204: Aunt Leng was ultimately no less than anyone else.

Under Ancestor Chen's guiding principle of "strength in numbers," the massive state apparatus of the Human Federation roared into operation with unprecedented efficiency... Within the virtual universe, the Ten Thousand Times Time Flow Zone was overcrowded; the Endless Battlefield was filled with thunderous killing cries; the Scientific Research Area was brightly lit... The most eye-catching area among them was the Dating Zone, where the sheer volume of people couldn't be described even as one-hundred-millionth of a crush!

In contrast, at Chen Jun Manor, all the children were "involution-Cultivating," and the younger generations were working even harder to increase "productivity"!

The four spouses who had just given birth—Lin Wei, Chu Yueyao, Liu Ruyan, and Qing Lin—also began "pretending to work hard," inspired by the example of their children. Instead of diligently Cultivating during the Innate Nourishment Feedback Period, they only started Cultivating once the Feedback Period was over... Yun Xi and Yan Ji, on the other hand, seized every second, utilizing the continuous feedback from the Innate King Body, to charge toward the Star River Level and Galaxy Level Peak.

Everyone found their "track" and raced wildly along it... Only Chen Jun remained, like a Stabilizing Divine Needle, sprawled on his Supreme lounge chair.

However, upon careful observation, one would notice that the extremely faint sense of urgency, named "Security Still Needs Strengthening," deep within his eyes when he occasionally gazed at the starry sky, had never dispersed.

On this day, the weather was sunny, and the breeze was gentle and pleasant.

Chen Jun was enjoying the "Morning Star Dew," meticulously warmed and nourished by Lin Wei using her Galaxy Level cultivation, while his Divine Sense, like an invisible tentacle, quietly spread out, accurately locating a Quiet Room enveloped in a faint aura of cold ice, nestled in a corner of the Pillar of Leaders.

Inside the Quiet Room, Leng Qingqiu sat cross-legged, surrounded by swirling cold Qi. However, it was no longer bone-chillingly fierce as it had been in the past, but instead carried an indescribable... loneliness?

The "attempt" thirty-two years ago, which exhausted her mental strength and precious resources yet ultimately yielded nothing, completely shattered her pride of "not losing to others."

Her Dao Heart was damaged, her cultivation stagnated, and even the Ice Law, which she was most proud of, seemed to have lost its former vitality.

She resembled a dust-covered pearl forgotten in a corner.

Chen Jun's Divine Sense lingered on her for a moment. Feeling her stagnant, dead-water-like aura, he sighed softly in his heart.

“If Aunt Leng's knot in her heart isn't undone, I fear she will truly sink into despair...”

He put down the jade cup in his hand and gently said to Chen Yu, who was standing nearby: “Yu'er, go invite Aunt Leng to come over.”

A trace of surprise flashed across Chen Yu's handsome face, but he did not ask further. He respectfully replied, “Yes, Father,” then turned and walked calmly toward the Quiet Room.

A moment later, the door to the Quiet Room was gently knocked.

“Aunt Leng, Father requests your presence for a discussion.” Chen Yu's voice was gentle and polite.

Inside the Quiet Room, Leng Qingqiu's tightly closed eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Her ice-blue eyes had lost their former radiance, leaving only confusion.

“What... does he want with me?” Her voice carried a hint of hoarseness.

“Yu'er does not know; Father did not specify.” Chen Yu truthfully informed her.

Leng Qingqiu remained silent for a moment, but finally rose slowly, tidied her slightly wrinkled plain white dress, and pushed open the door to the Quiet Room.

The sunlight was somewhat dazzling, causing her to instinctively squint.

When she followed Chen Yu and stepped into the main living room again, seeing the figure still lazily sprawled on the lounge chair, appearing unconcerned with all the affairs of the world, an extremely complex emotion surged in her heart.

There was resentment, guilt, unwillingness, and even a faint hope that she herself was unwilling to admit.

“Ancestor Chen.” She bowed slightly, her voice cool and detached, yet lacking some of the usual aloofness and carrying more distance than before.

Chen Jun lifted his eyelids, smiled at her, and pointed to a chair nearby: “Aunt Leng is here, sit.”

His attitude remained casual, as if the farce between the two of them had never occurred.

Seeing this, Lin Wei considerately led Chen Yu and the others to temporarily withdraw, leaving the space to the two of them.

Only the two of them remained in the living room.

Leng Qingqiu did not sit. She merely stood where she was, her gaze lowered, staring at the floor, which was polished like a mirror.

“Ancestor Chen, what instructions do you have for summoning me?” Her tone was flat, revealing no emotion.

Chen Jun straightened up slightly, looking at the woman before him who had lost all her edge overnight. The thought of “performing a good deed daily” became increasingly firm in his mind.

