53: The fearful strongmen

Inside the top detection center of the Federation Academy of Sciences, while the group of Stellar Level big shots was still filled with regret...

A relatively calm, yet equally pained and solemn voice rang out.

It was the Master of the Sky-Patrol Pavilion, Chu Yueyao.

Her expression was also quite unsightly, clearly having invested a lot, but compared to the others' pure heartache, her eyes held a deeper sense of worry.

"Everyone! Everyone! Quiet down! Now is not the time to be distressed over resources!"

Chu Yueyao raised her voice, drawing everyone's attention.

"Resources can be found again once they're gone! But have you thought about how we should handle... him now?"

She pointed her hand towards Chen Jun on the detection platform.

"How else can we handle him? A use... er, a Mortal Body with no more value, should we keep him in the Stasis Chamber wasting energy? Just send him back!"

One big shot said irritably, his tone laced with disdain.

"Send him back? That sounds easy!"

Chu Yueyao sneered, her ice-blue eyes sweeping over the crowd, her tone becoming extremely serious:

"How do we send him back? Quietly? As if the events of this past half-month never happened?"

"What else? Should we beat drums and gongs to announce to the whole Federation what we've done?"

Another big shot shot back.

"Stupid!"

Chu Yueyao rebuked him unceremoniously, her gaze sharp as a blade.

"Have you all forgotten? He might be 'useless' now, but the seeds he sowed before are not!"

This sentence was like a bucket of ice water over their heads, instantly silencing the agitated big shots as a chill ran up their spines.

Chu Yueyao's voice carried a trace of imperceptible trembling as she began to count:

"In Venerable Yuehua's womb, that is an Innate Sun Body!"

"In the wombs of Xuanji, Su Yao, and Liu Ruyan, there's a ninety-nine percent chance they are all Innate Sun Bodies!"

"In Qin Qingxuan's womb is an Innate Moon Body!"

"Chen Xingyu is an Innate Star Body!"

"Su Xingyao is an Innate Star Body!"

"Lin Wei is also carrying an Innate Star Body!"

"Even earlier, there were three daughters with Innate Martial Bodies!"

With every sentence she spoke, the faces of the big shots turned a shade paler.

"What do these children represent? I shouldn't need to say more, right?"

Chu Yueyao's voice was very low, yet it struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

"Especially the four Innate Sun Bodies! As long as they don't die young and grow up smoothly, their future achievements will definitely far surpass ours! They might even... definitely surpass Leader Yun Xi!"

"By then, they will be the new heavens of the Federation! Supreme existences!"

"And they all share a common father—him!"

Her finger pointed at Chen Jun once again.

The big shots looked at Chen Jun's "harmless" appearance and then imagined the future when those four little Sun Body ancestors grew up and learned that their father had been treated like a breeding stud by this group of old fogies for half a month, only to be discarded like trash when he was found "useless"...

That scene...

All the Stellar Level big shots shuddered in unison, breaking out in a cold sweat instantly!

This was a blood feud!

The kind that would never end until someone was dead!

With the growth speed and future status of an Innate Sun Body, crushing these "old fogies" would probably be no harder than crushing ants!

"Too many people know! This matter today definitely cannot be kept secret!"

Chu Yueyao continued to pour cold water on them.

"There's no wall in the world that doesn't leak! As long as even one child learns the truth in the future..."

The consequences would be unimaginable!

The big shots were completely panicked now.

Just a moment ago, they were distressed over resources; now, they were worried about their own lives and the future of their families!

"Then... then what should we do?!"

One big shot's voice was dry.

"Should we... should we..."

He made a throat-slitting gesture but immediately negated it himself.

"No! Definitely not! That would make the hatred even greater! We'd die even more miserably!"

"Nonsense! Of course we can't touch him! Not only can we not touch him, we have to serve him well!"

Another big shot said urgently.

"Serve him? How? He's just a Mortal Body now, with only six years of life left!"

"It's precisely because he only has six years left that it's terrifying!"

Chu Yueyao's tone was heavy.

"Think about it. If he lives these six years comfortably and happily, then naturally all will be well. But if he harbors resentment and feels he has suffered a great humiliation..."

She paused and said something that made everyone's hair stand on end:

"If he secretly leaves behind a will or some video footage... after he passes away from old age and a certain child 'accidentally' discovers it... every single one of us will be finished! Our families and organizations could all be purged!"

"Hiss—!"

The sound of people sucking in cold air rose one after another.

