114: How bold can a person be?

Chen Zhaojing's grand 'Consort Selection' curtain was abruptly raised with efficiency exceeding the speed of light.

Chu Yueyao's execution ability was terrifying.

The official announcement from Xuntian Pavilion, carrying unquestionable authority, swept through every corner of the Federation like a cosmic storm.

The content was concise, with the core being the three rules set by Ancestor Chen—female, alive, and willing to bear children.

As for Family background, Aptitude, or appearance?

The announcement didn't even mention them, truly embodying the principle of 'beauty regardless of origin'.

The entire Federation exploded!

If Chen Zhaojing's birth eighteen years ago and that unprecedented banquet had ignited the public's curiosity and fervor,

then this public consort selection was like pouring a ladle of ice water into a pot of boiling oil—instantly triggering a nationwide, hysterical frenzy!

Countless families with daughters, whether noble households or common folk, had their eyes turn red!

Ancestor Chen's direct eldest grandson!

The Federation's only 'Imperial Grandson'!

Although his official Aptitude was only A-grade, look at Ancestor Chen's doting affection for him!

Look at the year-long banquet, and then look at his Star Arm Level aunts... The value of this A-grade Aptitude was even higher than that of the legendary Innate Star Body!

How could this be a wealthy husband?

This was clearly the only direct ticket, without any threshold, to the core of the Federation's power and resources!

"Register! We must register! Although my daughter is only B-grade Aptitude, she has loved children since she was little! Her dream is to open the largest kindergarten in the entire Federation!"

"My daughter! S-grade Aptitude! A top student at the Federal Military Academy! But her biggest dream is to return to the Family, assist her husband and raise children! To give birth to an reinforced platoon!"

"What's the use of Aptitude? My great-granddaughter, although only F-grade... she's healthy and doesn't catch colds all year round! She has a big bottom, good for bearing children! She definitely looks like she can give birth!"

"Quick! Organize the information of all eligible unmarried women in the Family! Wait... prepare the information for married ones too! What if Ancestor Chen, that old man... has an open mind?"

...Under the fervor, various 'pre-exam tutoring classes', 'consort selection sprint camps', and 'Young Master Chen Zhaojing's Preferences Analysis' sprang up like mushrooms after rain, with business so booming that a lottery System was needed... 'How to Demonstrate Your Reproductive Potential in One Minute', 'In-depth Analysis of the Chen Clan's Values', 'Astrological Compatibility with Young Master Zhao Jing'... all sorts of bizarre books and courses sold out... even giving rise to a financial derivative called 'Zhao Jing Stock', betting on which beauty would make the final cut, with market conditions changing daily... And our student Chen Zhaojing, at this moment, was caught in a sweet yet anxious busyness... His daily routine was strictly divided into two parts:

In the morning, it was the 'Ideological Consolidation Class' personally supervised by his grandfather, Chen Jun.

"Zhao Jing, look at this data," Chen Jun said earnestly, pointing to the steeply rising curve of the Federation's population on the holographic screen.

"Every second, millions of newborns are born in the Federation! These are the hopes of civilization! As the eldest grandson, you bear great responsibility and must have a sense of urgency!"

"Grandpa, I understand!" Chen Zhaojing's eyes were firm. "I will work hard to contribute a branch of our Old Chen Clan to the Federation's population growth curve!"

Chen Jun nodded in satisfaction, then switched the screen to holographic images and data of women, piled high like mountains, initially screened by Xuntian Pavilion... "Come, look at these. This one, a top student from the Academy of Life Sciences, reportedly participated in the 'Multiple Fetus Gene Optimization' project, a perfect match professionally!"

"This one, from the Academy of Arts, look at her flexibility, she clearly has... mm, a good Physique!"

"This one, from a frontier Star Domain, her data shows her Family has ten generations living together, with as many as fifty siblings! Excellent genetic heritage!"

Chen Zhaojing was dazzled and flushed, but still tried to maintain a serious 'academic discussion' attitude, commenting earnestly:

"Grandpa, I believe this young lady from the frontier Star Domain, her Family's reproductive tradition is commendable and aligns perfectly with our Old Chen Clan's core values."

In the afternoon, it was the 'Practical Observation Class'.

Chu Yueyao would send the daily pre-selected candidates with the most 'unique characteristics' to Chen Zhaojing, allowing him to familiarize himself with the 'market conditions' in advance.

These materials were a vibrant display of diverse talents and approaches:

One woman recorded a video of herself moving a small anti-gravity engine bare-handed, with the caption: "Excellent physical fitness, possessing the basic hardware for independent childcare."

Another woman submitted a ten-thousand-word thesis titled 'On Optimizing Birth Intervals to Accelerate Family Population Growth'.

One woman directly attached her Family's ancestral secret recipe, rumored to guarantee triplets.