He cleared his throat, his tone carrying a rare seriousness:

“Aunt Leng, after thirty-two years, observing your aura, it seems... your mental state is still hindered?”

Leng Qingqiu's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and a hint of bitterness appeared at the corner of her mouth: “Thank you, Ancestor Chen, for your concern. Qingqiu's Aptitude is dull; I apologize for making you laugh.”

“Hey, you shouldn't say that.” Chen Jun waved his hand. “Aunt Leng, your Innate talent is outstanding, your perseverance is astonishing, and you are a pillar of the Federation. How could you be someone with dull Aptitude? It's just... sometimes, if the timing isn't right, setbacks are inevitable.”

His words were clearly pointed; how could Leng Qingqiu not understand?

She abruptly looked up, a flicker of excitement flashing in her ice-blue eyes, but it quickly dimmed again:

“Ancestor Chen, you don't need to comfort me. All my life, Qingqiu foolishly tried to seize an Opportunity that didn't belong to me, and suffering this outcome is my own fault.”

“Seize?” Chen Jun raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. “Aunt Leng, how do you know that Opportunity definitely doesn't belong to you?”

Leng Qingqiu was stunned, looking at him in confusion.

Chen Jun stood up, paced over to her, and watched her with a calm gaze:

“I've said before, my Physique is special. Helping others 'progress' requires consuming my own Origin 'Spiritual Energy.' At that time, my Spiritual Energy was depleted; it wasn't that I was unwilling, but that I truly couldn't.”

“Then now...” Leng Qingqiu's heart began to beat uncontrollably faster.

Chen Jun smiled slightly. Against the backdrop of the starlight outside the window, that smile appeared especially profound and mysterious:

“After decades of recuperation, coupled with the meticulous care from Weiwei and the others... hmm, my 'Spiritual Energy' has finally recovered.”

“Although it's not much, helping Aunt Leng... Break through the Bottleneck of Stellar Level Peak, and stabilize your Dao Heart, perhaps... it might just be barely enough?”

Boom—!

These words were like a heavy bomb dropped into the dead lake of Leng Qingqiu's heart!

Her delicate body trembled violently, her ice-blue eyes instantly widening, filled with disbelief, ecstasy, and a trace of fear that she might be hallucinating?!

“An... Ancestor Chen... Are... are your words true?! You... you are willing to give me another Opportunity?!” Her voice was trembling beyond recognition, and even her breathing became rapid.

The immense surprise struck her, making her feel as though she might faint!

Chen Jun watched her distraught appearance, secretly chuckling in his heart, yet maintaining a facial expression that suggested, “I am very reluctant.”

“Alas, who told me to be soft-hearted? Seeing that Aunt Leng's Dao Heart is damaged and her cultivation is stagnant, I truly cannot bear it. However...”

He changed the topic, his tone becoming serious:

“This time, the 'Spiritual Energy' is limited, and the effect probably cannot compare to Yun Xi or Yan Ji. At most, it can only help you Break through the Bottleneck and stabilize your Foundation. As for conceiving a child with excellent Aptitude... I'm afraid I still lack the ability. Aunt Leng, you must think clearly: Do you still want to waste this precious Opportunity?”

Chen Jun's words were half true and half false.

The System admitted that his lifespan was indeed only over five hundred years, which was insufficient to trigger the highest tier [Absolute Guarantee].

However, triggering the lowest tier consumption of 10 years to help Leng Qingqiu, who possesses the Acquired Moon Body, conceive an Innate Sun Body, was more than enough.

He deliberately downplayed the effect to lower Leng Qingqiu's expectations, lest she fall into the extreme of "achieve success or die trying" again.

However, at this moment, Leng Qingqiu could no longer care about such details!

As long as she could receive Chen Jun's "help" again, even if it was just to Break through the Bottleneck, she was willing!

This was not just an improvement in cultivation; it was an affirmation of her self-worth!

It was the salvation of her belief in "not losing to others"!

“I am willing! I am willing!” Leng Qingqiu shouted almost impatiently, afraid that Chen Jun would change his mind:

“As long as Ancestor Chen is willing to give Qingqiu another Opportunity, regardless of the outcome, Qingqiu will be eternally grateful! I will have absolutely no complaints!”

Seeing her look, like she was grasping a life-saving straw, Chen Jun knew the timing was right.

He nodded, his tone carrying the solemnity of “self-sacrifice for others”:

“Since that is the case... then let's try it one more time.”

He glanced around the living room and frowned: “This place... doesn't seem very suitable?”

Leng Qingqiu immediately said, “To my Quiet Room!”

At this moment, all composure and decorum were thrown to the winds!

