66: Qin Wangshu's birth and Yunxi's identification

The corridor leading deep into the Jade Washing Studio was paved with an unknown material that was both warm and jade-like, yet capable of automatically regulating light and energy. The walls on both sides were not solid entities, but flowing scrolls that seemed composed of pure energy, slowly displaying the birth and annihilation of cosmic nebulae, and the evolutionary journey of ancient life—silent and profound.

Yun Xi, holding Su Xingyao, walked at the very front, hovering three inches above the ground with her bare feet, her skirt swaying automatically without wind, as if merging with the flowing energy murals around her.

Su Wan followed half a step behind, trailing respectfully.

Chen Jun walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Yun Xi; this was not him overstepping his bounds, but Yun Xi deliberately slowing her pace slightly to create a subtle posture of walking in parallel.

This minute difference, observed by Butler Qin and the others following far behind, caused them to feel a jolt of shock, leading to deeper speculation about Chen Jun's identity.

Little Yao'er, nestled in Yun Xi's arms, was not afraid of strangers at all. Her small hands played with a lock of Yun Xi's hair, and her large, bright eyes looked around curiously.

"Does Yao'er like these paintings?" Yun Xi's voice was ethereal and gentle as she looked down and asked the little girl in her embrace.

"I like them!" Su Xingyao nodded vigorously, pointing to an energy diagram on the wall depicting the evolution of a binary star System. "Teacher, are those two stars dancing?"

"That can be understood that way," Yun Xi smiled slightly and patiently explained, "They attract each other, circle each other, following the most ancient Law of the Universe, dancing a dance that lasts for hundreds of millions of years."

"Wow! So amazing!" Su Xingyao seemed to half-understand, but her big eyes were full of longing.

Chen Jun walked quietly beside her, listening to Yun Xi explain the Laws of the Universe in the simplest language, and he couldn't help but feel emotional.

This leader was indeed a good mentor.

If she hadn't shouldered the burden of the entire civilization, perhaps she could have become a purer scholar or educator.

After a brief silence, Yun Xi withdrew her gaze from the energy murals and seemingly casually looked towards Chen Jun beside her.

Her expression remained peaceful, but in her eyes—the left clear and the right ancient—there seemed to be something ineffable added.

"Chen Jun," she spoke, her voice not loud, yet clearly reaching Chen Jun's ears as if the surrounding energy flow had momentarily stilled. "Seeing Xingyao reminds me of that child, Xingyu. They are both good children, the future of the Federation."

Chen Jun’s heart stirred slightly, and he nodded, his tone carrying a perfectly calibrated sense of melancholy befitting a 'short-lived Mortal': "Yes, it is most important that the children can grow up safely and healthily. That child Xingyu... I always felt a bit guilty for not being able to hold a celebration for her like Xingyao."

What he said was half true and half false.

The situation at the time was special; he could barely protect himself, let alone think about a celebration.

But now, speaking from the perspective of a 'loving father,' it could introduce the topic and fit his current persona.

Yun Xi nodded gently, a flash of understanding and a hint of faint apology crossing her eyes, but mostly, there was a calmness based on the bigger picture.

"That matter concerned the safety of the Federation; it was unavoidable. I hope you can understand," she said slowly, her gaze seeming to pierce through the corridor to the distant edge of the starry sky. "The Tristan Empire and our Human Federation have fought a bloody war for ten thousand years, and our mutual infiltration is extremely deep. When Xingyu was born, your uniqueness had not yet been fully exposed, but the continuous appearance of the Innate Martial Body and the Star Body was enough to alert the Empire's highest espionage agencies."

Her voice carried a solemnity settled over ten thousand years of time: "If we had held a grand celebration for Xingyu at that time, it would have been tantamount to telling the Empire that the Federation had produced a 'Source' capable of stably giving birth to top-tier Aptitude. How would the Empire have reacted then?"

Yun Xi paused, her tone turning cold and grim: "They would never sit idly by while the Federation possessed such a massive potential advantage. Once they confirmed they could neither seize nor control the 'Source,' the most likely response would be to mobilize the Empire's entire strength and launch a final war, regardless of the cost, aimed at destroying the 'Source'! Even if it meant the collapse of the Empire, they would extinguish the threat in the cradle! Because for them, chronic death is worse than mutual annihilation!"

Chen Jun listened quietly, sensing the heavy pressure in Yun Xi's words.

This was not an exaggeration, but a judgment based on deep understanding of their foe of ten millennia.

In the face of civilizational survival, any insane action was possible.

