The Last Sentinel

"The energy reserves of the thirteen guilds in Jinling City are running low, and we have connected them to the energy reserves of the thirteen sub-regions of Jinling Domain."

"The General Affairs Department has issued an order to open up inter-stellar energy transmission channels in five regions: Guangdong, Guangxi, Shandong, and Yuzhou."

"According to the [General Treatise on Martial Arts of the Ming Dynasty], Ye Feng's Qi and Blood value has exceeded 20 billion, and continues to break through: 20.5 billion, 21 billion, 22 billion..."

At this moment, Yang Jinshui, standing in front of the converter, was in a state of profound confusion, feeling both hysterical and self-aware.

One hundred million Qi and Blood Points for Ascension is the threshold for a martial arts genius who appears only once in ten thousand years.

And this guy is adding a once-in-a-millennium martial arts genius every second!

Once upon a time, a martial arts genius who appeared only once in ten thousand years was enough to alarm the high-ranking officials and generals of the two capitals and thirteen regions. As soon as one was discovered, the Imperial Academy was immediately ordered to incorporate him into the Ming Dynasty's core military reserve.

Now, even a martial arts genius who appears only once in ten thousand years is just a unit of measurement in front of Ye Feng.

At this rate of growth, what is his upper limit?

30 billion? No, that's as simple as drinking water.

50 billion? That's very likely!

100 billion? A martial arts legend?

If one can attain the status of a martial arts legend, it means that after Zhang Sanfeng, the second land-based immortal figure in the Ming Dynasty will appear!

The threshold for becoming a martial arts legend is 10 billion units of Qi and Blood!

Just then, a melodious and majestic recitation of poetry echoed from the white sky behind us.

"Once I was in heaven for three thousand kalpas, and then I spent five hundred years on earth."

"The sword at his waist flashes like purple lightning, while the flames of elixir rise like blue smoke from the furnace."

"Having just ridden a white deer across the sea of ​​stars, I now ride a green ox into the celestial cave."

"These are mere trifles, meant for casual conversation; no one knows I am a true immortal."

Upon hearing the chanting, Yang Jinshui immediately bowed his head to the ground and respectfully said, "Yang Jinshui of the Imperial Household Department pays respects to the Nine Heavens Propagating Teachings, Universally Saving Living Beings, Master of Yin and Yang, Merit and Demerit, Great Dao, Benevolent Immortal, Purple Extreme Immortal, One Yang True Man, Primordial Void, Profound Response, Enlightenment, Subduing Demons, Loyal and Filial Emperor!"

In the backdrop of the sky, the ancestor Huang Jin excitedly exclaimed, "Your Majesty, this child has steadily reached 30 billion! 30 billion! And the growth rate hasn't slowed down! It's still steadily increasing!"

Jiajing's voice was languid yet tinged with a hint of authority: "Shun" "To ascend to immortality by reversing the natural order—the mystery lies in the act of inversion."

"To evade the will of Heaven and avoid cause and effect, the shackles of the heavens bind the true self."

"Following the will of Heaven and accepting the consequences of karma, I finally know who I am today."

"Once you attain enlightenment and see your true self, what fear is there of the old shackles?"

"The shackles of this world are but a dream, formless, shapeless, and without self."

After these words, there was a moment of silence.

Faced with Jiajing, the greatest riddle master of the Ming Dynasty, all the officials of the Ming Dynasty trembled with fear, unable to understand the meaning of Jiajing's words, and dared not say anything more.

Fortunately, an aged voice replied, "For five thousand years, without the protection of the source, geniuses withered, prodigies faded, and the chosen ones of destiny ceased to appear. It was only thanks to His Majesty's enlightenment of the Heavenly Dao, the reconstruction of the Jade Capital, and the worship of the Twelve True Gods of Mountains and Rivers that the Great Ming Dynasty was blessed, allowing it to rebound and usher in change. Now, three billion super martial arts geniuses have emerged, a blessing for our Great Ming Dynasty and a testament to His Majesty's protection!"

Upon hearing this, Jiajing's tone became somewhat pleased. "As Grand Secretary Yan said, what kind of achievements do you think this young man can attain?"

Grand Secretary Yan said, "In my humble opinion, a prodigy with a net worth of 50 billion is the least desirable, a child of destiny with a net worth of 80 billion is possible, and a martial arts legend with a net worth of 100 billion is unlikely."

Another middle-aged man spoke up, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, this boy is at most a child of eight billion in destiny, and apart from Zhang Sanfeng, there is no one else who can match his potential for a hundred billion in martial arts legends!"

"Your Majesty, I, Zhang Juzheng, believe that this child's breakthrough to the 'Child of Destiny' level of 8 billion is a certainty, and a martial arts legend worth 10 billion is not impossible!"

