128: If someone offends me

Deep within the Jingsi Hall of the Pillar of Leaders, the Law of Space intertwined and whispered...

At the core of this expanse of Law, a figure floated silently.

She wore simple clothes, her bare feet like jade; there was no earth-shattering Aura around her, yet she seemed to be the source and destination of the entire space.

She was the supreme leader of the Human Federation—Yun Xi.

Her closed eyes suddenly opened. In her left eye, a pure Aura of life was like the newborn sun; in her right eye, the vicissitudes and wisdom of ages remained settled.

A message carrying infinite etherealness and absolute spatial fluctuations crossed the barriers of space and shone directly into the lake of her heart.

It was the ripple of the Law that transcended mundane understanding, created by her daughter, Yun Qinglan, when she struck to wipe out the main force of the Blood Blade Pirate Group...

For Yun Xi, who was in deep Cultivation and in intimate communication with the Origin of the Universe, this ripple was as clear as a lighthouse in the dark night!

She "saw" the instantaneous annihilation of that massive pirate fleet, saw over two thousand Stellar Level beings captured like ants, and even felt...

Her daughter's absolute power, which already surpassed the ordinary Star Arm Level and touched upon deeper levels of the Laws of the Universe.

"Qinglan..."

Yun Xi murmured in her heart, her clear yet ancient eyes slowly opening.

There was no anger in her eyes at being disturbed from her Cultivation...

Only a trace of understanding, and a trace of indescribable relief and emotion that belonged to a mother.

With such a major event happening outside, she needed to make the necessary arrangements.

She restrained the surging power of the Law around her, returning it to stillness, leaving only a mental message containing supreme majesty and wisdom that rippled out like water waves...

Instantly enveloping the entire Pillar of Leaders!

It was clearly transmitted into the minds of all the high-ranking officials.

"I am already aware of the events outside."

Her voice rang directly in everyone's consciousness, calm and profound, carrying the power to soothe all restlessness.

"The invading enemy brought this upon themselves, and although they have been annihilated."

"However, the tragedy of the AG-7 Agricultural Star, where a hundred billion compatriots perished, is a hatred that must not be forgotten! This grudge must not be overlooked!"

"Transmit my will: throughout the Federation, effective immediately, flags will be flown at half-mast, and there will be three days of mourning. All entertainment activities are suspended to mourn the deceased and warn the living."

"The hatred for our hundred billion compatriots will be avenged immediately once we have fully investigated the details of the Blood Blade Pirate Group! We must capture them all!"

"The current Federation is no longer what it once was! Those who offend our Federation—will be punished, no matter how far away they are!"

"The lesson of this battle must be carved into the marrow of the Federation's civilization—to be backward is to be beaten!"

As this message was transmitted...

Throughout the entire Pillar of Leaders and all the Federation planets that received the signal, a solemn and sorrowful atmosphere descended...

Flags were slowly lowered, bustling cities became silent, and countless citizens spontaneously stopped their work, facing the direction of the AG-7 Agricultural Star, bowing their heads in silent mourning.

One hundred and twenty billion!

An agricultural star with a total population of only one hundred and thirty billion, in less than 30 seconds—nine out of ten homes were left empty! Less than one in ten survived!

These were not cold numbers, but once-vibrant lives, the flesh and blood compatriots of the Federation!

Their passing was like a heavy hammer, striking hard at the hearts of everyone in the Federation!

"Mo Heng." Yun Xi's consciousness specifically named him.

"Leader!" Mo Heng's mental projection immediately responded respectfully.

"The Academy of Sciences must immediately establish an 'AG-7 Incident Investigation and Reflection Committee' to fully analyze all technical shortcomings exposed in this battle, especially in detection, defense, and anti-stealth technologies. Concentrate all resources and ensure Breakthrough progress is made in the shortest possible time; we cannot wait until the enemy is at our doorstep to discover them."

"Yes! Leader! Your subordinate will do everything in my power!" Mo Heng's voice was filled with deep sorrow and determination.

"Shi Yue, Luo Mie."

"Present!"

"Organize the military and prepare for war, without a single day of relaxation. Treat the Blood Blade Pirate Group as the hypothetical enemy, re-evaluate our military combat power, and formulate training programs. At the same time, develop a plan for receiving the pirates!"

