111: Chen Zhaojing

Star Calendar Year 100012, Pillar of Leaders, Stargazing Hall.

Time seemed to have its pulse clutched by the Lord of the Universe; every second flowed slowly and thickly... Lin Wei tightly held Chen Jun's hand. As a Planet-level Expert, she was no different from any ordinary grandmother awaiting the arrival of her grandchild, her eyes filled with anticipation and nervousness.

There was also a hint of imperceptible worry—she was afraid that the child's Aptitude would be like his father, Li Mo... And Li Mo, almost suffocated by the invisible aura of pressure from everyone, had a pale face and weak legs.

He could only barely stand by leaning on the 'Invisible Jade Soil' subtly condensed by Liu Qing behind him.

And the center of everyone's focus—Chen Jun.

On his face was a calm like an ancient well, as he lay

He even leaned back slightly, adjusting to a more comfortable position, as if this wasn't a critical moment determining whether his future path to longevity could advance further... Only the deep, almost uncontrollable ecstasy and anticipation in his slightly narrowed eyes revealed the true storm within his heart!

Multiple Benefits!!!

Multiple Benefits!!!

Multiple Benefits!!!

My Multiple Benefits function!

It's finally about to welcome a historic Breakthrough!!!!!

...Just as Chen Jun laughed wildly in his heart, his face remained calm—

"Buzz—!!!"

Inside the Stargazing Hall, the vast and gentle life energy field, which had been accumulating for several months, suddenly contracted inward as if reaching a critical point!

Immediately after—

"Wah—!!!"

A clear, powerful cry, as if capable of penetrating Soul barriers, distinctly echoed outside the Stargazing Hall!

Born!

Almost at the same instant the cry sounded, Chen Jun immediately looked inward at the System interface in his mind.

[System Interface]

[Rank]: Level 1 (0.13%)

[Host]: Chen Jun

[Race]: Human

[Age]: 257 years old

[Aptitude]: Mortal Body

[Remaining Lifespan]: 2297 years...+11...+11...[Core Functions]:

1. [One Shot, One Soul]: When procreating with the opposite sex, conception is guaranteed, and Absolute Guarantee is always triggered. (Only triggerable with non-pregnant opposite sex)

2. [Absolute Guarantee]: Guaranteed to consume 10 years of lifespan, ensuring that the offspring's Aptitude is consistently raised by 1 major Rank above the spouse's Aptitude. For every 10 times the lifespan consumed, an additional major Aptitude Realm can be increased. This function requires confirmation during the confluence of life Origin essence.

3. [Multiple Children, Multiple Benefits]:

[Longevity Multiplier]: The Host is acutely perceptive of lifespan fluctuations. Each living biological child will automatically provide the Host with [1 day] of standard lifespan daily, settled in real-time. (Any external means of detecting lifespan will consistently display the Host's remaining lifespan as the current rate of lifespan depletion, isolating all forms of prying into Longevity Multiplier.)

[Multiple Benefits]: The Host is acutely perceptive of beneficial state fluctuations (perception only). Every direct descendant who is not a biological child (i.e., grandchildren and subsequent generations), at the moment of their natural or unnatural death, the Host will automatically acquire all 'beneficial state gains' they possessed at the time of their death, including but not limited to: all cultivation energy, life Origin, Aptitude talent, Cultivation Technique insights, combat experience, skill proficiency... and all other inheritable beneficial states. Note: Only beneficial states are inherited, not injuries, curses, negative states, etc. (All abilities obtained through Multiple Benefits are perfectly concealed, isolated from all prying, and never externally manifested.)

[Rule Supplement]: Gain acquisition has no distance limit, ignores all forms of shielding and obstruction, and is directly transmitted based on Bloodline.

[Hidden Rules] (Permission acquired):

[No Kun]: All Host's offspring will always be female.

[Absolute Origin]: If remaining lifespan is less than 10 years, procreation in any form is impossible, and the System will not perform any operations.

[True Origin]: Only by engaging in substantive relations with the opposite sex can the System be triggered; no other form can result in procreation. However, once substantive relations with the opposite sex occur, no form can prevent procreation.

[Kin Source]: The Host's direct descendants naturally hold affinity and goodwill towards the Host, with an initial value of sixty points; direct descendants among themselves naturally hold affinity and goodwill, with an initial value of thirty points.

[Traceless]: The System's existence and all its operations cannot be detected, understood, or interfered with by any means.

[Query]: The Host can view their System status interface at any time through conscious introspection.

[No mandatory operations currently]

The System's Rank progress increased by 0.01. Sure enough, in addition to biological daughters, descendants after grandchildren can also increase the progress bar.

