108: The Truman Show

The highest-level meeting, the 'Ancestor Chen's Mental State Symposium,' had just concluded, and the solemnity on the faces of the participating Stellar Level bigwigs had not yet fully dissipated...

An instruction from 'Ancestor Chen's Office,' marked with a top-priority interstellar code, sounded like a death knell on the personal terminals of all the bigwigs:

"Emergency Notice! Highest Alert!"

"Ancestor Chen, while in his private stargazing pavilion, issued a sigh with clear semantic content: 'So boring...'"

"Analytical models determine that the 'sense of existential void' and 'existential anxiety' contained in this sigh have increased in concentration by 478%!"

"The 'loss of sense of value' index has breached the red critical line!"

"Execute the contingency plan immediately!"

"At all costs, Ancestor Chen must be made to feel the beauty and meaning of life within 24 standard hours!"

"— Ancestor Chen's Office"

"Boom!"

The core of the Pillar of Leaders, which had just regained a trace of calm, was once again hit by a conceptual singularity bomb!

"Boring?! Ancestor Chen said he's bored?! "

"Quick! Quick! Which is the contingency plan? Pull it up!"

"Found it! The 'Immersion Experience Scheme for the Guardian's High-Level Mental Depression via "Human Fireworks"'!"

"Stop talking nonsense! Shi Yue! Is your 'Street Encounter' team ready?!"

"Li Qingshan! What about your 'Talent Show' team?!"

"Chu Yueyao! The overall coordination and emotional management of the 'NPC' actors are left to you! You absolutely cannot break character!"

"Mo Heng! Crank the environmental atmosphere rendering and the 'Coincidence' probability generator to maximum power!"

...

The next day, early morning.

Chen Jun was dressed in his silk pajamas as usual, shuffling in his 'Wanyou Xiaoyao Slippers,' yawning as he lazily wandered out of the manor gate, preparing for his routine post-meal walk.

However, the atmosphere today seemed... exceptionally different?

The air remained fresh, carrying expensive negative ions and the scent of flowers, but vaguely, there seemed to be a hint of... deliberately manufactured 'human touch'?

He had just walked less than a hundred meters, arriving at the 'Contemplation Avenue' in the core area of the Pillar of Leaders, which was usually so quiet one could see the starlight flowing.

Suddenly!

"Help! Robbery! That's the life-saving money for my daughter's treatment!!!"

A shrill, panicked, yet inexplicably articulate female cry, sounding as if it came from a professional, suddenly erupted from the corner ahead!

Immediately after, a burly man wearing worn-out work clothes with a 'panicked' expression, but whose running gait was as steady as a War General Rank athlete, clutched a cloth bag that looked clearly out of place with the surrounding environment.

With a bizarre posture that screamed 'I am trying very hard to run away but I seem to be controlling my speed,' he charged in the direction of Chen Jun!

Behind the burly man, a young woman dressed in plain clothes with a beautiful face, crying like rain and looking pitiable, was 'stumbling' and 'panting' in pursuit...

While chasing, she cried out with a voice comparable to a professional voice actor...

The most brilliant part was that the burly man seemed to have calculated the trajectory perfectly, and just as he rushed in front of Chen Jun...

He 'just happened' to slip, let out an 'oops,' and with a fake fall full of performative traces, toppled toward Chen Jun...

The cloth bag in his hand also 'slipped out,' drawing a beautiful parabola, and the landing spot... was right at Chen Jun's feet.

Chen Jun: "???"

He subconsciously reached out to support the 'robber'.

Where his hand touched, the muscles were tense, and energy was contained within...

This motherf*cker is at least at the War God Peak level?!

The [Multiple Benefits] effect made him immediately realize something was wrong...

A War God Peak level expert robbing this?

The 'robber,' supported by Chen Jun, instantly showed an expression of 'terror' and 'struggle'.

But deep in his eyes was a blankness and... a trace of hard-to-detect 'looking for praise'?

