Click—
The spacecraft landed at the lunar research center.
The planet was covered in massive experintal facilities, as well as breeding grounds for Honkai Beasts, Danger Beasts, and all kinds of bizarre lifeforms.
The headquarters of the Life Sciences Division was located here.
Tingyun and the accompanying delegation toured the open sections of the Life Sciences Division with almost reverent expressions.
Countless little lolis processed and analyzed data across holographic interfaces, or adjusted and operated various advanced instrunts inside laboratories.
Magical beasts from other worlds were also raised here. Angeloids extracted and isolated useful genes from them to further advance genetic technology.
"Within the Starsea Empire's core territory, genetic ascension and ta-morph surgery have been fully universalized."
"Through gene editing, we have greatly delayed the aging process of ordinary people, extending lifespans to a geological tiscale."
"Combined with ta-morph surgery and the fusion of Honkai Beast factors, one can maintain eternal youth."
As they walked, a little loli explained.
"Oh, though so people don't need it—like Spirits, Heroic Spirits, and shipgirls. They don't require this technology at all."
"!!!"
Tingyun and the Xianzhou delegation's breathing stalled for a mont.
They had visited many worlds of the Starsea Empire and toured the capital.
This super-civilization from another world was indeed astonishing. Whether in territory, technology, or architecture, there were countless unbelievable sights.
However, for the people of the Xianzhou, no dazzling technology could compare to two light, drifting words from the Life Sciences Division.
Eternal life.
Nothing was more important than life and death. Between them lay the greatest terror.
Since the era of the Ancient State, when envoys seeking dicine crossed deep space to et the gods and beg for the elixir of immortality, the Xianzhou people had never stopped pursuing longevity.
Countless outworlders gathered on the Xianzhou Luofu for the sa reason—to seek the secret of long life.
—An ordinary Xianzhou native could live more than eight hundred years. In the eyes of outsiders, that already qualified as a long-lived species.
"S-So... does that an everyone in the Starsea Empire is immortal?"
Tingyun arrived at an unbelievable yet logical conclusion.
"Of course. Ordinary people rely on genetic ascension and ta-morph surgery to remain eternally youthful. Shipgirls, Heroic Spirits, Outer Gods, and the like belong to entirely different species without the concept of lifespan. Naturally, they are immortal as well."
"So now you understand why there are only girls in the Starsea Empire, right?"
Belfast asked with a smile.
"Ah..."
Tingyun felt montarily dazed.
"The Xianzhou once swallowed the fruit of the dicus and received endless lifespan from the Plague Author of Abundance. Yet prosperity declines, and joy gives way to sorrow. Immortality was not as beautiful as our ancestors imagined."
"How is it for the Starsea Empire?..."
In the era of divine descent, the Xianzhou encountered the Aeon of Abundance and received the miracle of the Arbor. After consuming its fruit, the Xianzhou people obtained nearly limitless lifespans.
Yet longevity brought countless problems: population overexpansion, insufficient resources, those in high positions clinging to power forever while the lower classes could not rise.
Over endless years, the minds of nobles twisted, their bodies mutated, and they fell into mara, bringing upon the Xianzhou the three calamities of life, fire, and emptiness, gravely wounding its vitality.
Only after many upheavals did they finally stabilize the situation and establish the Xianzhou Alliance.
"Because our system is a Heavenly Mandate Empire—oh no, a philosopher-king system?"
Gudako scratched her head.
"Those bug nobles on the Xianzhou definitely can't compare to the Commander. And, uh, the ones in charge here also include shipgirls and Heroic Spirits. They're way stronger than ordinary humans, right?"
"And we're not lacking in resources. Actually, we have so many we can't even use them all."
"Besides, anyone invited into the Starsea Empire's core territory has the Commander's approval. It's not like just anyone can co."
The Xianzhou suffered the Calamity of Life due to struggles over resources and social status. The Starsea Empire's resources were virtually limitless.
As for class conflict between the so-called "nobility" and "commoners," it simply did not exist. Though Outer Gods, shipgirls, and Heroic Spirits varied in strength, there was no hierarchy of status.
A Cthulhu-like Outer God could sit beside a completely non-combat little loli and play video gas. A shipgirl could carry an ordinary squad across the stars.
This was a utopian world built upon extrely high productivity and extrely high civic quality.
Only such a near-universal paradise on earth could contain humanity's ultimate dream—immortality.
"..."
Tingyun closed her eyes and pondered for a long ti.
The history of the Xianzhou flashed before her like a slideshow.
Even now, longevity remained a sensitive topic on the Xianzhou. To address the problem of mara, the Ten-Lords Commission had been established to define life and death and regulate the lifespan of long-lived species.
"Wow, so if the Xianzhou Alliance could also use that... gene ascension thing, then wouldn't everyone be able to..."
Sushang could not grasp the complicated concepts or history. She only heard the words "eternal life" and grew excited.
"No!"
Tingyun raised her hand.
"The last ti we sought endless lifespan, it plunged the Xianzhou into chaos. If we once again glimpse the secret of immortality, we are bound to repeat the sa mistakes."
