The Last Sentinel

Qi Tian's figure gradually disappeared from public view.

Inside the Jingxin Hall, the halo of light on the sky gradually faded, and everything was just as Jiajing had said.

Whether it succeeds or fails, Qi Tian is destined to disappear.

For both the Human Alliance and the Ming Dynasty, this means the loss of another top-tier combatant.

And all of this was caused by Prince Qiyang, Li Wenzhong!

The atmosphere within the cabinet was delicate. Everyone could clearly sense that Jiajing's anger was building up, and his dissatisfaction with Li Wenzhong had reached a critical point.

No one in the cabinet dared to speak out, after all, the conflict between Li Wenzhong and Jiajing was extremely complex.

Li Wenzhong was Zhu Yuanzhang's nephew, and Jiajing was Zhu Yuanzhang's descendant. This was an internal matter of the Zhu family. Even an upright official can't settle family disputes. What right does an outsider like you have to meddle?

Just as everyone was waiting for the Jiajing Emperor's volcano to erupt, a faint halo spread across the sky.

Everyone hurriedly looked up and saw that the figure of the Great Wall of Sword Qi was spreading across the sky; it was none other than Li Wenzhong.

Just as everyone awaited the eruption of Jiajing's volcano, a faint halo of light spread across the sky, its soft glow breaking the oppressive atmosphere within the hall.

The man suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise and anticipation flashing in his eyes. Even Jiajing raised his eyes slightly, the anger in his eyes subsiding and replaced by a more inquisitive look.

Everyone hurriedly looked up and saw that the figure of the Great Wall of Sword Qi was spreading across the sky; it was none other than Li Wenzhong.

He stood tall and straight, his face calm, seemingly unaware of the tense atmosphere in the hall, exuding a seasoned composure.

Li Wenzhong turned to face the assembled ministers and said calmly, "Gentlemen, please wait a moment. The signal is not very good. We will be able to switch you to the Qitian perspective soon."

Yan Shifan suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with disbelief: "General Li, what did you say? You mean we can switch to Qi Tian's perspective and see what happened to Qi Tian in the Star Gate?"

Li Wenzhong's tone remained calm: "Not only can we see Qi Tian's current situation, but we can also communicate with him! We can even give him some advice!"

Yan Shifan's pupils contracted slightly, and he shook his head repeatedly, "How could this be? How did they manage to do that? Has our technology reached the level where we can observe the situation inside the stargate?"

"Of course not." A warm, middle-aged voice came in: "This is a technology that only Level 5 civilizations possess, called [wormhole observation technology]. In the end, a stargate is nothing more than an artificially excavated wormhole, which can be observed by civilizations of Level 6 and above."

Yan Shifan looked up at the source of the voice, his eyes filled with wariness: "Who are you?"

A man emerged from the sky. He was around thirty years old, wearing thin-rimmed silver glasses. His features were gentle and refined, and his plain long robe accentuated his slender and upright figure. His every move exuded a scholarly air, and he appeared humble and polite.

He smiled and said, "Let me introduce myself. My surname is Luo, and my given name is Yi."

As he spoke, he bowed slightly, displaying a humble and gentlemanly demeanor.

Zhang Juzheng instantly realized something, his pupils contracted slightly, and his tone carried a hint of probing: "To be able to come into contact with a more advanced civilization, and to be surnamed Luo, you wouldn't happen to be...?"

Luo Yi smiled and said, "Luo Ji is my grandfather, and I am good friends with Ye Feng, the current sentinel of Zuxing."

After these words, no one questioned Luo Yi's identity anymore. To be good friends with Ye Feng, he must have some real skills. Even if he brought out a two-dimensional foil, let alone the technology of a level five civilization, no one would find it strange.

After all, his grandfather Luo Ji had indeed suffered a dimensional reduction attack from the two-dimensional foil. The ministers' gazes towards Luo Yi instantly changed, filled with awe and curiosity. Even Jiajing nodded slightly, his eyes revealing a deeper sense of inquiry.

