132: You understand now?

Chen Jun's gaze swept indifferently over the group of "mini captives" before him. There was no victor's pride or hatred for enemies in his eyes; instead, there was a kind of... scrutiny, as if he were looking at a pile of "special resources" waiting to be processed?

A different thought arose in his mind again... the Blood Blade Pirate Group was completely wiped out?

Then wouldn't their vast Star Domain become the Federation's territory again?

Wouldn't this be too conspicuous?

After all, the Star Pirates' territory was three times larger than the combined territory of the Federation and the former Empire!

What if it attracted the attention of unknown existences? The probability would increase from two in a hundred million... hundred million to eight in a hundred million... hundred million. How was that different from seeking death?

We still need to find a reason not to occupy so much territory!

Isn't having more territory just for more people and more Innate Aptitude Geniuses?

With me here, is that a problem?

Once I prove that having children doesn't affect my life Origin, and the children are reassured, won't we have as many Innate Aptitudes as we want?

And even better Innate Aptitude!

...In this solemn yet somewhat absurd atmosphere, Chen Jun spoke slowly, as if talking to himself, yet also as if soliciting everyone's opinions, proposing a concept:

"Speaking of which... our Federation's territory is large enough now, but the population hasn't even filled our current territory. The borderlines of our territory extend in all directions, and there are always some ignorant neighbors. This time it was the Blood Blade Pirate Group; next time, who knows which nobody it might be."

He paused, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of the lounge chair.

"I'm thinking, instead of always waiting for others to attack us, passively defending ourselves, exhausting our energy, and making Federation citizens unsafe, just like the Agricultural Planet last time... why don't we create a 'buffer zone'? There's no need to disperse the citizen density? Or rather... create a 'country within a country' (state-within-a-state)?"

"Country within a Country (State-within-a-State)?"

As these three words came out, all the Federation bigwigs, including the Star Pirate "Figurines" still trembling, were stunned.

What did that mean?

To add another layer outside the Federation's territory?

Chen Jun didn't explain in detail, merely continued in his unique, somewhat lazy and profound tone:

"Look, this Blood Blade Pirate Group, aren't they controlling over three thousand Stellar Level systems? The territory is huge, but it's too chaotic and a complete mess."

"If we take over these territories, we don't need to directly incorporate them into the Federation; that's too troublesome. We can just form a circle outside, integrate them, and make it into a... hmm, let's call it the 'Star Pirate Autonomous Region'?"

"Let these guys," he pointed at the "Figurines" in the air, "and their remaining small fry, stay in their original territories. But, we must establish rules: from now on, our Federation will be their Suzerain Civilization! They must be responsible for guarding our gate and resisting external enemies. If there's any trouble, they must be on the front lines. As for our Federation, we can develop peacefully inside, build, and have children..."

The more Chen Jun spoke, the clearer his thoughts seemed to become, and his eyes subtly brightened.

"This way, wouldn't our Federation directly have a natural barrier with immense strategic depth, composed of 'former Star Pirates'? Those chaotic civilizations outside, if they want to attack us, must first pass through the 'Star Pirate Autonomous Region.' By the time they break in, we'll already be prepared."

"We just need to send some people to supervise and regularly collect 'protection fees'... ah, no, 'management fees.' Use their resources to raise our troops and advance our technology. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

His vision of a "Country within a Country (State-within-a-State)" sounded somewhat fantastical, but upon closer examination, it contained extremely ingenious strategic thinking—

Using enemies to control enemies, subduing others without fighting, turning threats into barriers, and transforming potential enemies into the outermost meat shields and resource providers!

However, before anyone else could fully grasp the profound meaning behind this concept... "Brilliant!!! Ancestor Chen is sagacious! Far-sighted and considerate for a thousand autumns!!!"

An excited shout, almost cracking, exploded like a sudden clap of thunder!

It was Emperor Shi Yue, a Stellar Level Advanced Expert known for his rock-solid composure!

