A sharp, piercing pain jolted Feng Qi out of the memory retrieval state.
The moment he opened his bloodshot eyes, crimson tears streaked down his face.
Flashes of memories surged through his mind, accompanied by the overwhelming negative emotions accumulated across countless sacrifice lines. Like a relentless tidal wave, despair, helplessness, sorrow, and fury crashed over him, drowning him in darkness.
It felt like plummeting into an abyss with no end.
His body trembled uncontrollably as suffocating pressure bore down on him.
[A'Qi, time for work!]
A voice suddenly rang in his mind.
It was familiar yet distant, like an emblem long sealed away in his memory.
The moment he heard it, related memories resurfaced in waves.
"Ah Bai?"
[It's me.]
The mischievous voice of the narrator echoed again, dragging Feng Qi out of the abyss of despair.
His blurry vision gradually cleared, as if a black curtain had been lifted before his eyes.
He gasped for breath, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
If not for the narrator's sudden intervention, he was certain that he would have been completely swallowed by those negative emotions, sinking into an unconscious state of madness.
It would have been just like what Tian Shu had described—an irreversible descent into loss of control, where he would no longer be able to dictate his actions.
As his sight fully stabilized, he took in his surroundings.
He was deep within the second underground level of the Crimson Research Institute, a place identical to his memories.
A metal table stood before him, and within a specialized solution, a faintly pulsating brain floated inside.
Regaining his composure, he pressed the self-destruction button on the container and placed it into the central slot.
As the metallic lid automatically sealed shut, Feng Qi leaned against the table, straightening his posture.
The near-loss of control just moments ago was still fresh in his mind.
This only strengthened his resolve to obtain the "Infinite Memory" ability as soon as possible.
If he couldn't purge the negative emotions, every retrieval of past sacrifice line memories would only stack them higher.
It was like a slow-acting poison—sooner or later, he would reach a breaking point where he could no longer endure it.
At that point, the outcome would likely be total loss of control, turning him into either a mindless husk operating on instinct or a demon driven purely by rage.
Taking several deep breaths, he steadied himself and spoke:
"Narrator, the overlapping memories are still affecting me. I can't recall what happened after I entered the future dream. Tell me the situation."
[It doesn't look good. In previous future dream sequences, at least Star City Shelter was still there. But this time, after you entered, the world had changed entirely. Not only is Little Cripple missing, but even Star City Shelter has completely vanished.]
Feng Qi's heart sank.
He already had an idea of the reason.
It was obvious—Star City had been besieged by the various factions and had fallen.
Its complete destruction meant that Star City Shelter had never come into existence in this timeline.
He had originally thought that by taking all the blame himself, the various factions would at least leave a sliver of hope for the people of Star City. But in the end, the domain infiltrators had chosen complete eradication.
"What else?"
[After entering the future dream, you headed east and found Star City's ruins in a far worse state than ever before. Signs of brutal battles were everywhere, and the types of domain monsters that occupied the city had changed as well. This was clearly a result of your alterations to history.]
[It took you even longer than usual to find the Crimson Research Institute's secret base this time. And once inside, you didn't even check the messages left by Wei Wei and the others—you went straight into retrieving sacrifice line memories. You reasoned that, since memory overlap would cause temporary amnesia anyway, it was better to check the messages after processing the sacrifice line's experiences.]
Hearing the narrator's explanation, Feng Qi fully grasped the current situation.
He turned and walked toward the control console, activating it with practiced ease.
As the machinery hummed to life, three large screens lit up before him, displaying familiar menu options.
After a few quick selections, he opened Wei Wei's message archive and began skimming through the crucial information she had left behind.
More than anything, he needed to know whether the classified data from the restricted room contained any information related to Little Black, and he wanted to uncover the specifics of Star City's fall after his death.
1. Back at the Crimson Research Institute again. As usual, I'll be leaving you messages, recording everything I uncover.
6. I did some calculations—you don't have much time left. Recently, I received intelligence from Gu Ke. He told me that you decided to take the blame for everything, hoping that by painting yourself as a sinner, you could clear the names of Star City's people.
Looking back, you really got the worst end of the deal. In every single timeline, you sacrificed yourself time and time again, yet the ending was never perfect...