As long as the goal could be achieved, the location didn't matter!

Chen Jun readily complied, allowing Leng Qingqiu to once again use spatial means to "roll" him back into the Quiet Room from thirty-two years ago.

The moment the Quiet Room door closed, Leng Qingqiu immediately set up multiple Restrictions. Although she knew they might be useless, it provided psychological comfort.

She turned around, looked at Chen Jun, her gaze burning, yet carrying a hint of cautious eagerness:

“Ancestor Chen, do you need me to prepare anything? Should I go borrow some treasured items?...”

Chen Jun waved his hand, interrupting her, “No need. The Spiritual Opportunity is limited, and external objects are of no great use now. Just let nature take its course.”

He walked to the simple bed made of Cold Jade in the center of the Quiet Room, sat down naturally, patted the spot beside him, and gave Leng Qingqiu a gentle smile:

“Aunt Leng, relax. This time, the focus is on guiding the ‘Spiritual Opportunity’ to help you Breakthrough. Don't be so... fixated, like last time.”

Leng Qingqiu looked at his seemingly casual yet all-controlling demeanor, and recalling her stiff and awkward “performance” during their last session, which felt like a scientific experiment, a blush involuntarily rose to her face.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her heart rate, walked to the side of the bed, but instead of sitting down immediately, she began... undressing?

Her movements still carried her characteristic, meticulous elegance, but her slightly trembling fingers betrayed the turmoil within her.

Chen Jun watched her “conscious” action, and the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

Well, she certainly remembered the procedure... (...To avoid censorship, one million words of indescribable details must be solemnly omitted here again...)

All that can be said is that this time, Leng Qingqiu seemed to have finally figured things out a little?

Perhaps because of her different mindset, or perhaps due to Chen Jun's hint that the “focus is on guidance,” she no longer treated the entire process as a serious “academic endeavor,” as she had last time.

She began to try to feel, to respond, to... engage?

Although her movements still carried some stiffness and awkwardness, and occasionally even seemed clumsy due to nervousness... the heartfelt desire and cherish she held, like a warm current surging beneath the ice, quietly changed the atmosphere.

Chen Jun naturally sensed her change and praised inwardly, “The child is teachable...”

He also no longer cooperated completely passively as he had last time, but instead gave timely, gentle guidance and encouragement, like an extremely patient mentor leading a lost student to explore an unknown Domain.

(...One million words are solemnly omitted again...)

When everything naturally fell into place, and the auras of the two perfectly merged, reaching a certain mysterious equilibrium point—

Chen Jun's mind stirred slightly, and his consciousness sank into the System interface.

[Current Mandatory Operation]: Activate [Absolute Guarantee] on Moon Body spouse Leng Qingqiu.

1. Consume 10 years of lifespan to upgrade descendant Aptitude to Sun Body (Tier 4) [ Confirm / Cancel ]

2. Consume 100 years of lifespan to upgrade descendant Aptitude to Radiant Body (Tier 5) [ Confirm / Cancel ]

3. Consume 1000 years of lifespan to upgrade descendant Aptitude to Venerable Body (Tier 6) [ Confirm / Cancel ]

His gaze quickly swept over the three options.

[Remaining Lifespan]: 575 years... +18... +18... (Ninety-nine billion... years)

Consuming 1000 years to trigger Venerable Body is not enough.

Consuming 100 years to trigger Radiant Body is sufficient.

Consuming 10 years to trigger Sun Body is more than enough.

A moment of deliberation flashed through his mind:

Lin Wei and Qing Lin are already Acquired Yao Bodies. If he wants to conceive an Innate King Body or above next time, he needs to consume 1000 years of lifespan, which he doesn't have yet. However, he can first consume 100 years to conceive an Innate King Body, which would yield excellent results.

The probability of a single star river producing one Innate King Body is almost zero? I alone can produce a whole bunch!

Liu Ruyan and Chu Yueyao are currently Acquired Sun Bodies. Consuming 100 years can conceive a Venerable Body, which is also highly cost-effective.

Yun Xi and Yan Ji are Galaxy Level. With the Innate King Body's feedback over the next thirty-two years, if they can Breakthrough to Star River Level, they will need to consume at least 100 years of lifespan for the next conception after they give birth, so as not to waste their Aptitude.

And Aunt Leng... is only an Acquired Moon Body.

“Forget it. It's important to first help Aunt Leng Breakthrough her Bottleneck and stabilize her Dao Heart. Later... I'll find another Opportunity to compensate her with a descendant of higher Aptitude.”

With a rapid turn of thought, Chen Jun made his decision.

[Confirm Selection: 1. Consume 10 years of lifespan to upgrade descendant Aptitude to Sun Body (Tier 4)]

[Instruction Received]

[Rule Activated! ...Guiding... Genetic Sequence optimization complete!]

