Chapter 297 - 297: Forbidden Domain

After handling some miscellaneous company affairs, Li Qingye arrived at a biological laboratory within the secret base.

After passing through layers of sterilization, Li Qingye, clad in a hazmat suit, entered a hospital room.

The room was stark white, the air slightly cool.

On the bed, a pale young man lay unconscious. It was Phil, Li Qingye's long-time assistant and the head of the Internal Affairs Division.

Phil's hair, which had turned completely white due to the side effects of genetic modification, was now jet-black again. The wrinkles on his face had also vanished, leaving his skin full and smooth.

A lab assistant reported, "Chairman, Minister Phil's body has recovered, but it seems he has amnesia."

"So there's no such thing as a perfect technology," Li Qingye sighed and shook his head.

The technology used on Phil was called the Human Life Restoration Protocol. It included Telomere Repair Technology, Inhibition of Genetic Apoptosis, and Senescent Molecule Neutralization.

The first two techniques were genetic, while the third was a specialized anti-aging technology.

All 50 first-generation Soldiers, including Phil, underwent the experimental procedure. The results were immediate and dramatic—their bodies reverted to the state of a person in their twenties. The problem was that the gene repair process completely wiped their memories.

Li Qingye was deeply disappointed by this outcome.

This was why Bagheera had taken over the Internal Affairs Division.

Looking at Phil, who was still recuperating, Li Qingye rubbed his temples in resignation. "It looks like I'll have to stick with the anti-aging treatment."

This anti-aging technology was called: Symbiotic Protein—Cellular Plug-in—Senescence Factor Neutralization.

The principle behind the technology originated from a series of studies. Researchers discovered a fascinating phenomenon when they linked the circulatory systems of young and old mice.

The blood from the young mice did not alleviate the symptoms of aging in the old mice.

However, the blood from the old mice accelerated the cellular aging in the young ones.

Based on this phenomenon, Li Qingye theorized that the bodies of older organisms contained "senescence factors," and their very presence was what led living things toward death.

Using precise separation techniques, they isolated the various byproducts of cells in their living state.

Over the past two years, the Life Sciences Institute at Homo Sapiens Company has discovered seven proteins and hormones closely related to aging.

These proteins and hormones have extremely short lifespans, typically only 30 to 60 seconds, and can only be produced within living cells.

This was why these particular proteins and hormones had gone undiscovered for so long.

During his experiments, Li Qingye discovered that these special proteins bore a certain resemblance to prions. He therefore named them "senescent prions."

The discovery of senescent prions also allowed Li Qingye to pinpoint 322 related gene sequences.

The "Inhibition of Genetic Apoptosis" technique from the gene restoration protocol was developed based on these specific senescence genes.

However, the resulting amnesia was a side effect that forced Li Qingye to shelve the technology for the time being.

After all, it didn't much matter if the Soldiers suffered from amnesia, but ordinary New Humans would never accept a treatment that erased their memories.

Thus, Li Qingye shifted his focus to eliminating the senescence factors instead.

Through a series of genetic recombination techniques and screening, they finally successfully developed a protein organelle that could neutralize senescence factors. This organelle was named "Longevity Gu."

Once inserted into a human cell, the Longevity Gu automatically binds with the cell's mitochondria and ribosomes.

Whenever a senescence gene stimulates the ribosomes to synthesize senescence factors, the Longevity Gu simultaneously releases small molecules that neutralize them.

According to current clinical trials, the Longevity Gu is most effective in middle-aged individuals. It can slow cellular aging to the rate of a 24- to 28-year-old, potentially extending the lifespan of the body's cells by an additional 60 to 70 years.

This meant that a middle-aged person using the Longevity Gu could have their lifespan extended by 60 to 70 years.

The Longevity Gu was less effective on the elderly, however.

Take Li Qingye, for example. His cellular age was roughly equivalent to that of a 70-year-old, so the Longevity Gu would only grant him an additional 30 years of life.

Combined with the hibernation technology he used, he could probably live for another 60 years or so.

If not for the severe side effects of the gene restoration protocol, Li Qingye's own mortality problem would have been solved.

Unfortunately, nothing in this world was ever perfect.

He didn't curse his fate. Living another 60 years meant he could lead Homo Sapiens Company for a while longer. Perhaps, within his lifetime, he might even see humanity step out into the endless, starry cosmos.

Li Qingye spent half the day in the lab. After reviewing a series of test results, he ordered an expansion of the Longevity Gu trials.

After all, he intended to use it on himself. He wouldn't dare inject it until all potential side effects were thoroughly understood.

「The next morning.」

Li Qingye, having just awakened in his hibernation pod, took the towel offered by Sangjibada Laiyal.

"Sir, breakfast is ready. Also, Ms. Tian Hemeng, the head of the Medical Division, would like to have a video call with you."

Li Qingye wiped the sticky hibernation fluid from his body. "Arrange the video call for during breakfast."

Sangjibada Laiyal gently took the towel. "Of course, sir."

「Twenty minutes later.」

Fresh from his shower, Li Qingye sat down at the dining table. A few maids had already prepared his breakfast: a simple oatmeal porridge, an artfully arranged sandwich, and a glass of pure water.

Sangjibada Laiyal wheeled a special video conferencing cart to the other side of the table.

A moment later, the head of the Medical Division, Tian Hemeng, appeared on the large screen.

"Good morning, Mr. Chairman."

"What is it?" Li Qingye asked, stirring his food with a spoon.

"It's about the sale of our new antibiotics. Recently, Europe and America have cut off their procurement channels from us, leaving only a few smuggling routes. I think it's time we launched some new pharmaceuticals."

Li Qingye took a spoonful of his oatmeal. "How many unreleased new drugs do we have in inventory?"

"Forty-three."

"Pick a few new drugs for common diseases. Something for Alzheimer's, for example."

Tian Hemeng nodded. "The Meisheng preventative for Alzheimer's is certainly a huge market. I'll make its promotion a priority."

The Meisheng preventative was actually an organic macromolecule. The drug could prevent viral damage to the brain, thereby lowering the incidence of Alzheimer's disease.

In fact, it was through a series of recent clinical observations and studies that Homo Sapiens Company's medical R&D team had discovered the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's. Certain viruses were creating inflammatory factors in the brain, which in turn damaged the memory proteins in brain cells.

Because the pathogenesis involved the long-term accumulation of damage, it was very difficult to detect.

Homo Sapiens Company had only discovered this by chance, an accidental find during Li Qingye's research into senescence genes.

Now that they had identified the mechanism, finding a solution was straightforward.

While an inflammatory response was unavoidable once a virus entered the brain, the subsequent attack by inflammatory factors on the brain cells' memory proteins could be mitigated.

The therapeutic principle of the Meisheng preventative was to act as a sacrificial substitute. The organic macromolecule would attract the inflammatory factors, perishing along with them and thus preventing them from attacking the brain cells' memory proteins.

Therefore, the drug had to be taken whenever there were signs of inflammation.

After discussing the commercialization of several less sensitive drugs, Tian Hemeng brought up another issue:

"Chairman, we..."