46: The final tender moments

Morning light filtered through the soft canopy simulated by the Pillar of Leaders, bathing the manor's courtyard.

Dewdrops on the leaves of flowers and grass refracted a multi-colored shimmer. The air was so fresh it tasted sweet, and the rich yet gentle cosmic energy seeped into his limbs with every breath, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort.

Chen Jun had not slept all night, feeling the steady, warm breathing of his wife beside him.

Lin Wei was sleeping deeply. The anxiety from last night seemed to have faded under his soothing; her features were relaxed, and her skin glowed like jade in the morning light. Her War God Level vitality made her look like someone in her late teens, in the prime of youth.

He watched her quietly, a surge of infinite tenderness and bitterness rising in his heart.

He rose carefully, without disturbing her, threw on an outer garment, and walked to the window.

Outside, the scenery remained as beautiful as a fairyland.

Old Man Zhang was already busy with his plants in the neighboring yard, and Old Madam Wang was slowly practicing that profound Health-Preserving Fist technique not far away. Everything was peaceful and serene.

He spread his palm, looking at these hands that had become full again—even faintly much stronger—due to the large amount of nourishment recently.

But this appearance was superficial. The internal emptiness and that cold countdown of [Remaining Lifespan: 46 years] were like an invisible thorn, constantly pricking his heart.

He took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing those heavy thoughts.

After a night of tossing and turning, he had made a decision: he had to convince Lin Wei.

In the kitchen, he uncharacteristically busied himself.

Using those mild, nourishing, and excellently flavored ingredients from Venerable Yuehua's Secret Collection, he personally prepared an extremely sumptuous and exquisite breakfast for Lin Wei.

Energy-overflowing Spirit Rice Porridge, Dragon-Bird Eggs fried to perfection, and several refreshing and delicious side dishes brimming with vitality.

When Lin Wei was awakened by the aroma and rubbed her eyes as she walked into the dining room, this was the scene she saw: her husband, wearing an apron, was bringing the last pastry to the table, the morning light outlining his profile, which seemed even more spirited than yesterday.

“Brother Jun? Why are you...”

Lin Wei was somewhat surprised, followed by a heart full of warmth.

“You should let me do these things; you should rest more.”

“You're awake?”

Chen Jun turned back, flashing a gentle smile. Instinctively, he turned on the soundproofing device, walked over to naturally wrap his arm around her waist, and pressed a good-morning kiss onto her forehead.

“Occasionally, let me serve my wife. Come, have a taste and see if my skills have regressed.”

Lin Wei was pulled into her seat. Looking at the table full of meticulously prepared food, her heart felt sweet, and the last trace of gloom from last night seemed to be dispelled by this warm morning light.

She picked up a mouthful of side dishes with her chopsticks and put it into her mouth, her eyes lighting up slightly:

“Delicious!”

“If it's delicious, eat more.”

Chen Jun sat opposite her, watching her satisfied expression with a gentle gaze, though he barely moved his own chopsticks.

Breakfast ended in a warm atmosphere.

Chen Jun took the initiative to clear the dishes again, then took Lin Wei's hand and led her to the large animal-hide lounge chair in the courtyard.

He sat down, then gave a gentle pull, letting Lin Wei lean sideways against his chest.

This posture was intimate and stable; he could clearly feel her body temperature and heartbeat, and she could rely entirely on his chest.

“Weiwei,”

He spoke, his voice low and gentle, carrying a trace of imperceptible hoarseness.

“Look, the sky here is so beautiful.”

Lin Wei followed his gaze. On the Artificial Canopy, clouds rolled and unfurled with a soft radiance, beautiful to the point of unreality.

She gave a soft “mm,” leaning against him relaxedly, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.

The children had gone to the academy, little Star Language was still fast asleep, and the entire world seemed to consist only of the two of them.

“Sometimes I feel like it's a dream,”

Chen Jun said slowly, his fingers unconsciously twining through her smooth black hair.

“Being able to hold you like this, looking at such beautiful scenery, the children having bright futures... These are days I wouldn't have dared to imagine back in the Shantytown even if I were beaten to death.”

“Yes,”

Lin Wei sighed with emotion, nuzzling her face against his chest.

“Life now is truly good. Brother Jun, let's just keep living like this, properly, forever, okay?”

Chen Jun went silent for a moment, his arms tightening slightly.

“I really want to keep living like this too.”

A hint of something heavy entered his voice.

“But Weiwei, some things won't stop coming just because we don't want them to.”

Lin Wei's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, but she didn't immediately argue, just listening quietly, waiting for him to continue.

