"Did you understand?" Old Mr. Tao asked.

Lin Hai shook his head, wearing a bewildered expression.

It wasn't that he couldn't grasp the concept; he just genuinely thought this thing was useless.

Do you really want to become an immortal being? Is it scientific? Practical? Or just plain ridiculous?

"Do you have the brain of a pig?"

Old Mr. Tao's face was filled with disappointment.

"Extending life is a boon for the entirety of humanity!"

"So what? No matter how long you live, can you outperform planes, cannons, and missiles?"

Lin Hai blinked and retorted.

In his view, such a life investment plan would likely cost a fortune with negligible returns.

Of course, it's not unlikely that many top figures would want to live a few more years.

"What do you know? Don't look at this plan with your mediocre perspective."

Old Mr. Tao seemed to see through Lin Hai's thoughts at a glance.

"Kid, if Einstein could have lived twenty more years, perhaps he could have unearthed more secrets of the universe."

"Just think, if so many scientists could extend their lifespans, how much would they contribute to the entire scientific community?"

"How many genius scientists, because of their short life spans, couldn't complete what they toiled over for a lifetime? Maybe if they lived a few years longer, they'd achieve breakthroughs. Just imagine the impact on the nation and humanity at large?"

Old Mr. Tao huffed and stared at Lin Hai.

"Okay, besides extending life, what else is there?"

"There are plenty of benefits. For example, you martial artists—through years of refining techniques, you can exert power with intention and precision, delivering a punch more accurately than others. But this life investment plan doesn't just let you control power; it continually strengthens your meridians, bringing the human body to its extreme potential."

After speaking, the old man seemed afraid Lin Hai wouldn't comprehend, so he gave an example: "Do you know why the state hasn't sent super experts to eliminate the Netherworld Guest? Do you know why the state hasn't let the Taotie perish?"

"Because both of them are connected to this plan."

"Especially the Taotie, who essentially participated in this plan from childhood. His body has been infused with various genetically engineered potions."

"These genetic potions have advanced his physique to a terrifying degree, like the Golden Muscle and Jade Bone from ancient myths."

Old Mr. Tao was really dropping some big revelations this time.

Golden Muscle and Jade Bone?

Lin Hai was intrigued once more.

In the globally recognized Body Refining Realm for experts, the body can reach the so-called "Vajra Unbreakable."

That Vajra Unbreakable is indestructible except by weapons above the level of artillery shells.

"So is Golden Muscle and Jade Bone the same as Vajra Unbreakable?" Lin Hai asked.

Old Mr. Tao snorted: "At least you have some insight to know that the pinnacle of martial arts is Vajra Unbreakable."

"Theoretically, Golden Muscle and Jade Bone are slightly stronger than Vajra Unbreakable."

"Vajra Unbreakable is external; Golden Muscle and Jade Bone, even internal organs and capillaries are fortified. What do you say?"

Lin Hai was astonished.

Sh*t, does such high-tech genetic potion really exist?

In that case, why practice martial arts at all? Just one shot of this, and you instantly become a peerless master. Even if you know no techniques, just standing there makes you a prime bulletproof candidate.

"Old man, please gimme a dose of potion, I'd even offer my...services." Lin Hai smiled wide with a smitten expression.

"Talking to you is cutting my lifespan!"

"Ugh? Why?"

Lin Hai asked with exaggerated shock.

The old man rolled his eyes heavily: "Because you irritate me, and your mouth doesn't run straight—it's more winding than a mountain road."

"Old man, don't act like that, please gimme one dose." Lin Hai gave all sorts of suggestive gestures.

"Really, I'd even offer my...services."

"Your 'services' are too loose, not interested."

"..."

The old man's snarky comeback nearly made Lin Hai cough up blood.

Sir, you're far too avant-garde, aren't you?

"Don't even think about it. Taotie was just a failed experiment, and it needed to be cultivated from a young age; you're already set at your age. Injecting genetic potions into you would just be wasting resources."

Old Mr. Tao mercilessly dashed those hopes.

Lin Hai's face fell immediately.

Just when he thought he could get something good, it turned out to be all for nothing.

"This is your big scoop, your big secret?" Lin Hai pouted.

"Such a big plan is top secret in other countries. If you leaked it, it'd surely amount to treason. Isn't that a big secret?"

The old man was about to give Lin Hai a strong hit with his cane.

"Cough, cough... old man, leave your cane at bay. It's a big secret, alright?"

"What do you understand, huh!"

The old man said, waving his hand: "Alright, the task is done. You can scram now."

"Uh... old man, then I'll leave."

Lin Hai stood up and suddenly realized he'd come all this way for nothing.

"Hold on, before you leave, let me ask you something." The old man said.

Lin Hai stopped, hope rekindled on his face. Could it be that the old man changed his mind and was preparing to grant him a dose?

"After you drank that Superpower Potion last time, did it have any effects?"

Lin Hai was disappointed; turns out it was about the post-experiment "experience," treating him like a White Rat.

"Not much effect..."

Sure enough, the old man's face showed disappointment.

"Uh, wait, I remember, it did have a bit of an effect."

"What effect?" The old man's eyes brightened immediately.

"Uh, while hooking up with a girl, I seemed to last longer than usual."

Lin Hai said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

"Get lost! Get out of here before I have the guards turn you into a sieve!"

Old Mr. Tao's cane clattered loudly on the ground.

"Calm down, old man, it was a joke, lighten up! After taking the potion, I got struck by lightning once, and not only was I fine— I actually absorbed the electricity."

Lin Hai quickly dropped his frivolous demeanor and replied truthfully.

Old Mr. Tao froze for a second, then inquisitively asked: "Really?"

"Really." Lin Hai nodded affirmatively.

"Come on, kid, shock me!"

"What?"

"Didn't hear me? Give me some electricity, work on me."

Geez—

Lin Hai wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: "Old man, that last sentence sounds a bit... awkward, I'm not into that kind of stuff, and especially not such heavy stuff."

"Get lost! I said for you to shock me."

"Don't push me; I can bear loneliness."

"Guards! Guards! Set up the anti-aircraft gun, I want to light him up!"

"Old man, wait, just a joke to lighten the mood, the electricity's all used up."

Lin Hai explained with a bitter smile.

"Used up? You mean your body can't generate electricity on its own, only absorb externally?" Old Mr. Tao asked, a gleam of calculation in his eyes.

"Seems that way."

"Oh, I get it, you can head back later, but hang around for a test."

"What are you planning?" Lin Hai widened his eyes, a cold shiver running down his spine.

"Nothing much, later I'll have you touch a high-voltage cable, shouldn't be an issue, right?" Old Mr. Tao finished with an ominous grin. Kid, dare to joke around with this old man?

"Ah?"

Lin Hai's face fell to the pits of despair: "Old man, shouldn't be a problem, but that thing, I think whether it's a human or an animal, can only touch it once in a lifetime, then they're completely ashes."