146: The power of passive income will spread

virtual universe, 'Eternal Canyon' Zone.

Chen Jun slumped in his specialized access pod, looking at the ID [Lying Down to Win Ancestor] in the virtual universe and let out a helpless sigh.

"Sigh, such a plain and unadorned gaming life..."

Ever since that 'Ten-Thousand-Man Battle Royale,' he had become completely famous.

Now, as soon as he logged into the virtual universe, the System notification sound would ring incessantly:

[Ding! 'Salted Fish Fan #1' has gifted you the Supreme Gift 'Galactic Battleship' x100! Message: May Ancestor Chen live for hundreds of millions of years! Please notice me!]

[Ding! 'Practitioner of the Dao of Lying Flat' has requested to add you as a friend!]

[Ding! 'Ancient Salted Fish Support Club' invites you to serve as Honorary President!]

..."Turn off all social notifications," Chen Jun ordered speechlessly.

The world finally became quiet... He thought for a moment and decided to try a different game.

He couldn't stay in 'Eternal Canyon' anymore; those guys were like cats smelling fish.

He casually opened the virtual universe game library, and his gaze lingered for a moment on an icon named "Interstellar Farmer."

This game looked quite casual—planting crops, raising livestock—surely no one would bother him here?

[You have selected the game: 'Interstellar Farmer'. Loading...]

With a flash of light, Chen Jun appeared in a dilapidated little farm.

The character image he created was an old farmer wearing a straw hat, a tank top, and chewing on a piece of straw. His ID was still very plain—[Leisurely Old Chen].

"Hmm, this game is nice, very grounded." Chen Jun looked at his outfit with satisfaction, shouldered the broken hoe provided by the System, and prepared to clear the wasteland in front of him.

However, just as he raised the hoe—

[Ding! Your friend 'Federation's Number One Farmer' requests to enter your farm!]

[Ding! Your friend 'Dragonborn Planting Master' requests to enter your farm!]

[Ding! Your friend 'Scientific Farming Pioneer' requests to enter your farm!]

...Chen Jun: "..."

Before he could even agree, dozens of figures appeared in his dilapidated little farm with a series of "whooshes," instantly crowding the small space until it was packed tight!

Leading them was Shi Yue, wearing a farmer's outfit that looked extremely out of place on him. He held a glittering golden diamond hoe, a simple and honest smile plastered on his face:

"Ancestor Chen! What a coincidence! You've come to play a farming game too? Your subordinate has done some research in this area. This soil is quite hard; let your subordinate help you clear it!"

Without waiting for Chen Jun's reply, Shi Yue swung his hoe down—

"BOOM!!!"

That wasn't tilling; that was a damn atomic bomb!

Centered on where his hoe struck, a terrifying shockwave spread out in a ring, instantly grinding the hundred acres of wasteland in front of him, along with the underground rock layers, into fertile soil as fine as flour! It reached a depth of three hundred meters!

[System Notification: Player 'Federation's Number One Farmer' used the skill 'Pulse of the Earth', clearing 100 acres of wasteland for you. Soil fertility has increased to MAX!]

Chen Jun looked at the plain before him that had instantly turned into black earth, still steaming with heat and energy dissipation effects. The broken hoe in his hand fell to the ground with a "clatter."

Is this supposed to be farming?!

Before he could react, Mo Heng pushed up his virtual gold-rimmed glasses and walked over holding a tablet computer:

"Ancestor Chen, according to my calculations, this land is best suited for planting 'Ancient Stellar Trees'. I have already prepared the optimal growth solution and established a fully automated irrigation, fertilization, and pest control System. It is estimated that in three minutes, you will be able to harvest your first batch of Stellar Fruits."

He snapped his fingers, and dozens of sci-fi-looking agricultural robots appeared out of thin air, beginning to plant saplings and lay pipes at a speed visible to the naked eye... Li Qingshan was not to be outdone. He held a... er, a hoe radiating piercing Sword Qi? He waved it toward the sky:

"Ancestor Chen! I see your farm lacks sufficient light! Allow your subordinate to draw down the starlight of the Nine Heavens for you!"

"Qiang—!"

A beam of Sword Qi soared into the sky, directly tearing through the clouds of the virtual sky and precisely triggering the "Super Sunlight" effect from the game's database!

In an instant, the entire farm became as bright as day. Sunlight, like a solid pillar of light, shone precisely on every newly planted sapling!

