External Progress

In the villa district of the Southern Region, the autumn morning grass was stained with dewdrops, and many vibrant flowers and plants had already begun to wither.

Wang Fantian was in his study with Zhuge Hao, reviewing the research results obtained from the cells harvested from Li Heng's body.

The visceral tissues from Li Heng's body would not undergo massive division or generate new cells once removed; after absorbing nutrients, they would merely maintain their original shape rather than dividing to regenerate a brand-new organ. This meant that only a few locations could provide enough organ tissue for research.

The fastest regenerating component in Li Heng's body was the red blood cells; with sufficient nutrients, they could divide and regenerate almost endlessly.

Meanwhile, the platelets in his blood would enter a low-activity state when stored at low temperatures. Upon receiving nutrients, the platelets would be stimulated, undergo deformation, increase their surface viscosity, and aggregate into clumps.

They formed solidified, tiny, clumped filaments around the dividing red blood cells, eventually transforming into a tissue resembling blood vessels and becoming a gelatinous sphere that looked like a red velvet ball.

Consequently, Li Heng's blood volume had now increased hundreds of times compared to what was initially harvested, and it had been distributed to major research institutes for sufficiently in-depth study.

At this moment, a structural diagram of Li Heng's red blood cells was floating before Wang Fantian, with a projection of Zhuge Hao further away. He pointed to the concave red disc and said:

"His red blood cells possess two states. When in a low-temperature environment with insufficient external nutrients, they exhibit a giant form, with fewer blood cells per unit volume, much like animals in hibernation. While mammalian cells are typically about 4–8 micrometers in diameter, his giant cell form is approximately 30 micrometers."

He then tapped his right hand, and sufficient glucose and amino acids appeared around the giant red blood cell. The massive disc absorbed the surrounding substances, and the next moment, it split into two slightly smaller discs.

As more substances were ingested, they became smaller and more numerous, eventually turning into hundreds of tiny, disc-shaped cells only 4 micrometers in diameter.

Wang Fantian explained: "When external energy supply is insufficient, the cells aggregate into a giant form, reducing the surface-area-to-volume ratio to slow down material exchange with the environment. When energy supply is abundant, they divide to reduce volume, transporting more substances per unit of time."

Wang Fantian then removed the nutrients around the small, divided discs and provided a low-temperature environment; they spontaneously aggregated back into the original large red disc.

He then magnified the large disc, revealing layers upon layers of small discs within. Zooming in further to show the internal structure of these small discs, Wang Fantian pointed to the elongated structure that occupied most of the disc and said:

"We believe the reason his red blood cells maintain such a high degree of order after leaving the body is due to the mitochondria within them."

"Ordinary mammalian red blood cells lack nuclei and mitochondria, yet every differentiated cell in his entire body contains these mitochondria. We believe the core of his mutation is this super-mitochondrion, which has altered his overall energy absorption and transmission."

"The genetic information within these mitochondria allows his cells to maintain sufficient organization and stable self-proliferation even after being removed from the body. They are also a type of super biological battery, with an energy density higher than our latest energy storage materials."

Zhuge Hao looked at these super-mitochondria, which were vastly different from those of humans, and after a moment of thought, said: "Have there been any results from the previously mentioned attempt to transfer gene fragments from his cells into mice?"

Wang Fantian shook his head and displayed another video report showing mice that had been injected with a small number of gene fragments using gene-editing technology.

Inside a transparent glass box, the modified mouse appeared quiet and docile. Then, a researcher in a protective suit placed food inside. The seemingly harmless mouse suddenly erupted with terrifying strength, slamming into the reinforced glass with a loud crash.

It violently devoured the food, swallowing more than its own body weight until its stomach was distended.

Then, the mouse's body began to swell as its flesh expanded; the proliferating muscles tore through its skin. Stripped of its skin, the flesh dripped with blood, and the once-docile mouse transformed into a bloody muscular monster.

It became pained and frantic, repeatedly slamming its head against the box wall, causing the box to shake incessantly on the table.

A few minutes later, it broke its own neck, and the blood-soaked mouse collapsed limply, losing all signs of life.

Zhuge Hao's eyes, hidden beneath his red cap, narrowed slightly as he watched the scene. He remarked: "That is truly a terrifying gene; such a small fragment caused such a massive mutation."

The video continued; the researchers had attempted to edit other fragments, but unfortunately, not a single mouse survived.

They all turned into bloody monsters, and even when restrained, they died shortly after from massive hemorrhaging caused by the rupture of their entire vascular system.

Wang Fantian summarized: "These edits were all performed using gene fragments from the mitochondria within the red blood cells. The mice's blood cells exhibited similar infinite division characteristics, and their muscle strength increased several-fold, but this chaotic, disordered proliferation only leads to the collapse and death of the biological body."

Zhuge Hao said: "The progress is too slow. Accelerate the experiments, and also attempt this on other organisms. Different species might yield different results."

Even with the immortal cells right before their eyes, the process of unraveling their mysteries through human effort was arduous and tortuous.

Over the course of three months, the experiments conducted by the entire Googol Tech yielded almost no useful results, which undoubtedly caused some researchers to go from being full of confidence at the start to feeling somewhat discouraged.

However, Zhuge Hao did not care; he had more than a decade to wait. If the mysteries of the immortal cells could not be found after more than ten years of having them right in front of him, then it could only be called fate.