At this moment, his face was flushed, and he was trembling slightly with "excitement"!

He took a swift step forward and bowed deeply to Chen Jun, almost touching the ground!

His posture suggested that Chen Jun hadn't just proposed a strategic concept, but had directly revealed the ultimate truth of the Universe!

"Ancestor Chen! Your words are truly a beacon illuminating the Federation for all ages! The 'Country within a Country (State-within-a-State)' strategy is absolutely brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!!!"

Shi Yue's voice was resonant, carrying an undeniable "fervor," as he began his passionate "interpretation" and "argumentation":

"May I ask everyone! Although our Federation's territory is vast now, it borders on all sides, surrounded by powerful enemies! The Holy Radiance Empire covets us, the Myriad Merchant Conglomerate harbors malicious intentions, and there are countless unscrupulous individuals like the Blood Blade Pirate Group, lurking in the dark corners of the Star Sea, waiting for an opportunity to strike!"

"In the past, our Federation had to set up defenses everywhere, dispersing our forces and incurring huge costs! It was like a lone person guarding a wilderness, exposed to winds from all directions, constantly exhausted!"

He suddenly waved his hand, pointing at the Star Pirate "Figurines" in the air, his tone becoming impassioned:

"However! If we follow Ancestor Chen's strategy and transform the territory of this Blood Blade Pirate Group into a 'Star Pirate Autonomous Region,' placing it outside our Federation!"

"This single action will bring three unparalleled benefits!"

"Firstly, strategic depth will be greatly expanded! Our Federation's core territory will henceforth retreat to the second line, with three thousand Stellar Level systems as a barrier! Any external enemy wishing to invade our Federation must first flatten this 'Autonomous Region'! This is a supreme method of trading space for time! Our Federation can calmly deploy and wait for the opportune moment!"

"Secondly, turning enemies into shields, using pirates to control pirates! The Blood Blade Pirate Group's notoriety and their brutal combat power are the best deterrent! Let these Star Pirates guard our gate and fight among themselves with other covetous parties! The harder they fight, the more they consume their own strength, and it's their blood that flows! Our Federation will reap the benefits without losing a single soldier!"

"Thirdly, resource extraction and continuous replenishment! These more than three thousand Stellar Level systems are rich in resources! Furthermore, the hundreds of thousands of Stellar Level systems they influenced were previously plundered by Star Pirates, wasting natural treasures! From now on, our Federation can legitimately collect 'management fees' and acquire their resource output! We can even use them as places for exiling criminals, mining resources, and even testing new weapons! This is transforming the enemy's granary into our logistical base! A thousandfold profit!!!"

Shi Yue spoke with spittle flying, his face growing redder with excitement, and he finally concluded, his voice reverberating, making the metal walls of the command center hum:

"Ancestor Chen's strategy, seemingly wild and imaginative, is in fact deeply rooted in the essence of 'subduing others without fighting'! Its scope is grand, and its foresight profound, beyond what we can fathom!"

"If this strategy succeeds, our Federation can advance or retreat, with fierce dogs guarding the exterior and harmonious development within! The path to our civilization's rise will have no further worries!"

"Ancestor Chen is sagacious!!! This is the foundation for a myriad generations of Empire, establishing the Star River!"

His flattery was unprecedented, resounding with conviction!

He directly elevated Chen Jun's spur-of-the-moment idea for "lying down and winning" safely to the strategic height of the "Federation's foundation for all ages"!

However, this was only the beginning!

No sooner had Shi Yue's voice fallen—

"Buzz—!"

A sharp Sword Qi seemed to tear through the Void Realm!

Li Qingshan's hair stood on end, his eyes bursting with brilliant light, as if he had discovered the supreme truth of the Sword Dao, and he excitedly interjected:

"What Brother Shi Yue said only scratches the surface! It fails to fully capture even one ten-thousandth of Ancestor Chen's wisdom!"

