Hijacking the Timeline

Feng Qi entered keywords to search for information about the Domain Field and found one with characteristics similar to the black shadow.

This Domain Field was called the ”Secret Shadow Domain Field.”

Secret Shadow Domain Field:

Coordinates: Eastern Region 139.46-42.24

Domain Field Range: 1,687 square kilometers (Large Domain Field)

Domain Creature Strength Levels: Bronze – Gold

Overall Domain Field Strength Rating: Gold

Known Domain Creature Species (23): Soul Eaters (Illustrated Guide), Blood Shadows (Illustrated Guide), Black Undead (Illustrated Guide), etc.

Dominant Attribute Rules: Mental Attribute, Magic Attribute, very few Body Cultivation Attribute

Resource Production (328 types): Mental Stone (Spirit Mineral), Ghost Soul Grass (Spirit Plant), Mind Crystal (Spirit Mineral), etc.

Exploration Progress: 49%

Current Dispersal Progress: 0% (Maximum 3%)

Note: Due to the high danger level of this Domain Field, dispersal efforts were temporarily abandoned after several attempts. Instead, exploration for resource gathering was prioritized.

Domain Field Strategy: None

Domain Field Filming Scenes (Images, Videos): ...

The Secret Shadow Domain Field remains unpurged according to database records, so there are no detailed records of how to conquer it.

However, in the monster encyclopedia, Feng Qi found a domain creature that closely resembled the black shadow.

Demon Shadow (Domain Creature)

Detailed Description: This creature possesses exceptional wisdom and is the most powerful race within the Secret Shadow Domain Field. It has formidable mental manipulation abilities, once using them to incite the Tomorrow Domain Battle Group to turn on itself, resulting in over a hundred casualties. Its body also has regenerative capabilities, allowing it to shapeshift into other domain creatures.

Group Calamity Level: Dragon-Tier (Level 4)

Individual Calamity Level: Demon (Level 2)

The demon shadow in the encyclopedia was completely black, its features obscured except for two crimson eyes.

The description of its abilities closely resembled those of the black shadow.

However, unlike the black shadow, the demon shadow seemed more like a domain creature with a physical form, rather than one entirely composed of psionic material.

Whether the demon shadow was indeed the black shadow, Feng Qi couldn’t be certain.

After further research, he closed the introduction to the Secret Shadow Domain Field.

He decided to hire a domain combat team to investigate more thoroughly during the next timeline.

If they could confirm that the demon shadow in the Secret Shadow Domain Field was indeed the black shadow, targeted destruction could begin.

[Good heavens, the black shadow infiltrating human society is like directly tearing down our home. And now you’re choosing to tear down their home too? Are you trying to see whose main crystal explodes first?]

”Of course I’ll tear it down faster. If I can’t, I’ll just switch timelines and keep tearing,” Feng Qi grinned.

Exiting the Domain Field Database, he opened the search page and typed in ”Savior.”

After clicking confirm, relevant information appeared.

To his surprise, none of the search results mentioned the Savior Game.

[The memory overlap has addled your brain. Don’t forget, you were the one who developed the game in the Reality Line. The Savior Game in history was also based on the content you created, so of course the name would change.]

Hearing the Narrator’s reminder, Feng Qi suddenly realized.

His memories were still in a state of overlapping fusion, and the Sacrifice Line’s memories were so vivid that he’d almost forgotten about this.

He began searching for related information again.

After a moment, he found details about ”New World,” a super game built on the Virtual Engine developed by Fang Zhiyou.

The description read:

After leaving Star City Academy, Fang Zhiyou and a group of gaming enthusiasts had continued working to create the Future Virtual Engine. However, they lacked the time and funding to develop the game they’d envisioned, ultimately abandoning the project.

Over a century later, a professional game development team built ”New World” on the foundation of the Future Virtual Engine.

The game’s structure was identical to that of the Savior Game. Even the development process was remarkably similar: a professional team collected spell trajectories and data, wrote corresponding game code, and then combined it with game modeling for testing. It took decades to complete.

