92: breakthrough

A month quietly slipped away... Deep within the Secret Realm of Jingsi Hall, this was not a physical palace, but an independent spatial bubble created by Yun Xi, resonating with the core of Jingsi Hall through her own spatial Laws.

Within the void, there was no sky or earth. Only flowing moonlight, rotating slowly like a nebula, condensed into a massive, translucent cocoon of light.

Upon the light cocoon, countless complex and profound silver Law patterns flickered in and out of existence, emitting a tranquil yet vast aura.

Yun Xi sat suspended at the core of the light cocoon.

She was still clad in plain white, her bare feet off the ground and her eyes slightly closed.

But she was a world apart from the decaying and lonely figure she had been a month ago.

Her life magnetic field, which had been flickering as if it could go out at any moment, was now as majestic and stable as if it had been watered by the first rain of the Universe's creation. It was like a dormant sea of stars, containing an inexpressible vitality and power.

Her entire mind was immersed in the new life within her womb.

The feeling of being a mother for the first time was so wonderful. At this moment, she was no longer the great leader of the Federation. Every time she felt the little life in her belly this past month, the corners of her mouth would often turn up... Now, she could clearly "see" a tiny point of life source, radiating unimaginable light and heat, firmly taking root and taking shape in the deepest part of her life Origin.

That source point was like a miniature galactic embryo. Its core was neither the brilliant sun of a Sun Body nor the cool glow of a Moon Body, but something deeper and more reserved, as if it could swallow everything yet nurture all possibilities.

At that very moment!!!

The embryo fully formed. Just from the embryo taking shape, the naturally emitted life fluctuations caused her Stellar Level Peak Soul to feel a faint sense of pressure—a natural awe toward a higher level of life.

A torrent of power, too majestic to describe in words, containing the Universe's most primal creative force and information from countless shattered Laws—the Innate Nurturing Feedback—was suddenly triggered like a spring from a sea of stars that had been silent for eons. It erupted, washing through her entire body and the Origin of her Soul!

This Reverse-Feed power was dozens of times stronger and dozens of times purer than when Yue Xi and Xuanji nurtured their Sun Bodies!

If the Sun Body's Reverse-Feed was a rushing river, then what she was enduring now was the pouring of an entire ocean!

Under the wash of this power, the universal Laws she had struggled to comprehend for a hundred thousand years—which had always felt separated by an impenetrable thin film—now became clearer than ever before!

The final barrier leading to the Star Arm Level, which had troubled her for nearly ten thousand years, melted away silently like snow under the sun under the impact of this original power containing the mysteries of higher-level life!

Everything fell into place naturally.

Three hours after the embryo formed and the Reverse-Feed began.

The cocoon of flowing moonlight around Yun Xi suddenly contracted inward, as if swallowed by an invisible singularity!

Immediately after, a point of extremely brilliant "light" that could not be described by any color lit up from her glabella!

That "light" was not physical substance, but the manifestation of Laws!

It was the condensation of the Universe's underlying rules!

It was authority... standing above all energy and all matter!

The moment this light of Law appeared, the entire Secret Realm froze!

The flowing moonlight nebula stagnated, the void no longer warped, and time seemed to have been paused!

"It's done...!!!!!"

Yun Xi's heart was filled with excitement. A hundred thousand years of accumulation had finally paid off at this moment. With the help of the Radiant Body embryo's unimaginable Innate Reverse-Feed, she had finally taken this long-dreamed-of step!

Elementary Star Arm Level!

However, this was only the beginning!

That vast Innate Reverse-Feed power did not weaken in the slightest due to her Breakthrough. Instead, because of her leap in life level, she could absorb and carry even more, and it became even more surging and majestic!

According to the information she had pieced together from the oldest and most fragmented ruins and inscriptions:

At Elementary Star Arm Level, condensing "one drop" of Law power is enough to stabilize the Realm.

Intermediate Star Arm Level requires the accumulation of "one bucket's" worth.

Advanced Star Arm Level requires a volume like "a pool."

And Star Arm Peak requires Law power to gather into a continuous "stream"!

The vastness of the Universe is beyond imagination. A single thread of Law possesses earth-shattering power, and a single drop of True Law Origin—condensed from ten thousand threads of Law—is even more incredible!

She could feel that the drop of True Law Origin she had just condensed was growing and solidifying!

This was an Opportunity that only comes once in a hundred million years!

