The urgency among the elders was palpable; time was no longer on their side, and they could not afford to delay. They desperately needed results from their research.

Thus, the Old Arts Experimental Class chose university students rather than starting from children, as the former were older and possessed greater understanding.

The scattered techniques originated from the Old Lands, and these organizations and research institutions believed that restoring research into the Old Arts from the source might be the best choice.

Importantly, since all myths and legends originated from the Old Lands, there might be some "mystical elements" at play.

However, this understanding contradicted the brilliant technologies of deep space and could not be publicly acknowledged.

Yet, some powerful elders, as they approached old age, seemed to increasingly believe in these mystic studies.

What did they seek? Longer lifespans, hoping to unearth secrets from myths, to follow in the footsteps of those before them in the pursuit of immortality.

Even though they knew, in calmer moments, that this was largely an illusion, why not try if time was running out and they held vast resources?

Thus, the Old Lands began to witness various "research projects" with substantial investments.

Human nature has been consistent throughout history; from Qin Shi Huang to today, many could not escape its grasp.

Over the years, some elder tycoons had been pushing to obtain a "new lease on life," funding numerous research institutions.

Of course, the study of the Old Arts was only one of their directions; those with the power to drive "life reform" would not place all their hopes on a single study.

For years, various conglomerates had funded gene teams, life research institutions, and some projects had made astonishing progress.

For example, several anti-aging agents had shown preliminary effects.

The Old Arts study was merely one of dozens of "life extension projects" they invested in.

In fact, these "life extension projects" often overlapped, and under the influence of investors, sometimes collaborated with one another.

For instance, the food consumed by Wang Xuan and others was designed to replenish blood and energy, nourish the spirit, and had some anti-aging effects; its ingredients and proportions were related to a certain pharmaceutical research institute.

Although students in the Old Arts Experimental Class were often mentally exhausted, no matter how fatigued they felt, they quickly recovered through proper nourishment.

For those studying and practicing the Old Arts daily, this was a boon; after some time, their physical condition significantly improved.

Moreover, some biological gene teams expressed interest in collaboration, proactively reaching out to help the experimental class students alter their physical constitutions.

One gene team focused on mitochondrial research, theorizing that altering telomere length could increase lifespan.

At first, everyone resisted, even though they were called the Old Arts Experimental Class, they refused to become guinea pigs.

Wang Xuan nearly withdrew upon hearing the news; he would never agree to such things.

He was dedicated to studying body techniques, refining meditation methods, and practicing breath-collection techniques; this was a gradual process of altering his physical condition.

In his view, such genetic engineering was a crude alteration that could leave irreparable consequences, conflicting with his beliefs and desires.

In fact, this collaboration was soon rejected by higher-ups, as a person of significance voiced their opinion, deeming the technology still immature.

Afterwards, rumors circulated that some of the students from New Star had complicated backgrounds, and their families would not allow them to take risks.

At the same time, a backgrounded classmate unexpectedly revealed that there were some "situations" on the New Star side, indicating that someone had made significant progress in the Old Arts, which was why these students came to the source of the Old Arts, willingly delving into it.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

However, later he denied it, claiming those were drunken ramblings.

Wang Xuan felt that he might have let something slip.

But Qin Cheng believed it was indeed drunken talk, as he was the one who had gotten that classmate drunk.

Wang Xuan suspected that the New Star side might have discovered something significant, which prompted some tycoons' descendants to join the experimental class and begin researching the Old Arts.

At this moment, the full moon hung high, bringing a slight chill in the early autumn air.

Qin Cheng received a phone call, nodding repeatedly, then turned to Wang Xuan and sighed, "Back then, Zhou Kun wasn't just rambling; he definitely let something slip."

He had received the latest news that recent rumors from New Star were starting to point towards several mysterious phenomena.

As far back as three years ago, Zhou Kun, a student from New Star, had given them a hint!

Although it was due to drunkenness and not his intention to disclose anything.

"You absolutely must secure a spot to go to New Star!" Qin Cheng insisted before bidding farewell and leaving.

As students of the Old Arts Research Class, their dormitory area was quite quiet, as they needed time for meditation and practice, free from disturbances.