[System Notification: Player 'Sword Qi Illumination Greenhouse' used the skill 'Star Attraction Art', providing your farm with 24 hours of continuous Super Sunlight!]

Yan Ji and Yan Wuhuo, father and daughter, exchanged a look, feeling they couldn't fall behind.

Yan Ji waved her jade-like hand, and the dried-up little creek next to the farm was instantly filled with scalding... Dragon blood. The creek water boiled, radiating majestic energy.

"Your Excellency Ancestor Chen, this is 'Dragon Blood Hot Spring'. Using it for irrigation can accelerate plant growth and improve quality!"

Yan Wuhuo was even more ruthless. He directly used his authority to pull a... floating divine mountain from the game mall?! He placed it right in the center of the farm!

"Ancestor Chen, this mountain is transformed from 'Chaos Breathing Earth'. Placing it on the farm can gather spiritual energy from all directions to nourish all things!"

Chen Jun looked at his originally dilapidated little farm, which had been forcibly transformed by these big shots into a... fairyland in just a few dozen seconds?!

With a floating divine mountain as a backdrop, Dragon Blood Hot Spring as a water source, starlight as sunlight, super robots for maintenance, and off-the-charts soil fertility... He silently picked up the broken hoe from the ground and looked at his novice tank top and shorts.

This game experience... He hadn't even moved a finger, and the farm had already reached the endgame?!

[System Announcement]: Congratulations to player [Leisurely Old Chen] for being the first to achieve the "Mythical Grade Farm" achievement! Reward: the title "Eternal Blue Sky"! May you enjoy your leisurely pastoral life!

Well, another server-wide announcement... Virtual Universe Administration, Headquarters.

The game director of 'Interstellar Farmer' looked at the explosive data on the backend, so excited that old tears welled up!

"It's blown up! It's blown up! The number of online players has exceeded a trillion! The backend is about to crash! Quickly buy more computing resources from the Virtual Universe Administration!"

"Ancestor Chen! Ancestor Chen is simply our God of Wealth!"

"Quick! Immediately develop the 'Ancestor Chen Style Mythical Farm' DLC! Set the price at 998 virtual coins! No! 10,998! Also, put up the 'Leisurely Old Chen' style tank top, straw hat, and broken hoe skins! Put them all on the shelves!"

In just half a day, 'Interstellar Farmer', which was originally a lukewarm casual game, leaped to become one of the most popular games in the virtual universe!

Countless players flooded into the game just to experience a taste of "Ancestor Chen Style" divine farming.

Although they couldn't have Shi Yue clearing land or Li Qingshan providing lighting, they could still spend money to buy the same skins and DLC.

This sudden, overwhelming fortune directly stunned the game company.

The company owner issued an order overnight: Establish the "Ancestor Chen Behavior Research Department" to monitor Ancestor Chen's gaming activities 24 hours a day!

Once Ancestor Chen enters a game, immediately mobilize all resources to "optimize the experience" and release related merchandise as soon as possible!

Thus, a spectacle appeared in the virtual universe—whatever Chen Jun played, that game would instantly become a massive hit... He played 'Deep Sea Fishing', and the next day "Ancestor Chen Style Fishing Rods" sold out;

He played 'Starry Sky Musician', and it immediately triggered a Universe-wide craze for learning traditional instruments;

He even just unintentionally clicked on an obscure 'Stone Age' simulator, and the next day, hundreds of billions of "tribes" popped up in the virtual universe, with players wearing animal skin skirts, holding stone clubs, and shouting, "Follow in Ancestor Chen's footsteps, experience the Primordial Dao!"

...Looking back at the real world during this period, you would understand why the Stellar Level big shots were suck-ups... Under the unlimited supply of massive origin crystals from the Dragonborn Empire, some high-level officials of the Federation had already ushered in a feast of soaring strength!

In Mo Heng's laboratory, the President of the Academy of Sciences looked at the origin crystals in his hands—which were like small suns radiating majestic energy and Law fragments—his hands trembling with excitement.

"Incredible... simply incredible!" he muttered to himself. "The energy and Law insights contained in one Origin crystal are comparable to a Stellar Level Primary expert assisting your cultivation with all their might for a year! And... the annual quota for each of us 'Ancestor Chen's Inner Circle' is one hundred thousand crystals! That's equivalent to one hundred thousand Stellar Level experts assisting our cultivation!"

