novelraw Chapter 434 - 427: Lifespan Skyrockets! Near Immortality!
Chapter 434 - 427: Lifespan Skyrockets! Near Immortality!
Ogaki Hikari rushed into the bathroom immediately, washing his body three times with shower gel and shampooing his head seven times, wishing he could strip a layer of skin and scrub himself bald before finally stopping.
Stepping out of the bathroom, Ogaki Hikari donned a grim expression, staring blankly at the manuscript on the table, entirely devoid of any desire to draw.
Ogaki Hikari suddenly felt that even if his work could now take first place in JUMP’s young serials, he wouldn’t likely be happy.
Feeling restless, he browsed 2CH forum for a while before decisively closing this trash website entirely controlled by Zhao Guanlan, and logged onto the Earth Super Forum.
To Ogaki Hikari’s utter surprise, even in the Japan section of the Earth Super Forum, there were mostly posts singing the praises of that dog Zhao Guanlan!
Why hadn’t he noticed before that there were so many internet trolls on Earth?
Randomly clicking one post, it was all about discussing new policies in Guanlan Country.
Zhao Guanlan, to acquire more lifespan, resorts to heavy and unscrupulous exploitation, to a vile degree that makes one nauseous!
Yet, in this section, there weren’t many people cursing him.
This was what Ogaki Hikari couldn’t comprehend.
After quickly skimming through several news posts, Ogaki Hikari finally understood the cause and effect.
"What? Sea Demon Feng Yuji is a product of nuclear radiation leakage?"
"To protect the world’s peace and stability, it’s decided that Guanlan Country will internally handle the nuclear wastewater in a safer, more controlled way?"
Ogaki Hikari was dumbfounded: "Weren’t all national news media just a few days ago promoting that Feng Yuji was an alien ocean creature? How did it change here?"
"Isn’t anyone jumping out to question it?"
He once heard that the internet only remembers for three days, but he didn’t believe it.
Now, the news online and netizen comments made Ogaki Hikari recognize the laws of the real world.
As soon as he posted a rational analysis of Zhao Guanlan’s true motives, the response count quickly soared over a hundred.
"Is the original poster a hater?"
"Brother who posted, did you get bullied by an outer member of the Profound Immortal Team? Even if so, you can’t slander Lord Zhao Guanlan!"
"Yeah... Lord Profound Immortal imposing a lifespan tax is for using lifespan-consuming divine techniques, to better guard this country and this planet. Even if there’s a tax, it’s merely a symbolic ’one day’."
"May anyone paid to post have their entire family die!"
"Although the above comment is disrespectful, I agree — those speaking with a guilty conscience should swallow ten thousand needles!"
"Troll post, nothing interesting, people, let’s disperse!"
"Nuclear radiation pollution will cause harm for a millennium, harming future generations! I’ve always disliked Zhao Guanlan, found his character questionable, but this time... I support him!"
Scanning through the replies at a glance, Ogaki Hikari’s face turned black with rage.
Those supporting him were in the minority; the vast majority of netizens were attacking him.
Damn it!
These unreasonable people, reversing black and white, how many benefits did they receive from Zhao Guanlan?
Ogaki Hikari quickly saw through the fog and uncovered the truth.
It turns out...
The Profound Immortal Team even launched a [Lifespan for Money] service!
Based on the nuclear wastewater exemption, just by willingly donating a day of lifespan to Zhao Guanlan, they could collect three hundred thousand Sun and Moon from the Profound Immortal Team!
The average monthly wage in Japan was slightly below this standard...
The pleasure of getting something for nothing made many unemployed people and NEETs Zhao Guanlan’s diehard fans.
By merely paying an additional twelve days of lifespan yearly, they could earn more than those working hard for a year. Is there anything more enjoyable than this?
Moreover, for some people, the so-called lifespan tax doesn’t exist at all; it’s merely an excuse for the new rulers of Guanlan Country to hand out welfare under the guise.
Ogaki Hikari, sprayed red-eyed by his compatriots, vowed to blacken Zhao Guanlan for life, determined to expose this person’s ugly true face.
He gathered many video files related to Zhao Guanlan online, edited what he considered to be black information, and made a standalone post on the Earth Super Forum.
"The lifespan tax truly exists! A detailed account of Zhao Guanlan’s evils!"
The post’s main thread contained few words, only an overview and edited video files.
In the video, Zhao Guanlan manipulated magma and thunder, grinding his teeth, killing indiscriminately, his dialogue exuding villainous vibes.
