167: Double happiness

Star Calendar year 100168, time flowed like water, and another few decades passed by...

For a "laid-back immortal" whose lifespan was steadily increasing every second, these few decades were nothing more than a nap.

However, for the entire Human Federation and the Cangqiong Seat, these few decades were a world-shaking, almost dreamlike leap!

The Federation Capital Star, "Kunlun," could no longer be described simply as a "planet."

It was more like a work of art meticulously crafted by the greatness of civilization—

Under the continuous application of space folding and planetary expansion technology, its surface area had reached three billion times that of a standard large planet!

If viewed from the distant starry sky, it was not a traditional sphere, but an incomparably vast area emitting a soft Brilliant Light.

Mountains and rivers, lakes and oceans, floating immortal mountains, energy auroras... various landscapes and wonders coexisted in harmony...

The population living upon it was a number sufficient to cause the brain of any astronomer from the old era to crash—

Four thousand quadrillion quadrillion!

Yes, under Chen Jun's "encourage childbirth" decree and the Guarantee of nearly infinite resources, the Federation population had once again achieved explosive growth in just a few short decades, increasing by another twenty thousand times compared to a few decades ago!

Such a terrifying population density would be a disaster capable of triggering a doomsday crisis in any low-level civilization.

But for the Human Federation, which had digested Yan Xiao's legacy and was already firmly established at a 2.7-level civilization technological height, this was simply not a problem.

2.7-level technology represented the ultimate control over matter and energy.

Citizens' living spaces were no longer limited to the surface; countless personalized residences—some floating in the star sea, some hidden deep within the planetary core, or built directly into independent spatial layers—provided everyone with a vast expanse far beyond imagination!

On average, the actual living space possessed by each Federation citizen was comparable to a small city of the old era!

Truly achieving "vast land with few people, poetic dwelling."

The leap in technology brought about an all-encompassing transformation.

The Innate Martial Body, once regarded as the cornerstone of civilization, was still a symbol of a Genius in today's Federation, but it was no longer an unattainable legend.

Under the nourishment and optimization of the 2.8-level civilization legacy, the birth rate of the Innate Martial Body among the new generation had steadily increased.

More importantly, even the most ordinary newborn citizen, under the thousand-fold consciousness time flow of the virtual universe (as virtual universe technology progressed), top-tier educational resources, and the massive amount of resources piled up by the tribute from the entire Cangqiong Seat, would have a minimum strength of War General Rank Peak upon adulthood!

Planetary Level Experts, while not as common as cabbages in the Federation today, were certainly not few, and with such a large population base, Stellar Level individuals emerged one after another!

And Chen Jun's Family, whose numbers had long since broken through the sky, produced experts in droves!

As for those Chen Family daughters and grandsons scattered across major civilizations, occupying the positions of "Empress Dowager" and "Emperor."

They had deeply branded the concept of "chen clan bloodline = Innate Martial Body = future expert" into the genes of all civilizations throughout the entire Cangqiong Seat!

The entire Federation, and indeed the entire Cangqiong Seat, presented a flourishing scene full of vitality and filled with experts!

Beneath this prosperity and bustle, all the experts standing at the pinnacle of power and strength were clear about one cold fact—

Star Arm Level was already the "conventional" Peak that could be reached under current resources and cognition.

To go one step further and touch the legendary Galaxy Level, one needed not only an Innate Martial Body, Innate Star Body, or Innate Moon Body... what was needed even more was an Innate Sun Body!

Galaxy Level was another qualitative leap in the level of life!

It was a transformation from "utilizing the Law" to "becoming the Law"!

Its difficulty far exceeded the sum of everything from Mortal Body to Star Arm Level Peak!

Looking across the entire Cangqiong Seat, in known history, only the founding emperors name, Yan Huang, had clearly reached that Realm.

Even with Chen Jun's Bloodline, adhering to the principle of aiming high rather than low, his descendants had at most produced very few Innate Moon Bodies, and not a single Innate Sun Body!

Today, deep in the core of the Pillar of Leaders, was the exclusive cultivation place of Yun Qinglan, the Secret Realm for quiet meditation.

