Daqin Zhentiansi

The lieutenant watched Xuan Lan calmly tally the items, the undisguised envy and awe of the surrounding crowd, and listened to the jarring exclamations of surprise. A surge of anger rose to his head, and he couldn't help but growl sourly again:

"Hmph! It's nothing more than relying on Zhang Yuan's unorthodox refining methods and a newly set up formation! He just got lucky and ran into a wave of demonic attacks!"

"With such reckless military spending, expending resources like this in a desperate situation, I wonder how long they can be so smug! They're nothing but..."

"Enough!" Another elite from the Heavenly Punishment Hall interrupted sharply, his face equally grim, but his tone tinged with helplessness. "Unorthodox methods? Good luck?"

"What kind of defensive formation in this desolate place could allow an archer battalion to achieve such results? What kind of 'luck' could happen to capture so many rare and high-level materials?"

"Show me how you forge a cursed core? Have you forgotten Venerable Zhaowu's attitude? If you spout any more nonsense, be careful what you say!"

The deputy general was speechless with embarrassment.

Looking at the mountain of "merits" and the frenzied atmosphere around him, a deep sense of jealousy and powerlessness overwhelmed him once again.

In the end, he could only clench his fists tightly, swallowing back the words he was about to say, which turned into a muffled groan filled with resentment.

Deep within the main fortress of Chentieling, the central light of the array connecting the three fortresses flowed continuously, becoming even more profound and stable than before.

Standing at the core, Zhang Yuan stroked the warm "Wooden Ancestor Core," feeling the array's veins, now more tightly connected after being tested in actual combat, and the resonance from the Great Qin Heavenly Dao that, though as thin as a thread, was incredibly resilient, emanating from across the endless void.

Among the remnants of the dissipated demonic energy, fragments of a roaring will filled with questioning, rage, and unease, like ripples, had not yet completely dissipated and were clearly perceived by him.

His gaze pierced through the thick walls of the fortress, looking towards the churning, chaotic clouds beyond the pass, seemingly harboring endless dangers and new mysteries.

The defensive line is in place, and its strength is beginning to show.

However, the Demon Lord's questioning, the delay in the Heavenly Palace's intelligence, and the aftermath of the Demon Abyss's loss of contact all foreshadow that this war, which transcends time and space, is far more profound and complex than it appears on the surface.

The real contest has only just begun.

……

Deep within the garrison of Battalion No. 7, Type C.

Zhang Yuan sat cross-legged.

The bronze array in front of him shimmered with light and shadow, reflecting the three newly captured forward outposts: Chen Tieling, Yingzui Cliff, and Guxingbao.

His divine sense sank into the depths of his sea of ​​consciousness. The walls of that newly born chaotic little world were thick and heavy, and the auras of several figures within it were becoming more and more solid and powerful as they were forged by the furnace fire.

"Esteemed seniors, the time has come." Zhang Yuan's divine voice echoed in the furnace space.

"Om-"

The space rippled almost imperceptibly, like pebbles being thrown into water.

The first to emerge was a colossal figure that towered into the sky, its fur as if cast in bronze, its limbs like pillars supporting the heavens, each step carrying a profound power that resonated with the very pulse of the earth.

Although the remnant soul of the Primordial Prison-Suppressing Divine Elephant has not yet returned to its full strength, the aura of suppressing all prisons originating from the depths of its bloodline has quietly spread.

It did not reveal its true form, but instead transformed into a condensed, earth-yellow divine light, silently merging into the depths of the core array base of Chentieling.

Its power perfectly matches the main array base constructed by Zhang Yuan using the "Prison-Suppressing Tortoise Shell Pattern" and the "Demon God Bone".

"Om-"

In an instant, the entire Chentieling seemed to come alive, its foundation as solid as a rock, and the power of the earth's veins was efficiently drawn in.

Following closely behind was a sharp golden light that tore through the void.

The remnant soul of the Golden-Winged Roc Elder, having suppressed its former arrogant and domineering aura, transformed into a swift and agile stream of light, circling Eagle Beak Cliff once before finally disappearing into the highest point of the cliff.

