The Last Sentinel

Fireworks lingered, and snowflakes drifted down.

Ye Feng started talking, "If we're talking about the Ming Dynasty and the desolate universe, we have to mention our planet. Our planet is a very strange existence. Its timeline is unique and doesn't match any other universe or outer space. To put it bluntly, tens of thousands of years may have passed in other dimensions, but time may not have moved at all on our Blue Star. Thousands of years may have passed in the Milky Way and the desolate universe, but only one Jiajing 42nd year may have passed on Blue Star."

Zhao Donglai, sprinkling seasoning on the grilled meat, said, "I know what I'm doing. Let's get straight to the point! The Yongle Encyclopedia!"

Holding the file in his hand, Ye Feng pondered for a moment and said, "The Yongle Encyclopedia was completed during the reign of Zhu Di. The era in which Judy lived corresponds roughly to the end of the Second Insect Catastrophe and the period before the Third Mechanical Frenzy Catastrophe in the myriad worlds."

"From the perspective of the various dimensions, this period of time is a time of true vitality, an era in which all things flourish."

"The aftermath of the Second Zerg Cataclysm has faded, and the Third Mechanical Surge Cataclysm has yet to arrive. All civilizations believe that this is a peaceful and prosperous era in the multiverse, and that it will become an eternal period of happiness for the multiverse."

"Civilizations during this historical period were very hospitable and enthusiastic about trade, and Judy responded positively by sending Zheng He's fleet to begin foreign trade."

"The first two foreign trade operations took place within the territory of Earth, while the third to ninth operations were conducted in outer space."

At this moment, the Great Wall Watch interrupted, "To be precise, the third to ninth times were in the desolate universe, and they went to the myriad worlds of the universe."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Donglai couldn't help but ask, "Wait, during the Ming Dynasty, were all the realms interconnected? Could people travel between them?"

Ye Feng said, "Yes, to be precise, during the first catastrophe, the Chaos Catastrophe, and the second catastrophe, the myriad worlds were interconnected, and all universes could communicate with each other. However, after the third catastrophe, the Mechanical Frenzy, the myriad worlds were completely sealed off and separated. While the God of Myriad Machines was spreading their mechanical materialism theory, they also forcibly altered the dimensional barriers of the myriad worlds. This is why many of our powerful transmigrators went there safely but could not return."

Zhao Donglai asked, "What stage of our civilization does the first era of chaotic natural disaster correspond to?"

Ye Feng said, "According to the 'Great Star's Extraterrestrial History' and 'Pre-Qin Philosophers's History of Star Observation' in the archives, it's roughly around the time of Pangu creating the world!"

Zhao Donglai asked, "Did you participate in the great war of primordial chaos when Pangu created the world? Ah!"

Great Wall Watcher slapped Zhao Donglai across the face, annoyed. "Why are you spouting so much nonsense? Do you think you have the right to ask about things like this? All day long! Let's go get some barbecue!"

Zhao Donglai shook his head helplessly and continued grilling the meat.

How could the dignified Speaker of the People's League Senate be treated like this before!

Ye Feng said, "Zheng He made nine voyages through the myriad worlds. During this process, Zheng He keenly sensed the crisis in the myriad worlds, namely the rise of the third natural disaster, the mechanical frenzy. Zheng He informed Zhu Di of this intelligence, and Zhu Di ordered Zheng He to collect relevant information and make timely preparations to ensure that the Ming Dynasty could be at the forefront of the myriad worlds after the next natural disaster. Thus, the compilation of the Yongle Encyclopedia began."

"The Yongle Encyclopedia incorporates two themes: ancient Ming Dynasty mechanical arts and cosmic technology."

"During this time, Zheng He encountered a technologically advanced civilization that had mastered the technology to miniaturize Dyson spheres and create miniature Anywhere Doors!"

"If I remember correctly," said the Great Wall Watcher, "this Anywhere Door technology is a small-scale regional teleportation technology developed based on Stargate teleportation technology, right?"

"Hmm!" Ye Feng said, "The level of a civilization depends on its resource extraction technology. According to the current level of technological civilization, the technological symbol of a 1.0 civilization is an orbital ring, the technological symbol of a 2.0 civilization is a star-demolition machine, the technological symbol of a 3.0 civilization is a Dyson cloud, the technological symbol of a 4.0 civilization is a Dyson sphere, and the technological symbol of a 5.0 civilization is stargate construction, wormhole warp, and hyperspace mining."

