48: Xuanji Trigger System

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the simulated canopy, casting a warm but gentle glow.

Chen Jun's family was unaware of the Supreme Council's resolution.

Chen Jun sat on a cushion in the courtyard, holding the babbling Chen Xingyu as she waved her little hands.

Little Xingyu was nearly a year old. Having inherited her parents' excellent genes, she was as delicate as carved jade, with large eyes like the purest obsidian, gazing curiously at the world.

She seemed to especially adore her father; in her eyes, he was the warmest harbor in the world.

"Little Xingxing, look, a butterfly."

Chen Jun's voice was gentle and raspy as he pointed to a nearby exotic flower emitting a faint shimmer, where a Light-butterfly formed from energy had landed.

Little Xingyu followed her father's finger and let out a joyful giggle, stretching her tiny hands forward in an effort to catch the beautiful creature.

A rare, pure smile appeared on Chen Jun's face, and even his wrinkles seemed to smooth out.

He carefully adjusted his posture to make his daughter more comfortable, savoring this brief but precious moment of peace.

Lin Wei was nearby hanging up the children's small clothes. Watching the warm interaction between father and daughter, the corners of her mouth curled up unconsciously.

Her belly was still flat, but it was currently nurturing her and her husband's fifth child—a child that belonged only to the two of them.

However, this tranquility did not last long.

An indescribable sense of oppression descended without warning.

It was as if an invisible giant hand had suddenly squeezed the space. The light seemed to dim, and the gentle energy flowing in the air instantly stagnated, becoming heavy and cold.

The smile on Chen Jun's face froze, and his arms instinctively tightened around the child.

Lin Wei snapped upright and looked around alertly. Her War God Level aura instinctively flared up, only to be crushed back into her body in the next instant by that omnipresent, terrifying pressure!

She discovered with horror that in that extremely short span of time, the surroundings... had become too quiet!

The grunting strange flower in Old Man Zhang's yard went silent, the whistling sound of Old Madam Wang practicing her punches vanished, and the faint hum of the artist across the way tuning energy strings was cut off... It was as if the entire area had been instantly cleared and isolated!

"Brother Jun!"

Lin Wei's voice carried a hint of trembling as she rushed to Chen Jun's side, shielding him and the child behind her.

At that moment, the space at the manor's entrance rippled like water.

Five figures appeared without a sound or sign, penetrating the manor's supposed defense field like ghosts.

Leading them was Marshal Xuanji, dressed in a spotless deep-blue marshal's uniform, her posture erect and her expression cold.

Her eyes were as sharp as an eagle's as they swept across the courtyard with the indifference of one assessing a strategic target.

Slightly behind her to the side was Chief Su Yao, wearing a white research lab coat with a fervent gaze behind her glasses as if recording data; Liu Ruyan in fiery red armor, her brow carrying an impatient Evil Qi; Qing Lin, who had a relatively gentle temperament but equally firm eyes; and the last one, the Ice Phoenix Leng Qingqiu, who exuded a frigid air that warned others to stay away.

Five Stellar-level Experts!

Even though they tried their best to restrain their vast and majestic auras, the invisible field formed by their combination was enough to distort space, making Chen Jun and Lin Wei feel as if breathing was difficult, like they were drowning!

Little Xingyu seemed to sense the terrifying pressure. Her little mouth puckered, and she burst out crying with a "waa," her small body trembling in her father's arms.

"Xingyu, don't cry, don't cry..."

Chen Jun hurriedly tried to soothe her in a low voice, his heart sinking like it had been dropped into a pit of ice.

The thing he feared most had happened after all, and it had come so quickly and so directly!

Marshal Xuanji's brow furrowed imperceptibly. She raised a finger and lightly tapped toward little Xingyu in Chen Jun's arms.

Little Xingyu's heartbroken crying stopped abruptly. Her little head tilted to the side as she instantly fell into a deep sleep, though tearstains still clung to the corners of her eyes.

"What did you do to her?!"

Lin Wei was both shocked and furious. Her maternal instinct allowed her to temporarily overcome her fear of the Stellar-level Experts as she questioned them sharply.

"I merely let her sleep peacefully; it is harmless."

Marshal Xuanji's voice was icy and devoid of emotion.

Her gaze moved past Lin Wei and landed directly on the pale-faced Chen Jun behind her.

"Chen Jun."

Marshal Xuanji spoke in a tone of pure command that brooked no argument.

"By order of the Federation's Supreme Resolution, as of this moment, you are conscripted to execute the 'Kindling Project'. Come with us now."

Supreme Resolution?

Kindling Project?

Conscription?

Each word was like a heavy hammer smashing against Chen Jun and Lin Wei's hearts.