This finally addressed the shortcomings in combat training for new students at various academies.

Human Civilization as a whole entered a new era of rapid development.

But at this moment, a curiosity stirred within Feng Qi.

The emergence of this virtual reality game was akin to the discovery of a deity-tier cultivation technique, significantly enhancing humanity’s combat capabilities. Logically, such a game, even if developed, should have been suppressed by the Technology Research Institute and the Tiger Soul Research Institute.

Yet this game had been released smoothly, without any issues.

This was highly irregular.

With this doubt in mind, he began investigating the background of the game’s development team.

During his search, he uncovered a document:

Game ”New World” Officially Released; Vice Dean of the Future Research Institute Invited to Participate in Launch Promotion Event.

The Future Research Institute?

Feng Qi didn’t know much about the Future Research Institute.

He only knew that it was located in Future City alongside the Technology Research Institute and focused on technological research, though with some differences.

This wasn’t the first time he’d seen the Future Research Institute express interest in developing a super virtual game.

In a previous timeline, he had read through emails left by his future self, which mentioned the Future Research Institute’s ambition to create such a game.

(PS: Detailed information can be found in Chapter 128.)

So, was the Future Research Institute behind this game?

But this still didn’t explain one thing: even with the Future Research Institute backing the super virtual game, the technology research institute should have had no problem dismantling it.

Two possibilities came to mind:

First, the Future Research Institute might be backed by a Domain Force of considerable strength, making the technology research institute hesitant to take action.

As for why he didn’t know about this Domain Force, it was likely because he had died on the Sacrifice Line over a century ago, and the technology research institute only discovered it much later. As a second-tier member of the institute at the time, he wouldn’t have been privy to such information.

Second, the Future Research Institute might be a hidden Human Faction, similar to the Scarlet Research Institute, secretly aiding humanity’s progress by developing the super virtual game.

This faction must be incredibly powerful, supported by a large number of human elites in the shadows, allowing them to defy the technology research institute’s suppression.

Both possibilities were plausible, but he couldn’t be certain.

However, the second theory seemed more likely.

If it were a Domain Force, why would they develop such a super virtual game to advance Human Civilization?

Unless... this virtual game was similar to Flesh and Blood Sacrifice, carrying hidden risks.

But after careful consideration, he dismissed this idea as impossible.

After all, a virtual game isn’t a cultivation technique. It can’t plant hidden dangers within the human body or affect a person’s physical form in the Real World.

Could it be that there’s something wrong with the Virtual Game Device? Could it subtly influence players’ thoughts and minds during gameplay, ultimately altering their fundamental beliefs? Could this be a form of indirect mental control?

The Narrator’s speculation sent a chill through him.

It was entirely possible.

Developing this game was his primary focus. If he couldn’t determine whether it posed a threat, he might commit a grave sin.

He would need more Sacrifice Lines to atone for his past mistakes.

Filled with doubt, he began researching related materials, seeking evidence of hidden dangers within the super virtual game.

His research revealed that the super virtual game was indeed deeply connected to the Future Research Institute.

Another crucial factor in its success was the virtual game pod.

Once activated, this device connected to the player’s brain nerves, simulating realistic feedback.

For example, if a player is struck in the chest during a game, the virtual game pod will stimulate the corresponding brain nerves, providing an immersive experience.

This virtual game pod was developed by a department under the Future Research Institute.

In the Real World, virtual game pods already exist, but their adoption rate is low due to a lack of compelling content.

After reviewing relevant materials, Feng Qi discovered that the virtual game pods in the Real World were also developed by the Future Research Institute.

Based on this information, it seemed the Future Research Institute had long been planning to create a super virtual game.

However, these materials alone didn’t allow him to determine whether the Future Research Institute was benevolent or malevolent.

With lingering doubts, Feng Qi began searching for more information about the Future Research Institute.

This time, he made a new discovery.

His search led him to a document detailing a conflict between the Future Research Institute’s battle group and the technology research institute.

If that were all, it wouldn’t prove the Future Research Institute was aligned with humanity.