This powerful divine beast has now become the "heavenly eye" that overlooks the entire "Azure Sun Pure Domain" formation.

Its sharp gaze pierced through the chaotic demonic clouds, leaving no demonic shadow that tried to approach undetected.

Next came an atmosphere of scorching heat intertwined with auspiciousness.

The Qilin Saint Son, Panlin, had already manifested externally, and now, under the nourishment of the furnace fire, his divine soul source became even more perfect.

It lightly treads its hooves, and colorful auspicious clouds surge around it, transforming into countless fine rays of auspicious light that merge into every vein of the "Qingyang Pure Land".

The effect of purifying the demonic miasma and dispelling the curse suddenly increased several times, and there was even a faint flow of vital energy that promoted the recovery of the injured warriors' blood and energy.

Finally, a clear and melodious phoenix cry rang out, carrying the true meaning of nirvana, burning away all filth.

The phantom of the Fire Divine Beast appeared at the edge of the small world.

It did not step out completely, but instead opened its mouth and spat out a wisp of the purest Nanming Fire essence.

This primordial flame seemed to possess sentience, instantly merging into the core of Lone Star Fortress's "Shattered Star Thunder Prison," constructed from "Crystal of Heavenly Demon Essence" and "Filthy Demon Gold."

Instantly, amidst the raging purple lightning within the Thunder Prison, a blazing white holy fireline appeared, dramatically increasing its lethality and purification efficiency against evil spirits.

These remnants of primordial divine beasts moved with extreme secrecy, their auras concealed to the lowest level, like a protective will growing from the very ground itself, silently taking up residence in the core of each location.

The outer layer of the position still appears to be patrolled by Xuanjia warriors, with rune shields flashing, but its underlying structure has undergone earth-shattering changes.

At the same time, the Spring Mountain Grotto Heaven painting in front of Zhang Yuan rippled slightly.

On the other end, the Qin military headquarters was brightly lit, and the latest defensive formation diagrams, which were being deduced day and night by important officials such as Sun Qi and Wang Anzhi, along with Zhao Yu, were being transmitted over.

That was not the rough and rugged formation inherent in the primordial world, but a sophisticated structure that integrated the wisdom of the Qin Dynasty's millennia-long war, the essence of talisman arrays and mechanisms, and Zhao Yu's understanding of the primordial battle energy transmitted by Zhang Yuan.

"My lord, this is the deduction diagram of the 'Ten Directions Locking Heaven Shield Mountain Formation.' Its core lies in the 'Nine Curves and Loops' of energy flow. It is essential to use the 'Wood Ancestral Core' as the vital hub and the 'Spatial Annihilation Crystal' fragments as the sharpest nodes..."

Zhao Yu's divine sense, though weary, was unwavering.

Zhang Yuan's eyes lit up, and his divine sense swept across the essence of the array diagram like lightning. Then, his fingers quickly outlined the light and shadow on the sand table in front of him.

"boom--"

The purest fragments of "Demon God Bone" after tempering are used as array stakes, deeply buried in the earth's vein nodes, and their toughness supports the framework of the large array.

The "Primordial Vitality Essence" was diluted and mixed with the partially purified "Heavenly Demon Essence" energy, and inscribed into intricate micro-runes. These runes were etched into the inner layer of each tower shield and the tip of each demon-slaying cone, giving them stronger demon-slaying properties and self-repairing abilities.

The disruptive properties of the "tainted demonic gold" were used to forge them into special "disruptive nails," which were then deployed at specific points on the periphery of the position according to the simulation diagram.

Like planting countless invisible magnetic storm bombs, once the energy flow of the demonic tide passes through, it will cause local chaos.

At the core of the "Azure Sun Pure Domain" of Eagle Beak Cliff, the fragment of the "Ancient Tree of Myriad Spirits" was reactivated by the rune sequence deduced by Zhao Yu. The life force no longer spread evenly, but instead formed layers upon layers of purifying halos, like the rings of an ancient tree, contracting and expanding with the rhythm of the battlefield, multiplying its efficiency. The wisdom and resources of the two realms, spanning countless ages, were intricately woven together on the front lines of blood and fire.