"In broad daylight! Under the bright sky! How dare you commit robbery at the Pillar of Leaders?!"

Before Chen Jun could speak, a righteous roar, like a great bell, exploded from behind him as if rehearsed!

He saw Great Emperor of Bedrock, Shi Yue, appear there, not wearing his military uniform, but having changed into... uh, a T-shirt that didn't fit his temperament at all, printed with the words 'Model Federal Citizen'?

His tiger eyes widened, and he stepped forward, grabbing the War God Peak 'robber' with his fan-like hand like a little chick, his voice making the air buzz:

"Little thief! Don't you surrender yet! With me, Shi... Shi Justice here, I will never tolerate such evil!"

As he spoke, he secretly winked at Chen Jun, as if saying: 'Ancestor Chen, how was my cooperation, Old Shi?'

The 'robber' being carried immediately cooperated by 'shivering,' shouting:

"Spare me, hero! Spare me! This little one will never dare to do it again!"

At this time, the 'victim' woman also ran over, picked up the cloth bag, and thanked Chen Jun and Shi Yue profusely, tears coming on command:

"Thank you, two benefactors! Thank you! This is my daughter's life-saving money... wuwuwu..."

She cried while secretly observing Chen Jun's reaction from the corner of her eye...

Chen Jun's mouth twitched slightly. Watching this scene, full of loopholes and exaggerated acting, ten thousand Starry Sky Beasts seemed to be galloping through his heart...

I... f*ck...

Is this... acting for me?!

He had lived for over two hundred years, from the bottom of interstellar dust to the pinnacle of civilization's power, his mentality had long since changed; what kind of battle hadn't he seen?

This routine was even faker than the interstellar soap operas shown in Zhiyuan Star's third-rate theaters!

He understood instantly!

His 'boring' sigh yesterday had been over-interpreted by this bunch of old guys...

And then... they staged such a big show???

Chen Jun was speechless, but on his face, he tried to maintain calm, even squeezing out a look of 'surprise' and 'gratification,' nodding to Shi Yue and the woman:

"It... it's fine. Acting bravely for a just cause is... a good virtue."

Hearing this, Shi Yue's face instantly bloomed with a smile as bright as a chrysanthemum, as if he had received the greatest praise.

Carrying the 'robber,' he puffed out his chest, his voice like a bell: "Maintaining federal public order is everyone's responsibility!"

After speaking, he disappeared around the street corner, carrying the 'actor' as if he had completed an incomparably glorious mission. The woman also left with a 'light gait' after thanking them again.

Chen Jun looked at the direction they disappeared, then looked at the 'passersby' around him who appeared to be walking normally, but whose eyes glanced at him from time to time as if waiting for a 'mission trigger,' and the speechlessness in his heart grew stronger...

He continued walking, determined to see what other tricks these guys could pull.

Sure enough, after just a few steps, a new 'plot' was triggered...

"This gentleman! Please stay!" A voice full of 'surprise' rang out.

An old man wearing a retro long gown, with a goatee and the appearance of an expert from outside the world, blocked his path.

The old man held a compass in his hand, his eyes 'burning' as he stared at Chen Jun's face.

"Old man observes the gentleman's physiognomy; you are a rare genius in ten thousand years! Your bones are unique, your forehead is shining, and there is a faint aura of Grandmist purple energy surrounding you! This is... uh, this is the phenomenon of boredom... ah no, it is the 'Ten Thousand Laws Return to the Ancestor'!"

The old man shook his head, his tone exaggerated, "Old man has an ancestral 'Classic of Happiness' here; it is destined for you, gentleman. Today, I will give it to you for ten credit points... no! Free of charge!"

As he spoke, he shoved a thread-bound book that looked brand new and emitted the scent of ink into Chen Jun's hand without giving him a chance to refuse.

Chen Jun looked down.

Book title: "On How to Find the Ultimate Meaning of Life".

Chen Jun: "..."

Thank you very much!

