211: Seeking help from Chen Zu

Inside the highest manor of the Pillar of Leaders, sunlight streamed through a specially designed skylight, falling upon Chen Jun.

He was sprawled in a Supreme lounge chair, his waist forming a perfect golden ratio with the backrest, his legs naturally extended, his right hand resting on the armrest, and his left hand casually drooping. His entire body was immersed in a profound state, somewhere between existence and non-existence.

"Comfortable..."

Chen Jun squinted, feeling the continuously and linearly increasing lifespan within him.

He only needed to complete the "Foundationsorting out" work for his three hundred beauties once every few months, and was currently enjoying his leisure time.

Just then, Zhou Zhenshan, the manor's head butler, walked over quickly.

"Ancestor Chen, there's... a situation with the Foreign Affairs Department."

Chen Jun didn't even open his eyes: "Speak."

"The special envoy delegations from seventeen Level 2.0 civilizations on the edge of the Cangqiong Seat—Loren, Castro, Free Planetary Alliance... and others—have been kneeling in our Foreign Affairs Department hall for three days and three nights."

Chen Jun finally opened one eye: "Kneeling?"

Zhou Zhenshan's expression was subtle: "They claim that if they can't see you, they will kneel to death in the Foreign Affairs Department. Li Qingshan has already gone to handle it personally, but those envoys..."

"How are they?"

"They said..." Zhou Zhenshan paused, "They said they are willing to offer half of their civilization's territory and resources, just for a chance to form a marriage Alliance with the Chen Clan, even if it's with the most collateral female, even if it's just an engagement, even if it's just... in name only."

Chen Jun was silent for three seconds.

Then he slowly sat up straight—this action was already considered "strenuous exercise" for him.

"Have Qingshan come see me."

In the Foreign Affairs Department hall, the atmosphere was so heavy it could almost be wrung out... Seventeen special envoy delegations, over three thousand high-ranking representatives from various civilizations, were neatly kneeling in the center of the hall.

They used no cushions, their knees directly touching the cold ground. To show more sincerity in their kneeling, some had worn through their pant legs, and blood seeped from their knees, but no one dared to move.

The second son of Grand Duke Loren, Karl Loren, who led the group, pressed his forehead to the ground, his voice hoarse:

"Sword Venerable Li, it's not that we are ignorant of etiquette, nor that we intend to coerce the Federation. It's truly... we've reached a dead end."

Li Qingshan stood before them, his Stellar Level Peak aura naturally emanating, causing these envoys, mostly Planetary Level and a few Elementary Stellar Level, to feel suffocating pressure.

But his face showed no arrogance, only deep helplessness.

"Karl, please get up and speak. What kind of decorum is this?"

"No!" Karl suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot:

"Sword Venerable Li, do you know? The Guangyao Empire's Seventh Fleet has advanced to within three jumps of our capital star system! Their commander has publicly declared that 'the Loren Civilization has wasted too many high-quality planets'!"

"We tried to contact the Star Sea Council, and the Council's reply was—'territorial adjustments between civilizations fall within the scope of normal competition'!"

"Normal competition?!" Beside him, the chief envoy of the Castro Commercial Alliance, a white-haired old man, trembled: "The Sea Song Civilization's 'Abyss Fleet' has directly blockaded 897 of our most important trade hubs! They demand that we surrender 80% of our airspace management rights, claiming they want to 'build marine ecological paradises'!"

"The Sea Song Civilization's 'Abyss Fleet' has directly blockaded 897 of our most important trade hubs! They demand that we surrender 80% of our airspace management rights, claiming they want to 'build marine ecological paradises'!"

The representative of the Free Planetary Alliance was sobbing: "The Xuanji Federation has already effectively controlled 90% of our country's mining companies through technological and economic means! Their regent's heir said this is called 'optimized resource allocation'!"

For a time, cries and pleas echoed through the hall.

These envoys, who were powerful figures in their own civilizations, were now kneeling here like weak lambs.

Li Qingshan frowned deeply.