"So, at that time, the only choice was to maintain secrecy and let the child Xingyu suffer the slight," Yun Xi’s tone returned to normal, but carried an unquestionable decisiveness. "Not just Xingyu, the news of Qing Xuan's Breakthrough to Stellar Level, and the birth of the Moon Body this time, have also been strictly sealed off, known only to the core members present today."

She glanced at Chen Jun: "Qing Xuan, at the Realm of Planetary Level Peak, surpassed the optimal Breakthrough window, yet managed to step into the Stellar Level in one go. If this news got out, it would be too astonishing. The Empire's think tank isn't foolish; they would easily associate it with the birth of an Innate Moon Body..., its significance is even more extraordinary."

As she spoke, Yun Xi’s voice rarely revealed an extremely complex emotion—there was relief, expectation, and a trace of... imperceptible melancholy.

"The Moon Body... shares the same Origin as me," she murmured softly, as if talking to herself, or perhaps confiding in Chen Jun. "I know its potential well. With sufficient Materials, perfect guidance, and most importantly... enough time, breaking through to the Star Arm Level is not an illusion."

She stopped walking, turned to face Chen Jun, and those strange eyes looked directly at him: "Chen Jun, do you know? I wasn't without a chance to touch the threshold of the Star Arm Level."

Chen Jun’s heart jolted, and he appropriately showed surprise and an attentive expression.

Yun Xi’s gaze seemed distant, lost in memory: "I am an Innate Moon Body; my Origin's proximity lasts for ten thousand years. In ten thousand years, if I could have been completely focused, dedicated to comprehending the Laws of the Universe, relying on the resources the Federation could provide, and condensing a drop of complete Law, I would have had at least a fifty percent chance of entering the Star Arm Level!"

Fifty percent chance?!

For a Realm like the Star Arm Level, which was legendary, this probability was already terrifyingly high!

"However," Yun Xi’s tone shifted, carrying deep helplessness and a hint of regret, "What was the Human Federation like back then? Just entering the interstellar age, lagging in technology, confined in territory, surrounded by powerful enemies, and internally needing extensive rebuilding. As the only Innate Moon Body and the strongest fighting force, almost all my mental energy and time were spent leading my people to establish a foothold, develop technology, defend against external threats, and establish Systems."

Her voice was calm, but Chen Jun could feel how much personal sacrifice and regret were buried beneath that tranquility.

"I researched the principles of hyperspace engines, participated in designing the first generation of Planetary Level battleships, formulated the basic Laws of the Federation, and led fleets to expand our borders... Every day, every moment, I was rushing about for the survival of our civilization."

"By the time I finally managed to bring the Federation onto the right track, allowing us a slight chance to breathe, and looked back, wanting to focus on my Breakthrough..." Yun Xi's lips curved into a bitter arc, "The ten-thousand-year window had already slipped away by more than half. The remaining time was rushed and tight, like sand slipping through fingers; I could no longer grasp that optimal opportunity."

"Later, even though I exhausted the Federation's power to search for life-extending rare treasures to barely live until now, the 'door' deep within my life's Origin had become incredibly heavy with the complete closing of the window, making it impossible to push open again. Ninety-nine thousand eight hundred years... I exhausted all my strength, but I stopped at ninety-nine hundred and ninety-nine wisps of Law—that final step was agonizingly close, yet eternally distant!"

She sighed softly, and the sound seemed to carry the weight of a hundred thousand years, echoing in the silent corridor.

"Sometimes, late at night when it's quiet, I also wonder, if I could have been a little more selfish back then, shared the burden of civilization with others, and focused on my own Breakthrough, perhaps... the Federation would already have a Star Arm Level expert presiding over it, and our territory might have expanded tens, even hundreds of times! The threat from the Empire would long ago have ceased to be a concern. But... at that time, who else could have taken up this mantle? The spark of civilization might have already been extinguished in its cradle."

Yun Xi's gaze became clear and firm again; she deeply suppressed that trace of regret and melancholy. "Personal gains and losses are insignificant compared to the survival of a civilization. I have never regretted my choice, only... felt a slight regret..."

Chen Jun listened to this great leader's confession, and his heart was also in turmoil...

He could imagine what a difficult choice that must have been.

On one side was the broad path to supreme personal power, and on the other, the precarious future of the entire civilization.

She chose the latter, trading her own potential to reach the Star Arm Level for the continuation of the Human Federation for one hundred thousand years.

This breadth of spirit, this sacrifice, truly deserved the title of 'Great Leader'!

At the same time, the sense of superiority belonging to an immortal being in his heart began to stir uncontrollably again...

Look!