Before he could refuse, the 'expert' laughed, flicked his sleeves, and left, keeping his merit and fame hidden...

Leaving Chen Jun in place, holding the hot 'Classic of Happiness,' messy in the wind...

Immediately after, various 'coincidences' followed one after another:

He had just sat down on a public bench when a wandering artist 'happened' to come by.

He began to condense various magnificent starry sky patterns with energy and 'improvised' a symphony titled "Dedicated to the Greatest Guardian".

He played with great emotion, with tears of 'being moved' hanging from the corners of his eyes...

A little girl who looked only seven or eight years old, carved from pink jade, walked 'timidly' to him and held up the latest child's light-brain.

With a milky voice, but reciting the lines perfectly, she said:

"Uncle, I found a light-brain and can't find the owner. Can you help me?"

Chen Jun knew with his toes that this light-brain would 'happen' to receive a 'tearfully grateful' holographic communication in the next second.

He passed by a 'folk snack' cart that had just 'set up a stall.' The stall owner was an 'honest' burly man, suspected to be a soldier under Ao Wuji's command in disguise.

He insisted on inviting him to taste the 'ancestral secret recipe, which can make people happy,' the 'Happy Roasted Star Potato'.

Chen Jun took a bite; the taste was indeed good, and the energy contained was comparable to Star Fruit...

But you tell me this thing is an ancestral secret snack?!

He even 'encountered' a 'youthful and beautiful girl' who 'accidentally' lost control of her interstellar skateboard and crashed toward him while 'exclaiming'.

The moment the girl was about to hit him, at least three different Stellar Level auras obscurely locked onto that area, ensuring that not even the corner of Chen Jun's clothes would be touched.

The girl was finally 'gently' supported by an invisible force, landed steadily, blushed, said "I'm sorry, thank you" to Chen Jun, and ran away.

...

All morning, Chen Jun felt like a human magnet; wherever he went, there was a script being performed...

At first, Chen Jun felt speechless, then he was torn between laughing and crying.

This was twelve parts wrong...

This Truman Show was performed a bit poorly...

Usually, he couldn't even touch a female mosquito, but today in just one short morning, young girls, young married women, imperial sisters, and lolis... took turns 'going on stage' to perform...

Chen Jun even felt an indescribable... warmth?

These old guys...

To make me happy, it really... was hard for them.

This feeling of being carefully, clumsily, and sincerely 'loved' by the entire civilization, although the method was bizarre...

But... it didn't seem bad?

At this moment, a brilliant 'Breakthrough' plan, which had failed repeatedly before, suddenly became clear in his mind like the opening of a nebula!

Aren't they afraid of me being 'bored' and 'losing my sense of value'?

Aren't they trying to make me 'feel the beauty and meaning of life'?

Then!

What could better embody the 'beauty of life' and the 'meaning of life' than holding a grandchild and witnessing the continuation of life?!

Since you think I have 'cognitive impairment,' don't find a son-in-law, and don't let me open a source.

Isn't this an excellent... excuse to urge marriage that you can't refuse?!

Thinking of this, Chen Jun felt settled, and the expression on his face, which had been somewhat numb from watching the show, instantly became vivid.

He decided to play along!

Accompany them to continue this performance, and steer the script in the direction he expected!

He walked to the stall of the 'coincidental' street psychological counselor. The stall read: Free listening, resolving knots.

The stall owner immediately entered the state and asked in the gentlest tone: "This gentleman, seeing your brows slightly furrowed, do you have something on your mind? Why not tell me about it; perhaps it will become clear."

Chen Jun laughed inwardly, but on his face, he revealed a 'lost' expression with a faint sadness, just right.

He sighed gently, his voice not loud, but enough for all the 'passersby' with their ears pricked up to hear clearly:

"Sigh... seeing these young men and women on the street, in pairs, overflowing with youthful vitality... and then looking at myself..."

He paused, looking 'far away' into the sky, as if recalling something.

"Having lived for so long, no matter how much I have, sometimes I still feel... empty."

