Extend Life Project

Those elderly people were desperate. They had little time left and no years to waste; they urgently needed research results.

Therefore, the Old Arts Experimental Class selected university students rather than starting with children. The former were older and possessed stronger comprehension.

Scattering Arts all originated from Old Earth. Those organizations and research institutes believed that restoring research into Old Arts from the source might be the best choice.

Most importantly, since all myths and legends originated from Old Earth, perhaps there might be some "Mysterious Factor" here as well.

It was simply that such an understanding ran contrary to the dazzling civilization of deep-space technology and could not be put down on paper.

Yet some elderly people with astonishing backgrounds seemed to place particular faith in such mysticism in their later years.

What did they seek? A longer lifespan, hoping to unearth something from myths and follow in the footprints of their predecessors in pursuit of the road to immortality.

Though in their calmer moments they themselves knew it was mostly an Illusionary Bubble, if they had little time left and possessed vast resources, why not give it a try?

Thus, Old Earth began to draw attention, and a number of "research" projects were launched here one after another, with huge sums of money poured into them.

Human nature had always been much the same. From Emperor Qin to the present day, many people had been unable to escape this common failing.

Over the years, elderly people within certain Zaibatsu had continually pushed for this, seeking to obtain "new life" and funding many research institutes.

Of course, research into Old Arts was only one of the directions they focused on. Those with the power to drive "life transformation" could not possibly place all their hopes on a single field of research.

For many years, the major Zaibatsu had funded all kinds of genetic teams, Life Science Research Institutes, and more. Some projects had already made astonishing progress.

For instance, several anti-aging medicines had already shown preliminary results.

Research into Old Arts was merely one of the dozens of "Extend Life projects" they had invested in.

In truth, these "Extend Life projects" overlapped with one another. Especially under the intervention of investors, they sometimes cooperated.

For example, the food Wang Xuan and the others ate every day replenished blood and Qi, nourished the spirit, and had some anti-aging effects. Its ingredients and proportions were all connected to a pharmaceutical research institute.

The people in the Old Arts Experimental Class expended too much mental energy in their daily routines, but no matter how exhausted they were, with dietary supplements and other measures, they could quickly recover.

For those who researched and practiced Old Arts every day, this was a blessing. After some time, their physical constitutions had all improved noticeably.

In addition, some biological genetics teams also hoped to cooperate. They took the initiative to approach them, hoping to start with genes and help the Experimental Class members alter their constitutions.

One genetic team focused on mitochondrial research. By altering the length of telomeres, it could theoretically achieve the effect of increasing lifespan.

At the time, everyone resisted. Though they were called the Old Arts Experimental Class, they were not lab rats and would never agree to such a thing.

After Wang Xuan received the news, he nearly withdrew outright. No matter what, he would not accept it.

He had studied body arts in depth, pondered the Meditation Method, and researched the Qi Gathering Technique. It was a gradual process of changing one's constitution.

In his view, genetic engineering's crude alteration of the status quo might leave irreparable Hidden Dangers. It did not accord with his beliefs and was not what he sought.

In Fact, this collaboration was quickly rejected by those above. Someone whose words carried weight spoke up, believing the technology was not yet mature enough.

Afterward, rumors spread through unofficial channels that some of the students from New Star had extraordinary identities, and their families would never allow them to take such risks.

At the same time, a well-connected classmate accidentally revealed that there were certain "developments" on New Star. Someone had achieved something in Old Arts, which was why these people had come all the way to the birthplace of Old Arts, willingly delving deeply into its mysteries.

But afterward, he refused to admit it, saying it had all been drunken talk.

Wang Xuan felt that he might have let something slip.

But Qin Cheng believed it really had been drunken talk, because he was the one who had gotten that classmate drunk that day.

Wang Xuan believed that New Star might have discovered something, which was why descendants of certain Zaibatsu had joined the Experimental Class and begun studying Old Arts.

At this moment, a bright moon hung high in the sky, carrying a faint chill in the depths of late autumn.

Qin Cheng answered a call and kept nodding. Then he turned to Wang Xuan and sighed. "Back then, Zhou Kun's words weren't drunken talk. He really did let something slip."

On the phone, he received the latest news. The fragmentary rumors that had recently emerged on New Star had gained a vague direction, seemingly connected to several mysterious phenomena.

As early as three years ago, Zhou Kun, that classmate from New Star, had already given them a hint!

Though it was because he was drunk, not because he had intended to tell them.

"You must secure a place to go to New Star!" Qin Cheng said. Then he said goodbye and turned away.

As students of the Old Arts research class, their dormitory area was relatively quiet. They needed to meditate and practice body arts in their daily lives, so they could not be disturbed.

