Feng Qi had long anticipated that he would meet Lin Ran again after entering the Tiger Soul Research Institute, but he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
Just after stepping into the institute, he was already face-to-face with Lin Ran.
At that moment, Lin Ran stood up from his seat, walked over, and lightly punched Feng Qi on the chest.
"Qi-ge, I couldn't get in touch with you for so many years. Where on earth have you been?"
"I spent a few years at the frontlines, honing my skills," Feng Qi replied with a smile, throwing a casual punch back at Lin Ran's chest.
Lin Ran's hair now had a few strands of white, and his face looked more mature than before. The familiar feeling of camaraderie surged through Feng Qi's heart.
"Why didn't you let me know before heading to the frontlines? I almost thought you'd vanished from the face of the earth." Lin Ran raised his fist and playfully hit Feng Qi again, his face lighting up with hope. "Are you back now to pick up where you left off with cultivation research?"
"Something like that. Just looking for a way to make a living here at Tiger Soul," Feng Qi said with a grin, nodding slightly.
Hearing this, Lin Ran's face broke into a genuine smile. There were few people Lin Ran truly admired, and Feng Qi was undoubtedly the most exceptional among them.
During their days at Star City Academy, Lin Ran had witnessed firsthand Feng Qi's terrifying talent. Sometimes, a fleeting spark of inspiration was all Feng Qi needed to develop a new cultivation technique in just a matter of days.
After joining the Tiger Soul Research Institute, Lin Ran gained a deeper understanding of cultivation research, which only heightened his appreciation for Feng Qi's extraordinary genius.
Normally, it took a considerable amount of effort to develop a technique, starting with a concept and going through numerous iterations to bridge the gap between theory and reality. Creating a functional cultivation technique required tremendous dedication, countless revisions, and extensive testing to ensure its safety before it could be released.
When Lin Ran had tried to join Tiger Soul's cultivation group, the institute's upper management repeatedly rejected his applications. Still, he didn't give up and spent his spare time studying cultivation research, frequently poring over past records.
Among the records he reviewed were several techniques Feng Qi had developed. To Lin Ran's astonishment, every single one of Feng Qi's techniques had passed initial testing without requiring subsequent adjustments or updates.
This level of talent was almost incomprehensible. It further convinced Lin Ran of just how remarkable Feng Qi truly was.
Years had passed since Feng Qi's star had shone so brightly, and he hadn't developed any groundbreaking techniques in the interim. But Lin Ran firmly believed that someday Feng Qi would return to the limelight, reclaiming his place as the brightest star of their era.
In Lin Ran's eyes, Feng Qi was destined to write a legendary chapter in history.
But during those years, Feng Qi's disappearance had left Lin Ran puzzled and concerned. He had even emailed the Crimson Research Institute to inquire about Feng Qi's whereabouts, only to receive no response.
At conferences where research institutes exchanged ideas, Lin Ran had asked Crimson's researchers about Feng Qi, but they too had no answers.
Lin Ran had considered using Tiger Soul's highest clearance to investigate Feng Qi's activities through financial transactions, housing records, and other traces. Unfortunately, he lacked the authority to access such information.
Feng Qi's disappearance became a lingering mystery in Lin Ran's mind.
Still, Lin Ran hadn't given up. He resolved to uncover the truth once he advanced into Tiger Soul's upper management and gained the necessary permissions.
At Lin Ran's enthusiastic invitation, Feng Qi sat down on the sofa. Lin Ran joined him, a hopeful gleam in his eyes.
"Qi-ge, with your skills, the institute will definitely set up a dedicated team for your research. When that happens, don't forget to bring me on board!"
"As the leader of the Spell Techniques group, your next step should be to take over the entire department, not to focus on developing new techniques," Feng Qi replied, rolling his eyes in mock exasperation.
"Researching cultivation techniques is my dream! If I can't work on that in this lifetime, I… I'll die with regrets!" Lin Ran declared passionately.
Feng Qi felt a mix of admiration and discomfort at Lin Ran's unwavering determination after all these years.
"By the way, tell me—what exactly were you doing on the frontlines all this time?" Lin Ran asked curiously.
Feng Qi began recounting the backstory he had carefully prepared in advance.
As Lin Ran listened, nodding occasionally, Feng Qi couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt in his heart.
Wang Jinsheng had long entered the Crimson Research Institute, paving the way as planned for this sacrificial line.
With Lin Ran's current influence, once the Mist Lord infiltrated the Tiger Soul Research Institute, Lin Ran would become the most suitable target for possession.
Lin Ran was now the most renowned genius in the field of cultivation research.
Every new spell technique he published attracted countless academy students and frontline warriors eager to learn.
