47: Competition for reproductive rights

Inside Jingsi Hall, the starlight was dim, and the air was stagnant as if it had solidified.

The true bodies of 308 Stellar-level Experts were gathered here. Their vast energy fluctuations instinctively intertwined and collided, causing this stable space to emit an unbearable buzzing sound.

However, no one cared about this at the moment.

All eyes were fixed intently on the slightly protruding abdomen of Venerable Yuehua.

Just a moment ago, Leader Yun Xi had personally guided the extraction of a wisp of the Origin fluctuation—which had been forcibly suppressed—from the embryo in Venerable Yuehua's womb, presenting it before all the experts.

Although it was only a wisp, that brilliant, majestic, extremely Yang, and extremely powerful aura, as hot and pure as a newborn sun, instantly ignited the entire hall!

"Boom!"

It was as if billions of stars had exploded simultaneously in their Sea of Consciousness!

Dead silence!

Dead silence!

The absolute silence lasted for a full three breaths!

Then—

"Uh-ah—!"

A male Stellar Level Expert, known for being as steady as a mountain, clutched his chest and stumbled back a step, the blood draining from his face as if his heart had been struck by an invisible hammer!

"Sun... Sun Body?! Is this the Origin fluctuation of an Innate Sun Body?! Did I sense that correctly?!"

Another military marshal, clad in heavy armor and filled with Evil Qi, cursed uncontrollably, his eyes bulging as if they were about to pop out of their sockets!

"Ancient texts record... the legendary Innate Sun Body... it actually exists! And... and it is being conceived right here in our Federation! Right before our eyes!"

An elderly man with white hair, who had spent his life researching ancient civilization ruins, trembled all over, tears streaming down his face, so excited he nearly fainted.

"Hum—"

The crowd completely exploded!

All composure, all etiquette, all the restraint and grace of being Stellar-level Experts were smashed to pieces at this moment!

Every face was filled with extreme shock, ecstasy, greed, and a hint of instinctive awe in the face of a higher-level life form!

"Quiet!"

Leader Yun Xi's voice was not loud, but it contained the power of the birth of the Universe, instantly suppressing all the noise.

However, beneath her calm expression, her slightly rapid breathing and the turbulent waves deep in her eyes showed that her heart was far from as calm as she appeared.

"The fetus in Venerable Yuehua's womb has been preliminarily confirmed to have the Aptitude of... an Innate Sun Body!"

Even though they had already sensed it, when these words were clearly spoken by Leader Yun Xi, a collective gasp still echoed through the hall.

"An Innate Sun Body... it really is an Innate Sun Body!"

Dragon King of Prison Suppression Limitless Dragon roared, his massive fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles popped.

"One hundred thousand years! A change not seen in one hundred thousand years! Heaven bless our Human Race!"

"Hahaha! The death date of those bastards from Tristan has arrived!!"

Blaze Army Lord Luo Mie laughed wildly and wantonly, flames churning around his body.

"Once our Federation's Sun Body grows up, why worry about the Empire not being destroyed?! Sweeping through the galaxy will be no difficult task!"

A wave of fanaticism swept through every expert.

But soon, after the extreme joy, all eyes instantly shifted from Venerable Yuehua's abdomen to the man floating in the center, generated by the holographic projection, representing the "Source"—Chen Jun!

That man with F-grade affinity, a Mortal Body, plain and unremarkable, even somewhat weak!

It was him!

It was him!

He had coupled with Venerable Yuehua and conceived an Innate Sun Body that surpassed Leader Yun Xi!

This result caused everyone's breathing to become extremely heavy, their eyes to become extremely scorching, and even... carried a hint of crazy greed!

"It is him! That Chen Jun!"

Dean Xuanji Mo Heng's voice was sharp; he could no longer maintain the calmness of a scientist, his eyes filled with the fanaticism of someone who had discovered the ultimate truth.

"We must conduct the most comprehensive research on him immediately! Analyze the mystery of his life Origin! This will be the key to the evolution of life!"

"Research? Bullshit!"

A rough, sharp shout interrupted him.

It was Great Emperor of Bedrock Shi Yue, a veteran Stellar Level Expert known for his defense and strength.

