When a Blade of Grass Wants to Become Immortal

Chapter 210: Chapter 206: Interstellar Deserted Star Farm Woman 17

Dai Lixing stepped into the council hall, his cold gaze sweeping over everyone present.

The members of the Main Star council were already seated. At their head was a white-haired elder, the council chairman Galileo, known for his stern demeanor.

”Marshal, regarding the new regulations for gene selection, I’ve received word that the Dai Family is willing to lead the discussion. However, the Main Star’s other families seem less than pleased.”

Galileo spoke, his voice hoarse but filled with authority.

”Whether they’re pleased or not depends on if they still want the Federation to remain stable.”

Dai Lixing didn’t break stride, his tone indifferent. ”You’re all familiar with the genetic black market in the border ’Ashes’ Star Domain, I presume? And the ’Dawn’ virus... I hear its source can be traced to an abandoned genetics lab on the Main Star. If one were to investigate that...”

”Marshal Dai, you need proof to make such claims!”

From the crowd, Rein, the heir to an energy magnate and a secret supporter of the families’ monopoly, shot to his feet, his face flushed red. ”Don’t try to disrupt this council with such baseless accusations!”

”Oh?”

Dai Lixing’s eyes narrowed. He moved like a cheetah, closing in on Rein in an instant. ”Last month, data transmitted from Glazed Star showed that Mr. Rein’s energy company had secret dealings nearby—exchanging goods and materials with people from the genetic black market. Sound familiar?”

Rein froze on the spot, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Just then, the council hall doors were thrown open, and a Genetic Technology Officer burst in, panicked. ”Marshal, it’s terrible! The ’Dawn’ virus is spreading in the Main Star’s underground gene communities! The commoners whose genes were suppressed by the families are starting to break through their Genetic Lock restrictions! But... but the virus isn’t stable!”

”What!”

Dai Lixing’s sharp eyes flew wide with disbelief.

”You just said, ’the virus isn’t stable.’ What do you mean by that?”

”Marshal, the ’Dawn’ virus seems to be an unfinished product. Some people’s bodies are breaking down after they break through their Genetic Lock, while others are evolving stably. I... my team is researching it with all we’ve got,” the Genetic Technology Officer said, his expression anguished.

”That’s enough. You’re dismissed,” Dai Lixing commanded in a low voice, his gaze growing even colder.

”Now, do you still think you can continue to exploit the commoners?”

Dai Lixing turned to face the crowd, radiating killing intent. ”When the commoners are pushed to the brink with no way out, do you think this Main Star, this Federation, can possibly know peace?”

”Marshal, we must consider the bigger picture. Perhaps we should take a step back...”

Before Galileo could finish, a figure from the new faction, Li Tuo, suddenly stood up. ”Take a step back? To what? Marshal Dai, your gene bill is just a way to put commoners on equal footing with the families, isn’t it? Not a chance!”

”Li Tuo, don’t forget you clawed your way up from the bottom yourself. Have you already forgotten the hardships of the lower classes? Now that you’ve vaulted into the Main Star’s elite, have you forgotten the very reason you struggled to reach this point?”

Dai Lixing snorted. ’People really do change.’

”Marshal, I’m not the Li Tuo I used to be! Besides, as a former commoner, I know them best. All commoners want is to steal the families’ resources! After they steal resources, they’ll want to steal status. It’s never-ending!”

Li Tuo flew into a rage.

”Silence!”

Dai Lixing roared, and his immense spiritual power erupted like a tiger’s roar, sending everyone in the council hall staggering.

”Today, this council will decide on the new regulations for gene selection! Either we ban all gene selection, or we open up the right of choice to commoners!”

Dai Lixing’s roar plunged the council hall into a dead silence. Everyone was stunned by his immense spiritual power.

Galileo coughed a few times, trying to ease the tense atmosphere. ”Marshal, everything is a process. Why don’t we first hear what others have to say?”

”Very well.”

Dai Lixing reined in some of his imposing aura, but his gaze remained resolute. ”I believe everyone here is thinking of the Federation’s future. If you are willing to seriously consider my proposal, I am prepared to provide more evidence and data.”

