I Hijacked the Timeline (IHT)

Watching Lin Ran confidently deliver his lecture, Feng Qi felt as if he was witnessing the rise of a new star. He finally understood why the Tiger Soul Research Institute had pre-admitted Lin Ran.

Looking at humanity's history of development, Lin Ran's talent was undoubtedly among the most exceptional. He had forged a new path, creating the "Seal Formation Technique," one of the most influential schools of magical arts that had far-reaching consequences for future generations.

Unfortunately, he had strayed off course, and his eventual death was riddled with regret and sorrow.

Had Feng Qi not seen Lin Ran's future, he too might have believed that Lin Ran's potential was boundless and that he was destined to be remembered as one of the greats in history.

While Feng Qi was lost in thought, the classroom door suddenly opened. Bai Fusheng stepped in, his face serious and his eyes betraying shock.

Bai Fusheng had read Lin Ran's published papers on magical arts research before. While he had been impressed by Lin Ran's solid understanding of the subject at such a young age, it hadn't been enough to leave him astonished. But the content of Lin Ran's current lecture completely floored him, prompting him to enter unannounced.

Lin Ran noticed Bai Fusheng and immediately stopped speaking, respectfully addressing him: "Professor Bai."

"Continue your lecture. I'm just here to listen," Bai Fusheng said with a nod before scanning the room for a seat.

His gaze quickly landed on Feng Qi, who was seated in the corner. After a moment of surprise, Bai Fusheng decisively walked over and sat next to him.

Lin Ran resumed his lecture, but Feng Qi couldn't help but feel puzzled about Bai Fusheng's presence.

Judging by his appearance, this man clearly wasn't a student. He seemed more like a faculty member. So when Bai Fusheng sat down, Feng Qi greeted him politely: "Good day, Professor."

"You don't seem like a Combat Class One student," Bai Fusheng said, smiling at Feng Qi.

"I'm not."

"Then which class are you from? What's your name? I don't recall seeing you before."

"My name is Feng Qi. I'm a student from Star City First High School, here to observe and learn. I'm not enrolled at Star City Academy," Feng Qi replied humbly.

Bai Fusheng froze for a moment, finally understanding why he had never heard of such an outstanding student before.

"We can't let a talent like this slip through our fingers," Bai Fusheng thought.

Realizing that Feng Qi hadn't graduated yet, Bai Fusheng's enthusiasm grew. He decided to try recruiting him to Star City Academy.

With a warm smile, Bai Fusheng asked, "Have you considered applying to Star City Academy after you graduate?"

Caught off guard, Feng Qi hesitated. His dream was to attend Galaxy Academy; he had never even thought about Star City Academy. But he didn't want to be blunt with Bai Fusheng, especially since he was a professor at the academy.

Noticing Feng Qi's hesitation, Bai Fusheng smiled knowingly and asked, "During your time here, have you noticed any shortcomings in our academy?"

"No, everything is great, especially the food in the cafeteria," Feng Qi said awkwardly, trying to dodge the question.

"Just the food?" Bai Fusheng raised an eyebrow.

"Everything is great," Feng Qi quickly corrected himself, feeling a little flustered.

Bai Fusheng could tell that Feng Qi wasn't particularly interested in Star City Academy, but he wasn't about to give up. He had found a gem and wasn't going to let it slip away.

His expression softened even more, and he continued casually, "You're from Star City First High School? I happen to have a student who works there as a teacher. His name is Wang Jinsheng. Do you know him?"

"Old Wang is your student?" Feng Qi asked, stunned.

"Old Wang? Oh, you mean Wang Jinsheng? Yes, he's my student. You know him?"

"He's my homeroom teacher and history instructor," Feng Qi replied.

Bai Fusheng was momentarily taken aback. "So you're Wang Jinsheng's student. No wonder you've already developed unique insights into cultivation techniques at such a young age. That makes me your teacher's teacher—or your grandteacher, so to speak."

Upon realizing that Feng Qi was Wang Jinsheng's student, Bai Fusheng beamed, feeling that recruiting Feng Qi was now a sure thing.

Thinking about Wang Jinsheng brought back a flood of memories for Bai Fusheng. He couldn't help but sigh. "Back then, I had high hopes for Jinsheng. I watched him grow, and when he was nearing graduation, I personally recommended him to the Tiger Soul Research Institute. He didn't disappoint me either and was successfully admitted. I thought he would soar to great heights, but… sigh, what a pity."

"Professor Bai, could you tell me more about Mr. Wang's past?" Feng Qi asked curiously.

Bai Fusheng's gaze softened as he reminisced, preparing to recount Wang Jinsheng's journey.

Since the information on Wang Jinsheng in the future database was classified, Feng Qi could only access a brief introduction and not the detailed records. This left him curious about Wang Jinsheng's journey.

Hearing Feng Qi's interest, Bai Fusheng nodded, thought for a moment, and then began to recount:

"When Jinsheng first entered Star City Academy, he was anything but remarkable. In fact, he was ridiculed by his classmates for an entire year."

"Why would anyone ridicule Old Wang?" Feng Qi asked eagerly.

"Because during the entrance ceremony, he couldn't hold back his tears while watching the national flag being raised. That moment left a deep impression on me. It's hard to describe Jinsheng's expression at the time. As he stared at the flag, his gaze was filled with unwavering determination, and then tears started streaming down his face. Many of his peers noticed and began pointing fingers, whispering, and even mocking him as a fool."

"For the next year, his classmates often spoke of that incident in a mocking tone, saying he was a peculiar oddball, the most emotional person they'd ever seen."

Hearing this, Feng Qi felt a twinge of discomfort. Bai Fusheng continued:

"Jinsheng was a very unique student, one of those rare individuals whose integrity was so profound it bordered on absurd. He couldn't stand any form of corruption or cheating, even over the smallest matters."

"This, of course, made him a target for some classmates. But no matter how much ridicule or exclusion he faced, he never compromised. He never bowed his head, and he never gave up. If he believed something was right, he would stand by it to the very end."

"That's the Old Wang I know," Feng Qi said with a smile, his face lighting up.

Wang Jinsheng was more than just a teacher to Feng Qi—he was a mentor who had helped shape his worldview. Over six years of schooling, Feng Qi's values had been built under Wang Jinsheng's guidance.

He had always known that Old Wang was someone of immense moral character, but he had no idea he had been so unyielding even in his youth.

"Sometimes I struggle to understand how integrity can be reduced to a punchline," Bai Fusheng said, his voice heavy with emotion. "It wasn't until many years later that I learned Jinsheng's father had been a soldier in the military. He died in combat during an operation to disperse a domain field when Jinsheng was just seven years old. His only memories of his father were of him in his uniform and cap. It was then that I began to understand how he must have felt while staring at that flag."

"Jinsheng taught me that one person's efforts can inspire change in those around them."

"What started as ridicule turned into respect, and eventually admiration. Jinsheng worked tirelessly and steadily to become the brightest star of his class, ultimately earning an early admission to the Tiger Soul Research Institute… but alas, his talent was buried."

At this, Bai Fusheng sighed deeply once more.

"He's simply found another way to keep striving," Feng Qi said.

Seeing the melancholy on Bai Fusheng's face, Feng Qi silently added in his heart:

"It won't be long before he shines brightly once again."