His hair and beard bristled, and his voice was like a booming bell:

"Research my ass! What if you break him during research? Is this something you can just casually research? This is a living Phoenix that lays golden eggs! The most urgent thing now is not research, but not wasting him! Absolutely cannot waste him!"

Shi Yue's words were like a sudden enlightenment, instantly waking everyone up.

"Brother Shi Yue is absolutely right!"

Nine Heavens Sword Venerable Li Qingshan said urgently, his Sword Intent humming around him.

"His lifespan! According to intelligence, every time he... performs, he consumes ten years of his lifespan! How much does he have left now? Fifty years? Or forty? We cannot let him waste even a single day! Every day that passes is consuming the future pillar of the Federation!"

"That's right! We must maximize his utility immediately!"

Another female Stellar Level Expert, Leng Qingqiu [Ice Phoenix], chimed in. She was stunningly beautiful, with a temperament as cold as ten-thousand-year black ice, but her voice now carried a hint of irrepressible urgency.

"Every day of delay could mean one less future Sun Body expert for the Federation! This is a crime against the future of civilization!"

"How do we maximize it?"

Master of the Sky-Patrol Pavilion Chu Yueyao swept her sharp gaze across the audience, finally landing on Leader Yun Xi.

"Leader, this matter concerns the survival of our civilization. We must immediately formulate the most efficient plan! I propose we immediately establish a 'Breeding Group', select the highest-quality female hosts, and start with the highest priority immediately!"

"Seconded!"

"Seconded! We must start immediately!"

Almost all the Stellar-level Experts expressed their agreement in unison, their tones impatient.

Chen Jun's limited remaining lifespan was like the most precious and naturally depleting resource in the entire Universe, making them wish they could immediately grab Chen Jun and "utilize him to the fullest".

However.

On the most critical issue of "how to distribute", the consensus just reached vanished instantly...

A fierce argument broke out immediately!

"The choice of the host is crucial!"

A male Stellar Level Expert, Yang Polu [Heaven-Breaking God General], shouted in a booming voice.

"I believe we should choose the youngest female expert with the best Aptitude and greatest potential! Only in this way can we maximize the potential of the offspring! My Yang Family has a direct granddaughter, only three hundred years old, with an Innate Star Body, already at the Planet-level Peak! She has the hope of impacting the Stellar Level before she is a thousand years old! She is one of the most suitable candidates!"

"Bullshit!"

Before his voice had even faded, a blunt, sharp rebuke exploded.

It came from a female expert wearing flaming red battle armor, with a hot figure and a fiery, fierce temperament, Liu Ruyan [Scarlet Fairy].

She stood with her hands on her hips, glaring fearlessly at Yang Polu:

"Young? Good Aptitude? That's useless! Back then, I guarded a lone star on 'Blood Blade Star' for three thousand years, killing so many Empire brats that they could pile up into a planet! I suffered six hundred and fifty-seven severe injuries, and my Dao foundation almost collapsed! When I was bleeding and sweating for the Federation, your granddaughter was still drinking milk! In terms of merit and hard work, in terms of the resilience of life Origin, I am ten thousand times stronger than her! If anyone is going, it should be me first! Why should this kind of good thing that contributes to the Federation be cheaply given to the pampered flowers carefully raised by your big families first?!"

Liu Ruyan's words immediately resonated with many experts who had killed their way up through military merit and hard cultivation.

"Sister Ruyan is right!"

A male expert with a hideous scar on his face and a fierce glint in his one eye, Li Zhantian [Soul-Splitting Blade], spoke with a voice like clashing metal.

"I have been fighting on the abyss front line for eight thousand years, and the scars on my body are thicker than your Yang Family's genealogy! In terms of contribution, I don't fear anyone! Although I don't have a daughter, I have a Personal Disciple who is also at the Planet-level Peak and has been through many battles! She is the one qualified to have priority!"

"Merit? Who doesn't have merit?!"

Another female expert with a graceful and luxurious temperament, but now also looking excited, Su Miaoyin [Heavenly Sound Lady], retorted. She had once reversed the battle situation among billions of troops with her supreme musical Divine Ability.