Beside him, Shi Yue and Li Qingshan were... absorbing origin crystals like they were "eating beans."

That's right, eating beans!

Because the number of origin crystals was simply too high, so many that they couldn't even refine them slowly with their cultivation levels, they could only adopt this most crude and luxurious method—direct swallowing, relying on their powerful cultivation to forcibly digest them!

Shi Yue picked up origin crystals one by one and tossed them into his mouth like candy. With a "crunch," majestic energy exploded within his body, only to be instantly suppressed and absorbed by his Foundation, which was as thick as a mountain.

He let out a burp tinged with starlight and remarked emotionally, "I have cultivated for tens of thousands of years, but I never imagined that one day, origin crystals would be so plentiful that they could be eaten as meals! His Majesty the Dragon Emperor is truly... too generous!"

Li Qingshan was even more exaggerated. Hundreds of origin crystals floated in front of him, revolving around him like sword pellets.

He pointed his fingers like a sword, and a beam of Sword Qi swept past. Hundreds of origin crystals were triggered simultaneously, turning into a pure torrent of Sword Dao Laws, which he drew into his body like a whale inhaling water!

"Refreshing! Hahaha! This is too refreshing!" Li Qingshan's hair and beard flared out, and Sword Qi soared around him, nearly tearing space apart. "At this rate, I... I feel that in a few years, I'll be able to touch the Stellar Level Peak! This feeling is unprecedented! I'm tempted to compose a poem!"

You really couldn't blame them for losing their composure.

It was truly... just too many resources!

To cling tightly to the thighs of Chen Jun and the Federation, Yan Wuhuo had really gone all out this time!

With the Dragonborn Empire's billion-year heritage, the reserves of origin crystals were an astronomical figure!

Previously, they were reluctant to use them, wanting to make them last. Only the Innate Moon Body was provided with unlimited origin crystals. In the eyes of the Dragonborn Empire, the affinity of the Innate Universe Origin was incredibly precious and should be used to comprehend bottlenecks; for the accumulation phase, just throwing origin crystals at it would suffice!

But now?

As long as it could boost the strength of the Federation's high-level officials and let Ancestor Chen see the Dragonborn's sincerity... origin crystals?

Take as much as you want!

As Yan Wuhuo privately told Yan Ji: "As long as Ancestor Chen is happy, we can even empty the imperial treasury! These things cannot be brought with us when we are born or taken with us when we die. If they can be traded for the friendship of a Galaxy Level expert, it's worth it!"

Thus, under the pile of nearly infinite resources, the strength of certain high-level officials in the Federation was skyrocketing like they were on super rockets!

Mo Heng, Shi Yue, Li Qingshan, Chu Yueyao... these individuals who were originally high-tier Stellar Level powerhouses were all forcibly pushed to the Stellar Level Peak in a short period!

Even Lin Wei and Chen Jun's daughters with Innate Martial Bodies and Innate Star Bodies were nourished by massive amounts of origin crystals, their cultivation soaring all the way to the Stellar Level Peak!

Of course, the Stellar Level Peak is the limit for Origin crystal assistance.

Breaking through to the Star Arm Level requires a deep comprehension of the Universe Origin and a Breakthrough in one's own Aptitude; it cannot be solved by simple energy accumulation.

But this was already shocking enough!

One must know that before meeting Chen Jun, for many of them, even the Stellar Level was an unreachable dream!

And now, the Stellar Level Peak has become the standard!

All of this is because of Ancestor Chen!

Serving Ancestor Chen well is the true way to lie down and win!

Lying down to win really is contagious... At Chen Jun Manor, Zhou Zhenshan, the former Governor of Zhiyuan Star and now the Federation's number one "Ancestor Chen Service Specialist," was carefully holding a pot of freshly brewed "Ten Thousand Stars Worshiping Tea," taking small steps toward Chen Jun's lounge chair.

He is now also at the middle-tier Stellar Level cultivation—all thanks to Ancestor Chen's blessing.

He knew very well that his strength didn't rely on Aptitude, but on... Ancestor Chen!

"Ancestor Chen, please have a taste. This is the newly tributed 'Ten Thousand Stars Worshiping Tea.' It's said to be harvested from a tea tree nourished by the morning dew of a certain life planet, producing only a few ounces every thirty thousand years..." Zhou Zhenshan had an extremely flattering smile on his face, his waist bent almost to the ground.

