Daqin Zhentiansi

Wu Daoling looked up towards the boundless demonic sea to the north, which was the location of the Fusang battlefield. A trace of indescribable regret and melancholy flashed across his eyes.

"The chaotic mineral veins born on Fusang Island are the true foundation capable of shaking the balance of power in the Nine Provinces and supporting a thousand-year-old dynasty! Marquis Qingyang used it to establish his formation and train his troops... And what about us?"

A bitter smile appeared on his lips.

"We're still ecstatic about this 'ten-year benefit' right now. What we've missed is the ticket to share the power to reshape the world with the Great Qin after conquering Fusang!"

He let out a long sigh, and the ore fragment turned to dust between his fingers, scattering in the noisy sea breeze of the trading area.

The elders' expressions changed, and their initial joy vanished without a trace.

"I hope Chu Zhaonan and the others..." someone whispered, but the words slowly faded into silence.

Will the 100,000 Nine Yang Sword Sect disciples who have gone on a hunting expedition in the East China Sea return to the sect?
……

Eastern Border New Army Camp.

Supply Battalion.

In stark contrast to the "abundance and troubles" of Yuncang City, the Eastern Border New Army's supply camp was in a state of shock and chaos.

The supplies that had just arrived from the East China Sea front were piled up like mountains, almost submerging the huge camp.

The brand-new "Mountain Demon Scale Armor" gleamed with a cold, eerie light, stacked into a steel jungle.

The specially made weapon rack was filled with spears and swords that were not yet sharpened but were made of extraordinary materials, their cold gleam dazzling.

The most spectacular sight was the rows of huge ice storage facilities where unloading was still ongoing.

The severed limbs, heads, and even massive, half-rotten torsos of demonic beasts were continuously delivered, the stench of the sea mixed with the thick, not yet completely dissipated demonic aura, creating a suffocating and peculiar atmosphere.

Not to mention the boxes of bottled pills that were shipped in and piled up like walls—"Demon-Breaking Pills," "Wound-Healing Pills," "Primordial Essence Powder," and so on...

The sheer number of labels is overwhelming.

The hundreds of Confucian scholars and clerks temporarily transferred from the supply battalion all looked worried and were sweating profusely.

The rapid clicking of the abacus was almost continuous, and the red pen quickly recorded and calculated on the heavy inventory ledger, the paper rustling.

Looking at the colossal object before them, far exceeding their expectations, their steps became heavy with counting, and their wrists ached from registering.

Many people stared blankly at the seemingly endless mountain of demonic beast flesh and the wall of pills, their voices tinged with exhaustion.

"How long would it take to remember this?"

Meanwhile, the military camp was already in an uproar.

Countless soldiers gathered in front of the newly posted "Notice of Advance Payment for Military Merits," reading it with bated breath.

The notice was concise and to the point, stating that existing military merits could be used to exchange for all kinds of supplies in advance, including demon meat, pills, and even armor and weapons.

Those with insufficient funds can receive advance payment!

Ten days later, all those who had received advance military merits were rotated into the first batch to fight the enemy and pay off their debts on the East China Sea battlefield!
After a brief silence, a deafening roar of cheers erupted!

"Advance payment! I'm going to exchange it for that dragonfish fin! Making soup with it to temper my body will definitely be a great tonic!"

"Brother, lend me some credit, let me get you a bottle of 'Condensing Essence Powder' first. I'm just one breath away from breaking through my cultivation realm!"

"My armor-piercing blade has been worn dull for three months! Replace it! Get a new one!"

"Advance payment! Ten merit points in advance, in exchange for half a piece of 'Iron-Backed Rhinoceros' demon meat! I'll treat my brothers to a feast tonight!"

An old soldier with a scarred face waved the exchange token he had just received, his face flushed with excitement as he squeezed into the long exchange line. He shouted to his comrades, "Damn it, before, it was hard to exchange military merits for things like that! Now we can have anything we want, and we can get it with merits we haven't even earned yet!"