"But breeding offspring is not about going into battle to kill enemies! What is needed is the affinity and stability of the life Origin! I Cultivate the 'Ten Thousand Things Breathing Art', which is best at nourishing the Origin. Combining with me will surely give birth to the healthiest offspring with the most perfect potential! This is the most responsible choice for the future of the Federation!"

"Lady Su is mistaken!"

Marshal Xuanji's voice was cold, carrying an iron-blooded, unquestionable tone.

"The frontline is in urgent need of top-tier combat power! The experts of the military have bathed in blood for years; their life Origin has long been tempered, making them better adapted to harsh environments! The matter of effectively utilizing the Reverse-Feed to nurture offspring should prioritize the military; that is the only way to form combat power most quickly! I have illustrious battle merits; I joined the army at eighteen and have been serving for over fifty-three thousand years! I should be the priority!"

"The military is so great? Does the Academy of Sciences not need a future?!"

Chief Su Yao was so angry her glasses nearly fell off, and data streams flashed wildly around her body, "Only by fully understanding and optimizing this process can we achieve sustainable development! I am the most suitable researcher and participant! I can even precisely calculate the energy interaction and loss of every union! One small step for me, one giant leap for the Federation!"

...

...

...

"Stop arguing!" A cold, noble, and supreme voice rang out. Venerable Yuehua spoke slowly.

She caressed her abdomen, feeling that Sun Origin. Her ice-blue eyes swept across the crowd, carrying a hint of faint mockery and superiority: "Only by uniting with this Venerable can a Sun Body be born. It is evident that the Aptitude and level of the mother are the decisive keys. In my view, those below the Stellar Level have no qualification to participate in this plan, as it would merely waste precious opportunities and resources. Even among the Stellar Level, one must select the best of the best."

Her words were like cold water splashed into a frying pan, instantly igniting the fury of all the slightly weaker Stellar-level Experts.

"Venerable Yuehua! What do you mean?!"

"How absurd! Do those of us at the initial Stellar Level have no contribution?!"

"You just got lucky and took a step ahead!"

...

...

...

The scene went completely out of control. The Stellar Level bigwigs, who were usually high and mighty and kept their emotions hidden, were now red-faced and spitting as they argued over a "procreation right." Some even began rolling up their sleeves, energy surging around them, ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.

They looked exactly like a group of old men and women in a mundane market arguing over discounted eggs!

Most of the male experts knew they could not personally participate, so they turned to fighting for the future teaching rights of the Innate Sun Body, or desperately promoted the most outstanding female juniors of their factions.

"Silence!" Finally, Leader Yun Xi spoke.

This time, her voice carried a hint of unquestionable majesty and a faint weariness.

A powerful aura instantly enveloped the entire venue, suppressing all the arguing.

The crowd finally realized their loss of composure and hurriedly restrained their auras, but the urgency and desire in their eyes remained undiminished.

Leader Yun Xi's gaze slowly swept across the crowd, lingering for a moment on the faces of the female experts who had argued the most fiercely.

Each of them had rendered great service to the Federation and made huge sacrifices.

Leader Yun Xi sighed inwardly.

Whether for the Federation or for her own hope of advancing further, she understood their urgency.

And as for herself...

Feeling the life Origin within her that had traversed nearly one hundred thousand years, was gradually approaching its limit, and had even begun to show faint signs of decay, her heart, which had long been as still as an ancient well, could not help but ripple.

The lifespan limit of the Stellar Level is one hundred thousand years; she was now 99,789 years old, with only two hundred years remaining.

Being able to live until now was the result of gathering numerous Heaven And Earth Treasures of the Federation; a normal Stellar Level expert usually reaches their limit at seventy or eighty thousand years.

If... if she could unite with that Chen Jun, relying on the Reverse-Feed of the Innate Sun Body...

Perhaps...

She could truly glimpse the opportunity to transcend the Stellar Level, step into that legendary realm, and extend the Federation's national fortune for another nine hundred thousand years?

One hundred thousand years is the twilight of the Stellar Level, but for a Star Arm Level expert with a million-year lifespan limit, it is as full of vitality as a newborn infant.

Once this thought appeared, it grew wildly like weeds.

But she could not.

She was the leader, the mentor, the teacher of the vast majority of Stellar-level Experts.

