The Last Sentinel

A simple "comrade" was enough to open the hearts of two extremely shrewd individuals, quickly establishing a fairly solid bond of friendship between two of the most cautious people.

But Ye Feng also understood that Jiajing's use of the word "comrade" had limitations.

It doesn't mean that just because Jiajing called you "comrade," you, Ye Feng, became a peerless king of the Ming Empire.

Rather, it means that when you and I are alone, I, Zhu Houcong, will not put on airs or engage in superficial projects; we will treat each other as equals. However, in the presence of a third party, you will still have to address me as the Emperor.

As the saying goes, you refer to someone by their job title when you're at work; that's the point.

After a few cups of warm tea, the atmosphere became harmonious.

Jiajing rose, walked with his hands behind his back, and said unhurriedly, "I know you have many doubts and want to ask many questions, but I have to tell you that I cannot answer most of the questions you want to know, or rather, it seems that I cannot give you the answers at present!"

Ye Feng looked at Jiajing, "Why?"

Jiajing said, "Three reasons."

"Firstly, there are some questions you want to ask that I'm not sure about myself. I don't know how reliable the intelligence I possess is, so I can't tell you."

"Secondly, there are some questions you want answered. Not only do you want to know, but those guys who killed Sentinel Lin Qilin also want to know. And those guys might be right next to you and me. They know everything, so I can't tell you."

"Thirdly, and most importantly, telling you the answer now will only fuel your inner rage and anger, and will not benefit your current cultivation in any way."

The three reasons Jiajing gave were quite valid, especially the second reason, which mentioned that the accomplice who killed the sentry was hiding in the chat group. At that time, Hongmeng's First Affection and Wuji Demon Lord had repeatedly warned that there was a traitor in the chat group.

Ye Feng poured himself a cup of tea and then asked, "So, what can you tell me?"

Jiajing clapped his hands and said, "I have quite a lot to tell you! First, I want to give you two books!"

Light and shadow flickered in front of Ye Feng, and two books appeared out of thin air.

Both books are ancient handwritten copies with brush and ink marks.

One book is titled "Cosmic Prison Theory: Pillars of Creation," and another is titled "Cosmic Embryo Theory: Supreme Arena."

Ye Feng raised his hand and picked up the "Cosmic Prison Theory" to open it.

"Wait!" Jiajing said, "Don't read these two books here, go outside and read them!"

Ye Feng put down his book and said, "Thank you."

Jiajing said, "Secondly, let me give you a safety reminder. Back then, there were three groups of people who caused the deaths of the sentries. If they could target Lin Qilin, they could target you just as easily."

Ye Feng said, "Your Majesty, please make this clear."

Jiajing paced back and forth, "The first wave, which is also the direct culprit that caused the Sentinels' deaths, is the ancient order of the heavens and the rules of the heavens. That is, the supreme giants and nobles of the ancient vested interest groups. This wave of people are enemies who directly attacked the Sentinels, but due to the existence of the heavenly barrier, they cannot currently manifest to attack you in our universe. You don't need to worry too much."

"The second wave consists of corrupted and defecting transmigrator giants, those traitorous transmigrators hidden among us. After they went to the myriad worlds, they did not want to go home, nor did they want other transmigrators to come to their universe. They wanted to remain the supreme rulers of the universe forever and not be overtaken by the transmigrators from their homeland. Therefore, they vehemently opposed the return of the Sentinels. These corrupted traitors betrayed the Sentinels, joined forces with the old rules, and ambushed the Sentinels."

Ye Feng looked at Jiajing, "Where is the third group?"

With his back to Ye Feng, Jiajing uttered two words: "Sentinel. What is a sentinel? Anchoring coordinates, with the heavens as guides."

"The ancestral star is racing wildly at the edge of the universe at a speed of 220 kilometers per second. Without the anchor coordinates of the sentinels, the ancestral star will lose its position. In order to imprint this ancestral star coordinates..."

"And so, the sentinels appeared."

Ye Feng looked at Jiajing, "Sentinels? Your Majesty means that there were sentinels before Lin Qilin appeared, and that Lin Qilin wasn't the first sentinel!"

Jiajing paced back and forth and said, "But you, Ye Feng, will be the last sentinel."

Conversations between intelligent people are simple and ordinary.

Unlike the corrupted transmigrators and the old-fashioned aristocratic system, the profession of Sentinel is inherently problematic. Perhaps Sentinels were not originally anchored at the coordinates of returning home; they had other uses.

However, Lin Qilin betrayed the Sentinel class, which led to a dramatic reversal in the entire Sentinel profession.

If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too. Lin Qilin betrayed the Sentinels, while Ye Feng believed that betrayal was the right path. Therefore, in the eyes of the other Sentinels, Ye Feng was a traitor.