She sensed her husband's unusual mood.

“The matter with Venerable Yuehua has already become a reality.”

Chen Jun tried to keep his tone as calm as possible, as if stating an objective Law.

“And based on the examples of Qin Qingxuan and Su Wan, you should have noticed as well: the stronger the mother's Aptitude and strength, the more... potentially astonishing the offspring's Aptitude will be.”

Lin Wei nodded gently; this was an obvious fact.

From herself to Su Wan, then to Qin Qingxuan, the children born had better and better Aptitudes...

“Venerable Yuehua possesses an Acquired Moon Body and is furthermore a high-tier Stellar Level; her foundation far exceeds Qin Qingxuan's.”

Chen Jun continued, his voice dropping even lower, as if afraid of disturbing something.

“Once the Aptitude of the child in her womb is tested... Weiwei, what level do you think it will be?”

Lin Wei snapped her head up, a flash of horror in her eyes. She seemed to have thought of something, her lips trembling slightly:

“Could it... could it be...”

“It will only be higher than a Moon Body.”

Chen Jun confirmed her suspicion, his gaze solemn.

“An unprecedented peerless Genius who might surpass Leader Yun Xi's Innate Aptitude. What would that mean for the Federation?”

Lin Wei's face gradually turned pale. It wasn't that she didn't understand the big picture; she had just been deliberately avoiding thinking about it, or rather, was unwilling to link such a big picture to the consumption of her husband's lifespan.

“When such a child appears,”

Chen Jun's voice was bitter,

“will the Federation and Leader Yun Xi still allow me to sit ‘idle,’ wasting my life to ‘spend my old age in peace’? Will those Stellar-level Experts who were scrambling before, and the factions behind them, still be willing to wait?”

He looked into Lin Wei's eyes and, word by word, spoke his most cruel deduction:

“They won't. At that time, I will no longer be ‘Chen Jun,’ but the Federation's most precious ‘strategic resource’ that cannot be lost. My wishes, and even the ‘respect’ the Leader once promised, will become insignificant on the scales of civilizational survival. They will use every means possible to ensure the ‘most efficient utilization’ of this ‘resource’ of mine.”

“They will calculate my remaining 46 years of life, calculating the gains of every ‘consumption.’ They will arrange the most ‘suitable’ mothers to maximize ‘output’ before my life ends... until the day I am completely drained arrives, and that day will come very quickly.”

Chen Jun's tone was terrifyingly calm, yet it was like a cold chisel, shattering the warmth before Lin Wei's eyes.

“No... it won't... Leader Yun Xi promised...”

Lin Wei shook her head, tears falling silently, her voice filled with despair, as if trying to grasp at a final straw.

“The Leader is great, and she cares for the civilization. But when she is faced with the birth of one more ‘Innate Sun Body’ versus the human rights of a single ordinary person, how much weight can a personal promise hold against the collective interest?”

Chen Jun cruelly interrupted her fantasy.

“She doesn't need to use force; she only needs to suggest, or even just give her tacit consent, and countless people will naturally use ‘Federation righteousness’ to pressure me and persuade you. Weiwei, we can't escape it.”

Lin Wei collapsed completely into his arms, her body trembling slightly from fear and despair.

She couldn't refute him, because her husband's deduction was logical and reasonable—it was even something that would inevitably happen.

“So, Weiwei,”

Chen Jun cupped her face, his thumb gently wiping away her tears, his eyes filled with determination and a deep love.

“Before we completely lose the right to choose, before this last bit of our tender time is stripped away, let's leave ourselves a child that belongs only to the two of us, alright?”

“This isn't an impulse; it's the only thing I can think of to fight for one last bit of sentiment for ourselves and for this home before the storm fully arrives. It's also... the final legacy I can leave you.”

He lowered his head, his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling, his voice as soft as a sigh but carrying a scorching heat:

“I want to have a child with you, a child that comes when we truly love each other and are both willing. Not a mission, not a trade, but simply because we are us. Let them remember that their father is named Chen Jun and their mother is named Lin Wei, and that we have them because of love.”

“This might be... the last thing I can do for you that a ‘husband’ should do.”

Lin Wei's tears flowed even harder, but the resistance and fear in her eyes slowly crumbled under her husband's word-by-word analysis and plea, replaced by a massive sorrow and an equally resolute agreement.

She understood.

Her husband wasn't being willful or overdrawing himself; he was racing against time, desperately trying to salvage the last piece of driftwood that belonged to them in the ocean of despair.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Looking at the unmistakable love, unwillingness, and deep attachment in her husband's eyes, her heart felt as if it had been crushed, yet within those ruins, a courage to sink together with him emerged.