It was much like the millions of people who had died across the world during these three months, falling before the arrival of human immortality. Furthermore, even if the secret to immortality were obtained, how many would actually be able to enjoy the fruits of that achievement?

Zhuge Hao disconnected the link, and the old man's floating image vanished.

Wang Fantian looked at the peculiar mitochondrial structure before him, sighed softly, and turned to leave the study.

Ever since Li Heng appeared, the Southern Region, which he had gradually brought under his control, had become unstable. It housed the best genetic scientists in the Hong Alliance and was arguably the greatest hope for unlocking the secret of immortality; countless people wanted a piece of the action.

Friends and family, teachers and students, complex and entangled blood relations, and social connections formed a massive web that enveloped everyone.

Many had already glimpsed the end of their own lives, and even if some high-ranking officials were still relatively young, their elderly parents and relatives could not wait much longer.

Parting in life and death is the most helpless experience in human existence.

The mere possibility of immortality had caused the entire Hong Alliance to cast aside other matters, with the majority of resources poured into the Project Immortality research.

Wang Fantian himself was no exception. Although his parents had already passed away, the old leaders who had helped him in the military, those who had paved the way for him when he returned to Googol Tech, had little time left to wait.

Wang Fantian sat on the sofa in the living room, contemplating the situation in the Southern Region.

In the past, he had adhered to a moderate and conservative policy; even though the development of artificial intelligence had caused a massive impact on ordinary workers, he had not allowed automated machinery to largely replace human labor.

This resulted in the Southern Region having several times more personnel involved in work than the Eastern Region, yet the overall work efficiency was not higher.

On the contrary, because of the large number of middle-management personnel, much chaos had arisen between various departments, and even a minor matter often required lengthy discussions before a conclusion could be reached.

Now, the region had been pulled into the center of a vortex due to Project Immortality, and many personnel were passing on information related to the experiments without any restraint; the movements of certain important raw materials had even been leaked. This had significantly increased the risk of exposure.

Time was running out. Extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures; it was now necessary to change this chaotic and inefficient state of work and reconsolidate the dispersed power.

Wang Fantian said: "Connect to Mi Yue."

A moment later, Mi Yue's image appeared before Wang Fantian. She was still wearing a white shirt and black-rimmed glasses, though her original long black hair had been dyed wine-red.

She looked down at a report and, without raising her head, said: "Oh, if it isn't our great President Wang. What's the matter? You actually have time to contact me today—could it be that there's good news?"

Wang Fantian did not mind her casual attitude; years of working together meant both of them could skip the formulaic pleasantries and dive straight into the subject at hand.

He spoke up, "The experimental process is not going smoothly. We have made almost no progress in deciphering the genetic fragments of Li Heng."

Mi Yue looked up at him upon hearing this, rolled her eyes, and said, "Then why aren't you hurrying back to work? Why come find me?"

"I am preparing to lay off a batch of corporate management personnel and replace them with artificial intelligence. The research progress is too slow; I need to consolidate the resources of the entire Southern Region to accelerate the experimental process."

Mi Yue stared at the Wang Fantian before her, still wearing that same stern, square, bronze-colored face.

In the past, this man had always disapproved of her efficiency-first system, believing she had discarded too much of the emotion that humans ought to possess.

She advocated for laying off all ordinary people who were backward or unable to keep up with development, leaving only essential personnel who possessed irreplaceability, while replacing all replaceable work with more efficient intelligent machinery.

In Mi Yue's eyes, the strong should shoulder more social responsibility and, naturally, should be able to obtain more benefits during the course of development.

By replacing repetitive work with more efficient, lower-cost intelligent machinery, the further developed productivity would be enough to allow the laid-off ordinary people to live a carefree life of idleness at home.

Wang Fantian, however, insisted on maintaining job opportunities for ordinary people, the result of which was that even when more efficient artificial intelligence was available, he insisted on having humans do the work instead.

Mi Yue smiled at Wang Fantian and said, "What, have you finally seen the light? Realized you need to dump those people who are holding us back?"

Wang Fantian shook his head and replied, "No, I still believe your thinking is wrong. It is not the fault of those mediocre, ordinary people that they are being left behind; it is our problem."

"Some people are born into good families, free from worry about food or clothing, and have developed the habit of learning from a young age; naturally, they can continuously acquire knowledge and improve themselves."

"Others have strained family circumstances or even possess certain innate defects. After completing compulsory education and graduating from high school, they have no choice but to go to work to support their families, having no spare resources to pay for expensive tuition. This is not their fault."

Mi Yue frowned upon hearing this and asked, "So, what is your idea?"

Wang Fantian pulled up a video clip; it was a department manager at a subsidiary of Googol, and he was the nephew of a board member.

In the footage, he was using his position to demand that a female subordinate accompany him on a business trip, his words filled with implications, and the female subordinate, for the sake of this easy, high-paying job, chose to agree.

Wang Fantian said coldly, "What I hope for is that those ordinary people who cannot keep up with the development of the times due to irresistible objective realities can also have the opportunity to pursue their own dreams, rather than being abandoned by society and giving up on themselves."

"In the past, the constraints from various parties forced me to tacitly accept these situations. They did not violate the law, so I turned a blind eye."

"But now, there is not much time left, and I have lost my patience. In the face of Project Immortality, the voices of opposition from all sides will be suppressed to a minimum. And so, some people will naturally have to be swept into the trash heap."