Chapter 111: The Undercover Mission Begins - The Secrets of Crimson

The blood moon loomed high in the sky, and an eerie wind howled through the desolate expanse. Stacks of bones stretched endlessly, as if this place was ripped straight out of a macabre tale of eternal torment. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the sporadic, guttural roars of the living dead, amplifying the oppressive atmosphere.

Feng Qi, accustomed to the grisly scene before him, stomped on the skull of a decaying corpse beneath his boot and strode toward the control panel of Star City's underground shelter. Dust-covered screens flickered to life as he activated the console.

Entering his name into the search field, he found his personal information displayed on the screen.

[Feng Qi (A-Rank Scientist, S-Rank Human Elite)]

Year of Death: 29 years old

Cause of Death: Radiation exposure from a rune crystal during experimental research. The energy overflow caused rapid physical decay, leading to organ failure. Attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful.

Date of Death: August 15, 2034.

Lifetime Honors:

S-Rank Excellent Graduate of Star City Academy

S-Rank Human Elite Medal Recipient

Outstanding Contribution to Human Development Award Winner

A-Rank Researcher at Crimson Research Institute

Notable Research Contributions:

Developer of Tiger Fist and Body Tempering Technique

Creator of Heaven and Earth Meditation and Soul Reaper

Originator of the "Cultivating Deities in the Body" Concept

Participant in version 3.76 updates of cultivation systems

Innovator of the Limb Regeneration Technique in the biosciences sector

Evaluation:

Feng Qi's life was a testament to extraordinary talent. Early in his career, he achieved breakthroughs in the field of cultivation, becoming a leading figure in reshaping humanity's cultivation systems. His contributions sparked widespread acclaim, with humanity pinning its hopes for a brighter future on him.

Yet, at the height of his career, he unexpectedly accepted an offer from the Crimson Research Institute, pivoting to the field of biosciences. This controversial decision was initially met with regret by his peers. However, Feng Qi's subsequent accomplishments, particularly his revolutionary Limb Regeneration Technique, cemented his legacy.

Sadly, his untimely death in a laboratory accident cut short what was undoubtedly a legendary journey. Today, his statue stands at Star City Academy and in the Hall of Human Heroes, a symbol of his lasting influence on history.

Public Commentary:

MilkTeaLover: (Flower emoji) "Thank you for everything you've done for humanity, Feng Qi. How I wish I could have lived in your era to witness your brilliance. Now, I can only learn about you through your statue and memoirs."

NotFriedKitty: (Flower emoji) "I'll never forget the day in history class when our teacher talked about you, saying your genius could have rewritten the course of humanity had you lived longer. Your loss is deeply felt."

MarathonRunner: "Some think Feng Qi's achievements have been exaggerated, but they're clearly wrong. Can you believe he developed six cultivation techniques by age 17? He was a legend! The only thing I don't understand is why he joined the Crimson Research Institute. He accomplished much there, but it still feels like he was wasted."

Feng Qi skimmed the details of his life and the attached comments. A faint smile appeared on his face. At last, he had achieved recognition in the eyes of the world.

[But you still ended up dying young. Not only that, but your lifespan was even shorter in this timeline. If only lifespans could be recharged like phone batteries—I'd sell everything just to give you an extra hundred years, my dear Feng Qi.]

Feng Qi: …

Though he had anticipated his early death, the thought of being "taken out" by experimental research struck him as unconvincing. To uncover the truth, he exited the personal bio section and navigated to his future email inbox.

Unlike his previous venture into the future, the emails remained intact this time. Starting from the first message, he began reviewing the notes left by his future self:

"Today I officially became a researcher at the Crimson Research Institute. I'm assigned to the Gene Research Division. Saying goodbye to Shi-gong, Lin Ran, Mu Qing, and my students was harder than I expected."

"I keep getting advice to abandon my decision to join Crimson. But I've made up my mind—I'll follow my instincts. Only by walking this path myself will I know if it's right."

"First day at work! My immediate supervisor is Wei Wei. For now, I'm just assisting her with projects. All those biology texts I crammed over the past two years will finally come in handy."

"Started working on the Rune-Enhanced Humans project today. I didn't ask too many questions. Since I'm still getting to know Wei Wei, probing into sensitive topics doesn't seem wise. On the bright side, I'm brainstorming a solution to humanity's hair-loss crisis. Ha!"

"I finally asked Wei Wei about Mu Qing's involvement in the Rune-Enhanced Humans project. She said Mu Qing joined voluntarily but seemed quite resistant to her at first. Apparently, Mu Qing even lived at the institute for a while, which gave Wei Wei ample opportunities to tease her… No wonder Mu Qing harbors such strong animosity towards her now."

"It's been over a year since I started working with Wei Wei. Surprisingly, she hasn't displayed any overt hostility toward humanity. If anything, her research seems focused on aiding human survival against the domain fields. I can only hope my instincts are correct and that she is on our side."

"Today, I was officially promoted to a C-level researcher at the Crimson Research Institute. This gave me access to many confidential files I couldn't view before. At the same time, Wei Wei shared an important piece of information with me. She revealed that the Rune-Enhanced Human Project was never truly abandoned, even when it was officially prohibited. She believes this project could potentially change the trajectory of humanity's future."