Ordinary Star Arm Level experts might spend tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years of hard work and still not necessarily accumulate "one bucket" of Law!

And yet, she!

She could clearly feel her True Law Origin growing!

This was all thanks to the Radiant Body embryo in her womb!

She must not waste a single second!

Yun Xi's heart tightened as she completely discarded all stray thoughts. Her Soul, like the most greedy sponge, frantically absorbed the Law mysteries and original power contained in the Reverse-Feed torrent, pushing that point of Law light to grow wildly.

At the same instant she broke through to the Star Arm Level and her life level underwent a fundamental leap—

Another mysterious universal rule, like a pre-set program, quietly descended and merged with the Laws she had just condensed.

The Acquired Universe Origin Affinity Period!

This was the "gift period" of the Acquired Sun Body, lasting fifty thousand years, given by the Universe to every expert who broke through to the Star Arm Level through their own ability!

During these fifty thousand years, her speed of comprehending the Universe's Origin would be hundreds or thousands of times faster than usual. It was the golden age for stabilizing her Realm and improving rapidly!

While the tide of Innate Reverse-Feed had not yet stopped, the Acquired Origin Affinity Period had already been added!

Double the joy!

Yun Xi felt as if she were soaking in an ocean of universal Laws. Every thought that turned brought new insights; every breath she took integrated Law power into her body.

She could even faintly feel that the spatial Laws she primarily cultivated and was famous for were beginning to undergo a deeper transformation... It was a slim chance leading toward the legendary Galaxy Level!

To reach Galaxy Level, one must completely comprehend a high-level Law, such as Time, Space, or Karma, and thoroughly fuse it with one's own core Law.

Yun Xi's spatial Laws were indeed one of the high-level Laws!

Time lost its meaning in this frantic cultivation.

Yun Xi was completely immersed in the ultimate pleasure of growing stronger every minute and second.

What Tristan Empire?

What Federation affairs?

In her current perception, the once-powerful enemy Empire and its very existence were like buzzing mosquitoes near a giant's feet—pitifully small, no longer able to stir the slightest ripple in her heart.

With a lifespan of a million years in hand and Star Arm Level power in her body, the Empire... could be destroyed with a wave of her hand!

Right now, nothing was more important than seizing this short sixteen-year Innate Reverse-Feed period and the long fifty-thousand-year affinity period!

...At the same time Yun Xi completed her earth-shattering Breakthrough in the Secret Realm.

Outside Jingsi Hall, in the Core Zone of the Pillar of Leadership.

A supreme directive, signed by Yun Xi herself and released through the core main computer of Jingsi Hall, was clearly transmitted to the terminals of every Stellar Level expert and displayed at the top of the Federation's Supreme Council light screen:

[Leader's Decree]

I have sensed fluctuations in the Origin; the Opportunity has arrived. From this day forward, I shall enter death seclusion deep within Jingsi Hall to comprehend the supreme Laws in hopes of breaking through my Realm.

All Federation affairs shall be decided by the Stellar Level Speakers in accordance with the "Federation Eternal Code."

In cases of indecision or major crisis, the Federation Supreme Council may be convened to reach a joint decision.

During this period, Master of the Sky-Patrol Pavilion Chu Yueyao shall serve as the Acting Leader to coordinate and maintain the operation of the Federation.

This decree takes effect immediately.

—Yun Xi

When the directive was sent out, the entire Pillar of Leaders first fell into a brief silence. Then, an uncontrollable, survivor-like ecstasy and excitement exploded in the hearts of all informed Stellar-level Experts like a supernova!

"Great! The Leader... she finally gave up the idea of self-detonating at the Empire!" In his cultivation room, Great Emperor Panshi, Shi Yue, slammed his fist, almost smashing through the star-steel wall next to him. His tiger-like eyes actually flickered with a few crystalline tears.

He didn't care if Yun Xi could actually break through; what he cared about was that the leader who had guarded the Federation for a hundred thousand years had chosen to live!

Nine Heavens Sword Venerable Li Qingshan was wiping his natal divine sword. Sensing the directive, the corners of his mouth on his normally impassive face curved upward almost imperceptibly. The Sword Qi around him, which had been slightly heavy due to worry, instantly became light and cheerful, emitting a faint hum.

