57: Yunxi regretted it.

Inside Jingsi Hall, time seemed to have stagnated for a hundred thousand years.

Star projections slowly flowed, casting their cold and eternal light, illuminating a figure clad in plain white.

Yun Xi hovered at the hall's center, her bare feet three inches off the ground. Her aura perfectly merged with this miniature Universe, appearing eternally unchanged, tranquil, and serene.

However, if a being of the same Realm as her were present, they would keenly sense that beneath that flawless facade lay an extremely faint, yet not entirely concealable... sense of decay.

Like a wisp of Death Qi silently spreading at the heart of an ancient towering tree, or like the subtle collapse within a star before it burns out.

She slowly raised a hand, pale and slender, with gentle starlight flowing from her fingertips. It still looked impossibly young.

But only she knew the irreversible decline this body, tempered by Stellar Level energy for nearly a hundred thousand years, was undergoing within.

A hundred thousand years.

This was an almost insurmountable chasm lying before all Stellar-level Experts!

It was the ultimate lifespan limit set by the Universe's Law for life at this level!

Even though she, Yun Xi, was a Heaven-blessed Genius with extraordinary encounters, supported by the entire Federation's resources, and had broken through Bottlenecks time and again with supreme will and wisdom, extending her life to the current age of ninety-nine thousand eight hundred years—a miracle among miracles—but...

The end still lay coldly ahead.

Her remaining time was not much.

Not measured in tens of thousands of years, not even in thousands.

Merely... two hundred years.

For Mortals, two hundred years spanned lifetimes. But for a Stellar Level Peak who had lived for nearly a hundred thousand years, two hundred years was as brief as a short period of seclusion, the interval of a jump during a long-distance interstellar exploration voyage.

She could clearly feel the growing weakness deep within her life's Origin.

Like an oil lamp running dry. The flame might still be bright, but it had begun to flicker unsteadily.

It was only because she was the Federation's founder, sustained by vast amounts of Heaven And Earth Treasures, that she could approach the hundred-thousand-year limit. Ordinary Stellar-level Experts couldn't last this long.

Especially in this last millennium, she had used the Federation's reserves of the most top-tier, rarest life-extending wonders, their value enough to build several invincible fleets.

Each time she consumed one, it was like throwing a precious piece of kindling onto a dying fire, rekindling a moment of vigorous flame. But once the kindling burned out, the flame would only dim faster.

Now, ordinary wonders were already ineffective for her.

She could even feel that if she forcibly relied on external means to delay further, each additional year of life would consume astronomical resources, with terrifyingly diminishing returns.

She couldn't be that selfish.

She was the Federation's leader, the guardian deity of civilization.

Her personal desires could not be built upon depleting civilization's future potential.

She had once pinned her hopes on a personal Breakthrough.

Star Arm Level!

That legendary Realm, with a lifespan of a million years, would be enough for her to protect the Federation through more crises and lead it to more distant stars.

But... it was too difficult.

For a hundred thousand years, she had assaulted that barrier countless times. Each time, it felt within reach, yet remained elusive.

That membrane... even for an Innate Moon Body, if one didn't Breakthrough before ten thousand years of age, then even with great wisdom, great Opportunity, and great perseverance, hope was slim.

Moreover, the Federation's territory was only this large. There simply wasn't any Heaven-Defying Opportunity to break the Cultivation window period.

She lacked a catalyst, a push that could trigger the ultimate leap in her life's essence!

And Chen Jun's appearance, along with the birth of the Innate Sun Body, had once made her see this catalyst!

By uniting with Chen Jun and conceiving an Innate Sun Body, relying on that vast and boundless 'Innate nourishment Reverse-Feed,' she might be able to seize the Universe's rule of rewarding the nurturing of great existences, shatter the barrier in one go, and extend her life by a million years!

This thought had once been a boulder dropped into her tranquil Heart-Nature lake.

But she hesitated.

She was the leader!

The mentor!

To compete with her own 'students' for a man's 'reproductive rights'?

To procreate alongside her own Juniors?

Her pride, her status, her sense of responsibility... ultimately made her choose silence. She even personally stepped forward to arrange the 'allocation' of Chen Jun.

She had thought the Opportunity wasn't unique.

Yue Hua could, Xuanji could, others could too... she could always wait for the next chance.

However...

The Academy of Sciences' cold inspection report, like a final verdict, completely crushed her last hope.

'Germ cell viability zero... impossible to impregnate any female...'

Mo Heng's shocked, heartbroken voice seemed to still echo in her ears.

