98: celebration

After Chen Jun started his lying-flat life, his days became even more enjoyable...

At this moment, exactly four hours remained until the 100,000th birthday of the Human Federation's supreme leader, Yun Xi.

The entire Human Federation was like an ignited, boiling galaxy.

From the Capital Star, Kunlun Star, to the most remote frontier outposts, all life-bearing planets, countless space cities, and countless starships... everywhere that Human Federation citizens existed was currently submerged in an endless ocean of celebration.

Gorgeous holographic fireworks bloomed above the starports, outlining the cold and great silhouette of Yun Xi.

The impassioned symphony "Federation Eternal" resonated through every corner via the quantum network.

On the streets, virtual ribbons and light-energy debris flowed like waterfalls, and the air was filled with an atmosphere of celebration and reverence.

This was a festival belonging to all Human Federation citizens, an unprecedented grand celebration dedicated to the guardian deity, Yun Xi.

On the massive holographic screens in the plazas of all Human Federation planets, the epic documentary "100,000 Years · Dawn Light" produced for the celebration was playing on a loop, telling the story of how Yun Xi led the Human Race from a 0.6-level home planet civilization, step by step, into the starry sky.

Countless citizens gathered in the plazas; most of them were ordinary citizens who had not awakened their Martial Body.

They looked up at the screens, their faces overflowing with heartfelt pride, gratitude, and fanaticism.

"100,000 years! A full 100,000 years!" an elderly engineer with white hair and a vigorous spirit, wearing a commemorative shirt printed with Yun Xi's portrait, said excitedly to the young person beside him.

"Back in the time of my grandfather's grandfather...'s grandfather, we were still huddled on our home planet, fighting tooth and nail for a bit of energy! It was the Leader! It was she, like the dawn light cutting through the darkness, who led us out! We saw this vast starry sea!"

A young girl nearby, holding a custom Yun Xi cartoon doll, had stars of adoration shining in her eyes: "The Leader is too great! 100,000 years of protection! Without her, we might have long since been annihilated in some unknown cosmic disaster, or enslaved by other powerful civilizations! Tomorrow is her 100,000th birthday, we must celebrate well!"

"That's right!" A burly middle-aged man waved the Human Federation flag, his voice booming like a bell, "Long live the Leader! Long live the Human Federation! I heard the celebration at the Capital Star is unprecedented! I really want to go see it with my own eyes!"

"Hey, Old Man Li, look at that documentary!" Another neighbor pointed at the screen, which was playing the early days of Yun Xi, using unparalleled power to secure the first foothold for the Human Federation in the starry sea, "The Leader was already so strong back then! Now that 100,000 years have passed, the Leader's cultivation must be even more unfathomable! Protecting us for another 100,000 years shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"That's a must!" The elderly engineer nodded vigorously, his face full of blind trust and adoration, "Who is the Leader? She is the guardian deity of our Human Race! A miracle of the Universe! A mere 100,000 years, for the Leader, might just be the beginning!"

In the perception of these ordinary citizens, Yun Xi was the symbol of eternal invincibility!

They believed from the bottom of their hearts that this Leader who led them out of the home planet and toward prosperity would surely, like her name, like the morning dawn, shine eternally upon the Human Federation.

However, beneath this almost one-sided wave of celebration, an undercurrent was quietly spreading among the crowd with slightly higher power levels.

In an officer's lounge in a certain starport military district.

Several officers who had just finished their patrol mission were silently changing into their dress uniforms, preparing to attend the fleet's collective viewing event later.

Their cultivation had reached the War General Rank.

Unlike the fanatical masses in the plaza outside, although their faces also carried reverence for the Leader, there was more of an indelible heaviness and worry.

A middle-aged man with the rank of Colonel on his shoulder boards looked at the gorgeous fireworks outside the window and let out a slow sigh, his voice low: "100,000 years... the iron Law of the Universe... the 100,000-year Lifespan limit for Stellar Level... today, while it is a celebration, I fear it is also..."

He did not continue, but everyone in the lounge understood his meaning.

A 100,000-year Lifespan for Stellar Level is a Law of the Universe, insurmountable.

Leader Yun Xi has reached her limit!

A younger Major beside him slammed the wall, saying unwillingly: "Why?! The Leader has given so much for us! Why must the Laws of the Universe be so cruel?! Is there really no miracle?"

"Miracles?" Another cold-faced Lieutenant Colonel gave a bitter smile, "Perhaps. I heard that over at the Pillar of Leaders, there has been quite a bit of movement these years, and the Academy of Sciences is doing everything they can to find rare treasures to extend her life... but that is the iron Law of the Universe..."

Their conversation was very low, carrying a sense of helplessness and sorrow.

