Star City Academy.
Early in the morning, Feng Qi woke up to a call from Fang Zhiyou.
Fang Zhiyou informed him that all the withdrawal procedures were completed, and he was now ready to enroll at Star City Academy.
Hearing the news, Feng Qi immediately replied that he could report to the academy today.
Fang Zhiyou didn't hesitate and said that he had already packed his belongings and would head over shortly.
After washing up, Feng Qi headed to the main entrance of Star City Academy to wait for him.
An hour later, Fang Zhiyou arrived, accompanied by his parents.
After explaining the situation to the gatekeeper and receiving confirmation from Bai Fusheng, Fang Zhiyou's father drove the group into Star City Academy.
As they drove through the academy, the scenery along the way left Fang Zhiyou's parents in awe.
Star City Academy had once been their dream during their youth, yet it had also been their regret.
This was why they had always hoped Fang Zhiyou could enter Star City Academy—to fulfill the dreams they never realized.
Now, in a roundabout way, Fang Zhiyou had managed to enter Star City Academy.
Half of their dream was finally realized.
The car slowly pulled up in front of the dormitory building. With Feng Qi's guidance, Fang Zhiyou completed the dorm registration and was assigned a room, 302, right next to Feng Qi's.
Fang Zhiyou's parents carried several large bags and began helping him organize his new room.
Once they were finished, Feng Qi brought Fang Zhiyou and his parents to the academy cafeteria for breakfast.
During the meal, Fang Zhiyou's parents grew increasingly satisfied with the academy.
Before parting, they repeatedly reminded Fang Zhiyou to study hard and achieve great things.
Feng Qi couldn't help but think that if he had offered to let them stay, Fang Zhiyou's parents would have undoubtedly chosen to remain as well.
After Fang Zhiyou's parents left, Feng Qi took Fang Zhiyou to Bai Fusheng to collect the keys to the academy's computer lab.
This lab would be Fang Zhiyou's base of operations for developing the "Virtual Engine." There was even a small compartment inside that could serve as a rest area.
As for assembling the virtual game development team, Feng Qi and Fang Zhiyou discussed the matter in detail.
During this conversation, Fang Zhiyou shared some good news.
He had connected with a group of gaming enthusiasts online, including some who specialized in art design. These individuals were eager to collaborate on creating a realistic virtual game.
To Feng Qi, this was fantastic news—it eliminated the need to recruit external artists.
As for concerns about the skill level of the artists, there was no need to worry.
Once the virtual engine was fully developed, the team would have to relearn and adapt their techniques to match the engine's advanced features.
As long as they were willing to learn, skill deficiencies could be resolved.
Feng Qi left the task of assembling the team entirely to Fang Zhiyou, assuring him that he would handle any issues regarding the artists' integration into Star City Academy.
Feeling trusted, Fang Zhiyou brimmed with confidence.
Having grown up under his parents' constant pressure, this was the first time he felt a sense of freedom, as well as the determination to make a significant impact.
After settling Fang Zhiyou's plans, Feng Qi returned to his dorm.
Although Fang Zhiyou's path was now on track, there was still one pressing issue to address: funding.
While Fang Zhiyou's equity stake exempted him from a salary, the other artists would certainly need to be paid—no one would work for free.
On top of that, there were future expenses like advertising and distribution costs, as well as outsourced game music production.
He realized that there were still many areas requiring financial support.
The funds he currently had—just a few million—were a mere drop in the bucket and far from sufficient. He needed to come up with alternative solutions to address the funding shortfall.
For now, his plan was to take Lin Ran, Mu Qing, and others to explore domain fields when the time was right.
Domain fields were fraught with danger, but the potential rewards were immense.
Even low-risk domain expeditions could earn ordinary squads tens of millions in a single trip.
As for high-risk domains rich in resources, earnings could easily exceed hundreds of millions.
In this world, domain combat squads had the highest earning potential—even surpassing researchers employed by top research institutes.
However, these fighters lived on the edge, constantly risking their lives.
And the research resources of all major institutes were entirely dependent on these domain warriors, who braved blood-soaked battles to bring them back.
As he planned for the future, time slipped away.
Noticing that it was already lunchtime, Feng Qi got up and left his dorm.
Cafeteria.
The "Meal Trio" gathered in their usual corner at the northern side of the academy cafeteria.
During the meal, Lin Ran occasionally glanced at Feng Qi before finally asking, "Qi-ge, have you gotten more handsome lately?"
"Really?" Feng Qi asked, his attention still on his meal.
"Yes, definitely," Lin Ran confirmed, putting down his chopsticks. "Your whole vibe feels different, like you've unlocked some special beauty-enhancing technique."
Feng Qi immediately knew the reason behind Lin Ran's observation.
After advancing his bloodline in the future dreamscape, he had noticed his appearance had improved significantly. His skin, in particular, was now smooth and radiant, almost unnaturally flawless.
[A pretty-boy look is nothing impressive. The combat form looks way cooler—those crimson patterns on the bones are pure artistry. Activate the Blood Source Form, and it's peak aesthetics! One punch, one pretty boy!]
"Qi-ge, you're practically on my level now in terms of looks. Seriously, you're handsome!" Lin Ran said again with conviction.
[Handsome? Pfft. Show him your combat form—I guarantee he'll cry.]
Feng Qi: …
Feng Qi wasn't entirely pleased with the changes in his human form.