The entire three-fortress joint defense system is still shrouded in the clamor of the chaotic storm and the spiritual light of the formation, but internally it has been transformed into a war fortress guarded by the remnant souls of primordial divine beasts, and integrated with the wisdom of the pinnacle of formations from later generations and the tempering methods of the Great Qin Dynasty.

Its precision of operation and the depth of its power far exceed the limits that the Heavenly Palace behind it can detect.

In the void, not only the divine senses of the Heavenly Palace experts traversed the void, but also the mental attention of many divine beasts.

The Vermilion Bird's clear cry pierced through time and space, its divine sense carrying a sharpness that could see into the future: "The disturbances in the Demon Abyss have not subsided, and the Demon Lord of the Rift Abyss has retreated in anger; this may not be the end."

"Undercurrents are surging within the Heavenly Palace... This place will become the eye of the storm. This kid might truly be able to shake up a corner of the primordial world!"

The primordial phoenix's will emanated from the ancestral land, resonating with the Vermilion Bird: "The fire of nirvana has been ignited; where filth ends lies the opportunity for rebirth. The格局 (geju, a concept encompassing the overall structure and overall situation) of the primordial world may truly change because of you, this anomaly..."

The main hall of Jielei Pass.

On the full-area sand table, the light and shadow representing the No. 7 Battalion of the Bingzi Group and the Sanbao area are exceptionally stable.

Occasionally, a scarlet spot representing the impact of the demonic tide would crash into it, like waves crashing against a reef, instantly disintegrating.

But within this stability lies an indescribable "ambiguity," as if an invisible force is shielding us from deeper probing.

"Strange, the defensive aura of the Seventh Battalion seems to be more condensed, but probing its internal energy flow is like looking at flowers through fog."

One of the deacons in charge of monitoring frowned and whispered.

"What is Zhang Yuan up to now? Is he piling up the seized resources?" Venerable Li Xing sneered, but a hint of barely perceptible surprise and doubt lingered deep in his eyes.

Such efficient resource utilization and robust defense cannot be explained by mere consumption.

“No,” Venerable Zichen stared at the sand table through the beaded curtain, his voice low, “At the core of its array base… there is an ancient and profound will lurking, seemingly resonating with the earth and mountains… Is this child truly a human?” His apprehension about the “inheritance” behind Zhang Yuan deepened.

At this moment, several young Celestial Elites in the hall, witnessing the purification of the "Abyss Demon Eye" on the sand table, were filled with fervor. Several Human Elites rose and bowed: "Your Majesty Zichen! Fire General Zhang Yuan has defended this perilous place with successive victories, displaying the might of our realm's fortress! We are willing to leave our seclusion and fight alongside him to defend the three fortresses of Chentie Ridge!"

The Purple Emperor, seated beneath his nine-tasseled jade crown, slightly shifted his gaze, and as the beaded curtain trembled, he uttered only one word:
"allow!"

Blood millstone.

A signal came from the sentry post outside Eagle's Beak Cliff: "Reporting to Commander Huo! A reinforcement force of about three hundred men has arrived from the direction of Boundary Fortress Pass. They claim to be on orders from the central command to support our troops! The leader is carrying a fortress token with the character '戊' on it!"

Inside the tent, Zhang Yuan's eyes were slightly cold.

Central edict?

Not long after he received that cold garrison order.

Lei Zhen and Yue Zhenshan also frowned, clearly not believing it.

"Lead them to the buffer zone outside Eagle's Beak Cliff and verify their identities," Zhang Yuan commanded calmly.

The "reinforcements" were dressed in standard rune-inscribed armor, their aura was restrained, and their steps were orderly, making them look like an elite force.

The leading general had a resolute face and held his token high.

The commander of Eagle Beak Cliff, a captain of the Rocky Camp, stood in front of the formation according to the strict procedures ordered by Zhang Yuan beforehand, and shouted loudly: "Heavenly King covers the Earth Tiger!"