As War General Rank, they had already touched the threshold of power and knew more of the Universe's cruel rules.

The celebration belongs to the ordinary citizens...

While they, beneath their reverence, had an extra portion of sorrow for a "farewell"...

Star Rail Group headquarters building, top-floor observation deck.

A group of luxuriously dressed, extraordinary-aura men and women were holding a small private viewing party.

They were middle and senior managers of the Star Rail Group, or children of large families affiliated with Star Rail, with cultivation mostly between War God Level and early Planetary Level.

They held wine glasses and chatted happily, but if one observed carefully, one could find a hint of imperceptible anxiety hidden deep in their eyes behind their smiles.

"General Manager Qin seems to be in a good mood today?" A Family patriarch of early Planetary Level smiled at a capable-looking female executive in the main seat, "It seems you have great confidence in the Leader's birthday?"

The woman called General Manager Qin was a powerful figure from a branch of the Qin Family. She sipped the priceless "Star Dream Nectar" in her glass and said indifferently: "The Leader's merits benefit all living beings, so it is naturally worth celebrating. As for the future... I believe the Leader has her own arrangements, and I believe in the foundation of the Human Federation."

Her words were watertight, but her heart was far from calm.

As a Planetary Level, she knew more than the War General Rank; she vaguely knew of the speculations regarding a heaven-shaking change at the Pillar of Leaders.

This caused her, amidst her sorrow, to hold onto a slim hope that "perhaps there really is a turning point".

"Indeed," another manager at the War God Peak added, "I heard that Dean Mo Heng's life science department recently seemed to have deciphered a damaged matrix from some ancient ruin that might involve the continuation of the life Origin... perhaps..."

"Watch your words!" General Manager Qin immediately interrupted him, her eyes sharp, "Such unverified matters must not be discussed recklessly!"

The manager quickly silenced himself, but the spark of hope in his eyes did not go out.

This was the general mindset of the Human Federation's middle and upper-level elites—they knew the iron Law of the 100,000-year limit for Stellar Level, and their hearts were filled with sorrow and reluctance.

But they also had access to more fringe information from the Human Federation's core than the lower-class citizens, which allowed them to retain a sliver of fantasy beneath the ice of despair that a miracle might break the iron Law.

And at this moment, the true eye of the storm, the center of the Human Federation's power and strength—the Pillar of Leaders—was strangely calm.

Unlike the clamor and hidden sorrow and anxiety of the outside world, what permeated here was a nearly sacred solemnity, as well as a... suppressed excitement and anticipation that only a very few top-level experts could tacitly understand.

Jingsi Hall side hall.

Hundreds of Stellar-level Experts, led by Shi Yue, Li Qingshan, Chu Yueyao, Mo Heng, Qin Pojun, and others, had long since gathered here.

They did not decorate with lanterns and streamers like the outside world, nor were they noisily celebrating.

They just stood quietly, like pilgrims, their gazes looking solemnly toward the direction of the main hall of Jingsi Hall.

On their faces, there was no sorrow, no anxiety, only a sense of relief after experiencing the vicissitudes of life and finally seeing the dawn, as well as an infinite longing for the impending historical moment.

They knew that the iron Law still existed.

But they knew even more that their great Leader had already, by relying on supreme Opportunity and perseverance, brazenly broken the shackles of this iron Law!

Star Arm Level!

That is a brand-new Realm that transcends Stellar Level, possessing a million-year Lifespan!

Today's celebration, for the outside world, might be to celebrate 100,000 years of glory and the "birthday" of a great Leader.

But for them, for the core of the entire Pillar of Leaders, this was even more of a coronation ceremony!

A commencement ceremony declaring that the Human Federation had officially entered a new epoch!

Leader Yun Xi would no longer be that guardian bound by the shackles of Lifespan, but the supreme existence who truly wields power and leads civilization toward the path of becoming the hegemon of the starry sea!

Shi Yue clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white with excitement. He transmitted his voice to Li Qingshan beside him: "Old Li, how do you feel? 100,000 years... I have never felt as... triumphant as I do today!"

Li Qingshan's Sword Qi was restrained to the extreme, as if he were a divine weapon hidden in a star core. He nodded slightly and responded via voice transmission, concise and comprehensive: "I share in the honor."

Chu Yueyao looked at a final confirmation report on the celebration procedures in her hand, the corners of her mouth curling into an unmistakable arc.

Xuntian Pavilion had already arranged everything properly, just waiting for that moment to arrive.

Mo Heng pushed up his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses flashing with a scientist's fanaticism and pride.

He had participated in and witnessed the Human Federation's greatest miracle; this made his heart race more than any scientific discovery.

Qin Pojun's gaze was deep, and his heart was filled with countless emotions.