This means that with 10,000 descendants, the System can upgrade!

Another major guarantee for the path of effortless longevity!

He had checked earlier; it was a grandson! A grandson is good! It's simply too good!

The future eldest legitimate grandson of his Chen clan! Of great significance! Priceless!

Aptitude isn't important! He had plenty of resources!

He must start cultivating him from a young age, especially in terms of ideology!

As long as he can procreate freely, at the rate of human reproduction... one becomes two, two becomes four, four becomes eight... Finally, I've waited for you!!!

...Chen Jun let out a deafening roar of laughter in his heart!

...Just as Chen Jun was ecstatic inside, yet tried to maintain 'a grandfather's benevolence and composure' on his face—

The grand door of the Stargazing Hall slowly opened.

A female medical officer, whose cultivation had clearly reached Planet-level Peak, carefully walked out, cradling a swaddled infant wrapped in the softest 'Newborn Nebula Silk'.

Her face flushed with excitement and honor, she hurried to Yun Xi and Chen Jun, bowing deeply:

"Teacher! Ancestor Chen! Her Highness Chen Xi is well! The Young Master... has safely arrived!"

Everyone's gaze, as if drawn by a magnet, instantly fixed upon the swaddled infant!

Yun Xi slowly opened her eyes, and a gentle starlight flowed from her fingertips, like the softest scan, passing over the infant.

Where the starlight passed, the swaddle seemed to become transparent, clearly displaying the infant's appearance and the faint, merely A-grade life Originfluctuation to everyone's 'eyes'.

It was a chubby, adorable baby boy with black hair, a plump little face, eyes closed, smacking his tiny lips, seemingly still savoring the birthing process.

Very healthy, very cute.

But... that Aptitude fluctuation was indeed only A-grade.

In an instant, a strange silence fell outside the hall.

A-grade?

Her Highness Chen Xi's child, although the father was F-grade, with the modification of massive resources, shouldn't the offspring's Aptitude start at S-grade?

How could it only be... A-grade?

Lin Wei looked at the child, a hint of unconcealed disappointment flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly covered by intense maternal love. No matter what, this was her biological grandson!

Li Mo's heart sank even further... A-grade?

His son... was only A-grade?

Then... the Stellar Level promised by Ancestor Chen... Amidst this strange silence and everyone's complicated thoughts... Chen Jun moved!

He slowly rose from the 'Grandfather's Throne'.

On his face, there was none of the disappointment, displeasure, or doubt that everyone had anticipated.

Only a smile of... profound satisfaction and relief, as if he had witnessed the ultimate truth of the Universe!

That smile... was so genuine!

So brilliant!

Even carrying a trace of... divine radiance?!!!

He strode forward and, as if receiving the highest authority of the Federation, took the swaddled infant from the medical officer's hands with utmost solemnity and care.

He lowered his head, looking at his grandson, who possessed merely A-grade Aptitude, with eyes so gentle they could melt a star core!

"Good! Good child!"

Chen Jun's voice, hoarse with emotion, clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Look! These eyebrows! This nose! So much like his grandfather! Hmm... and this stubborn little mouth, that's from his grandmother!"

He gently touched his grandson's tender cheek with a finger, feeling the real, blood-connected touch, his heart bursting with joy.

Good grandson!

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with varied expressions, his face beaming with unprecedented joy and pride!

His voice suddenly rose, as if proclaiming to the entire Universe:

"This child is the hope of my chen clan bloodline, connecting the past and the future! My heart is greatly comforted! My heart is overjoyed! His name shall be: Chen Zhaojing!"

Zhao: One trillion.

Jing: One hundred quadrillion.

Entrusting all of Chen Jun's ambitions!

He paused, as if making a momentous decision, his eyes burning, his voice shaking the hall:

"My will be known!"

"To celebrate Zhao Jing's birth, starting today, a continuous grand feast shall be held at the Pillar of Leaders!"

"The banquet shall last for one year!"

"All citizens of my Federation, regardless of Aptitude, Origin, or cultivation, are welcome to come and share in this joy!"

"For one year, the Pillar of Leaders shall be undefended! Drinks will flow freely! Delicacies for the taking!"

"Boom—!!!"

Chen Jun's words exploded in everyone's minds!

Hold a continuous feast?

For an entire year?!

The Pillar of Leaders undefended?!

Drinks and delicacies at will?!

This... this scale... for an A-grade grandson... is it worth it?!

Everyone was dumbfounded!!!

Shi Yue's mouth hung open, Li Qingshan's Sword Qi once again went out of control, and Mo Heng suddenly clutched his chest...

