"The Longevity Club is a company, initiated by powerful families and attracting so-called old money and new elites, forming a multinational conglomerate."
"Everyone contributes what they can, be it money or manpower, with a single goal: uncover the secret of immortality!"
"No matter how fiercely they argue outside or compete in the business world, they all share and revere the 'dream of immortality'. In this ideal, everyone's interests align."
Grandmaster Lin said, "Anyone or any group or organization that tries to stop them will face fierce sanctions and suppression from all sides..."
"Overseas, wealth is equivalent to influence. The Longevity Club can even wage a small war in certain regions for the sake of a Spirit Beast."
Lin Ying was startled, "Is it necessary?"
"A certain substance can be extracted from a Spirit Beast's body. Once injected, it unconditionally slows down human aging, and based on telomerase activity monitoring, it equates to a ten-year lifespan extension."
"The terrible wicked thoughts an aging billionaire lying on a sickbed, clinging to each day, can conceive are unimaginable to normal people."
"They wield power and immense wealth, and an opportunity lies before them." Grandmaster Lin clicked his tongue in wonder as if recalling something, "The first thing a 107-year-old ghost did after injecting Spirit Beast extract was to find a strapping male model..."
"As if wishing to devour him, and after the deed, almost seven billion dollars were transferred to the Longevity Club from one of his trust funds in the name of charity."
Grandmaster Lin's example to Lin Ying might have seemed a bit crude.
But this incident happened not long ago.
The Old Witch, rejuvenated to 80, returned from death's door, and her first act was to indulge her greedy desires and join other members to purge rebellious factions within her family.
She was on the brink of death.
Descendants fought for her inheritance, establishing their domains in various business sectors.
Upon her return and relishing the joy of youth, she wielded the knife against her offspring, regaining lost power and wealth.
Her fashion empire needed no heirs, nor did her will require any continuation.
She would endure eternally.
She would forever be the fashion queen.
These demons crawling back from hell underwent a seismic shift in worldviews once certain of achieving immortality. Some families originally made their fortune in arms manufacturing.
They could provide unlimited fire support.
The only demand was that any member capturing a Spirit Beast had to share the spoils.
"Although I am a member, I cannot fathom how far their tentacles reach, and anyone attempting to thwart those demonic folks will face retribution," Grandmaster Lin said, "In Xia Country, no matter who inquires about the Longevity Club or its inside information, you..."
Just as Grandmaster Lin was about to caution Lin Ying about her safety, a loud roar interrupted him.
The shrill, roaring wail penetrated even through Lin Ying's phone to Grandmaster Lin's ear.
Lin Ying and Grandmaster Lin froze, their minds echoing with the inhuman shriek.
The urgent alarm blared, and the soldier guarding outside the private room, his expression changing drastically, burst through the door, saying:
"This is not an exercise or a method to draw Yang's investment. Let me reiterate, this is not any drill or investment pitch, an escaped creature incident occurred in the lab, please take refuge with me."
Lin Ying, though bewildered, quickly followed the soldier.
While heading to the shelter, Lin Ying saw Chen Zhiyu and Yang Suo with her, along with other researchers who accompanied them in the morning lab tour.
Their faces didn't show much panic as if they were somewhat accustomed to it.
"Miss Lin, don't worry too much; our lab has the most refined defense facilities. Perhaps a Spirit Beast is challenging the Overlord's position, and it'll quiet down after taking a beating," Yang Suo, while also headed to the shelter, calmly explained to Lin Ying.
Though Spirit Beast escape incidents weren't common in the lab, they still occurred periodically, usually sorted out with the Overlord there dealing a slap.
Then, everyone returned to their routine research.
However, procedural steps would strictly follow protocols nonetheless.
After all... a Spirit Beast's physique could easily match the impact of a construction vehicle.
Yet the harsh wailing continued, and Yang Suo found it curious.
"Is there a fox Spirit Beast in your lab?" Lin Ying asked Yang Suo.
"Indeed, there is one, but that Fennec Fox was brought from the zoo, it shouldn't have the power to challenge the Overlord..." Yang Suo said with a growing sense of unease.
The shriek might not have been an alert issued by their researchers.
A deafening blast resonated within the reception area. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on ɴoᴠel Fɪre.nᴇt
"It's... the sound of a rocket launcher firing," the soldier escorting Yang Suo away instinctively remarked.
Agonized serpentine hissing, echoing intermittently, reached the reception.
"A snake... how is it possible, did Jin Long lose?" Yang Suo's face changed dramatically; the Overlord-level Spirit Beast commissioned by the top to guard the lab was a desert tan giant lizard known as Uncle Jinlong due to its formidable strength.
That grand old man had never failed; it only took three punches to cure the wild boars in Skinny Dog Creek of rage syndrome.
A single tail swipe had yanked the Changle River crocodiles back to reality from their Overlord dream.
Now... Uncle Jinlong lost?
As various Spirit Beasts' wails ensued, the inhuman shriek soared above the reception.
A youth donned in patient clothing, seemingly descended from on high, bare feet crushing the floorboards of the reception, landing in front of those headed to the shelter.
A barrage of rubble, rebar, and cement dust "rustled" to the ground.
The patient-clad individual, standing atop the ruinous debris, was in an unusually exhilarated state, with an even more bizarre feature being his eyes, colored in rainbow hues.
He stretched out his arms, blocking the crowd's way, his eyes bulging, the rainbow-hued sclera swirling like tree rings.
The patient's gaze shifted to Lin Ying and Chen Zhiyu.
He seemed to sniff out a familiar scent from them.
It was this very scent that once mercilessly conveyed malevolence, intending his demise.
Lin Ying and Chen Zhiyu's expressions changed, appearing to understand what the 'Master Fox' from the man's mouth meant.
"Master Fox! Master Fox....."
The patient leaped forward, his limbs stiff as he landed before everyone, wildly circling as if searching for something, only to end up disappointed without finding what he sought.
That peculiar figure, seemingly devoid of human common sense, chose neither the door nor the window but stood firmly on the ground, headbutting through the roof, and leaped mightily out of the lab after ascending five floors.
In the cloud of dust, Lin Ying slowly turned her gaze to Yang Suo.
So... can we still talk about investment? You should know that thing looked fierce.
Lin Ying withdrew her gaze, looking in the direction the odd patient left, murmuring to herself:
"Little Master Fox... you should have your phone with you, right?"
"The patient who was parasitized obviously came for Master Fox."
Lin Ying's whispering in her heart transformed into a wish appearing in Ansheng's mind.