Talking Him into It

Early that morning, Feng Qi woke up.

He summoned the status panel. The energy progress bar had gone from 27% to 27%.

Just as he had expected, he would have to refill the progress bar every time he entered Dreamland from now on.

Not surprised in the slightest, he got out of bed and washed up.

Since he had Cultivation Exchange Class today, he planned to attend class first, then spend the afternoon in the library studying Cultivation Studies.

After leaving the dormitory, he headed straight to the Academy Restaurant.

He looked toward the north side of the restaurant. Mu Qing was still seated in the corner without fail, her cheeks puffed up like a hamster's. She looked adorably bouncy as she chewed.

Judging by appearances alone, Feng Qi could not connect her with the Great Demon King who had plagued an entire era.

"Saving a Great Demon King who has gone astray starts with having meals together!"

After grabbing a tray and sweeping through the buffet area, he carried his food over to Mu Qing and sat down directly across from her.

"Senior, what a coincidence. You're here to eat too."

Mu Qing: ...

Feng Qi grabbed a meat bun and stuffed it into his mouth, then continued in a familiar manner:

"Senior, have you considered my request to learn how to play the harmonica from you?"

Mu Qing raised her head and looked him directly in the eye.

"There are plenty of instructional videos online. You can teach yourself, or hire a music teacher from outside the academy."

"I'm not talented enough to teach myself, and I don't have the money to hire a music teacher."

"Senior, you need money? I have some. Do you need me to lend you any?" Lin Ran appeared beside Feng Qi with a tray in hand and sat down as he spoke.

Feng Qi: ...

He had finally found an excuse to get close to Mu Qing, only for Lin Ran to ruin it.

"Can I borrow it without paying it back?" Feng Qi asked irritably.

"Why wouldn't you pay it back?" Lin Ran asked in astonishment.

"I borrowed it with my own ability. Why should I pay it back?"

Lin Ran was left speechless. He lowered his head sheepishly and took a sip of millet porridge.

The three of them stopped talking and ate in silence, while Feng Qi mulled things over.

During this period of contact, Mu Qing still resisted him. There was simply no way for him to try to understand her, much less change her.

Even so, he still wanted to try again. Unless he had no other choice, he did not want to become an executioner with the blood of his own kind on his hands.

Half an hour later, Feng Qi finished everything on his tray. He then pulled Lin Ran, who had already been waiting beside him, to his feet.

"Senior, we'll be leaving first."

Just as he was about to turn and leave, Mu Qing suddenly looked up at him.

"If you really want to learn, come to the lakeside in front of the dormitory building tonight. I'll teach you."

Feng Qi looked stunned, then nodded with a smile.

"I'll definitely be there on time!"

Mu Qing's sudden change of heart surprised him, but this was a rare opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of her. He did not want to miss it.

After leaving the Academy Restaurant, Lin Ran's expression turned suggestive.

"Senior, things are progressing."

"Progress my ass. Women only slow down my sword-drawing speed. I'm doing this for all humanity."

Lin Ran looked utterly baffled by those words. He clearly could not connect Feng Qi picking up girls with all humanity.

Chatting along the way, the two arrived outside Combat Class One's classroom.

Before entering, Feng Qi suddenly looked up at the sign outside the classroom, and his expression instantly went blank.

"Did they change the class? Why is this Combat Class One now?"

"That's right. Didn't you attend a Body Cultivation Methods class here last time? I was so absorbed listening outside the classroom back then. The worst part was that I received a notice from Old Bai telling me to attend Combat Class One. I never expected it was just to suppress me..."

After hearing Lin Ran's explanation, Feng Qi pieced together a clear timeline in his mind.

"So I went to the wrong class before?"

Thinking back to how the students had asked him to teach as soon as he entered the classroom, as well as the changes in their attitudes, he immediately understood what had happened.

He had taken Lin Ran's place and taught a class.

Then he thought of the students' praise for Lin Ran on the Star City Academy Forum.

Only then did he realize that they had not been praising Lin Ran. They had been praising him.

Come to think of it, that made sense. Future generations had rated Lin Ran's talent for researching spells as S-rank, but his talent for researching Cultivation Methods as "cancerous." How could Lin Ran possibly have any talent for researching Body Cultivation Methods?

"Senior, are you going to Cultivation Exchange Class this time?" Lin Ran asked excitedly.

Lin Ran was deeply interested in Feng Qi's research into Body Cultivation Methods. Now that he had another chance to sit in, he immediately perked up.

Seeing Lin Ran's excited expression, Feng Qi suddenly felt that something was wrong.

According to future generations, this guy was a historical blight and a disaster. Although he had produced many outstanding achievements in spell research, the Cultivation Methods he developed had harmed millions of people.

I have to crush his desire to research Cultivation Methods.

With that thought, Feng Qi turned to Lin Ran with a solemn expression.

"Lin Ran, are you extremely interested in researching Cultivation Methods?"

"Yes. Ever since I was young, I have been exposed to content related to Cultivation Methods with my parents. My ambition is to develop a Cultivation Method that shocks the entire world." Lin Ran spoke with great confidence.

More than shock—it would be a full-on bombardment, Feng Qi complained inwardly.

Thinking of that, he earnestly advised him:

"I think you're still young. There are more important things you should do than research Cultivation Methods."

"What do you mean, Senior?" Lin Ran asked in bewilderment.

"For example, while you're still young, have a passionate romance and experience the beauty of love." He guided him patiently, trying to change Lin Ran's mind.

"No. Women only slow down my sword-drawing speed." Lin Ran shook his head and sighed, imitating Feng Qi's tone.

Feng Qi: ...

As they chatted, he and Lin Ran arrived at Cultivation Exchange Class.

The students in Cultivation Exchange Class came from different classes and gathered together every week to exchange experiences.

The learning atmosphere here was intense. The students sat in small groups, discussing matters related to their studies.

He and Lin Ran found an empty spot and sat down.

But after staying for a while, they got up and left.

Feng Qi left because the exchange class students were discussing material he had not yet encountered, leaving him completely lost. Lin Ran left because he found the material far too basic and was practically dozing off.

They simply spent the afternoon in the library.

While chatting with Feng Qi, Lin Ran learned that he had developed the prototype of a Body Cultivation Method called the Body Tempering Art. He immediately became as excited as a terrier and hurriedly pressed him for the details.

Feng Qi did not hold back. He explained the opening section of the Body Tempering Art to Lin Ran.

When Lin Ran asked how he had come up with this brand-new path of body cultivation,

Feng Qi decisively put on an arrogant expression and said:

"I didn't deliberately think about it. Inspiration just came to me, and I couldn't stop it even if I wanted to. I couldn't even get a good night's sleep. Sigh, I could only get up and write down the inspiration in my head, and while I was at it, I wrote the foundational section of the Body Tempering Art. I'll refine the later parts when the time comes."

Hearing such a showy statement, Lin Ran could not hide the envy in his eyes.

Seeing Lin Ran's expression, Feng Qi knew that he had thoroughly fooled him. Next, he needed to undermine Lin Ran's confidence in developing Cultivation Methods.

To Feng Qi, Lin Ran was now a ticking time bomb on humanity's path of development. He had to be removed.

Otherwise, Lin Ran alone could slow the development of all humanity.

That kind of destructive power was far greater than that of an ordinary domain creature.