The big shots' faces turned green!

Overthinking is a disease, and it's contagious!

At this moment, this group of Stellar Level big shots collectively suffered from severe "persecution mania" and "fear of childhood trauma from an Innate Sun Body"!

They firmly believed that if they had been subjected to such "inhumane" treatment, used like a tool, and then discarded after being detected as "incapable," they would definitely harbor a grudge! A great humiliation! This enmity was irreconcilable!

They completely failed to consider that they were Stellar-level Experts who had been the most outstanding geniuses of the Federation since childhood, so their mindset was naturally different from Chen Jun's, who had been struggling at the bottom.

He must be appeased!

Appeased at all costs!

Drown him in sugar-coated bullets!

Make these last six years of his life as happy as a god's, let him forget all the unpleasantness, and even make him feel deeply grateful to them!

"Gifts! We must give heavy gifts!"

Great Emperor Panshi, Shi Yue, was the first to shout, his voice cracking.

"Bring those three 'Star Core Crystals' from my vault! No! Five!"

"I'll give ten drops of 'Star Marrow Liquid'! Plus the mining rights to a small energy ore vein!"

Another big shot hurriedly added to the stakes.

"Fifty-one percent of the shares of my Family's 'Star Sea Entertainment Group'! All top female stars! Let him take his pick... er, although he might not be able to use them, they're still pleasing to the eye!"

A relatively "trendy" big shot shouted.

"I'll send a squad of War God Peak female personal guards to protect him and his Family's safety around the clock! Absolute loyalty!"

This was a big shot from the military.

"My newly launched 'Star-class' private luxury yacht! Equipped with the latest jump engine, he can drive it straight to the Empire's border for a spin!"

This was a wealthy big shot.

...

For a moment, the detection center turned into a massive scene of atonement. The Stellar Level big shots scrambled to empty their pockets, as if being slow would result in them being ground into dust by a future Sun Body powerhouse.

Chen Jun sat on the detection platform, listening in a daze.

What was the situation?

Why did they suddenly start giving gifts like crazy?

Star Core Crystals?!

Galaxy Marrow Liquid?!

Energy ore veins?!

Entertainment group shares?!

War God Level female bodyguards?!

Star-class yacht?!

...

These things...

Sounded incredibly impressive!

But...

Why give them to me?

He scratched his head, a look of genuine confusion on his face as he hurriedly waved his hands:

"Uh... Seniors? Big shots? This won't do! This really won't do!"

He truly felt it wouldn't do.

During this half-month, he had consumed so many top-tier supplements for free. Not only had the System not been triggered, but his physical condition had returned to its Peak, and he had even enjoyed the "attentive service" of over three hundred top beauties...

He felt he had made a huge profit!

Without the hollow feeling of the System deducting his lifespan, this was simply the most enjoyable half-month since his Transmigration!

How could he possibly have any resentment?

He practically wanted to present these big shots with honorary banners, okay!

"These gifts are too valuable! I really can't take them! I've had a great time these past two weeks, really! I'm very satisfied! Everyone's service... ah, no, everyone's arrangements were very thoughtful! I can't thank you enough! How could I possibly take more things?"

Chen Jun spoke with such sincerity, from the bottom of his heart.

However, to the ears of those big shots who were already deep in their own imaginations, his words took on a completely different meaning!

"He's being sarcastic! He's definitely being sarcastic!"

One big shot fearfully transmitted his voice to a companion.

"Look! He's still smiling! That's a forced smile! He's laughing out of extreme anger! Who knows how much he hates us in his heart!"

"'Very satisfied'? 'Very thoughtful'? This is clearly irony! It's teeth-gritting irony!"

"The more he refuses like this, the greater his resentment! We can't let our guard down!"

"Increase the pressure! We must make him accept!"

...

The big shots panicked even more, and the intensity of their gift-giving increased again!

"Mr. Chen! Please do not refuse! This is just a small token of our appreciation! Compensation... ah, no, it's to thank you for your great contribution to the Federation!"

Shi Yue tried hard to squeeze out what he thought was a kind and amiable smile, but with his rugged face, it looked a bit frightening.

"Yes, yes! Mr. Chen, please just accept them! If you don't, we... we won't be able to rest easy!"

Another big shot was almost in tears.

"Mr. Chen, look at this stock transfer agreement, just sign your name... or even a thumbprint is fine!"

"Mr. Chen, these are Star Core Crystals. Take them to play with; you can even use them to crack walnuts just to hear the sound!"

