The Last Sentinel

"Aren't you afraid they'll resort to desperate measures if you do this?"

"Fear is real, but a cornered dog will only act out of unity. If they were united, they would have destroyed the carbon-based universe long ago. Why would they allow it to survive until now? Therefore, there is no unity within the myriad worlds; they are merely a group of self-serving individuals who have formed an alliance out of fear of annihilation! The ominous signs of the Red-Haired Curse are like a blood-dripping sword hanging over the necks of many. I don't believe any powerful being would willingly destroy themselves for the safety of their race!"

"They all say that Hua Xiaobai is a strategist, but in my opinion, Ye Feng, you are the real strategist."

"The principles of strategic thinking are too far removed from my understanding. I simply handed them the knife, leaving them with the choice between the death of my fellow Daoists and the death of myself."

Inside the command tent, the leader was nearly thirty years old, his figure as heavy as a mountain, his face cold and hard, his eyes sharp and piercing, and an old scar on his forehead hinting at a murderous aura. His short beard was neatly trimmed, and he usually sat silently. His black iron armor exuded an intimidating presence, and without uttering a word, he displayed the awe-inspiring authority of someone who commanded thousands of troops.

This man was none other than Li Wenzhong, the maternal nephew of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the maternal grandfather of the current emperor Zhu Houcong, the city lord of Baidi City, and the commander-in-chief of the three armies.

It's hard to imagine that the young general who used to blush when talking to girls in Nanjing is now around thirty years old, with graying temples, and no longer resembles the man who once conquered the grasslands.

Li Wenzhong sized up the young man before him. "The Empire has received intelligence that you have been ambushed by the myriad realms. Is there anything the Empire can do to help you?"

Ye Feng shook his head. "No, my affairs are too complicated for the Empire to handle. Those old fogies are too difficult to deal with."

"Hmm," Li Wenzhong said, "Regardless, you've fulfilled your promise to protect the Sword Qi Great Wall this time. Your mission is complete. What are your plans now?"

Ye Feng said, "The myriad realms have launched a massive project targeting me. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I will disappear."

"Disappear?" Li Wenzhong stood up and asked, "Where are you going?"

Ye Feng shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Li Wenzhong asked, "Is it possible for it not to disappear?"

Ye Feng smiled wryly, "They've already started implementing it, and it's about to succeed. Besides, I'm quite interested in their plan against me; I want to go and play along!"

Li Wenzhong pondered for a moment and then asked, "So, what are the chances of winning?"

"It's fifty to fifty," Ye Feng said. "Neither I nor the myriad worlds have an absolute chance of winning this scheme. General, there's no need to worry. Both the Empire and the Perfect Continent Martial Arts Academy are operating perfectly and efficiently. Even without my Sentinels, it won't affect the rise of the carbon-based universe."

"That's true, we have nothing now," Li Wenzhong said. "But without you, the Empire and Blue Star have lost their direction."

Ye Feng said, "The sentries will not be cut off, sir, please rest assured."

Li Wenzhong stood up. "I, Li Wenzhong, have nothing to help you with. Those resources are probably beneath your notice. I'll offer you a final cup of wine. As you journey far away, may you peacefully overcome your tribulation. With me at the Sword Qi Great Wall, all will be well!"

"Thank you for your kind words, sir," Ye Feng said. "But sir, why is there no sword energy on the Great Wall?"

Li Wenzhong smiled wryly, "The Great Wall lost its sword aura a long time ago, just like me. A person can't stay sixteen forever. The Ming Empire has existed for so many years, but the Great Wall of Sword Aura has existed even longer than the empire. It's already a miracle that it still exists. How can I return to being sixteen?"

"Why not?" Ye Feng asked, glancing sideways. "I can make you all go back to being sixteen!"

Li Wenzhong was taken aback. "Is this really true?"

Ye Feng smiled and said, "Sir, have you ever heard of time travel?"

Li Wenzhong said, "Of course, time can flow backward and one can become young again, but time is an attribute of the fourth dimension or higher, and it is an unobservable attribute. Even civilizations of the fourth dimension or higher can only see the end of time, but cannot change the flow of time."

"Your Excellency is mistaken," Ye Feng said. "You must have heard of the black box experiment. If you put a banana in a box and then seal the box, the banana inside will quickly rot and turn into particles, which then become energy. But if you give it enough time, these particles that make up the banana will eventually turn back into the banana it was before."

"Strictly speaking, the concept of time as a law is an ideal concept subjectively created by intelligent life. Time itself does not exist; what exists is only the increase of entropy. According to the second law of thermodynamics, the increase of entropy is irreversible, but it will repeat itself. The entire universe is an uncontrollable path of entropy increase leading to heat death."

"Entropy increase can determine time, but time cannot define entropy increase."

"Time can pseudo-reverse, but entropy increase is a real physical process that cannot be reversed; it can only repeat itself continuously."

"I possess a sword; I wonder if you, sir, would be willing to test its power?"

Li Wenzhong subconsciously took a step back, a worldly smile appearing on his face. "Young Master Ye, I've heard of that sword strike you mentioned. Isn't it called 'The Sword of the Mind: A Decisive Battle'? I've long admired this sword strike! To be able to cut Meng Xinghun of the Chaotic Void into Meng Xingyao with a single strike is enough to demonstrate its power! As for me, forget it. I'm not ready to enter the palace yet."

Ye Feng awkwardly wiped his forehead. "My lord, it's not a duel between two heroes, it's a different sword technique."

Li Wenzhong asked suspiciously, "Are you sure? I don't believe it!"

Ye Feng was somewhat helpless. This move of deciding the outcome had really ruined his reputation. Now everyone saw him as a perverted QQ uninstallation expert!

Hemp egg!

Ye Feng could only patiently explain, "My lord, this move is a sword technique I developed through ten years of seclusion and arduous training, based on my own insights and understanding. It's called the Sword of the Mind: A Young Man's Journey!"

Li Wenzhong still asked with concern, "Then, will there be any aftereffects? For example, will we lose something, or become something else?"

Ye Feng said, "No, it's an absolutely safe sword strike!"

After much deliberation, Li Wenzhong gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, let's do it!"

Ye Feng raised his right hand, and red starlight fragments gathered wildly in his hand. On the red starlight sword, visible black and red flames constantly surged, and the flames gathered to form a magnificent reflection of the ruined city of high martial arts, a war scene with the roar of the eerie beasts.

Ye Feng gently wiped the longsword in his hand with two fingers of his left hand.

"A young man should soar to great heights, reaching for the stars, capturing the moon, and chasing the sunlight."

"Just go forth and brave the waves, compete with all living beings!"

"Your every step is like a vast expanse of eighty thousand miles; your gaze is like a thousand rivers crashing with white waves!"

"Your life has been so extraordinary that most people wouldn't even dare to dream of it."

An infinitely large horizontal 8 symbol appeared in Ye Feng's right eye, and his long sword, as red as blood and as serpentine as a dragon, shot straight at Li Wenzhong's brow!

"This sword will help the general return to his youthful self!"

"Returning to that gentle young man from history!"