"Welcome Miss Lin, Miss Chen...."
Yang Mingqing smiled warmly to welcome them, and the office director beside him, being very perceptive, quickly held an umbrella for Lin Ying, shielding her from the sun, as they walked towards the Dongxiang Research Institute.
This building, which appears to be an abandoned industrial park, is actually primarily used for storage and as offices.
The real research institute is further inside. Along the way, Director Yang spoke to Lin Ying and Chen Zhiyu about the spiritual energy revival. The overall conclusion is essentially what Grandmaster Lin once told Lin Ying about the "Ice Age Theory."
Spiritual energy has always existed, but it cycles like tides.
And each revival of spiritual energy brings new changes to Blue Planet, making it more habitable.
Indeed.... Director Yang even mentioned that the original origin of humans might be related to the substance codenamed "Spiritual Energy."
Humans, as native beings of Blue Planet, logically should be perfectly adapted to Blue Planet's gravity environment. Human skin should similarly be adapted to the sun and should not develop sunburn or allergic symptoms after just ten minutes under the sun.
There are also issues like difficulty in reproduction and susceptibility to various incurable chronic diseases.
It's a miraculous thing that humanity, such a fragile group with a long childhood period of over ten years, has not gone extinct on Blue Planet.
Not to mention, humans reign supreme at the top of the entire food chain.
"Of course...."
As Director Yang reached this point in his speech, he smiled and said: "Some who hear me speak like this, especially the straightforward ones, might scoff, bluntly saying that humans develop chronic illnesses due to body aging, and comparing ancient people's lifespans to modern ones is simply foolish....."
"They might even start debating with me about biological evolution right there in the car, asserting that human physical peak occurs at age twenty-three, and every subsequent decade clearly reveals body aging and energy decline."
Director Yang's lips curled slightly as he said: "I actually quite enjoy debates, because the ongoing research on 'Spiritual Power and Longevity' we're conducting is based on the skeletal remains of an emperor excavated from an ancient tomb."
"After age verification, he lived for seven hundred and forty-nine years. One of his tibias had such bone density that it remained intact even amid Black Gold explosions, capable of withstanding burns of about three thousand degrees Celsius."
"Our research progress, in essence, is akin to an archaeological discovery predicting causes from effects."
Lin Ying's expression was as calm as an ancient well, showing no opinion on Director Yang's words.
Whether true or not, whether pie in the sky or not.
No matter how long people can live, what difference does it make, for the world's scenery remains as it is.
Moreover.
From Lin Ying's work experience and dealing with entrepreneurs, Yang's words contained both truth and falsehood, a common tactic of fabricating fantasies to lure investment.
"Is your research funding particularly tight?" Lin Ying slowly asked Director Yang.
"Spiritual Energy Recovery is a systematic subject. There is no shortage of funding for the system, but who would reject adequate budget in their own hands?"
Director Yang laughed: "Every year's allocation goes through three academies before reaching the research institute, and once it gets there, it has to be further distributed among the groups. Our 'Spiritual Power and Longevity' research institute here, besides our primary research, has many projects awaiting implementation stored away in file cabinets."
"Unfortunately..... we can't openly seek investment, only those who pass security screening can come here."
Director Yang spoke directly without hiding anything.
Adults handle matters by separating issues.
Even if faced with someone they dislike, cooperation is possible once interests align.
Dongxiang Research Institute's main focus is on the effects of spiritual power on the human body and changes in longevity.
Throughout history, any emperor or general living during periods of spiritual power dormancy sought longevity, didn't they?
Even Director Yang himself, when he was younger, swallowed two packs of cigarettes and three pounds of liquor a day. However, after reaching forty-five years old, he quit smoking, gave up alcohol, and his bottled cold drinks turned into a health pot.
"Spiritual energy recovery starts from the heavens and manifests in beasts, and we humans are also part of the ecological animal community. However, our structure is more complex and old, displaying delay..."
"Our research aims to forcibly shorten this process, just like the Longevity Club....."
Director Yang casually mentioned an organization to validate his words.
When Director Yang spoke this sentence, it was as if he casually mentioned it during a chat.
Because overseas, Grandmaster Lin from the Lin Clan is a member of the Longevity Club.
In Director Yang's firm impression, Lin Ying, as the head of the Lin Clan in Xia Country, even if unable to interfere with the overseas Lin Clan, should be very clear about matters related to the overseas Lin Clan.
In fact, the overseas Lin Clan's healthcare group itself is developed around "lifespan enhancement."
Director Yang believes Lin Ying's initiative to come to the Dongxiang Spirit Beast Research Institute via the Security Bureau is simply to prepare to invest in Xia Country.
The overseas Lin Clan has already invested, and it's only normal for Lin Ying's Lin Clan to invest.
"Hiss...."
Chen Zhiyu, who kept silent while sitting in the car and listening to Yang and Lin Ying's conversation, suddenly felt a sting on her buttocks. She instinctively looked over.
The rear business seat was custom-made, with Director Yang facing both Lin Ying and Chen Zhiyu.
Lin Ying turned towards the aisle to fetch the water placed beside Chen Zhiyu's seat, and during the process, Lin Ying secretly took something to poke Chen Zhiyu's buttocks.
"What's wrong?"
Lin Ying looked at Chen Zhiyu, her expression serene, her gaze shifting towards Director Yang.
Chen Zhiyu, not a rookie fresh out of society, evidently noticed Lin Ying hinting to her.
"Longevity Club? Is it an organization within our country researching spirit beasts? Why do I sense....." Chen Zhiyu pretended to be confused as she asked Director Yang.
"Hmm?"
Director Yang looked at Chen Zhiyu, his mind flashed with relevant intelligence from Chen Zhiyu's file, and then he looked at Lin Ying somewhat peculiarly, saying: "The Longevity Club is a global organization, not strongly linked with domestic institutions, just that they are quite reputable."
Lin Ying glanced sideways, slightly rebuking, and proactively intervened in blocking Chen Zhiyu.
Yang noticed Lin Ying's slight displeasure and diplomatically smoothed things over by saying:
"It's normal for Miss Chen not to know about the Longevity Club, because they're inherently a non-public, member-based, unofficial organization. The Longevity Club essentially serves families, clans, and newly emerged wealthy individuals as a medical facility."
"Just, since Miss Lin hasn't told you about them, perhaps she doesn't want Miss Chen to get involved with the Club's affairs, so I won't delve further. Not knowing them might be a good thing."
"They are... simply shortsighted and greedy plunderers, a disgrace to researchers!"
Lin Ying's gaze slightly lifted, carrying an aloof sense of cold detachment.
Though, if Ansheng were here, he'd immediately see that Lin Ying wasn't indifferent — she was rolling her eyes.
In Xia Country's Lin Clan, only the head can directly engage in commercial talks with Grandmaster Lin.
Though Lin Ying was designated as head by Grandmaster Lin, her tenure was too brief, and Grandmaster Lin, aware of Lin Ying's health concerns, didn't entrust her with significant tasks, only urging her to take care of her health.
Regarding specific business and matters exclusive to the Lin Clan's chairman, Grandmaster Lin did not disclose.