Chapter 118: Everyone fell into the pit

Without any extra pleasantries, the signing ceremony began directly.

First to take the stage was Yingjiang Guo.

President Wil stood up with a smile, then displayed their "sincerity" for exchange.

Yanhuang Guo projected this scene onto the big screen so everyone could see exactly what it was.

That was the 3D model data of a B-2 bomber, which was immediately broken down into tens of thousands of precision parts,

Each design drawing, each material ratio, each line of core code turned into streams of blue data, clearly presented before everyone.

Next came NASA's half‑century‑plus accumulation of deep‑space communication technology, gravitational wave detection models, and feasibility reports on next‑generation rocket engines……

Besides these, there were also many mineral resources.

They spared no expense, all to obtain more life‑extending potions.

Next, the representative of Hans Guo took the stage.

They offered the core patents of the entire Industry 4.0 system, as well as various minerals.

The Island Country transferred their proud cutting‑edge materials science formulas, and humanoid robot technology so lifelike it could pass for real.

……

One after another, the world's most cutting‑edge technology and rarest resources flowed into Yanhuang Guo.

The representatives below watched, hearts pounding—shocked by the chips other nations laid down, yet pained at the imminent loss of their own national treasures.

At that moment, the ever‑silent Qin Hao, prompted by Luo Lao's gesture, slowly rose and walked to the front of the stage.

"This is our evaluator for this session," Lei Ge said calmly from the side.

Technical evaluator?

Isn't that the young man from yesterday? What exactly is his position?

Everyone wondered why such a crucial "inspection" segment would be entrusted to a youngster who looks barely twenty.

In the Maple Leaf delegation, a technical consultant's eyes flickered with relief.

They considered themselves staunch allies of Yingjiang, believing Yanhuang would give them face, so they secretly mixed outdated, theoretically flawed data into their submitted "preliminary model of controllable nuclear fusion," hoping to slip through.

When it was the Maple Leaf delegation's turn to present, that technical consultant even puffed out his chest with self‑satisfaction.

Qin Hao merely stared at the complex data on the screen, without even calling up any equipment for auxiliary calculation.

He simply swept his gaze over it for a few seconds, then lifted his head, his eyes landing on the Maple Leaf representative.

"Your submitted model is quite interesting."

Qin Hao's voice rang throughout the hall.

"It's based on an improved tokamak design, but the core plasma‑confinement algorithm employs the discarded 'Cohen‑Lindberg' paradox model."

The Maple Leaf technical consultant's face turned ashen in an instant.

Qin Hao ignored him and continued:

"According to your algorithm, once the plasma temperature exceeds the 100‑million‑degree threshold, magnetic confinement will trigger a cascading avalanche effect from escaping high‑energy particles, the result being……"

Before his words finished, the virtual reactor on the screen exploded from within, a blinding flash engulfing everything.

The catastrophic outcome simulated by the 3D animation sent chills down everyone's spine.

"It's a nuclear contamination that would leave nothing growing within a radius of dozens of kilometers. I suppose that isn't what you call controllable nuclear fusion, is it?"

Qin Hao's calm gaze fell on the Maple Leaf representative, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

He could say this with confidence because the system had told him that this hidden tech‑appraisal function was something Qin Hao had only recently uncovered.

It's incredibly useful!

"You're trying to trade a potential disaster for your people's lifespans. That line of thinking is quite imaginative."

"Plop!"

The Maple Leaf representative's legs went weak, nearly collapsing to the ground, his face ashen, sweat pouring down.

Instantly the hall fell dead silent.

It seems trying to cheat on technology won't work.

"But you miscalculated, so you permanently lose the qualification to receive life‑extending potions!"

Having said that, Qin Hao ignored him and went on to evaluate the other nations' technical submissions.

After an hour, with Qin Hao's approval, every country's submitted technology was quantified into specific contribution values, clearly arrayed on the big screen.

"Next, specific amounts of life‑extending potions will be distributed according to the ranking of contribution values."

At that moment, Luo Lao's voice sounded.

"Ranking first is Hans Guo; you may receive the first batch of 100,000 life‑extending potions, each extending life to 135 years."

When the Hans Guo president heard this, he finally smiled.

They had paid dearly, and at last there was return. Second place went to Yingjiang Guo, then the Island Country, High Lu Chicken, and others.

Clearly, the higher a nation's contribution value, the more potions it receives.

But no one expected that, after distributing the potions, Luo Lao would publicly announce that the potions' "purity" is also graded,

the highest‑contribution nation's potions can extend life to 140 years, while those ranked lower receive only 130, or even 120 years.

This blatant tiered division left the lower‑ranked nations stunned!

"Why the different treatment? This isn't fair!"

Among them, a national president spoke up in protest.

"Exactly! On what basis do the higher‑ranked potions have different effects?"

……

Faced with these questions, Luo Luo did not answer.

Instead, Lei Ge stepped forward from the side, only to see him say:

"There's no reason; it's because the things you brought to exchange are only worth this price. If you're dissatisfied, you can choose not to exchange—we're not forcing you."

Upon hearing this, the presidents of those countries were instantly speechless.

Exactly!

All of this was their own doing; no one else is to blame.

So they could only endure it in silence.

Just when everyone thought everything was settled and were preparing to return home to transport the minerals, Qin Hao stepped forward again, smiling as he tapped the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, before the summit ends, there's a small technical briefing I need to share with you."

It once again struck a sore spot in everyone's heart.

"The biological activity of the Eternal Essence Longevity Elixir is not permanently constant."

Qin Hao's voice was gentle, but his content was utterly cold.

"According to our clinical tracking, its activity naturally diminishes with the body's metabolism."

"Therefore, to ensure the longevity effect persists, users must inject one vial of our exclusively provided 'Gene Activator' every five years to re-stabilize the elixir's effect."

Boom!

That statement, like a thunderclap from the nine heavens, exploded in the minds of every leader.

If before they had merely signed an unequal treaty, now they truly understood,

that what they had signed was a 'servitude contract' from which they could never escape, for eternity!

Five years!

Every five years, they must come back here, exchanging new technology and mineral resources for that small 'activator'.

Yanhuang Guo not only took their past and present, but also used an invisible chain to completely lock away their future!

All the leaders turned ashen, their bodies chilled.

Their gaze toward Qin Hao and his entourage completely changed.

As it turned out, the pit they had dug was waiting for them here.

Either comply with the demands, or live decades less—there's no doubt about the choice.

They are all presidents of a nation, high in power and status—who wouldn't want to live longer? Thus they had no choice but to accept!