This kind of influence made him an irresistible target for the Mist Lord.
The Mist Lord's biggest current obstacle was finding a highly influential medium to promote his improved Flesh Sacrifice technique. Lin Ran, at this moment, was the perfect choice.
Just as the Mist Lord once said, "Once Flesh Sacrifice begins to spread, it will spread and multiply like a virus."
It wouldn't just be human cultivators who would become "sacrificial offerings"; even members of other domain factions would unwittingly turn into vessels after trying to practice it. The technique would even be passed on to their descendants.
The influence of Flesh Sacrifice was insidious.
On the surface, the technique appeared to bring hope to humanity and the weaker domain factions. But in truth, from the very beginning, they had already become the nutrients fueling the Mist Lord's ascent.
But now, Feng Qi couldn't warn Lin Ran.
The Mist Lord had the ability to read fragments of memories after possession.
According to the Mist Lord, the memories he absorbed were random and couldn't be precisely targeted to a specific time frame.
Still, Feng Qi couldn't take that gamble.
If the Mist Lord accessed the memory of him revealing the truth to Lin Ran, this sacrificial line would collapse completely.
That would be irresponsible to himself and to his companions on this timeline.
Everyone's efforts would be rendered meaningless by his recklessness.
During their casual conversation, Feng Qi suppressed his emotions and laughed as he shared the well-rehearsed version of his experiences at the frontlines.
Eventually, their conversation drifted to their time at Star City Academy.
When they reminisced about how Lin Ran had once drunk too much Meritorious Wine and jumped into the lake to cool off, they both burst into hearty laughter.
Those youthful memories transported them back to the innocence of their younger days.
But memories were all they had left.
The dining table at the north corner of the academy cafeteria, where their "Iron Triangle" once gathered, had long been empty.
Their other friends—Lin Ran, Yang Xiaoxin, Hui Xu…—had all ventured down different paths in life.
As they continued to chat, dinnertime arrived.
Lin Ran led Feng Qi to the Tiger Soul division base's cafeteria, where they filled three trays with food and grabbed some drinks before heading up to the rooftop terrace.
The rooftop of the Tiger Soul Research Institute seemed to be a dedicated tea-drinking area, with numerous tea tables and utensils arranged neatly.
Lin Ran brought them to a table, and they set down their trays.
"Qi-ge, eating in the cafeteria doesn't have the right atmosphere. Let's eat here, reminisce about the past, and talk about the future," Lin Ran suggested as he twisted open a bottle of wine.
"I haven't had a drink in years. Alcohol affects my efficiency with spell research, but I'll make an exception today for you," Lin Ran said with a grin as he handed Feng Qi a bottle, opening another for himself.
As the glass bottles clinked together, Lin Ran's face lit up with a smile.
"Qi-ge, tell me—what are your plans now that you've joined the Tiger Soul Research Institute? Should I recommend you for the cultivation research group? With your skills, becoming a test subject is a complete waste of your talents."
"What, you're trying to make me a nepotism hire right after I join?"
"I hate nepotism as much as the next person, but you're different. You have real talent. The saying goes, 'Don't avoid hiring those worthy, even if they're close.' I just don't want to see brilliance buried," Lin Ran replied earnestly.
"True gold will shine on its own. There's no rush."
"I can't agree with that," Lin Ran said, shaking his head. "True gold shines, yes, but the time before it shines is wasted. If you've decided to make your mark at Tiger Soul, you should be bold about it."
At this point, Lin Ran paused and looked straight at Feng Qi.
"The Qi-ge I remember was confident and unstoppable, but now it seems like you've lost that fearless aura you once had."
His words carried a tinge of sadness, and his expression reflected it.
"Don't bother trying to provoke me. I know your tricks too well… but you're right. Fine, help me get into the cultivation research group."
Hearing Feng Qi's agreement, Lin Ran's somber mood instantly gave way to joy.
"Qi-ge, you're the best. I hope you form your own cultivation research group soon so you can recruit me!"
"Don't even think about it. Focus on your spell research."
"Maybe I actually have a hidden talent for cultivation research. How would I know if I don't try?"
Feng Qi couldn't help but feel curious at this.
Logically, with Lin Ran's achievements in spell research, if he had strongly petitioned Tiger Soul's higher-ups to switch to cultivation research, they should have given him a chance.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Feng Qi asked, "Tiger Soul never gave you a chance?"
"They never did. Even my work on spell research has to follow the directives assigned by the upper management. I'm not allowed any freedom to explore my ideas—it's like they're suffocating my talent," Lin Ran said, his frustration evident.
Hearing this, Feng Qi was momentarily stunned.
Spell research dictated by the directives of higher-ups?
