76: Is this it?

Inside the Star Brilliance Hall, time seemed to be stretched by an invisible force, each second flowing exceptionally slowly.

Solemn funeral music echoed softly, swirling like an invisible tide that washed over every corner.

Pure white Star Flowers quietly bloomed, emitting a cold and sorrowful fragrance.

The massive dome projected a gentle but cold light, shrouding the entire hall in an atmosphere of solemnity and oppression.

The doors connecting the Side Hall and the Main Hall were open. Inside, the Federation's top magnates had already moved silently, according to their pre-arranged "positions," to the reserved front-row area of the Main Hall.

Leader Yun Xi sat at the very front, her plain white figure seemingly merging with the solemn mourning. Her eyes were slightly closed, and no one could glimpse if there was any ripple in their depths.

Qin Pojun, Shi Yue, Mo Heng, Chu Yueyao, Leng Qingqiu, Li Qingshan... one by one, the Stellar-level Experts stood separated on either side, like statues guarding the deceased, their faces etched with carefully sculpted grief and solemnity.

Further back were Planetary Level high officials like Wealthy Abundance and Power Overwhelming Heaven, standing with bowed heads, their posture respectful and mournful.

Lin Wei was supported on either side by Chen Yao and Chen Lu, standing in a slightly forward position. Her body trembled like a leaf in the wind; her tears had long since dried, leaving only hollow despair and sobs that she could only suppress by biting her lip fiercely.

Chen Yao and Chen Lu were weeping uncontrollably, their small shoulders constantly shaking.

Qin Qingxuan held the bewildered Goddess who drives the moon, and Su Wan led the uneasy Xingyao, standing silently beside them, their stillness like a moment of silence.

The entire hall was silent, so quiet that a dropped pin could be heard... All eyes, whether bright or dim, genuine or feigned, were focused on the side door leading to the Side Hall, which was slowly closing.

They were waiting.

Waiting for that inevitable moment!

Waiting for a grand, carefully planned farewell, intended to appease the future and eliminate hidden dangers!

And the protagonist of this farewell—Chen Jun!

At this moment, he was being guided by Chu Yueyao and seated in the middle row of the hall, in a relatively inconspicuous spot that nonetheless offered a full view of the entire scene.

Chen Xi sat stiffly beside her father, like a puppet who had lost its Soul. Her face was frighteningly pale, and her gaze was fixed on the floor. She dared not look at anyone around her, much less the father beside her who knew nothing of the situation.

"Pavilion Master Chu Yueyao is too kind, arranging seats for us specially," Chen Jun murmured to his daughter, his tone carrying a hint of "flattered" awkwardness. "Xi'er, look at this scene. The deceased magnate must be someone extraordinary. Is it a bit... inappropriate for us to sit here?"

He glanced around, looking at the profound magnates he usually only saw in the news. Seeing them stand solemnly like stone sculptures, he couldn't help but feel greater reverence for the "deceased" whom he had never met.

When Chen Xi heard her father's words, her heart felt like it was being fiercely squeezed by a cold hand, the pain making it hard to breathe. She shook her head violently, her voice choked with tears and trembling to the extreme: "Dad... don't... don't say anything..."

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Chen Jun looked at his daughter worriedly, finding her in extremely poor condition. He assumed she was either affected by the sad atmosphere or physically sick.

He quickly comforted her, "Silly child, life and death are fated, wealth and honor are determined by Heaven. This esteemed person made such a contribution to the Federation; receiving this honor means their death was worthwhile. Don't be too sad... If you really feel uncomfortable, shall Dad go outside with you for some air?"

Go outside?!

No!

Her mother's desperate pleas echoed in Chen Xi's mind. She gripped her father's sleeve tightly, her fingernails almost digging into his flesh!

She shook her head hard, and tears finally poured out uncontrollably, flowing silently: "No... Dad... we... we'll just sit here... and stay... stay with you..."

She was incoherent, the mournful cry in her heart almost bursting through her throat!

Staying with you... until the end of this final journey...!

Chen Jun felt heartache seeing his daughter in tears. He simply thought she was kind-hearted and susceptible to sadness, so he said no more, only patting the back of her hand gently, offering silent comfort... He also turned his gaze to the front of the hall, toward the empty, flower-ringed space reserved there, silently sighing: He wondered which hero was resting here... May the Star Sea bless his family... Time passed minute by minute... A large, classical clock decorated with star patterns on the side wall of the hall ticked with an extremely faint yet clear sound, like a hammer tapping on everyone's heartstrings.

Two fifty-nine and thirty seconds PM... Chu Yueyao and Mo Heng subtly exchanged a glance.