This was originally one of the code words designed by Zhang Yuan.

The leader of the "reinforcements" was clearly taken aback, a barely concealed look of surprise and ferocity flashing in his eyes. He then roared reflexively, "Pagoda to suppress the river demon!"

"Password correct! Open the gate!" The captain smiled with relief and waved his hand.

The defensive light shield of Eagle Beak Cliff slowly opened a crack.

The "reinforcements" quickly poured in.

However, the moment the last person stepped into the position, the leading "general" suddenly grinned and his demonic energy exploded, instantly tearing off the disguised human skin and transforming into a ferocious skeletal blade demon general!
Behind them, the three hundred "reinforcements" also shed their disguises and transformed into hundreds of elite Bone-Eating Demons and Corrosive Poison Predators of various shapes, and even a few twisted Shadow Weavers mixed in!
A violent surge of demonic energy instantly filled the air!
"Heh heh heh! Fire General Zhang Yuan! Prepare to die! Slaughter this place!" The skeletal demon general roared, raising his bone blade high, aiming straight for the command post on the cliff top!

However, their response was not one of panic among the defenders.

"Activate the formation—'Ten Directions Lock the Heavens'!" Lei Zhen's icy voice boomed like thunder, instantly echoing throughout the Three Fortresses!
"Om-!"

The entire Eagle Beak Cliff, and even the connected Iron Ridge and Lone Star Fortress, burst forth with an unprecedentedly brilliant light!
It was not a single light shield, but an energy barrier composed of countless layers of runes, which appeared instantly, like precise gears meshing and locking together!

The monsters that rushed in were as if they had crashed into a steel jungle made of light and laws!

The ground suddenly collapsed, and the magical energy disrupted by the "Disruptive Nails" formed an energy turbulence trap beneath their feet.

In the air, countless emerald green vines reached out from the void, precisely wrapping around the Shadow Weaver.

Even more terrifying, the gravity of the entire space instantly twisted and multiplied, originating from the will of the core prison-suppressing divine elephant of Shentieling!
"kill!"

The Rock Camp warriors, already in ambush at their designated positions and equipped with the latest enhanced armor and demon-slaying cones, descended like tigers from the mountain.

Their attacks were precise and deadly. The ghostly blue runes on the Demon-Slaying Cones flickered, easily tearing through the demonic armor. The life force and the Demon-Slaying Thunder Force attached to the tips of the cones dealt a double blow to the demons.

The skeletal demon was the strongest target; it roared as it cleaved through layers of obstacles and charged toward the top of the cliff.

However, just as it was about to touch the top of the cliff, a magnificent beam of divine light shot into the sky from the core array eye at the top of the cliff, and a faint phantom of a divine elephant could be seen flashing by before stomping down fiercely!

"boom!"

The skeletal demon general was struck as if by an ancient divine mountain; his massive body crashed to his knees, and his sturdy bone blade shattered inch by inch!

Its eyes were filled with disbelief and terror: "No—this power...it's not the Heavenly Palace...it's..."

Before the words were finished, several bolts of shattered star lightning, entwined with the essence of the Southern Ming Fire, and a sharp golden light that tore through space descended simultaneously, completely engulfing and purifying it along with the surrounding high-level demons that were stubbornly resisting!
The battle, or rather the massacre, ended in just a few dozen breaths.

The hundreds of elite demons who infiltrated were crushed by this terrifying war machine, which combined the wisdom of two realms with the power of divine beasts, before they could even put up a decent resistance.

The protective shield of the position closed again, and apart from the lingering burnt smell of demonic energy in the air and some traces of battle on the ground, it was as if nothing had happened.

On the battlefield, the soldiers began to silently and efficiently clean up the battlefield, collecting the spoils containing pure magical energy.

Their eyes were firm, their movements were practiced, and they were not too surprised by what had just happened.

This fortress had truly become their home, an impregnable fortress, a steel home capable of burying any invading enemy. (End of Chapter)