He performed an ancient sword salute to Chen Jun with solemnity in his tone:

"Ancestor Chen's 'Country within a Country (State-within-a-State)' strategy also contains the supreme truth of the Sword Dao!"

"Please consider! Our Federation's core is like the heart of a sword, needing to be pure, refined, and free from external demonic intrusion! And the external 'Star Pirate Autonomous Region' is like a Sword Sheath, or protective Sword Qi!"

"Why a Sword Sheath? To conceal the edge! It allows our Federation to restrain its brilliance, showing weakness to the enemy, making the outside world believe we are still just a Level 2.0 civilization that needs 'Star Pirates' protection! This is the highest Realm of biding one's time!"

"Why protective Sword Qi? To automatically defend against enemies! Any minor villain, before even approaching us, is automatically annihilated by the peripheral 'Sword Qi'—that is, the Star Pirate Autonomous Region! This is a supreme defensive posture that forms without attack!"

"Ancestor Chen has integrated the Dao of governance into the supreme principles of the sword!!! This Realm... Li, I... I fear I may never reach it in my entire life! To hear it today is like receiving a profound enlightenment, making my Sword Heart clear and transparent!!!"

Li Qingshan was so "excited" he almost performed a sword dance on the spot to express his inner shock and admiration.

Mo Heng also pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a "frenzied" data stream, and immediately followed up:

"What the two of you have said is still limited to traditional strategic and martial Dao categories! Ancestor Chen's strategy, its brilliance lies even more in the ultimate application of social structuralism and energy cycle models!"

He quickly brought up a holographic star map and rapidly sketched models on it:

"Look! If we consider the Federation's core as a high-energy ordered structure, and the external chaotic Star Domain as a low-energy Chaos background. Directly managing Chaos requires immense energy, yielding half the results for double the effort!"

"However, Ancestor Chen's strategy cleverly establishes a dynamically balanced 'dissipative structure layer'—namely, the 'Star Pirate Autonomous Region'—between the high-energy state and the Chaos background!"

"This structural layer can both absorb the impact of external Chaos (external enemy invasions), dissipating and transforming its energy (Star Pirates and enemies consuming each other), and internally output negative entropy (providing resources, buffering time), maintaining the efficiency, stability, and development of our Federation's core!"

"This... this is simply a civilization architecture model that perfectly conforms to the deepest thermodynamic laws and information theory of the Universe! It is a great innovation that surpasses all current sociological theories! Ancestor Chen, have you... have you already discerned the ultimate formula for the evolution of Universe civilization?! You!... You are the truth of science, aren't you?!"

Mo Heng's gaze at Chen Jun was filled with reverence, as if looking up at a deity, and a thirst for knowledge.

Chu Yueyao's cool voice also sounded at the opportune moment, carrying a contradictory, barely perceptible yet obvious, tone of admiration:

Ancestor Chen's strategy, in terms of administrative management and cost control, is also peerless.

Directly annexing three thousand chaotic Stellar Level star systems would require an astronomical number of administrative personnel, stability forces, and infrastructure investments, and would be extremely susceptible to contamination by the local chaotic atmosphere, dragging down the overall efficiency of the Federation.

However, establishing 'Autonomous Territories' only requires stationing a small team of elite supervisors, setting rules, and focusing on the big picture while letting go of the small details. By utilizing the Star Pirates' original governance model for management, we only need to control the flow of resources and military movements.

This approach minimizes management costs and maximizes control benefits. With the smallestcost, it achieves the greatest strategic security and resource gains. Ancestor Chen... you truly have applied the Dao of 'cost-effectiveness' to the level of governing the nation and pacifying the world.

...The big shots chimed in, one after another... citing classics and expounding from various angles such as military, martial Dao, science, and administration.

They gave a comprehensive, flawless glorification and sublimation of the 'Country within a Country (State-within-a-State)' concept that Chen Jun had casually proposed!

Each interpretation seemed logically rigorous and full of intellectual brilliance... further elevating Chen Jun's image!

Profound!

Flawless calculations!!!

