The Last Sentinel

The sea and sky blended into one, the darkness as black as ink.

The thick darkness pressed down, completely swallowing even the starlight. Not a single ray of light could seep into the world, making it so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Such a scene appeared unexpectedly before all of humanity on Earth.

The next second, the entire planet Earth was in complete uproar.

The screen was flooded with comments, and the discussion was deafening.

"Behind the Star Gate, there's a fallen island!" someone exclaimed in shock, their fingertips trembling uncontrollably, their face turning deathly pale.

"This island looks sinister, shrouded in black mist and deathly aura, full of eeriness, it's terrifying!" Someone subconsciously shrank back, their eyes filled with fear, and even their breathing became lighter.

"Is Lord Qitian perhaps in the underworld?" someone said, feigning a joke, but his voice trembled slightly, and his eyes held deep worry.

"The underworld? Even the underworld isn't this harsh! It's so dark it's bone-chilling, it makes you feel uneasy." Someone retorted in a deep voice, their tone serious, their brows tightly furrowed.

Amidst the lively discussion, an interview pop-up suddenly appeared in the corner of the scene, its cold white border standing out starkly against the dark background.

In the pop-up window, Zhou Yunyi, dressed in the uniform of the Ming Dynasty, stood tall and straight, his face showing undisguised tension, his eyes revealing urgency. He addressed the camera, his voice deliberately calm, yet unable to conceal the anxiety in his tone: "Dr. Qitian, I am Zhou Yunyi, the Director of the Imperial Observatory. Can you hear me?"

The few seconds of pause felt like an eternity.

Standing on the black sandy reef, Qi Tian gently stroked the rough surface of the rocks with his fingertips, the cool touch spreading along his fingers. His eyes were deep and thoughtful. Hearing the voice, he slowly raised his head, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. His tone was teasing, easing the oppressive atmosphere: "Zhou Yunyi? Weren't you invited to the imperial prison for tea by the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Zhou Yunyi's face stiffened, his lips twitched slightly, and a clear hint of embarrassment flashed across his eyes. He subconsciously straightened his clothes to cover his lapse in composure: "That was a misunderstanding, don't worry about the details." He paused, quickly regaining his composure, and his tone became genuinely concerned, "It seems Dr. Qi Tian can hear me. How are you feeling now?"

Qi Tian raised his eyes and scanned his surroundings.

The deep black seawater churned endlessly, and as the foam burst, it released a pungent, nauseating stench. Thick black fog rolled and rose along the surface of the sea, like countless withered ghostly hands, reaching out and clawing at the shore with boundless malice.

His brow was furrowed, and his voice was low and icy: "I feel very bad."

Qi Tian paused, clenched his fist, and clearly felt the loss of power within his body. His tone was solemn: "The cosmic rules of this place are completely different from our carbon-based universe. The power within my body is constantly being weakened. In just ten minutes since I arrived here, the force field aura has decreased by at least one-tenth."

His fingertips turned slightly white, and a sense of gravity swept through his heart, but he did not panic. His tone was calm: "At most, I'll be back to the mortal realm in an hour."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunyi's expression hardened. He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, quickly organizing his thoughts. His tone softened, carrying a hint of reassurance: "This situation is both normal and abnormal."

"From a normal perspective, this is similar to how powerful beings from all the universes would automatically have their strength reduced and their magical artifacts restricted when they come to our carbon-based universe. Individuals entering an unfamiliar universe server will inevitably be affected by its rules."

Qi Tian's eyes narrowed slightly as he pressed, "What if it's abnormal?"

Zhou Yunyi leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharpening like knives, and spoke confidently, his tone certain: "Based on my over five hundred years of experience at the Imperial Observatory, high-level cosmic life forms entering low-level cosmic servers are almost never weakened, and may even be strengthened. However, low-level cosmic life forms entering high-level servers will inevitably be suppressed!"

"Just like how powerful beings from other universes would have their strength greatly reduced or even have some of their magical artifacts sealed if they entered our carbon-based universe, individuals from our carbon-based universe would often unleash their innate attributes, activate their seventh sense, and gain benefits when they entered other universes."

"This is why transmigrators from the Great Xia Dynasty, once they leave their hometowns, seem to gain superhuman intelligence and develop at an astounding pace."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming heavy and each word carrying immense weight: "Returning to the present, Dr. Qi Tian's rapid decline in strength is enough to demonstrate that this universe is of an extremely high level, far surpassing the civilizations of our carbon-based universe!"

Qi Tian's fingers tightened slightly, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. His tone was tentative, concealing a barely perceptible unease: "But sir, if my combat power is reduced to a single cell, wouldn't I be useless?"

"Not at all!" Zhou Yunyi immediately shook his head, his tone firm, his eyes full of certainty, as if he could see through Qi Tian's concerns. "Dr. Qi Tian is overthinking it. This weakening has a safety net. No matter how much it's suppressed, it won't return to your factory settings—your starting state. At worst, you'll only be in a mortal state, and your basic talents will be fully preserved."

He paused, his tone softening, and then solemnly instructed, "The most crucial thing now is to first explore the origins of this place and understand its rules before we can find a way to deal with it."

Just then, a loud rumbling sound came from behind.

Qi Tian turned around abruptly, his pupils shrinking slightly. He saw a giant wave, tens of meters high, rising out of nowhere. It was black and shiny, like a ferocious beast, carrying a towering black mist, and crashing down on the reef with terrifying force.

His eyes sharpened, and without the slightest hesitation, he leaped off the reef, his figure swift as lightning.

The black sand beneath my feet was as hard as iron; with each step, I could feel a subtle vibration traveling up my feet. The ground was covered with cracks, crisscrossing like a spider web, from which a faint black mist seeped out, and it felt icy cold to the touch.