But I have to admit, your choice was the right one.
This might truly be the only way to shield Star City's citizens from annihilation.
The hidden forces of the domain factions still have to take public opinion into account.
As long as the people of Star City claim that they were deceived by you, many of them can escape punishment.
10. Got some news for you today—you're dead.
But the outcome didn't unfold the way you planned.
The people of Star City blocked the route leading to the execution grounds and refused to allow your body to be put on trial.
Instead, they formed a massive procession and personally escorted you to the Hero's Mausoleum, giving you the highest honors in burial.
Gu Ke took a lot of photos of the event.
(Photo Archive: "Final Farewell")
That night, countless children knelt before your tombstone, holding flowers in their hands.
The light of sky lanterns painted the entire Star City in a sea of red.
The whole city stayed awake, sending their hero to his final rest.
From now on, you will be remembered as Star City's eternal hero, immortalized in history.
Hahaha! Surprised?
Actually, everyone remembers your sacrifices. As someone well-versed in history, you should know how dire the circumstances were when Star City was first built.
The ancestors of Star City's people used their flesh and blood to erect this fortress, with countless warriors sacrificing their lives one after another. This hatred never faded with history—it was passed down through generations, buried deep within their hearts.
Your death ignited the flames of rage within the people of Star City.
You thought that by offering your life, you could exchange it for their future. But did you ever ask if they were willing to accept it?
The unyielding spirit ingrained in Star City's people was never lost.
As one forum user put it: "If we bow our heads to the domain forces and smear our heroes as criminals, we will forever live under their rule. How is that any different from recognizing the enemy as our masters? Our ancestors would never forgive us."
You saw the outcome. They knew full well that refusing to compromise would cost them their future, yet they still chose this path.
Star City's future is grim, but I see its people standing tall with unshakable determination.
As Feng Qi scrolled through the images left behind by Wei Wei, his vision blurred slightly.
He had never expected any reward for his sacrifices.
Even if he was misunderstood, labeled as a historical sinner time and time again, he had already accepted that fate when he embarked on this path to save the world.
But for the first time, he felt a deep sense of belonging.
His relentless efforts and sacrifices had finally been recognized in this timeline.
[Keep pushing forward. One day, when you have completely eradicated the hidden domain forces within human society, all of humanity will stand beside you, fighting alongside you in the great struggle of the multiverse!]
"Ah Bai, since when did you get so good at comforting people?"
[Wanna hear the truth?]
"Say it."
[You're drowning in negative emotions right now. If I start being sarcastic, I'm afraid you'll snap and go insane. If you die, I might have to go down with you!]
Feng Qi: …
Ignoring the narrator's nonsense, he continued browsing through Wei Wei's messages.
What he was most concerned about now was the classified data retrieved from the restricted archives.
Even though it was just a fraction of the total information, there was a chance it contained the key he sought—such as information related to Little Black.
14. Star City has officially entered a full lockdown, and the external allied forces have begun assembling the "Crusade Against Star City" coalition.
Honestly, it's infuriating.
The domain forces are manipulating human armies to fight against their own kind, while they sit comfortably in the background, taking no losses. To them, this is just another game—a test of each faction's bottom line.
19. I've stopped paying attention to outside affairs. From now on, I'll dedicate all my time to researching the classified blueprints.
As for intelligence reports from Gu Ke and the other field teams, I'll check them from time to time and leave you updates.
That said, our field teams rarely go out unless absolutely necessary.
After all, the safety of our secret base takes priority. Even with thorough preparations, every outing carries the risk of exposure.
29. Most of the documents you brought back are written in an unknown script. Even Lin Youshu, an expert in domain linguistics, is unable to decipher their meaning.
Decoding the text requires extensive cross-referencing, but the problem is that the Crimson Research Institute's database is completely cut off from external networks.
Without access to the databases of the Five Great Cities, especially Old Day City's archives, which contain vast amounts of domain-related knowledge, we have no way to cross-check references.
39. We tried multiple decryption methods, but all have failed.
For now, we've decided to set aside the documents written in the unknown script and focus on analyzing the readable files first.
43. Among the documents you brought back, we found fragmented blueprints related to psionic weaponry.
Even though they're incomplete, they are far more advanced than the psionic weapon data you originally obtained from Li Xingchen.