From his deep understanding of cultivation studies, whether it was spell techniques or cultivation methods, granting researchers the freedom to explore was a prerequisite for innovation.
Many now-established concepts in cultivation studies had emerged as flashes of inspiration during periods of unrestricted experimentation.
Stifling creative freedom was no different from stifling the progress of cultivation studies as a whole.
The Tiger Soul Research Institute's restrictive approach to Lin Ran's development seemed suspiciously unusual.
Feng Qi couldn't help but speculate—had the Tiger Soul Research Institute already fallen under the control of other domain forces?
This wasn't a baseless guess.
It aligned with intelligence he'd previously gathered.
Among the key pieces of intelligence regarding research institutes, the most crucial was the capture of the werewolf "Le Ping'an."
Le Ping'an's enrollment in Star City Academy had been a calculated move by the Institute of Technological Research, intending to infiltrate a domain faction and plant a spy to gather information.
During his time at the academy, Le Ping'an worked diligently, especially in his studies of cultivation research, with a particular focus on cultivation method development.
Later revelations confirmed that the Tiger Soul Research Institute had been infiltrated by domain forces.
At the time, Feng Qi had been almost certain that Le Ping'an's placement in Star City Academy had been part of a plot by the Institute of Technological Research to embed him within the Tiger Soul Research Institute as a mole.
But now, looking back, that theory was riddled with holes.
First, Le Ping'an had joined Star City Academy before the Mist Lord even became a domain transcendent. At that point, the Mist Lord had still been confined to the Silent Domain Field, planning his revival and the expansion of his domain.
This meant that the shadowy faction behind the Institute of Technological Research embedding Le Ping'an into the Tiger Soul Research Institute couldn't have been targeting the Mist Lord.
So, Feng Qi wondered, had the Tiger Soul Research Institute already been under someone else's control—directly or indirectly—even before the Mist Lord's infiltration?
Lin Ran's remarks about being restricted in his research freedom only reinforced the characteristics of a domain infiltration.
For domain factions, human cultivation methods were largely useless.
Human cultivation relied on guiding external spiritual energy into the body, circulating it through the meridian system to nourish the body and compress the energy for storage in the dantian.
The specific circulation paths could alter the energy's properties and purity.
But for domain creatures, whose physical structures and meridian systems were vastly different from humans, practicing human cultivation methods would likely lead to something akin to "deviation" or self-destruction.
Only body-tempering techniques that purely honed physical strength were applicable to domain creatures.
On the other hand, human-developed spell techniques could be directly learned and mastered by domain creatures.
Spell techniques, by their nature, guided spiritual energy through fixed trajectories to construct, align, and condense it into a spell.
It was like following a mathematical formula: input the variables along the defined path, and the corresponding result would emerge.
Moreover, most spell techniques required the spell trajectory to be constructed outside the body.
This made human-developed spell techniques highly adaptable to domain creatures.
Feng Qi now suspected that the Tiger Soul Research Institute's upper management had stifled Lin Ran's cultivation research ambitions precisely because no matter how advanced human cultivation methods became, they were useless to any potential domain forces in control.
After all, the physiological structures of domain creatures rendered human cultivation techniques impractical.
But Lin Ran's spell research, on the other hand, could be entirely beneficial to those same domain forces.
Furthermore, Lin Ran's need to follow the directives of the upper management suggested that these directives could very well be covertly dictated by domain forces, aiming to leverage Lin Ran's genius for their own ends.
"Qi-ge, are you drunk?"
Lin Ran waved a hand in front of Feng Qi's face, breaking his train of thought.
"No, I just suddenly remembered a lot of things," Feng Qi replied with a faint smile.
He raised his bottle.
Lin Ran saw this and immediately clinked his bottle against Feng Qi's.
"Qi-ge, since you've decided, I'll write you a recommendation letter tomorrow. I'll make sure you get into the cultivation research group as soon as possible so I can finally catch a break."
"I didn't say I'd take you with me."
"Come on, I'm your brother! Would you really leave me to fend for myself?"
Feng Qi couldn't be sure whether his speculations were entirely accurate.
Perhaps he was overthinking.
Maybe everything within the Tiger Soul Research Institute was operating as it should, and the restrictions on Lin Ran's research were imposed for valid reasons.
But regardless of the truth, he intended to find out.
If the Tiger Soul Research Institute had indeed been infiltrated by domain forces, then he would find a way to completely eradicate their influence.
On this sacrificial line, the Tiger Soul Research Institute had to fall into the hands of the Mist Lord.
Only then could the Mist Lord grow stronger at a faster pace.
And only by using the Mist Lord as a starting point could Feng Qi obtain more intelligence and uncover the bigger picture.