You are as great as this, guarding civilization for a hundred thousand years, admired by billions!

In the end...

You must face regretful demise due to the limit of lifespan...

But I!

This 'short-lived Mortal' whose lifespan you estimate at only six years... no! Three years—holds the System, possesses eleven daughters with Innate Aptitude, and his lifespan is steadily increasing at a rate of ten seconds per second!

The future is destined for eternity!!!

Your regrets...

In my presence!

Simply do not exist!

Your sacrifice is admirable, but... I...

I have all the time in the world!

I can slowly accompany my Family, watch my daughters grow up, and see the Family branch out and flourish!

Then... silently, relying on the 'Multiple Benefits', I will gradually walk towards the Peak, possessing endless life and power!

This immense gap in understanding made Chen Jun feel a hidden sense of transcendence, mixed with sympathy and admiration for Yun Xi.

At this moment, Yun Xi's tone lightened again, carrying a genuine anticipation for the future:

"But, Qing Xuan's daughter is different."

She looked at Chen Jun, her eyes flashing with the light of hope:

"She was born in the best era. The Human Federation's territory is stable, resources are abundant, technology is advanced, and there are countless secret technique classics! Moreover, she has me as a 'cautionary tale' to provide her with the most complete guidance. She doesn't need to be distracted by mundane affairs and can Cultivate wholeheartedly, comprehending the Law. With the Aptitude of an Innate Moon Body, coupled with the full support of the Federation's cultivation, she will definitely achieve a Breakthrough to the Star Arm Level within ten thousand years! At that time, our Human Race will truly stand at the pinnacle of this starry sky!"

Her confidence seemed to infect the surrounding energy; even the flow of nebulae on the mural appeared to quicken slightly.

However, following this anticipation, her tone carried a trace of icy worry:

"Precisely because of this, news of her must be strictly kept secret. The Empire and our Federation have an ancient blood feud spanning ten thousand years, one that is utterly irreconcilable. They will never sit idly by while a Star Arm Level powerhouse destined to surpass Yun Xi appears in the Federation. If the news leaks, in their eyes, it is a slow death. Even a cornered dog will jump over a wall, let alone a massive interstellar Empire? At that time, they will undoubtedly pay any price to launch an ultimate decisive battle, even if it means reducing thousands of life-bearing planets to ruins, just to stop the growth of the Moon Body. The Federation... might win, but... it might also lose! This is a price we cannot afford!"

Chen Jun nodded in full agreement.

The threat from the Empire was real, and he certainly did not want to see the Federation plunged into war, which would affect his leisurely eternal life.

"However," Yun Xi's focus shifted again. This time, a genuine, relieved smile appeared on her face. She looked at Chen Jun with blazing eyes, her gaze filled with unprecedented admiration and... gratitude?!

"Now, the situation is different! Completely different!"

Her voice held a barely perceptible excitement:

"Four Innate Sun Bodies! Chen Jun, this is what you have brought to the Federation! The true light of hope!"

"The growth speed of the Innate Sun Body far surpasses that of the Innate Moon Body! Its affinity for the Universe Origin and its ability to comprehend the Law are several times, even dozens of times, that of the Moon Body! No matter how powerful the Empire's intelligence System is, they would never have imagined that the Federation would birth four Innate Sun Bodies in such a short time!"

Yun Xi's gaze became incredibly sharp, as if she could already see the future:

"By the time the Empire notices something is amiss, our Sun Bodies will likely have already grown to a height capable of sweeping aside everything! The Empire's threat? By then, it will be nothing more than a joke! Their territory will become the Federation's backyard! Their civilization will provide nourishment for the development of our Human Race!"

She took a deep breath, looking at Chen Jun with complex, indescribable emotions, which finally resolved into a long sigh and a confirmation heavier than the stars:

"Chen Jun, the Federation owes you too much. You are the greatest contributor to all of this. Your contribution to the Federation... in the future, may even surpass mine, Yun Xi!"

This statement, uttered by Yun Xi, the supreme leader of the Human Federation, its guardian deity, who had lived for nearly a hundred thousand years, was immeasurable in its weight!

If the outside world knew, it would be enough to shake the entire Federation!

Chen Jun's heartbeat involuntarily quickened a bit...

Although he knew his trump cards, being personally acknowledged by such a great figure as having a 'contribution that might surpass hers' still brought him considerable spiritual satisfaction and affirmation.

He appropriately displayed a complex expression mixing 'apprehension,' 'emotion,' and 'feeling honored,' and said humbly:

"Leader, you overestimate me. I merely... did what I could. The future of the Federation ultimately depends on the children's own efforts, and on the guidance of Leader and the Seniors."