This information will greatly assist us in refining the design and manufacturing of psionic weapons.
If you ever restart the war timeline, Star City's soldiers might finally be equipped with true psionic weaponry.
Exciting, right? We're finally upgrading from slingshots to artillery, hahaha!
59. (Important Content)
We've just deciphered an extremely intriguing document—it details an experimental project on memory extraction.
The full explanation is highly complex, so here's a brief summary:
If this memory extraction technology is successfully developed, it will function like a film reel, allowing us to extract specific memory segments and duplicate them onto new "reels."
Anyone could then watch these memory reels and experience the events firsthand, much like viewing a fully immersive movie.
If we can perfect this technology, it could potentially counteract the negative effects of the Brain-in-a-Vat memory retrieval process.
However, there's a major drawback.
Because the memories are viewed from a third-person perspective, the sense of immersion is weaker. Moreover, it cannot capture the thoughts, emotions, or internal decision-making process of the original experiencer.
All things considered, this technology has both strengths and weaknesses.
While it cannot replace the Brain-in-a-Vat system, it could still serve a crucial role in certain scenarios.
63. The Memory Extraction Project is progressing rapidly.
The contents of the recovered documents are relatively complete, but we lack the spiritual resources needed to fully implement the technology.
Looks like we'll have to send out a field team to scavenge for resources and scout the situation outside.
89. The field team returned today with an updated intelligence report on the current state of Star City.
The situation was looking grim. The coalition army formed to crusade against Star City was coming together far too smoothly, and its scale was still expanding.
Especially the remaining city defense forces of Future City, who were now fully prepared for revenge. (sigh.jpg)
At this point, war was unavoidable.
But this wouldn't be a short, decisive battle like when you led the Dawn Army to conquer Future City in record time.
This time, it would be a prolonged war.
Real war wasn't just about combat—it involved supply lines, casualty management, rescue operations, and many other factors.
Charging straight into battle without concern for casualties, like you did in Future City, wasn't going to happen this time.
Star City's future was becoming increasingly uncertain.
129. One of the documents describes a place called "Infinite Laboratory."
It seems to be a facility used by the Psionic Race to contain and study special life forms.
You might want to prioritize investigating this location in a future sacrifice timeline.
145. The coalition army gathering to attack Star City has established Future City as their staging ground.
They'll be following the same route you carved out when you attacked Future City—only this time, they'll be marching toward Star City.
...
I'm not paying attention to the war's progression anymore.
Experiments come first. Thinking too much about this distracts me and kills my appetite.
172. I haven't left my private lab for days.
The first thing I heard when I stepped out was good news—the Biochemical Division made a breakthrough in one of the documents.
They successfully cultivated a prototype of the "Biochemical Armor" described in the files.
Our Biochemical Division has given it a new name: "Living Combat Armor."
The Living Combat Armor has biological properties—it can absorb energy to repair damage.
Once worn, it feels seamlessly fused with the user, like a second skin, providing an unparalleled level of synergy.
Not only that, but it also has a self-healing function, capable of assisting in wound recovery.
However, developing this armor requires immense resources.
Right now, the Biochemical Lab has only managed to produce a single set, which they treat like their precious child, feeding it spiritual materials daily to keep it from dying.
Even though the experiment was a success, we're far from achieving the results described in the documents.
But the Biochemical Division has already decided to halt research on Living Combat Armor, keeping only their current level of knowledge.
The reason is simple:
The secret base is cut off from the world, and its closed ecosystem produces very limited resources.
With high production costs and no ability to mass-produce, this technology is impractical for now.
From your perspective, the best course of action would be to put it on hold and revisit it in the future.
Feng Qi was no stranger to Living Combat Armor.
In one of his sacrifice timelines, when he infiltrated the Institute of Technological Research, he had participated in the research of similar bio-armor technology.
Even back then, he recognized its immense growth potential.
A properly cultivated Living Combat Armor wasn't just equipment—it was alive.
By feeding it different types of spiritual materials, it could grow and develop unique abilities:
If it absorbed Black Gold Iron, its defensive capabilities would skyrocket.