"Zhang Shentong, you're overthinking it. Master Zhang is the number one martial arts legend of our Great Ming Dynasty, a martial arts legend born under the protection of the source! Now that the source is severed and gone, how could a martial arts legend possibly emerge!"

"Young Grand Secretary, you are mistaken. His Majesty prays for the White Jade Capital, and with hundreds of millions of people in the Ming Dynasty, it is only natural that a martial arts legend would emerge!"

"Zhang Prodigy, your martial arts level seems to be inferior to mine!"

"Young Grand Secretary's realm is indeed high. He can shoulder the responsibility of two capitals and thirteen provinces on a physical level by his own strength. I, Zhang Juzheng, am ashamed of my inferiority. But at most, Young Grand Secretary is just a Ming Dynasty prodigy with a capital of fifty billion. In matters of martial arts, each level is a world apart. Young Grand Secretary, do not laugh at the magnificent moon with the eyes of a frog in a well!"

"Zhang Shentong, do you want to challenge me to a duel?"

"I, Zhang Juzheng, speak justly and am not afraid of threats. If the Grand Secretary wishes to challenge me to a duel, then let's settle this matter after court by arranging a battle in a star field!"

"..."

As the saying goes, the most sophisticated official struggles are often conducted in the most straightforward way. In the Ming Dynasty, civil officials were known for their willingness to fight anyone who disagreed with them. It was common for civil officials to throw punches and military generals to deliver flying kicks. This was a true physical level of "getting along well" with colleagues.

Jiajing not only did not stop it, but even fanned the flames.

Jiajing laughed, "Since neither side is satisfied, how about this? Let's make a bet. If this boy can break through the 10 billion martial arts legend threshold, then the Yan faction will pay for all of Ye Feng's resource consumption this time! If this boy cannot break through the 10 billion martial arts legend threshold, then the Qingliu faction will pay for all of Ye Feng's consumption!"

After these words were spoken, both sides fell silent.

In the end, they were outmaneuvered by the emperor.

What the hell kind of logic is this?!

Regardless of whether Ye Feng is a martial arts legend or not, he is Jiajing's pawn, your man.

What the hell?! They're using our resources to cultivate Jiajing's people!

Your Majesty, can't you act like a human being?

Is that even human language you're talking about?

Aren't you just trying to screw us over?

Jiajing's words killed the game, and the atmosphere became quiet.

Time passed second by second, and finally, inside the transformation furnace, the golden-white, ethereal, and transparent ascendant Ye Feng stirred, his fingers trembling slightly.

Seeing this, Yan Shifan couldn't help but say, "He's waking up. It seems the ascension ceremony is about to end. 55 billion, that's not bad. Zhang Prodigy, you'd better prepare to take out a loan to pay off your debts!"

Zhang Juzheng said, "Not necessarily, young Grand Secretary, don't be too happy yet. You've already made this deal!"

Not long after they finished speaking, their Qi and Blood stats reached 60 billion, and the data was still steadily increasing.

Ye Feng's body in the conversion furnace had changed from a transparent, golden-white state where his bones and organs were visible to a pale white state. The organs and blood vessels under his skin could no longer be seen, and his whole body seemed to have transformed from an embryonic form into a human being.

"70 billion!" Zhang Juzheng's voice was melodious. "Is the young Grand Secretary panicking? If so, admit defeat now, and I'm willing to petition His Majesty to withdraw the bet."

Yan Shifan's voice was cold and harsh, "Zhang Prodigy, don't be so smug, we haven't reached the final 10 billion mark yet!"

"80 billion! Look! Ye Feng's hair is starting to grow! Wait, why is his hair silver-white? Something's not right! Isn't it supposed to be black?"

"Can't you be a little more discerning? They've already broken through the limits of the Chosen One. Aren't it normal for Chosen Ones to have features like heterochromia, white hair, and western-looking eyes?"

"That's right. Without these extraordinary signs, how can one say that the other party is a prodigy or a chosen one of destiny?"

Huang Jin kept repeating, "90 billion! 91 billion! 91.5 billion! 91.8 billion... The pace has slowed down!"

Yan Shifan said, "Look, this guy is almost in his complete form. According to the usual ascension process, he has already completed the ascension procedure. It's a pity he stopped at 92 billion, still 800 million short of the 10 billion martial arts legend! Zhang Prodigy, have you thought about selling your house and taking out a loan?"

Zhang Juzheng said coldly, "Don't rush. As long as the infusion continues, there's still a chance to break through the threshold of a 10 billion martial arts legend!"

Yan Shifan said, "Alright, then let you give up completely. Let's continue watching!"