"What's there to be afraid of?! Ten days from now, I'll risk my life and chop off a few more sea monster heads to pay for it! It'll be worth it!"

His words drew an even more enthusiastic response.

Inside the main tent, Marquis Xun Huo of Pingyun and Vice Minister of War Zhou Chang, who had just arrived on their inspection tour, took in the bustling and lively scene outside through the lifted tent curtain.

The soldiers' faces were a mixture of thirst for supplies and a fighting spirit that was determined to die. The exchange queues were as long as a dragon, and the auxiliary soldiers carrying supplies moved back and forth like a woven tapestry.

The entire camp was immersed in an atmosphere of extreme excitement and intense preparation for war.

Xun Huo stroked his beard, his face showing a mixture of astonishment and admiration: "Good heavens, she actually used the 'loan' method to allocate military supplies. Princess Yu Ruo's courage and methods are truly extraordinary."

He shook his head and chuckled. This was clearly a military version of Zhao Yuyu's Yuanshang Bank's methods of financing in the private sector.

Zhou Chang's sharp gaze swept over the soldiers, their faces flushed with excitement as they eagerly awaited the advance payment of military merits in exchange for supplies.

Seeing the burning fighting spirit in their eyes, he said in a deep voice, "Whether the method is novel or not is not important. As long as this method can inspire ten times the killing courage and make these young men charge into the East China Sea without fear of death, then it will be an extremely useful method, my lord!"

"This is an open conspiracy, a scheme to drive daredevils to risk their lives for wealth and survival!"

He looked at Xun Huo, his eyes gleaming with a profound understanding of the war situation: "This change, though seemingly a clever trade strategy, is in fact driven by profit, catalyzing a fundamental transformation in the battle-hardened army!"

The clamor outside the tent grew louder and louder.

The pulse of the million-strong army was ignited by this unprecedented advance payment of supplies, like a primordial beast poised to devour the Demon Cave of the East Sea, roaring with deep power as its appetite was satisfied.

----------------

Qingyuan County in the eastern border region.

Songxuan Sword Sect.

The stone chamber in the back mountain suddenly opened, revealing the Supreme Elder Chen Ming, whose hair and beard had turned silver after two years of seclusion, and whose innate qi surged like a tide.

He laughed loudly, shaking the rocks off the cliff face: "Late stage of the Innate Realm! Within a hundred miles, who can rival me?"

"You old scoundrel from the Fierce Blade Sect, it's time for you to kneel and welcome the banner of my Songxuan Sword Sect!"

He summoned a guard disciple to lead the way, and Chen Ming's brows furrowed even more deeply.

The mountain path was paved with blue-patterned stones, and the disciple wore a black iron sword sheath at his waist, with his wrist guards inlaid with ice-patterned steel!
"When did the sect leader become so extravagant?" Elder Chen Ming's face was ashen.

Upon arriving at the main hall, they found Sect Leader Li Yue and three elders frowning as they looked at the account books.

Li Yue looked up and was instantly overjoyed: "The Supreme Elder's emergence from seclusion is perfectly timed!"

He grabbed the still-wet document and strode forward: "Please escort the caravan to Yuncang City. Now our Songxuan Sword Sect's problem of lacking experts can finally be solved!"

Chen Ming was taken aback, then slammed his hand on the table in anger.

The rosewood desk shattered instantly.

"Damn it! My divine skills have been perfected, and my first priority is to raze the Fierce Blade Sect to the ground!"

"Quickly gather all the disciples..."

Before he finished speaking, his aura surged like a raging torrent, and the beams and pillars of the hall trembled with a buzzing sound.

The room was dead silent.

The elders looked at each other.

Suddenly, the jade pendant at Li Yue's waist emitted a blue light, effortlessly dispelling the oppressive force.

The three elders were surrounded by phantom images of malevolent energy.

They were all at the peak of the Innate Realm!

Li Yue sighed softly, revealing his aura. The overwhelming pressure of a grandmaster made Chen Ming stagger backward.

"During your two years of seclusion, the landscape of the Eastern Territory has changed..." (End of Chapter)