If she were to step down personally and go to Chen Jun together with the Disciples who obtained the "procreation right"...

This... this... what kind of impropriety would that be?

Where would her image be?

Although she appeared like a young girl, could her twilight inner self truly still conceive an Innate Sun Body?

If she could not?

Would she not be a sinner of the Federation?

That trace of temptation was forcibly suppressed and buried deep in her heart.

At this moment, the Minister of the Federal Law Enforcement Department, a Stellar Level Expert known for being impartial and strictly adhering to regulations, [Law-Order Heavenly Sovereign] Zhang Zhengxuan, stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice, breaking the deadlock:

"Leader, colleagues. Continuing to argue like this is meaningless; it is only wasting Chen Jun's remaining lifespan."

He scanned the crowd, his tone serious:

"Since this matter concerns the highest interests of the Federation, and the distribution of interests is difficult to coordinate, I propose activating the seventeenth article of the Federation's highest emergency plan! Let all Stellar-level Experts present conduct a secret ballot! Immediately elect five female experts with outstanding merits, excellent Aptitude, and the best condition as the first priority sequence, and immediately execute the 'Procreation Plan' with Chen Jun after the meeting! To the maximum extent, before Chen Jun's lifespan is exhausted, leave behind the most high-quality seeds for the Federation!"

"Everything, for the survival of civilization! For the Federation!"

Zhang Zhengxuan's words were like the coldest Law, putting an end to this crazy argument.

Voting!

This was the most "fair" way, the fastest way to reach a conclusion, and one that no one could refute!

For the survival of civilization!

For the Federation!

This supreme righteousness overwhelmed all personal desires and factional strife!

...

"...Seconded."

"...Seconded."

"...Seconded."

...

"Conduct the secret ballot immediately. The five with the highest number of votes will be the first sequence."

Zhang Zhengxuan made the final decision.

No one objected.

Soon, the voting results were out.

The five selected female experts, in order of votes, were: Marshal Xuanji, who had the most votes and illustrious merits; Speaker Su Yao of the Academy of Sciences, representing technology; the powerful Speaker Liu Ruyan; Speaker Qing Lin, who was relatively young but had huge potential and represented the new generation; and the old, deep-rooted expert, Speaker Leng Qingqiu.

This result basically synthesized factors such as merit, strength, potential, and uniqueness. Although some were still dissatisfied, it was the optimal solution under the compromise of all parties.

Leader Yun Xi's gaze swept over the five female experts, who had different expressions but could not hide their excitement and determination. Finally, she issued the order:

"The plan is set. After the meeting, you five will follow the attendant immediately to Chen Jun's residence to execute the plan."

She did not mention herself, as if that momentary temptation had never happened.

"We respectfully obey the command of the teacher (Leader)!"

The five female experts replied in unison, burning flames in their eyes.

"As for the fetus in Venerable Yuehua's womb," Leader Yun Xi looked at Venerable Yuehua, her tone solemn,

"Its importance is unquestionable. Regarding its future teaching and protection..."

Before she could finish, the eyes of the male experts became hot again, and they all wanted to volunteer.

Leader Yun Xi raised her hand to stop them:

"This matter will be discussed later. The priority is to ensure the fetus is nurtured smoothly. Venerable Yuehua, you must return to the Mirror Moon Palace immediately, rest assured, and do not let any mistakes occur."

Venerable Yuehua bowed slightly, caressing her abdomen with a hint of pride and satisfaction on her face, and turned to leave.

She knew that with just this child, her future status would be unmatched.

The meeting ended.

Powerful auras quickly departed, each with different thoughts.

The five selected female experts, under the complex gazes of the crowd, followed the expressionless attendant Lan Qing, turned into streams of light, and headed straight for the manor where Chen Jun resided.

They were going to execute the "Federal Highest Resolution," to "drain" the man named Chen Jun, all "for the Federation"...

Inside Jingsi Hall, only Leader Yun Xi remained.

She stood alone under the starry sky, her back still straight, yet revealing an indescribable loneliness.

She slowly raised her hand, looking at her palm, which seemed young but already showed traces of time passing, and then looked at her flat stomach, a flash of extremely complex light in her eyes.

After a long while, a faint, almost imperceptible sigh dissipated in the cold starlight.