Someone Has to Step Forward

"I admit luck played a part, but I was the one who improved the Cultivation Gymnastics." Feng Qi looked at Wang Jinsheng and spoke with a serious expression.

Hearing this, Wang Jinsheng fell into deep thought.

Wang Jinsheng had thoroughly investigated Feng Qi's family background. He knew Feng Qi's parents had once been members of a Domain Battle Squad, but had gone missing during an operation to disperse a Domain Field. Since then, Feng Qi had always been alone and boarded at the school.

The school was under closed management, so it was impossible for Feng Qi to have contact with people outside.

As for within the school, Wang Jinsheng truly did not believe anyone possessed the ability to improve the Cultivation Gymnastics after it had been revised so many times by their predecessors.

Feng Qi claimed that he had improved the Cultivation Gymnastics through random experimentation. Other than that explanation, there seemed to be no better answer.

Thinking of Feng Qi's discomfort that morning, Wang Jinsheng formed a guess.

"Was your discomfort this morning related to your random alterations to the Cultivation Gymnastics?"

"I don't know. I can't rule it out, but I'm not sure either."

Before he uncovered the secret of the mysterious dream, Feng Qi had no intention of exposing it, so he chose to give an answer against his conscience.

"Don't ever experiment recklessly again. The pathways of Cultivation Methods are connected to the acupoints within the body, and there are many fatal acupoints in the human body. One wrong move could leave you completely paralyzed and turn you into a cripple. Wait until you've learned more about improving cultivation methods before trying again!" Wang Jinsheng patted Feng Qi's shoulder with concern, then his expression turned solemn.

"Feng Qi, I have a request now, and I hope you'll agree to it!"

"Go ahead. I might not agree." Though he said that, he had already guessed what History Teacher Wang wanted to discuss.

"I want to send your revised Cultivation Gymnastics to the Tiger Soul Research Institute and have them test it. If the results prove viable, it will be promoted worldwide. You'll receive a reward as well, and it will greatly benefit your future."

"No problem!" Feng Qi agreed without hesitation.

Feng Qi's response brought a smile to Wang Jinsheng's face.

"You brat, just as expected of a student I taught. You haven't let me down."

"Of course. You always tell us that personal selfishness can't compare to humanity's future. I came to see you this time precisely to promote the Cultivation Gymnastics I improved."

"You're teachable!"

"No, it's because the teacher taught well!"

After exchanging compliments, Feng Qi suddenly spoke.

"By the way, Old Wang, do you want me to demonstrate it a few more times?"

"Alright. Let me take another look and see what else is different."

Taking two steps back and standing still, Feng Qi began performing the Cultivation Gymnastics again. From time to time, he paused at key points so Wang Jinsheng could see more clearly.

He had carefully watched the instructional videos in the Database several times. As he demonstrated, he continuously explained the key points of each movement, deepening Wang Jinsheng's understanding of the future version of the Cultivation Gymnastics.

After watching Feng Qi's demonstration, Wang Jinsheng quickly grasped the essentials. He followed Feng Qi's movements and was already performing them quite convincingly.

By the time Feng Qi performed it for the third time, Wang Jinsheng had completely mastered it, including the rhythm of breathing during cultivation.

After stopping, Feng Qi looked at the still-pensive Wang Jinsheng and asked.

"Old Wang, have you ever thought about quitting teaching?"

Wang Jinsheng, who had been thinking, looked puzzled upon hearing that. Then he shook his head.

"I have. I gave up on the idea."

"Why? Everyone in the school knows that with your graduation results, you could have gone somewhere better. Staying here is a complete waste of your talent. Some even say you chose to live an easy life as a teacher here because you were afraid of fighting Domain Creatures, that you're a coward."

Feng Qi knew very well whether Wang Jinsheng was a coward. But he wanted to know why Wang Jinsheng had given up the opportunity to work at the Tiger Soul Research Institute after graduating from the academy and chosen to remain here as a teacher.

Hearing this, Wang Jinsheng could not help but laugh and curse.

"Why are you meddling in so much? Go back and study. If you're feeling unwell, get to bed early."

"Can you tell me?" Feng Qi pressed on.

Hearing this, Wang Jinsheng pondered for a long while. Then he picked up the bottle from the ground and took a swig.

"It won't hurt to tell you."

"Originally, I never planned to become a teacher. After graduating, I intended either to join a Domain Battle Group or enter the Technique Research Institute, to correct flaws in existing methods, improve them, or research new Cultivation Methods. But an accident changed my mind."

