75: Memorial Service Opening Ceremony

Two months passed in a flash...

Not far from Jingsi Hall, in front of the Federation's highest honor auditorium—the "Star Brilliance Hall"—there was a solemn silence...

This hall, which was usually only opened when a star fell or a legendary hero passed away, had rarely opened its massive doors forged from Star Gold today.

White energy ribbons, like hanging funeral banners, encircled the magnificent building, and the air was filled with a deliberately crafted atmosphere of solemnity and sorrow.

The interior of the auditorium had already undergone preliminary arrangements.

Simple white flowers adorned the surroundings, and massive holographic projection equipment stood silently on standby, ready to project the glorious life of the deceased.

The atmosphere was so heavy it felt like it could be wrung out like water...

A group of distinguished "visitors" had already arrived quietly and gathered in a side hall on one side of the auditorium...

Leader Yun Xi sat quietly in the main seat, wearing a plain white dress, her bare feet hovering above the ground, her eyes lowered, making it impossible to read her expression.

But if one looked closely, one could see that the corners of her eternally calm lips seemed to be pursed a fraction tighter than usual.

Qin Pojun, Shi Yue, Li Qingshan, Leng Qingqiu, and a host of other Stellar-level Experts were prominently in attendance.

Whether standing or sitting, their faces were without exception shrouded in a cloud of grief, and their eyes were filled with pity and mourning.

Wealthy Abundance, Power Overwhelming Heaven, and other Planetary Level peak officials who held top administrative power in the Federation were also present; they wore heavy expressions, tinged with a hint of irrepressible confusion.

Lin Wei sat in a soft chair a little further away, her face as pale as paper, her eyes red and swollen, and her body trembling slightly, as if she might collapse at any moment.

True sorrow emanated from her, merging with the tone of the entire environment.

The sisters Chen Yao and Chen Lu knelt at their mother's feet, crying until they could barely breathe, their shoulders heaving violently, tears soaking the expensive carpet; they were truly heartbroken over their soon-to-be-lost father.

Qin Qingxuan held the three-year-old Qin Wangshu with a blank expression, but the chill radiating from her body was several degrees heavier than usual.

Su Wan held the hand of nine-year-old Su Xingyao, who was growing increasingly graceful, and stood silently in the corner, looking out the window with a complex gaze, lost in thought.

Little Xingyao seemed to sense the unusual heaviness in the air, clutching her mother's hand tightly, her little face filled with unease.

The conversation in the side hall was low and filled with "grief"...

"Sigh... Heaven envies the talented... Heaven envies the talented!" Great Emperor Panshi, Shi Yue, slapped his thigh heavily, his voice loud yet carrying a "just right" amount of sorrow, breaking the suffocating silence.

"Little Friend Chen... has given so much for our Federation! Today... sigh!" As he spoke, he squeezed his eyes hard, trying to force out a few drops of "crocodile tears."

Unfortunately, the effect was poor, making his expression appear somewhat twisted instead...

Beside him, the Law-Order Heavenly Monarch Zhang Zhengxuan was whispering a report to Yun Xi: "Leader, Pavilion Master Yue Yao is personally supervising the rehearsals in the auditorium. The eulogy and the proceedings have been confirmed repeatedly, ensuring they are solemn, dignified, and emotionally moving. We must ensure Mr. Chen Jun completes this final journey in style."

Yun Xi nodded slightly, saying nothing.

Another Stellar Level expert chimed in, his tone "heavy": "Madam Lin, please accept my condolences... Mr. Chen Jun lived a life of integrity, burning his last ounce of light and heat for the Federation. His spirit will surely live on forever!" His gaze toward Lin Wei was full of "sympathy."

Lin Wei raised her teary eyes and choked out: "Thank you... thank you, my lords... for your concern... Brother Jun... he... he was just an ordinary person... he doesn't deserve such..."

"He deserves it! How could he not!" The voice of Nine Heavens Sword Venerable Li Qingshan was sharp, yet he deliberately slowed his speech, appearing exceptionally "grieved."

"Without Mr. Chen Jun, where would the Federation's hope for the future be? Such achievements are comparable to opening up new territories! Holding the ceremony here in the Star Brilliance Hall is truly well-deserved!" As he spoke, his fingertips unconsciously flicked out a trace of imperceptible Sword Qi, trimming a nearby pot of white flowers to be neater, as if doing his part in advance to decorate the "funeral hall."

