Daqin Zhentiansi

The thickness of the armor plates has almost doubled, and each plate has been forged countless times, exhibiting the unique dark black color of fine steel. The plates are densely etched with a micro-array of runes that are almost invisible to the naked eye!
Fine, silvery rune circuits run through the entire body of the armor plates, eventually converging at the chest, where a palm-sized, round breastplate, made from the plastron of a lava rock turtle, is embedded!
The dark red light emanating from the inside of the tortoise shell was like solidified magma slowly flowing through the veins.

This is no longer just a defensive piece of armor; it's more like a mobile war node!

Zheng Kanglin's rough, large hands stroked the cold armor plates, his fingertips touching the intricate rune grooves. A slight electric tingling sensation traveled up his arm, accompanied by a strange thrill that made a warrior's blood rush.

This is no longer the worn-out centurion's armor he used to wear in the haystack of the old walled village!
From a hot-blooded and impulsive young man in the walled village to a majestic captain commanding thousands of troops on the Vermilion Bird Street, this armor is the symbol of his identity, built up by Zheng Kanglin with blood and fire, and with the heads of demons he has slain!

But no matter how heavy the armor was, it couldn't suppress the turmoil in his heart at this moment!

"Sister-in-law! I..."

Zheng Kanglin suddenly grabbed a recessed leather buckle below the shoulder guard, which was the core locking point of the entire breastplate.

He opened his mouth to explain something, to assure someone, and to comfort Sister-in-law Guo, who had stumbled in behind him, and Tie Dan, who was clinging to his leg.

But my throat felt like it was blocked by a glutinous rice cake that had just been taken out of the pot—scalding hot, sticky, and suffocating.

For the past five years! Every time he went to war, she would stand by the door frame or on the broken threshold of the walled building to see him off!

From the shadows of the gray walls of the woodshed to the light filtering through the carved window, the panic in her eyes, the clenched knuckles of her fingers…

It seems like it has never changed!

This time, however, her fear was infused with the weight of the "home" that the three-courtyard mansion on Zhuque Street had given her, a home she had finally managed to settle down in!

The weight was so heavy that the plaque on his chest felt like a piece of red-hot iron!
He fought his way through half his life, all he wanted was a peaceful life so that his wife and daughter could live a good life.

"Go! Zheng Kanglin! Military orders are absolute!" Sister-in-law Guo took a deep breath, her voice sounding like it was being forced out of her frozen lungs, with a sharp, broken tone.

She pushed Zheng Kanglin in the back with almost all her might, shouting, "Tiedan's dad! Armor! Hurry up!"

Her eyes were red and swollen, and she bit her lower lip so hard that blood was seeping out. She didn't look at Zheng Kanglin's face again. Instead, she rushed to the huge black lacquered wooden cabinet, frantically pulled open the heavy cabinet door, and took out a long bundle carefully wrapped in blue coarse cloth.

Inside were several spare padded jackets, two pairs of thick cloth socks with soles stitched with a thousand layers and coated with tung oil for waterproofing, and a small package carefully wrapped in three or four layers of oil paper...

Fruit candy used to scatter the bridal veil on the wedding day.

There weren't many items, but the bundles were folded neatly, as if they had been rehearsed countless times.

She pressed these things firmly onto Zheng Kanglin's breastplate, which was already mostly on. The cold, hard armor plates hurt her fingers, but she was completely unaware of it.

"Take this with you...keep it...to keep you alert..."

His voice trembled uncontrollably, and his eyes were fixed on the cold patterns on his nail plates.

Zheng Kanglin felt that the iron plaque in his heart, along with the bundle that had been stuffed into his chest, was so heavy that it almost pinned him to the spot.

Tie Dan clung tightly to his right leg, his little hands gripping the hem of his armored skirt. His small body trembled, and he buried his face in the cold metal, sobbing softly, like a wounded little animal suppressing its whimpers.