Ruined!

That 'source' capable of creating miracles had been completely 'ruined' from overuse the moment she hesitated!

Right under her nose!

And she, because of ridiculous reserve and concerns, had missed the only possible chance to grasp a lifeline!

Regret?

Yun Xi slowly closed her eyes. The left eye was clear, the right eye weathered. Churning deep within them was regret and resentment enough to devour stars!

How could she not regret?!

If she could do it over, would she still care about that so-called face?

Before the hope of a million-year lifespan, of breaking through to Star Arm Level, of continuing to guard civilization, what was that bit of reserve worth?!

She would have personally stepped in without hesitation!

Even if it meant using every means possible!

But there were no ifs.

Time could not flow backward.

That report severed all possibilities.

Chen Jun's remaining six years of life, in her eyes, had transformed from a 'precious resource' into a cruel countdown, reminding her of how her last chance had slipped away.

And now, that man seemed to have profited from disaster, forcibly restored to a youthful state by a massive quantity of rare treasures. He even looked 'healthier' than ever before.

But this 'health,' in her view, was nothing but a rootless tree, a waterless source—a false prosperity, the final resurgence after exhausting everything.

He only had six years left.

And she had less than two hundred.

If not for the threat of the Tristanian Star Empire, she would have chosen to pass away a thousand years ago!

How much longer could she persist by continuing to consume the civilization's foundation now?

A few decades?!

Or even a few years?!

A sense of shared desolation, mixed with immense disappointment and a trace of imperceptible jealousy, spread within her heart.

Perhaps... she had summoned Chen Jun today just to see this man again, the one who filled her with regret, the one who had personally created hope and indirectly extinguished her own.

Or perhaps, in her final time, she wanted to make some arrangements for the Federation, for... his children, the Federation's future hope...

The gentle voice of her aide-de-camp, Lan Qing, sounded from outside the hall:

'Leader, Mr. Chen Jun has arrived.'

Yun Xi slowly opened her eyes, suppressing all churning emotions, restoring that profound, unrippled calm.

'Let him in.'

...

Chen Jun stepped into Jingsi Hall.

This time, his state of mind was completely different from any previous visit.

No fear, no anxiety, no consciousness of being a 'tool.'

There was only a calm, even secretly superior, observation.

He saw Yun Xi suspended within the starlight, still holy, still great, still inspiring awe.

But now, in the eyes of his [Longevity Multiplier] 'Longevity' possessor, he could faintly detect, beneath that perfect radiance, a trace of exhaustion and agedness that wasTrying to cover it up but could not completely hide.

Like an exquisitely crafted porcelain, flawless from afar, but upon closer inspection, one could see the fine, age-induced crackle patterns.

He knew this great leader's lifespan was nearing its end.

And he himself...

Deep within his consciousness, the numbers on that panel were happily jumping:

[Remaining Lifespan: 8 years 189 days 23 hours 59 minutes 40 seconds... 50 seconds... 8 years 190 days 00 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds!]

+10 seconds...

+10 seconds...

+10 seconds...

Broken through!

Broken through!!

Broken through!!!

He had broken through another full day of life!

And it was still increasing steadily and firmly at a rate of ten more seconds per second!

An indescribable sense of superiority, like warm spring water, silently soaked his heart.

What does it matter that you possess boundless power, guarded civilization for a hundred thousand years, and are revered by billions?!

What does it matter that you are a stunning Genius, standing at the pinnacle of all beings?!

You...

Are about to die!

And I, this Mortal you see as having only six years of life left, this Trash in Aptitude, will have an infinite future.

My daughters, your students—they will thrive!

The most outstanding among them are destined to surpass you, reaching the Realm you dream of but cannot touch!

And I, as their father, will witness all this with my own eyes, share in their glory, and because of their existence... live forever!

This enormous gap in perception, this absolute advantage in lifespan, gave Chen Jun an unprecedented, almost god-like perspective of calm and composure.

He bowed slightly, his tone even. 'Leader, you summoned me?'

Yun Xi's gaze fell upon him, scrutinizing carefully.

Rosy complexion, full of spirit, upright posture... indeed, 'healthy' to an unbelievable degree.

But this facade of health was like a thorn, lightly pricking her heart, reminding her of that absurd farce and the Opportunity she had missed.

'It seems your three months of recuperation have gone well,' Yun Xi spoke, her voice ethereal and even, betraying neither joy nor anger.