"I underwent another round of comprehensive physical examinations today, including mental evaluations. The Crimson Research Institute takes these checks incredibly seriously. I suspect this is their way of preventing infiltration by malicious forces, but my curiosity is piqued. What exactly is the nature of the domain-transcendent creatures rumored to reside in the institute's core research zone? Unfortunately, my current clearance doesn't even allow me to set foot there."

"Promoted to B-level researcher today! Even made the news headlines! The media can't stop praising me. I hope this timeline's version of me hasn't let you down, future self. Reading the comments online doesn't sting as much anymore, and I don't even feel like arguing with keyboard warriors (laughing emoji)."

"After years of playing the long game as an undercover operative, Wei Wei is finally beginning to trust me. During my latest examination, she revealed a shocking truth: The world isn't as simple as it appears on the surface. There is an unseen dark side—what she referred to as the source of all calamities. All domain creatures originate from this dark side. Additionally, humanity harbors a multitude of hidden forces intent on destroying our civilization. The Crimson Research Institute has already identified this threat and has initiated a top-secret counter-infiltration plan.

When I pressed her for details about the plan, Wei Wei said the specifics are classified at the highest level and that I'm not ready to know yet.

It's so frustrating! Just because I'm a lowly B-level researcher, I'm not allowed to learn too much? Well, I'll keep pushing forward. I feel like I'm getting closer to the truth. Future me, wait for my good news!"

Feng Qi's eyebrows furrowed as he digested this revelation. Wei Wei had confirmed the existence of a "dark side" to the world—something he had only theorized about until now. If this dark side truly existed, it could explain the mysterious disappearances of numerous powerful individuals throughout history. Were they recruited to combat the calamities of this hidden realm?

But with answers came more questions.

Where exactly was this dark side?

What did the counter-infiltration plan entail?

Was this what Lü Yue referred to as the "Path to Ascension"?

His thoughts spiraled as he continued reading.

"Wei Wei let slip another classified detail today, confirming one of my earlier suspicions. She's working on a plan to replicate genius-level talent, and her first candidate is Mu Qing. She's well aware of Mu Qing's terrifying potential and believes she can harness it. The birth of Little Suction Cup appears to be in its early stages of preparation."

"Wei Wei recently reached out to Mu Qing and collected several vials of her blood to kickstart a new round of cloning experiments. I even called Mu Qing to check on her. She told me everything was fine and that she was preparing to form the Dawn Domain Combat Squad.

As for me, life in the Crimson Research Institute feels relatively safe for now. I might actually survive to my seventies or eighties this time. Who knows? I might even uncover the truth behind Mu Qing's city massacre incident."

"Wei Wei went on a rampage in the lab today, smashing equipment left and right. The cloning project for Mu Qing has failed again. Every single embryo ended up dying. I think the issue might be related to the rune crystal embedded in Mu Qing's body... I'll suggest this to her later. For now, I'll just let her cool off. She's like a ticking time bomb—totally terrifying when she's upset. I was cowering in a corner the whole time."

"Had a discussion with Wei Wei about the possibility of rune crystals being the key to cloning Mu Qing. She agreed with my hypothesis but pointed out that Mu Qing's specific rune crystal was unattainable. She's decided to experiment with alternative rune crystals instead. From what I can tell of the future, she's in for a series of failures again. The birth of Little Suction Cup is truly a saga of trials and tribulations."

The entries shed light on Mu Qing's significance to the Crimson Research Institute. Wei Wei's relentless pursuit of cloning Mu Qing highlighted her potential as a game-changer in humanity's struggle against the domain fields.

But it was the next entry that hit Feng Qi like a lightning bolt.

.

"I've finally been promoted to A-level researcher. After another round of tests, Wei Wei took me to her office and dropped a bombshell: The secret behind the domain-transcendent creatures housed in the institute's underground facility.

She explained that the core of the counter-infiltration plan revolves around Rune-Enhanced Humans. Unlike regular humans, whose aura is easily distinguishable from that of domain creatures, Rune-Enhanced Humans can mimic the aura of domain beings. This allows them to infiltrate the dark side as if they were native inhabitants.

The underground facility? It's the heart of the Rune-Enhanced Human project. But rather than merely enhancing humans, they are transforming them into pseudo-domain creatures. This is all part of the effort to locate and sever the conduit through which calamities are transmitted to our world.

And how do they access the dark side? The answer lies in the spatial crystals left behind in dissipated domain fields. These crystals act as nodes connecting our world to the dark side. By activating them in a specific way, one can open a portal to this hidden realm.

When I asked her if the disappeared historical powerhouses were sent to the dark side, she denied it, saying the counter-infiltration plan was still in its infancy. Only two Rune-Enhanced Humans had been sent so far, and the institute had no contact with those missing figures.

Wei Wei also revealed that hidden forces within humanity have been targeting up-and-coming geniuses for assassination. To counter this, the Crimson Research Institute has been secretly training elite protectors to safeguard these prodigies."

Feng Qi leaned back in his chair, stunned by the revelations.

The Crimson Research Institute wasn't just a sanctuary for scientific innovation; it was humanity's last line of defense against an existential threat. Wei Wei's transparency solidified his belief that the institute was working for humanity's survival.

The list of prodigies they protected also explained why Mu Qing never targeted the institute after forming the Dawn Rebellion.

Still, questions lingered. Where did those vanished powerhouses go? Could the Path to Ascension be the gateway to the dark side?

As new puzzles emerged, Feng Qi felt both enlightened and overwhelmed. There was only one way to find out the truth—keep digging.