Everyone had an individual room and was provided with special food shipped from deep space. It could be said that the "Old Arts research" project was highly valued.

At dawn, Wang Xuan got up. After practicing a body art called Vajra Fist, he quieted down and began practicing the Qi Gathering Technique beneath the Morning Glow.

According to the old professor, one had to master one or two of the Qi Gathering Technique, Meditation, Internal Nourishment Method, and the like. These were the roots of Old Arts, the source of strength.

Body arts such as Xingyi and Vajra were all branches and leaves growing above the roots. Only when the roots were strong could the branches flourish and the leaves thrive.

Wang Xuan naturally attached tremendous importance to this. He had dabbled in every "Root Method" and later selected some for intensive study.

There were many large trees in this part of the campus, and the lawns were covered in yellow leaves. It was very quiet at this moment.

Wang Xuan closed his eyes and bathed in the Morning Glow. He gathered Qi while combining it with the Internal Nourishment Method, imagining in his heart that he was drawing in strand after strand of golden sunlight until it submerged him.

Though it was the Internal Nourishment Method, a visualization held in the heart, his body seemed to truly be heating up. He felt as if golden flames were winding around him.

If anyone had been nearby, they would certainly have noticed something unusual about Wang Xuan. The Morning Glow on his body was "richer" than on others, as though a layer of firelight flowed over him.

Wang Xuan gathered Qi while employing the Internal Nourishment Method. Though he merely visualized himself drawing in golden radiance, it seemed to be truly happening in reality.

His entire body was scorching hot, and in the end, it even turned tingly and numb. A force burrowed through him, first causing soreness and pain, then making him feel very comfortable.

These unusual sensations had only appeared recently.

Wang Xuan knew that after practicing the Qi Gathering Technique for years and combining it with the Internal Nourishment Method, he was now beginning to "harvest" the results.

Last night, when he pressed down fiercely with his right hand, he had directly left a clear palm print on a thick, hard tree trunk. That was proof that his Root Method was gradually bearing fruit.

On the path of Old Arts, he had made great strides.

In the Experimental Class, Qin Cheng, Zhou Kun, and the others also practiced Old Arts, but most had merely improved their physical constitutions. Those like Wang Xuan, who gathered Qi into the body and nourished themselves from within, were rare.

If Qin Cheng, Zhou Kun, and the others faced Ordinary People, one of them could take on more than a dozen without a problem.

Years of practicing Old Arts and consuming rare medicinal meals had greatly improved their physical qualities.

Even before Wang Xuan began gathering Qi, he had already been much stronger than his classmates.

That was why Qin Cheng had always felt indignant on his behalf. If they fought using only Old Arts, no one could possibly stand alongside Wang Xuan.

He could probably suppress any student in the Old Arts Experimental Class using only one hand.

Wang Xuan's body was scorching hot. Later, it even seemed to burn, as though tiny currents of electricity were passing through everything from his flesh to his bones.

This was a sign that his Qi gathering and Internal Nourishment had reached a certain level.

Wang Xuan visualized strands of Morning Glow entering his body, then visualized black, turbid mist emitting from the surface of his body.

In response, his body underwent changes. His metabolism accelerated, and some sticky sweat seeped out, leaving him drenched.

He felt as though his flesh and blood were being cleansed by the Morning Glow, clear and pure within and without. His Essence, Qi, and Spirit were exceptionally abundant, and his entire body was filled with strength.

The morning sunlight streamed through the woods, tinting several wisps of Thin Mist pale gold. Four young men and women strolled over. The two men only spoke a word or two now and then; the two women did most of the talking.

One of the women was exceptionally beautiful. She spoke constantly and laughed from time to time, clearly possessing a lively, spirited personality.

The other woman was gentle and beautiful, carrying the refined air of books and a mild smile.

They too were students of the Old Arts Experimental Class, from New Star.

"Look, isn't that Wang Xuan? Why does his body look like it's glowing?" the youthful, energetic woman said. Her beautiful eyes widened as she wondered whether she had seen wrong.

The somewhat quiet woman said in surprise, "Could he have mastered the Qi Gathering Technique?"

One of the two men was astonished. "Someone in the Experimental Class... actually managed it!"

But he quickly shook his head, because he knew these things had now lost their meaning.

The other man also spoke. "What a pity. The techniques of the old era are ultimately outdated. They've now been officially abandoned. Before long, we'll return to New Star. There have been new discoveries there—seize the opportunity, and a new era may be coming."

They came from New Star and all understood the latest inside information. Old Arts had been deemed outdated and cast aside; there was now a better choice!

It felt as though a lifetime had passed, and even the rules had changed. During the new book period, you can already vote with monthly tickets, so please support it.

There would be more chapters in the afternoon and evening.