"No! You can't do this!"

Lin Wei suddenly spread her arms like a hen protecting her chicks, blocking Chen Jun firmly, even though her figure seemed so small and ridiculous before the five Stellar-level Experts.

"The Leader promised! He said our wishes would be respected! Brother Jun just..."

Lin Wei's voice trembled with urgency as she tried to find any reason.

"He just consumed his lifespan for me! His body hasn't recovered yet! He needs rest! And... and I'm already pregnant with his child! It was just conceived! He needs to be by our side! You can't take him away now!"

She tried to use the child to move them.

Marshal Xuanji's gaze finally landed on Lin Wei's lower abdomen. After sensing for a moment, her brow furrowed sharply.

"Hmm? Another Innate Star Body? What a waste of natural resources!"

She suppressed her anger as she gave her evaluation, showing no surprise or importance regarding the birth of another Innate Star Body.

This attitude caused Lin Wei's heart to go completely cold.

Sure enough, Marshal Xuanji's next sentence shattered her illusions.

"We cannot waste any more time! What the Federation needs are more powerful Sun Bodies, not Star Bodies. His lifespan is limited; it must be used in the most efficient way possible."

Her words were cold and cruel, placing "efficiency" and "value" above all emotions and ethics.

"You... how can you say that?!"

Lin Wei was shaking with rage, tears welling in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

"Are Star Bodies not children of the Federation? Xi'er, Yaoer, Lu Lu, Xingyu, and the one in my belly! They will all be the pillars of the Federation in the future! They also need a father! Brother Jun isn't just a tool! He's a human being! He's our family!"

"Family?"

Liu Ruyan sneered, crossing her arms with a pungent tone. "Little girl, wake up! In the face of the survival of civilization, an individual's small family means nothing! Your man is now more important than a hundred million Planetary Levels combined! Letting him complete a greater mission is his greatest contribution to this family and the Federation!"

"Exactly!"

Chief Su Yao pushed up her glasses, her tone carrying the obsession of a researcher. "The birth of every Sun Body has a strategic value far exceeding a Star Body! We cannot be sentimental! This is the optimal solution!"

Lin Wei looked at their faces—some indifferent, some fanatical, some impatient—and despair surged into her heart like a tide.

She knew that talking to them about feelings and family was like playing a lute to a cow.

She turned to look at the seemingly more gentle Venerable Qinglin and Venerable Leng Qingqiu, pleading mournfully.

"Venerable ones, I beg you, please give us a little more time, even just a few months. Let Brother Jun recover, let me... let me give birth to this child safely..."

A trace of pity flashed through Venerable Qinglin's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. She shook her head gently.

"Sister Lin Wei, I'm sorry, this is the Supreme Resolution... for the sake of the Federation..."

Leng Qingqiu simply closed her eyes, as if she couldn't bear to look and didn't care to speak.

"Enough!"

Marshal Xuanji lost her patience, her voice suddenly becoming stern, like an ice blade scraping across a surface.

"Lin Wei, I can understand your feelings, but your interference is meaningless, foolish, and ridiculous!"

"You keep talking about family, children, and a father? Where do you think everything you have now came from? This manor! These resources!..."

"None of this came out of thin air! It was granted by the Federation! It is built on the foundation of Chen Jun's special value!"

"You've enjoyed the top-tier resources and protection provided by the Federation, yet when it's time for him to pay the price, you only think of your own selfish desires. How can there be such a cheap deal in this world?!"

"Put away your ridiculous little sentiments! The Federation raised you all, and now is the time for him to repay it! This is a responsibility! It is an obligation! It is not for you to refuse!"

Marshal Xuanji's words were like a heavy hammer, word by word, smashing all of Lin Wei's reasons and dignity to pieces, pinning her to a pillar of shame for being "selfish and ridiculous."

Lin Wei's face was as pale as paper, her lips trembling. A massive sense of powerlessness and humiliation almost overwhelmed her.

Chen Jun gently placed the sleeping little Xingyu into a nearby stroller, slowly stood up, and supported his swaying wife.

He looked at Marshal Xuanji, his eyes terrifyingly calm, even carrying a hint of death-like realization.

"Stop it, Weiwei."

His voice was raspy.

"I... I will go with them."

He had known this day would come, he just hadn't expected it to be so soon and so heartless!

"Brother Jun!"

Lin Wei grabbed his arm, her tears finally bursting forth.

"Take care of the children, and... yourself."

Chen Jun squeezed her hand firmly, then pried her fingers away one by one. With somewhat stumbling steps, he took the initiative to walk toward Marshal Xuanji.

