Daqin Zhentiansi

"The core key to the earth veins of Tianyuan City is in your hands, and it is connected to the origin of your life."

"If you perish here, the key will break down, and the earth vein power that has suppressed this city for thousands of years will dissipate out of control."

"At that time, not only will the Star Torch be extinguished instantly, but tens of millions of mortals in the city will be turned into food for demons in an instant. Even the Celestial Warriors who are still fighting hard will have their source of power to resist the demonic energy polluted and devoured by the demonic energy."

"The entire Tianyuan City will be completely turned into a demonic hell, with no chance of life left."

He paused, noticing the shock and understanding flashing in Venerable Qing Shuang's eyes, and continued, "General Ba Yue also mentioned you in his last words. What he entrusted to me was not only the Han Yue Army, but also this city and the people in it."

The Azure Frost Venerable's body trembled violently, his withered fingers gripping the cold chains tightly.

“Ba Yue…he…”

“He has always remembered you.” Zhang Yuan stood up, his Myriad Beasts Divine Armor remaining motionless amidst the demonic energy, like a pillar stabilizing the sea. “Therefore, you cannot die. Live, guard the key, guard hope. Wait for me to return with the Ice Heart Rejuvenation Pill.”

He took out the jade box containing the Pure Heart Lotus from his bosom and placed it in front of Venerable Qing Shuang.

"At that time, together we will drive the Demon Realm out of Xuntian Continent."

As Venerable Qing Shuang watched his retreating figure, the ancient armor emanating a reassuring power amidst the demonic aura of the desolate region.

She looked at the jade box, then at the direction Zhang Yuan had left in. Her chapped lips moved silently, finally culminating in a soft murmur: "Ba Yue... I... will wait..."

Zhang Yuan turned around and returned the way he came.

The demonic barrier silently cracked open before him, allowing him to pinpoint the gaps in the patrol's movements. His figure, like a phantom blending into the shadows, silently departed from this perilous land shrouded in demonic energy.

When he stepped back into the ruined streets of Tianyuan City, the situation of the entire city had already undergone a dramatic change due to his series of schemes.

In the western region, Yue Qing's 20,000-strong Iron-Blooded Rock Battalion had already retreated as planned.

The Earth Fire Chain Explosion Array and the Nine-Bend Magnetic Maze Array burned the pursuing demon army to a crisp, leaving them dizzy and disoriented, ultimately leaving only a mess on the ground.

The main force of the Shaking Mountain Army seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving the Blood Slaughter Demon General furious but helpless.

The Demon Army's western defense line was torn open by Yue Qing's "feigned attack," resulting in heavy losses and a blow to morale.

In the direction of Black Wind Gorge, the Red Feather Army and the Vanguard Battalion's large-scale march and the "lost" marching star map acted like the sweetest bait.

Blood Butcher fell for the trap as expected.

A large number of mobile troops that could have been used in other directions were urgently transferred to Black Wind Gorge to stand guard next to the "Nine Nether Soul-Eating Array" and prepare to ambush the non-existent "Heavenly Palace Reinforcements" and "Mount Shaking Army Main Force".

The demon army's precious troops were firmly pinned to the pre-set trap, wasting precious time.

Three hundred cubic meters of refined copper and the cores of five thousand demon-slaying crossbows have been safely delivered to the underground workshop of the Star Observatory.

After being infused with new energy, the light of the star torch visibly stabilized and brightened.

The light and shadow dispelled more of the gloom in the city, bringing long-awaited hope to the desperate soldiers and civilians.

The craftsmen are working day and night to repair the Star Torch Nexus and arm the remaining soldiers.

The demon army's supply depot was raided, the ambush failed, the defense line was breached, and troops were redeployed...

The series of blows enraged and bewildered the Demon Army's high command.

The Demon General of the Underworld had his sternum shattered and was seriously injured.

Blood Butcher was in a terrible state.

The name Zhang Yuan is like an inescapable nightmare. His elusive and cunning methods have instilled unprecedented fear in the Demon Realm.