If it consumed Evilshade Flowers, its spiritual energy storage would be enhanced.
But, as Wei Wei's message pointed out, the cost of raising a Living Combat Armor was astronomical.
It was a single-unit combat enhancement, meaning mass production was impossible, and maintenance was an ongoing drain on resources.
Feng Qi hadn't expected that the documents he retrieved contained key data related to Living Combat Armor.
Although this technology had flaws, its future potential was undeniable.
If the Crimson Research Institute continued refining it over multiple 1,500-year research cycles, the breakthroughs could be game-changing.
Feng Qi kept scrolling through the rest of Wei Wei's messages.
204. Lü Yue's team has reported back—the coalition army from Future City has begun its march.
War is about to begin.
After receiving this report, the Crimson Research Institute held a top-level emergency meeting to discuss our next course of action.
One decision was unanimous:
Once the war has been raging for a while, we will seal off the entrance to the secret base.
Only Gu Ke's special operations team will remain outside to continue gathering intelligence.
By that point, the outside world will become completely chaotic and unpredictable.
Venturing out would mean exposing the secret base, which is an unacceptable risk.
Before the lockdown, we'll conduct a massive resource procurement operation, stocking up everything we need to sustain ourselves for the long haul.
Just thinking about spending another few hundred years in isolation, grinding away at research…
My soul hurts. This kind of pain lasts for centuries. (cries internally)
248. The war has officially begun.
The first wave of test skirmishes has already started.
Mu Qing joined the battlefield.
As expected, the result was one-sided slaughter.
She crushed them.
My girl is unstoppable! (proud mother stance.jpg)
283. The war has been raging for a full month.
Just as I expected, the coalition army is digging in for a prolonged siege.
They've completely blocked off all routes in and out of Star City.
Now, the skies above Star City are swarming with reconnaissance drones.
For safety reasons, we've decided to initiate full lockdown of the Crimson Secret Base starting tomorrow.
234. We recently conducted a thorough inventory of the classified data retrieved from the restricted archives.
You managed to bring back 76 documents.
Out of those, we could only decipher 23 of them.
Of the 23 decipherable documents:
18 were incomplete, with some consisting of only index pages.
Only 7 had actual research value.
After deliberation, we compiled an evaluation report ranking the most valuable documents.
The unanimous top-ranked document was related to "Memory Engineering Technology."
This technology reminds me of something you personally experienced during your infiltration of the Institute of Technological Research—the dreaded "Veritas Apparatus."
The second most valuable piece of research was Living Combat Armor.
Apart from its high cultivation cost, this unique form of equipment had no major weaknesses.
The third most valuable discovery was a piece of spatial technology.
This research was incomplete, and the document you recovered only contained a conceptual summary.
The concept described the creation of a special device capable of transmitting across vast spatial distances.
Even though the document was highly fragmented, it provided valuable inspiration.
We've already begun researching spatial technology.
If this research succeeds, just imagine the results.
For instance, in the same war timeline, with just a few breaths' time, the entire Dawn Army could be instantly transported to Future City... (You can fill in the rest yourself, I'm too lazy to keep describing it.)
As for the remaining technical documents, they weren't particularly valuable.
Thinking about the 53 undeciphered files, I can't help but feel restless.
But it's frustrating—I can't even understand the language they're written in.
372. A piece of advice for you:
In the next timeline, you might want to focus on strengthening yourself while also studying domain sciences.
The most specialized institution for domain science is Old Day Academy.
If you make significant progress in this field, you might even have the opportunity to join the Old Day Research Institute and make contact with the Psionic Race.
But ultimately, the choice is yours—it all depends on how you plan your future path.
687. After two years of war, the conflict has finally ended.
Star City paid a devastating price, and in the end, there was no miracle.
We suffered total defeat.
Throughout this battle, domain forces were constantly interfering.
Especially when they realized Mu Qing's existence could drastically change the tide of battle, the domain factions quickly joined the war, with their primary target being Mu Qing.
In the end, one person's strength is still limited.
No matter how strong Mu Qing was, she couldn't escape being surrounded and gradually forced into a disadvantage.
In the final battle, she fought at Star City's northern gate, sustaining severe injuries.
And once again, she fell victim to the corruption of a curse.