Mo Heng nodded slightly and tapped his fingertip lightly on a tiny instrument—it was a signal receiver connected to the equipment monitoring Chen Jun's life magnetic field far away.

According to "scientific prediction," Chen Jun's life magnetic field would drop below the critical point in thirty seconds!

The atmosphere in the entire hall was stretched to the limit!

Even the air seemed frozen!

Lin Wei closed her eyes, her body leaning weakly on her two daughters, as if she had lost all strength.

Qin Pojun and the others subtly adjusted their stance, preparing to display the most appropriate expression of mourning when "that moment" arrived.

On Leng Qingqiu's frozen face, the corner of her mouth imperceptibly curled downward, as if saying: Finally... it's over!

Two fifty-nine and fifty seconds PM... Ten-second countdown!

Chu Yueyao took a deep breath and stepped forward, preparing to use her most sorrowful and moving voice to announce the start of the ceremony and read the carefully polished eulogy when "that moment" descended... Five... Four... Three... Two... One... Time's up!

Exactly three o'clock PM!!!

"DONG—!"

From the dome of the Star Brilliance Hall, a distant, heavy chime, seemingly from the depths of the Star Sea, roared out!

This was the signal for the ceremony to begin!

At the same time!

The value representing the life magnetic field on the miniature receiver in Mo Heng's hand suddenly jumped, piercing an invisible red line, confirmed by everyone's perception or "scientific monitoring"!

"It's here!!!"

At this moment, these two words surfaced in the hearts of all those in the know!

Chu Yueyao's eyes instantly filled with "grief-stricken" tears. She opened her mouth, sinking her Qi to her Dantian. The opening speech, practiced countless times and filled with deep emotion and respect, was about to pour out—

"Citizens of the Federation, we are gathered here in deep mourning for..."

However!

Right at this critical moment!

An extremely discordant, vibrant voice, carrying a hint of confusion and... impatience, abruptly and clearly exploded like thunder in the pin-drop silent hall!

"Huh? Is it starting already? Why don't I see the coffin or the body? This magnate's funeral... the procedure is quite unique, isn't it?"

The voice came from... the middle row!

It came from... Chen Jun!!!

Chen Jun was seen looking left and right with a curious expression. He even stood up slightly, craning his neck to peer at the empty space in front, seemingly searching for the casket that should have been placed there!

His voice was full of vitality!

His complexion was rosy!

His eyes were clear!

He even seemed to possess a bit of... interest in watching the spectacle?!

BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This sound detonated like a megaton mental bomb deep within the brains of every informed person inside the Star Brilliance Hall!!!

Chu Yueyao's stunning face, which had just perfectly brewed an expression of grief, instantly froze!

Her open mouth forgot to close, and the eulogy that had reached her lips was violently stuck in her throat, turning into an extremely strange, choking gasp, like a swan whose neck was squeezed: "Guh...?"

Her beautiful eyes, which had been ready to stream with hot tears, were now wide as brass bells, filled with extreme shock, bewilderment, and incomprehensible horror!

They were fixed firmly on Chen Jun!!!

The miniature receiver in Mo Heng's hand clattered to the floor!

He staggered violently, as if struck by a bolt of Chaos Divine Thunder, and nearly fell headfirst!

He desperately clutched his chest, his face instantly turning from rosy to ashen, and then from ashen to livid green. His eyes behind his glasses were filled with the shock of a collapsing worldview!

"No... impossible!!! The life magnetic field... clearly... pierced the line!!! The instrument... the instrument cannot be wrong!!!" He shrieked, his voice sharp and distorted, having completely lost the calmness of a scientist!

"THUD!"

A muffled sound!

It was Great Emperor Panshi, Shi Yue!

This Stellar Level Expert, known for his mountain-like composure, had his internal energy instantly thrown into chaos due to the immense mental shock, causing his legs to give way, and he collapsed directly onto the ground!

His mouth was wide open, large enough to fit a fist, his tiger eyes bulging. He pointed in Chen Jun's direction, making strange "ho ho" noises in his throat, unable to utter a single word!

The restrained Sword Intent surrounding Nine Heavens Sword Venerable Li Qingshan instantly went out of control. With a "buzz," countless subtle yet sharp Sword Qi bursts uncontrollably erupted, instantly shredding several exquisite flower baskets next to him into fine powder!

He himself was completely oblivious, merely staring intensely at Chen Jun, his gaze as if looking at a monster that had crawled out of a grave and overturned tens of thousands of years of his understanding!

Leng Qingqiu... this Ice Phoenix Venerable, who had just secretly breathed a sigh of relief that "it was finally over," now felt her delicate body tremble violently. In her icy blue eyes, the millennia-old layer of ice seemed to develop countless cracks!