Leng Qingqiu snorted, her icy blue eyes sweeping over the crowd. Her tone carried her usual coldness, but if one listened closely, there was a hint of relief: "The person has passed, there is no use in saying more. Ensuring the ceremony goes without error and letting him leave in peace is the right thing to do."

Finally... it's about to end...

Her six years of trouble were even more exhausting than facing the Emperor's main fleet!

Qin Pojun, as the "in-law," performed even more heartbrokenly: "It pains this old man... it pains this old man!... Sigh! I only hope my virtuous son-in-law Chen Jun... does not leave in too much pain..."

...

Their conversation was ostensibly filled with respect and grief for the "soon-to-be-deceased."

Beneath their masks of grief, they hid the relief of being about to unburden themselves of a heavy load, the joy that they had "finally made it to the end," and perhaps even a hint of unspeakable... pleasure?

In their entire lives, when had they ever fawned over a Mortal for so long and with such caution?

This feeling of lowering themselves had long ago made them sick to death.

But it didn't matter; everything would come to an end at three o'clock this afternoon.

Now, they only needed one last perfect performance, especially in front of Lin Wei and those few little girls who were in the know...

Meanwhile, inside the Star Brilliance Hall.

Dean Mo Heng was sternly directing the staff in making the final adjustments.

"Lighting! Yes, softer! We need to create an atmosphere that is solemn yet warm! Yes, just like that! Reflect our remembrance of Mr. Chen Jun, whose death is glorious!"

He pushed up his glasses and pointed at the data on the light screen, "Check the holographic projection sequence again! From Mr. Chen Jun's... uh, 'hard years' on Zhiyuan Star, to his 'selfless dedication' to the Federation, every segment must be precise; it must highlight his tragedy and greatness!"

Beside him, Venerable Qinglin was somewhat flustered as she arranged a circle of thousand-year-old soul-soothing flowers that emitted a calming fragrance.

She looked at the reserved space in the center of the empty auditorium, imagining the... coffin that would soon be placed there.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes held both the relief of completing the task and a hint of indescribable melancholy...

"Dean Mo, is this... really okay?" Qing Lin asked in a low voice, "Mr. Chen... he doesn't know yet..."

Mo Heng interrupted her, his tone carrying a scientist's "rigor" and unquestionability: "Venerable Qinglin! Vital sign monitoring data shows that Mr. Chen Jun's life magnetic field will drop below the critical point at exactly three o'clock this afternoon, with an error of no more than 0.01 seconds! This is a scientific conclusion!"

"Furthermore, many Stellar Level councilors and I have secretly sensed it with our Mental Energy, and Mr. Chen's life force is already down to a mere thread!"

"The greatest pain in life! It is nothing more than the fear of knowing one's time has come, yet being powerless to do anything about it! This despair...! We must not let Mr. Chen experience it!"

"Letting Mr. Chen pass away peacefully without knowing, without having to experience this despair! This is the optimal solution! Mr. Chen will not suffer, and his daughters will thank our Federation for what we have done in the future! This is the optimal solution!"

...

Just as the "mourning honors" were being prepared inside the Star Brilliance Hall, the scene at the Jingxin Lake, just one lake away, was quite different.

The sun was shining, and a breeze brushed across the lake, creating sparkling ripples.

Chen Jun was dressed in comfortable casual wear, hands behind his back, strolling leisurely along the lakeside path.

He breathed in the air, which carried the scent of water vapor and flowers and grass, feeling refreshed in body and mind.

Over the past three years, he felt the Federation's cultural environment had been getting better and better; while walking, he no longer encountered self-righteous "fools," and he increasingly enjoyed going out for a stroll alone.

Especially in the last two months, his favorite thing was to drag his eldest daughter, Chen Xi, out for a walk, and by the way... chat about major life events; he really longed to hold a grandchild.

"Xi'er, look at how nice the weather is today." Chen Jun said with a smile, breaking the silence between father and daughter.

"When life is going well, one must enjoy it to the fullest; do not let the golden goblet face the moon empty. Wouldn't you agree?"