Yun Xi looked at him deeply, seeming to want to discern something from his eyes, but in the end, it only turned into a gentle smile.

"Humility is a virtue," she said, gently patting the slightly drowsy Su Xingyao in her arms, and continued walking forward. "Let's go and see Qing Xuan and that child. Qing Xuan named her 'Qin Wangshu.' 'Wangshu' is the Goddess who drives the moon in ancient mythology, also another name for the moon. This name carries the expectations of Qing Xuan... and the entire Federation..."

Qin Wangshu...?

Chen Jun silently repeated the name in his mind.

Wangshu drives the moon, moving forward in brightness...

It is indeed a good name.

He just wondered what state of mind the aloof Qin Qingxuan was in when naming the daughter she had with him, the 'mission target'?

He shook his head and cast these distracting thoughts aside.

No matter what, the child was innocent, she was his Bloodline.

He followed Yun Xi and stepped into the deepest delivery room within the Jade Washing Studio, which was enveloped by gentle moonlight energy.

Inside, Qin Qingxuan was leaning back on a bed carved from ten-thousand-year-old warm jade. Her complexion was slightly pale, but her eyes remained cold and sharp, exuding the majestic aura of someone who had just entered the Stellar Level.

She held a swaddling cloth in her arms.

The infant in the swaddling cloth had skin as translucent as jade, and her features faintly resembled Qin Qingxuan, but were even more delicate and perfect.

She kept her eyes closed, breathing evenly, surrounded by a natural flow of pure and profound moonlight radiance, like a tiny moon spirit.

The Innate Moon Body, Qin Wangshu!

Yun Xi handed the sleeping Su Xingyao to Su Wan, walked forward, took the little Wangshu from Qin Qingxuan's hands, and examined her closely, her eyes full of maternal love and relief.

"She resembles you, Qing Xuan, very good!" Yun Xi said softly.

Qin Qingxuan nodded slightly, her gaze swept over Chen Jun who had followed them in. Her expression was indifferent, without the slightest ripple, as if looking at an irrelevant stranger. She merely gave a slight nod as a greeting, then closed her eyes again to begin regulating her breath and stabilizing her Realm.

Chen Jun was long accustomed to this and didn't mind.

He walked to Yun Xi's side and looked at the small daughter radiating moonlight.

A marvelous Bloodline connection resurfaced once more.

That feeling of life connection was truly indescribable...

This was his daughter, the second Innate Moon Body in the history of the Federation!

A powerhouse destined for the future!

Yun Xi handed the little Wangshu to Chen Jun:

"Hold her. She is your daughter."

Chen Jun carefully took the soft and precious little life, his movements practiced, his eyes exceptionally gentle.

Feeling the weight of his daughter in his arms, which was lighter than air, and the pure moonlight fluctuation, Chen Jun's heart was once again filled with an ineffable sense of satisfaction.

On the path of longevity, having a wife and daughters accompanying him, and countless outstanding descendants as a foundation, overlooking the river of time, watching the clouds gather and disperse...

This kind of future seemed... truly very good!

And the starting point for all of this originated from that seemingly desperate System.

【Remaining Lifespan】: 32 Years... 50 Seconds... 60 Seconds...

The numbers continued to jump cheerfully.

The corner of Chen Jun's mouth curved into a leisurely smile that no one could understand, the smile belonging to one who lives forever.

Yun Xi stood to the side, watching the gentle expression on Chen Jun's face as he held his daughter, recalling his calmness when he heard about her regrets, and the comment that his 'contribution might surpass hers'...

A very complex emotion suddenly arose in her heart...

This man bore unimaginable costs for ordinary people, bringing endless hope to the Federation, yet he himself only had a little over three years of life left.

He and she, one was a candle burning itself to illuminate civilization, the other was a flash in the pan that created a miracle, the starlight. In a sense, they were both 'fellow sufferers from the ends of the earth'...

It was just that her path was about to end, while his value was just beginning to bloom, yet it was destined to be brief.

"Cherish the time well, Chen Jun," Yun Xi said softly, her tone carrying a hint of imperceptible pity and entrustment. "Watching the children grow up is the greatest happiness."

Chen Jun looked up at Yun Xi, seeing the genuine concern in her eyes for him, the 'short-lived meritorious official.' He suddenly felt a bit amused, yet also inexplicably touched...

He nodded and said sincerely:

"I will, Leader. I will... watch them grow up well."

Always watching...

Until... eternity!

He silently added in his heart.

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