This was an independent Law Domain that Yun Qinglan had stripped away and constructed on the basis of reality space by relying on her own greatness.

Seen from the outside, it was just a hazy vortex of star brilliance that was constantly being born and destroyed.

Inside, however, it seemed as if the Universe had just begun, a place where all Daos originated.

The concretized forms of countless Laws appeared here—sometimes like trickling streams, sometimes like rushing rivers, sometimes like brilliant bands of light, and sometimes like gloomy shadows... they intertwined, collided, annihilated, and were reborn, cycling endlessly.

Yun Qinglan, in a white dress, barefoot and suspended in mid-air, stood quietly at the center of this Law storm.

Her stunningly beautiful face still bore no expression, her eyes tightly closed, as if she had merged into the surrounding violent Law torrent.

Her aura had already reached the extreme of Star Arm Level Peak over a hundred years ago, and the Law stream surrounding her was incredibly solid.

However, the difficulty of reaching the Galaxy Level firmly blocked her path forward.

For this step, she had been working hard for one hundred and eight years.

Even though she was an Innate Radiant Body, the supreme seed comparable to a level 4 Star River Level civilization!

Even though she had no Realm barriers before Galaxy Level Peak, and possessed the nearly infinite resource support of the Federation and the Cangqiong Seat...

This step still required time!

This was not an accumulation of quantity, but a qualitative transformation.

Star Arm Level Peak was gathering the power of the Law one had comprehended into an endless "stream," prying the rules of the Universe with peerless might.

And Galaxy Level required completely merging this "Law stream" belonging to oneself into the vast and boundless Sea of Origin of the Universe's Laws!

This was not a simple connection or triggering, but a true "merging"!

Allowing one's own Law to become a part of the Universe's Origin Law, from then on—

I am the Law, and the Law is me!

The process was extremely dangerous.

If one were not careful, the Law stream one had condensed would be assimilated, washed away, or even completely annihilated by that vast and boundless Sea of Origin!

At best, one's cultivation would be completely destroyed; at worst, both body and Soul would be extinguished, turning into cosmic dust!

At this moment, deep within Yun Qinglan's Sea of Consciousness, this silent yet extremely dangerous "merging" was taking place.

Her "Law of Space stream," crystal clear, was attempting to break through that invisible barrier and merge into the Sea of Origin of Laws—incomparably vast, incomparably ancient, and containing all possibilities—within her perception.

"Boom!!!"

Every impact brought a violent tremor to the level of her Soul!

The majestic pressure coming from the Sea of Origin felt as if the weight of the entire galaxy was pressing down on her single stream!

The space stream vibrated violently, with countless fine cracks appearing on its surface, as if it were about to shatter in the next moment.

Yun Qinglan's brows furrowed imperceptibly, and a wisp of pale golden blood seeped from the corner of her mouth...

But she did not retreat in the slightest!

For an Innate Radiant Body, breaking through to Galaxy Level was naturally a matter of course, but under the supply of massive resources, she wanted to break through even faster!

The terrifying Aptitude of the Innate Radiant Body was displayed to the fullest at this moment!

Her will was tough to the extreme, precisely controlling every bit of Law power, repairing the cracks, adjusting the structure, and launching another impact!

One hundred and eight years of accumulation, one hundred and eight years of comprehension, were sublimated to the extreme at this moment!

"Merging... not being swallowed... but... coexisting... I am the Law of Space, and the Law of Space is me..."

Inspiration flashed through her Sea of Consciousness like lightning, verifying itself against her comprehension of the Laws.

A realization, like the morning light piercing through darkness, suddenly illuminated her Dao Heart!

She no longer tried to use her own Law stream to "impact" the Sea of Origin, but instead guided it, beginning to "resonate" at an incomparably mysterious frequency!

"Hum——!!!"

It was as if she had touched the strings of some Universe!

The crystal-clear Law stream around Yun Qinglan suddenly emitted an unprecedented, Brilliant Light!

It no longer resisted the attraction of the Sea of Origin, but instead actively dispersed, turning into countless original Law runes, like a wanderer returning home, carrying a sense of joy and piety, merging toward that Sea of Origin of Laws!

Like melting ice and snow, like spring water converging.