It was as if he wasn't an immortal who just wanted to 'lie low' and win, but rather an unparalleled Imperial Tutor, strategizing for eons, with wisdom as vast as the sea!!!

Worton, Grum, Saron, and the other Star Pirate leaders, who were restrained in mid-air, listened to these Federation big shots' extravagant praises... watching them gaze at that Mortal slumped in the lounge chair with almost devout adoration... their worldviews completely collapsed!!!

What the hell is going on?!!!

What is the background of this young man who seems to have no energy fluctuations?!!!

He just says something casually, and these Stellar-level Experts act like they've been injected with stimulants, interpreting so many inexplicable profound meanings?!

And it's the Universal Truth?!

The ultimate formula of civilization?!

Our Blood Blade Pirate Group has roamed the star sea for millions of years, plundered countless civilizations, and seen many flatterers... but someone who can praise a 'lazy' idea into the 'cornerstone of all ages'... this is simply a Star Arm Level existence in the art of flattery!!!

Could it be...? This seemingly young man with no energy fluctuations is also a Star Arm Level?!!!

No!!!

Look at the attitude of the six Star Arm Level existences around him! It seems... there's even obvious respect?

Could it be?... This man is a great Galaxy Level existence, above Star Arm Level?!!!!!!

This!!!

What evil have I committed?!!!

...Worton and the others frantically complained internally, but as the complaints continued... it turned into a cold despair!

They finally understood that what they had kicked was not an iron plate, but a damn insurmountable Wall of Sighs forged by one Galaxy Level expert, six Star Arm Level experts, and a group of 'flattering Star Arm Level' big shots!!!

And Chen Jun, the center of all the frantic praise.

At first, he found it somewhat novel, thinking these guys had truly strong imaginative abilities.

But as he listened, his expression changed from calm to astonished, and finally, the corner of his mouth began to twitch slightly... especially when Mo Heng started rambling about the 'Ultimate Formula of the Universe' and Li Qingshan spoke of 'Supreme Sword Principle'... he couldn't help it anymore, raising his hand to interrupt the increasingly outlandish praise that everyone was still continuously spouting... "Stop, stop, stop!"

Chen Jun rubbed his temples, an extremely speechless expression on his face, as his gaze swept over the group of Federation pillars who were intentionally 'excited' and red-faced before him.

"I say, you guys..."

He paused, his tone carrying an indescribable sense of absurdity:

"I just said it casually, thinking it would save some trouble and make things easier... and you guys... understood it again?!"

"..."

Instantly, the entire command center fell silent.

All the big shots who were passionately speaking suddenly stopped, as if their throats had been simultaneously choked.

The 'fanaticism' and 'worship' on their faces froze, they looked at each other, and the atmosphere instantly became... a bit awkward.

Shi Yue opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to 'interpret' further whether Ancestor Chen's phrase "you guys understood again" contained deeper meanings such as 'humility,' 'low-key,' or 'testing everyone's Comprehension Ability'...?

But seeing Chen Jun's gaze, clearly filled with disdain and a 'you've had enough' sentiment, he ultimately swallowed his words, lowering his head sheepishly... Li Qingshan's Sword Qi also receded, and he scratched his head, a bit embarrassed... Mo Heng pushed up his glasses, attempting to analyze Chen Jun's micro-expressions at this moment to determine his 'true intentions' through data... Chu Yueyao, on the other hand, slightly turned her face, a faint, helpless curve seemingly gracing the corner of her mouth... Looking at these big shots who instantly switched from 'fanatical believer' mode back to 'obedient subordinate' mode, Chen Jun sighed helplessly, waving his hand... "Alright, alright, stop overthinking things."

"Since you all think this idea is good, then let's do it this way."

He slumped back into the lounge chair, returning to his lazy demeanor, and pointed at the Star Pirate 'Figurines' in the air.

"As for the specifics of how to operate, whether to establish a 'Star Pirate Autonomous Region' or something else, how to set the rules, who to send to supervise... these trivial matters, you all discuss them yourselves, don't bother me again."