Zhao Donglai said, "If a level 5.0 civilization can build stargates, then the one you're talking about that has mastered miniature any-way door technology must be at least a level 6.0, or even 7.0, technological civilization?"

Ye Feng said, "The information doesn't specify the exact technological level of the civilization Zheng He encountered. It only details that this technological civilization clearly predicted that soon, with the collapse of the first god of all machines, Okarah, the third cataclysm would arrive. When the mechanical cataclysm arrives, the connection between all the worlds will be broken, and the universe will enter the Dark Age of Machines."

Zheng He asked the other party, "So, does that mean you will become a natural disaster?"

"This technological civilization is very rational. It claims that it does not believe in Okarach. On the contrary, it is Okarach's opponent, a rational and orderly mechanical civilization, rather than a follower of Okarach's frenzied mechanical frenzy. Rather than saying that you, Zheng He, found us, it would be more accurate to say that we found you, Zheng He."

"Our lineage of reason and order will eventually be devoured by the Okarach, but the mechanical frenzy is not invincible. The Third Calamity will eventually be replaced by the Fourth Calamity, and what the Fourth Calamity is, the Okarach knows, and so do we."

Zhao Donglai couldn't help but say, "After all this rambling, I still don't understand what this civilization has left us."

Ye Feng said, "He left us with four questions. First, π cannot be calculated to its full extent, and cause and effect cannot be reincarnated. Second, the speed of light cannot be exceeded, and time cannot be reversed. Third, the end of entropy increase is heat death, and the end of the universe is annihilation. Fourth, quantum mechanics and the Fermi paradox, and the subjective and objective uncertainties of interference experiments."

Zhao Donglai said, "What's the use of solving these four problems? Will they end the Third Mechanical Frenzy?"

The Great Wall Watcher chuckled, "Perhaps, we can unleash the Fourth Calamity!"

Zhao Donglai asked, "The first Chaos Cataclysm created the world, the second Zerg Cataclysm revived spiritual energy, and the third Mechanical Cataclysm gave birth to the mechanical civilizations of the heavens. What will the fourth Cataclysm accomplish?"

Ye Feng thought for a moment, "Integrate and synthesize, and advance both mechanics and spiritual energy simultaneously."

Zhao Donglai blinked. "Is it that abstract? What should we name it?"

Great Wall Watcher picked up a sizzling, oily lamb chop skewer. "Let's call it the High Martial Era! First Cataclysm: Chaos Era; Second Cataclysm: Zerg Era; Third Cataclysm: Mechanical Era; Fourth Cataclysm: High Martial Era! Perfect! Come on, let's eat!"

Ye Feng took the grilled meat and asked, "What is Han in the Great Xia nation?"

Zhao Donglai said, "Because there was a boastful empire called Han!"

Ye Feng shook his head.

Zhao Donglai asked, "Because Liu Bang was the King of Hanzhong?"

Ye Feng shook his head.

Zhao Donglai said, "Because there is a river called Han River in the territory of the King of Hanzhong."

Ye Feng shook his head again.

The Great Wall Watcher said, "The Book of Songs says, 'Only the Milky Way is in the sky, and its light shines brightly.' The Milky Way is the stars, and the sky is the night sky; the universe is the sky, and the stars are the Milky Way. The Milky Way and the Heavenly Stars are the offspring of the stars in the universe. We are a race from another planet, and our ultimate goal is to return to the universe."

Changcheng Shouwang and Zhao Donglai looked towards where Ye Feng was sitting. The barbecue was laid out on the table, but Ye Feng had vanished without a trace.

Zhao Donglai looked at Ye Feng's seat. "He's just leaving like that?"

"What else?" said the Great Wall Watcher. "Since he came to say goodbye, he could leave at any time."

Zhao Donglai remarked with a sigh, "Is he really going to venture into the desolate universe all by himself?"

The Great Wall Watcher stood up and said, "How could he be alone? So many enemies are waiting for him: Charles Darwin, the Nameless Machine God Hundred-Ton King, as well as Luo Ji, Zhang Beihai, Zheng He, Tang Xuanzang, Lao Tzu, and the civilizations and enemies offended by the Ming, Tang, and Qin dynasties are all waiting for him!"

"Don't worry, our civilization has survived for so long, we may not have much else, but our enemies will certainly have plenty."

"With our civilized society, we will never be lonely, no matter where we go."