Of course, he knew what had happened.

Ever since the "bottom-line Martial Body" characteristic of the chen clan bloodline was confirmed, those civilizations that successfully intermarried with Chen Clan women developed wildly, as if injected with stimulants.

Population exploded, powerhouses surged, and as technological development couldn't keep up, resource demand naturally grew exponentially.

Expansion became an inevitable choice.

And civilizations that hadn't intermarried with the chen clan bloodline... became the best "fat meat."

"Sword Venerable Li," Karl kowtowed again, his forehead hitting the ground with a dull thud: "We know the rules. Ancestor Chen is Supreme, not someone we can meet. But please... at least help us deliver a message."

"We know the rules. Ancestor Chen is Supreme, not someone we can meet. But please... at least help us deliver a message."

"We are willing to submit! Willing to offer everything! We only ask... we only ask for a little protection from the Chen Clan's Bloodline!"

"Even if it's just a nominal marriage Alliance! Even if it's just the most collateral female of the Chen Clan, with the most ordinary Aptitude! Even if she is already married, we can let our princes be concubines! Be attendants! Be male servants! Anything is fine!"

This was no longer asking for a marriage Alliance.

They were asking for a "death-exemption token."

A "Chen Clan-related" label.

Which civilization in the Cangqiong Seat would dare covet a civilization where Ancestor Chen's Bloodline resided?

Li Qingshan sighed deeply.

He knew these people were truly desperate... In the face of an absolute power disparity, dignity, sovereignty, everything could be abandoned!

Only seeking survival!

"Please get up first." Li Qingshan waved his hand, and a gentle but irresistible force lifted everyone. "I will go see Ancestor Chen."

Inside the manor, Li Qingshan respectfully stood before Chen Jun, reporting the situation in detail.

Chen Jun listened, then remained silent for a long time.

He slumped back into the lounge chair, his fingers gently tapping the armrest.

"Qingshan, what do you think?"

Li Qingshan pondered for a moment: "From the perspective of Federation interests, we shouldn't interfere. Those civilizations with the chen clan bloodline are essentially our 'peripheral forces,' and their expansion will enhance our influence."

"But from a moral standpoint..." He paused, "The civilians in those invaded civilizations are innocent. Once war breaks out, the common people always suffer the most casualties."

Chen Jun nodded, then shook his head.

"Not only that."

He slowly said: "Qingshan, have you ever thought about it? Those civilizations with the chen clan bloodline are now wildly expanding based on the demographic dividend of Innate Martial Body, appearing infinitely glorious."

"But their social structure has been distorted."

Li Qingshan was startled: "Ancestor Chen, do you mean?"

"ANational Fertility Competition, the entire civilization's focus is on reproduction and Bloodline." A profound glint flashed in Chen Jun's eyes, "In the short term, it can indeed unleash terrifying power, but what about the long term?"

"If everyone in a civilization only thinks about having children, who will innovate technology? Develop technology?"

"When the demographic dividend is exhausted, when territorial expansion reaches its limit, when they are surrounded by civilizations they cannot afford to provoke... for example, our Human Federation! What will happen to them? Our Human Federation can have an unlimited number of children because we have ready-made technological support far exceeding our Rank, which only needs to be disassembled, not explored. What about them?"

Li Qingshan gasped.

He had never thought about this question.

"Moreover," Chen Jun continued, "among those invaded civilizations, there are also Geniuses, and potential."

"Their most outstanding descendants might become spouses for our Chen Clan's younger generation in the future—if their civilizations are destroyed and future Geniuses die prematurely, wouldn't that be a pity?"

Li Qingshan: "..."

He suddenly felt that Ancestor Chen's perspective... was truly unique.

"Most importantly," Chen Jun sighed, "When prosperous, the common people suffer; when ruined, the common people suffer."

"Although I'm too lazy to meddle in too many affairs, since this matter arose because of my chen clan bloodline, and since those envoys have already knelt in the Foreign Affairs Department..."

He paused, and said faintly: "Then let's manage it."