Shock, disbelief, and a massive fury at being fooled erupted like a volcano beneath her eyes!

"You... you're not dead?!" She practically ground her teeth, squeezing these three words out from between them, her voice chillingly cold, yet carrying a tremor that she herself hadn't noticed!

Qin Pojun's 'heart-wrenching' expression instantly froze, turning into extreme shock and bewilderment. He looked at Chen Jun, then at his colleagues who had lost their composure around him, his mind a blank!

Planetary Level high officials like Wealthy Abundance and Power Overwhelming Heaven were even more scared, their Souls Flying Away and Spirits Scattering, their legs turning to jelly, some even collapsing directly to the ground!

They looked at Chen Jun, who was lively and still curiously looking around, feeling that their worldview, values, and understanding of the entire Universe were completely shattered at this moment!

Didn't they say his life magnetic field had plummeted?!

Didn't they say he would die of old age?!

Didn't they say he would be sent off with great honor?!

What... what the hell is going on?!!!

A zombie resurrection?!!!

No!

He wasn't dead at all!!!

Then all that came before... their cautiousness for the past three years, their 'care' given with all their might, and this grand... funeral rehearsal today... what did it all count for?!!!

A huge joke?!!!

And at this moment, the most impacted were none other than the sisters Lin Wei and Chen Xi!

Lin Wei's heart, which had already closed, resigned to death, suddenly trembled when she heard her husband's familiar and vibrant voice!

She opened her tear-filled eyes in disbelief, and when she saw her husband standing there perfectly fine, even looking around with an 'innocent' expression, she was completely stunned!

After the immense shock came a tsunami-like wave of ecstasy!!!

'Brother Jun?! You... you didn't...?!' She abruptly broke free from her daughter's support, stumbled forward two steps, her voice trembling uncontrollably, the immense joy almost making her faint!!!

Chen Yao and Chen Lu also stopped crying, staring blankly at their father, tears still hanging on their small faces, but their expressions had changed from extreme sadness to extreme bewilderment and... surprise?!!!

Chen Xi was as if struck by a body-fixing spell, frozen in place, staring blankly at her 'resurrected' father beside her, her brain completely ceasing to function.

Father... isn't dead?

Then... then this funeral... what Mom said... the reactions of those adults... what exactly... is going on?!!!

The entire Star Brilliance Hall fell into an extremely eerie silence!

The funeral music still echoed tirelessly, the white flowers still bloomed quietly, the light from the dome was still soft... but the atmosphere, from solemn and respectful mourning, instantly shifted to an indescribable absurdity, embarrassment, and... horror!!!

Everyone seemed to be collectively petrified, holding various strange postures, their gazes fixed on the center of the storm—Chen Jun!

And our protagonist, Mr. Chen Jun... he finally noticed the unusual atmosphere... why is everyone looking at me?

And with such... strange eyes?

Shock?

Dismay?

As if they'd seen a ghost?

Also... why is Great Emperor Shi Yue sitting on the ground?

Why is Senior Li Qingshan's flower basket broken?

Pavilion Master Chu Yueyao's expression... looks like she's about to cry?

Dean Mo Heng even dropped his instrument?

Senior Leng Qingqiu's gaze... seems to want to freeze me into an ice sculpture?

Even the Leader has opened her eyes and looked over... her gaze also seems a bit... complex?

Chen Jun scratched his head, looking innocent and confused.

He looked at the scene around him, decorated like a mourning hall, then at the empty space in front, where a coffin should have been placed, and combined with everyone's strange reactions... an extremely absurd, yet the only reasonable guess, struck his mind like lightning!

Could it be... could it be that... this scene today... this funeral... this funeral music... these white flowers... these Stellar Level big shots and Planetary Level high officials gathered here... this solemn and sorrowful atmosphere... Pavilion Master Chu Yueyao's strange invitation and words just now... Xi'er's abnormality and crying along the way... Lin Wei's desperate eyes... could it be... could it all be... prepared for me?!!!

Because I 'should' die of old age at 3 PM today?!!!

So they prepared the mourning hall for me in advance?!

Just waiting for me to 'breathe my last' on time, and then directly start the feast... ah... no! It's a memorial service?!!!

Holy crap!!!

Playing it this big?!!!

Even skipping the rehearsal?!!!

Directly live broadcasting my 'funeral'?!!!

Chen Jun completely understood!

The lifespan and vitality added by the System could only be felt by himself! Everyone else had misunderstood... after understanding, an indescribable emotion, mixed with absurdity, humor, and a hint of subtle superiority, instantly overwhelmed his reason!