He once had selfish motives, but in the face of an absolute Opportunity for civilization ascension, those seemed insignificant.

The Qin Family would, along with the Human Federation, step onto a higher stage.

...

Inside Chen Jun Manor.

Chen Jun put on a solemn and appropriate dress suit, exuding an air of a "weak" Mortal, which actually made him look quite decent.

Lin Wei held his arm, her face overflowing with the radiance of happiness and pride.

She knew her husband was "not in good health," but being by his side at such an important moment, witnessing the glory of the Leader, she felt incomparably satisfied.

His twelve daughters, except for Su Xingyao who was "accompanying" her father and still stood by his side, the other eleven had long since headed to Jingsi Hall, preparing to welcome their teacher (mother) and the Human Federation's new epoch with the most grand posture.

Chen Jun felt the waves of celebration sweeping across the starry sea outside the manor, and glanced at the "dutiful" Su Xingyao beside him; his heart was calm, and he even wanted to laugh.

"Sigh, it's truly lively." He sighed with feigned emotion, "It's a pity that Dad's body is 'not good,' so I won't go to the scene in person."

Su Xingyao immediately looked at him vigilantly: "Father, your safety is more important. The energy fluctuations at the scene are intense and not conducive to your quiet recovery. If you don't want to go, watching the ceremony here via holographic projection will be just as clear."

Chen Jun nodded readily: "Wang Shu is right, Dad will just watch from here."

He thought happily in his heart: Go to the scene? Only a fool would go! Where is it as comfortable as lying at home? This is the realization of a lying-flat immortal! Act in whatever way is comfortable.

...

Time passed quietly amidst the vastly different atmospheres throughout the Human Federation.

11:30 PM.

On the newly built plaza on Kunlun Star—the "Dawn Light Plaza"—it was already a sea of people, with trillions of citizens waiting expectantly.

A massive holographic countdown projection hung in the sky.

[Time until the celebration begins: 00:30:00]

Cheers, singing, and blessings for Yun Xi gathered into a wave of sound that swept across the planet, as if even the stars were to be shaken by this fervent emotion.

At the same time, in the distant territory of the Tristan Empire, on the frontier of the Blood Blade Star Domain bordering the Human Federation.

The Empire's war machine had already, like a dormant ancient Vicious Beast, bared its fangs.

Billions of hideous starships, like a dense swarm of bees, covered the Star Domain, their cold muzzles flashing with destructive light.

The terrifying auras of over two thousand Stellar-level Experts, like a tangible force field, intertwined, causing this starry sky to tremble and moan.

Inside the command hall of the Imperial flagship, the "abyssal roar".

Empress of Crimson Blood, Asara Tristan, sat upright on the blood-colored throne, her dark golden eyes like two supernovae about to erupt, coldly watching the Star Domain on the opposite side of the star map, labeled "Human Federation".

Her fingertips tapped lightly on the armrest of the throne, making a soft sound that knocked against the Soul.

"There is still... half an hour..."

Her voice was low, carrying the texture of metal rubbing against metal, echoing in the dead-silent hall, filled with killing intent suppressed for ten thousand years and... a hint of gratification at being about to get what she wanted.

"Yun Xi... the 100,000-year limit... you will eventually turn into cosmic dust!"

"And your Human Federation... will become the first stepping stone on the Empire's path to becoming the hegemon of the Star Arm!"

"Pass on my decree!" She suddenly raised her head, blood-red light surging in her dark golden eyes, "All troops! Enter final combat readiness! Just wait for the moment the Human Federation's star calendar crosses the 100,000-year mark... that will be the moment the Empire's flames of revenge burn the Human Federation civilization to ashes!"

"We obey Your Majesty's decree!!!"

Below, two thousand Stellar-level Experts roared in unison, their killing intent mixed with energy, like a destructive storm, sweeping across the entire Star Domain!

The Empire's sharp blade had already been unsheathed, its cold light biting, just waiting for that destined moment to arrive, to tear the Human Federation, along with its 100,000 years of glory and hope, completely to shreds!

Star Calendar Year 99999, 11:59 PM.

Within the Human Federation, the atmosphere of celebration reached its peak!

On Dawn Light Plaza, the countdown entered the final sixty seconds!

Hundreds of millions of citizens shouted in unison, their voices deafening:

"Ten!"

"Nine!"

"Eight!"

...

Pillar of Leaders, in front of Jingsi Hall.

All Stellar-level Experts stood solemnly, their gazes burning.

Inside Chen Jun Manor, Chen Jun sipped his tea leisurely.

On the Imperial frontier, the engines of a trillion starships overloaded, and the energy in their muzzles condensed to the critical point!

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

Zero!!!

Star Calendar Year 100000, 12:00 AM!

It has arrived!!!