I Hijacked the Timeline (IHT)

The next morning, at Star City Academy's cafeteria.

As usual, Feng Qi, Lin Ran, and Mu Qing gathered at a table after selecting their food. However, after the events of the previous night, Mu Qing's demeanor toward Feng Qi had clearly shifted. The resistance and wariness she used to show were now replaced with a more neutral, even slightly warm attitude.

Halfway through their meal, Lin Ran suddenly turned to Feng Qi and asked,

"Qi-ge, do you have time later?"

"What's up?" Feng Qi asked, his voice muffled by the food in his mouth.

"I have a lecture for Combat Class One later. If you're free, could you drop by? Maybe you can point out areas where I could improve."

Feng Qi looked at Lin Ran, his expression curious.

"What are you planning to teach? Cultivation techniques or magical arts?"

"After some thought, I decided to go with magical arts. My understanding of cultivation techniques is too shallow compared to the academy's professors, so I'd rather not make a fool of myself."

"If you're aware that your foundation in cultivation techniques is shaky but excel in magical arts, why are you so determined to pursue cultivation research?" Feng Qi couldn't help but comment.

"It's my dream. Besides, I think I can pull it off." Lin Ran's grin was wide, brimming with confidence.

"Dreams are great and all, but being a jack of all trades isn't. Focus matters. I don't think this is the right path for you," Feng Qi said sincerely, hoping to sway Lin Ran from his disastrous ambitions.

"So, you're saying I should focus on my dream and give up magical arts to fully dedicate myself to cultivation techniques?"

"Cough! Cough!" Feng Qi nearly choked at Lin Ran's misunderstanding.

This guy's ability to twist logic is unparalleled. If Lin Ran genuinely followed this line of reasoning, Feng Qi would inevitably share responsibility for the future calamities caused by him.

"No, no, that's not what I mean. I'm saying you should stick to magical arts. Since you lack talent in cultivation techniques, why not cut your losses early? Magical arts are just as important. While cultivation techniques drive magical arts, exceptional magical arts can compensate for weak cultivation techniques."

"No way! A real man chases his dreams without hesitation. I'm still young, and I'll keep going until I hit a dead end!" Lin Ran refused, shaking his head resolutely.

Feng Qi: …

This guy's going to run himself into a wall and take hundreds of thousands of people with him when he does. What can I even say to that?

"Fine. Do you have time to come with me after breakfast?" Lin Ran pressed again.

"I do. I'll join you," Feng Qi nodded reluctantly.

If he couldn't dissuade Lin Ran right away, he'd take a gradual approach. First, he'd praise Lin Ran's achievements in magical arts while downplaying his progress in cultivation techniques. Over time, the contrast might make Lin Ran reconsider his path.

"Mu Qing-jie, do you have class today? Why don't you join us?" Lin Ran asked, turning to Mu Qing, who was silently eating.

Hearing this, Mu Qing paused mid-bite and slowly lifted her head, cheeks puffed with food, her expression adorably blank.

She glanced at Lin Ran's smiling face, then at Feng Qi.

"Do you have class today, Mu Qing-jie?" Feng Qi echoed, curious.

"No."

"Then come along."

"No. I don't go to classes," Mu Qing replied bluntly, a faint trace of sadness flickering in her eyes before vanishing.

Feng Qi immediately caught on to her subtle change in mood.

In that moment, he realized why Mu Qing avoided classes. As someone labeled an outcast, she naturally drew attention wherever she went. No one wanted to sit near her or befriend her, and she likely faced stares and whispers in every classroom. Attending class would only be an ordeal for her.

Seeing her refusal, Feng Qi didn't press further.

"Alright, then let's meet for lunch later."

He stood, tray in hand, and Lin Ran quickly followed. Together, they left the cafeteria and headed to Combat Class One.

By the time they arrived, the classroom was already bustling with students. News had spread that Lin Ran would be teaching today, and expectations were high. After the last lecture, which had been enlightening for many, students had come prepared this time with notebooks, eager to jot down any insights.

Entering the room, Lin Ran confidently walked to the podium, while Feng Qi found a seat among the students.

When Feng Qi stepped in, the students' faces lit up with smiles. In this world, talented individuals were deeply respected—they were seen as pioneers in humanity's ongoing struggle against domain creatures.

However, the smiles quickly turned into confusion when Lin Ran, the supposed lecturer, sat down, and the handsome boy who had accompanied him strode to the podium instead.

Setting down his notes, Feng Qi beamed at the audience and spoke,

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Lin Ran, and I'll be teaching today's lecture."

The room erupted in whispers.

Many students instinctively glanced at the real Lin Ran, their faces brimming with confusion.

What's going on? Isn't Lin Ran supposed to be teaching? Why is he sitting there? Who's this guy?