Li Qingshan's eyes lit up: "Ancestor, how do you plan to manage it?"

Chen Jun thought for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Qingshan, what do you think? If I give an order for those civilizations with the chen clan bloodline to stop, will they listen?"

"Absolutely!" Li Qingshan said decisively, "Ancestor Chen's word, the entire Star Sea obeys!"

"That won't do." Chen Jun shook his head, "Forced suppression will only accumulate resentment. And I have no interest in being some Star Sea police, more importantly, it doesn't align with my Chen Clan's core values."

A hint of cunning flashed in his eyes: "We need to change the method... make them feel that not expanding is more cost-effective than expanding."

Li Qingshan was bewildered: "This... is it possible?"

Chen Jun smiled.

That smile suddenly reminded Li Qingshan of Ancestor Chen's expression long ago, whenever he was about to "stir things up."

"Go, call Zhao Jing and Yuan Hai." Chen Jun instructed, "Also, have the Foreign Affairs Department arrange it. Tomorrow... I want to meet those envoys."

"But not here."

"Go to 'that place'."

...That night, Chen Zhaojing and Chen Yuanhai rushed to the manor.

The father and son's states formed a stark contrast—

Although Chen Zhaojing also had dark circles under his eyes, his complexion was rosy, and his aura was majestic.

After all, as Ancestor Chen's only grandson, Chen Zhaojing held a noble position and was the head of the newly established "Family Propaganda Supervision Office." With only a hundred wives, he could still manage.

Although the "amorous games" of his wives still left him with a sore back, at least... he had a moment to breathe.

As for Chen Yuanhai... "Great-Grandfather! You must uphold justice for me!"

Upon seeing Chen Jun, Chen Yuanhai almost burst into tears.

He had lost a lot of weight, his eyes were deeply sunken, and he swayed slightly when he walked.

Eight hundred wives!

That was eight times more than his father, Chen Zhaojing!

Eight hundred women who would stop at nothing for "performance"! Wolves!

Even though he adamantly said that Ancestor Chen had instructed him to do serious work in the Propaganda Supervision Office... his wives simply wouldn't listen to him, demanding that he lead by example, with a reason that was impossible to refute—

Ancestor Chen worked so hard that his spiritual energy was exhausted, so why shouldn't you work hard? ...Chen Yuanhai's life these past few years had been nothing short of a living hell.

He had initially thought he was liberated and no longer envied his grand-uncles like Chen Xu, little did he know he rejoiced too soon.

Under Ancestor Chen's mobilization, the Chen Clan wives once again took "drastic measures" against these descendants who met their quotas. The Innate nourishment feedback and the guaranteed Innate Martial Body were simply too enticing.

"Great-Grandfather, I can't take it anymore!" Chen Yuanhai cried with tears and snot, "Last month, my wives organized a 'fertility sprint month' event! They divided into eight teams and had a points ranking! The winning team could get 'priority conception rights'!"

"To get points, they resorted to all sorts of tricks! Some secretly played 'infant laughter mixed sound effects' while I was Cultivating, saying it could subconsciously stimulate paternal love! Some added eighty-plus kinds of 'beneficial ingredients' to my meals; after eating them, my nose bled three meters high!"

"The most outrageous thing is," Chen Yuanhai trembled as he pointed to his waist, "They developed a 'lumbar auxiliary exoskeleton,' saying it could improve efficiency! But after I tested it, I found that thing was semi-mandatory! Once activated, it wouldn't stop until the preset 'workload' was completed!"

...Chen Zhaojing stifled a laugh beside him, his shoulders shrugging.

Chen Jun also couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

"Yuan Hai, ah..." He tried to make his voice sound benevolent, "This shows that your wives... are very dedicated, aren't they?"

"Great-Grandfather!" Chen Yuanhai was truly about to cry.

"Alright, alright." Chen Jun waved his hand, "I called you here for serious business."

He briefly explained the situation.

After listening, Chen Zhaojing frowned: "Those civilizations without our Bloodline are indeed pitiful, but... if we directly intervene, will it displease Radiance, Cang Ming, and the others? After all, they are all relatives."