Looking at Feng Qi's curious face, Wang Jinsheng took another drink and continued.

"Before graduation, there was a Domain combat training exercise. After entering the Domain Field, my companions and I were attacked by Domain Creatures. We fought desperately and eventually forced a path to survival, but three of our companions died as well."

"Was that related to why you didn't want to work at the Tiger Soul Research Institute?" Feng Qi asked with confusion.

"During that practical test, I saw the cowardice and fear several companions had buried deep in their hearts. When facing Domain Creatures, they had strength but no courage to fight back. They nearly dragged down the other team members. From that moment, I understood something: physical weakness can be cured, but weakness of spirit has no remedy."

"After the mission ended, I thought about it for a long time and ultimately made a decision. I gave up the opportunity to work at the Tiger Soul Research Institute and became a history teacher, hoping to solve this problem at its root."

Hearing those words, Feng Qi understood what Wang Jinsheng had truly been thinking.

Many people secretly said that History Teacher Wang had given up because he was cowardly. But Feng Qi felt that Old Wang had given up that precious opportunity for humanity's future.

During class, Wang Jinsheng was incomparably serious. He always firmly told them that humanity would surely win in the future.

He often told them about the history of humanity's struggle against Domain Creatures, introducing the great figures who had made enormous contributions to humanity or died heroic deaths, hoping they would take them as examples.

He also frequently published articles on the forums of various academies to encourage those weak in spirit, hoping they would understand that only through unceasing self-improvement and resistance to the end could humanity have a future.

Wang Jinsheng appeared carefree and easygoing, but he had actually placed immense pressure on himself. He longed to awaken all humanity spiritually, and more than anyone else, he longed for humanity to achieve its final victory.

Looking at Wang Jinsheng's bleary drunken eyes, Feng Qi was silent for a long time before speaking.

"A teacher's influence is ultimately limited. You can change only some people, not everyone. I think you shouldn't stay here. You should go to the Tiger Soul Research Institute and give it a try. Maybe you'll develop a cultivation method suited for all humanity. If you succeed, you'll benefit all mankind."

After consulting the Database of the future, he knew that Wang Jinsheng would ultimately give up teaching and return to the Tiger Soul Research Institute, beginning a brilliant life. He would develop a series of Cultivation Methods better suited for humans, make indelible historical contributions to humanity's rise, and even be named a historical figure.

At this moment, Feng Qi wanted to change history. He wanted Wang Jinsheng to realize it sooner and return to the path he was meant to take, rather than wasting his talent here.

"Developing cultivation methods isn't nearly as simple as you think. Maybe even if I worked for my entire life, I still might not develop a single Cultivation Method. I'm not as impressive as you think." Wang Jinsheng shook his head and sighed. As he spoke, he took a bottle from a cardboard box beside him, bit off the cap with his teeth, and took a large gulp.

"Someone has to step forward. How do you know you can't do it if you don't try? If you truly hope humanity can achieve final victory, then you should take the hardest path. Just like how I improved the Cultivation Gymnastics—if humanity had more cultivation methods like this, would we still fear Domain Creatures?"

Feng Qi's words stunned Wang Jinsheng.

Just as Feng Qi had said, he was only one person. His influence was extremely limited if he tried to awaken the cowardly through teaching.

But if he could develop exceptionally complete Cultivation Methods, the situation would be entirely different. Those methods would inevitably be promoted and affect all humanity.

If there were more refined methods that allowed humans to gain strength greater than Domain Creatures through cultivation, there would be no need to fear the invasion of the Domains.

"Old Wang, I'm leaving first. We can talk again sometime." With that, Feng Qi turned and left.

Feng Qi did not know whether he could change the future, but he wanted to try.

Someone had to step forward. Those words were not only for Wang Jinsheng, but also for himself.

He did not know what the future would bring, but as long as he had tried, he would have no regrets.

Watching Feng Qi's departing figure, Wang Jinsheng's mind was in complete turmoil.

After hearing Feng Qi's words, he found an impulse rising within his heart. It was as though a seed had taken root deep within him and was growing uncontrollably.

The road of developing cultivation methods was fraught with difficulties, but someone had to step forward. Why couldn't that person be me?

"You brat, you actually made me waver." As he muttered, a trace of fighting spirit ignited in Wang Jinsheng's eyes.

At that moment, Butterfly's Wings fluttered silently, changing the course of reality.

At some point, the dark clouds in the sky dispersed.

Wang Jinsheng looked up. A bright moon hung overhead, and the stars glittered brilliantly.