No one could resist the temptation of eternal life. And the Xianzhou was not an ideal nation like the Starsea Empire.
An infinite lifespan could very well cause history to repeat itself.
"Miss Tingyun is truly perceptive to consider matters to such depth."
Belfast's gaze carried a hint of admiration.
"Mm..."
Tingyun thought for a mont.
"Immortality is too extraordinary. This humble lady must reflect upon it carefully..."
"Earlier, I also heard you ntion that the Starsea Empire can reverse life and death. May I ask how that works?..."
"Oh, that's easy."
Gudako patted her chest.
"Just die once and you'll know."
"Ah??"
The foxian girl jumped in fright, her tail nearly puffing up, thinking Gudako was about to attack her.
"On the Xianzhou, life and death are overseen by the Ten-Lords Commission. In the Starsea Empire, reincarnation services fall under Ereshkigal's managent."
"If soone accidentally dies, just go greet the Goddess of the Underworld and ask her to send you back. Simple, right?"
"Don't worry. Playing a revival match in the Starsea Empire is perfectly normal."
As they spoke, the group wound through corridors and arrived before an independent laboratory.
Gudako knocked.
"Is Dr. Mobius in?"
An Angeloid poked her head out.
She was holding a tablet used for recording monitoring data.
"My apologies. Three hours ago, Dr. Mobius injected herself with a newly invented gene serum and has only recently lost vital signs."
"I am currently recording the serum's effects on the human body... Mm, this ti the death was caused by neurotoxic components in the formula..."
Everyone looked inside.
A green-haired scientist lay stiffly atop the lab table, instrunts connected all over her body.
The ECG line had long since flattened.
The assistant Angeloid seed accustod to it, calmly writing notes across a holographic screen and faithfully executing her orders.
"Dr. Mobius should be chatting with the Goddess of the Underworld right now. Mm, she ntioned wanting to have afternoon tea in the Underworld before returning."
"Uh... why is this happening?"
Tingyun asked.
"Dr. Mobius believes that in order to collect the most accurate data, it is necessary to personally conduct human experintation. This is purely scientific behavior."
The Angeloid answered.
"..."
Tingyun opened her mouth but had no idea what to say about such an absurd situation.
In the end, she could only politely ask, "May this humble lady inquire... how many tis has she revived?"
"This is Dr. Mobius' twelfth death this month. The developnt of this serum resulted in three more deaths than the previous formula."
The Angeloid replied seriously.
"In terms of total death count, Dr. Mobius is the undisputed revival champion of the Starsea Empire. If you have questions, please wait until she resurrects to inquire about pricing."
"You may also visit the Underworld now and dine with her there."
"Oh, and Lady Ereshkigal also ntioned expanding the Underworld's business operations into other universes and discussing cooperation with the Ten-Lords Commission..."
"Our Underworld is managed by the Goddess of the Underworld, Ereshkigal. If soone in the Starsea Empire's holand unfortunately dies in an accident, they just need to greet her and she'll send them back."
"Mm... If the body is too badly damaged, it will need to be reconstructed first."
Listening to Gudako explain the Starsea Empire's cycle of life and death, Tingyun and Sushang stood there for quite a while before recovering.
The immortality technology they had just witnessed was already shocking enough. If the Xianzhou people—no, if all sapient beings—learned of it, it would cause a trendous uproar.
The Xianzhou people lived only a little over eight hundred years, yet were already regarded as a long-lived species. Countless outworlders traveled to the Xianzhou Luofu seeking dical treatnt and the secret of longevity.
If they were told that the Starsea Empire possessed true immortality, what kind of chaos would that bring?
And now there was sothing even more outrageous than immortality—reversing life and death, overturning yin and yang.
"This..."
Tingyun stepped closer to take another look at Mobius.
A young and beautiful girl lay straight on the experintal table.
Her complexion was pale. There were no vital signs, yet a faint smile lingered on her face.
As though death itself were simply part of her plan.
"Eek—"
Tingyun shivered. No matter what, facing death head-on was unsettling.
Suddenly—
Bzz—
A holographic interface flickered open beside them.
Mobius' avatar appeared on it, observing everyone present.
"Hey! Don't touch my body! The data hasn't been fully collected yet!!"
"Wah!!!—"
"Gh-ghost aaaahhh!—"
Seeing Mobius speaking while her corpse lay before them, Sushang nearly jumped out of her skin.
The delegation erupted into chaos.
"It's haunted!!—"
"..."
"How provincial. I heard the Xianzhou have fought wars for years. Have you never been on a battlefield or sothing?"
Mobius shook her head, remaining in the Underworld while remotely directing her assistant.
"This gene serum is still too toxic. We need further purification of the active components. We can first attempt to isolate the sixteen neurotoxins responsible for death..."
As she spoke, she looked over the delegation.
"If you're not busy, want to help with an experint? Just one injection. If you die, co down and tell about the effects of the serum."
"Lifeforms from other worlds have significant reference value for genetic research."
"Ah???"
"I'm sorry, this humble lady... is not particularly skilled at such matters..."
Tingyun's lips twitched as she forced out an awkward yet polite smile.
