209: Steady development

Time flowed like water, quietly slipping away for... several years.

For Chen Jun, these few years were but a blink of an eye.

He remained sprawled in that Supreme lounge chair, eternal and unchanging.

However, if a discerning person were to keep statistics, they would be surprised to find that in these few years, the usage frequency of the manor's dedicated "Quiet Room" for guidance had reached an unprecedented peak.

Every few months, a graceful and distinct Stellar-level Experts from the Federation would enter the manor with a mix of nervousness, excitement, and a hint of secret anticipation, to receive Ancestor Chen's "in-depth conditioning" and "Foundation consolidation" out of "consideration for old friendships."

The process... well... (To avoid censorship, the unspeakable details of a million words for each person are omitted here...)

The result was naturally joyous for both host and guest, satisfying everyone.

Every "old friend" who left was glowing with radiance, their aura refined.

They carried the hope of the Innate Sun Body in their wombs, and their gratitude toward Ancestor Chen was as vast as the galaxy...

Chen Jun would always return to his lounge chair with a hint of fatigue from "slight depletion of spiritual energy" and the satisfaction of "Guarantee + 1."

The 【remaining lifespan】 on the system interface also fluctuated like the tides amidst such stable and efficient "repaying of favors" and "assistance"...

The System acknowledged that the overall trend of his lifespan was: never exceeding ten years, but the base amount added per second was steadily increasing.

One day, Chen Jun was leisurely sipping the tea personally brewed by Lin Wei, his gaze casually sweeping over his fourth son, Chen Yu, who was meticulously reporting the month's resource usage and personnel scheduling of the manor in the courtyard.

Chen Yu's handsome face was full of seriousness, his points clear and data precise, managing the large manor in an orderly fashion.

Looking at his son's "little old-fashioned" serious appearance, and then thinking about the "diligent cultivation" he had to perform in the Quiet Room every so often...

Chen Jun felt that constantly making his son face this kind of "hardship of the older generation" seemed... a bit inappropriate?

After all, although Chen Yu looked like an adult, he was actually just a "baby" who hadn't been born long ago.

Letting a "baby" handle these things, especially the logistics involving his father's "private guidance," felt weird.

It was time to give his son a vacation and let him enjoy the life a "childhood" should have.

Although his son was filial, he couldn't keep him by his side as the "Grand Steward" forever.

Chen Jun held no hope for the reproductive efficiency of these "fully-formed-at-birth" sons; their Aptitude was too high, the reproductive isolation barrier was terrifying, and cultivating the Family Core Values was completely meaningless, so it was better to let nature take its course.

Thinking of this, Chen Jun put down his teacup and gently interrupted Chen Yu's report:

"Yu'er."

"Father." Chen Yu stopped immediately and replied respectfully.

"The manor's chores are tedious and complicated, delaying your Cultivation." Chen Jun's tone carried concern. "From today on, you shall set aside these trifles and focus on Cultivating in the virtual universe. The ten-thousand-fold time dilation there is more beneficial for your comprehension of the Dao."

Chen Yu was stunned for a moment, but he never disobeyed his father's orders.

"Yes, Father. But... the manor's affairs..."

"No matter." Chen Jun waved his hand, his gaze cast outside the manor. "I already have a more suitable candidate."

With a flicker of his thought, a message was sent out.

A moment later, a figure scrambled in, almost with tears in his eyes, and threw himself before Chen Jun!

"Ancestor Chen! You... You finally remembered Old Zhou!!!"

It was none other than the former Governor of Zhiyuan Star, now the Federation's number one "Ancestor Chen Service Specialist" — Zhou Zhenshan!

He was now also at the Stellar Level Peak, all thanks to Ancestor Chen.

At this moment, he was trembling with excitement, looking at Chen Jun as if he were seeing his own parents reborn!

Heaven knows how long he had waited for this opportunity!

Watching that guy Li Qingshan show his face before Ancestor Chen and recite poems from time to time, he was so envious his eyes turned red!

Now, had this heaven-sent fortune finally fallen to him, Zhou Zhenshan?!

Chen Jun looked at Zhou Zhenshan's excited appearance and smiled helplessly:

"Zhenshan, from now on, you will be responsible for the manor's daily scheduling and the reception of guests. Can you handle it?"

"Yes! Definitely! Please rest assured, Ancestor Chen! This subordinate will surely devote his all until his dying day! All supplies needed for the 'guidance,' this subordinate will prepare properly to ensure that you, Ancestor Chen... er, 'guidance' goes smoothly!" Zhou Zhenshan patted his chest loudly, expressing his loyalty incoherently.

Chen Jun: "..."

There was no need to be so detailed...

He waved his hand: "Alright, go and do the handover with Yu'er."