Jiajing's words were very straightforward: you and Lin Qilin are both outliers among the Sentinels, and after you, the Sentinels will not allow Sentinels like you who only want to go home to appear again. The Sentinel profession will return to normal. You are Lin Qilin's successor, and also the last successor of this branch of Sentinels who go home.

Ye Feng looked at Jiajing and said, "Your Majesty means that Lin Qilin and I are seen as outcasts by the Sentinels, as traitors to the Sentinel profession!"

Jiajing said in a deep voice, "What they think is not important. What is important is how you see yourself."

Ye Feng laughed: "In my view, betrayal and loyalty are the same thing. The key is who wins! Lin Qilin lost, therefore, Lin Qilin is a traitor. If I, Ye Feng, had won, they would be traitors!"

There is no absolutely fair standard in this world to judge right and wrong! There is only strength and weakness!

"In the battle at Xuanwu Gate, Li Shimin won, therefore Li Shimin is the Heavenly Khan, the most powerful carbon-based life form of the 7th century! Without a doubt!"

"At Xiangji Temple, let's fight it out! Whoever wins is a loyal soldier of the Tang Dynasty, and the loser is a rebel!"

"The same principle applies. The Sentinel profession is based on anchoring the heavens. Since I've chosen this profession, I'm not afraid of those Sentinel predecessors. At worst, the heavens clash, the myriad worlds battle. Whoever loses is a disgrace to the Sentinels, a traitor to the Sentinels!"

Jiajing clapped his hands, his laughter ringing out. "You've got guts! You've got personality! If Lin Qilin had half your guts back then, he wouldn't have been so passive later on! You've got character, kid. I admire your guts to flip the table at the drop of a hat!"

Ye Feng said, "I dare not accept such praise. I am just an ordinary ant-like deliveryman. Even if I lose all my power now, I have nothing to regret. But my former sentinels may not have the same courage as me. They are just like the barefoot who are not afraid of those wearing shoes. If they gamble with me, they should be prepared for the outcome of mutual destruction."

Jiajing asked, "Finally, is there anything else you'd like to say?"

Ye Feng stood up, his expression resolute, and said in a clear voice, "As a sentinel who is the executor of the [Wanderer Project], I, Ye Feng, firmly believe that it is only natural for wanderers to return home. Nothing can stop wanderers from returning home, whether it is the desolation of the universe or the calamity that brings death to all races in the myriad realms. I don't care. To borrow a phrase from the Human Alliance, no sacrifice is too great to bear, and no betrayal is too small to be tolerated."

"Whether these three groups call me selfish or stubborn, I will resolutely carry out the mission that the previous sentry failed to complete—to bring the wanderers home!"

"As for whether to complete the last 0.01% of the homecoming map so that the wanderer can follow the star path home on his own, or whether I should lead the ancestral star to break through the fourth wall to bring the wanderer home, let's talk about that later."

The Emperor Jiajing's figure blurred. "I'll give you one last piece of advice."

"Beyond the six directions, the sage remains silent."

"Within the six directions, the sage discusses but does not debate."

"Finally, I wish you, young hero, great success in your martial arts endeavors and unparalleled victories!"

The Jiajing Emperor rode a crane, soared into the sky, and disappeared.

This scene seemed utterly absurd to Ye Feng.

He had just told himself to believe in science and physics, when he suddenly disappeared on a crane.

Damn, the Jiajing Emperor truly deserves to be called the Ming Dynasty's number one double standard dog, number one riddle person, and number one old swindler.

What did Jiajing mean by those two sentences he gave him?

Beyond the six directions, the sage remains silent.

Within the six directions, the sage discusses but does not debate.

The literal translation is that the sage reserves his opinion and does not discuss matters outside of heaven and earth, while he discusses matters within heaven and earth but does not comment on them.

On a deeper level, this means not interfering in matters that don't concern you. Before you meddle, consider your own capabilities; you can't afford to bear the consequences of others' actions.

Ye Feng considered his recent situation and concluded that Jiajing might be warning him to distance himself from his Seven Warlords of the Sea.

The Seven Warlords of the Sea are no longer pawns whose fates I can control. They have embarked on their own paths of destiny. Whether it's Hua Xiaobai, Brother Babai, or anyone else, they must be responsible for their own future karmic paths, and I have no need to interfere.

In plain terms, Jiajing knew that the Seven Warlords of the Sea wanted to revive the three great dynasties of Tang, Qin, and Han, and that he wanted to see them appear together. However, Jiajing was worried that Ye Feng would interfere with the Seven Warlords' plans, so this was a reminder not to interfere with the appearance of the three great dynasties.

Ye Feng rose and bowed deeply towards the empty Zhenwu Hall, saying, "Your subject, Ye Feng, Compiler and Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy, bids farewell to Your Majesty!"