They began a frantic search for Zhang Yuan's whereabouts, unaware that he had already penetrated deep into enemy territory and quietly departed.

Venerable Xuanwu must have also received the urgent message.

In the distance, the light of the starlight pierced through the demonic energy, stubbornly illuminating this scarred and majestic city.

Zhang Yuan raised his head, looking at the brighter and more stable light than before. A slight smile appeared on his lips, and a flash of cold killing intent disappeared in his eyes.

"You old dog Xuanwu, you're doomed to lose."

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At the Black Stone Forest camp, the first rays of dawn broke through.

One hundred thousand troops lined up in formation on the drill ground.

Banners fluttered in the wind, and armored soldiers stood like a forest.

Having endured the bloody battle at Zanglong'ao, the raid on the western district, and the infiltration of the earth's veins, this force, cobbled together from the remnants of the Hanyue Army, the Chiling Army, and the Fengrui Battalion, was exhausted yet still possessed an indomitable spirit.

But Zhang Yuan knew—it wasn't enough.

They faced a million-strong demon army, Xuanwu's conspiracy, and a desperate situation on the verge of being abandoned by the Heavenly Palace.

He must forge these 100,000 people into an invincible blade.

On the platform, Zhang Yuan stood with his hands behind his back.

The Armor of Myriad Beasts shimmered with a deep, dark light in the morning glow, its ancient beast patterns seeming to breathe.

His left eye was filled with chaotic starlight, deep and still as an abyss; his right eye held back the divine fire of the mysterious yellow flames, as restrained as a core.

He didn't speak.

He simply raised the Zhenyue Token in his hand slowly.

"Om-"

The token buzzed.

A halo of earthy yellow light spread out from Zhang Yuan across the entire training ground.

That wasn't an attack, nor was it intimidation.

Rather, it is a kind of...calling.

The call of the earth.

The earth's magnetic energy within a radius of a hundred miles, like an ancient behemoth awakened, emitted a deep rumble.

A powerful force surged from beneath their feet, gently yet domineeringly enveloping each soldier.

The armor of 100,000 people simultaneously emitted a faint resonance.

Some people gasped in surprise, while others gasped in shock.

Many people felt a warm current flowing from the soles of their feet, slowly flowing along their meridians, washing away the fatigue of days of battle.

"This...this is..."

Yue Qing stood at the front of the group, feeling the activity of the Yuan Magnetic Power within his body, his eyes filled with shock.

He had practiced the "Mountain Moving and Mountain Shaking Technique" for hundreds of years, and had never felt such a pure and powerful resonance of the earth's veins.

Zhang Yuan spoke up.

The sound wasn't loud, yet it clearly resonated throughout the training ground, carrying the heavy echo of the Zhenyue Decree activating the earth's veins—

"Fellow comrades."

"Tianyuan City is in sight, surrounded by demonic forces. Hundreds of thousands of civilians and three Venerables are struggling to survive in this desperate situation."

"At Zanglong'ao, General Bayue fell while covering the rear, entrusting the torch of the Hanyue Army to me."

"At the West District warehouse, fifty members of the Breakthrough Team risked their lives alongside me to retrieve supplies from the demon army's trap."

“Through the earth’s veins, we traversed perilous terrain and delivered the Fire Essence Copper and the core of the Demon-Slaying Crossbow into the city.”

"Every step is a life-or-death struggle."

His gaze swept across the entire venue, and 100,000 pairs of eyes met his.

"But having life alone is not enough."

"The demon army numbers in the millions, and the old dog Xuanwu has laid a net that can't be ignored. The Heavenly Palace... may not be reliable."

"We can only rely on ourselves."

"Only the knife in my hand, the armor on my body, and the comrades-in-arms beside me!"

"Starting today, the entire army will undergo full-scale training!"

"I will forge each and every one of you into iron! Forge you into steel! Forge you into killing machines that strike fear into the hearts of the demon army!"

"Tell me—do you have confidence?!"

"have!!!"

One hundred thousand people roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

The earth's magnetic energy became even more active with this roar, as if the earth itself was responding. (End of Chapter)