...

A group of people surrounded Chen Jun, practically forcing all sorts of priceless gifts into his arms, their attitude humble to the point of pleading.

"???"

Chen Jun was completely bewildered.

What kind of development was this?

He tried in vain to decline:

"No, no, no! Really, there's no need! Big shots! Uncles! Aunts! You've really misunderstood! I'm not angry! I'm quite happy! Really! I've never been this happy in my life!"

The more he spoke, the more the big shots were convinced he was being sarcastic, and their gift-shoving became even more forceful.

"He's still calling us 'uncles and aunts'! He's emphasizing the age gap! He's mocking us for not acting our age!"

Someone's imagination reached new heights.

"He said he's 'never been this happy in his life'! Sarcasm! Absolute sarcasm! He means he's never suffered such humiliation in his life!"

"Quick! Add more! Bring that fragment of an ancient civilization relic I've been keeping at the bottom of my trunk!"

...

The more sincerely Chen Jun declined and expressed his satisfaction, the more terrified the Stellar Level big shots became, and the more frantically they gave gifts.

Just as the scene was about to spiral out of control and Chen Jun was about to be buried under the pile of gifts—

An ethereal and peaceful voice, yet one containing supreme majesty, quietly rang out within the detection center:

"Enough!"

The voice wasn't loud, but it instantly suppressed all the noise.

Space rippled slightly, and Yun Xi's figure appeared soundlessly within the center. In a plain white dress, barefoot and suspended in the air, her left eye was clear while her right eye was ancient. Her gaze calmly swept over the messy scene and the group of flustered Stellar Level powerhouses who had lost all composure.

"Leader!"

"Teacher!"

...

Everyone, as if they had found their pillar of support, hurriedly stopped what they were doing and bowed in greeting, their faces filled with embarrassment, shame, and relief.

Yun Xi's gaze finally landed on Chen Jun, who was half-buried in gifts and looking utterly confused. A trace of extremely complex light flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

She had already learned everything that had happened here through her Divine Thought, including the ridiculous detection results and the subsequent farce.

"This matter ends here."

Yun Xi spoke slowly, her tone brook no argument.

"Mo Heng, classify the detection report as top secret. No one is allowed to mention it again, let alone spread it."

"Yes!"

Dean Xuanji hurriedly bowed.

Her gaze swept over the rare treasures piled around Chen Jun, and she said flatly:

"Since these gifts are a token of everyone's 'appreciation,' Chen Jun, you should accept them. For you, they can be considered a Guarantee."

Chen Jun opened his mouth, wanting to say something else, but meeting Yun Xi's calm yet profound gaze, he ultimately swallowed his words and nodded:

"...Oh, okay. Thank you, Leader. Thank you, everyone... big shots."

Yun Xi nodded slightly and continued:

"Chen Jun, you have been in the Stasis Chamber for half a month, and the same amount of time has passed outside. Lin Wei has been very worried about you, and the children have asked about you many times."

At the mention of his Family, a look of genuine urgency and longing finally appeared in Chen Jun's eyes:

"Leader, I..."

"I know."

Yun Xi interrupted him.

"You may return now. Lan Qing."

Adjutant Lan Qing immediately appeared:

"Leader."

"Escort Mr. Chen back to the manor and send these gifts along with him."

"Yes."

Yun Xi then looked at the group of uneasy Stellar Level big shots:

"Everyone else, you are dismissed. The events of the past half-month shall be forgotten here. The fetuses in the wombs of Yuehua and the others are of the utmost importance to the future of the Federation and must be cared for meticulously; no mistakes will be tolerated. As for Chen Jun..."

She paused, her voice peaceful yet carrying the power to settle the world:

"He has rendered service to the Federation. In the future, he shall be treated with the etiquette due to the father of a 'Hero of the Federation,' with treatment equivalent to the Stellar Level. No one is to neglect him, let alone disturb him again. His safety will be personally monitored by me."

These words completely defined Chen Jun's future and appeased the group of terrified big shots.

"We follow the Leader's command!"

Everyone responded in unison, the heavy weight in their hearts finally lifting. With the Leader's words, at least on the surface, they didn't have to worry about being purged.

Yun Xi took one last look at Chen Jun, and her figure slowly faded away.

The farce finally came to an end.

Under Lan Qing's escort, carrying apology gifts that a super-large transport ship could barely hold and whose value was enough to buy several planets, Chen Jun returned to his manor in a daze.

...