Chapter 38: The Madman’s Seduction a

"The thing is, alchemy requires blood sacrifice..." Chen Houyan lowered his voice, feigning mystery. "This custom dates back to the ancient Shang and Zhou dynasties, perhaps even earlier. In those days, people worshipped ghosts and gods, often using humans as offerings. Though the methods were cruel, blood truly possessed the power to create miracles."

Watching him go on, Yao Kui scoffed, "Nonsense! We live in an era of enlightened science. If I asked you to donate your blood, would you be willing?"

Despite the chairman's evident dissatisfaction, Chen remained undeterred. He hurried to clarify, "No, no, that’s not what I meant. It’s about using the blood of ancient animals to infuse into your alchemical process. Do you remember the Jiajing Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Houcong?"

"That would be the Jiajing Emperor," Yao Kui replied, clearly well-versed in history.

Chen was once again taken aback by Yao Kui’s extensive knowledge, thinking to himself: *This man is no ordinary person. Simple trickery won't work here; I must be serious. If I don't reveal something extraordinary, I’ll never gain his trust.*

He quickly responded, "Yes, exactly. Though the Jiajing Emperor has long since passed, he was indeed a master of alchemy. He once believed that refining elixirs required a soul..."

"What kind of soul?" A rare glimmer of interest flickered in Yao Kui’s eyes.

Seeing this, Chen felt a surge of excitement and quickly explained, "A living soul, naturally. According to my research and experiments, refining the Golden Elixir cannot rely solely on solid mineral components like gold, silver, or jade; it must involve active substances. Much like forging a legendary weapon in ancient times, at the critical moment, one often needed to add animal or even human blood. Your elixir, too, requires this gene containing powerful life force, so that the physical body can fully absorb the medicinal effects."

"Do you know of anyone who has actually done this?" Yao Kui was stunned.

"It’s that... well... it’s difficult to say..." Chen’s thoughts drifted toward the sensitive "Halaha virus," but he acted hesitant.

"Speak! I will not hold it against you," Yao Kui pressed urgently.

"It is the very disease you suffer from, the 'Halaha virus.' Have you never heard of its origin?" Chen asked cautiously.

Yao Kui, who had only heard the term from his doctors, asked, "Are you talking about the 'Plague of Disillusionment'?"

"Exactly, precisely," Chen replied repeatedly.

"Tell me, I’m listening." Yao Kui felt as though he were closing in on the truth; his heart raced like a trapped rabbit.

Chen looked at him and said, "The name of this virus comes from an ancient tomb. During archaeological excavations, biologists discovered an ancient virus, and the unearthed vessels bore hieroglyphics that appeared to read 'Halaha,' so scientists named the virus accordingly. But they have no idea what a 'Halaha' actually is."

"What on earth is it then?" Yao Kui was filled with curiosity.

"According to my research, 'Halaha' was likely an ancient tribe or ethnic group. They once suffered from this strange disease, and their method of treatment involved human blood, particularly the blood of children." Chen paused to watch Yao Kui’s reaction.

Yao Kui frowned and muttered to himself, "Does this mean I have to kill people?" He no longer had the time to verify the accuracy of Chen’s words.

"Not at all, Chairman. I have heard that this disease can be treated using ancient genes," Chen finally revealed.

Everyone let out a sigh of relief. Chen’s words were like a ray of dawn, instantly igniting hope in Yao Kui. His eyes brightened, and he pressed, "Where can one obtain such genes?"

Chen leaned in closer, whispering mysteriously, "Has the Chairman ever heard of the Himalayan Yeti? If one could find its precious blood and infuse it into your alchemical furnace, it would undoubtedly be the perfect material for refining the supreme elixir and forging a body of indestructible diamond."

"Must it be such ancient genes?" Yao Kui stared at Chen, his gaze filled with urgency and inquiry.

Chen, who had been somewhat apprehensive, felt his confidence soar upon seeing Yao Kui’s eagerness. He spoke with conviction, "Naturally, the older the gene, the better the alchemical effect. However, seeking ancient genes from existing animals is possible, though the results might be significantly diminished."

"I see! But where would one even find such a creature?" Yao Kui’s eyes dimmed instantly, filled with disappointment.