At this point, Lin Ran continued speaking, "I know many of you are confused, so let me clarify. The person who taught you last time was actually Feng Qi, the senior currently seated in the right corner of the classroom. I am the real Lin Ran."

"Although I can't compare to Senior Feng Qi's abilities, I've made some progress in the field of magical arts research. Today, I'll be sharing some of my findings."

With that, Lin Ran opened the first page of his prepared lecture notes.

The students were still in shock. While they had figured out their mistake, their curious gazes remained fixed on Feng Qi, trying to figure out who this person was. Why had they never heard of him before?

However, Lin Ran's lecture soon captured their attention.

"We all know that casting magical arts involves channeling spiritual energy within the body and drawing the spell's trajectory outside the body to trigger its effects. But I've always found this process cumbersome—channeling energy, forming trajectories—it's too complicated. So I began to ask myself: can the process be simplified? That led me to develop a prototype for a more streamlined casting method, which I call 'Seal Formation Technique.'"

Initially, Lin Ran's introduction sounded like an unrealistic boast. Many students inwardly dismissed it as sheer nonsense. But Feng Qi's expression changed as soon as he heard the term "Seal Formation Technique."

The database! Feng Qi immediately recalled the records he'd read in the Star City Historical Database. The name Lin Ran had been prominently associated with the Seal Formation Technique. He just hadn't expected Lin Ran to already have a prototype in place.

As Lin Ran delved deeper into the details of the Seal Formation Technique, the students were left astounded.

Even Feng Qi, despite knowing Lin Ran's potential, couldn't help but be impressed.

Lin Ran's Seal Formation Technique was a revolutionary concept designed to simplify the steps of casting spells. It used specific hand seals to quickly establish the trajectories of magical arts without requiring conscious guidance.

During his lecture, Lin Ran explained that he had developed twelve distinct hand seals, each capable of guiding spiritual energy along a predefined pathway:

Zi (子): Thumb overlapping, left thumb on top (spiritual energy moves from the Youmen acupoint to the Qi acupoint).

Chou (丑): Right hand horizontal, left hand vertical (Tian Tu acupoint to Shui Fen acupoint).

Yin (寅): Thumbs extended straight on both hands (Yunmen acupoint to Zhongfu acupoint).

Mao (卯): Right hand makes a fist with the pinky extended (Tianchi acupoint to Riyue acupoint).

Chen (辰): Thumbs overlapping, index fingers of both hands downward (Guanyuan acupoint to Yougu acupoint).

Si (巳): Fingers interlocked (Baihui acupoint to Tianzhu acupoint).

Wu (午): Elbows spread wide, index fingers forming a triangle (Shenting acupoint to Jingming acupoint).

Wei (未): Thumbs extended upward and overlapping, left thumb on top (Fengchi acupoint to Danzhong acupoint).

Shen (申): Pinky and thumb aligned (Jiuwei acupoint to Shenque acupoint).

You (酉): Index and middle fingers of both hands form a triangle near the chest (Qihai acupoint to Guanyuan acupoint).

Xu (戌): Right fist placed in the palm of the left hand (Qugu acupoint to Qimen acupoint and back to Qugu).

Hai (亥): Hands clasped with palms forward and extended downward (Mingmen acupoint to Weilü acupoint).

Each of these seals represented a distinct pathway for spiritual energy to flow. With just a single seal, spiritual energy would automatically move along its designated path. Different seals could be combined, eliminating the need for conscious control during the casting process and significantly enhancing the efficiency of spellcasting.

The room fell into an awed silence. Lin Ran's lecture had completely overturned their previous understanding of magical arts. What had initially seemed like boastful nonsense was now being regarded as groundbreaking innovation.

Feng Qi, too, couldn't help but smile as he watched Lin Ran continue his passionate explanation.

He's really nailing it, Feng Qi thought, amused by the stark contrast between Lin Ran's initial awkwardness and his current confident demeanor. Lin Ran's contribution to magical arts research was undeniable; his Seal Formation Technique would become one of the cornerstones of future spellcasting methodologies.

However, Feng Qi also knew that Lin Ran's legacy had been marred by his decision to shift focus toward cultivation techniques later in life. If Lin Ran had continued along his current path, his achievements in magical arts could have reached unimaginable heights, perhaps even rivaling those of Wang Jinsheng.

And that was why Feng Qi was here—to ensure Lin Ran stayed on this path, steering him away from the misguided pursuit of cultivation research.

"Your dream of creating groundbreaking cultivation techniques? Allow me to snuff it out," Feng Qi thought to himself with a smirk.

The class buzzed with admiration, their earlier skepticism replaced by respect. For Lin Ran, this was a moment of triumph, but for Feng Qi, it was just the first step in a larger plan.