Each had their own room and were provided with special food sent from deep space; it could be said that the "Old Arts research" project was taken seriously.

One morning, Wang Xuan woke up, practiced a body technique called "Diamond Fist," then quieted himself, preparing to practice breath-collection under the dawn light.

According to the old professor, mastery of one or two of the breathing techniques, meditation, and internal nurturing methods was essential; these were the roots of the Old Arts, the source of power.

Body techniques, like Xing Yi and Diamond Fist, were branches stemming from those roots; only with strong roots could the branches flourish.

Wang Xuan naturally took this very seriously and explored all "root techniques," later choosing to refine a few.

This area of campus had many trees, and the lawns were covered in yellow leaves, making the atmosphere quite peaceful.

With his eyes closed, Wang Xuan bathed in the dawn light, practicing breath-collection, envisioning golden rays enveloping him.

Though it was an internal nurturing method, imagining it in his mind felt real, as his body began to heat up, feeling as if it was wrapped in golden flames.

If someone were nearby, they would surely notice something unusual about Wang Xuan; the dawn light around him seemed "thicker," like a layer of fire was flowing around him.

While practicing breath-collection, he utilized the internal nurturing method; despite it being just a mental exercise, it felt as if it was truly occurring.

His body became intensely warm, eventually even slightly hot, as a current seemed to flow through him, first bringing soreness, then a sense of comfort.

This unusual sensation had only recently appeared.

Wang Xuan knew that due to long-term practice of breath-collection in conjunction with internal nurturing methods, he was starting to "reap the rewards."

Last night, he had pressed down hard with his right hand, leaving a clear handprint on the thick, hard tree trunk, a sign of his gradual success with the "root technique."

On the path of the Old Arts, he had made significant progress.

In the experimental class, although Qin Cheng, Zhou Kun, and others were also practicing the Old Arts, most had only seen improvements in their physical conditions, while Wang Xuan's ability to absorb energy and nurture himself was rare.

If Qin Cheng, Zhou Kun, and the others were to face ordinary people, one of them could easily take on a dozen.

Years of practicing the Old Arts and consuming rare medicinal meals had greatly enhanced their physical fitness.

Before he even began practicing breath-collection, Wang Xuan was already much stronger than his classmates.

Therefore, Qin Cheng often stood up for him, arguing that in terms of the Old Arts, no one could compare to Wang Xuan.

He could probably suppress any student in the Old Arts Experimental Class using just one hand.

As Wang Xuan's body grew increasingly warm, it even began to feel slightly heated, as if tiny electrical currents were coursing through his blood and bones.

This was a sign that the breath-collection and internal nurturing were reaching a certain level.

Wang Xuan imagined beams of dawn light entering his body, then envisioned dark, turbid mist emanating from his skin.

In response, his body reacted; his metabolism accelerated, and he expelled some sticky sweat, leaving him damp.

He felt as if his flesh was being purified by the dawn light, becoming clear inside and out, his energy exceptionally vibrant, and his whole body filled with strength.

The morning sunlight filtered through the trees, bathing the area in a faint golden hue as four young men and women strolled by. Two of the men spoke occasionally, while the two women engaged in conversation.

One of the women was strikingly beautiful and was laughing and chatting animatedly, clearly a lively and spirited person.

The other woman was graceful and carried a scholarly air, exuding a gentle warmth.

They were also students of the Old Arts Experimental Class, hailing from New Star.

"Look, isn't that Wang Xuan? His body seems to be glowing!" The lively girl exclaimed, her beautiful eyes wide with surprise, doubting whether she was seeing correctly.

The more reserved girl responded in astonishment, "Could it be that he's actually mastered breath-collection?"

One of the boys remarked in shock, "So there really is someone in the experimental class who has succeeded!"

But he quickly shook his head, knowing that it had lost its significance.

Another boy added, "What a pity; the techniques from the Old Era are ultimately outdated and have been officially abandoned. We're heading back to New Star soon, where new discoveries are emerging. If we seize the opportunity, a new era may be upon us."

The group from New Star was aware of the latest developments; the Old Arts were considered obsolete and had been cast aside in favor of better options!

It felt as if they were in a different world, where the rules had changed.