My brother is so cunning

Chapter 926 Life Extension Experiment Volunteers

"Are you awake? How do you feel?"

Before Zhao Mingcheng could even open his eyes, he heard a dignified yet peaceful voice in his ear. His consciousness and body gradually returned, and his first feeling was intense thirst. His throat felt like it was on fire, and there wasn't a drop of saliva in his mouth.

Slowly opening his eyes, Zhao Mingcheng found that the ambient light was not strong, but rather a gentle, cool light. His eyes quickly adapted to the light, and his vision gradually became clearer.

He lay in a transparent jar-like vessel, soaked in water and completely naked.

The intense thirst made Zhao Mingcheng want to grab the water in the jar and drink it all. Just as he was about to impulsively do so, a clear glass full of water was handed to him at the right time.

Zhao Mingcheng took the water glass and drank it all in one gulp. The cool water soothed his throat, making him feel incredibly refreshed.

"Thank you, could I have another one?"

He then spoke, but his voice was still slightly hoarse.

"After dehydration recovery, don't rush to drink too much water. Your body has already absorbed enough water. This glass of water is just to help moisten your throat."

The person who handed him the water glass answered, and Zhao Mingcheng looked closely, but the more he looked at the person, the more familiar he became.

The man was handsome and had an impressive appearance, with three long, flowing beards.

Having just woken up, Zhao Mingcheng's mind was still a little sluggish, but he quickly matched the person in front of him with the person in his memory.

This person is extremely famous in the Demon Alliance. Every academic institution, whether it is a primary school, middle school, university, research institute, or laboratory, displays his portrait, and his half-body statue is enshrined at the entrance.

"Creator God? Is it really you? How could a mediocre student like me possibly be worthy of such a title..."

During his student days, Zhao Mingcheng also devoutly worshipped the statue of the God of Creation at the school gate, praying that it would bless him in the exams.

However, the Creator Emperor never showed mercy to underachievers, and Zhao Mingcheng's grades always hovered around the passing mark. Fortunately, the Emperor showed mercy in the end, allowing him to perform exceptionally well in the exam and get into a third-rate university just below the admission line.

Anyone who has received education from the Demon Alliance system can recognize the Creation Celestial Venerable at first glance, just like every student, regardless of their academic performance, can recognize Einstein's portrait immediately.

The top students and geniuses all have the opportunity to summon the divine avatar of the Creation Emperor by accumulating offering points to receive special tutoring. Zhao Mingcheng, a mediocre student, could only envy him when he was a student. This was the first time he had seen the avatar of the Creation Emperor in person, and he couldn't help but feel apprehensive.

"Don't get excited. Our Jie Sect doesn't practice personality cults. I'm just an avatar. Even if the main body came in person, it wouldn't be just this."

Wen Ruixu patted his hand to soothe Zhao Mingcheng's emotions: "I still have more than a hundred volunteers who woke up early to receive. Let's skip the formalities and get straight to the point to save some time."

"I humbly obey the Holy Command of the Heavenly Venerable..."

"Just say so and that's it."

Wen Rui looked at the tablet and said, "Zhao Mingcheng, 28 years old, is an officer of Binhaicheng Subdistrict Office. He has a bachelor's degree and five years of grassroots work experience. He is mainly responsible for the resettlement of immigrants in the jurisdiction."

"Yes, you... how did you get my information?"

"It's all because you signed up as a volunteer for the 'Ordinary Human Life Extension Experiment Project'," Wen Rui said. "You did sign up for this project before you went into dehydration hibernation, right?" "Yes, yes, that's right."

Zhao Mingcheng then nodded in realization: "I have absolutely no cultivation qualifications. When I saw that the Demon Alliance Academy of Sciences was recruiting volunteers from public officials, I signed up with the mindset of giving it a try."

He seemed to understand something, and said nervously, "Am I... am I the one who got selected? Is there a risk of dying in this experiment...?"

"Of course there are risks. There are risks in everything you do. You could even get hit by a car while walking on the street."

Wen Rui shrugged and said, "You can't be considered a selected candidate yet. You've only entered the preliminary selection stage. Whether you ultimately participate in the experiment and get the chance to extend your lifespan depends on your own choice."

Zhao Mingcheng scratched his head, gave an awkward smile, and said, "I didn't think too much when I signed up. I thought it was impossible to be selected. Now I'm a little regretful. Can I withdraw?"

"Of course."

Wen Rui's divine avatar was very patient and showed no dissatisfaction with the mortal's change of mind. He continued, "But you should think it over carefully. This technology is relatively mature, with a failure rate of less than one percent. If successful, it can extend lifespan to two hundred years, maintain youth to 160 years old, and still maintain a relatively healthy physique in old age."

"Hey, then I won't quit!"

Zhao Mingcheng quickly changed his mind again, fearing that he might anger the gods and miss the opportunity to participate in the experiment.

He had heard that many gods liked to test believers, and those who were not resolute would often miss important opportunities to defy fate if they wavered even once and displeased the gods.

"Don't rush. There are conditions for participating in this experiment. It depends on whether you are willing to accept them."

"I knew it, there's no such thing as a free lunch waiting for me..."

Zhao Mingcheng muttered to himself, but then suddenly realized that there was a god standing next to him, and quickly pursed his lips, not daring to say anything more.

"That's the right way to think. There's no such thing as a heavenly official bestowing blessings in this world. Everything you receive has already been priced."

Wen Rui didn't take it seriously and said with a smile, "After successfully participating in the life extension experiment, you will have to serve the Demon Alliance for fifty years. After the service period is over, you will regain your freedom and receive a large bonus."

"If you return to your original post, your rank will be raised by two levels. If you make meritorious contributions during your service and are rated as excellent for many consecutive years, the highest reward is a Laozi Golden Pill. After taking it, even the worst aptitude can embark on the path of immortality, and the minimum achievement in cultivation will be the Heavenly Immortal Realm."

When Zhao Mingcheng heard "fifty years," he frowned, but when he heard that the highest reward was a top-grade elixir, his eyes revealed a look of longing.

"Oh, it seems you're quite interested in cultivating immortality. Are you tempted?"

Wen Rui keenly noticed the change in Zhao Mingcheng's eyes, flipped through the tablet, and said as if suddenly realizing something, "Oh, I see. I remember you. You have a demon girlfriend who you live with. You hooked up with an immigrant demon by taking advantage of your position. No wonder you want to extend your lifespan. If your lifespans don't match, you can't be together forever."

Zhao Mingcheng blushed and lowered his head, saying, "But a fifty-year service period is too long. By the time I finish my service, her children will be adults. It will be too hard for her to raise two children alone..."

After much deliberation, Zhao Mingcheng sighed and said, "Fine, even if I can't extend my lifespan, I'll have no regrets if I can accompany her to raise the two children to adulthood. I won't participate in this experiment; please give the opportunity to someone else."

(End of this chapter)