After all, conflicts and contradictions also exist between Domain Forces, much like the open rivalry between the technology research institute and the Tiger Soul Research Institute.

However, the records also state that the conflict erupted when the technology research institute attempted to seize a shipment of resources belonging to the Scarlet Research Institute.

At the time, the Scarlet Research Institute was already under intense public scrutiny, suspected of being infiltrated by domain creatures.

Yet, at this critical moment, the Future Research Institute stepped forward to intervene. They confronted the technology research institute’s battle group, which was preparing to seize the resources, and ultimately escorted the Scarlet Domain combat team transporting the shipment safely to Future City for transfer.

From this perspective, it appears the Future Research Institute knew the Scarlet Research Institute was being wrongly accused.

However, the Future Research Institute never publicly defended the Scarlet Research Institute.

Could it be that the Future Research Institute is aligned with humanity, while also knowing the technology research institute has been infiltrated by Domain Forces? But uncertain about the Scarlet Research Institute’s reliability, they only intervened because they saw the technology research institute suppressing the Scarlet Research Institute.

After hearing the Narrator’s explanation, Feng Qi fell into deep thought before finally speaking:

”It’s also possible that the Future Research Institute knew the Scarlet Research Institute was on humanity’s side, but couldn’t guarantee their absolute reliability. Suspecting there might be werewolves within the Scarlet Research Institute, they only intervened to relieve the pressure without actually contacting them.”

We don’t know for sure, and we can’t rule it out. But we have reason to believe the Scarlet Research Institute isn’t the only Human Faction secretly aiding the advancement of civilization. There may be other factions who understand the truth and are working silently in the shadows, but they’ve chosen to remain hidden. We haven’t contacted them, so we don’t know the full truth.

Feng Qi wholeheartedly agreed with the Narrator’s assessment.

He believed that the Scarlet Research Institute wasn’t the only faction in Human Civilization striving for humanity’s future. There must be other hidden factions lurking in the shadows.

As for why they remained hidden and didn’t reveal the truth to the world, the answer was simple: humanity needed to advance under the veil of lies.

Not everyone could bear the weight of despair.

If people learned that Human Civilization was on the brink of collapse, likely to be destroyed by the Domain Force, many would undoubtedly give up the struggle and succumb to despair.

Only by offering humanity hope can they persevere under its radiant glow.

If despair is brought instead, even the most brilliant minds will lose their future aspirations and succumb to self-destruction.

The Human Faction, working silently in the shadows for humanity’s future, will never shatter this illusion, even if they know the truth.

Besides their inability to directly confront the Domain Forces, the most crucial factor is the word ”hope.”

Even the elite humans who accidentally uncover the truth will choose to conceal it.

When voices emerge claiming that Domain Forces have already infiltrated Human Civilization, they will actively refute such claims.

Various Domain Forces maintain a balance by checking each other’s influence within Human Civilization.

Meanwhile, the Human Faction quietly develops amidst this equilibrium, searching for the dawn that can save their civilization’s future—just like the Scarlet Research Institute.

They have long known about the dark force’s infiltration of Human Civilization, yet they have never shared this information with the outside world.

Therefore, if the Future Research Institute stands with humanity, their actions can be understood.

Everything is for the sake of enduring.

Without knowing the specifics, the Scarlet Research Institute clearly couldn’t help them in a fully exposed manner.

Based on the information provided, it was almost certain that the Future Research Institute stood on humanity’s side.

Historically, super virtual games had addressed cultivators’ shortcomings in combat training, and there was no record of these games posing any hidden dangers.

The only thing that remained unclear was why the Future Research Institute hadn’t been suppressed by the Technology Research Institute. This was highly unusual.

Had some sort of balance been achieved? Did the Technology Research Institute know the Future Research Institute was too powerful to attack without suffering heavy losses? As long as the Future Research Institute didn’t disrupt their existing interests, the Technology Research Institute simply didn’t care what they did. After all, even if super virtual games flourished, the two primary sources—technology and the cultivation system—were still firmly controlled. Relying solely on super virtual games to hone cultivators’ combat awareness and skills couldn’t alter the ultimate fate of Human Civilization.