"No need for despair, anger, or hatred."
"Reflect well on your pathetic life."
"This is the last mercy I leave for you all!"
"If you don’t want to die, be my dog!"
Such middle-school cringe-inducing words coming from his mouth, yet no one laughed.
People knew...
This guy was recognized by the Extraordinary New Shogunate as a "person of absolute freedom."
Using the clichéd language of the Extreme Path Clan, it was...
Zhao Guanlan kills whoever he wants!
No need for any scruples!
Ogaki Hikari’s post did indeed turn some neutral people against Zhao Guanlan, but at the same time, more people began to admire Zhao Guanlan.
"Ah... The beauty of the Profound Immortal’s era is in no way inferior to the Prophet’s... I’m in love, in love!"
"So, what’s so bad about being the Profound Immortal’s dog?"
"Guanlan Country needs such a domineering, strong, wise, and powerful leader! Profound Immortal rules!"
"Woof woof woof! Lord Zhao Guanlan, can you take me as a pet dog? I’ll be very obedient!"
"Get lost! How could something this good ever be your turn?"
These remarks nearly made Ogaki Hikari spit out blood in anger.
He started to wonder if he had clipped Zhao Guanlan to look too handsome.
But the problem is...
In the online world, in videos related to Zhao Guanlan, this guy is perfectly handsome from all angles, flawless, with no visible defects.
...
Meanwhile.
China, Hubei.
Xiangyang Ancient City, Grass Hut Academy.
Ma Ran, who was enlightening the third batch of new members, had a slight smile on his lips.
"That’s all for today. If you have any questions, you can write them down and find me at the cafeteria tomorrow at 12:14 PM."
With these words, Ma Ran turned and left the classroom.
He did not have the ability to clearly perceive his own remaining lifespan but could sense it through the [Profound Immortal] medal.
Only a few people like Ogaki Hikari directly pay the full year’s exemption tax for nuclear waste water.
Most of the residents of Japan pay month by month.
Some people in Guanlan Country, unwilling to lose even a single day’s lifespan, chose to trust Japan’s past propaganda and drank the "treated nuclear wastewater."
Those are harmless.
Amidst the high-efficiency work of the Profound Immortal Team, Ma Ran, through Zhao Guanlan, using the [Profound Immortal] medal, has collected approximately 340,000,000 days of lifespan.
Rounding off, it’s equivalent to an increase of 931,506 years of lifespan.
Nearly a million years of lifespan!
This figure could make most groups claiming to be "immortal species" in the vast cosmos feel ashamed.
If the [Pursuer] from the Eternal Civilization were still alive and learned of this, he might go completely mad.
The increase in lifespan and the growth of strength are not the same. For others, it may be difficult to clearly perceive.
But Ma Ran is different.
With the blessings of the [Academic Demon] and [Martial Arts Celestial Pride] medals, his innate talents are extraordinary. As his lifespan continues to grow, he begins to capture a trace of mysterious weak life energy.
It cannot heal diseases and injuries, cannot bring people great combat power. Its only function is to extend lifespan, slowing down, stopping cellular aging, and death.
Ma Ran vaguely senses that even without much time devoted to research, it won’t be long before he can create combat skills and divine techniques related to lifespan.
Back to the point.
Nearly a million years of lifespan is not a one-time gain.
Aside from the initial harvest, as long as Guanlan Country does not become extinct and its population does not plummet, Ma Ran can collect at least 500,000 years of lifespan every month through taxing.
In a sense, Ma Ran has now become the closest existence to immortality in the vast cosmos.
"Immortality sounds beautiful, but it is really just a moon in a well, a flower in water."
"Without enough strength, not only can’t one protect the Earth Civilization, but one might also be easily wiped out by powerful enemies at any time."
Ma Ran’s eyes were cold and his mind clear, not swelling with pride.
No matter how much lifespan, without enough combat power, there is always the possibility of being easily killed.
However...
The two octopus researchers of the Sea Demon Civilization, with their trump card, can burn a target’s lifespan a hundredfold by consuming a small portion of their own lifespan.
Burning a hundred years of the enemy’s lifespan requires just one second.
But now, Ma Ran, standing still and letting them burn, can endure until the end of time.
As long as he isn’t instantly killed by the enemy, Ma Ran is confident he can reverse the situation.
Thus...
A new trump card to counter the two octopus scientists of the Sea Demon Civilization is now in place.