"Perhaps, only by seeing my own Bloodline continued, seeing the children find their own homes and start their own lives, can I truly feel... that kind of solid Perfection and... the meaning of life inheritance? Otherwise, I always feel like there is a breath that won't come up..."

His words were spoken with true feeling and profound artistic conception!

Perfectly fitting his persona of 'loss of value' and 'existential anxiety'!

"Boom!!!"

Once these words were spoken, it was as if billions of information bombs had been detonated in the calm sea of stars!

All the bigwigs monitoring Chen Jun's words instantly boiled over!

"Did you hear that?! Ancestor Chen... he wants to hold a grandchild again?!"

"Bloodline continuation! Life inheritance! This is the deepest desire in Ancestor Chen's heart!"

"Our previous direction was all wrong! Acting bravely, talent shows, all that was scratching the surface! Ancestor Chen wants Family happiness! He wants a prosperous Family!"

"Notify all eligible unmarried federal talents! Enter standby mode immediately!"

...

The instructions from 'Ancestor Chen's Office' were updated at an unprecedented speed...

On the other side, Chen Jun's twelve daughters also received the news at almost the same time.

In Yue Xi's Sun-Splendor Secret Realm, Chu Yueyao visited in person, her tone heavy: "Your Highness Yue Xi, Ancestor Chen's knot concerns the civilization's Luck. The one who tied the bell must untie it. Perhaps, only if you and your sisters start a new chapter in life can this be resolved..."

On Xuan Sha's training ground, Shi Yue scratched his head and persuaded in a muffled voice: "Your Highness Xuan Sha, look... why don't you consider personal matters? Ancestor Chen... looking at other people's children, his heart is sour..."

In Su Yuan's laboratory, Mo Heng held the data analysis report: "Your Highness Yuan, from the perspective of life science and sociology, a stable partner relationship helps improve the life happiness index, which has significant data support for alleviating Ancestor Chen's 'existential anxiety'..."

Outside Liu Qing's space workshop, Li Qingshan's Sword Qi floated in the air as a line of words: "Your Highness Qing, the Sword Dao also requires a Dao Companion to assist in order to be perfect. Relieving your father's worries is also filial piety."

Even Yun Qinglan, who was eating snacks, was called to her side by Yun Xi, who said earnestly: "Qinglan, your father... might really want to be a grandfather again."

...

The daughters were collectively stunned!

Again?

Yesterday, Father was just 'in a low mood,' how did it escalate to 'he won't get better unless he holds a grandchild' today?!

However, looking at the serious expressions of the bigwigs saying 'this concerns the survival of the Federation,' and thinking of Father's lonely back yesterday...

An unprecedented pressure and guilt welled up in the daughters' hearts...

Chen Xi, as the eldest sister, was the first to waver. She thought of Uncle Goudan and Father's hardships, and tears welled up in her eyes: "It is our lack of filial piety... only caring about our own cultivation and ignoring Father's feelings..."

Chen Yao gritted her teeth: "Isn't it just finding a man? For Father, I will find one!"

Chen Lu hugged her rabbit doll and whispered: "If... if it can make Father truly happy..."

Even the coldest Qin Wangshu pursed her lips slightly, a flash of complexity in her cold eyes.

The four sisters of Yue Xi looked at each other, seeing helplessness and a trace of... resignation in each other's eyes?

Father was 'sick' to this extent, what else could they do?

Yun Qinglan blinked her starry eyes and tilted her head: "Being an aunt? Seems fun? Then I must help Father pick the best-looking brother-in-law!"

For a time, a tragic atmosphere of 'For Father, we must get married!' permeated among Chen Jun's twelve daughters...

And the culprit, Chen Jun, was currently strolling back to the manor leisurely.

He felt the more 'fervent' caring gazes around him, and his heart bloomed with joy...

"Sigh, life..."

Chen Jun deliberately sighed again, but this time, there was an uncontrollable smile on the corner of his mouth...