Daqin Zhentiansi

Inside the Starry Sky Hall, Emperor Yuankang's voice, carrying an undeniable authority, rang out: "The reconstruction of Zhenhai Guard is a matter of profound implications and will be postponed for now. However, the overall situation in the East China Sea cannot be neglected—Ministry of Works and Ministry of Revenue, heed my command!"

Gongsun Yan and Zuo Qian immediately stepped forward and bowed.

The officials were not surprised by Emperor Yuankang's decision to temporarily set aside the issue of Zhenhaiwei.

How could such an important matter be decided so hastily?
If Zhenhaiwei were to be established, it would not only involve official positions, but also the logistical supply of millions of soldiers and the mobilization of resources throughout the entire Qin Dynasty.

Such a matter has far-reaching consequences.

Moreover, the Marquis of Qingyang is currently enjoying a successful and fruitful hunt in the East Sea.

If a powerful demon in the East Sea proves insurmountable and the hunt ends in failure, then the Zhenhai Guard's affairs will need to be reconsidered.

The soldiers of Qin could not be sent to their deaths in vain.

In the main hall, Emperor Yuankang's gaze fell on Zuo Qian and Gongsun Yan.

"I hereby order you to oversee the construction of one hundred new-style sea-suppressing ships, using the bones of the Thunder Roc as their keel, the core of Thunderclap as their spiritual hub, and the deck forged from millennia-old lightning-struck wood!" Emperor Yuankang unfurled a scroll of array diagrams shimmering with spiritual light. "The blueprints are all crafted according to the 'Mysterious Tortoise Sea-Suppressing Diagram' presented by Marquis Qingyang, and are to be deployed to the East Sea within three years!"

Gongsun Yan's fingertips trembled slightly as he traced the illusory array diagram in the void. Looking at the intricately nested Thunder-Bearing Furnace and star-patterned anchor chain structure within it, his eyes blazed with wild joy: "Your subject obeys the decree! With this divine fleet, the sea borders of our Great Qin will be as solid as a rock!"

The Minister of Revenue was demoted and his breathing became even heavier.

Although the materials required to build a hundred Zhenhai ships are enormous, once they are completed, the resources of the East Sea demon race will flow into the Ministry of Revenue's treasury like rivers flowing into the sea!

He seemed to see thousands of merchant ships following the fleet across the vast ocean, and he kowtowed excitedly: "Your subject will devote all his resources to help the Ministry of Works achieve this great undertaking!"

Minister of War Guo Ming stood in the ranks of military officers, watching the two high-ranking officials lose their composure, a barely perceptible sneer flashing across his lips.

He lightly tapped the tiger tally at his waist with his fingertips, and whispered in a voice only loud enough for the few dukes around him to hear: "The Zhenhai Ship has been cast... how far away is the Zhenhai Guard?"

Upon hearing this, Duke Qin Chengye of Chen's eyes flashed, while Duke Lu Jun of Cheng stroked his beard and smiled silently.

Your Majesty is prudent in your actions and always plans carefully before acting.

“Marquis Changning, Su Jing.” Emperor Yuankang turned his gaze to the shadows.

The commander of the Black Ice Platform, clad in a black robe and jade belt, stepped forward, his aura like thunder hidden in the abyss: "Your subject is here."

"Issue my secret decree." The emperor flicked a black jade talisman with a dragon pattern from his fingertip. "Take this talisman to the Nine Provinces and summon Li Chunfeng and other masters of array formations from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion to gather in the Imperial City! The secret of the Star Piercing Platform must be deciphered!"

"Yes." Su Jing tucked the talisman into his sleeve with a swift and decisive movement.

Yu Kuizhen looked at Su Jing with some envy.

The Imperial Household Department may appear to be serving the emperor, but it rarely participates in truly important matters.

His Majesty trusts the Black Ice Guard the most.

Emperor Yuankang waved his hand, turned and left. The officials looked at each other, bowed and withdrew from the main hall of the Imperial Observatory.

"Such important weapons as the Star Piercing Platform and the Sea Guard, His Majesty has ultimately entrusted them to the Black Ice Guard..."

"In the end, it is the sharpest knife in the emperor's hand." Someone sighed softly as they watched Su Jing's figure disappear behind the corridor pillar.

Outside the palace, before the cloud-like steps, Duke Lu Jun of Cheng caught up with Su Jing, his crimson python robe blazing like a wildfire under the starlight: "Commander Su, why didn't you vie for the Zhenhai Guard's seal just now? This was a golden opportunity!"

Su Jing paused and looked back at the dome of the Imperial Observatory, where the faint hum of the twenty-eight bronze pillars could be heard.