Those countless Law runes smoothly, silently, and soundlessly merged into that vast and boundless Sea of Origin of the Universe's Laws!

In an instant—

Yun Qinglan's entire aura disappeared!

It was not concealment, but as if she had been completely erased from this Universe!

Immediately following this, a vast pressure, indescribable in words, swept out from her as the center, like the explosion of a supernova!

"Rumble—!!!"

This vibration was not limited to the Sea of Consciousness; it shook the entire Secret Realm in reality, and even permeated through the Secret Realm to affect the reality of the Universe outside!

In the Star Domain where the Pillar of Leaders was located, countless stars seemed to dim for an instant at this moment!

All energy flow stagnated, and all Law fluctuations bowed in submission!

Whether it was Chu Yueyao, who was handling government affairs, Mo Heng, who was fanatical in the laboratory, or Shi Yue and Li Qingshan, who were sparring in the martial arts arena...

All experts above Stellar Level felt a sense of connection at this moment, stopping their actions in unison, and looked toward the direction of Yun Qinglan with faces full of shock!

That feeling was like ants looking up at the sky, or a stream facing the vast ocean!

That was an absolute suppression at the level of life!

Galaxy Level!

It succeeded!

...

Dragonborn Empire, Ancestral Dragon Court.

Dragon Emperor Yan Wuhuo, who was discussing matters with several important officials, suddenly stood up from his dragon throne, his face filled with extreme shock and disbelief!

The 'founding emperors name Dragon Seal' inside his body was emitting an unprecedented hum and tremor!

That was the resonance when encountering a power of the same Origin but a higher level!

"This... this is... Galaxy Level Law fluctuations?! How is it possible?! So pure... so vast... it seems even more... than what is recorded by our ancestors..." Yan Wuhuo's voice carried a tremor he himself did not notice.

He looked sharply toward the direction of the Human Federation, his gaze seemingly piercing through the endless starry sky, landing on that place of Cultivation.

"This... familiar aura?! Is it... Her Highness Qinglan?! She... she actually... broke through?! How long has it been?! A few hundred years?! Our ancestor, with the Innate Sun Body, spent tens of thousands of years and experienced countless tribulations before luckily stepping into the Galaxy Level... She...?!!!"

Endless shock and bitterness surged into Yan Wuhuo's heart, but even more so, an unspeakable ecstasy and relief!

Ecstasy that an ally had produced a supreme existence of Galaxy Level!

Relief that the Dragonborn Empire had long ago forged an unbreakable alliance with Ancestor Chen and the Human Federation!

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, and said in a deep voice to the bewildered officials below:

"Pass on my decree! Prepare generous gifts! No! I will personally go to the Pillar of Leaders of the Human Federation to congratulate Her Highness Qinglan... on ascending to the Galaxy Level! Possessing ten million years of lifespan!"

He paused, and with a tone that was incomparably solemn, as if stating the truths of the Universe, he explained to his trusted officials:

"Do you all know what the Galaxy Level signifies?"

"Star Arm Level is merely the initial leveraging of Laws, like scooping a ladle of water from the side of the vast Sea of Law Origin. Although it can stir up wind and waves, it eventually has its limits."

"And Galaxy Level, according to the records of our ancestors," Yan Wuhuo's eyes were filled with yearning and awe:

"is to completely merge oneself into that 'sea'! From then on, the Law she has comprehended will have her mark in the Origin of the Universe! She is the Incarnation of the Law!"

"Galaxy Level Primary, requires successfully merging one's own stream of Law into the Sea of Origin, establishing an initial connection. With a single thought, one can move galaxies, and energy is almost inexhaustible!"

"Galaxy Level Intermediate, requires deepening and expanding one's own Law mark in the Sea of Origin, like building an 'island' in the sea. Control over the Law soars, and one can call upon the power of the Universe's Sea of Origin to fight!"

"Galaxy Level Advanced, the Law 'island' transforms into a 'continent', becoming more closely connected to the Sea of Origin. With a thought, one can mobilize the power of a galaxy!"