"We will strictly obey the Leader's command!"

"Chu Yueyao."

"Yue Yao is here."

"Properly handle the aftermath of the AG-7 incident, provide compensation for the casualties, and rebuild the homes. At the same time, strengthen the propaganda for internal cohesion; the pain of this battle must be transformed into the driving force for the Federation's unity and progress!"

"Yes!"

...

One instruction after another was clearly issued, steady and powerful, quickly guiding the Federation from its brief Chaos and shock into orderly mourning and deep reflection.

Finally, Yun Xi's consciousness, carrying a hint of imperceptible softness, landed on the man still sprawled on the lounge chair in the Reminiscing Room.

"Chen Jun..."

Chen Jun raised his eyelids and replied to the air, as if talking to himself:

"Mother of our children, just rest assured in your Cultivation; the children are outside, it won't be chaotic."

His tone was very flat, carrying a casualness of "the children can handle family matters."

Yun Xi's consciousness paused slightly, as if she could feel Chen Jun's transcendent and stable state of mind.

She said no more, and that vast mental consciousness receded like a tide, returning to the depths of the Jingsi Hall...

The Leader's will was like the highest Law, quickly spreading throughout the Federation.

An atmosphere of mourning enveloped every planet.

Especially towards—

The repeated emphasis on the bloody lesson: "To be backward is to be beaten!"

Entertainment programs, comedy variety shows, and commercial advertisements were all suspended.

News channels broadcasted the latest investigation progress of the AG-7 Agricultural Star tragedy, even though many details were shocking!

Live footage of mourning activities in various places, interviews with survivors and rescue personnel, and documentaries deeply analyzing the brutal acts of the "Blood Blade Pirate Group."

A veteran of AG-7 who lost all his family in the tragedy and was luckily dug out of the ruins by a rescue team, when accepting a holographic interview, did not cry or shout, but just stared at the camera with bloodshot eyes, saying hoarsely:

"They... they were just like crushing bugs... the defenses we were proud of, our courage... in front of that kind of power, it was nothing... it didn't count for anything..."

This interview was played repeatedly, deeply piercing the heart of every Federation citizen...

The six words "To be backward is to be beaten" had never, as they did at this moment, carried such a bloody texture, branded into the depths of the Federation's Soul.

Social media hotspots... all pages were occupied by black and white tones, filled with words like "mourning," "remembering," "reflection," and "self-strengthening"...

Countless citizens, in addition to their grief, ignited a strong sense of urgency and a heart for striving!

Children in schools clenched their fists, determined to become powerful Martial Artists or scientists;

Workers in factories devoted themselves more focusedly to production, building more powerful warships and weapons for the Federation;

Researchers in laboratories forgot to eat and sleep, racing against time to overcome technical difficulties...

...

The entire Federation turned grief into strength, like a massive machine that had wiped away its rust and filled its fuel, starting to operate with unprecedented efficiency.

...

A few days later, Pillar of Leaders, highest strategic conference room.

A high-level meeting concerning the future fate of the Federation was being held.

Participants included all Stellar Level bigwigs and core Planetary Level members, as well as—Chen Jun, who insisted on attending!

Chen Jun's daughters, like Yun Xi, had gone into closed-door Cultivation.

Chen Jun was still carried by a specially made, ergonomic floating lounge chair, with no expression on his face, eyes half-closed...

But everyone knew that his opinion was crucial.

On the holographic star map, the currently known sphere of influence of the Blood Blade Pirate Group, their main lairs, and their complex relationships with the Holy Radiance Empire and the Myriad Merchant Conglomerate were clearly marked.

"Everyone!"

Chu Yueyao, as the meeting host, had a cold and firm voice.

"The Leader's will is clear. The blood feud of AG-7 must be repaid with blood! The Blood Blade Pirate Group must pay a bloody price for their atrocities! Today's discussion is to determine the final strategy against the Blood Blade Pirate Group!"

Li Qingshan was the first to slam the table and stand up, his Sword Qi soaring to the sky:

"What is there to discuss?! Her Highness Qinglan has invincible Divine Might and can make them vanish into ashes with a flick of her finger! Just ask Her Highness to take action, uproot and sweep away, and root out all their lairs! To comfort the spirits of the hundred billion compatriots of AG-7 in heaven!"

