The Last Sentinel

"Damn it!"

The dimly lit conference room was as cold and gloomy as an abyss, its shadows almost swallowing up the surrounding contours.

Three-year-old Ye Feng stood steadily on the large solid wood conference table, his little hands gripping his hips tightly. His tender face was flushed red, his brows furrowed with a fierce anger, and he cursed through gritted teeth in a low voice. His clear childish voice, wrapped in burning anger, was particularly jarring in the deathly silent space.

"Old Ji has really gone too far!"

"His father left him with the knowledge that 'there are predecessors before him,' so that when he was in dire straits, he could help himself and get through the crisis!"

"It's not about making him drag out his entire past self and treat him like a beast of burden!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. His small chest heaved violently, and his little feet slammed heavily on the table, making a dull thud. He was filled with pent-up frustration with nowhere to vent: "I'm about to explode with anger!"

"If I weren't truly no match for him in a fight, I would have jumped up and confronted him so directly that he couldn't lift his head!"

In the empty, enclosed conference room, the furious voice of a child echoed back and forth, crashing against the cold walls before slowly dissipating into silence. Anyone sound asleep, lost in a sweet dream, abruptly and forcibly awakened, subjected to a barrage of psychological manipulation, and then inexplicably targeted, would find it impossible to remain calm. At this moment, Xiao Yefeng's anger was so intense it was almost tangible.

This secret meeting room looked extremely familiar; it was left behind by Luo Feng, Ye Feng's adoptive father, who was known as the Great Benefactor of the Universe and had a heart for all living beings. In the past, he had held the first all-member meeting of all the big shots in the chat group here, with heroes gathered and an overwhelming aura; now, only a silent and oppressive atmosphere remained, and everything had changed.

The main seat at the meeting was empty; the ever-moving self had not appeared. The seats on either side were full, and the eight figures seated there were not the Demon Lords of the Heavens or the Great Powers of the Primordial Chaos, but rather eight self-avatars of Ye Feng, spanning countless years and with different states of mind, from the long river of his life.

On the left are four children, in order: [This Little One], curled up in swaddling clothes, sucking on a pacifier and fast asleep; [Little Old Man], a three-year-old with his hands on his hips, furious and full of rage; [The Lonely One], an eight-year-old orphan sitting alone in a corner, with cold eyes and aloof demeanor; and [The Unromantic Brother], a sixteen-year-old high school student with a pure heart and lost memories of the past.

The four seats on the right are occupied by: [Old Brain], a recent college graduate with an air of scholarly refinement and composure; [Old Brother], an unemployed internet cafe youth who is lazy and indifferent to the world; [Old Stomach], a seasoned and hardworking delivery driver; and [Old Self], the ultimate self who is calm, experienced, and sits at the very end.

The four people on the left are in very different states and have distinct roles. [This kid] is ignorant and only knows how to sleep and suckle, unaware of the world's conflicts; [The reclusive one] can speak, but is usually silent and aloof, rarely speaking a word, almost speechless; [The brother who doesn't date] had his memories erased during his school years, losing track of hundreds of stepfathers and stepmothers, and is completely unable to contribute to the complex situation.

Only "Little Laozi" was unrestrained, venting his pent-up anger by jumping up and down and ranting, denouncing his solitary self. The four on his right, however, remained calm and composed, a stark contrast. Especially the nonchalant "Older Brother," who simply leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep, oblivious to the surrounding noise, appearing completely unconcerned.

[Old Brain] frowned slightly, and [Old Stomach] looked helpless. The two tried several times to comfort the restless little figure, but they were speechless and couldn't find the words. Finally, they turned their heads together and cast their pleading eyes to [Old Self], who was in the first position on the right.

[Lao Zi] exudes a calm and composed aura, making him the undisputed leader of the entire group. [Ben Zai] represents Ye Feng's pure and innocent beginnings, naive and uncontested; while [Lao Zi] carries all the trials and tribulations of the past, representing the last remaining self at this stage, naturally making him the one to step forward, stabilize the overall situation, and mediate the conflict.

"Cough cough."

Two soft coughs broke the noise. The old man, dressed in a plain white medical student coat, had a gentle and composed demeanor. He twirled a silver ballpoint pen between his fingers with calm and deliberate movements, like a seasoned doctor presiding over an operating room. His calm gaze fell on the still angry Ye Feng.