His once healthy complexion had turned into something he wasn't used to.
But there wasn't much he could do about it—this form funneled all attribute points into mental strength, leaving his physical body relatively weak.
The combat form, on the other hand, was a different story altogether.
All attribute points in this form were directed toward physical strength, even discarding flesh altogether.
After acquiring the "Steel Bones" ability, Feng Qi's bones became harder than steel, significantly enhancing his close combat prowess.
Yet, deep down, he yearned for a more balanced form—one where attributes were evenly distributed.
Ignoring Lin Ran's incessant praise of his appearance, Feng Qi kept his head down and continued eating.
Unlike Lin Ran, who was obsessing over his looks, Mu Qing, seated across from them, remained unfazed. Her focus was entirely on her food.
Every bite of a delicious dish lit up Mu Qing's face with bliss, her expression immersed in a state of culinary ecstasy.
Watching her eat, Feng Qi found his appetite increasing.
He thought, with her eating abilities, if Mu Qing had been a food vlogger before the catastrophe, she could've garnered a massive fan base.
After lunch, he parted ways with a not-yet-satiated Mu Qing and headed straight to the library with Lin Ran.
With no classes in the afternoon, Feng Qi planned to spend time studying alongside Lin Ran in the library.
At the same time, he decided to stop preventing Lin Ran from studying cultivation technique research.
After all, even without Old Wang or Lin Ran, the Black Mist Lord could always find a new host.
Lin Ran was visibly surprised by Feng Qi's change in attitude—Feng Qi even went so far as to fetch him an introductory book on cultivation research.
Sitting in the reading room, Lin Ran couldn't help but steal glances at Feng Qi. Eventually, he couldn't hold back his curiosity.
"Qi-ge, were you possessed or something? Yesterday, you were adamant that I shouldn't study cultivation research, but today you've changed your tune?"
Thinking about Feng Qi's noticeable change in appearance, Lin Ran grew even more suspicious.
Looking up at Lin Ran, who was scrutinizing him with a wary expression, Feng Qi replied emotionlessly:
"I wasn't possessed, but you should be careful. Walking down the path of cultivation research carries significant risks. There's a real possibility of possession."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Can't be bothered to explain. Even if I did, you wouldn't listen; and even if you listened, you wouldn't believe it. And even if you believed it, you wouldn't change your mind."
"Qi-ge, why are you suddenly talking in riddles like Lü Yue?" Lin Ran said, thoroughly confused.
"Read your book. Learn something," Feng Qi replied without looking up.
As he read, Feng Qi's thoughts drifted to the image of Lin Ran after being possessed by the Black Mist Lord—purple hair, violet eyes, and an aura of eerie malevolence.
The possessed Lin Ran had clearly lost all sense of self.
Apart from retaining his original body and name, everything else had been entirely consumed by the Black Mist Lord.
Thinking about Lin Ran accusing him of being possessed, an idea suddenly struck Feng Qi. Putting down his book, he looked at Lin Ran and asked:
"Ah Ran, I've got a question for you."
Lin Ran, engrossed in his reading, raised his head curiously.
"What's up?"
"Do you think it's possible to develop a special technique that allows your consciousness to reverse parasitize a host if you're ever possessed?"
"Forgive my ignorance, but I don't understand."
"Let me give you an example. Imagine your consciousness gets parasitized by an external force. At that point, your consciousness isn't strong enough to resist and is destined to be devoured. What if, instead, your consciousness could secretly embed itself in the parasitic host, gradually siphon its strength to grow, and eventually reclaim control by devouring the parasite?"
Lin Ran: …
"Qi-ge, were you really possessed? Do you actually need such a technique?"
"Just assume I was. Can you develop something to address it?" Feng Qi asked directly.
Moments earlier, Feng Qi had come up with a method to counter the Black Mist Lord.
The idea was to have Lin Ran develop a technique that would plant a seed of his consciousness before being devoured, enabling it to parasitize the Black Mist Lord in return.
If the method succeeded, then 1,500 years in the future, Feng Qi could face the Black Mist Lord with a grin and snap his fingers.
His metaphorical snap would summon Lin Ran's latent consciousness within the Black Mist Lord, allowing him to reclaim his body.
At that point, Lin Ran—enhanced with the Black Mist Lord's power—would undoubtedly become a formidable ally in the dreamscape.
[Host Feng Qi, armed with the thrower Lin Ran, projectile combat weapon Suction Cup, the impervious armor Little Black, plus a Black Mist Lord mount. If this plan works, I, the narrator, will be unstoppable! Mwahahaha!]
Feng Qi: …
Ignoring the narrator's ramblings, Feng Qi turned back to Lin Ran, awaiting his answer.
"I've never studied anything like that, and honestly, I don't want to waste my time on it. It seems pointless."
"Do you trust me?"
"I do."
"Then try developing a technique to counter consciousness parasitism."
"Can I opt out?"
"If you research it, I'll teach you cultivation technique research."
"Deal!"
Hearing that Feng Qi was willing to teach him about cultivation research, Lin Ran beamed with excitement.
Looking at Lin Ran, Feng Qi felt a sense of satisfaction.
He had now planted a seed for the future. Whether it sprouted or not would depend on Lin Ran's efforts.
With that thought, a smile crept onto Feng Qi's face.
If fate allowed, they would meet again in the future—and perhaps Lin Ran would stand by his side as a companion.