Chu Yueyao's brain raced, trying to understand the deeper meaning behind Ancestor Chen's actions... Could A-Rank Aptitude hold some secret we don't know about?!

Yun Xi looked at Chen Jun's genuine, ecstatic expression, then looked at the infant in his arms, who truly only had A-Rank fluctuations. In her clear yet ancient eyes, visible confusion surfaced.

Chen Xi was helped out by a maid. Hearing her father's decision, she was also stunned... Father wasn't this happy even when Mother gave birth, was he?

Li Mo felt as though he had been struck by Chaos lightning, standing frozen on the spot. Immediately afterward, a massive, indescribable wave of ecstasy and overwhelmed delight engulfed him!

A-Rank?

It doesn't matter!

It doesn't matter at all!

Ancestor Chen values this child so highly!

His position, Li Mo's position, is secure!

Stellar Level is within reach!

..."What are you standing around for?!" Chen Jun, holding his grandson, scanned the dumbfounded crowd with dissatisfaction. "Did you not hear me? Immediately! Right now! Go execute the orders!"

"Shi Yue! You coordinate the ingredients! They must be the best! The rarest! The quantity must be sufficient! Piled up like mountains!"

"Li Qingshan! Don't let your Sword Qi be idle! Go refine all the alcohol for me! I want it to taste like the annihilation of stars!"

"Mo Heng! The venue setup is your responsibility! It must be creative! It must be shocking! It must make every person who attends the feast feel the joy of my old chen clan!"

"Chu Yueyao! You are responsible for safety and order! Remember, it's a running feast! People will come and go; no trouble is allowed! But no one is to be stopped either!"

"Weiwei," Chen Jun turned to his wife, his tone gentle, "You also help keep an eye on things. This is the celebration feast for our eldest grandson!"

...A series of commands, fired off like a chain of cannonballs, carried an undeniable will.

Only then did the big shots wake up as if from a dream. Although their hearts were still filled with endless questions, Ancestor Chen's will was the highest command!

"Yes! Ancestor Chen!" Everyone responded in unison, their voices carrying excitement, bewilderment, and a trace of frenzy, stunned by this immense happiness.

In an instant, the entire Pillar of Leaders, this colossal machine of civilization, began operating with unprecedented efficiency, running wildly for an A-Rank Aptitude infant, and for Ancestor Chen's single word: "Happy."

...The news, like cosmic ripples surpassing the speed of light, instantly spread across every corner of the Federation.

Via the interstellar network, quantum communication, and word of mouth... "Did you hear? Ancestor Chen has a grandson!"

"He's hosting a running feast at the Pillar of Leaders! For a whole year!"

"My heavens! A running feast for a year?! And at the Pillar of Leaders?! What kind of concept is that?!"

"Quick! Buy a starship ticket to Kunlun Star! No! Rent! Rent the fastest private spaceship!"

"What kind of Genius has been born to cause Ancestor Chen to make such a grand display?"

...Shock!

Curiosity!

Frenzy!

Countless Federal citizens, from various Star Domains, poured toward Kunlun Star and the Pillar of Leaders, as if on a pilgrimage.

They all wanted to witness firsthand what kind of world-shaking talent could warrant such an unprecedented celebration!

And when they arrived at the periphery of the Pillar of Leaders, the sight they beheld was unforgettable for a lifetime!

The Core Zone of the Pillar of Leadership, originally solemn, majestic, and heavily guarded, had now transformed into an ocean of joy, permeated with the enticing aroma of food and the mellow scent of wine!

Long banquet tables, temporarily constructed from rare metals and energy crystals, so magnificent they blinded the eye, stretched out like winding star rivers, disappearing into the distance... The dishes placed on these tables were not those of an ordinary feast.

Those were exotic delicacies personally gathered by Shi Yue, who had led teams to sweep dozens of resource planets!

There were Glazed Fruits from the Aurora Star Belt, a bite of which could cause Soul Emergence, as if one saw their past and present lives... There was Sword Soul Star Dew, refined and condensed a thousand times by Li Qingshan using supreme Sword Intent from Star Spring water, a single drop of which could cleanse the Meridians of a War General Rank Expert... There were cakes safely fused by Mo Heng using the Academy of Sciences' latest technology, combining Anti-Matter Energy Blocks and Life Essence—eating one was comparable to ten years of arduous cultivation... The alcohol was even more extravagant: Limitless Dragon contributed Dragon Blood Brew, and Chu Yueyao brought the Hundred Flower Fine Wine secretly stored by the Xuntian Pavilion... Every dish and every cup of wine, if placed outside, would be enough to cause contention among War God Level Experts!

Yet here, they were supplied in unlimited quantity, like a buffet!