Chen Xi, who was following beside him, seemed somewhat absent-minded today.

She was wearing a simple training outfit that outlined her increasingly slender figure; her eighteen-year-old face was full of youthful vitality, and with her cultivation having reached the early Planetary Level, she should have been vibrant and spirited.

But at this moment, her beautiful brows were slightly furrowed, her eyes unfocused, and the smile she tried hard to force looked extremely strained.

"Hmm... That's right, Dad." Chen Xi responded in a low voice, her tone somewhat dry.

Her mind was filled with the words her mother had instructed her.

Just this morning, her mother Lin Wei had gripped her hand tightly, tears falling like beads from a broken string, her voice trembling uncontrollably: "Xi'er... my good Xi'er... promise Mother... today, no matter what... before three o'clock in the afternoon... take your Dad... for a walk over to the Star Brilliance Hall... don't ask why... Mother begs you..."

"Mother! What is going on? Dad, he..." A strong sense of unease surged in Chen Xi's heart.

Lin Wei shook her head vigorously, her fingernails almost digging into her daughter's arm, her eyes filled with despair and a near-manic persistence: "Don't ask! You cannot let your Dad know! Knowing himself... knowing when he... will leave! That would be too cruel! Xi'er, you are the eldest daughter, you must be strong... help Mother finish this task... let your Dad... walk his final path... a bit more peacefully..."

Seeing her mother in such agony, Chen Xi understood everything.

An immense wave of sorrow instantly seized her heart, leaving her almost suffocated.

She bit her lip hard, until she tasted blood, before nodding heavily.

...

The memories receded like a tide, leaving behind only an even deeper heaviness.

Chen Xi looked at her father's oblivious, relaxed, and comfortable profile; her nose tingled, and she almost burst into tears.

She quickly lowered her head, forcing herself to hold them back.

Chen Jun noticed his daughter's unusual behavior, stopped his steps, and looked at her with concern: "Xi'er, what's wrong? Is Cultivating too tiring lately? Or... are you unhappy about me arranging suitors for you again?"

He thought his daughter was still resisting the "blind date" matter, so he smiled and patted her shoulder, his tone carrying the teasing and a trace of helplessness of an old father:

"Silly girl, Dad is doing this for your own good. Look at you, so young and already at the Planetary Level, with a boundless future. But life isn't just about Cultivating. Finding someone who understands you and shares your interests to be with—that's what makes life flavorful. When I was your age, I had already met your mother..."

Listening to her father's rambling concern, Chen Xi felt every word pierce her heart like a needle!

How she wanted to tell her father the truth, how she wanted to throw herself into his arms and cry her heart out!

But!

She couldn't!

She could only try hard to maintain her composure, even forcing a smile that looked worse than crying: "Dad, I'm fine... it's just... it's just that everything feels a bit strange today..."

Her gaze involuntarily drifted toward the direction of the Star Brilliance Hall.

Chen Jun looked in the direction of his daughter's gaze and also noticed the unusual, solemn atmosphere over there, as well as the faint energy fluctuations coming from it.

He nodded in realization, thinking he had found the reason.

"Oh! You mean that!" Chen Jun realized, then a look of understanding and emotion appeared on his face, "Right, the atmosphere today is a bit off. It seems... some highly respected big figure in the Federation... hmm... their time has come, I suppose..."

He sighed, his tone filled with wistfulness: "Those who can hold a funeral at the Star Brilliance Hall are at least great contributors at the Planetary Level Peak, or... sigh, perhaps some ancient existence at the Stellar Level. Life is impermanent; even one as strong as the Stellar Level has a day when they reach their end. So, Xi'er, you must cherish the present all the more..."

Chen Jun was still "counseling" his daughter in his own way, unaware that every word was deepening Chen Xi's pain.

"Let's go, Xi'er, accompany Dad to take a look over there." Chen Jun suddenly suggested, "Although it has nothing to do with our family, it is, after all, a major event for the Federation, so it is only right to go and express our condolences. It'll also help you clear your mind; don't keep moping around."

Chen Xi's heart gave a sudden jolt!

Her father actually suggested going over there himself?!

This was exactly what she wanted, yet it also made her feel even more miserable...