To Yao Kui’s surprise, Chen suddenly shifted his tone, saying something that left the chairman stunned.

"That is why, Chairman—and I don't mean to overstep—the Yeti is impossible to find, and the concept of alchemy is long outdated. What is called 'elixir' today is actually just Traditional Chinese Medicine, formulated from plants, animals, and minerals, which is a far cry from alchemy in the true sense."

Yao Kui was momentarily at a loss for words.

Chen continued, "Look at Qin Shi Huang, who traveled far across the seas in search of the elixir of immortality, only to return empty-handed. The Ming Emperor, Zhu Houcong, even lost his life because of his pills."

Everyone expected Yao Kui to fly into a rage, but to their astonishment, he was instead full of joy, thinking he had finally met a true expert. He asked impatiently, "Then what should be done?"

Relying on his years of professional knowledge and keen intuition, Chen surmised that the Halaha virus was likely inextricably linked to genetics. In today’s medical world, while various organ transplants were common, the human body’s inherent regenerative capacity was shockingly weak—a far cry from certain marine organisms. The root cause lay in the excessive differentiation of human cells and a severe lack of pluripotency, whereas soft-bodied creatures like earthworms, starfish, and planarians could easily differentiate stem cells into new cells.

Chen pondered to himself that perhaps he could use the opportunity of treating Yao Kui’s illness to successfully create an entirely new biological system.

Thinking of this, Chen patted his chest and vowed, "Chairman, leave this to me! I can utilize the stem cells from atavistic genes to perform a reverse rejuvenation technique. I will certainly restore you to your former handsome and dashing self."

In Chen’s view, to fundamentally transform humanity, one had to seek out the most primitive, ancient genes and use cutting-edge technology—such as stem cell research or genetic rewriting—to achieve a total transformation.

Hearing such confident words, the light returned to Yao Kui’s previously weary eyes. "Atavistic genes? Reverse rejuvenation? What exactly does that mean?"

Chen spoke with determination, "Exactly, Chairman. Atavism is the occasional reappearance of ancestral traits in an organism, and this is the most primal force for restoring bodily functions. In plain terms, it is making you young again."

Yao Kui suddenly recalled that Chen had previously worked in a genetic laboratory in Country W, so he asked, "During your time abroad, did you learn any new techniques or concepts?"

Chen studied Yao Kui once more, confirming there was no sign of aversion before continuing. "Naturally. Country W is a pioneer in the field of stem cell transplantation, especially concerning embryonic stem cells; they are second to none globally."

Yao Kui thought to himself that this man had indeed mentioned that country, which had been engulfed in the flames of war decades ago, and pressed, "And how exactly do they operate?"

"Have you ever heard of 'intergenerational inheritance'?" Chen paused to build suspense before explaining, "It refers to certain characteristics of a species that do not manifest directly in the next generation, but skip several or even dozens of generations, remaining hidden in a recessive state until they encounter another recessive gene. When they combine, they finally transform into a dominant gene."

Chen knew this was highly sensitive. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, he deliberately omitted the crucial detail that the stem cells he planned to study were not human, but rather alien stem cells containing mirror-image life molecules. After all, whether the genetic traits expressed by such stem cells would be beneficial or catastrophic remained unpredictable.

After a brief pause, Chen continued, "As long as we can successfully identify these genes and cultivate pluripotent stem cells from them, it is highly possible to cultivate new fat cells, nerve cells, and bone cells, eventually achieving the grand feat of creating mirror-life."

Yao Kui nodded thoughtfully. "I’ve heard of stem cells, but what exactly is this 'mirror-life'? Do elaborate."

Chen cleared his throat and explained patiently, "In fact, the scientific community has already explored the theory of mirror-life. It was inspired by deep observations of the basic molecular composition of living beings. Currently, all DNA and RNA on Earth are composed of right-handed nucleotides, while the proteins that make up life are all left-handed amino acids. Just imagine, if their chirality were reversed, what marvelous changes might occur?"

The others listened, confused and curious, and asked impatiently, "What would happen?"

"Life would take on a brand-new form, never seen before!" Chen was uncharacteristically agitated, his eyes shimmering with a fanatical light, but as the words left his lips, he realized it might be too early to speak of such things.