I Hijacked the Timeline (IHT)

Star City Academy, Dorm 301.

Seated at his desk, Feng Qi began organizing the gains from his latest trip to the future dream realm, carefully jotting them down in his notebook.

This habit helped him clarify his thoughts, ensuring he wouldn't be at a loss when formulating new plans.

First on the list was his increase in strength:

Strength Enhancement 1:

The prefix title "Strong" had evolved into "Very Strong," doubling his physical capabilities. The associated 20% increase in physical strength had risen to 30%, and his body's natural recovery ability had also improved.

Strength Enhancement 2:

The "Resilience" prefix title had advanced to Level 5, granting a 5% boost to muscle resilience.

(Note: This enhancement may influence his Blood Source state's combat power, as the transformation heavily depends on muscular fortitude.)

Strength Enhancement 3:

He gained a new prefix title, "Blood Source," which allowed for a massive short-term power boost accompanied by physical transformation. However, its use required the consumption of blood essence, posing significant risks in the real world.

(Note: This ability is best avoided in the real world due to potential severe consequences. Still, there's a high chance it can be controlled within limits.)

Having summarized his strength improvements, Feng Qi moved on to cataloging his informational gains:

Intelligence Gain 1:

It was confirmed that Mu Qing had not been controlled by any sinister force in the future. Her actions in forming the Dawn Army and initiating massacres were driven entirely by her own decisions.

(Note: Consider passing her the email next time to uncover the truth behind her motivations.)

Intelligence Gain 2:

It was highly probable that Suction Cup was a clone of Mu Qing. The rune crystal embedded in Suction Cup's body was likely the same one that Mu Qing carried, and Suction Cup was almost certainly a creation of the Crimson Research Institute.

(Note: If this assumption holds, the Crimson Research Institute might be an ally rather than a threat, though this cannot be confirmed with absolute certainty.)

Intelligence Gain 3:

In the abandoned hospital frequently visited by Suction Cup, Feng Qi discovered a hidden door. This was likely an experimental base left behind by the Crimson Research Institute before humanity's downfall. It might contain critical information.

(Note: Currently, there's no way to open the door. Potential options include searching for clues in the real world or breaking it open with sufficient strength.)

Intelligence Gain 4:

A scroll made of unique material was found in the underground shelter of Star City. The map on the scroll likely pertains to the Path to Ascension.

Intelligence Gain 5:

Mo Fei's email had mentioned the "Brain-in-a-Vat" plan. If conditions allowed and the timing was right, this plan could be worth exploring.

(Note: The future version of myself seems to have had it rough, QVQ.)

Intelligence Gain 6:

It was confirmed that Lü Yue and the three Xia brothers were not werewolves.

(Note: Future self was implanted with a monitoring chip. Investigating this could lead to identifying the true culprit.)

Intelligence Gain 7:

Three children had established an influential organization called the Destiny Association. It was time to deliver a decisive blow.

Intelligence Gain 8:

Enhancing Suction Cup could extend his stay in the future dream realm.

Intelligence Gain 9:

Star City High School classmate Xiaoxin possessed a unique talent for growth under pressure. Her future potential could be promising, possibly delivering unexpected surprises.

After compiling his findings and gains, Feng Qi closed the notebook.

With his bank account drained, he could no longer afford rune crystals to power his trips to the future dream realm.

But the upcoming Tiger Soul Concept Competition didn't faze him.

To Feng Qi, the championship was practically in the bag. The eight million prize money entering his wallet was just a matter of time.

Glancing at the clock, he noted it was already 5 p.m.

Pulling out his phone, he dialed Lin Ran's number.

The call connected after a few rings. Before Feng Qi could speak, Lin Ran's voice rang out:

"Dinner?"

"Is food all you ever think about?" Feng Qi replied, exasperated.

"What else is there to think about?" Lin Ran retorted, genuinely puzzled.

"Nothing. I just wanted to tell you it's time for dinner," Feng Qi admitted with a smirk.

Lin Ran: "..."

Hanging up, Feng Qi stood and headed out of the dormitory.

As for why he didn't inform Mu Qing about dinner, it was because she didn't need any notifications.

No one arrived at the academy cafeteria earlier than her, and no one left later.

In the realm of eating, Mu Qing was always the first to arrive and the last to leave—diligent and thorough.

Exiting the dormitory, Feng Qi walked along the pathway lined with lush greenery, heading toward the cafeteria.

The evening sky was painted with a breathtaking palette of crimson clouds.

Gazing at the sky, Feng Qi's mind drifted to the blood moon of the future dream realm—a moon that never set.

For some reason, a melancholic thought surfaced: The sunset is beautiful, but it signals the day's end.

As one of the academy's most talked-about figures recently, Feng Qi was frequently greeted by fellow students on his way to the cafeteria. He responded to each with a nod and a smile.

Seeing the smiles on their faces offered him a moment of solace and reinforced his resolve.

Everything here was worth fighting to protect.

Entering the cafeteria, the tantalizing aroma of food instantly dispelled any lingering gloom in his heart.

Nothing brought greater joy than a good meal.

Especially after his strength enhancement in the dream realm, his appetite had skyrocketed. At this moment, he felt capable of devouring an entire cow.

Grabbing a tray from the rack, he approached the serving area to select his meal.

Although hunger wasn't a concern in the future dream realm, he had deeply missed the sensation of eating.

Tonight's menu was particularly lavish:

Braised ribs, Alaskan abalone, Boston lobster, stewed pork knuckle, sauerkraut vermicelli, scallion tofu, roast lamb, spicy fish head...