"It's no big deal. I'll kick Lao Ji a few times for you to vent your anger later. Sit down first, and we'll talk business."

The young Laozi sat down dejectedly, his small face still tense, his eyes filled with anxiety and helplessness: "I'm just blindly charging forward, completely disregarding the foundations behind me. The messes of the Han, Tang, and Ming dynasties have all fallen on our shoulders. The trivial matters are piling up like mountains, we have no clue where to begin!"

The old man continued twirling his pen, his tone calm and composed: "Everything has its order, and even chaos can be sorted out. Just pick the simplest thing to move forward with first."

"Which one is the simplest?" Little Laozi immediately looked up and asked.

The old man's gaze shifted slightly, landing on the soundly sleeping, lazy youth. His tone was indifferent: "Lazybones, I'll give you a sweet job. Go to the myriad worlds and work with Hua Xiaobai."

The older man slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a wisp of smoke that drifted away. His eyelids drooped, and his tone was dismissive and resistant: "I'm not going."

"Hua Xiaobai now serves Greed, the top of the Seven Prodigies, and has already infiltrated the Heavenly Court's war logistics department." The old man calmly pointed out the pros and cons, his tone certain. "That place is full of opportunities and lucrative profits, perfect for slacking off and enjoying life. Hua Xiaobai is always self-serving and never mistreats those around him. If you follow him, you can just relax and do nothing, without any worries about hard work."

The older brother's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this, but he still harbored reservations: "Don't make empty promises. My mortal enemy, Charles Darwin, is in the Heavenly Court, along with the Three Emperors, Four Sovereigns, Five Elements and Six Lines experts, and Seven Absolute Prodigies. Top-tier powerhouses like Fuxi, Nuwa, and Cangjie are all gathered here, with numerous holy lands and countless experts. If I go there, I'm afraid I'll be dragged out and beaten by Charles on my very first day."

"What are you afraid of?" the little Laozi immediately interjected, his voice full of confidence and his eyes shining brightly. "We are originally clones of the same origin, sharing unlimited resurrection privileges! As long as one of us survives, the whole group can be reborn repeatedly. Unless we encounter a complete annihilation situation, we fear no danger!"

"If you had told me there was this safety net, I would have gone to enjoy a life of luxury."

The old man instantly shed his lazy and listless demeanor, snapped his fingers deftly, and his figure transformed into a wisp of green smoke, instantly dissipating in the conference room as he accepted his mission.

Immediately afterward, Lao Zi looked at the diligent and reliable [Old Stomach] and said with certainty, "Your task remains the same: stay at the original home, manage the chat group and the affairs of the All Heavens Club, and consolidate the foundation at the rear."

"No problem." The delivery guy glanced at his watch, his eyes firm, with a hint of busy urgency. "I have to hurry back to running orders. I promised to help the big shots in the chat group find their relatives and synchronize timelines from all sides. So far, I've only found fifty-one people. There's still a five-figure target to be achieved. I can't afford to waste a moment."

As soon as he finished speaking, he flashed away and hurriedly left to attend to some trivial matters at the back.

Old Zi then looked at the gentle and refined college student, [Old Brain], and ordered in a deep voice, "You will go to the Perfect Continent to guard it. I have a premonition that this time I will venture deep into Dragon Abyss and obtain unparalleled fortune."

The old man adjusted his glasses, his expression serious and meticulous, and cautiously inquired, "What kind of fortune specifically?"

The little Laozi immediately chimed in, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, his tone clear and certain: "Have you forgotten our roots? Longyuan is a sacred land where ten thousand dragons gather, and our birth mother is the Holy Maiden of the Dragon-Taming Clan! To the ten thousand dragons, the Dragon-Taming Clan is the supreme ruler!"

"My entry into Dragon Abyss is like a tiger returning to the mountains or a dragon entering the sea; it is destined to unleash an unprecedented opportunity!"

The old man remained cautious, shaking his head slightly: "I need specific evidence."

The old man tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, his rhythm slow and his words clear: "My original body, which is rooted in the Perfect Continent, will most likely transform into a dragon completely after this metamorphosis, completing a double leap in bloodline and realm."

"Transformation into a dragon?" The old man's pupils contracted slightly, and his face showed surprise.

"That's right." The little Laozi explained clearly and meticulously, "The core of the Dragon Taming Clan's Supreme Treasure is that if you want to tame ten thousand dragons, you must first transform into a true dragon. Enter the dragon, control the dragon, defeat the dragon, and surpass the dragon. Comprehend the Great Dao of [Dragon Ascending to the Throne], transform into a dragon, shed your dragon body, and return to human form. That is the perfection of the Great Dao."