But this time, her Scarlet Rune Crystal shattered, and she could no longer neutralize the curse's effects.
As the countdown ticked down, she walked toward the end of her life.
When Gu Ke sent me the fragments of Mu Qing's Scarlet Rune Crystal, my rage surged uncontrollably.
Little Mu Qing was always stubborn—maybe even rebellious—but she was still the child I raised with my own hands.
Sigh… If I keep talking about this, I'm going to break down in tears.
693. Breaking news—Future City has been completely destroyed.
And it was most likely the work of Little Black.
Back when the siege of Future City ended, Little Black disappeared for a while.
At the time, I even thought he had been taken away by the Psionic Race.
But based on the destruction of Future City, it seems Little Black had been hiding inside the city all along, waiting for the right moment to strike.
After comparing it with the records you left, I noticed something strange.
Every time Little Black becomes fully activated, it happens at fixed points in history—as if he were a time bomb waiting to detonate at a specific moment.
When you led the war against the Institute of Technological Research, it seems you caused Little Black's activation ahead of schedule.
But ultimately, he fell dormant again—until now.
Recently, he awakened again, repeating history by destroying Future City.
As for where Little Black went after that, we don't have enough intel to say for sure.
But one thing is certain—our secret base is safe.
Little Black seems fixated on the main timeline version of you.
At least in every sacrifice timeline, your brain has always been preserved.
783. Star City is now a complete ruin.
All of the city's resources have been plundered, leaving behind nothing but a wasteland of collapsed structures.
The war casualties among Star City's citizens were devastating.
I already knew the outcome would be this tragic, but even so…
Looking at the images Gu Ke brought back, I couldn't stop shaking inside.
After the war, not all of Star City's people were executed.
But for those who survived, it was no better than death.
With no food, no resources, they were forced to become scavengers, wandering with no place to call home.
With no city defenses to protect them, their struggle for survival in the outside world would be brutal.
1232. I left you a special gift in my private lab.
Don't forget to check it out.
This was something I, along with the entire Crimson Research Institute team, scraped together for you!
When Feng Qi reached the final page of the message log, countless questions filled his mind.
"Ah Bai, you've seen the memories of this war timeline too. Do you think Little Black's target is actually you?"
[Not sure. I don't even know who I am. How am I supposed to answer that?]
Feng Qi: …
"If what Mo said is true—if humans are merely vessels for sealing supreme beings, then does that mean I'm your vessel?"
[Before I heard Mo's explanation, I always assumed I was just a system…A supreme being? I have no corresponding memories of that.I have no idea why I ended up inside you.]
Hearing Bai's response was like listening to a riddle with no answer.
With too little information, neither Feng Qi nor Bai could draw any useful conclusions from the current intel.
"By the way, where is Little Black now?"
[I haven't detected any traces of his presence yet, but he's probably already on his way. You'd better focus on getting stronger as soon as possible.]
Hearing Bai's warning, Feng Qi nodded without hesitation.
After pressing the shutdown button on the control console, he turned around and started heading toward Wei Wei's private lab.
In her message log, Wei Wei mentioned that she left him a surprise in her private lab.
As for what kind of surprise it was, Feng Qi had a few guesses.
But it was most likely related to a cultivated domain creature.
If he could kill it, there was a chance to obtain a unique ability.
Feng Qi didn't dwell too much on the matter—once he saw it for himself, he would know the answer. After walking through the underground second-level laboratory for a while, he arrived at Wei Wei's private lab. Pushing open the door, the sensor lights flickered a few times before turning on.
The sight before him was that of a dust-covered laboratory, filled with scientific instruments that had long rusted. The air was thick with a mix of metallic rust and chemical smells. Though the lab wasn't particularly large, it was fully equipped. On the left side was an experiment workstation, and behind it, a small freezer unit built into the wall for resource storage. To the right, various data analysis devices were stacked together, and in the corner, there was a control console connected to the secret base's database.
Years of neglect had left a layer of dust on the floor, but traces of Wei Wei's past work could still be seen. By the workbench, a trash bin still contained empty glass vials and used rubber gloves. Scanning the lab, Feng Qi's gaze landed on a metal box sitting in the northern corner. Unlike the other scientific equipment, which had all powered down, this metal box still had a blinking green light, indicating that it was still running.