Feng Qi kept piling on the food until his tray was completely full.

As the cafeteria worker scolded him about wasting food, Feng Qi nodded with a smile and left to enjoy his feast.

Wasting food? Impossible. He was definitely going for seconds.

Arriving at the northern corner of the cafeteria, Feng Qi saw that Mu Qing and Lin Ran had already arrived.

He took a seat next to Lin Ran and grabbed a roasted lamb leg from his tray. Taking a large bite, the crispy, tender meat practically melted in his mouth.

Delicious!

While enjoying the flavor, he turned to look at Lin Ran's plate, which held only a few small pieces of meat. With a playful smile, he remarked, "Not bad, you've got a good appetite today."

Lin Ran glanced at Feng Qi's mountain of food, then at Mu Qing's equally heaping tray. Finally, he looked down at his own modest serving and sighed in resignation.

"I ate too much at lunch. I'm not that hungry tonight," he explained.

"Keep it up!" Mu Qing said with an encouraging smile before diving back into her food, devouring it with gusto.

Lin Ran's mood sank slightly.

Sure, he wanted to "keep it up," but appetite wasn't something you could improve through sheer determination.

Sitting between Feng Qi and Mu Qing as they devoured their meals with unparalleled enthusiasm, Lin Ran felt his own appetite expand slightly—just enough to feel inadequate. Compared to their monstrous eating habits, his efforts amounted to little more than a snack.

An idea struck him suddenly. Perhaps he could develop a special digestion-enhancing technique, similar to the kind of cheat abilities seen in martial arts novels. Like Duan Yu drinking endlessly in front of Qiao Feng—cheating to save face.

Feng Qi noticed Lin Ran's deep-in-thought expression but was too engrossed in eating to care. He continued enjoying his meal, immersing himself in the sensory delight of food and flavor.

Dinner lasted about thirty minutes, during which Feng Qi made another trip for seconds.

As he had suspected, the strength gains from his time in the future dream realm had translated to an increased appetite in the real world.

After finishing the meal, he felt he had replenished nearly 0.5% of his energy reserves, with his body still processing more.

It occurred to him that as his strength continued to grow, he might eventually sustain himself entirely on the academy cafeteria's food supply.

Of course, that was just wishful thinking.

If his appetite reached that point, he'd likely need to consume half the cafeteria's stock in one sitting, which would undoubtedly prompt Bai Fusheng to haul him off for medical tests to ensure nothing was wrong.

While Mu Qing's enormous appetite could be attributed to her status as a rune-enhanced human, his own massive intake would only spark rumors of mutation—or worse, possession by a domain creature.

After dinner, Feng Qi and Lin Ran headed straight for the academy library.

For humanity's rise, we must read.

After selecting a basic book on cultivation technique research for himself, Feng Qi picked out an advanced spell theory book for Lin Ran.

In the future, Lin Ran would become the founding figure of an influential school of spellcraft. Feng Qi was eager to see him achieve even more in this field.

The accolades Lin Ran received from future generations spoke volumes about his potential.

Had Lin Ran not deviated from his path, halting his progress in spellcraft, he might have achieved even greater success.

The "seal formation" school of spellcraft wasn't Lin Ran's end goal. After developing its foundational principles, his talent for spell research was still on the rise—until he abruptly shifted focus to cultivation techniques.

Feng Qi's gaze drifted toward Lin Ran, who sat across the table.

"Lin Ran, why are you so set on researching cultivation techniques? Is it really just about chasing a dream?"

Lin Ran froze for a moment, surprised by the question.

After a brief pause, his expression softened, tinged with nostalgia.

"It's not just my dream—it was my grandfather's dream too. He used to be a researcher at the Tiger Soul Institute, and his lifelong ambition was to create a super cultivation technique that could make humans stronger than domain creatures.

"I grew up hearing about his dream, and it inspired my own interest in cultivation technique research.

"Unfortunately, he passed away while trying to perfect a technique he'd conceptualized. An error in spiritual energy circulation during cultivation caused his meridians to rupture completely. That's why I want to carry on his work and fulfill his dream of developing a super cultivation technique."

Feng Qi had initially planned to offer some words of comfort, but upon hearing Lin Ran's story, he found himself at a loss.

Encourage him? That didn't seem right. Regardless of whether Lin Ran's eventual research issues stemmed from external factors, cutting off his efforts at the source would prevent potential harm.

But discouraging him now would feel heartless, especially given the sentimental weight behind his motivations.

In the end, Feng Qi chose silence.

"Hey, isn't that Monk?" Lin Ran's voice snapped Feng Qi out of his thoughts.

Following Lin Ran's gaze, Feng Qi spotted Monk sitting a short distance away, engrossed in a weathered book.

Feng Qi was surprised.

He hadn't expected Monk to be actively seeking out learning opportunities.

For a moment, Feng Qi felt a flicker of hope, thinking Monk might not be as unreliable as he'd assumed.

Just then, Monk closed his book and headed toward the restroom.

Seizing the opportunity, Feng Qi stood and approached Monk's desk. He wanted to see what the book was about—it might help him tailor future lessons to Monk's interests.

Picking up the book, Feng Qi froze when he saw the title emblazoned on the cover: Uniform Temptation.

"...What?"

Whatever respect he had gained for Monk vanished instantly.

Curious and slightly annoyed, he flipped through the pages.

The content left him stunned.

The book was a Buddhist text on overcoming internal desires and maintaining composure in the face of temptation.

Feng Qi: "..."

So, it was a religious manuscript all along.

Sigh.