Everyone stared intently at the sky, their gazes burning with desire, eager to know what kind of mythical secret realm Qi Tian would encounter behind the Star Gate.

The atmosphere inside the hall became tense again, but it was no longer oppressive as before; instead, it was filled with anticipation and trepidation.

At this moment, Yan Song seemed lost in thought, gently stroking his beard with his fingertips, his eyes deep. After a moment, he slowly spoke: "Your Majesty, this old minister has something to say, but I don't know if I should say it." "What insightful opinion? Please speak frankly!" His tone was calm, yet carried the majesty of an emperor, clearly showing that he took Yan Song's words very seriously.

Yan Song said, "In my humble opinion, it would be better to broadcast the upcoming secret realm live to the entire world! Let everyone see it!"

Jiajing said, "Oh?"

With a soft, questioning sound, tinged with curiosity, he was clearly quite surprised by the suggestion. He tapped his fingertips lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne, waiting for Yan Song to continue.

Yan Song continued, "In my opinion, the Mythical Realm should be an opportunity for us, not a calamity." His tone was earnest, his eyes were firm, and he exuded a convincing aura.

Gao Gong couldn't help but say, "Your Excellency, those who go in either die or disappear. How can this be an opportunity?" His brows were furrowed, his tone full of confusion, and he leaned forward slightly, clearly doubting this explanation.

Yan Song stroked his beard, his tone calm: "Lord Gao, from a personal perspective, this is indeed a calamity. But from the perspective of the court and the people, it's a sure-fire win!"

"As long as you go to this mythical secret realm, you'll at least get a guaranteed title. Even if you die and can't use it, you can pass it on to your clan!" His tone was calm, but every word was profound, causing everyone present to fall into deep thought.

"If we're willing to risk the deaths of ten thousand, one hundred thousand, or even a million people to rush into and grind through a mythical dungeon, we'll always have a chance to clear it!"

"In other words, even if we fail, we'll still get a million guaranteed titles; if we succeed, the rewards are unimaginable!"

"Therefore, making the video public now, broadcasting it live to everyone, will ignite everyone's adventurous spirit, encouraging everyone to dare to take risks and venture into secret realms. That would be a great thing for us, for the world, and for the carbon-based universe!"

"In this way, we have essentially opened two paths to the universe."

"Ordinary people can try to break the fourth wall and follow the path of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

"Geniuses can directly follow the path of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, venturing into secret realms to train and overcome challenges!"

"Two paths, advancing side by side. When Ye Feng returns, it will be the moment our carbon-based universe shatters the barriers and descends upon all the worlds!"

Upon hearing this, the gazes of the assembled officials towards Yan Song shifted to one of respect. Their previous doubts and confusion vanished, replaced by profound admiration.

I'm getting old.

But old ginger is spicier!

Yan Song, once he opened his mouth, immediately set the tone for the event. He stood there, upright and composed, exuding an aura of strategic brilliance that drew the attention of everyone present.

At this moment, the difference in the merits of the assembled officials became immediately apparent!

Why was Yan Song the most powerful minister in the Ming Dynasty? Why are you all just clowns jumping around?

thump—

A loud, clear sound of a golden bell announced that Jiajing's mood had shifted from a volcanic eruption to a calm and serene state.

Since Jiajing was satisfied, things had to be done according to Yan Song's instructions.

Soon, the live broadcast screen connected to the Imperial Observatory's network live broadcast interface, and announcements from the Ming Dynasty bombarded every corner of the planet. The announcements were powerful and carried an unquestionable authority, instantly spreading to every corner of the planet.

"【Breaking News】Our station is reporting that, following a comprehensive decision by the Imperial Cabinet, the Star Gate Secret Realm and Mythical Cave Heaven are now open to the public via live stream. The entire process of the Human Alliance's strongest warrior, Aquarius Gold Saint Qi Tian, ​​conquering the Mythical Secret Realm will be broadcast live! All citizens of the Ming Dynasty have the obligation and the right to watch the entire broadcast. No platform or organization may interfere with this live stream. The four major divisions of the Embroidered Uniform Guard (Jinyiwei) will be responsible for all subsequent matters related to this live stream."

