at the Star City Academy was a dream for many. Once the academy announced the opportunity, a flood of professionals would apply, their applications pouring in without end.

All expenses for the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala were covered by prominent figures from the business world.

Sipping Osmanthus Wine and gazing at the bright, round moon hanging high in the sky, Feng Qi was completely immersed in the festive atmosphere.

The octagonal wind chimes hanging beneath the flower lanterns above his head tinkled softly in the breeze, finally soothing the tension that had been coiled within him.

"Brother Qi, this Osmanthus Wine is delicious," Lin Ran said, holding up his bronze jue with an expression of pure bliss.

Feng Qi smiled in response, raised his own cup, and took a large gulp of the wine, following Lin Ran's lead.

He opened the mooncake gift box, revealing ten mooncakes of different flavors, each inscribed with a single character. Together, the characters read:

A bright moon rises over the sea, At this moment, we share the same sky.

The festive atmosphere reached its peak as the evening progressed, filled with performances, moon viewing, mooncake eating, and Osmanthus Wine drinking.

As midnight approached, Bai Fusheng reappeared on stage. His face flushed with wine, he read out his Mid-Autumn Festival wishes for the students before instructing them to retrieve the red bags placed beneath their tables.

Feng Qi opened his bag to find a folded Kongming lantern, a sheet of paper, and a brush.

Next came the final segment of the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala.

Write a Mid-Autumn Festival message and release a wish-granting sky lantern.

Lin Ran leaned over at this moment. "Brother Qi, let me see what you wrote!"

"I wrote 'May I live a long and healthy life,'" Feng Qi said with a grin.

"As a cultivator, is that all you aspire to?"

"Even that goal is as difficult as climbing to the heavens."

Seeing Lin Ran's puzzled expression, he didn't explain further but instead asked curiously, "What about you? What's your message?"

"Of course, I hope to become an outstanding technique researcher in the future!" Lin Ran said with a playful smile.

"Senior Sister Mu, what about you?" Feng Qi turned to Mu Qing on the other side.

"I hope the future gets better and better, and that everyone is always happy."

Looking at the smile on Mu Qing's face, Feng Qi returned a smile.

Her seemingly simple wish concealed a life filled with hardships and struggles. Yet she had never stopped pursuing her ideal, always striving forward.

After folding the paper and placing it inside the sky lantern, Feng Qi pressed the button. Instantly, a candle flame ignited within, casting a warm glow that flickered with the dancing light.

Moments later, as Bai Fusheng finished his announcement and shouted, "Release your wishes!" Feng Qi and all the other students let go of their sky lanterns.

Instantly, countless lanterns soared into the night sky, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

As the wish-granting sky lanterns ascended, their flames illuminated the heavens. Amidst the laughter and cheers, the midnight bell of the academy rang out.

Gazing at the sky lanterns that painted the night sky crimson, Feng Qi smiled.

All this beauty was precisely what he was willing to die to protect.

(End of the Chapter)

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