I Hijacked the Timeline (IHT)

Staring at the evaluation on the screen, Feng Qi found himself overwhelmed with disbelief.

Although his ultimate fate of dying young hadn't changed, the future itself had clearly shifted.

The evaluation now included a new achievement: "Modifier of the 2.0 Version of the Cultivation Techniques." This was clearly linked to the 272nd set of Cultivation Techniques he had brought back from the dream world.

Realizing that changes in reality could influence the future, Feng Qi immediately clicked on the Techniques List, eager to see whether the future version of the Cultivation Techniques had also changed.

When the cultivation techniques loaded on the screen, the names that appeared caught him completely off guard:

[Cultivation Techniques: Version 3.37]

Creator: Unknown

Technique Rating: Two Stars

Technique Description:

An entry-level cultivation technique first developed during the early years of the Great World Transformation. Over the years, it has undergone 238 revisions, boasting benefits such as strengthening the body, toughening bones, and nourishing physical vitality.

Practice Notes:

Suitable for all ages, though the spiritual energy gained is of low purity. Effective for young practitioners laying a foundation.

"Holy crap!"

A stunned exclamation escaped Feng Qi's lips. His hypothesis had been confirmed:

The introduction of the 272nd set of Cultivation Techniques into modern society had allowed humanity to skip centuries of outdated versions. Now, after over 1,500 years of continued optimization, it had evolved into Version 3.37!

"If the future can influence the present, then the present can influence the future. Doesn't that mean I can exploit a loop?"

A glimmer of excitement appeared in his eyes as he began to lay out his thoughts:

"I bring the 3.37 Version back from the future and introduce it into the present. This will improve the starting point for humanity's development, accelerating the evolution of cultivation techniques. When the future shifts to a Version 5.0, I'll bring that back to the present. Then, the cycle continues, improving to Version 8.0...

"If I keep cycling this process, I can eventually refine a simple foundational technique into a god-tier cultivation manual!"

His imagination raced, his excitement mounting. This, he thought, might be the key to saving humanity's future.

Just as he was reveling in his plan, the narrator's voice broke in with perfect timing:

[Your plan sounds fantastic, but reality has a habit of being just a little… cruel.]

"What do you mean by that?" Feng Qi questioned immediately.

The narrator, however, provided no reply. Instead, it disappeared, leaving him with a faint sense of unease.

Feng Qi was already used to the narrator's erratic behavior. Since no explanation was forthcoming, he stopped pursuing it further.

However, the realization that reality could alter the future—and vice versa—left him both thrilled and contemplative.

If his actions could truly change the future, why had the catastrophic downfall of humanity not been reversed? If humanity's fate had shifted, the Star City of the future should have been a thriving metropolis, not a barren wasteland filled with bones and ruins.

A chilling thought crept into his mind:

What if his "butterfly effect" had unintentionally disrupted the accomplishments of those historical greats?

What if his influence caused people like Wang Jinsheng, known as History's Great Man, to lead an ordinary life instead of achieving greatness?

Driven by this fear, Feng Qi wasted no time. He accessed the database once more, typing in the name Wang Jinsheng. Filtering the results, a familiar name surfaced, accompanied by a summary of achievements.

[Wang Jinsheng (Historical Luminary)]

Age at Death: 165

Cause of Death: Insufficient Permissions to View

Historical Achievements: Insufficient Permissions to View.

Evaluation:

At the age of 39, inspired by a profound exchange with his prized student, Feng Qi, who successfully modified and developed the 2.0 Version of the Cultivation Techniques, Wang Jinsheng experienced a transformative realization. He understood that developing cultivation techniques could advance humanity far more effectively than teaching. With this newfound conviction, he resigned from his teaching position and applied to Star City Academy. After graduating with excellent grades, he was once again invited to join Tiger Soul Research Institute. His groundbreaking research pushed the progress of human civilization forward, leaving behind a legacy of immeasurable contribution that benefited countless generations.

Seeing Wang Jinsheng's name marked with the honorific "Historical Luminary," Feng Qi let out a long breath of relief.

Previously, in the Star City Database, the description of Wang Jinsheng had been that he felt teaching alone was insufficient to change humanity's fate and later decided to apply to Future Academy on his own initiative.

This time, however, the narrative had shifted: it was Feng Qi's words that had inspired Wang Jinsheng to make the leap years earlier than originally planned. Consequently, he successfully joined Tiger Soul Research Institute ahead of schedule.

Although the trajectory of Wang Jinsheng's life had been slightly altered due to Feng Qi's influence, the monumental contributions he made to humanity remained unchanged.

Feng Qi's heart swelled with a mix of emotions. It seemed he had stumbled upon a new path to altering the future:

Seek out key historical figures and guide them to reshape history.

However, he decided to set this grand idea aside for the moment and focus on the task at hand: plundering more cultivation techniques.

Feng Qi believed that only by amassing an arsenal of excellent cultivation methods could the next iteration of his dream alter humanity's destiny. Maybe, just maybe, when he returned to the dream world, what awaited him would no longer be fields of desolate bones but a bustling modern city.

A world where people lived in peace and prosperity.

Lost in these thoughts, Feng Qi opened the Cultivation Techniques List.

This time, he selected a three-star-rated body refinement technique called "Tiger Fist."

As the instructional video played, Feng Qi mimicked the movements of the instructor, twisting his body and adjusting his breathing rhythm according to the technique's core principles.

He repeated the routine over and over, losing track of time in the process. Gradually, Feng Qi began to grasp the foundational elements of Tiger Fist.

But just as he was feeling a sense of accomplishment, the narrator's voice echoed ominously in his mind:

[Turn around, Little Black is here. You're going to die again.]

At the warning, Feng Qi immediately spun around, spotting the familiar figure cloaked in black mist drifting through the metal corridor.

Realizing he was on the verge of another brutal demise, Feng Qi clenched his jaw and stomped his foot in defiance. With unyielding determination, he charged straight toward the shadowy figure, roaring:

"Fine, let's end this! Take my Tiger Fist!"