Chapter 116: Want to Extend Life? The Price Is a Bit High

Facing nearly pleading visit requests from senior officials of over a hundred countries worldwide, Yanhuang Guo's response appeared unusually composed.

At the routine press conference, Lie Ge, using his signature calm tone, announced a decision that drew the world's attention.

We understand each country's concern about the life-extending elixir; considering everyone's busy schedules, to improve efficiency, Yanhuang Guo has decided to hold the inaugural Global Life Health and Future Development Summit in the capital next Monday.

At that time, we will invite delegations from all countries interested in this matter to attend. Regarding international cooperation on the life-extending elixir, we will provide a unified explanation and discussion at the summit.

As soon as these words were spoken, politicians worldwide instantly sensed the underlying meaning.

What "global summit"?

This is clearly a collective interview!

Yanhuang Guo has no intention of holding one-on-one secret negotiations with them; instead, it wants to gather everyone together and lay their cards openly on the table,

and let you yourselves 'bid'!

What immense confidence this is, and what a naked stratagem!

Too arrogant! They are humiliating us!

Yingjiang Guo, President Weier roared angrily.

However, his Secretary of State beside him forced a smile and handed over a report.

Mr. President, we have no choice. This is the latest information compiled by our Intelligence Department: at least fifteen countries, including several of our important allies,

have privately prepared cooperation lists and intend to present their sincerity to Yanhuang Guo at the summit.

Weier snatched the report, his face growing paler the more he read.

The island nation is preparing to transfer its top-tier precision machine-tool technology and materials science formulas.

Hans Guo is preparing to unveil its proud full suite of high-end automated industrial systems.

Even Listeyi Guo, which has long claimed technological leadership, is preparing to offer its desert agricultural technology and some military-industrial technology as bargaining chips.

These were once regarded as core national interests, tightly guarded treasures by them.

But now, faced with the ultimate temptation of 'lifespan,' everything can be put up for sale.

"Crazy, all crazy…" Weier muttered.

He knew that if Yingjiang Guo failed to bring enough weight to this bidding war, they would not only lose the chance to prolong life,

but would also be quickly caught up and even surpassed by these former allies in technology and national strength.

At that point, Yingjiang Guo would truly face its doom.

Get ready.

Weier took a deep breath and made his final decision.

Take out a list of our hidden assets as well. Also, notify NASA and the giants of our Silicon Valley, have them gather their top scientists and engineers to form a delegation to accompany me to Yanhuang Guo!

He finally realized that this summit is not for negotiation, but for pilgrimage.

……

One week later, Yanhuang Guo, the capital.

The airport's bustle rivaled any global gathering in history.

One after another, private jets representing each nation's highest authority landed in succession.

Presidents, prime ministers, and premiers who usually command the international stage now descended the aircraft stairs with faces showing a complex mix of anticipation, unease, and awe.

The summit was held at the National Convention Center.

When the national delegations entered the main hall, everyone was stunned by the sight before them.

The venue's setup resembled not a solemn international conference but rather a high-tech product launch.

On the massive holographic screen, a loop played showing the full process of the Eternal Liquid from research to production, along with moving images of centenarian soldiers regaining new life.

On the stage, no elaborate seating was arranged.

There was only a simple podium.

Luo Lao and others were already waiting here.

Looking down at the seated crowd, which nearly encompassed the decision-makers of all today's major powers, Luo Lao's face broke into a meaningful smile.

He walked to the podium, skipped pleasantries, and got straight to the point.

"Everyone, welcome to Yanhuang Guo. I know why you have come."

He swept his gaze across the hall, his voice steady.

"The life-extending elixir is a treasure of all humanity; in principle, we are willing to share this achievement with the world's nations."

These words instantly lifted the spirits of the crowd below, their eyes lighting up.

However, Luo Lao's following words doused their fervent hearts with a bucket of cold water.

"But sharing does not mean free, nor does it mean it can be bought with money."

He paused, and behind him the holographic screen shifted to display a bold line of text.

【Global Life Community Plan —— Technology, Resources, Substitution Plans】

Upon hearing this, everyone below began to discuss heatedly.

Luo Lao seemed oblivious to their reaction and continued: "Our plan is simple: to obtain a quota of the life-extending elixir, you must offer two things in exchange."

"First is technology: you may use your most cutting-edge science and technology, whether aerospace, artificial intelligence, materials science, or crystal manufacturing."

"We will have a professional assessor evaluate the worth of your technology and exchange it for the corresponding elixir quota."

"Second is resources: you may use various mineral resources for exchange, the rarer the more valuable, with our personnel conducting the appraisal."

Boom!

These two conditions, one stricter than the other, one deadlier than the next!

This is no longer business; it is wielding 'longevity' as a lever to thoroughly squeeze the world's old order, a bottom‑out purge!

Yingjiang Guo's President Weier felt only a dizzying spin.

If the two conditions are agreed to, it amounts to utterly uprooting the fang that Yingjiang Guo relies on to maintain its global hegemony!

"Impossible! Without technology and resources, how can we talk about development?"

A general from the Yingjiang Guo delegation couldn't help but stand up and roar.

However, his voice was made extraordinarily grating by the deathly silence around him.

He was shocked to discover that, aside from themselves, not a single national representative stood up to echo him.

Even their staunchest allies at this moment lowered their eyes to their noses and noses to their hearts, as if they hadn't heard a word he said.

They clearly understood in their hearts that Yanhuang Guo was not negotiating with them.

Rather, it was presenting them with a multiple‑choice question.

Is it to cling to the old era's hegemony and weapons, only to turn to dust in just a few decades?

Or is it to lay down the butcher's knife, embrace a new era led by Yanhuang Guo in which they themselves could live longer and healthier?

Just then, the ever‑silent Qin Hao stepped forward and lightly tapped the microphone.

The entire audience's gaze instantly focused on this overly young youth.

Who is this? A question rose in everyone's mind.

Because no one had known him before.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I only want to add one point."

Qin Hao's voice reached everyone's ears.

"We need these technologies and resources not to monopolize them, but to accelerate the technological progress of all humanity."

"Just think: if everyone guards their own technology and refuses to share, when will our human civilization ever leave Blue Star?"

"But if we integrate all technologies and resources, perhaps before long we could solve the problem of interstellar travel and lead everyone to behold the scenery of the universe."

He paused for a moment, then threw out an even more impactful topic.

"By the way, our latest research shows that the effect of Eternal Essence Liquid seems to receive a certain strange enhancement in the microgravity environment of space."

"Perhaps… the limit of human lifespan is not merely a matter of adding a few decades."