He knew that any resistance was futile and would only bring greater trouble to Lin Wei and the children.

Marshal Xuanji nodded in satisfaction, acknowledging Chen Jun's "sensibility."

With a wave of her hand, a burst of energy enveloped Chen Jun.

"Adjutant Lan Qing, lead the way to the 'Stasis Chamber'."

She commanded.

The Adjutant, Lan Qing, who had been standing silently like a shadow, bowed and took the order.

"Yes, Your Excellency Marshal, everything is prepared."

In the next moment, space distorted, and the group's figures instantly vanished from the manor, leaving only Lin Wei slumped on the ground weeping silently, and little Xingyu sleeping soundly in the stroller, unaware of the world's affairs.

...

The Stasis Chamber.

This was an extremely special place inside the Pillar of Leaders. Rather than a room, it was more like a pure white enclosed space constructed entirely of energy.

It was absolutely quiet, and absolutely... safe.

Chen Jun was brought inside, placed there like an object.

"According to the voting order, I will go first. The rest of you wait outside."

Marshal Xuanji said to the other four in an unquestionable tone.

Su Yao opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something—likely wanting to record data—but after being swept by Xuanji's cold gaze, she ultimately swallowed her words and exited the space with the other three to wait outside the door.

Inside the pure white space, only Marshal Xuanji and Chen Jun remained.

Marshal Xuanji turned around and looked at the weak, numb-eyed man before her.

She had no preamble, nor even any superfluous emotion, as if she were preparing for the most ordinary strategic deployment.

She began to remove her crisp marshal's uniform, her movements meticulous and carrying the characteristic efficiency of a soldier.

But throughout the entire process, her eyes showed no fluctuation. The way she looked at Chen Jun was no different from how she would look at a weapon or a machine.

"Chen Jun."

She spoke, her voice still in the tone of issuing an order.

"Relax your body and cooperate with the execution. This is an order."

There was no tenderness, no words, not even the recognition of him as a living human being.

Chen Jun closed his eyes, like a puppet that had lost its Soul.

...

(...To avoid censorship, millions of words of indescribable details are omitted here...)

Until the System's cold prompt broke into his mind.

[system interface]

...

[Current Mandatory Operation]: Activate [Absolute Guarantee] on Moon Body spouse Xuanji.

1. Consume 10 years of lifespan; offspring Aptitude will be upgraded to Sun Body (Tier 4) [ Confirm / Cancel ]

2. Consume 100 years of lifespan; offspring Aptitude will be upgraded to Radiant Body (Tier 5) [ Confirm / Cancel ]

3. Consume 1000 years of lifespan; offspring Aptitude will be upgraded to Venerable Body (Tier 6) [ Confirm / Cancel ]

...

The cold interface arrived as expected.

Chen Jun's consciousness felt as if it were sinking into a frozen sea. Once again, he tried to lock onto the "Cancel" for option one.

Trying to grasp at the last straw...

This time I really will die!!!

As expected, it was just like those two nights when Chen Yao and Chen Lu were conceived...

The "Cancel" for option one turned into "Confirm" once again.

[Command Received]

[Rule in effect! Life Source Essence being guided... Genetic sequence hyper-optimization complete!]

[Operation complete! Estimated birth of offspring in 8 years.]

[Offspring Aptitude fixed: Sun Body (Tier 4)]

Ten years of lifespan were ruthlessly drained once again!

A severe sense of weakness hit him. Chen Jun's body became visibly more withered and aged at a speed perceptible to the naked eye.

Almost the instant the System took effect, Marshal Xuanji pushed him away, stood up quickly, and put her crisp marshal's uniform back on, every movement precise and swift.

She carefully felt the life seed that had just been planted within her, which contained a majestic vitality. A clear look of satisfaction finally appeared on her cold face.

"Mission accomplished. Results are within expectations."

She sounded as if she were giving a post-battle report. She glanced at Chen Jun, who was slumped on the ground and nearly unconscious. Without a single kind word, let alone helping him up, she turned and left the Stasis Chamber without any lingering attachment.

Outside the door, Su Yao, Liu Ruyan, Qing Lin, and Leng Qingqiu immediately cast eager glances.

"Next one."

Marshal Xuanji stepped aside to clear the path, her tone flat. "Hurry up."

Su Yao immediately rushed in impatiently...

The door closed once again.

Inside the pure white, cold Stasis Chamber, only Chen Jun remained, his Origin once again heavily depleted, curled up on the cold floor like a discarded, broken tool.

Outside the door was a quiet and anxious line of people waiting.

His remaining lifespan was only twenty-six years!

And this efficient and cold-blooded "reproduction" in the name of the "survival of civilization" had only just begun...