Although Li Tuo had opposed him earlier, he had, after all, clawed his way up from the bottom. He was not entirely ignorant of the commoners’ suffering.

He frowned, seemingly deep in thought.

After a moment, he spoke up. ”Marshal, I admit that the commoners do suffer greatly, but are you sure that opening up the right to gene selection won’t cause even greater chaos?”

Seeing Li Tuo’s attitude soften, Dai Lixing quickly struck while the iron was hot. ”As long as we establish reasonable rules and provide sufficient oversight, there won’t be any major problems. Besides, this is an effective way to give commoners hope and, in turn, stabilize society.”

”Hmm...”

Li Tuo nodded. ”Perhaps we could give it a try. However, Marshal, you must guarantee that the families’ interests won’t be too severely harmed.”

”That I can guarantee.”

Dai Lixing thought to himself, ’As long as we can take the first step, everything else can be negotiated later.’

Galileo was secretly pleased to see Li Tuo’s change of heart.

He knew that if he could get figures from the new faction like Li Tuo to support Dai Lixing’s proposal, then persuading the other families would not be impossible.

”Marshal, I am willing to support your proposal. However, to make it more palatable for everyone, would you consider establishing a transitional period? During this period, we could gradually open up some gene selection programs while strengthening education and training for commoners to help them better adapt to their new choices.”

”That’s an excellent suggestion.”

Dai Lixing nodded in praise. ”I agree to a transitional period. At the same time, I will also strengthen communication with the families to win their support.”

He knew, of course, that something like this couldn’t be resolved all at once. But that’s what negotiations were for—there had to be room for compromise.

Each side gives a little, as long as the goal is achieved.

After a round of intense discussion and negotiation, everyone in the council hall finally reached a consensus and decided to support Dai Lixing’s new regulations on gene selection.

Commoners would have the right to continue living, and the great families and the Federation government would provide more resources.

”Marshal, on the issue of resources, we can’t just engage in empty talk.”

Galileo said gravely, ”We need a concrete, feasible plan to ensure the commoners on the Deserted Stars receive basic guarantees for survival.”

Dai Lixing nodded. He had been aware of this for a long time.

”I have already ordered my fleet to begin reallocating resources to the Deserted Stars.”

He said, ”We will transport food and basic living supplies from the Main Star and other wealthy planets, giving priority to the commoners on the Deserted Stars.”

”This is just the beginning.”

Galileo added, ”The most important problem right now is that nearly everything edible throughout interstellar space is toxic. Even the great families are deeply affected. The various research institutes have been studying this for years with no results.”

Li Tuo deeply agreed. ”Marshal, if we could effectively remove the toxins from these things, feeding the entire interstellar population wouldn’t be a problem.”

His voice carried a hint of helplessness. ”But right now, we can’t even guarantee the safety of the most basic food. The commoners’ living conditions are getting worse and worse. Aside from nutrient solutions, there’s no other way.”

Dai Lixing nodded, a flicker of determination in his eyes. ”I understand. This problem must be solved as soon as possible. Otherwise, all our efforts will be in vain.”

He turned to Rein. ”Mr. Rein, your energy company has extensive experience in resource allocation. Could you perhaps...”

Rein gave a bitter laugh, cutting Dai Lixing off. ”Marshal, you know as well as I do that the problem isn’t as simple as resource allocation. Even if we can transport food, if it’s toxic, it’s just a drop in the ocean.”

Galileo sighed. ”We’ve tried all sorts of methods, but none have worked. Now, the entire interstellar space is shrouded in the shadow of these toxins. We don’t know what to do.”

Li Tuo also shook his head. ”Marshal, you know how critical the situation is. If we can’t find a solution, it could trigger even greater social unrest.”

Dai Lixing was silent for a moment. ”The major research institutes must continue their work; they cannot give up. Perhaps... we could seek help from other planets.”

But where would they seek help from?

Everyone knew that if a solution was out there to be found, they would have found it in the past thousand years.

It was precisely because the toxins had always existed that genetic optimization became necessary in the first place.

If the toxin problem could be solved, then the problem of genetic optimization would also be resolved with ease.