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

Chen Jun smiled, his expression natural and relaxed: "Thanks to you, and to all the big shots... well, for your 'generous' help, my body is much better than before. I feel like I can live a few more years."

He said these words with sincere gratitude, but in Yun Xi's ears, they were filled with bitter irony.

Live a few more years?

Yes, he had at most six years left to live.

"Sit," Yun Xi gestured toward a chair condensed from starlight that had appeared out of nowhere.

Chen Jun sat down with a word of thanks, his posture relaxed and even somewhat leisurely, as if he were visiting a neighbor's house rather than the core stronghold of the Federation.

Yun Xi watched his stress-free demeanor, which was completely different from before, and remained silent for a moment.

She suddenly found herself unsure of how to start the conversation.

Should she directly ask, "Can you make it?"

But she already knew the results of the report.

Should she express her regret directly?

But her pride would not allow it!

Ultimately, she chose a more roundabout approach, her gaze seemingly sweeping over Chen Jun casually as she spoke with a faint sigh, as if merely making a passing remark:

"Life... is truly the most wonderful yet cruelest creation in the Universe. Even with heaven-reaching power, it is sometimes hard to resist the erosion of time."

Chen Jun's heart stirred; here it came.

He showed just the right amount of agreement and a sigh of 'empathy': "The Leader is right. Just like me, I used to struggle at the bottom, thinking that living to a hundred would be a blessing from the heavens. Later... I had a bit of an Opportunity, but I was always worried my lifespan would run out, living a precarious existence. Now..."

He paused, his acting skills kicking in, and gave a complex smile with a hint of detachment from having seen through the world. "I've come to terms with it. Since I only have six years left, I might as well live as happily as I can, spend time with my family, and watch the children grow up a bit. It'll be worth it."

He emphasized once again that he 'only had six years left,' perfectly matching the outside world's perception, and attributed his current 'open-minded' mindset to 'not having much time left, so live for the moment.'

Sure enough, an imperceptible flicker passed through Yun Xi's eyes.

It was a mixture of sympathy, pity, and a deeper resonance of 'fellow sufferers at the ends of the earth'!

She said softly, "It is good that you can think this way. Sometimes, knowing where the end is can actually make one cherish the present moment more."

These words seemed to be addressed to Chen Jun, yet also to herself.

Chen Jun nodded, but internally he disagreed.

My end?

My end is the sea of stars!

It is eternity, okay!

But on his face, he wore an expression that said, "You're right, Leader, that's exactly what I'm thinking."

Yun Xi looked at him and suddenly asked, "Chen Jun, have you ever... hated the Federation? Hated me? Hated... those who treated you this way?"

This question was somewhat unexpected for Chen Jun.

He looked closely at Yun Xi and, from the depths of her calm eyes, captured a very subtle... testing, and perhaps a hint of guilt?

He pondered for a few seconds and decided to tell a partial truth.

"Hate?" Chen Jun slowly shook his head, his tone frank. "To be honest, at the beginning, especially when I was forcibly taken away, I did. I felt like I wasn't being treated as a human, but like an object."

"But later... it gradually faded." He smiled. "Especially seeing Xi'er, Yaoer, and Lu Lu able to grow and study in such a good environment, seeing Weiwei no longer having to worry about her livelihood, seeing little Star Language having a future I couldn't even have dreamed of before... I feel like many things aren't that important anymore."

"Furthermore," he shifted his tone and continued his performance with an open-mindedness that slightly moved even Yun Xi, "my Physique is special to begin with. If it weren't for the Federation and your attention, Leader, Lin Wei and I would likely have died in some corner of Zhiyuan Star long ago, and my children might have repeated the tragedy of me and their mother. As it is now, at least their future is bright."

"As for me personally," he spread his hands with a devil-may-care look, "I only have six years left. What's the point of hating anyone? It's better to eat and drink well and finish the final stretch of the journey happily. Perhaps one day when I'm gone, Weiwei and the children will still need to rely on you and the Federation to look after them."

He used the tactic of retreating to advance, even carrying a sense of 'entrusting his family,' completely solidifying his 'accepting his short-lived fate' persona while implying his concern for his family's future.

These words were half-true and half-false, yet full of sincere emotion, perfectly matching the mindset he 'should' have at this moment.

Yun Xi listened quietly, her gaze deep.

She could distinguish that in Chen Jun's words, the love and concern for his family were genuine.

That 'open-mindedness' also seemed to fit the state of mind of someone who knew their death was near.

The trace of doubt in her heart gradually dissipated, replaced by a complex set of emotions.