"Live stream setup in progress..."

As the broadcast spread across the entire network, over five billion citizens of the Great Xia Empire on Earth were completely bewildered, their faces filled with astonishment. They stopped what they were doing and rushed to the nearest screen.

People spread the news in the streets and alleys, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation, and the once peaceful Blue Star suddenly became lively.

Everyone knows that the Human Alliance has now disintegrated, and the Ming Dynasty has effectively taken control of the Great Xia.

You can ignore Jiajing, but please don't ignore the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard really knows how to arrest people!

But on everyone's screen, there was only darkness, and no movement whatsoever.

People sat or stood in front of the screen, their eyes fixed on the black screen, their fingers unconsciously clenching, their hearts filled with anxiety and anticipation, occasionally looking up at the screen, hoping that the picture would appear soon.

One minute, five minutes, ten minutes... three hours have passed. Many people have begun to doze off, their heads drooping slightly, their eyelids drooping, but they still force themselves to stay awake and refuse to leave the screen.

Just as everyone was dozing off, a faint voice came from the sky.

It was the sound of waves crashing against the rocks, gentle yet clear, instantly dispelling everyone's drowsiness. Those watching the screen snapped to attention, sitting up straight, their eyes glued to the screen, anticipation rekindled in their gaze.

The camera quickly pans out, revealing a vast ocean against the sky, its waves gently surging, the sea breeze carrying the familiar salty tang of the East China Sea. The dampness of the breeze seems to waft through the screen, instantly conveying the ocean's immensity and desolation.

As you travel further east, the seawater gradually turns into a murky, inky gray. When the waves rise, the foam emits a deathly gray, murky light, exuding a sense of oppressive unease.

The camera zooms in rapidly from the vast East China Sea, showing Qi Tian's incredible speed. His figure leaves a trail of gold and blue afterimages on the sea surface, his movements agile and swift as an arrow released from a bow.

Before Qi Tian lay an island shrouded in swirling black mist.

The thick black fog, almost tangible, enveloped the entire island, obscuring the view inside. Only occasionally could one see a few dark figures flashing through the fog, adding to the eeriness and danger.

Qi Tian quickly reached the near sea. An island lay across the sea in front of him, and the black fog overhead grew thicker. The sea was filled with decaying algae and dead fish floating belly up, emitting a faint fishy stench that made people want to vomit.

The camera pans up over the coastline, revealing that the white sand beach has been scorched black, and the rocks are covered with wriggling, dark red vines that sway gently as if they were alive, a sight that sends chills down your spine.

Occasionally, tiny dark shadows dart through the crevices of the rocks, moving at incredible speeds and disappearing in an instant.

The trees were all deformed, their trunks cracked, their branches turned into sharp claws, and their purplish-black, thorny leaves rubbed against each other in the wind. Some trees that looked like peach trees had terrifying, gnarled purplish-black bark and vines. The peaches were covered with blood-red veins and oozed sticky red sap, emitting a faint sweet and fishy smell. They looked tempting, but they were actually fraught with danger.

People in front of the screen held their breath, their eyes fixed on the picture, their hearts filled with worry, fearing that something bad might happen to Qi Tian.

"Gah—"

A sharp bird cry rang out, a dark shadow pierced the sky, its wings torn, its cry turning into a shrill wail that echoed across the sea, making one's eardrums ache. The dark shadow hovered above the island, its eyes fierce, staring intently at Qi Tian below, as if it were watching its prey.

Qi Tian stood on the reef, looking down. This island was not a dead island; there were some living beings there. However, at a glance, the monkeys had become demons, their fur swollen and purplish-black, their blood-red pupils flashing. They leaped and roared among the trees, their roars deafening.

Miasma spread through the valley, causing wildflowers and plants to grow wildly and twist, turning the mountain streams into a gray-black, turbid flow, with petals and broken bones floating on the surface, accompanied by inhuman growls...