The old man suddenly understood, and nodded solemnly: "I understand. The Perfect Continent is the core lifeline for the future, and I will definitely guard it firmly and keep a close eye on all variables."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure blurred and disappeared, and he accepted the order to head to the Perfect Continent.

With the four on the right assigned to their duties, the old man turned to the remaining three on the left and said gently, "My men are all settled. How do you plan to divide the work here?"

The tiny Lao Tzu glanced at his three identical clones beside him—a bewildered infant, a reclusive teenager, and a high school student suffering from amnesia—and quickly and clearly determined their roles.

"The infant [this child] is heading to the Ming Dynasty world. The situation in the Ming Dynasty is treacherous, and the Jiajing Emperor is suspicious and distrustful by nature. You, who are ignorant and silent, are most suitable to sit in this place, act as a stabilizing force, prevent disputes, and keep the overall situation under control."

"【The Lonely One】, your aloofness and solitude are a perfect match for the grim atmosphere of the eerie era of the Han Dynasty. Now, six of the Seven Warlords of the Sea are fighting a bloody battle in the Han Dynasty. Go and assist them, and do your best to repair the Xuzhou Cauldron."

"【The Unromantic Brother】, go and seek refuge with Qi Tian. He is currently focusing all his efforts on repairing the Yongzhou Cauldron. If all goes well, not only Huaguo Mountain, but also the entire Tang Dynasty territory and Dongsheng Divine Continent will be restored to perfection. Qi Tian is upright and easy to get along with. You can accompany him and help him. You might even be able to find an opportunity through his introduction. Remember, never mention the word 'sister' in front of him, as he is easily provoked and enraged."

As soon as he finished speaking, he waved his small hand decisively. The three clones on the left each took on their missions, their forms dissipating one after another, heading to battlefields in various dimensions.

The large, enclosed conference room emptied instantly, leaving only the three-year-old father and the father in a white coat facing each other. Dim light enveloped them, creating a quiet and solemn atmosphere, yet undercurrents of tension were palpable.

The young Laozi casually crossed his legs, his youthful face losing its childishness, his eyes brimming with youthful ambition and boundless spirit. His tone was sharp yet wistful: "I'm good at everything, except I'm too cautious and timid, always looking before I act! When faced with a situation, I only know how to defend and retreat step by step, not realizing that offense is the best defense! Only by attacking without defending can one become invincible!"

Old Zi continued twirling his pen slowly, a gentle smile playing on his lips. His gaze swept across the boundless universe, and he softly suggested, "Now that all sides have entered the fray and the battle is raging, the grand scheme is unfolding. Shouldn't we give this multiverse operation a resounding name? How about 'Unifying the World with Martial Arts'?"

"No." The little Laozi shook his head decisively, his eyes surging with boundless ambition, his smile unrestrained and exuberant. "The ambition to unify the world through martial arts is too small-minded, too petty. It cannot support this unprecedented opportunity and the upheaval of the heavens!"

"This time, I, Lao Ji, will transform into a dragon and inherit the supreme manual of the Dragon Taming Clan. From this day forward, all of us are heirs to the Dragon Way!"

He raised his eyes and gazed into the void, his words ringing out with conviction and unwavering force: "This grand scheme that will sweep across the heavens shall be named—Hear the Dragon's Roar!"

The old man's eyes suddenly brightened, and he nodded with a smile, his tone solemn and dignified: "A fine name. Gentlemen, listen to the dragon's roar!"

After a brief silence, the little Laozi turned his head and looked at him, full of curiosity, and asked, "So what task have you assigned yourself?"

Old Zi's eyes held a deeper meaning, his smile mysterious: "Guess."

"I bet you're a fool!" The little old man rolled his eyes, stood up nonchalantly, and said, "I'm not dawdling with you anymore. I have important things to do, so I'm off!"

The old man slowly rose, gently straightening his neat white coat. Gazing at the boy's fading figure, he spoke slowly and deliberately, his words carrying a lingering echo: "Goodbye."

As soon as the words were spoken, the dim light in the conference room faded away, and a chilling darkness and silence once again enveloped the entire secret space.

All things return to peace, awaiting the day when the roar of dragons from all heavens will resound through the ages.