Chen Jun lazily opened his eyes, took the teacup, and took a sip: "Hmm, not bad."

These two simple words sounded like divine music to Zhou Zhenshan, making him so excited he almost ascended on the spot!

"It's good that Ancestor Chen likes it! As long as you like it! I'll go and have them send all the remaining tea leaves right away!" Zhou Zhenshan said as he was about to leave.

"Stop." A cold voice rang out.

Li Qingshan, holding his sword, appeared nearby like a door god, staring at Zhou Zhenshan with an unfriendly gaze: "Zhou Zhenshan, since when is a small matter like pouring tea your turn?"

Shi Yue also strolled over slowly, his massive body casting a shadow: "Yeah, Old Zhou, you're an administrative official. Serving tea and water isn't within your scope of duties, is it?"

Mo Heng pushed his glasses and didn't speak, but the meaning in his eyes was clear—stealing work?

Zhou Zhenshan cursed in his heart, but his smile remained unchanged: "The three lords are busy with a myriad of affairs. This kind of rough work of serving people should be left to me! I'm a professional!"

"Professional? An administrative official background is worthy of talking about being professional?" Li Qingshan sneered, "When it comes to serving Ancestor Chen, when I was refining tea and wine for him, you didn't even know where you were!"

Zhou Zhenshan was left speechless by the rebuttal, but he still held onto the teapot tightly and wouldn't let go.

This was an opportunity to show his face in front of Ancestor Chen!

He'd fight anyone who tried to steal it!

Chen Jun looked at these old fellows, whose combined ages were one or two hundred thousand years, arguing over such a trivial matter as who would pour him tea. He rubbed his brow helplessly... "Alright, alright, everyone settle down." He waved his hand, "I've drunk the tea, go do whatever you need to do."

The four of them then backed away resentfully, glaring at each other with eyes that said "just wait until next time"!

Chen Jun looked at their backs, sighed, and complained to Lin Wei nearby: "Weiwei, don't you think they're just bored?"

Lin Wei pursed her lips and smiled: "Everyone just wants to do something for you."

"Do something?" Chen Jun rolled his eyes, "I think they're just too idle!"

...virtual universe, test server for the new game "Rise of Civilizations"... Chen Jun created a new character, ID [Ordinary Player].

This time he learned his lesson, turned off all friend requests and location functions, and snuck into a newly opened strategy game that wasn't very famous yet.

"Rise of Civilizations" is a strategy game that simulates the development of a civilization. Players start from the Stone Age and lead their tribe step by step toward the Interstellar Age.

Chen Jun chose a random starting point, looking at the few primitive subordinates around him wearing animal skins and holding stone axes, and nodded with satisfaction.

"No one should come to disturb me this time, right?"

He decided to properly experience the fun of developing a civilization from scratch and working hard.

However, just as he commanded a primitive man to cut down the first tree—

[System Prompt: Your tribe has received a mysterious gift! Resources +10,000! Population +10,000! Technology Unlocked: Bronze Ware!]

Chen Jun: "???"

Before he could react, countless lights suddenly descended from the sky, and his small tribe instantly upgraded its equipment!

Thatched huts turned into stone palaces, stone axes turned into bronze swords, the population exploded, and even cavalry units were unlocked! And this was just the beginning... [World Channel]... [Immovable Rock]: "Found Ancestor Chen... cough, found a potential player! A small gift, just a token of my respect!"

[Sword of Federation Protection]: "This civilization has the style of our Federation back in the day! Sponsoring a wave!"

[Truth Seeker]: "Based on calculations, the optimal development path for this civilization is... Resources have been delivered."

[Dragonborn Yan Ji]: "Passing by, helping out a bit~"

[Dragon Emperor Invincible]: "Hmm, this civilization has quite a bit of potential..."

...Chen Jun looked at these blatant remarks in the channel... his "tribe" that jumped from the Stone Age to the Interstellar Age in an instant... It's one thing to lie down and win in reality... but even playing a game is lying down and win?!

...At the same time, the game staff shouted excitedly: "Director! Ancestor Chen has entered the new game 'Rise of Civilizations'!"

The director slapped his thigh in excitement: "Quick! Update the version immediately! Launch the 'Ancestor Chen Style Mysterious Gift' bundle! And the 'Ordinary Player' style animal skin costume!"

