Daqin Zhentiansi

Xingheng's expression changed drastically: "What? Are you crazy? Qing Shuang has been corrupted by demonic energy, and the area within a ten-mile radius has become a dead zone! Moreover, it is heavily guarded by the demonic army—"

“So now is the best time.” Zhang Yuan interrupted him, his eyes gleaming with confidence.

He walked to the sand table and pointed to the ruins of the Tianyuan City Lord's Mansion.

"Your Excellency, please observe. The main force of the Demon Army, the Shadow Claw Division of the Underworld Tower, is being held back by me at the Western District Trading Post, while the Blood Slaughter's Shattered Mountain Division is having its attention diverted by Yue Qing's strong attack on the Western District. In addition—"

He took out a jade slip containing information about Black Wind Gorge from his bosom.

“I ordered the Crimson Feather Army and the Vanguard Battalion to advance in a grand manner along the direction of Broken Dragon Pass and Ghost Cry Forest, and ‘accidentally’ lost the marching star map.”

"Now, Blood Butcher must think that the main force of the Shaking Mountain Army is going to take that route that traps the Heavenly Palace reinforcements. He will send more troops to Black Wind Gorge to ambush them."

He ran his fingertips across the sand table.

"In this way, the demon army on both the east and west sides of Tianyuan City is restrained. Only the area in front of the city lord's mansion, which is the most dangerous place, is the most vulnerable."

Xingheng gasped.

"You...you planned this all along?"

Zhang Yuan smiled slightly.

“From the moment I received the first piece of intelligence from Mo Wenshu, I knew that the West District warehouse was a trap.”

"Since the Demon Realm wants to use supplies as bait to lure me in, I'll play along. I'll take the supplies, and then, taking advantage of the chaos of their attack on me, I'll infiltrate the city from the opposite direction."

"They thought I was in the light, but I was actually in the shadows."

"They thought their prey had taken the bait, but the hunter had only just revealed his fangs."

These words left Xingheng speechless.

He traversed the vast wilderness for countless millennia, witnessing countless geniuses, heroes, and generals.

But it's the first time I've seen someone like Zhang Yuan, who always takes a step in a direction the enemy doesn't expect and turns the enemy's traps into his own springboard.

“But… Qing Shuang has been corrupted by demonic energy. Even if you find her, what can you do?” Xing Heng asked.

Zhang Yuan's gaze sharpened.

"I need to confirm three things."

"First, is she still conscious? If she is, she might know more about the Demon Realm's plans and more clues about the traitor."

"Secondly, what is her physical condition?"

"The formula for the Ice Heart Rejuvenation Pill needs to be adjusted to suit her specific condition. I must see it in person to ensure that the pill refining is flawless."

“Third—” he paused, lowering his voice, “the Azure Frost Venerable is imprisoned in the ruins of the City Lord’s Mansion, which is the central node of the Tianyuan City’s ley lines.”

"If I can tamper with the ley line nodes... on the day of the final battle, this trump card will be enough to make the demon army pay a heavy price."

Xingheng remained silent for a long time.

He looked into Zhang Yuan's eyes.

Those eyes, the left eye a chaotic vortex slowly rotating, the right eye a mysterious and yellow divine fire burning faintly.

Profound, calm, and powerful.

That's not youthful impulsiveness.

Rather, it is the composure of a chess player who has calculated every move perfectly when placing a crucial piece.

Xingheng took a deep breath.

Are you sure you want to go?

"determine."

How many people are needed?

Zhang Yuan shook his head.

"Too many people will only get in the way. I'll go alone."

"What?!" the formation captain exclaimed in shock. "General, there's at least one elite demon army squad guarding the ruins of the City Lord's Mansion—"

"Don't worry." Zhang Yuan raised his hand, stopping him from speaking.

"Demonic energy cannot corrupt me, and the demonic army cannot hold me back."

“Moreover—” he said with a slight upturn of his lips, “the deeper you go into the tiger’s den, the clearer you can see the tiger’s weaknesses.”

