My Future Refreshes Weekly

Chapter 22: The Optimal Solution to the Future Dilemma

Jiang He sat alone in the lounge, sinking into silence.

White Crane was right.

Jiang He did indeed feel some empathy for him.

After all, White Crane was no stranger—he was none other than another timeline’s Jiang He, sixty years into the future!

The only point of divergence between him and the present Jiang He was the “Moment of Awakening.”

If, on May 18, that day, Jiang He had not awakened 【Ferryman of Time】 but instead awakened the 【Word-Spirit】 talent, then sixty years later, he would have been this “World Destroyer”!

Realizing this, how could Jiang He not feel empathy?

He might not understand strangers, nor transcendents turned violent—but could he not understand himself?

Jiang He believed that he was absolutely not some evil figure, at least not one who would destroy the world in a fit of impulsive rage…

In a world of tens of billions, were there no innocents? No kind souls? No ignorant children? Were they all meant to die?

Even if he bore hatred over something, shouldn’t debts be repaid to the guilty, vengeance to those responsible?

Yet, his future self had done just that.

What on earth had he experienced, in what fury and agony, that he would, in one single thought, destroy the future of all, becoming a “World Destroyer” that even he himself could not forgive?

Jiang He could not help but dwell on this, his mind in chaos.

He did not know how much time passed before he finally closed his eyes and leaned back against the chair.

“At the very least…”

“White Crane didn’t think any of this was right—he loathed himself, loathed the future, loathed everything he had gone through in that timeline.”

“He doesn’t want me to empathize with him, even less does he want the future he experienced to repeat itself…”

Jiang He gradually understood.

White Crane, as the “World Destroyer,” was an “Evil Spirit.” This was beyond doubt.

Yet, he did not dislike him.

Because, even though White Crane was an “Evil Spirit,” he was still another version of him, another “possibility” of his future.

Jiang He was still at the earliest “root,” he had not yet walked that path.

Therefore, Jiang He needed to understand, even absorb this “possibility,” in order to avoid such a “future” as much as possible.

“If the future is a problem to be solved…”

“Then the 【Ferryman of Time】 talent allows me to continuously solve that problem, gaining different answers.”

“As long as I solve it enough times, gather enough solution processes… I will eventually find the ‘optimal solution’!”

“In this process, ‘mistakes’ are not ‘failures,’ but experiences that can be accumulated!”

Jiang He finally thought everything through.

White Crane was him, but he was not White Crane.

Or rather, every future Jiang He was him, but he was not any of the future Jiang Hes.

Among the countless versions of himself, he possessed the most cheat-like talent, allowing him to choose the most perfect future.

And this was what he must do.

Even—

Jiang He’s 【Ferryman of Time】 talent was a power capable of ferrying timelines.

If he grew strong, becoming S-rank… or even like White Crane, surpassing S-rank and becoming a Transcendent beyond S-rank…

Then, could his talent also evolve?

From “ferrying,” to “interfering,” even to “controlling”?

By then, Jiang He might even be able to reverse the timeline White Crane had lived through, change that other self’s ending, erase his pain and loathing.

Turning the “optimal solution” into the “universal solution”!

“I can possess… no, I must possess this power!”

“If S-rank isn’t enough, then I’ll surpass S-rank! If surpassing S-rank isn’t enough, then I’ll break through to even higher realms!”

“There will always be a future where I can control time!”

At this moment, Jiang He underwent a subtle transformation.

Originally, under White Crane’s influence, he had birthed his first wish—to grow stronger, and possess a perfect future.

But how strong was “strong”? What kind of future counted as “perfect”?

He had no concrete concept of it, only a vague vision.

Now, it was different.

Perhaps Jiang He still did not know what kind of future was a “perfect future.”

But he already understood what kind of strong man he must become—a strong man who controls time!

This goal was already crystal clear.

Jiang He’s path to controlling time stemmed from his 【Ferryman of Time】 talent.

The best way to strengthen a talent and enhance its effect was the 【Transcendent Profession】.

In the Transcendent Era, when a transcendent’s energy level reached B-rank, they could create for themselves a B-rank 【Exclusive Profession】.

When promoted to A-rank, they could extend that profession, building from C-rank fundamentals to A-rank advancements, thus forming a 【Transcendent Path】.

When promoted to S-rank, that path could then become an 【S-rank Path】.

Based on this, Jiang He’s goal was self-evident.

First, become a B-rank transcendent and create his own 【Profession】!

“Speaking of which, if I create my own profession, what should I call it… Timekeeper? Ferryman?”

After all, Jiang He was still a teenager.

Having thought things through, his mind quickly brightened, his thoughts began to scatter.

And so, he noticed something he had overlooked earlier.

“Right, what did White Crane just say? That he’s a transcendent beyond S-rank?”

“Hiss… no wonder, even as just an F-rank Heroic Spirit, he could kill so many C-rank transcendents with just a word!”

“If that’s the logic…”

“Then doesn’t that mean the Rumor Bearer series of professions also has advancements beyond S-rank, to transcendent beyond S-rank?!”

Jiang He’s heartbeat quickened involuntarily.

He knew, up until now, not a single transcendent in the world had ever broken through S-rank, no one had even touched the limits of S-rank.

Thus, the theory that “S-rank is the limit of transcendents” had many supporters online.

S-rank professions were also universally acknowledged as the strongest professions.

Now, he had summoned a transcendent beyond S-rank—an Evil Spirit.

Jiang He called out in his heart.

“White Crane!”

……

Outside the lounge, White Crane stood in the corridor, watching the busy teachers and students.

Countless scenes seemed to flash through his mind.

As if sensing pain, the scar at his collarbone radiated a faint burning sensation.

“I understand…”

White Crane lowered his gaze, muttering to himself.

Just then, a young voice rang in his mind.

“White Crane, above the S-rank Sacred Speaker, is there an even higher profession advancement?”

“……”

So quickly recovered his spirit?

As expected of my younger self.

White Crane raised his gaze, a hint of mockery curling at his lips.

“There is.”

“Really?!” Jiang He was thrilled.

He really had transferred into the world’s one and only transcendent beyond S-rank path—how incredible was that!

The next moment, White Crane cut through his thoughts.

“The advancement of the S-rank profession 【Sacred Speaker】 is… the transcendent beyond S-rank profession 【World Destroyer】.”

“Transferring doesn’t have an energy-level requirement, only a ritual condition—”

“To single-handedly annihilate all life on an intelligent planet, with no fewer than ten billion intelligent beings.”

“So, how about it, pretty simple, right?”

“……”

Jiang He suddenly felt that transcendent beyond S-rank paths were far too lofty.

In fact, an S-rank path seemed pretty good.