Citizens from various Star Domains, dressed in all sorts of attire, with cultivation ranging from Mortal to Planetary Level, now moved through the banquet as if in a dream... They held "Star Jade Plates," uniformly condensed by Liu Qing, which came with built-in preservation and heating functions, carefully taking the rare delicacies they normally wouldn't even dare to imagine.

Their faces were filled with happiness, excitement, and a hint of daze... "Brother, this... what kind of star beast is this meat from? The energy is too immense! I feel like I'm about to break through!"

"Sister, quickly try this fruit! My heavens! My coveted War General Rank Bottleneck, which I've been aiming for as a Warrior Rank Peak expert, actually feels like it has loosened a bit?!"

"Ancestor Chen... Ancestor Chen, that old man is truly too... too generous!"

"This spectacle! This scale! I dare say, it is unique in the hundred thousand years since the Federation was founded!"

"What exactly is the Young Master's Aptitude? To warrant such a massive celebration from Ancestor Chen?"

...As the wine flowed and excitement grew, speculation about Chen Zhaojing's Aptitude became the most popular topic among the guests.

"I heard," a well-informed elder from Zhiyuan Star whispered mysteriously to his tablemates, "when the Young Master was born, nine-colored nebulae gathered above Qixing Hall, and Law Golden Lotuses spontaneously appeared! That phenomenon lasted for three full hours!"

"Is that true? Could it be the legendary Innate Star Body?" A young man next to him exclaimed.

"Heh! Star Body?" Another burly man dressed in mercenary clothes sneered, took a swig of Dragon Blood Brew, and lowered his voice.

"Your information is too outdated! My great-uncle's neighbor's cousin is an internal staff member of the Xuntian Pavilion. She revealed that when the Young Master was born, the person from Jingsi Hall and the four Sun Body Your Highnesses appeared simultaneously! Even Her Highness Qinglan, who rarely shows her face, went! With that kind of display, is a Star Body enough? I guess it's at least an Innate Moon Body!"

"Moon Body?! My goodness! The Innate Moon Body is the Aptitude of a Leader! Could it be..."

"Hush! Watch your words! Watch your words! But... looking at how happy Ancestor Chen is, hosting a running feast for a year... maybe it really is... Moon Body... or even above Moon Body?!!!"

The speculation grew increasingly outrageous... Under the exaggerated spread and imagination of the crowd, Chen Zhaojing, this little baby with A-Rank Aptitude.

In public opinion, had already become a "peerless Genius" comparable to the Innate Sun Body, or perhaps even superior!

No one would believe that the cause of such an earth-shattering commotion was merely a child with A-Rank Aptitude... The year-long running feast was grand, lively, and spectacular.

The Pillar of Leaders seemed to have become the Federation's most popular tourist attraction and culinary Holy Land.

During this year, the resources consumed were astronomical, but no one raised any objection.

Ancestor Chen being happy was the Federation's highest interest!

And our Chen Zhaojing grew up robustly under this extreme care and attention... Although his Aptitude was A-Rank, the infinite supply of resources compensated for it.

Mo Heng personally formulated the "Infant Origin Optimization Fluid," Shi Yue warmed the "Body Strengthening Star Congee" using Star Core Fire, and Su Yuan smoothed the "Innate Dao Rhyme" using the Law of Life... Various unheard-of nourishments were piled onto this little A-Rank child as if they were worthless.

The effect was also remarkable.

By the time Chen Zhaojing reached his first birthday, he was already robust and spirited, with a pair of large, dark, intelligent eyes full of life.

Although the Aptitude test report clearly stated "A-Rank," his physical quality and Soul strength already far surpassed those of an Innate Martial Body of the same age, even touching the edges of Innate Star Body Aptitude!

This is the power of resources!

On this day, the first birthday banquet pushed the year-long running feast to its climax.

Chen Jun, holding his grandson who was wearing a festive red jacket and a longevity lock, sat in the main seat, receiving congratulations and gifts from all sectors of the Federation, and even from the envoys of the former Empire territories that had been taken over.

The gifts piled up like mountains, shining brightly, with interwoven energy fluctuations that made the entire banquet hall resemble the core of a nebula.

Chen Jun refused no one, accepting every single gift with a smiling face... Only a fool wouldn't accept them!

In the future, he only needed to wait patiently for his grandson to branch out and multiply, waiting for more descendants to arrive... The most solid first cornerstone of his path to eternal life through lying flat had already been laid.

He collapsed back into his Myriad Enjoyment Eternal lounge chair, a profound smile playing on the corner of his mouth.

These days of winning by lying flat truly... look more and more promising!