What is called immortality is actually more like an undying curse. Although short-lived species become long-lived species, they are deprived of the possibility of natural death.
Xianzhou natives do not die of old age; the option of dying peacefully in their sleep is forever unavailable to them.
Therefore, when an opportunity to regain the right to die of old age presents itself, it is impossible to give it up easily.
However, despite this, the selection of experimental subjects is also a difficult choice.
Not everyone is willing to take risks for no reason and act as a guinea pig.
Although Bai Luan knew that this experiment would not be life-threatening, even if he said so, others might not believe him.
Bai Luan felt that the best candidate would be to arrest someone from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus to conduct the experiment.
That way, after he extracted the mara-struck, he could put it back, without using up an S-rank bullet slot.
But ultimately, how the experimental subjects would be chosen still depended on Jing Yuan and the others' discussions.
Fortunately, Jing Yuan and the others did not make Bai Luan wait too long; they quickly reached a decision.
"Mr. Bai Luan, regarding the experimental subjects, we plan to first inquire with the Ten-Lords Commission. Could you give us some time?"
"The Ten-Lords Commission?"
Bai Luan recalled for a moment and quickly remembered the setting.
Simply put, it was the Xianzhou's underworld.
However, Bai Luan didn't know much about this setting, only that the Prison of Imprisonment was a frequent accident zone.
Blade had cut his way out of it, and Hu Lei had also escaped from it.
The Prison of Imprisonment really needed to strengthen its security.
Although he thought so, Bai Luan couldn't point fingers at someone else's prison; that would be somewhat offensive.
Bai Luan nodded and said,
"I have no problem; I'm quite free."
"Thank you for your understanding."
"How do you plan to find experimental subjects?"
"This might require me to explain the duties of our Xianzhou Ten-Lords Commission to you."
"This falls into my blind spot of knowledge; I'm willing to listen."
"When a Xianzhou native approaches the limit of their lifespan and is about to fall into the mara-struck, the Judges of the Ten-Lords Commission will appear, take them to the Ten-Lords Commission, make a judgment on their life, grant them a dignified death, and upload their consciousness to the Hall of Karma."
Hmm... Although Xianzhou looks ancient, it's actually all about technology and raw power.
Isn't this just destroying the physical body and then uploading the consciousness to the Hall of Karma?
"So, this time, inquiring with the Ten-Lords Commission is to ask if there's anyone who has just fallen into the mara-struck that can be brought over for the experiment?"
"Unfortunately, as far as I know, all those who recently fell into the mara-struck have already been dealt with."
The Xianzhou had just experienced a major upheaval, so there should have been many people who fell into the mara-struck due to accidents.
All dealt with?
Should I say it's Xianzhou's efficiency?
"It seems I came at an inconvenient time."
Bai Luan sighed, then looked at Jing Yuan and asked,
"Since that's the case, if there are no people who have already fallen into the mara-struck, what other suitable candidates does the Ten-Lords Commission have? Can your ethics accept using death row inmates for experiments?"
"No, we have no such intention. Any act of experimenting on humans is illegal in the Xianzhou."
"Then why are you still going to the Ten-Lords Commission?"
"The Xianzhou has a large population, and every day there are people approaching the limit of their lifespan. We want to ask these people if they are willing to accept this experiment."
People approaching the limit of their lifespan, close to becoming mara-struck?
They are indeed suitable candidates, after all, before he came, they had no choice but to accept the arrangements of the Ten-Lords Commission, otherwise, falling into the mara-struck would be no different from dying.
"What if no one is willing?"
"Then the Xianzhou is still willing to cooperate with you. When suitable candidates are available, we will contact you proactively."
"So it seems I just need to wait for good news?"
"That's right. Do you need to brew a pot of tea and wait while drinking it?"
"Forget it, buying a cup of milk tea is more practical."
Jing Yuan was stunned by his words and chuckled.
"I've long heard that members of the Genius Society are all very unique. Seeing it today, it's indeed true."
"Perhaps compared to other geniuses, I am more easygoing."
Fu Xuan stepped forward and asked,
"Can you tell me specifically how you plan to remove the mara-struck from a Xianzhou native?"
Bai Luan took out the extraction gun, shook it, and said,
"Just one shot will do."
Fu Xuan's brows furrowed at his words.
Since the Xianzhou learned of the existence of the mara-struck, they have never stopped researching it.
Those doctors in the Alchemy Commission dreamed of developing a cure for the mara-struck.
