"An immortal?!"
The moment the word popped out,
The entire underground central control hall fell silent.
Behind the jade pendant, Lu Li naturally heard every word of their conversation.
"Infinite spiritual power."
"Only an 'immortal' can break through the theoretical limits of the physical world."
"Becoming an immortal..."
For Lu Li as he was now, those words were far too distant.
Let alone him, no one in the entire history of the Azure Pool Sect had ever ascended.
Looking further afield, across the whole of Eastern Desolation Star,
In its five regions-east, west, south, north, and center-allegedly only a handful of "immortals" had ever emerged.
Besides, if he became an immortal, why would he still need to go back?
By the time he became an immortal, everything on Blue Star would have changed.
He wasn't bored enough to pull a reborn immortal venerable and live carefree in the city.
"Heh, I probably won't get to see Mom and Dad again in this lifetime."
"Oh well. With my little sister and the country there, the two of them can at least enjoy their old age in peace."
With a bitter chuckle, Lu Li prepared to end the communication.
He had already verified what he most wanted to verify.
Since he wasn't going to cling to fantasies, he might as well live on as best he could, though he had some regrets.
But before he could speak, Li Yuanchao's voice suddenly rang out.
"Comrade Lu Li! I know you might be a little discouraged right now."
"But please don't give up!"
"Your family is still waiting for you, and so is the motherland."
"So what if you can only come back after becoming an immortal? Now that the country has come into contact with an immortal cultivation civilization,"
"Maybe the country can cultivate immortality too! Doesn't cultivating immortality let people live forever?"
"As long as we make enough progress, we can let your family cultivate immortality too. Then they'll be able to wait for you!"
Li Yuanchao spoke sincerely, with a trace of excitement in his voice.
The researchers beside him couldn't help growing excited when they heard the words "cultivate immortality."
No citizen of Great Xia could resist the weight those words carried.
Not even the researchers.
Lu Li froze for a moment, then came to his senses.
That was right.
Maybe people on Blue Star could cultivate immortality too?
Maybe Mom and Dad could cultivate immortality too?
At the very least, that gave him hope!
"That's right, Comrade Little Lu! Director Li is absolutely right."
"Besides, taking ten thousand steps back, even if they can't cultivate immortality, it's not as if the country lacks permanent freezing technology."
"I believe that if you really succeed in cultivating immortality, a little trick to thaw them out hundreds or thousands of years from now will be easy for you."
Wang Zhiwen added.
His words immediately fired up Lu Li's drive.
That was right. As long as he succeeded in cultivating immortality, what means would be beyond him?
"Exactly! Immortal cultivators are unfathomably profound."
"Bringing the dead back to life might not even be difficult."
Lu Li's gaze grew resolute.
At that moment, he had an ultimate goal of his own.
First, become an immortal!
Meanwhile, Li Yuanchao took the opportunity to announce an order.
"Comrade Lu Li, I previously reported your situation-a Great Xia citizen stranded in another world-to my superiors."
"With approval from the highest authorities, the 749 Otherworld Civilization Research Group has now been established."
"The mission is codenamed Southern Heavenly Gate, also known as the Ascension to Immortality Plan!"
"The mission's first priority is to conduct in-depth research into otherworld civilizations."
"As the mission's pioneer, you have the right to mobilize the resources of the entire country."
"All personnel and organizations within Great Xia's borders will cooperate with you fully. If necessary, even 'truth' can be placed at your disposal."
"Finally, our ultimate mission objective is to attempt to usher in an era of immortal cultivation for all of Great Xia!"
"To lead the development of immortal cultivation civilization on Blue Star, and even direct the key course of human evolution."
"And before that, the country will support you... in becoming an immortal first!"
"Whoa!"
The moment Li Yuanchao said that,
The entire underground central control room erupted.
Everyone was as fired up as if they'd been injected with chicken blood.
It was the first time they had heard this order too. It wasn't being issued to Lu Li alone.
It was directed at everyone present. How could they not be excited?
Applause immediately rang out without end, and everyone clapped until their hands turned red, their faces flushed with excitement.
On the other side of the jade pendant, Lu Li felt his whole body grow hot as he listened.
"The Ascension to Immortality Plan! Codename Southern Heavenly Gate! Ushering in immortal cultivation for all of Great Xia,"
"And supporting me in becoming an immortal first?!"
"Hiss!"
Lu Li sucked in a sharp breath.
He hadn't expected the country's ambitions to be so grand.
He had assumed the country only wanted to obtain some resources and technology from the other world that could enhance its technological capabilities.
But he hadn't expected the country to make such a sweeping move.
"Then again, isn't immortal cultivation the greatest technology in the Imprisoned Dragon Realm?"
"If Great Xia can usher in an era of immortal cultivation for everyone, and combine it with technology,"
"Then it will undoubtedly become a civilization spanning galaxies and even dimensions, just like this realm!"
Lu Li's heart shook wildly, and even his breathing grew a little rapid.
From this moment on, Great Xia's goal and his own were completely aligned.
From this moment on, he would have the support of a powerful nation with 1.4 billion citizens.
From this moment on, he was Great Xia's pioneer!
He clenched his fist.
Lu Li gripped the jade pendant tightly. At that moment, he felt as if he were brimming with strength.
He answered with a resolute gaze.
"Rest assured, Chief. I will never let the country and its people down!"
The communication ended.
Before hanging up, Lu Li requested another batch of practical supplies from the country.
Things like suppressors, grenades, several blocks of powerful C4 with delayed triggers, instant noodles, and so on.
Only then did he reluctantly tuck the jade pendant into his robes.
Every communication with the motherland filled him with drive.
This time, it had also given Lu Li a firm ultimate goal.
"With the country's help, become an immortal first!"
"Usher in an era of immortal cultivation for all of Great Xia, and go home to see Mom and Dad!"
Lu Li's eyes shone.
Without further hesitation,
He took out the demonstration device that had been left in his hands.
His finger slid lightly across it, bringing up a 3D holographic projection.
"Let me see just how good the Five Elements Instruction improved by the country really is."
With a slight stir of his mind, Lu Li sat cross-legged in the mine tunnel.
He had saved up quite a few spirit ores last time anyway.
This time, he could make full use of the time to focus on cultivation.
"Hum!"
Looking at the projected image of the cultivation method, with its clear annotations,
Lu Li closed his eyes tightly.
"Metal of the five elements, rise!"
With a slight turn of his thoughts, the circulation route of the brand-new Five Elements Instruction surfaced in his mind.
Following the steps in the projection, he slowly guided the metal-element spiritual power into his meridians first.
The metal-element spiritual power plunged into the Greater Yin Lung Meridian and circulated through the Lesser Yin Kidney Meridian of the Foot.
The spiritual power grew denser and denser.
Lu Li felt as if his meridians were being pierced by a thousand needles and stabbed ten thousand times. The pain was unbearable.
The next second,
"Pfft!"
He actually opened his mouth and spat out a stream of blood.
His face was terribly pale, but his eyes had never been so bright.
"Phew..."
Spitting the blood from his mouth, Lu Li let out a long breath and broke into a brilliant smile.
"Fucking awesome!"