She suddenly reached out to hook her arms around his neck, actively kissing his lips, their salty tears mingling between their lips and teeth.

This was a kiss filled with the scent of despair, yet it was incredibly scorching.

After a long while... their lips parted.

Lin Wei gasped for air, her cheeks flushed, eyes glistening with moisture, yet shining with a look of burning bridges. She looked into Chen Jun's eyes and nodded heavily: 'Okay! Brother Jun! Let's have a child! One of our own!'

There was no need for more words; all worries and fears were cast to the back of her mind.

At this moment, they were each other's most primal support, wanting to grasp the final light and warmth before the destined darkness arrived.

Chen Jun scooped her up and strode towards the bedroom.

Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting warm patches of light into the room.

The air was filled with the faint fragrance of flowers and plants from outside the window, along with the familiar scent of each other.

Their movements no longer held any hesitation, filled with urgent desire and love so thick it could not be dissolved.

Clothes scattered on the floor like flower petals; skin touched, body temperatures merged. Every caress, every kiss carried a near-tragic intensity, as if they wanted to carve each other's Soul into their own bodies.

Lin Wei was unprecedentedly active and bold; she clung to him, leaving soft sobs and words of love in his ear, pouring out the deep attachment and reluctance hidden in the bottom of her heart.

Chen Jun seemed to want to condense the companionship of the next few decades into this very moment.

When the final moment arrived, the two interlaced their fingers tightly, their gazes locking, both seeing unreserved love and determination in the other's eyes.

(...To avoid censorship, a million words of indescribable details are omitted here...)

And just at the moment when life was about to be conceived—

That cold, absolutely rational system interface arrived right on schedule, abruptly popping up in Chen Jun's consciousness:

[system interface] [Rank]: Rank 1 [Host]: Chen Jun [Race]: Human [Age]: 34 [Aptitude]: Mortal Body (Universe energy affinity: Rank F) [Remaining Lifespan]: 46 years (Total lifespan estimate: 150 years) [Current Mandatory Action]: Trigger [Absolute Guarantee] on Martial Body spouse Lin Wei. 1. Consume 10 years of lifespan, offspring Aptitude upgraded to Star Body (Rank 2) [Confirm/Cancel] 2. Consume 100 years of lifespan, offspring Aptitude upgraded to Moon Body (Rank 3) [Confirm/Cancel] 3. Consume 1000 years of lifespan, offspring Aptitude upgraded to Sun Body (Rank 4) [Confirm/Cancel] ...

Those cold options and numbers were like a sharp knife, piercing through the tenderness of the moment.

Chen Jun did not hesitate at all. 'Confirm...!'

[Command Received] [Rule Effective! Life Origin guiding... Genetic sequence super-optimization complete!] [Operation Complete! Offspring birth expected in one year and ten months.] [Offspring Aptitude fixed: Star Body (Rank 2)]

Ten years of lifespan were instantly drained away!

A familiar sense of weakness, originating from the deepest depths of his Soul, struck him suddenly, drowning him like a tidal wave.

His complexion lost its color at a speed visible to the naked eye; his temples turned white suddenly, and he instantly aged another ten years.

He forced himself not to collapse immediately, instead using his last bit of strength to take a deep look at Lin Wei beneath him, who was flushed and had not yet noticed his instantaneous change, and then kissed her lips heavily.

More than half a month later. Deep within the Mirror Moon Palace, in a closed-door meditation room.

Venerable Yuehua floated amidst endless Moon radiance energy, surrounded by Law, her aura as deep as an abyss.

She was seizing every second to Cultivate, striving to achieve a Breakthrough to Stellar Level Peak within the 4 years expected for the Innate Moon Body to gestate.

According to her estimates and knowledge, given her Aptitude and foundation, combined with Chen Jun's strange ability, the Innate Moon Body conceived should possess a Reverse-Feed force that is vast and pure, giving her a great chance to make a push towards Stellar Level Peak.

However, on this day, the seed of life seemed to have passed its initial condensation stage and began to truly take root in her life Origin, deeply merging with it; the Innate nourishment Reverse-Feed took effect!

At this very moment! 'Hum—!'

A terrifying Origin fluctuation, far beyond her imagination, completely unreasonable, and indescribable, suddenly erupted from that embryo!

That was no longer the cold and bright Moon radiance! That was scorching! That was vast! That was the power of the majestic Sun that seemed capable of melting stars and illuminating eternity!

'What?!' Venerable Yuehua suddenly opened her eyes, her ice-blue pupils filled with unprecedented shock and horror!

