Translator: CinderTL
The office was simply furnished, decorated in warm tones. A young woman in an Energy Research Institute uniform sat at her desk, her gaze fixed on a screen as she worked diligently.
Her appearance was both alluring and dignified, truly breathtaking. Even as she scrutinized the screen, her gaze carried an irresistible charm, captivating and mesmerizing.
Feng Qi was surprised to discover that the current dean of the Energy Research Institute was a young woman.
At that moment, the woman turned to look at him, a captivating smile gracing her lips.
"Feng Qi, right? I'm Yin Ling, the current dean of the Energy Research Institute. Please, have a seat."
Feng Qi immediately approached the desk and sat down.
As he settled into his chair, Yin Ling lowered her head to shuffle through the documents on her desk, saying, "Old Qi has already briefed me on the situation. We've outlined the general direction for the new energy circuit architecture, but we still need to follow proper procedures. After all, this document must be submitted to the Star City Supreme Council for review."
She suddenly looked up at him. "I'm curious, though. How did you, at such a young age, gain top-level access at the Tiger Soul Research Institute? Of course, if this is classified information, please disregard my question."
Feng Qi smiled and nodded. "At the Tiger Soul Research Institute, we value individual ability over age. Besides, you're not exactly old yourself, yet you're already the dean of the Energy Research Institute."
"True enough," Yin Ling replied with a graceful smile. "Ability is what truly matters."
Having apparently found the document she needed, the woman pulled it from the stack of papers. She stood up and handed the document to Feng Qi, pointing to the bottom of the page as she said, "Just sign here."
Feng Qi nodded immediately, took the pen she offered, and skillfully signed his name in the designated space.
After returning the document, he asked curiously, "Dean Yin, is there anything else I need to do?"
"No, that's all. I'll handle the rest of the energy line architecture process. If any issues arise, I'll communicate with Dean Qi of your Tiger Soul Research Institute."
"In that case, I'll take my leave."
Satisfied that he had no further obligations, Feng Qi stood up to leave.
Yin Ling nodded with a smile.
After leaving the office, Feng Qi headed straight for the exit of the Energy Research Institute's headquarters building.
Yet he couldn't shake his curiosity: How could Yin Ling, so young, have become the dean of the Energy Research Institute?
In other institutions like the Tiger Soul Research Institute and the Scarlet Research Institute, the deans were almost always elderly figures.
It wasn't due to rigid organizational structures.
These senior elders had all started as ordinary staff members, accumulating vast experience throughout their careers. To become the dean of a Research Institute Battleship, exceptional work capabilities were only part of the equation; extensive experience was equally crucial.
His compliment to Yin Ling about her strong work capabilities was merely polite.
The key to becoming the leader of an institute lay in the combination of various factors: capabilities, experience, personality, and more.
Work capabilities alone were far from decisive.
For example, at the Scarlet Research Institute, one could argue that no one possessed stronger work capabilities than Wei Wei.
Yet the Scarlet Institute Director position had changed hands multiple times throughout history. Even Wei Wei's own disciples had risen to become Scarlet Institute Directors, while she remained a director herself.
Thus, individual capabilities were merely one factor considered for promotion.
Feng Qi didn't dwell on this issue.
Having completed his mission, he decided to return to the Tiger Soul Research Institute immediately to resume his rigorous training, preparing himself for the daunting challenges that lay ahead.
After Feng Qi left, Yin Ling, still in the Dean's Office, couldn't hide her curiosity.
Just as Feng Qi was intrigued by her youth, Yin Ling was equally fascinated by his.
She turned to her computer screen and typed a few commands to access the Authority Database.
Glancing at the documents stacked on her desk, she entered "Feng Qi" into the character information search bar.
After refining the search criteria, Feng Qi's detailed profile appeared on the screen:
Teacher at Star City Academy Recipient of the Humanity's Distinguished Service Medal Founder of Fierce Tiger Fist Founder of soul capture
The more she read, the more astonished she became.
When Feng Qi had mentioned his personal capabilities earlier, she had dismissed it as mere boasting.
Now she realized just how extraordinary his abilities truly were.
At such a young age, he had already accumulated numerous prestigious honors.
What puzzled her most was why the records listed Feng Qi as a teacher at Star City Academy, yet he secretly held one of the highest levels of authority within the Tiger Soul Research Institute.
As she pondered this, a hypothesis suddenly surfaced in her mind.
Given Feng Qi's background in cultivation arts, could he have been secretly collaborating with the Tiger Soul Research Institute all along?
Mere cooperation wouldn't grant access to Tiger Soul's highest-level permissions.
Could Feng Qi have already developed a Super Cultivation Technique, or even the framework for a deity-tier cultivation technique?
That would explain why the Tiger Soul Research Institute valued him so highly, granting him their highest-level permissions even without formal membership.
Perhaps the details of these projects were being kept secret for now, hence the lack of public disclosure.
Yin Ling's gaze turned cold at this realization.
All the available evidence pointed to Feng Qi being an unparalleled genius—a development she considered deeply troubling.
As her emotions surged, Yin Ling's long black hair gradually transformed into silvery-white.
Silver light bloomed like flowers within her dark eyes.
"sister, do you think he'll become a threat?" A handsome young boy materialized beside her, the space around him distorting.
He held a flute-like instrument, his expression impassive.
"A genius like this in Star City will inevitably enhance its overall strength. From a historical perspective, the long-term impact will be profound. We must find a way to eliminate him!"
The boy nodded immediately.
The first step in the Silver Moon Clan's future plan was to seize Star City, then use it as a springboard to participate in the future Ten Thousand Clans Hegemony.
The Silver Moon Clan viewed Star City's growing strength as utterly unacceptable.
The stronger Star City became, the greater the casualties they would face when their clansmen arrived.
From this perspective, Feng Qi had become a hidden threat.
"sister, should I eliminate him?" the little boy asked coldly.
"No, your involvement would risk exposure. Go attend to your duties. I'll find a way to deal with him."
Without a word, the boy's form twisted and vanished.
After the boy left, Yin Ling opened a drawer, retrieved an encrypted phone, and dialed a number.
A moment later, a raspy voice answered.
"Who is this?"
"My identity is irrelevant. What matters is I have a mission for you."
"What's the payment?"
"Three hundred high-grade spirit stone as compensation. The target is a teacher at Star City Academy named Feng Qi."
"No problem. We'll take the job. When it's executed depends on who's available to accept the contract."
After hanging up, a smile crept across Yin Ling's face.
Ten days later, Feng Qi, stationed at the Tiger Soul Research Institute, received a package.
Inside was a glass bottle containing a pale purple liquid.
Without hesitation, he uncorked the bottle and drank the liquid.
Immediately, the recent missions accepted by the Domain Weakling Alliance, which were awaiting registration, flooded his sea of consciousness.
As he scrolled through the list, he suddenly froze.
Assassination Mission: Kill Feng Qi, a teacher at Star City Academy. Reward: 280 high-grade spirit stones!
"Well, well, well!"
(End of the Chapter)
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