"Yes! Yes! Thank you, Ancestor Chen! This subordinate will go right away!" Zhou Zhenshan almost skipped away to find Chen Yu, his back looking as cheerful as a rabbit.

When the news spread, Li Qingshan, who was happily hacking monsters in the "Endless Battlefield" of the virtual universe, was so angry after receiving the news that he almost slashed in the wrong direction!

"Zhou Zhenshan! You old brat! How do you have the virtue or ability?!" Li Qingshan howled at the sky, filled with grief and indignation:

"This honor of being close to the water and sharing the burden for Ancestor Chen should have been mine, Li Qingshan's! No, I must write another poem to express the grief and indignation in my heart!"

...

Having arranged the personnel change for the manor's "Grand Steward," Chen Jun felt a weight lifted off his mind and felt even more comfortable.

However, this comfort did not last long.

Because the "productivity" engine of the Chen Clan, which had been completely ignited, had begun to roar with terrifying power!

After Chen Jun's pre-war mobilization speech that was "related to the survival of the Family and the fate of the Universe," the entire Chen Clan, especially the "middle generation" and "new generation" led by Chen Zhaojing and Chen Yuanhai, had completely gone crazy with involution!

The "Family Core Values" were endowed with a brand-new sacred meaning — "Giving birth to more and better offspring is contributing to the Family! It is stockpiling strength for civilization! It is resisting the risks of the unknown Universe!"

The "Dating Zone" of the virtual universe could no longer be described as "crowded with people," it was simply "Law-level congestion"!

Countless Chen Clan descendants were searching for Dao Companions here, and the efficiency was staggering.

In the real world, various "networking meetings" and "matchmaking corners" organized by the Family were emerging one after another.

Chen Zhaojing and Chen Yuanhai, father and son, were even taking the lead, becoming the benchmark for "productivity"!

It's just that this benchmark... was a bit hard to maintain.

One day, the father and son, Chen Zhaojing and Chen Yuanhai, came to the manor again to "report on their work."

Unlike before, this time both of them had sunken eye sockets, unsteady footsteps, and an aura... well, still Stellar Level Peak, but it always gave people a feeling of being strong on the outside but weak on the inside, as if they had been hollowed out.

"Grandfather..."

"Great-Grandfather..."

The two of them saluted weakly, their voices hoarse.

Chen Jun raised his eyelids, looking at the "kidney-deficient Young Master" appearance of the two, and knew exactly what was going on.

He deliberately sipped his tea slowly, saying nothing.

Chen Zhaojing bit the bullet and began to report: "Grandfather, according to your instructions, the Family's 'productivity' has significantly improved recently! This month, three trillion and eight hundred billion new couples of marriageable age have completed the virtual universe marriage and love process and have entered the real-world pregnancy preparation stage..."

Chen Yuanhai hurriedly added, his voice trembling slightly: "Great-Grandfather, I... the 'Yan' generation branch directly under my name, this month... the successful conception rate has hit a new high! New... new great-great-grandsons... er, the specific figures are on page 137 of the report..."

Chen Jun listened to the two of them reading out astronomical figures in a dry tone, his gaze falling on their slightly trembling legs.

He knew, where were these two here to report on work?

They were clearly here to "take refuge"!

A single report took all day!

After all, with their Stellar Level Peak cultivation, facing the wife group that was now equally strong and numerous, the probability of pregnancy was shockingly low!

It was normal to work hard for hundreds of times in one night and get nothing.

Unlike himself, who had the 【One-Shot Soul Penetration】 to Guarantee results, with astonishing efficiency.

Thinking of this, Chen Jun's heart softened.

After all, they were his own grandson and great-grandson, and seeing them being "squeezed" so miserably, he, as the elder, also felt soft-hearted.

"Hmm, the results are acceptable." Chen Jun finally spoke, his tone flat. "You two... have worked hard."

Just these simple three words almost made Chen Zhaojing and Chen Yuanhai cry on the spot!

Grandfather / Great-Grandfather finally saw our efforts!

"Not hard at all! Serving the Family!" The two braced themselves and said in unison.

Chen Jun pondered for a moment, as if thinking of something, and said: "The improvement of the Family's 'productivity' cannot rely solely on you two taking the lead; it will eventually be insufficient. We need to form a System and create an atmosphere."

He looked at the two: "How about this, you two take the lead to select a group of... um, 'productivity' outstanding and experienced descendants from each branch to establish a 'Family Core Values Propaganda and Supervision Committee'."

Chen Zhaojing, Chen Yuanhai: "!!!"

The eyes of the father and son instantly burst with unprecedented light!

A committee!

What did this mean?

It meant they could be promoted from front-line "production models" to "management"!

It meant they could justifiably... guide others to work hard, while they themselves could take a break!

"Grandfather is wise!"

"Great-Grandfather is sagacious!"