Even a young lady from an Agricultural Planet sent a photo of herself standing in front of a field of golden 'Star Grain Rice', smiling brightly, with the caption: "I might not understand big theories, but I can farm and raise children! My mother gave birth to twenty-eight of us, and I think I can too!"

...Amidst this nationwide fervor, the first batch of 'high-quality candidates', after layers of screening, were secretly transported to the Pillar of Leaders, ready for their 'interview'.

The interview location was set in the beautiful 'Star Radiance Garden'.

To ensure the 'interview' was fair, professional, and... met Ancestor Chen's ultimate demands, Chu Yueyao assembled an unprecedentedly powerful 'review panel'.

Chief Reviewer, Chen Jun, held the ultimate veto power and a single vote for approval.

Permanent Reviewers: Lin Wei, with a grandmother's loving perspective; Chen Xi, with a mother's discerning eye; Li Mo, the father-in-law's... uh, mainly learning attitude.

Special Invited Technical Consultant, Su Yuan, responsible for evaluating candidates' physiological health, reproductive potential, and gene optimization possibilities.

Special Invited Security Consultant, Xuan Sha, responsible for evaluating potential threats from candidates, and... stress resistance.

Special Invited Discipline Supervisor, Chu Yueyao, responsible for procedural compliance and preventing cheating... Such a luxurious review lineup, considered the highest standard in the Federation, solely for selecting a wife for Chen Zhaojing... The first candidate entered.

This was a lady from a prestigious Family on the Capital Planet, S-grade Aptitude, graceful and elegant, walking like a delicate willow swaying in the breeze.

She bowed gracefully, her voice melodious: "This humble one, Mu Qing, greets Ancestor Chen, all Your Highnesses, and Young Master Zhao Jing."

Chen Jun said kindly: "No need for such formality. Miss Mu Qing, have you read the 'Chen Clan Instructions: Proliferation Edition'?"

Mu Qing paused slightly, clearly not expecting such a direct opening, but quickly regained her elegance: "Replying to Ancestor Chen, I have dabbled in it. The line 'The rise and fall of a Family depends on its population' is truly thought-provoking."

Chen Jun nodded: "Mm, a very accurate understanding. So, what are your personal plans for your future life?"

A blush spread across Mu Qing's face, her voice even softer: "This humble one wishes to assist her husband and raise children, manage the Family business, and if fate allows, to bear a son or daughter for Young Master Zhao Jing would be a blessing."

On the review panel, Lin Wei and Chen Xi nodded slightly, finding the young lady's demeanor appropriate and her personality seemingly good.

Data streams flickered in Su Yuan's eyes as she murmured: "Normal physiological functions, reproductive System activity... moderately high."

Chen Jun, however, frowned slightly and looked at his beloved grandson beside him: "Zhao Jing, what do you think?"

Chen Zhaojing remembered his grandfather's teachings and asked earnestly: "Miss Mu Qing, what is your view on the 'more births, better births' policy? In your opinion, what is a suitable range for the number of children in an ideal Family?"

"Ah?" Mu Qing was completely stunned. She had prepared for questions about zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose, but why were the questions so... hardcore?

She stammered: "This... children are naturally a gift from heaven, everything follows fate... two... perhaps three would be excellent?"

Chen Zhaojing frowned slightly, turned to Chen Jun, and whispered: "Grandpa, her reproductive desire seems not strong enough, and her goal setting is too conservative."

Chen Jun's face was expressionless. He picked up the jade hammer beside him and gently tapped the small bell in front of him.

"Ding—"

A clear chime, signifying "not approved."

Miss Mu Qing's face turned pale, and she was tearfully escorted out... The second candidate was the young lady from the Agricultural Planet, named Cui Hua.

Her skin was slightly dark, her figure sturdy, with a healthy blush on her face. Upon entering, she bowed ninety degrees, her voice booming: "My name is Cui Hua! I greet all the sirs! And young ladies!"

This simple demeanor made the review panel pause.

Chen Jun asked with interest: "Miss Cui Hua, I heard you have many siblings?"

"That's right!" Cui Hua brightened up, listing them off: "My father and mother gave birth to twenty-eight of us! I'm the eldest! I have twenty-seven younger brothers and sisters below me! I helped raise all of them! I might not be good at other things, but I'm excellent at raising children, cooking, and farming!"

Chen Zhaojing's eyes lit up, and he proactively asked: "Miss Cui Hua, if you have children in the future, how many do you plan to have?"

Cui Hua scratched her head and smiled honestly: "My mother always said, 'How bold a person is, how much the land yields!' As long as there's enough food at home, I'll have as many as I can! Ten isn't too many, and I can handle twenty!"

"Good!" Chen Zhaojing couldn't help but slap his thigh, looking excitedly at Chen Jun, "Grandpa! This woman has great ambition! Highly compatible with our Old Chen Clan's philosophy!"