But after such a long time, let alone curing the mara-struck, there were very few ways to even slow it down.
A problem that had troubled the Xianzhou natives for so long, in Bai Luan's mouth, was just a simple shot?
Are the methods of the Genius Society members so extraordinary?
Although she had heard something about the methods of the Genius Society members, it still sounded like a dream, making it hard to believe.
Such a thing would probably only be believed when it truly happened before one's eyes, right?
Alas... why did the divination fail precisely when it was most needed? Now I really feel uncertain.
Fu Xuan felt helpless for the first time in a long while.
Soon, Yanqing's phone received a reply from the Ten-Lords Commission, and he stepped forward to report.
"General, the Ten-Lords Commission said someone agreed and is now sending the person over."
Hearing this good news, Jing Yuan showed a smile.
"Understood."
Soon, people from the Ten-Lords Commission brought an old man, infinitely close to becoming mara-struck, to the 府 of the Divine Strategy.
The person who brought this old man to the 府 of the Divine Strategy was no stranger; it was Xueyi.
"Judge Xueyi of the Ten-Lords Commission, greetings, General. As per the command of Lord Siwang, I have delivered the person to the 府 of the Divine Strategy."
Jing Yuan nodded to Xueyi.
"You've worked hard. Please rest on the side for now."
Jing Yuan looked at the somewhat reserved old man and asked kindly,
"Have you understood everything clearly? Are you willing to accept the experiment?"
The old man nodded.
"I've understood everything clearly. Anyway, if I don't accept, I'll fall into the mara-struck. I'm willing to take a gamble."
Hearing this, Jing Yuan nodded, then looked at Bai Luan.
Bai Luan understood, took the extraction gun, stepped forward, and gestured for the old man to extend his hand.
The old man extended his hand as Bai Luan indicated, but his hand trembled slightly.
Seeing this, Bai Luan reached out, held the old man's hand, and said with a smile,
"What's your name, old man?"
"I... my name is Li Wenjie."
"Since you chose to accept this experiment, you must have someone you can't bear to leave, right?"
"Yes... In the latter half of life, one is basically always saying goodbye.
Either constantly saying goodbye to others, or being bid farewell by others."
The casual chat slightly eased the old man's nervousness, and the trembling stopped.
"If I had the chance, I would still want to say goodbye a little later. Perhaps this is what it means to be human; no matter how much you live, you always feel it's not enough."
"It might hurt a lot."
"I know..."
The old man took a deep breath.
"Come on."
Bai Luan nodded at his words, loaded an S-rank bullet into the extraction gun, and began extracting the mara-struck.
As soon as the extraction began, a look of pain immediately appeared on the old man's face.
This pain became more and more obvious as time passed, until his face was distorted at the end.
Even though it hurt terribly, and his face was pale, the old man did not ask to stop.
After twenty minutes of enduring the pain, the mara-struck extraction was complete, and the old man immediately fainted.
Bai Luan reached out and caught the old man, quickly checking his physical condition.
Everything was normal.
After checking, Bai Luan then removed the bullet from the extraction gun and took a look.
"Curio: Extraction Gun Bullet (Partial Abundance Blessing)"
It was a good thing he used an S-rank bullet. If he had used an A-rank bullet, he probably would only have extracted the Abundance Blessing, and in that case, immortality would probably have disappeared along with it.
Without the mara-struck, the most perfect immortality appeared.
"Just giving me immortality, I might still consider it, but with..."
Bai Luan's latter half of the sentence, "mara-struck, I definitely don't want it," had not yet been spoken.
A sudden change occurred.
The Aeon of Abundance suddenly cast a gaze, looking at Bai Luan, and along with the gaze came the Abundance Blessing.
"..."
Feeling the power of the Abundance Blessing surging within him, Bai Luan looked at Jing Yuan.
Jing Yuan also looked at Bai Luan.
A hint of awkwardness emerged between the two.
Hmm, he was being gazed upon by the Aeon of Abundance on the Xianzhou, which was relentlessly Hunt the Abundance across the galaxy.
And he was blessed by Them.
Aeon of Abundance, what are you doing?!
Aren't you harming me?
I hadn't even finished my sentence!
How could you... how could you directly detect keywords?!
Although you accept all comers... but... but you can't take things out of context!
Bai Luan felt like he couldn't clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
What do these Aeons think about all day? It's really... With a hint of helplessness, he spoke to Jing Yuan:
"Actually, I'm not familiar with Them..."