He looked at this dramatic scene before him—

In the midst of the funeral music, he, who should have been the 'corpse', was standing lively in the 'mourning hall'!

And a group of top federal big shots, who were 'sending him off', were collectively petrified and lost their composure as if they had seen a ghost!

This contrast!

This scene!

This exhilarating feeling!

It was simply incredible!!!

'Pfft—'

Chen Jun couldn't hold back and burst out laughing!

Although he immediately realized the occasion was inappropriate and quickly covered his mouth with his hand, his shoulders uncontrollably shook violently!

The suppressed, muffled laughter from his throat echoed particularly clearly in this dead silent 'mourning hall'!

Particularly harsh!

Particularly... shocking beyond belief!!!

'Cough... cough cough... I'm sorry... I really couldn't hold it in...' Chen Jun explained intermittently, trying hard to suppress his laughter, his face red from holding it in, 'Uh... everyone... please continue... continue... just pretend I'm not here... ha... haha...'

It would have been better if he hadn't explained, but this explanation, coupled with his appearance as if tears were about to stream from his eyes from laughing, pushed the absurdity of the scene to its Peak!!!

Chu Yueyao looked at Chen Jun, who was trembling with laughter, and finally recovered from her extreme shock!

An indescribable mix of shame, embarrassment, and fury at being completely played, instantly overwhelmed her reason!

Thinking of her carefully prepared sorrowful expression just now, thinking of the meticulously crafted eulogy, thinking of the three years of painstaking 'care'... she was actually... actually presiding over a funeral for a living person?!!!

And was caught in the act by the person concerned, and even mocked?!!!

'Chen! Jun!!!'

Chu Yueyao let out a sharp, cracking shriek, completely losing the dignified demeanor of a Master of the Sky-Patrol Pavilion she usually possessed. Her face flushed crimson as if bleeding, and the energy around her surged wildly due to intense emotional fluctuations, almost going out of control!

'You... you actually dare... to make a fool of us?!!!'

Mo Heng also suddenly snapped back to reality, pointing at Chen Jun, his finger trembling, his voice hoarse: 'Impossible! Absolutely impossible! The life magnetic field monitoring cannot be wrong! You... what kind of demonic art did you use?!!!'

Shi Yue climbed up from the ground, enraged and humiliated, his hair standing on end, roaring: 'Kid! Are you playing us?!!!'

Cold Qi surged around Leng Qingqiu, and the temperature of the entire auditorium plummeted, ice crystals rapidly spreading out from her center!

'Explain!' She only uttered two icy words, but her gaze was like ten thousand years of cold ice, capable of freezing the Soul!!!

Facing the indignant and humiliated Stellar Level big shots, Chen Jun finally managed to stop laughing.

He wiped away the tears from laughing, spread his hands, and showed an extremely 'innocent', even slightly 'wronged' expression on his face:

'Seniors... what are you talking about?'

'Playing a fool?! Demonic art?! Playing us?!!!'

'When did I ever say I was going to die today?'

'It's you all... who insisted I was on my last legs, sending supplements, naming roads, writing biographies, even... even preparing the coffin for me...'

He pointed to the surrounding decorations, then to himself, his tone utterly sincere:

'I was perfectly fine at home with my wife and children today. It was Pavilion Master Yueyao who insisted on inviting me over, saying there was a funeral for an important figure, and asked me to come and feel the atmosphere and express my condolences.'

'I came, sat here quietly, and did nothing.'

'Then when the bell rang, all of you looked at me with those... well... as if you'd seen a ghost eyes...'

'I was still wondering...'

'So... you were waiting for me to die?!!!!!

Chen Jun blinked, looking at the faces before him, some ashen, some pale, some utterly humiliated, feeling utterly delighted in his heart!

Great!

Absolutely great!!!

Is this the mundane life of an immortal?!!!!!!

He looked at these big shots, who were usually high and mighty, now with expressions as if they had swallowed a fly, feeling more comfortable than inheriting Stellar Level cultivation!

Leader Yun Xi quietly watched this scene, watching Chen Jun, who was lively and still 'feigning innocence', and watching her Stellar Level colleagues below, in disarray and completely losing their composure... For the first time, a very obvious and complex emotional fluctuation appeared on her usually placid face.

The clarity in her left eye reflected this utterly absurd scene.

The vicissitudes in her right eye seemed to see through some deeper... mockery?

She gently raised her delicate hand, rubbed her brow, and let out a barely audible sigh, as if containing a hundred thousand years of speechlessness... And Chen Jun, facing countless murderous gazes, straightened his back!

He knew that from today onwards, his 'retirement' life would probably have a different script... but... it seemed... more interesting?