"But Director... Ancestor Chen doesn't seem to like us doing this..."

"What do you know! This is called seizing a business opportunity! How do you know Ancestor Chen doesn't like it? Go do it quickly!"

Thus, shortly after Chen Jun logged out of the game, the official "Rise of Civilizations" released the latest update announcement:

[Version 1.1 Update: New 'Heavenly Fortune' System added, with a chance to receive mysterious gifts! New 'Ordinary Player' limited edition costume added...]

Players boiled over again, flocking into the game... Chen Jun logged out of the virtual universe and slumped in his lounge chair in the real world.

"Boring, really boring..." He muttered in a humble-bragging way, "Everywhere I go, there's a bunch of people following and serving me. This feeling... is really boring... hehe..."

Yun Qinglan appeared silently by his side, gently using Law to massage his temples.

"If Father does not like it, Qinglan will order them to be unable to track you."

Chen Jun waved his hand: "No need, they mean well..."

Just then... "Buzz—"

A slight spatial fluctuation came through.

Immediately after, Li Qingshan appeared, his voice carrying a hint of excitement yet forcibly suppressed:

"Ancestor Chen! Forgive my intrusion! I have urgent matters to report!"

Chen Jun looked at Li Qingshan: "What's wrong? What urgent matters could the Federation have now?"

Li Qingshan's voice was full of excitement, "It's... it's the 'ten questions of the starry sky' you ordered the entire Federation territory to announce a few years ago! There's news!"

"Hmm?" Chen Jun's originally lazy expression instantly froze, and he sat up straight: "Tell me in detail!"

"Just three days ago, I was patrolling the Federation's borders, and there was a primitive life planet on the edge," Li Qingshan's speech quickened:

"There is an elder from a primitive civilization named 'Lin Fan' who claims to know the 'ten questions of the starry sky'!"

"I didn't dare to delay and personally brought him from that primitive planet called the 'New Han Republic.' He is currently waiting outside the hall!"

Chen Jun's eyes lit up!

Another Hometown fellow?!

"Quick! Bring him in!" Chen Jun ordered immediately, then added, "Be polite, don't scare him."

"Yes!"

A moment later, the door to the side hall was gently pushed open... Li Qingshan walked in first, having already restrained the sharp Sword Qi around him to the extreme.

Behind him, a figure followed.

Chen Jun's gaze instantly fixed on that person.

It was an old man.

A truly frail, elderly man in his twilight years.

His hair was completely silver-white, sparse and messy, and his face was covered in deep, carved wrinkles, recording the hardships and vicissitudes of time.

His back was slightly hunched, and his steps were somewhat unsteady, needing to rely on a simple wooden staff to stand firm.

Most startling was his gaze.

Those eyes might have once been sharp and full of wisdom, but now, only endless exhaustion and deep bewilderment remained... He was like a lost traveler who had just woken up from a long and cruel nightmare, still unable to distinguish between reality and illusion.

He was Lin Fan.

From the New Han Republic, the "Civilization Mentor" and "Father of the Nation" who, by his own strength, had forcibly raised the civilization from the Steam Age to the threshold of the Information Age.

At this moment, this wise man who once commanded the winds and clouds and led a civilization forward, after experiencing the crushing of his home planet by Star Pirates, the near destruction of his civilization, and the collapse of his own beliefs, had finally exhausted his last bit of mental effort.

The reason he could still stand was entirely due to an unyielding will and... a tiny bit of energy Li Qingshan had channeled into his body to keep him alive.

Li Qingshan respectfully bowed to Chen Jun: "Ancestor Chen, the person has been brought." Then he turned and said gently to Lin Fan: "Mr. Lin, this is our Human Federation's Ancestor Chen."

Lin Fan's cloudy eyes slowly lifted, looking forward.

He saw the young man sitting in a lounge chair that looked incredibly comfortable, perhaps even excessively so.

The man looked very young, with a peaceful face and deep eyes, carrying a kind of... leisure and transcendence he couldn't understand?

He was wearing clothes made of materials he had never seen before, so good they were unbelievable, and he was slumped in the chair as if he had no bones?

This was... the "Ancestor Chen" Lord Li spoke of?

That existence who was said to have an incredibly high status, such that even a powerhouse like Lord Li, who was like a deity, had to bow respectfully?