"And Galaxy Level Peak..." Yan Wuhuo's voice carried a hint of trembling:

"means having completely comprehended and mastered a certain Law one hundred percent! Once reaching that step, one is the true Incarnation of the Law! Words become reality, and one can do anything! That is... a Realm that only legendary Level 3 civilizations can reach!"

"Her Highness Qinglan, with her Innate Radiant Body, has stepped into the Galaxy Level Primary at only a few hundred years old... Her future is limitless! Limitless indeed! There is great hope for her to step into the Star River Level!"

The important officials were shaken, as if listening to myths!

They finally understood why His Majesty the Dragon Emperor was so discomposed.

This was not just the addition of one expert, but the entire landscape of the Liuli System would change because of this!!!

Only a civilization with a Galaxy Level expert sitting in command truly possesses the qualifications to establish itself in the vast galaxy!

...

Chen Jun Manor.

The celestial phenomena, energy vibrations outside, and Yan Wuhuo's shock from across the endless starry sky, all had nothing to do with the tranquility inside the manor.

Chen Jun had just successfully achieved the ultimate achievement of 'Bloodline Torrent' for his virtual Family in 'Ancestor Simulator: Universe Family · Expansion Pack', and was exiting the game with great satisfaction.

He yawned, rubbed his temples, and reached out to pick up a plate of newly offered 'Dao Pattern Melon' nearby.

Just after taking a bite, the sweet juice was still spreading in his mouth...

【Ding!】

A System prompt sound, originating from the depths of his Soul, rang out without warning!

【System upgrade conditions met!】

【Current Level: Level 2 (100.00%) → Level 3 (0.00%)!】

【System upgrading...】

Chen Jun's hand suddenly froze, and he even forgot to chew the melon in his mouth!

How... how much?!

Level 3 already?!

Just like that... as naturally as water flows... it upgraded?!

He could even feel his heart, the heart of a 'lying-win' immortal who had experienced storms and was long since tranquil as an ancient well, 'thump' once again in an unpromising manner!

Although he had long expected it, when this moment truly arrived, that excitement was still hard to suppress!

He subconsciously looked inward at the system interface:

【Level】：Level 3 (Descendants required for next level: One Quintillion)

...

【Skill Points】：1

...

At the same time, a warm current, far larger than the last upgrade and seemingly touching the root of his Soul, surged into his Soul!

Although it did not increase his strength, the 'sense of existence' of his life level seemed to loosen slightly once again!

He could even vaguely 'see' countless tiny 'lines' originating from his Bloodline descendants, crossing space, time, and dimensions, closely connecting with him, forming the cornerstone of his longevity and power!

"Hiss—"

Chen Jun took a long breath, forcibly operating the 'Lying-Win Mindset Peace' technique, and barely managed to suppress the urge to look up and howl.

"Calm down, calm down, Chen Jun, you are a more mature lying-win immortal, what storms haven't you seen... but this System upgrade is something I really haven't seen twice!" He added to himself internally, his eyes fixed on the system interface.

【System upgrade complete!】

【Congratulations to the Host for promoting to Level 3!】

【Unlocked: Skill Points x 1】

【Skill Points can be used to strengthen existing core functions or awaken brand new functions, please choose carefully.】

The familiar, concise interface appeared again:

【Please choose the direction for using the Skill Point】:

Option 1, strengthen 【Longevity Multiplier】: Effect increased tenfold! Each biological child living in the world provides the Host with standard lifespan increased from 【1 day】 to 【10 days】 per day! Real-time settlement, concealment effect improved simultaneously.

Option 2, strengthen 【Multiple Benefits】: Effect increased tenfold! When each grandchild or descendant after the grandchildren dies, the Host's effect of inheriting their "beneficial status gains" is increased tenfold! Concealment effect improved simultaneously.

Option 3, strengthen 【Multifortune】: Effect improved! Guaranteed Aptitude increased from 【Innate Martial Body (Rank 1)】 to 【Innate Star Body (Rank 2)】! For every 1 Skill Point invested, the guaranteed Aptitude increases by 1 major Rank.

Option 4, awaken new function: Randomly awaken a new System function related to "reproduction", "Family", or "growth".

Looking at these four options, Chen Jun calmed down again, and his brain began to operate at high speed again...