At the Xuntian Pavilion headquarters, Chu Yueyao looked at the directive radiating Yun Xi's unique spiritual imprint. Her tightly strung heartstrings finally relaxed. She leaned back in her chair and let out a long sigh of relief, as if a ten-thousand-ton burden had been lifted. As long as the Leader did not pursue that path of nirvana, she would gladly accept the position of Acting Leader, no matter how hard it was.

Dean Mo Heng was even more excited, pacing back and forth in his laboratory, muttering to himself: "It's good she gave it up! It's good she gave it up! As long as she's alive, there are infinite possibilities! Scientific exploration also needs the Leader's guidance!"

...Everyone thought that Yun Xi had been persuaded by her four Sun Body Disciples to abandon that tragic and decisive "Nirvana Starburst" plan and instead chose death seclusion to seek that slim chance of Breakthrough.

They felt heartfelt relief and joy for this.

No one, not even those four perceptively sharp Sun Body daughters, would have imagined that their teacher was not just "seeking a Breakthrough," but had already successfully broken through!

And she was racing toward Intermediate Star Arm Level and even higher Realms at a speed they could not comprehend!

Even less would anyone have imagined that the source of all this was actually that Mortal they were carefully "serving" and who seemed to have no connection to any of this—Chen Jun.

Yue Xi, Xuan Sha, Su Yuan, and Liu Qing were currently in their respective exclusive cultivation Secret Realms, racing against time to charge at the Star Arm Level Bottleneck.

They felt their teacher's seclusion directive and were likewise filled with relief.

"Teacher finally came around!" Yue Xi opened her eyes amidst the pure sunlight, a smile of relief appearing on her face. "Next, it's up to us! We must break through before Teacher finishes her seclusion and give her a massive surprise!"

Xuan Sha brandished her fists wrapped in red-gold Battle Intent and swore to the void: "I must break through! When the time comes, I'll personally go to the Empire's imperial city, twist off that whatever Empress's head, and give it to Teacher as a gift for her emergence!"

Su Yuan and Liu Qing did not speak, but the determination and resolve in their eyes were not inferior to their two older sisters.

They were holding their breath, determined to break through with their own strength to share their teacher's burdens and hold up a piece of the sky for the Federation.

They had no idea that the teacher they were determined to catch up to and protect was already standing at the Realm of their dreams... Inside Chen Jun Manor.

Chen Jun had just finished modifying the details of Dean Mo Heng's "1087th Comfort Optimization Plan for the Fully Immersive Game Pod." He was lying leisurely on a rocking chair, enjoying a "Seven-Colored Exquisite Fruit" sliced by Li Qingshan's Sword Qi.

He seemed to be resting with his eyes closed, but in reality, his mind was immersed in the System interface that no one could spy on.

[Remaining Lifespan]: 536 years... +11... +11... When he saw the numbers after [Remaining Lifespan] quietly jump from "+10 seconds/second" to "+11 seconds/second," an uncontrollable curve rose at the corner of Chen Jun's mouth.

Although he had consumed 100 years of lifespan, this return on investment was terrifyingly high!

More importantly, he had successfully broken the dead end of his fabricated "special Physique"!

With Yun Xi as a living, explosive example, whether it was persuading his wife Lin Wei or opening another source in the future, he now had the most powerful evidence!

At the thought of Lin Wei's potentially shocked, enlightened, and shyly annoyed adorable look after learning the truth, Chen Jun couldn't help but chuckle out loud.

Of course, this had to be done slowly; he couldn't rush it.

For now, Yun Xi was in seclusion for her Breakthrough, the Federation was stable, his daughters were working hard, and his lifespan was steadily increasing... everything was moving in a good direction... Chen Jun blissfully took a bite of the fruit flesh, which had been evenly divided into thirty-six slices by Sword Qi. The juice was sweet and the energy was abundant.

He squinted his eyes, looking at the azure sky simulated on the artificial canopy of the Pillar of Leaders, but his thoughts had already drifted to a further future.

He had already begun to fantasize about holding the countless new children he and Lin Wei would have, with innumerable descendants... the Multiple Benefits effect would be endless, and with a flick of his finger, star rivers would go silent... what a wonderful scene that would be?

Right now, all he cared about was his own path to invincible longevity and... how to make this long life even more rich and colorful.

"The road ahead is long and arduous, and I will seek high and low... Hahaha!"

Chen Jun laughed heartily three times in his heart, feeling that his life had reached a new climax...