Qi Tian stepped across the solidified black plate, his steps steady, and walked deeper into the island.

As far as the eye could see, there was only desolation and eeriness.

The black trees grew twisted and gnarled, their bare branches devoid of leaves, like twisted ghostly hands reaching desperately towards the gray sky, exuding a deathly stillness. A broken mountain peak lay across the way, its sharp, knife-like face marked by the erosion of time, its weathered appearance carrying a touch of eeriness.

Huge white animal bones were scattered everywhere, some reaching several meters in height. The surfaces of the bones were covered with mottled patterns, roughened by wind and sand erosion. The wind blew through the gaps in the bones, making a whistling sound, like the lament of a vengeful spirit, echoing for a long time on the empty island, sending chills down one's spine.

At first, Qi Tian's eyes still held a shadow of revenge, his expression as cold as frost. But as he delved deeper, the game-exploration desire that originated from the depths of his heart was gradually ignited, dispelling the coldness in his eyes.

His pace quickened, his eyes shifting from cold to bright, brimming with interest. At this moment, he was no longer the brother blinded by hatred, but a fervent explorer, eager to enter a new game. The eerie surroundings, far from deterring him, became his driving force for exploration.

Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Observatory of the Ming Dynasty, everything was already in complete chaos.

"The scenario simulation architecture is being drawn!"

"Holographic scene construction is underway!"

"The analytical equations for the origin of the universe unfold..."

One instruction after another was given, and the staff performed their duties, looking tense and busy.

Zhou Yunyi stood before the AI ​​system of the Imperial Observatory, his eyes fixed on the screen, not daring to relax for a moment. On the AI, layers of visible star paths spun continuously, their light flickering, making his face alternate between pale and flushed. His fingertips were clenched so tightly they turned white, his knuckles blue, his eyes filled with anxiety. He knew that this mission allowed no room for error; it concerned the face of the Ming Dynasty and the safety of Qi Tian.

His anxiety stemmed not only from Qi Tian's predicament, but also from the row of powerful figures blocking the doorway.

Zhang Juzheng, Yan Shifan, Gao Gong, and Prince Yu stood in a row, each with a different expression, yet all carrying a heavy burden of pressure.

Yan Shifan paced back and forth, his steps hurried, his brows furrowed, glancing at the smart screen every now and then, his tone tinged with impatience and unease: "Is Zhou Yunyi reliable? I went through a lot of trouble to get him out of the hands of the Embroidered Uniform Guard! If he delays important matters, I can't bear the responsibility."

Gao Gong snorted coldly, crossed his arms, and said with a hint of sarcasm, "Even if he's unreliable, he's still better than you, Little Grand Secretary! At least he has real skills, not just empty talk."

"Damn it!" Yan Shifan instantly bristled, stopping in his tracks and glaring at Gao Gong, his tone displeased. "Have you taken the wrong medicine today? You're targeting me right from the start!"

Seeing this, Zhang Juzheng quickly stepped forward, reached out and pulled Yan Shifan back, and calmly tried to smooth things over: "Young Grand Secretary, please calm down. This is not the time to argue. We can only rely on Zhou Yunyi."

He paused, then added, "After all, he is one of the few geniuses in the Ming Dynasty who has systematically studied the architecture of the multiverse and the high-level martial arts universe. Moreover, judging from his conversation with Qi Tian just now, he truly has real talent and is not just a name without substance."

Crown Prince Yu nodded slightly, his expression solemn, and his tone steady: "Lord Zhang is absolutely right. The most urgent task now is to fulfill the Emperor's decree, to ensure that Qi Tian passes through the dungeon safely and stays, and not disappears inexplicably like the other dungeon challengers."

Zhang Juzheng nodded in agreement: "Your Highness is absolutely right. The secret realm behind the Star Gate is a gray area that no one in the myriad realms can control. They can only pass through it unharmed, but they cannot control the situation inside. If Qi Tian can pass through it unharmed, it will undoubtedly be a huge shock to the myriad realms."

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

Zhu Qi, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, strode over with a tall and straight posture and a stern face. He bowed to the crowd and said, "Zhu Qi greets His Highness the Crown Prince and all the officials."

Yan Shifan immediately stepped forward, asking urgently, "How is it? Where is Mo Lijie now? Have you caught up with him?"

Zhu Qi shook his head, his expression grave: "Mo Lijie has already left. When my brothers and I arrived at the pavilion in the middle of West Lake, it was already empty, with only an unfinished game of chess remaining."

He paused, then added, "I consulted someone knowledgeable in chess, and the final outcome of the game is still uncertain; the winner is undecided."

Zhang Juzheng frowned slightly, his fingertips gently stroking his chin, deep in thought: "It's still undecided... In other words, this is only the first round, everyone is testing the waters, and there will inevitably be other actions in the myriad realms later."

Upon hearing this, Yan Shifan's eyes turned cold, and his tone carried a hint of ferocity: "If you have the guts, then keep going. We'll fight again, no matter what. Our Great Ming isn't to be trifled with!"

Gao Gong looked at Zhu Qi and asked in a deep voice, "Still no trace of the primordial will?"

Zhu Qi shook his head again, his tone firm: "I didn't find it. However, judging from the process of the battle between the Origin Will and the Demonic Tribulation, the Origin Will did not lose, and the Demonic Tribulation could not do anything to it."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions softened slightly, but the gravity in their hearts did not dissipate.

They all knew that this struggle between the Ming Dynasty and all the worlds had only just begun.

Qi Tian's exploration in the secret realm has captivated everyone, whether in the carbon-based universe or across all the myriad worlds.

The carbon-based universe wants to develop this treasure trove, and so do all the other universes.