[Operation Complete! Descendant expected to be born in 8 years.]

[Descendant Aptitude fixed: Sun Body (Tier 4)]

A relatively gentle, yet incomparably pure warm current surged from Chen Jun's body, quietly flowing into Leng Qingqiu's abdomen, forming a brand new Life Imprint!

At the same time... “Mmm...”

Leng Qingqiu let out a sigh of ultimate satisfaction.

She clearly felt a warm and vital force converging in her lower abdomen!

She could even “see” the cracks in the depths of her Soul, caused by her obsession, slowly being mended by this vital force filled with hope!

Success!

It truly succeeded!

Although Ancestor Chen said the hope of conceiving a descendant with high Aptitude was slim, this vital fluctuation is at least above the Innate Moon Body level!

Hundreds of years ago, the first time she was with Chen Jun, her goal had dropped to Star Body or even Martial Body!

Now the baseline is Moon Body, or perhaps even Sun Body!

Do you have some misunderstanding about what “low Aptitude” means?

Regardless, Leng Qingqiu had finally... achieved her wish!

Immense happiness and excitement, like a star river bursting its banks, instantly overwhelmed her!

Tears, once again, surged out uncontrollably, but this time, they were tears of joy, tears of relief!

“Ancestor Chen... thank you... thank you...” She choked out, hugging Chen Jun tightly, as if trying to merge herself into his very bones and blood.

Chen Jun gently patted her back, feeling the stable life fluctuation forming within her body, and felt quite comforted.

Although it is only an Innate Sun Body, it is enough to allow Aunt Leng to Breakthrough her Bottleneck and stabilize her Dao Heart, ensuring a promising future.

Leng Qingqiu's damaged Dao Heart, at the moment this new life appeared, was like withered wood meeting spring, revitalized with vigor!

All her fixations and pent-up frustrations vanished into thin air at this moment!

She slowly opened her eyes. Her ice-blue pupils were no longer filled with dead silence and stubbornness, but were clear and bright, like a washed starry sky, brimming with hope for new life and... endless gratitude and tenderness toward Chen Jun.

“Ancestor Chen... I... I finally won't lose to others...”

Her voice was still choked, but full of vitality, and two streams of clear tears slowly traced down her exquisite face... These were tears of extreme joy, tears of finally achieving her long-held wish.

Chen Jun looked at her completely renewed aura and nodded in satisfaction: “Congratulations, Aunt Leng. The Great Dao is within reach.”

Leng Qingqiu looked at his handsome face, which was within arm's reach, and felt the surging vitality within her body and the warm life rhythm in her abdomen. Her heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of happiness.

She was no longer that loser who had nothing!

She possessed the hope of Breakthrough, a stable Dao Heart, and... a true bond belonging to her and Chen Jun!

“Qingqiu's entire life, she will not lose to others...” she whispered softly, a relieved yet satisfied curve lifting the corner of her mouth:

“Only today do I truly understand the meaning of this phrase. It is not about forcing things, but about... cherishing what is gained and living up to the Opportunity.”

Hearing this, Chen Jun smiled slightly.

It's good that she figured it out.

He lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss onto Leng Qingqiu's smooth forehead:

“Rest well and conceive in peace. In the future, come visit the Main House often and talk with Lin Wei and the others.”

This simple sentence, like the final affirmation and acceptance, caused Leng Qingqiu's tears to burst forth again.

“Mhm!” She nodded vigorously, burying her face deep into Chen Jun's chest.

At this moment, all talk of “Old Ice Block” or “Unfeeling” melted into gentle submission.

Outside the Quiet Room, the “residents” who had been “politely spectating” with their Divine Sense also withdrew their gazes.

Liu Ruyan clicked her tongue, “Tsk, that Old Ice Block finally got her wish? She doesn't look so annoying anymore.”

Chu Yueyao smiled gently, “Venerable Leng's emotional knot has been resolved, which is also a good thing for the Federation.”

Lin Wei sighed in relief, “Brother Jun, really, if you're going to help someone, why do you have to go through such a huge detour...”

Yun Xi withdrew her gaze and continued her secluded Cultivation, though the aura around her seemed slightly softer.

Yan Ji played with a Dragon Scale in her hand, a calculating glint flashing in her beautiful eyes: “Innate Sun Body... Hmm, it seems Ancestor Chen's ‘Spiritual Opportunity’ recovery level is debatable... Next time, I need to find a better time.”

Qing Lin clapped happily, “That's great! Aunt Leng is finally smiling!”

Yun Qinglan also appeared at this moment, a gentle smile gracing her cool, elegant face...