The two were so excited they almost kowtowed to Chen Jun!

Watching the two look relieved and grateful, Chen Jun secretly smiled.

He was not playing favorites!

This was putting people to their best use!

Letting younger and more energetic descendants rush to the front line, and letting "veterans" like Zhao Jing and Yuan Hai retreat to the second line to continue their remaining heat, was very reasonable!

Moreover, establishing this committee could better implement the Family Core Values of "giving birth to more and better offspring to Guarantee the future" and form a long-term mechanism.

Killing many birds with one stone!

After arranging this matter, Chen Jun felt even better.

He watched Chen Zhaojing and Chen Yuanhai leave happily, as if their mental state had become decades younger, and then thought of his few sons who had Heaven-Defying Aptitude but whose fertility rate was probably touching...

"Sigh, this kind of 'rough work' of breeding offspring really doesn't suit them." Chen Jun sipped his tea leisurely:

"Having too high an Aptitude is sometimes a trouble. It's better for those with 'ordinary Aptitude' like Zhao Jing and Yuan Hai to spread the branches and leaves for the Family."

If Chen Zhaojing and Chen Yuanhai heard this evaluation from their grandfather/Great-Grandfather, I wonder if they would cry again —

Stellar Level Peak, is it just "ordinary Aptitude" in your eyes?!

...

The "Family Core Values Propaganda and Supervision Committee" was soon announced.

Chen Zhaojing and Chen Yuanhai served as the president and vice president, gathering a large number of "production experts" with "brilliant achievements" and "rich experience" in the Chen Clan.

This committee had great power, responsible for formulating Family fertility encouragement policies, selecting "production models," organizing "experience exchange conferences," and even... supervising the "productivity" progress of each branch!

For a time, a wave of "comparing, learning, catching up, helping, and surpassing" in reproduction set off within the Chen Clan!

In the virtual universe, there even appeared paid modules specifically for simulating various "romantic scenes" and assisting in "cultivating feelings," which were extremely popular!

And Chen Zhaojing and Chen Yuanhai also seemed to have been liberated from the front line of the "performance killing field." Although they were still busy, at least they didn't have to personally engage in high-intensity "physical labor."

The way the two looked at "uncles/grand-uncles" like Chen Yu and Chen Xu no longer filled with envy.

...

Chen Jun Manor, main house.

Zhou Zhenshan was indeed a professional "Service Specialist," handling the manor's affairs in an orderly manner.

All "old friends" who came to receive "guidance" were clearly arranged, with smooth processes and thoughtful service, greatly improving the efficiency of Chen Jun's "repaying of favors" and "assistance."

Chen Jun was very satisfied with this.

One day, he had just sent away an "old friend" from a remote Star Domain, completing a successful "one good deed a day."

He sprawled on the lounge chair, his Divine Sense sweeping over the system interface.

【Remaining lifespan】: 0.01 years...+ 41...+ 41... (Ninety-nine point nine billion... years)

"Hmm, at this speed, the frequency of helping old friends is getting faster and faster. Currently, I can help four a year, and in two and a half years, I can help five a year. The System acknowledges that the lifespan increases linearly, so accumulating a thousand years of lifespan in the future won't that be easier and easier?" Chen Jun nodded with satisfaction.

Just then, Zhou Zhenshan walked in cautiously, with an extremely fawning smile on his face:

"Ancestor Chen, outside... Sword Venerable Li Qingshan is here to see you, saying that... he has new poems and would like to ask for your appreciation."

Chen Jun couldn't even be bothered to lift his eyelids: "Tell him, I accept his good intentions, but there's no need to appreciate the poems. Tell him to Cultivate well, or... go help Zhao Jing and the others promote the Family Core Values."

"Yes! Yes!" Zhou Zhenshan quickly replied, feeling secretly refreshed: Li Qingshan, oh Li Qingshan, you have today too!

Want to compete for favor in front of Ancestor Chen?

Hmph, now it is the era of me, Zhou Zhenshan!

He trotted out to pass on the message.

Chen Jun looked at Zhou Zhenshan's smug back and shook his head helplessly.

These guys...

His gaze turned again to the prosperous, busy, and "involution"-filled Family scene outside the window, the corners of his mouth rising.

The descendants were working hard on "production," accumulating the potential benefits of 【Multiple Benefits】 and experience for System upgrades.

He was responsible for providing the top-tier "seeds," optimizing the Family's top-level Bloodline.

And the Yaoqiong Divine Kingdom, this "eternal mine," provided currently almost unlimited resources...

Simply perfect!

"Hmm, just like this, it's quite good."

As for the threats of the Universe?

Well, when the number of descendants increases, the System Rank gets higher, and the accumulation of 【Multiple Benefits】 becomes more abundant... then —

It will be my Chen Clan threatening the Universe!!!!!