His fingers, hidden beneath his black robe, traced the cold token, his voice carrying a chilling depth:

"The 'Starry Sky Demon-Suppressing Pillar' of the Heavenly Suppression Division has been repaired. Liang Yuanyu's Buddhist energy has entered the Imperial City Array earlier than Lu Gong expected."

He met Lu Jun's suddenly contracting pupils and chuckled, "Without the Heavenly Guardian, how can the East Sea suppress the Ruins of Return?"

Lu Jun paused for a moment, then suddenly clapped his hands and laughed loudly, his voice echoing throughout the palace: "Excellent! With Zhang Qingyang openly sweeping away the four seas, your hidden blade, the Black Ice Platform, is naturally sitting firmly on the fishing platform!"

Never before has the Black Ice Team been so united and cohesive as it is today.

When Duke Lu Jun of Chengguo was stationed at the Black Ice Platform and in control of the Zhen Tian Division, the Zhen Tian Division did not have the power it has today.

This is a testament to Zhang Qingyang's fighting prowess and courage, and even more so to Su Jing's willingness to delegate authority.

This is probably the result His Majesty wanted to see.

A powerful deputy head of the Heavenly Suppression Bureau, and a commander of the Black Ice Guard hidden in the background. For the first time in years, the Black Ice Guard's reputation has improved.

"Shouldn't we have some results from Liang Yuanyu's side by now?"

Lu Jun looked up and saw the starlight spilling onto the nine-tiered palace. The patterns on the twenty-eight bronze pillars lit up in the night, like a giant dragon coiled around the imperial city opening its eyes.

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Deep in the East China Sea.

On the Zhenhai boat, the jade pendant in Zhang Yuan's hand shimmered with a faint spiritual light.

This jade pendant came from Zhenhai Island. It contains the emperor's reply to the reconstruction of Zhenhai Guard, as well as some information compiled by the Zhentian Division.

Zhang Yuan understood the concerns behind Emperor Yuankang's decision to temporarily suspend the reconstruction of Zhenhaiwei.

The perils of the Boundless Sea and the enormous losses suffered by the Zhenhai Guard are both hidden worries.

However, the Ministry of Works forged the Zhenhai Ship and gathered the world's top array masters to deduce the teleportation array. All of these were preparations for rebuilding Zhenhai Guard.

The repairs to the Demon-Suppressing Pillar of the Heavenly Suppression Bureau are nearing completion, at which time the Imperial City's defensive capabilities will be further enhanced.

Especially with the formations secretly set up during the reconstruction of the imperial city, the entire imperial city was truly impregnable.

Marquis Changning sent word that the Heavenly Guards had inflicted a major defeat on the Liangzhou and Liangyuan Monk Soldiers in the heart of the Liangyuan Domain.

Grandmaster Qin Wuyai beheaded the Grandmaster of the Buddhist sect in Liangzhou, and Zhenxibo Ouyang Shucai joined forces with Baili Xi to surround and kill a million monk soldiers.

The Buddhist sects in Liangyuan have lost their will to fight, and with Dingyuan and Yao Dashan acting as intermediaries, the time to take over Liangyuan is not far off.

The next step is how to deal with the counterattack from the Buddhist sect in Liangzhou.

Once Liangyuan Domain is captured, the power dynamics of the five kingdoms and three domains in Yongtian Continent will change dramatically.

Zhang Yuan narrowed his eyes.

Leaving aside the three kingdoms in the east, it's time to deal with Murong Zhao in the northwest.

Ahead, a warning horn sounded.

The sea surface was churning and surging with waves.

The bodies of dragons, shadowy octopuses, and various water demons burst forth.

Those were all Qin warriors who had transformed into human form.

In the sky, the Thunder Roc, with its wings spread and golden light trailing behind it, rushed towards the surging waves.

Zhang Yuan narrowed his eyes.

"My lord, we have been invaded by the enemy."

Xue Dingyue, dressed in armor, strode forward, bowed, and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Including this one, this is the tenth wave of monster attacks in the past five days."

Xue Dingyue looked up at Zhang Yuan.

These monsters aren't stupid.

The aura on the Zhenhai Ship soared to the sky, and the light of the spiritual array illuminated hundreds of miles. Behind it, on the crossing ship, 100,000 sword cultivators tore through the clouds with their sword energy.

How many blind monsters will attack the fleet?

"It's just the tricks of the Demon Lord Xuanqiong."

Zhang Yuan's expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "Judging from this, he hasn't truly escaped his predicament yet."

"Very well, then let me take his life."

As the sound faded, a deafening roar and explosion echoed from the waves ahead. (End of Chapter)