”That makes sense.”

After hearing the Narrator’s explanation, Feng Qi nodded in agreement.

Cultivation techniques are the foundation of a cultivator’s strength, while combat skills and awareness merely serve as auxiliary tools, or perhaps weapons.

When cultivators of similar strength clash, superior combat skills and awareness can allow one to defeat two, three, or even more opponents.

However, without the support of a cultivation technique, even the sharpest combat awareness becomes useless.

Take the humanoid domain creature he had just crushed to death, for example.

It could freely manipulate its bones, seamlessly switching between offense and defense, making it incredibly difficult to deal with. Even a dozen Goat-Headed Demons couldn’t overcome it.

But when Feng Qi activated his Blood Origin Form and suppressed it with absolute power, all its skill became utterly useless.

In the end, it died a humiliating death, crushed to death by his bare hands.

The technology research institute controls humanity’s technological advancement, while the Tiger Soul Research Institute controls the development of the cultivation system. Therefore, the technology research institute has no reason to worry about a super virtual game overturning humanity’s fate.

The Narrator’s words cleared Feng Qi’s mind, leaving him feeling enlightened.

Based on the information in these materials and existing intelligence, the Future Research Institute is indeed on humanity’s side.

Feng Qi decided to include understanding the Future Research Institute as one of the reference directions for his next Future Line.

If he could confirm the institute’s trustworthiness, he would gain more allies.

Closing the document, he retyped ”New World” into the search bar and clicked enter.

For the next few hours, he began memorizing the game code for New World.

Given the vast amount of code, Feng Qi decided to dedicate each future dream to memorizing a portion, aiming to complete the super virtual game ahead of schedule.

Once the technology research institute and Tiger Soul Research Institute were eliminated, this game would become a powerful tool for Human Civilization’s development.

Beyond providing cultivators with combat training, the game could also serve as an ideal testing ground for technological research and cultivation technique development.

In the real world, many cultivation technique developers had lost their lives during testing due to hidden dangers within the techniques.

For example, Lin Ran’s grandfather had died while developing a cultivation technique.

Beyond this, the super virtual game could also solve other testing problems.

For example, weapon data testing, biological modification testing, and more.

The game replicated the human body in a 1:1 ratio, coupled with a physics engine that simulated reality. This meant that even if a game character died during testing, there would be no consequences.

At worst, the player could simply exit the game and log back in to respawn with full health and resume testing.

Therefore, in his eyes, this game was incredibly important.

Its significance was no less than that of a deity-tier cultivation technique. Human Civilization would need this game’s assistance to enter a phase of rapid development.

However, the process of memorizing the game code was truly hair-pulling.

The code was vast, complex, and completely disjointed. During memorization, he had to constantly backtrack and recheck his work to ensure he didn’t make any mistakes.

Fortunately, his memory had significantly improved after his bloodline advancement.

If he still had his original memory, he would have given up immediately. That would have been pure masochism.

After hours of rote memorization, Feng Qi began reviewing the earlier content.

At that moment, he once again yearned for the ”Photographic Memory” ability described by the Narrator.

Besides the Photographic Memory ability and increased mental energy, there seemed to be no other way to improve memory.

In the natural world, primates, including humans, have the best memories.

He couldn’t ask Wei Wei to cultivate another rune crystal-embedded humanoid domain creature for him to kill next time. Moreover, whether such a creature could even evolve memory-related abilities was entirely uncertain.

Mu Qing served as the perfect example.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but ask:

”Narrator, how’s your memory? Can you help me memorize this?”

[My memory is terrible, like a fish’s—only a few seconds long. I forget everything afterward. I’m truly sorry.]

”Asshole System, can’t you be useful at a critical moment?”

[Asshole bonehead, you can’t even get your own act together and you blame the system? Heh-tui!]

After a brief verbal sparring match, Feng Qi calmed down and returned to memorizing the game code.

(End of the Chapter)

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