Inside the transformation furnace, Ye Feng was completely transformed. Compared to his previous 1.8-meter-tall deliveryman model, he had undergone a tremendous change. First of all, his height had exceeded 2.5 meters, and his body proportions had reached the perfect golden ratio. His fish-man lines were clearly visible to the naked eye, with eight-pack abs, long arms and a wolf waist. Every muscle line was firm yet streamlined. His silver-white eyebrows and long silver hair exuded the luster of metallic silver. From any angle, he could be regarded as the ultimate creation of carbon-based life, the pinnacle of aesthetics.

But is this the pinnacle?

No, not yet!

All that could be seen was Ye Feng in the transformation furnace, his body slowly rising, then he lowered his head, raised his left hand, and put his ring and middle fingers together, aiming them at the center of his forehead. The next moment, visible golden-white ripples appeared on Ye Feng's chest, his white hair on his back suddenly flew up, and his muscles suddenly expanded, his originally streamlined, thin muscles suddenly swelled up, and he entered the form of a steel man!

As Ye Feng transformed, his almost stagnant Qi and Blood levels began to surge: 92 billion, 92.5 billion, 93 billion, 93.5 billion...

Huang Jin exclaimed excitedly, "His Majesty's blessings have spread throughout the Ming Dynasty. It is all thanks to His Majesty that a new martial arts legend has been born..."

Jiajing simply read aloud, "Suspend all communication signals of the Empire, broadcast the martial arts legend's advancement footage to all media, put the Empire on silent, and listen to the sound of its heartbeat."

"yes!"

"All Imperial media outlets have been granted broadcasting privileges!"

"All communication and entertainment signals have been cut off. The entire Ming Empire has entered a state of war silence!"

Legally, when an embryo produces its first heartbeat after 21 days, it means that the life is no longer just a cell, but a natural person protected by law.

Just twenty-one seconds into the premiere, the sound of a heartbeat was heard, and Ye Feng's new life was officially unveiled.

The heartbeat was deep and rhythmic, accompanied by visible golden-white ripples that surged in all directions to the west.

A heartbeat, and the golden-white shockwave of life spreads for hundreds of meters!

The second heartbeat, and golden-white shockwave ripples swept across ten thousand meters!

The third heartbeat, a golden-white shockwave rippled outwards for 100,000 meters, bursting out of the armory and converging in the sky above the Eastern Depot!

The sound of the shockwave spread to one-tenth of the top of Jinling City!

The fifth sound was heard as millions of citizens of Jinling City looked up and saw layers of golden-white shockwaves rushing westward in all directions, heading straight for the eighteen districts of Jinling territory...

At the same time, his hair changed from its previous smooth silver-white to a golden hedgehog-like shape, his bones made crisp cracking sounds, his body grew taller again, breaking through three meters, and every muscle on his body seemed to radiate a golden halo like marble!

"Ten billion!"

Huang Jin was so excited he was incoherent, "One hundred billion! Finally one hundred billion! It's broken! A martial arts legend! A new martial arts legend is born!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations to the Great Ming Dynasty! After the passing of Master Zhang Sanfeng, the lineage has been severed. After five thousand years of vicissitudes, the Great Ming Dynasty welcomes its second martial arts legend!"

The court officials all respectfully exclaimed, "Your Majesty is wise and sagacious; Heaven blesses the Ming Dynasty!"

At the same time, his hair changed from its previous smooth silver-white to a golden hedgehog-like shape, his bones made crisp cracking sounds, his body grew taller again, breaking through three meters, and every muscle on his body seemed to radiate a golden halo like marble!

"Ten billion!"

Huang Jin was so excited he was incoherent, "One hundred billion! Finally one hundred billion! It's broken! A martial arts legend! A new martial arts legend is born!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations to the Great Ming Dynasty! After the passing of Master Zhang Sanfeng, the lineage has been severed. After five thousand years of vicissitudes, the Great Ming Dynasty welcomes its second martial arts legend!"

The court officials all respectfully exclaimed, "Your Majesty is wise and sagacious; Heaven blesses the Ming Dynasty!"

At the same time, his hair changed from its previous smooth silver-white to a golden hedgehog-like shape, his bones made crisp cracking sounds, his body grew taller again, breaking through three meters, and every muscle on his body seemed to radiate a golden halo like marble!

"Ten billion!"

Huang Jin was so excited he was incoherent, "One hundred billion! Finally one hundred billion! It's broken! A martial arts legend! A new martial arts legend is born!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations to the Great Ming Dynasty! After the passing of Master Zhang Sanfeng, the lineage has been severed. After five thousand years of vicissitudes, the Great Ming Dynasty welcomes its second martial arts legend!"

The court officials all respectfully exclaimed, "Your Majesty is wise and sagacious; Heaven blesses the Ming Dynasty!"