She lowered her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito's: "...Okay."

The father and daughter, each harboring their own thoughts, walked slowly toward the Star Brilliance Hall.

The closer they got, the more obvious that solemn and sorrowful atmosphere became.

When they reached the edge of the Star Brilliance Hall plaza, they happened to see Chu Yueyao standing in front of the hall entrance, directing the final preparations with a "grieved" expression.

She had changed into a solemn white dress today, her expression grave, her eyes filled with "mourning" and "responsibility"...

Seeing an acquaintance, Chen Jun habitually wore a warm smile and waved from afar to greet her: "Pavilion Master Yue Yao! You're busy too? What is this for today... whose ceremony is it? Quite a grand setup!"

Chu Yueyao turned her head at the sound, seeing Chen Jun and the pale-faced Chen Xi beside him, and for a split second, an extremely complex emotion flashed in her eyes—there was surprise, pity, and a trace of... satisfaction that the plan was going smoothly?

But she concealed it very well, immediately putting on an even more "grieved" and "gentle" expression as she walked up to meet them.

"Mr. Chen, Miss Xi'er." Chu Yueyao's voice was low and resonant, carrying just the right amount of sorrow, as she asked a question she already knew the answer to: "What... brings you here?"

"Oh, I'm just taking Xi'er for a walk, and seeing how... solemn it is over here, we decided to come take a look." Chen Jun replied with a chuckle, completely unaware that he was the "protagonist" of this grand ceremony, "Pavilion Master Yue Yao, which great figure has passed away? To trouble you to oversee it personally?"

Looking at Chen Jun's smile, which was devoid of any gloom, the sympathy in Chu Yueyao's heart almost overflowed.

Poor man!

He was on the verge of death and knew nothing, yet he could still smile so happily...

However, this was perhaps for the best; to leave without knowing, perhaps that was also a kind of happiness...

She took a deep breath, trying hard to make her tone sound natural and profound: "It is a great figure... who has made... indelible contributions to our Federation. His life was filled with dedication and... tragedy." She skillfully avoided mentioning a specific name, and the sympathy in her gaze toward Chen Jun deepened.

Hearing this, Chen Jun's face showed admiration: "To be so highly regarded by Pavilion Master Yue Yao, he must surely be an amazing hero! What a pity..." He shook his head, genuinely feeling regret.

Chu Yueyao took the opportunity to extend an invitation, her tone carrying an "sincerity" that brooked no refusal: "Mr. Chen, if you have nothing else to do, why not... go inside and sit for a moment? The ceremony will begin shortly. This great figure... if he knew that someone like you... a thoughtful person like you came to see him off on his final journey, I imagine... he would be comforted."

"Me?"

Chen Jun paused, then quickly waved his hands.

"This... how can that be? I don't know the deceased; to enter rashly, I fear it would be improper..."

"It is no matter." Chu Yueyao interrupted him, her tone carrying a trace of inexplicable certainty: "You... are very special. Your presence is the best etiquette. Perhaps... this is fate."

Chen Jun was a bit confused by her words, but seeing Chu Yueyao's great hospitality, and looking at his daughter beside him who was still lost in thought.

He thought that going in to sit for a while, letting Xi'er experience the solemn atmosphere, might help calm her mood?

So he nodded: "Since that is the case... then I will impose upon you."

"Please follow me." Chu Yueyao turned to lead the way, a barely perceptible arc curving at the corner of her lips.

Chen Xi followed closely behind her father, looking at Chu Yueyao's sympathetic gaze, and then feeling the sorrowful atmosphere inside the hall, which felt almost tangible; her heart sank to the bottom.

She clenched her fists tightly, her fingernails digging deep into her palms, using the pain to remind herself to stay calm.

Father...

He was about to... walk into the memorial hall prepared for him...

And he himself!

Yet he knew nothing, thinking it was just to attend the funeral of a stranger...

At this moment, a massive, heart-wrenching sorrow almost submerged Chen Xi...

While Chen Jun, still walking with a leisurely pace, carrying a trace of curiosity and a bit of emotion, stepped into that Star Brilliance Hall.

Inside the hall, everything was ready.

Pure white flowers, low and mournful dirges, a solemn crowd... as if waiting only for Chen Jun to take the stage...