Chen Jun stroked his beard and smiled, quite satisfied.

Su Yuan also reported the assessment results: "Genetic sequence shows robustness, vigorous vitality, and reproductive potential assessment... extremely high."

Just as Chen Jun was about to strike the golden gong representing "Pass," the specially invited security consultant Xuan Sha spoke coldly.

Her figure flashed, appearing before Cui Hua like a phantom. The terrifying Star Arm Level Killing Intent instantly enveloped Cui Hua as if it were tangible!

"Speak! Are you a spy sent by a hostile civilization?!" Xuan Sha's voice was like ten thousand years of cold ice.

An ordinary woman, even one at the Planetary Level, would suffer mental collapse under such Killing Intent.

However, Cui Hua was only startled into taking one step back, her face paling slightly. She immediately stuck out her neck and shouted, "I'm not! I am a loyal Federal Farmer! My Family has been farming for generations! My loyalty to the Federation is as solid as the crops in my field!"

Xuan Sha retracted her Killing Intent, nodded, and returned to her original position: "Heart-Nature is tough, pressure resistance is qualified, no suspicion of being a spy."

Chen Jun laughed heartily and picked up the golden gavel.

"Clang—!!!"

A loud gong sound echoed throughout the Xinghui Garden.

"Pass! Miss Cui Hua, congratulations on entering the next round!" Chu Yueyao immediately announced.

Cui Hua was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly: "Thank you, Esteemed Elder! Thank you, Esteemed Elder! I will definitely work hard!"

...The subsequent interviews were full of dramatic moments and eccentric candidates... One woman demonstrated her inherited "Fertility Cultivation Technique" on the spot, almost causing the flowers and plants in Xinghui Garden to grow wildly.

Another woman brought a complete set of her self-designed "Automated Management System for Multiple Birth Child-Rearing," requesting guidance from Dean Mo Heng.

Yet another woman stated that she was proficient in the ancient secret art of "Bone Reading for Character Assessment," claiming she could instantly discern a man's fertility strength, and requested to perform bone reading on Chen Zhaojing for appraisal. She was directly escorted out by Xuan Sha for "harboring malicious intent."

Furthermore, one literary young woman passionately recited a poem she had composed, "To the Future You—Our Children Scattered Across the Sea of Stars."

Her emotion was rich, delivered with tears and sniffles, moving even Lin Wei to wipe her eyes. However, Chen Jun regrettably vetoed her, deeming her "overly emotional, potentially affecting production efficiency"... The interviews lasted three full days. Everyone on the review panel, including several Star Arm Level bigwigs, felt mentally and physically exhausted, their worldviews thoroughly challenged.

Li Mo privately complained to Chen Xi: "Wife, I now feel that when our father urged me to have a second child back then, it was practically a gentle breeze and fine rain..."

Chen Xi gave a helpless, wry smile... Finally, after fierce and eccentric competition, a total of one hundred young women stood out in the first batch and entered the "Final Selection List."

These one hundred young women could be called "all-around experts," sharing the common traits of being physically healthy, having firm willpower, and viewing "expanding the Chen Clan lineage" as their highest lifelong honor and mission!

Chen Jun looked at the list, deeply comforted, and immediately called a Family meeting that very night.

"Zhao Jing, these hundred women were meticulously selected for you by Grandpa, your aunts, and Pavilion Master Chu!" Chen Jun pointed at the list, his eyes shining brightly.

"Grandpa's opinion is that while selecting the best of the best is good, time waits for no one! During extraordinary times, one must take extraordinary measures!"

He took a deep breath and announced a shocking decision:

"Therefore, Grandpa has decided! All hundred of them will be taken in marriage!"

"Pfft—"

"What?!"

"Father! Are you insane?!"

The tea Li Mo had just sipped was instantly sprayed out, Chen Xi stood up in shock, and even Lin Wei's eyes widened.

Marrying one hundred women at once?!

Even in the Interstellar Era, this was too exaggerated!

Chen Zhaojing was also stunned. Although he had been indoctrinated with the concept of reproduction for over ten years, marrying one hundred at once... wasn't this step a bit too big?

"What? Is there a problem?" Chen Jun glared. "Didn't Su Yuan assess Zhao Jing's Physique? His actual Physique is War God Peak, comparable to an Innate Star Body at his age! He can handle it!"

"As for resources, that's even less of a problem! Does our Family lack those meager resources?"

"Efficiency! What matters now is efficiency!" Chen Jun waved his arm. "One wife, one child a year, that's only a hundred in a hundred years! One hundred wives, and you might have a hundred children in one year! Can the efficiency be the same?"

"This is called large-scale, intensive production! It aligns with the core spirit of the Federation's current vigorous push to develop 'productivity'!"

He looked at Yun Qinglan, who had been silent: "Qinglan, tell me, does Father's reasoning make sense?"