His proposal was echoed by many military representatives, and the crowd was filled with indignation.

"Sword Venerable Qingshan, please calm down."

Shi Yue spoke steadily, his voice like a rock.

The Blood Blade Pirate Group has roamed the star seas for many years, and their lair, the 'Shattered Star Nest,' has been fortified for a long time; its defenses must be formidable.

Moreover, their other four supreme commanders are all on par with Balem in strength, and they likely command nearly ten thousand Stellar Level subordinates, controlling over three thousand star Systems!

Although Her Highness Qinglan has no fear, our Human Federation's territory is vast.

If we drive them into a corner and they start running amok, causing destruction everywhere, it will be a major disaster.

If you strike a snake but don't kill it, you will suffer from it later!

Mo Heng pushed up his glasses and added, 'Furthermore, we don't know much about the Blood Blade Pirate Group.

Is it possible that they are connected to some even larger forces behind the scenes?

Launching a full-scale war rashly might trigger unpredictable chain reactions.'

Chu Yueyao nodded, 'More importantly, our Human Federation is currently in a period of rapid development.

Internal integration, technological Breakthroughs, and population growth are the top priorities.

Even if we conquered the Star Pirates' territory now, we wouldn't have enough population to migrate there.'

The meeting fell into a debate.

The pro-war faction demanded immediate thunderous retaliation to intimidate all sides with absolute military force.

The moderate faction, however, worried about the attrition and uncertainty brought by war, suggesting a more cautious strategy.

Just as both sides were deadlocked, a slow, leisurely voice rang out from the corner.

'Ahem.'

It was Chen Jun.

He had sat up straight at some point, holding a cup of Jingsi Tea that Lin Wei had just brewed for him, its fragrance wafting through the air as he gently blew on the steam.

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on him.

The meeting room went quiet immediately, so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Chen Jun took a sip of tea, smacked his lips, and then lifted his eyelids...

His gaze swept calmly over everyone, finally landing on the area on the star map representing the Blood Blade Pirate Group, which looked like a festering sore on the Universe.

His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears:

'My Old Ancestor has a saying that is quite good.'

'It goes, "If others do not offend me, I will not offend them."'

He paused, set down his teacup, and his eyes suddenly became sharp, carrying the unquestionable majesty of someone who has long held a high position:

'If others offend me...'

He enunciated each word, his voice resolute and filled with cold Killing Intent:

'Exterminate! Them! Completely!'

'Boom!'

These four words exploded in the meeting room like four bolts of Chaos lightning!

Everyone felt a chill rise up their spines!

Exterminate them completely!

This was the most direct, most thorough, and most fitting solution for the grief and indignation of the Human Federation's citizens at this moment!

There was no room for any compromise!

Li Qingshan's face flushed with excitement, Shi Yue's eyes shot out sharp glints, Mo Heng was lost in thought, and Chu Yueyao nodded slightly...

Chen Jun watched their reactions, his tone softening, but still carrying an unquestionable finality:

'The 120 billion lives on the AG-7 Agricultural Star cannot die in vain!'

'A tumor like the Blood Blade Pirate Group is a scourge if left alive.

Today they dare to attack the AG-7 Agricultural Star, tomorrow they will dare to attack other planets.

Only by completely erasing them from the Universe can we eliminate future troubles, and let all forces coveting the Human Federation see clearly what happens when they touch our citizens!'

He slumped back into his chair, returning to his lazy demeanor, as if those murderous words from just a moment ago hadn't come from him...

'As for how to fight and when to fight, that is for you professionals to consider.

I have only one requirement—'

He held up two fingers: 'Be fast, be ruthless.

Don't drag things out, lest complications arise.'

'Yes! Ancestor Chen!' everyone responded in unison, their voices filled with excitement and determination!

Ancestor Chen's attitude was the final direction!

Exterminate them completely!

Eliminate future troubles!

'Since that is the case!' Chu Yueyao quickly summarized:

'Strategic goal confirmed: completely annihilate the core forces of the Blood Blade Pirate Group and destroy all their major lairs and control nodes.

The specific combat plan shall be formulated by the military in conjunction with the Academy of Sciences as soon as possible!'

'Yes!'