Chen Yuanhai's eyes, however, lit up: "Great-Grandfather! I have an idea!"

"Speak."

"Aren't those civilizations asking for marriage Alliances?" Chen Yuanhai said excitedly, "We can hold a 'Star Sea Blind Date Event'! Let their royalty and noble children meet our Chen Clan's unmarried women!"

"But!" He changed his tone, "They can't meet for free! We need to charge a 'registration fee'! A very high registration fee! Exchanging it for territory!"

Chen Zhaojing also reacted: "Right! This gives them hope while actually curbing expansion! And the common people won't have to endure the cruelty of war!"

Chen Jun looked at his two grandsons, nodding in satisfaction.

Good, they have the demeanor of his Chen Clan.

"The idea is correct, but the scope is too small." Chen Jun said faintly, "A mere blind date event only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. Those civilizations with Bloodline will still want to expand—because their fundamental problem is resource pressure caused by population explosion."

"Then what do you mean, Grandpa (Great-Grandfather)?" they asked in unison.

Chen Jun smiled faintly, then uttered a sentence that left both of them dumbfounded:

"I want them to know—technology is the primary productive force. Having children is not the goal; raising excellent children is the goal."

"And raising excellent children doesn't necessarily require territory and resources."

"What's needed is..."

He paused, then said word by word:

"Education and involution! High-quality education is the only way for sustainable technological development!"

...The next day, the envoys from seventeen desperate civilizations in the Cangqiong Seat were brought to a place they had never imagined—

Human Federation, Kunlun Star, third planetary orbit.

A massive artificial celestial body floated here.

Its shape resembled an open book, with a deep starry sky background on its cover, and flowing characters written on it:

[Federation First Demonstration Kindergarten]

The envoys stood on the shuttle, looking at the "kindergarten" before them, which was enhanced with countless spatial technologies and was even larger than their star system, all of them dumbfounded.

"Sword Venerable Li," Karl Loren's voice trembled, "Did we... go to the wrong place?"

Li Qingshan's expression was calm: "You didn't go to the wrong place. Ancestor Chen is inside."

"But this is... a kindergarten!"

"Yes." Li Qingshan nodded, "Ancestor Chen said that if we're going to talk about children, we should naturally do it where there are the most children."

The shuttle docked at the port.

Everyone disembarked and was immediately stunned by the sight before them—

A gigantic atrium, over hundreds of millions of meters high, designed like a colossal forest from a fairy tale.

Towering holographic giant trees cast soft light, glowing "stars" and "moons" floated in the air, and the ground was a soft ecological lawn.

But what was most shocking were the children here.

Hundreds of millions of children, ranging from two or three to seven or eight years old, were engaged in various activities under the guidance of teachers.

Some were manipulating stardust with Mental Energy in front of a "Starry Sky Sandbox," constructing simple galaxy models.

Some were practicing the most basic breathing techniques andstance training in the "Martial Dao Enlightenment Field," their small faces serious and earnest.

Some were painting with energy brushes in the "Art Creation House," and the works they painted subtly emanated Law fluctuations.

And some... were arguing.

"My dad is Stellar Level! Your dad is only Planetary Level! Nya nya nya!" A chubby little boy made a face at another child.

"Being Stellar Level is no big deal!" The other child retorted, "My mom said my Great-Grandfather is Ancestor Chen's direct grandson! My seniority is higher than yours!"

"Hmph! What's the use of high seniority! My Aptitude test showed Innate Star Body! You're Martial Body!"

"I... I'm better at studying than you! I got full marks on yesterday's 'Basic Universe Energy' exam!"

"I defeated three classmates in Martial Dao class!"

The envoys watched this scene, their expressions complex.

They could feel that every child here, the weakest among them, had War God Level fluctuations!

Many of those five or six-year-olds had already reached Planetary Level!

And the information revealed during their arguments was even more astonishing—

Innate Martial Body here, seemed to be... standard?