Longevity Serum

This was the second time Lu Zhiyu had modified his own body, so he was relatively practiced at it. After Lu Zhiyu successfully created a Longevity Species, the Longevity Serum basically meant he had cleared the most difficult hurdle; what remained were merely issues of success rates and fine-tuning.

Lu Zhiyu injected the Longevity Serum into his spinal cord and could immediately sense the intense changes occurring within his genes. Unlike before, however, this was not targeting a specific part of the body, but the whole, making the risks this time significantly higher.

The Longevity Serum did not target a specific organ within the body for modification; it was a fundamental overhaul of his genes, altering the species at its very core to make their life template that of a Longevity Species.

For the Lu Zhiyu of the past, such a change would have been unimaginable and terrifyingly difficult. Yet, after so many life-modification experiments, Lu Zhiyu's understanding of the essence of life and the mysteries of genetics had become far more profound. The technical level represented by this Longevity Serum was already at the absolute peak of Lu Zhiyu's current capabilities.

Lu Zhiyu felt intense pain radiating from the inside out, and then his nervous system cut off all sensation. Lu Zhiyu immediately submerged himself into the Nutrient Pool, even stopping his breathing. The liquid in the Nutrient Pool continuously supplied and replaced nutrients as Lu Zhiyu's body underwent its transformation.

When Lu Zhiyu climbed out of the Nutrient Pool, he discovered that his body had slimmed down significantly. His entire being felt much lighter, his five senses had become sharper, his vision was clearer, and a light sniff allowed him to distinguish various scents in the air.

It felt as if he had shed an outer shell, merging with the world outside. Lu Zhiyu knew that these sensations were being provided by the plant-based portion of his genes.

Lu Zhiyu stood up, feeling as though he could barely keep his balance. His unfamiliarity with his own body caused cognitive obstacles in his movements. Lu Zhiyu wobbled as he stood and sat down in a nearby wheelchair.

Using his mental power, he commanded the Ant-Men to push him out of the laboratory. It was only when he saw himself in a mirror at the corner that Lu Zhiyu caught a glimpse of his appearance. He had become much slimmer, his skin was as fair as silk, his eyes had become soft and elongated, and his features were more delicate. The change was immense; if he could have been described as handsome before, he could now be called breathtakingly beautiful.

Yes, that was a word used to describe women. Lu Zhiyu was now so beautiful he looked like a demon. Lu Zhiyu had never intended to transform himself into a creature like an elf; he had simply integrated the longevity genes into his human genome, never expecting such an effect.

Lu Zhiyu stood up and could feel the youthful vitality of his body. He pressed his fingernail into his skin to draw a line of blood; the crimson liquid on his snow-white skin looked bewitchingly beautiful, but it began to scab and heal in the blink of an eye.

"To actually possess such powerful regenerative capabilities, and to have inherited that potent life force from plants as well... most importantly, the internal circulatory and metabolic systems have become more complete and harmonious. My heartbeat is more powerful, and the energy within my blood is more abundant and pure. This blood can provide a better environment and more energy for my brain, making my thinking more agile and rapid!"

Lu Zhiyu assessed the various conditions of his body. Experiencing it firsthand was a completely different feeling than observing others; it was more detailed and accurate. However, there was one even more important point.

"Sub-Brain, calculate the limit of my body's lifespan based on my current template!"

"Confirmed! Commencing calculation!"

Lu Zhiyu watched as the body template in his mind, accelerated by environmental simulation, only began to show signs of aging after nine hundred years. It wasn't until the simulation reached one thousand and fifty years that this body template finally reached the end of its life!

Lu Zhiyu was overcome with excitement. From this moment on, he was no longer an ordinary human, but a true Longevity Species. A lifespan of over a thousand years—human civilization had only existed for a few thousand years, and humanity rose and fell in cycles of twenty-year generations. Lu Zhiyu, however, could live through fifty generations. He would possess a long life to complete his plans and goals.

Lu Zhiyu believed in himself. If he had this thousand years, then living for ten thousand or a hundred thousand years would no longer be a problem. One day, even if the universe were to perish and dimensions were to collapse, Lu Zhiyu would be able to reach that final eternity. Although Lu Zhiyu knew this might not be easy to achieve, it meant he could keep living until he grew tired of it!

Lu Zhiyu sat in his wheelchair and proceeded to organize his library and experimental data. Once everything was collected, organized, and perfected, he stored it away. He then observed the Yala Continent; the elves were still in their infancy, under the care of the Ant-Men, and nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

After a few days of rest, Lu Zhiyu gradually became accustomed to his body. He crossed the Dimensional Gate and returned to Earth, to the storage room of his home.

The light in the storage room was still on, and the night outside was still brightly lit. Not much time had passed since he left, yet he had spent over a full year in that other world.

Every time he returned, Lu Zhiyu felt as if he had lived through a lifetime. This time it was even worse, because Lu Zhiyu's appearance had undergone such a drastic change. He had already run into many problems using his ID card before; now, going out with this exquisitely beautiful face would likely cause even more trouble and attract unwanted attention.

Moreover, Lu Zhiyu felt that the further he went, the more resources and money he would need. He did not lack ways to acquire money, but his current identity was a massive shackle. Perhaps he could abandon the identity of Lu Zhiyu, adopt a new one, and soar into the sky, free and unconstrained, so that no one could ever trace his true origins or actual identity again!

However, completely discarding the identity and name he had used for over twenty years made Lu Zhiyu feel a deep sense of reluctance. This represented his past experiences, his classmates, and his friends. Thinking of Xia Fan, Wang Yi, Li Wei, Cai Jiajia, and Xiao Le, Lu Zhiyu realized that changing one's identity really required a ruthless heart.

This meant a complete severance from his past, drawing a line between himself and his previous interpersonal relationships, relatives, and friends, never to contact them again. Emotionally, Lu Zhiyu was still a normal person; he was not the type to be heartless, cold-blooded, and solely devoted to the path of immortality.

Lu Zhiyu dizzily made something to eat, watched some television, and went to take a shower. Looking at himself in the bathroom mirror, at a face that even he found somewhat unfamiliar, he touched his own skin. His face was so beautiful and delicate it didn't seem human, like an angel descended from heaven or an elf leaping from the forest. Even he felt a flutter of attraction looking at himself.

"Now that I've become like this, I suppose I have no choice, do I?"