As Xingheng watched his retreating figure, she suddenly felt...

This young man might really be able to create a miracle.

Zhang Yuan issued an order to Yue Qing through the Zhenyue Order:
"Supplies have been delivered. As planned, the entire army will retreat. The fire will block the roads, and the winding paths will be a maze. We'll do it cleanly and efficiently, making the demon army think we've all left."

"Understood!" Yue Qing replied.

Then, he sent the agreed-upon signal to Venerable Chiyang—a quarter of an hour later.

A blinding golden flame erupted from the direction of the City Lord's Mansion!

Burning Sun Golden Flames!

The golden flames condensed by the Crimson Sun Venerable with his great supernatural powers soared into the sky, illuminating half of the heavens.

That was a series of coded messages agreed upon by Zhang Yuan, Chi Yang, and Yun Ji—

Golden flames shooting into the sky signify that "the supplies have been delivered smoothly."

At the same time, the golden flames also serve as excellent bait to attract the attention of the demon army.

This is the perfect moment for Zhang Yuan to take advantage of the chaos.

He turned around and cupped his hands in greeting to Xingheng.

"Your Excellency, please take care. I will send the remaining supplies and medicines as soon as possible."

“General…” Xingheng’s lips trembled, “You… please be very careful.”

"Don't worry," Zhang Yuan smiled slightly, "I haven't won enough yet."

He vanished in a flash into the shadows of the underground workshop at the astronomical observatory.

Meanwhile, on the western battlefield.

Yue Qing is commanding the Iron-Blooded Rock Battalion to launch a fierce attack on the demon army's defenses.

"kill!"

Long spears stood like a forest, and the magnetic oscillations were like mountains pressing down.

The demon army's defenses are already on the verge of collapse.

Suddenly, the Star Source Resonance Seal at my waist started to feel slightly warm.

Yue Qing probed with his divine sense, and Zhang Yuan's voice came through: "Supplies have been delivered. All troops, retreat!"

"withdraw!"

Yue Qing did not hesitate and immediately gave the order.

The 20,000-strong Ironclad Ironclad Battalion retreated like the tide, swift and decisive, without lingering in battle.

Blood Butcher was personally overseeing the battle when he saw the Han Yue Army suddenly retreat, and he was taken aback.

"They're trying to run? Chase them!"

However, at the very moment the demon army began their pursuit—

The earth trembled!

"boom--!!!"

The fire-breathing talismans that had been planted along both sides of the retreat route were detonated simultaneously!
Lava-like fire erupted from the ground, forming a fiery barrier that stretched for dozens of miles!
The scorching heat instantly engulfed the demon army at the forefront, and screams of agony rose and fell!
Blood Butcher's eyes widened in fury: "Damn formation!"

What made him even more desperate was that the Nine-Bend Magnetic Maze Array was activated at the same time!
The retreating Hanyue Army's movements were thrown into chaos. The magnetic field distorted space, and the pursuing demon army was like headless flies, bumping around in all directions!

When the flames died down, the mist disappeared.

On the battlefield, only scorched earth remained.

The Shaking Mountain Army has disappeared.

It was as if it had never existed.

"Impossible...impossible..." Blood Butcher muttered to himself, "How could 300,000 people just vanish into thin air?"

Minggu emerged from the shadows, his face grim.

"It's not that they disappeared. Someone used the ley lines to leave."

"The assimilative properties of the Chaos Star Source Force... Zhang Yuan is more terrifying than we thought."

He looked towards Tianyuan City, where the starlight seemed slightly brighter than yesterday.

"The Fire-Refined Copper... and the core of the Demon-Slaying Crossbow have all been sent into the city."

"Our trap not only failed to kill him, but actually helped him."

Blood Butcher's face turned ashen: "Then what do we do?"

Minggu coldly said, "Send a message to Xuanwu immediately."

"This person must be eliminated as soon as possible."

"Otherwise, it will surely become a great disaster." (End of this chapter)