The scientists of the Starsea Empire truly did possess a certain streak of madness. And clearly, they were not ntally prepared to serve as lab rats.
—Especially when the experint seed to assu death as the default outco. It was terrifying.
"Oh?"
Mobius glanced at Tingyun and Sushang.
"Help with an experint. Later I'll report to the Commander and arrange genetic ascension surgery for you."
"Ah??"
"You an?..."
Tingyun was startled once more.
"Just consider it a little gift. I doubt the Commander would mind. ta-morph surgery is only open to core residents, but I can perform a simplified genetic enhancent for you. Living a few thousand more years shouldn't be a problem."
Mobius answered matter-of-factly.
"Oh, and if you join the Starsea Empire in the future, I'll personally perform ta-morph surgery for you then."
"I'd also like to study your condition while I'm at it... Mm, is that what it's called?"
"It's mara!!!"
"!!!"
This ti, it was Tingyun and Sushang who lost their composure.
They had just witnessed the might of genetic biotechnology, and now soone was offering it directly to them. From the looks of it, Mobius was even the one in charge of biological research.
The foxian girl's mind raced.
She had made many deals before. This ti, she was essentially staking her life in exchange for the longevity the Xianzhou so desperately sought.
She could even visit the Underworld and broaden her horizons in the process.
After a brief mont of thought, she made her decision.
"Then... I shall trouble you."
A few minutes later.
The two of them lay side by side on the experintal table.
Sushang kept glancing around nervously.
She had agreed solely because Mobius ntioned studying mara required a sample like her.
Kind-hearted by nature, if soone needed help, she would step forward without hesitation.
"I will inject you with Experintal Gene Serums Type-6 and Type-7. Based on previous data, the estimated fatality rate is approximately 82.6%. However, observing their integration with lifeforms remains a crucial data sample."
The assistant Angeloid retrieved two vials from the equipnt.
"...Only you people could conduct experints with a mortality rate like that."
Tingyun could not help muttering.
Click—
The injections were administered one after the other. The Angeloid loyally recorded the data.
Before long.
Tingyun and Sushang felt their vision blur, their consciousness gradually sinking into darkness.
Their bodies grew cold.
"Mm... The Xianzhou physique bears similarities to ordinary humans, though their gene sequences differ. They may be regarded as a new species..."
"Data parsing... Foxians possess stronger physical constitutions than standard Xianzhou natives, though they age faster..."
The voices of the Angeloid and AI grew increasingly distant.
They felt themselves falling into endless darkness.
When they opened their eyes again—
They stood within a dim, profound space. Before them lood an enormous gate to the Underworld.
In the distance flowed a river descending from the horizon. Its surface was utterly still, without a single ripple, quietly flowing toward the far reaches.
Across the banks blood vast fields of crimson flowers, eerie yet beautiful.
"So this is... the Underworld?"
"I... really did experience it a hundred or two years early, didn't I?"
Tingyun and Sushang stood at a loss.
"Huh? Where's my sword?!"
Sushang patted her back, feeling that sothing was missing.
They soon realized that their phones, communication devices, and various belongings and abilities were unusable in the Underworld.
They were in soul form now.
"My, to think that I would co to the Starsea Empire only to die in the line of duty so soon."
Tingyun sighed lightly.
Just as they were looking around—
A gentle, crisp voice sounded beside them.
"Hm? More people have co down?"
"Eh? Wait, wait, you're in the wrong place. Sorry about that."
Whoosh—
They felt themselves lifted up.
Their vision blurred.
They landed in another courtyard.
Above them was blue sky and white clouds. Around them were neatly trimd flowerbeds. Not far away stood a magnificent palace.
It looked like a luxurious resort.
Mobius, who had spoken with them earlier, was seated in the garden with a blonde girl with red eyes and twin ponytails, enjoying afternoon tea.
Several little lolis clustered nearby, sitting on the ground and arguing noisily over a holographic interface.
"I told you your plan was wrong! How could the Matter Decompressor's output possibly be that low? Now look—we wiped out again!!"
"Ugh, we have to wait for the Life Sciences Division to reconstruct our bodies before we can go back! Waaah! I won't finish my paper in ti!!—"
"?"
Tingyun felt that this Underworld was rather different from what she had imagined.
At the very least, the Ten-Lords Commission of the Xianzhou did not debate academic papers after death.
"Welco, guests from another world."
Ereshkigal stood and greeted them.
"I am Ereshkigal, the Goddess of the Underworld, in charge of life and death within the Starsea Empire."
"Er... this humble lady greets the Sacrosanct."
Unsure how to address her, Tingyun bowed respectfully and used the title of reverence.
After all, a goddess who governed yin and yang and life and death could not possibly hold a low status.
Yet Ereshkigal differed greatly from the stern judges of the Ten-Lords Commission in Tingyun's imagination. She seed like an ordinary girl.
"Sacrosanct? Uh, just call by my na. My Master would laugh at otherwise."
Ereshkigal thought for a mont.
"In any case, welco to the Underworld."
"Relax. Everyone here is a regular, mm."
—
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