There was relief that he felt no hatred toward the Federation...

There was pity that someone with such Heart-Nature was destined to die young...

And there was an even stronger resonance and... envy based on her own predicament!

Yes, he knew he only had six years left, so he could let go of everything and enjoy his final days.

And what about her?

She wasn't even sure exactly how much longer she could live!

Maybe a few years?

Maybe a few decades?

Or maybe 200 years?

She could not put down the heavy burden on her shoulders, and she could not be as 'open-minded' as him!

She was still anxious, regretful, and unwilling because of that slim chance of survival that almost didn't exist!

Comparing the two mindsets, she actually found herself somewhat envious of Chen Jun's carefreeness.

Even though this carefreeness was built upon a short life.

"It is good that you can think this way," Yun Xi's voice softened a bit. "As for your family, rest assured. As long as the Federation exists, they will never be allowed to suffer the slightest grievance. Your daughters are the future treasures of the Federation; I will teach them personally and treat them as my own."

This was her promise, made from the heart.

Chen Jun had been waiting for these words. His face immediately showed an expression of 'overflowing gratitude' as he quickly stood up: "Thank you, Leader! With your words, I can be completely at ease! Truly! Thank you so much!"

Seeing his 'heartfelt' gratitude, the slight sense of guilt Yun Xi felt for having used him seemed to lighten a little.

A brief silence fell over the hall.

Starlight flowed, and time passed silently.

Chen Jun could feel that the faint aura of decay on Yun Xi seemed to have become even denser.

The sense of superiority of an immortal once again quietly surfaced in his heart.

Look, you are still anxious about the end of the Stellar Level lifespan limit.

And I!

I am already enjoying every second of the eternal starting point!

You are still planning the future for my daughters.

But I know that they will surely surpass you and become the firmest foundation of my eternal life!

This hidden cognitive gap that no one else knew about brought a secret and immense pleasure!

Just then, Yun Xi seemed to have made some sort of decision.

She raised her eyes and looked at Chen Jun, her gaze becoming solemn:

"Chen Jun, I called you here today for another matter."

"Please speak, Leader."

"You should know that your Physique is special, and although it's now... your life Origin is, after all, different from ordinary people." Yun Xi chose her words carefully to avoid upsetting him. "The Academy of Sciences still has a great research interest in you. Of course, it is by no means as disrespectful as before."

Chen Jun understood. They still hadn't given up and wanted to use 'scientific' means to squeeze some value out of this 'Trash'?

Or perhaps they wanted to study why he could be so thoroughly 'useless'?

"Dean Mo Heng has applied to me, hoping that you can occasionally go to the Academy of Sciences to cooperate with some non-invasive, absolutely safe life observation research. Perhaps some mysteries about the life Origin can be found therein, which might be of great benefit to the Federation's future."

Yun Xi looked at him, her tone suggesting a consultation rather than an order: "Of course, this is entirely voluntary. If you are unwilling, no one can force you. If you are willing, the Federation will provide corresponding compensation and will never let you give up your time for nothing."

Hearing this, Chen Jun almost couldn't help but laugh.

Research?

Cooperate?

Good!

Great!

He was just worried that this long Early Stage of immortality would be a bit too boring, aside from watching his lifespan tick up and spending time with his family!

To go to the Federation's top Academy of Sciences to 'cooperate with research' and watch those Genius scientists scratching their heads in frustration, completely unable to understand this 'cosmic miracle'!

To watch them use all kinds of high-tech equipment only to eventually conclude that 'this isn't scientific'...!

This was simply an excellent entertainment activity to pass eternal time!

And there was compensation to boot!

Where else could he find such a good deal?

His face immediately showed a perfectly timed expression of slight hesitation mixed with a sense of mission to 'contribute to the Federation':

"This... since it's the Leader asking, and it's for the Federation's future... I don't have much time left anyway, so it's good to be able to make some more contributions to the Federation. I agree."

A flash of genuine admiration and relief passed through Yun Xi's eyes.

"Good. In that case, I thank you." She nodded slightly. "As for the specific details, I will have Mo Heng coordinate with you. It will definitely not take up too much of the time you spend with your family."

"Yes, I will follow the Leader's arrangements," Chen Jun replied respectfully, though his heart was already blooming with joy.

The life of an immortal was indeed full of fun everywhere!

Watching those great figures he once had to look up to struggling with anxiety over a mere few decades of life, while he himself held eternity in his hands and leisurely watched the show from the side...

This feeling was absolutely exhilarating!!!