At first, there were a great many applicants, but after a large-scale selection and more than half a year of elimination, only about fifty people remained in the end.

Most of these people transferred schools and gathered at the university where David Miller and Brian Carter were, continuing their original majors while also forming an “Old Arts Experimental Class.”

Not everyone joined out of interest like David Miller did at the beginning.

Those who transferred had already been promised that, upon graduation, they would at the very least be guaranteed a respectable and highly paid job.

By this point, everyone realized that this “research” was highly unusual—otherwise, why go to such great lengths for it?

The “Old Arts textbooks” used in the experimental class were all quite remarkable: some were unique copies from museums, some were rare treasures from conglomerate collections, and some were scriptures from certain religions.

For example, a particular internal cultivation method was quite famous in ancient times, but was eventually lost.

A few years ago, someone discovered it in a tomb, bringing it back to light, and now it had been compiled as one of the study materials for the experimental class.

In addition, from this point on, all the students in the Old Arts Experimental Class had their meals specially prepared, with great attention to detail.

As they learned more, many were amazed to find that some of the ingredients were extremely precious and rare, hard to obtain on the Old Earth, and had been shipped from deep space.

The Old Professor who taught them the Qi-gathering technique once sighed that these ingredients were outrageously expensive even on the New Star, let alone when shipped from deep space.

Some ingredients couldn’t be bought even if you had the money.

Some of these ingredients came from the deep seas of the New Star and had anti-aging effects; some greatly replenished blood and energy, while others could keep a person vigorous and energetic.

For those practicing various scattered arts, dietary supplements were extremely important.

The Old Professor once said that certain ingredients were especially favored by some elders of astonishing status and background on the New Star, because they could slow aging.

This showed just how much importance was attached to this “Old Arts research.”

What was even more surprising was that, not long after, more than twenty freshmen from the New Star actually joined this experimental class.

It had always been students from Old Earth who longed for the New Star, hoping to study abroad, but this time, the situation was reversed.

With the arrival of these young men and women, some rumors began to circulate, gradually allowing the students of the Old Arts Experimental Class to learn part of the truth.

“Some organizations, some research institutes, some conglomerates, are pursuing immortality!”

At the time, this statement caused quite a stir in the Old Arts Experimental Class, and many were shocked.

To modern people, such a pursuit seemed laughable and illusory.

However, throughout history, it seemed that everyone who reached a certain height had pursued it relentlessly.

As early as the pre-Qin era, legends about immortals and alchemists had already fascinated later generations—even kings were not immune.

But from the First Emperor of Qin to Emperor Wu of Han, and all those who came after, they all failed; they could not obtain the elixir of immortality, and it was impossible for anyone to succeed.

Now, in this era, so-called myths had long been debunked—how could such things exist?

And yet, it was the technologically dazzling New Star that brought such news.

“To be precise, it’s the elders in some conglomerates, the people in power, who want to obtain longer lifespans.”

Although someone added this clarification, it still caused an uproar in the experimental class at the time.

History always repeats itself in astonishing ways; throughout the ages, certain great figures entering old age seemed unwilling to accept it, longing for youth and a vigorous body.

Back then, David Miller and Brian Carter whispered to each other, making fun of those big shots.

“The old men are withering away, of course they crave youth—otherwise, how could they appreciate beautiful women? They have billions in assets, but can’t squander it anymore. If it were me, I’d want to live another five hundred years too!”

“The old ladies are definitely even more ruthless than the old men. With their youth gone and their former beauty now covered in wrinkles, for powerful women who control vast resources and wield great influence, aging is the ultimate enemy! If there’s even a sliver of hope, the old ladies would be even crazier than the old men, doing whatever it takes to regain their youth!”

At the time, several young men and women from the New Star rolled their eyes hard when they overheard the two whispering, as it seemed to involve some of their own elders.

Chapter 003: The Life Extension Project

Those elders were desperate—they had little time left and couldn’t afford to waste any more years, urgently needing research results.

That’s why the Old Arts Experimental Class selected university students rather than starting with children; the former were older and more perceptive.

All the scattered arts originated from Old Earth, and those organizations and research institutes believed that restoring Old Arts research from the source might be the best choice.

Most importantly, since all myths and legends originated from Old Earth, perhaps there was some “mysterious factor” here.

It’s just that this idea contradicted the brilliant deep-space technological civilization and couldn’t be put down on paper.

However, some elders of astonishing status and background seemed to believe in these occult studies even more as they reached old age.

What were they seeking? Longer life, hoping to dig into myths and follow in the footsteps of their predecessors to find the path to immortality.

Even though, when calm, they themselves knew it was most likely a fantasy, if time was running out and they possessed vast resources, why not give it a try?