Yun Qinglan tilted her head, her clear eyes filled with contemplation. After a moment, she nodded: "Mmm... what Father said seems to comply with the Law of Conservation of Energy and the Exponential Growth Model. Output within a unit of time is indeed positively correlated with the number of production units."

Everyone: "..."

It's over! Even Her Highness Qinglan, who is the most "unworldly," has been led astray!

Chen Jun slapped his thigh: "See! Even Qinglan understands! This matter is settled!"

He looked at Chu Yueyao: "Yue Yao, prepare the wedding! Make it fast! Make it grand! We must let the entire Federation know that my Old Chen Clan has officially begun a new era of population explosive growth!"

Chu Yueyao's mouth twitched, and she accepted the order with difficulty: "...Yes, Ancestor Chen."

...When the news spread, the Federation, which had just calmed down, exploded again!

Marrying one hundred at once?!!!

Ancestor Chen... he truly dared to dream, and truly dared to act!!!

"On the Positive Impact of Large-Scale Marriage on Civilization Population Structure," "A New Direction in Federal Fertility Policy Seen from Young Master Chen Zhaojing's Grand Wedding"... various analytical articles flooded the internet... The common people were discussing it frantically... "My heavens! A hundred! Can Young Master Zhao Jing's body handle it?"

"What do you know? This is called strategic planning! Resource optimization!"

"I did the math: if these hundred wives are productive, a hundred children a year means a thousand in ten years... My goodness, the Old Chen Clan is going to become a civilization unto itself!"

"Quick! Check the Family backgrounds of these hundred wives to see if there are any suitable collateral line sisters for marriage alliances!"

...Amidst nationwide discussion and eager anticipation, an unprecedented and extremely grand mass wedding ceremony was solemnly held at the Pillar of Leaders.

The scale of the wedding was several times more extravagant than the flowing feast held eighteen years ago!

Shi Yue directly used the Power of Stars to condense a "Palace of Ten Thousand Joys" suspended in the starry sky to serve as the wedding hall.

Li Qingshan led ten thousand streaks of Sword Qi, outlining the giant congratulatory phrase "May you have many sons soon" in the starry sky. The Sword Qi crisscrossed for millions of miles, and its light illuminated the entire Kunlun Star.

Mo Heng mobilized all the holographic projection equipment of the Academy of Sciences to project real-time scenes of congratulations from all over the Federation onto the wedding venue, creating the stunning effect of "The Entire Federation Celebrating Together."

Liu Qing, using supreme power, instantly refined one hundred small Resource Planets into one hundred dazzling "Star Rings" to serve as the groom's betrothal gifts for the one hundred brides!

At the wedding, Chen Zhaojing wore a special wedding robe embroidered with "Multiple Benefits and Multitudes of Fortune" patterns. Looking at the one hundred brides before him, each with a different style but all with eyes filled with... unwavering commitment to the cause of reproduction, his feelings were complex and hard to describe... there was excitement, a sense of mission, and a trace of... confusion about the future.

Meanwhile, Chen Jun sat in the main seat, watching the scene and smiling uncontrollably... His face was radiant with the satisfaction and joy of "an old farmer seeing his most fertile fields finally sown with seeds."

He calculated silently in his heart:

"One hundred granddaughters-in-law... based on the minimum standard, ten children each, that's one thousand great-grandchildren!"

"One thousand great-grandchildren, even if half are boys, that's five hundred! If each of them marries a hundred... and each great-granddaughter-in-law gives birth to ten more... that's five hundred thousand great-great-grandchildren!"

"Five hundred thousand great-great-grandchildren..."

Chen Jun's breathing quickened, and his eyes were sparkling!

Exponential growth!

This is the magnificent exponential growth!

His Multiple Benefits function!

His System Rank!

His path to Eternal Life through Lying Flat!

The future is bright!

Even the sea of stars seems insignificant!

..."The Rites are Complete—!!!"

As the master of ceremonies let out a high-pitched announcement, the wedding reached its climax!

Star light filled the sky, and billions celebrated... Chen Jun, smugly satisfied, raised his wine cup toward the vast sea of stars, as if toasting the entire Universe... On the wedding night, Chen Zhaojing stood at the entrance of the wedding chamber, which had one hundred rooms... He looked at the "Scheduling Table" in his hand, personally drawn by his grandfather Chen Jun and "scientifically optimized" by his Aunt Su Yuan, and fell into deep contemplation... The table was not only precise down to the hour, but also marked with "Estimated Optimal Conception Positions," "Nutritional Supplement Recommendations," and "Emotional Mobilization Plans"... Chen Zhaojing looked up at the dazzling starry sky, yet he felt an unprecedented sense of... a long and arduous journey ahead!!!

"I! Will fight for it!!!!!"

"For the Family!!!"

"For the Federation!!!"