The Moon radiance energy that had been flowing steadily around her instantly went out of control, causing chaos and leaving the meditation room in a mess!

She had lived for ninety thousand years, her will already as firm as a star core, but at this moment, feeling the embryo in her womb burning like a miniature star and emitting the Sun aura that made her Soul tremble, all her calmness, all her poise, and all the demeanor of a Stellar-level Experts vanished instantly!

'This fluctuation... this is not a Moon Body! Definitely not!'

Her voice carried a tremor she could not control, 'This is... a Sun Body?! An Innate Sun Body?! How is this possible!!'

She knew better than anyone what an Innate Sun Body meant! It was an supreme Aptitude that only existed in theoretical deductions and legends, one with an Aptitude even higher than Leader Yun Xi's Innate Moon Body!

It was the hope that would surely reach the ethereal Star Arm Level, or even higher levels!

After the huge shock came overwhelming ecstasy, but following closely behind was an even deeper horror and sense of urgency!

This matter was too big! Too big to be within the scope of what she alone could bear!

She instantly retracted all her aura, even going so far as to use her Origin to forcibly suppress the terrifying fluctuation inadvertently emitted by the embryo in her womb. Her figure flashed, directly tearing through space, and she rushed madly towards the Jingsi Hall, the core of the Pillar of Leaders!

Etiquette, reporting, the taboos of closed-door cultivation—none of these mattered anymore!

'Boom!' Outside Jingsi Hall, space was forcibly torn open, and Venerable Yuehua's figure staggered out. Her aura was chaotic, and her face showed unprecedented panic, urgency, and fear.

Completely ignoring the astonished gaze of the attendant officer, she was about to force her way in!

'Leader! Yun Xi! Emergency!! Something huge has happened!!'

Her voice was shrill, completely losing her usual cool and composed demeanor.

Almost at the same time, the doors of Jingsi Hall opened silently. Yun Xi's figure appeared quietly at the entrance; she had clearly been alerted by the instantaneous spatial fluctuation and Yuehua's completely uncontrolled aura.

Looking at the disheveled and distraught Yuehua, for the first time, a clear look of shock and suspicion appeared in those eyes—the left one clear, the right one weathered by time.

'Yuehua? What is the matter...'

Before she could finish her words, Yuehua had already stepped forward, not even bothering with etiquette, and grabbed Yun Xi's hand, pressing it directly onto her slightly protruding lower abdomen, which was currently faintly emitting a heart-palpitating power!

'Yun Xi! Sense it! Please, sense this! What... what exactly is this?!'

Yuehua's voice was distorted by extreme excitement.

Yun Xi's brows furrowed tightly, but the moment her perception touched the life fluctuation in Yuehua's womb—even the highest leader of the Federation, who had lived for nearly a hundred thousand years, witnessed countless storms, and whose heart had long been unflappable, suddenly shuddered!

For the first time, a look of shock, bordering on 'dumbfounded,' appeared on her eternally calm face!

The clarity in her left eye was instantly filled with horror, and the weathering in her right eye seemed to stir up monstrous waves!

'This... this is... Sun Origin?! Innate Sun Body?!'

Yun Xi exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief!

She confirmed it repeatedly; that majestic, supreme Yang and powerful Origin fluctuation, that Aptitude far exceeding the Moon Body, which even made her own Moon Body Origin feel a faint palpitation and sense of submission... It was absolutely certain! It was the Innate Sun Body from theory!

'He... he actually...' Yun Xi looked up suddenly, her gaze seeming to pierce through countless obstacles, looking towards the direction of Chen Jun Manor, her eyes filled with an indescribable, complex light.

Shock, ecstasy, disbelief, and a trace of deep gravity and urgency instantly overwhelmed her.

'Immediately!' Yun Xi snapped back to reality, her voice regaining its absolute authority, yet carrying an unprecedented urgency, 'Emergency meeting of the highest level! All Stellar-level Experts! True body or projection! Immediately! Right now! Descend!'

Her order was like a thunderclap, instantly spreading through special channels across the entire territory of the Human Federation, reaching the hearts of every Stellar-level Experts.

A storm, an unprecedented storm, was about to erupt fiercely with Jingsi Hall as its center!

And at this moment, inside Chen Jun Manor, he was holding his little daughter, Chen Xingyu, pointing at the starlight in the sky that was suddenly flickering violently, as if foretelling something, and coaxing her with an aged and gentle voice: 'Look, little star, a meteor shower... so beautiful...'

Deep in his eyes, however, was a sense of clarity and peaceful sorrow.