The atmosphere of the meeting instantly unified, filled with a shared spirit of righteous indignation and Killing Intent.

Just then, Chen Jun seemed to remember something else, his gaze turning to the Void Realm as he muttered to himself.

'Su Yuan.'

'Father?'

Su Yuan suddenly appeared in the meeting hall, as if she had been there all along.

Her serene gaze looked at her father, filled with inquiry.

'This incident has served as a wake-up call for us.' Chen Jun said earnestly, 'Personal greatness is important, but the foundation of a civilization is, after all, its overall technological level.

Our Human Federation's detection technology was left far behind by them this time, leading to this great disaster.'

Data streams flickered slightly in Su Yuan's eyes as she nodded: 'Yes, Father.

Technological gaps are often decisive in interstellar warfare.'

'So,' Chen Jun looked at her, his eyes carrying a hint of expectation, 'In the future, besides Cultivating and studying the Law, spend more effort on the Human Federation's technological development.

It would be a pity if your wisdom and ability were not used where it counts.'

His words were meaningful.

Su Yuan was an Innate Sun Body with extraordinary Aptitude, and her future achievements would be limitless.

The Innate Universe Origin affinity period truly shouldn't be wasted; every minute and second should be seized.

But Chen Jun knew that the System's potential was far more than that.

In the future, he would certainly be able to conceive offspring even more powerful than Yun Qinglan's Innate Radiant Body.

Technological development was equally crucial!

It concerned the entire civilization's foundation and its ability to resist risks.

Su Yuan's attainments in the Law of Life and scientific fields had an incalculable promoting effect on the Human Federation's biotechnology, Materials science, and even energy application.

Asking her to divert attention to technology was not neglecting her proper work, but rather adding a more solid insurance policy for the Human Federation and for Chen Jun's own "lying down and winning" environment.

What if... he meant just in case, if in the future Su Yuan or other daughters encountered a Bottleneck on the path of Cultivation and got stuck at a certain Realm.

When he later conceived a daughter with even higher Aptitude, they might be able to rely on the strength of a younger daughter to obtain rare treasures beneficial for breaking through from the Peak of the Star Arm Level to the Galaxy Level...

Falling behind means getting beaten!

This lesson must be kept in mind!

Su Yuan was incredibly intelligent and immediately understood the deep meaning in her father's words.

She was not a pure Cultivation fanatic; she held great passion for knowledge and creation itself.

It was just that the Innate Universe Origin affinity period was simply too precious to allow for any waste.

'I understand, Father.' Su Yuan nodded earnestly, 'I will adjust my time and devote some of my energy to the R&D of key Human Federation technologies, especially in the fields of space detection, energy shields, and anti-stealth technology.'

Although the mere one hundred thousand years of Innate Origin affinity period for an Innate Sun Body was precious, since Father had given an order, she felt it wasn't impossible to be slightly distracted...

'Good, good!' Chen Jun smiled with satisfaction.

With a daughter like this, what more could a father ask for?

He seemed to already see that under Su Yuan's guidance, the Human Federation's tech tree began to grow wildly, lighting up one field after another that had once been unimaginable!

The meeting concluded after confirming the "exterminate them completely" strategic policy and Su Yuan shifting more energy to technological support...

The bigwigs left with clear instructions and high morale, beginning to busily prepare for the ultimate battle against the Blood Blade Pirate Group...

Although they only needed to figure out how to take over the pirate territory, as the leaders and Her Highnesses were the main force...

Chen Jun and Lin Wei left the meeting room together and returned to his manor filled with pastoral vibes.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled into the courtyard, dyeing everything a warm gold.

Several young great-grandchildren were chasing and playing on the lawn, emitting laughter like silver bells.

He reached out to catch a little great-granddaughter who had pounced on him, holding her in his arms.

The little girl giggled...

'Great-Grandfather, stars... so many stars...' She pointed at the night sky where stars were beginning to appear, saying in a milky voice.

Chen Jun looked up at the boundless starry sky.

There, there were departed Souls, enemies waiting to be executed, and also... infinite future and hope.

He gently patted his great-granddaughter's back, his eyes flashing with deep light.

'Yes, so many stars...'

'In the future, those stars will all belong to our Chen family...'

'No one can bully the people of our family...'

His voice was very soft, yet carried an unquestionable firmness!