"I have only one request," he emphasized, "peace and quiet, and ease of mind. Don't let any random cats or dogs come yelling at our doorstep again, ensure every ordinary person in the Federation is safe."

"Yes! Ancestor Chen! We will strictly follow your will!" Everyone responded in unison, this time not daring to over-interpret, their voices filled with respect... Ancestor Chen's thoughts are not something we can casually speculate upon!

From now on, it's better to speak less and do more!

The big shots secretly warned themselves... "As for these guys..." Chen Jun's gaze once again fell on the more than twenty thousand Stellar Level 'Figurines,' especially Worton, Grum, and Saron.

His eyes were calm, yet they made Worton and the others feel a deeper fear than when facing Yun Qinglan!

It was a feeling of absolute powerlessness, as if their fate had been completely sealed, and even life and death were beyond their control!

"Mo Heng," Chen Jun said indifferently, "the last two thousand or so were arranged to condense origin crystals as mining slaves. These twenty thousand-plus this time can't be idle either, except for those necessary to be sent back to the Autonomous Territory."

He stroked his chin, pondering for a moment.

"Isn't our Federation always engaged in large-scale infrastructure projects? Shi Yue's side, opening new colonial stars and transforming planetary environments, needs manpower. The Academy of Sciences, some dangerous Star Domain explorations and energy channeling experiments, also need suicide squads... oh no, volunteers."

"Also, isn't Li Qingshan tired of refining liquor? In the future, the task of refining liquor can also be handed over to them, using the Sword Qi Origin of those among them who practice swordsmanship for refinement; perhaps it will have a unique flavor."

"In short, make the best use of everything and everyone." Chen Jun concluded, "Let them contribute their remaining energy to the construction of the Federation. It can also be considered... atonement."

Worton: "!!!"

Grum: "!!!"

Saron: "!!!"

Mining slaves?! Infrastructure?! Dangerous experiments?! Refining liquor?!!

We are Stellar Level Peak! We are overlords who roam the star sea! We are... However, their protests and wails seemed so pale and powerless in the face of absolute strength and an unchangeable fate.

Mo Heng's eyes flashed with brilliance, and he immediately understood: "Ancestor Chen, rest assured! Your subordinate will certainly formulate the most scientific and efficient 'Second Edition of the Comprehensive Development and Utilization Plan for Stellar Level Resources'! Ensuring that every Stellar Level unit can shine and contribute to the Federation in their most proficient positions!"

His gaze towards Worton and the others was already like looking at a pile of self-moving, multi-functional Advanced toolkits.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, you may disperse." Chen Jun yawned, appearing somewhat unenthusiastic.

"All this trouble, it's delayed my soup. Weiwei's 'Starry Myriad Flavor Soup' should be ready by now..."

He waved his hand, signaling for everyone to withdraw.

The big shots respectfully saluted again, then began to methodically handle the subsequent matters—

Receiving the Star Pirate territories, formulating the 'Autonomous Territory' management regulations, allocating over twenty thousand Stellar Level 'laborers'... And the six Star Arm Level Your Highnesses, after the matter was resolved, departed as silently as they arrived, continuing their cultivation and enlightenment.

The command center quickly returned to its usual order, though a subtle atmosphere lingered in the air—the aftermath of a great battle, and... perhaps, excessive flattery.

"These guys... their skill at flattery seems to grow faster than their cultivation..."

However, this is also good.

With them busy in front, he can lie back and win, enjoy life, tease his great-grandson, and await the surprises brought by the Multiple Benefits function... This life is truly... wonderful!

He comfortably adjusted his posture, completely slumping into the lounge chair, closed his eyes, and began to mentally calculate whether to have Lin Wei make some other specialty dishes besides the 'Starry Myriad Flavor Soup' for dinner... As he thought, a profound and joyful curve appeared at the corner of Chen Jun's mouth, unnoticed by anyone...