Stepping closer, Feng Qi crouched down to inspect the metal container. Behind it, he noticed a metallic tube extending from the box, connecting it to the ceiling's energy supply conduit. Reaching out to touch it, he was surprised to find that the metal wasn't ordinary—it was one of the mysterious alloys provided by Tian Shu.
"Ah Bai, do you know anything about this metal?"
[You've asked the right system for once! This is a very special metal, commonly known as 'Old Iron'. If you tap on it lightly, it'll even say '666'.]
Feng Qi: …
Ignoring the nonsense from the narrator, his gaze traveled across the metal surface, searching for an opening mechanism. After a quick scan, he noticed a small indentation on the top of the metal box—a groove meant for a blood sample. Without hesitation, he bit his finger and let a drop of blood fall into the groove.
The blood seeped into the metal, and the indicator lights began flashing in different patterns, seemingly conducting an identity verification. A few minutes later, a sharp metallic click echoed, followed by the grinding of gears. The metal box slowly opened, releasing a cold, white mist that spilled into the air.
As the fog dispersed, Feng Qi's eyes widened in shock—Inside the container, curled up and motionless, was Suction Cup. She was in a deep sleep, her arms wrapped around her knees, her body slightly trembling. But unlike the Suction Cup he had encountered in past dream realms, this time, her Scarlet Rune Crystal was not dull and lifeless.
Although cracked, it still emitted a glowing red light. As the container opened, the Scarlet Rune Crystal activated, releasing a flowing jade-colored energy that enveloped Suction Cup's body. The soft tubes connected to her body detached, one by one. The frost on her delicate face melted away, revealing her smooth and lively skin.
Her eyelashes trembled, signaling that she was about to wake up. There was no doubt about it—this was the 'surprise' Wei Wei had mentioned in her messages. In the normal timeline, Suction Cup would have lost consciousness during the war against the Silver Moon Clan's invasion. But in this war timeline, the Silver Moon Clan had already been defeated early by Tian Shu, preventing the destruction of Star City.
The later battles, including the final defense of Star City, had nothing to do with Suction Cup. After all, Mu Qing was still alive, and Suction Cup had yet to even be created. Because of this, there was a high probability that in this dream realm, Suction Cup had a fully aware consciousness—Not the mindless, instinct-driven version he remembered.
As he waited, Suction Cup's eyes slowly opened. Her pupils were no longer the dull silver of her past self. Instead, they were crimson-red, glowing like a beast's eyes in the dark. Her gaze, still filled with confusion, wandered around the lab before settling on Feng Qi.
"Ah Qi..." she murmured softly. Then, her high-pitched voice suddenly exploded with excitement—"Ah Qi!"
Before Feng Qi could react, Suction Cup leaped into his arms, her scarlet eyes flickering wildly with excitement. Seeing her like this, a smile appeared on Feng Qi's face. He reached out and ruffled her hair gently.
"Ah Qi! Ah Qi! Ah Qi!"
Suddenly, Suction Cup jumped down from his arms. Like an untamed wild horse, she dropped onto all fours and began sprinting around the lab at full speed. Along the way, she crashed into multiple scientific instruments, sending metallic parts flying everywhere.
"Hee-hup! Hee-hup!"
After running several laps around the private lab, Suction Cup skidded to a stop right in front of him. Then, without warning—She leaped straight at him again.
"Ah Qi!"
Feng Qi reacted instantly, catching Suction Cup mid-air. As her small head nuzzled into his chest, he gently pinched her soft cheeks, feeling a wave of relief in his heart. Compared to the Suction Cup he remembered, this one was full of energy and life.
In all his past dream realm experiences, he had always seen Suction Cup wandering alone in the ruins, lost and isolated. That kind of loneliness and confusion had always pained him to witness. But in this dream, for the first time, he had finally met a Suction Cup with full consciousness.
[Little bro, I hate to interrupt your touching reunion, but let's be real here…It's great that Suction Cup has a mind of her own now—it'll definitely help you kill monsters faster and boost your strength…But tell me, do you really have the heart to just hit her with a 'next time, for sure'?]
Feng Qi: …