"Dad...beat the bad guys...after you're done...come...home..." the child cried out incoherently, snot and tears smeared all over the smooth nail plate.

Zheng Kanglin's Adam's apple bobbed violently, as if he had swallowed a piece of scalloped charcoal.

He didn't lower his head or respond; he simply and almost roughly wrapped up the clothes and socks that had been stuffed into his hands, and along with the small packet of candy, shoved them into the bottom of a square leather military supply box covered with oil-tanned sharkskin, which was hanging from his left arm.

This item is also the equipment of a seventh-rank captain, and it can hold command flags, seals, talismans, inkstones, and important personal items.

The last item was that old object that had almost become a kind of brand—

A fur vest meticulously crafted from the softest fur from the underbelly of a fox.

Its fur remained as bright as fire, exuding a faint scent of saltpeter and soapberry.

Guo's sister-in-law's fingers traced a hidden stitch on the inside of her fur vest—

The madness and promises made five years ago before setting off on that snowy night still seem to carry the warmth of those promises. This vest bears too much weight.

"puff!"

Zheng Kanglin exhaled a deep breath, as if trying to expel all the stickiness and stagnation in his chest.

He grabbed the fox fur vest and, instead of wearing it over his chainmail as usual, deftly and with an almost resolute force, slipped it directly over the soft armor underneath his body.

The soft fur, carrying the scent of the past and the warmth of body heat, clung to the chest like a thin layer of protection, or a silent vow.

He no longer looked at the young, resolute face behind him, nor at the face that was struggling to hold back tears.

He turned around abruptly, his heavy black iron military boots slamming onto the threshold with a deep thud.

Without the slightest hesitation, they strode into the still somewhat chilly winds of late winter and early spring.

"Boom—boom—boom—"

The scene on Zhuque Street is no longer the same as when Zheng Kanglin went out to receive the house plaque.

The massive troop carriers, supported entirely by a steel frame and covered with a matte metallic shell, rolled forward like mobile steel fortresses along the main road, which was as wide as a plaza!
The heavy wheels rolled over the streets of the imperial city, which were paved with countless sea monster inkstones and hard enough to withstand the scorching of low-level demonic fire, making a teeth-grinding "squeak" sound and leaving clear dents in their wake.

A massive, cannon-like object was mounted on the roof of the carriage, its nozzle engraved with runes that shimmered with a bluish-purple light.

That was the Ministry of Works' newly commissioned "Black Armor Heavy Vehicle," which could carry a single person up to half-mast!
The striking blood-clawed tortoise emblem on the vehicle body reflected a cold light in the sunlight—

This is the serial number directly under the Central Army of the Xuanjia Army!

A deep humming sound filled the sky, obscuring the clouds!

The spirit wood kites that used to fly by sporadically are no longer the ones of yesteryear.

Thousands of silver "Swift Wind Hawks," shaped like shuttles and covered with dense flight runes on their bellies, formed a massive array that blotted out the sky and hovered at high speed at a height of tens of feet above the ground, like a surging metal storm!
They cruise along precise and complex trajectories, protecting the surging torrent of steel below!
Each turn of the formation brought forth a piercing shriek, and the air currents caused the red banner that had been temporarily hung on Suzaku Avenue to be torn and shake wildly.

Military flags fluttered like a forest!

No, it's more like a moving sea of ​​flags!

Besides the main banner of the Heavenly Gang Armor Army, which is a black banner with a golden thunder pattern and a blue dragon symbolizing the summoning of heavenly thunder and the deterrence of evil spirits, various other battle banners fluttered in the sky above the surging crowds, chariots, and mechanical beasts!
The Black Wolf Banner of the North!
Blue Sky and Cloud Pattern Flag!
You can even see several naval flags from Hanhai County on the edge, painted with ferocious sea crocodile totems!

Armies from different organizations and defense zones, like rushing tributaries, converged from camps, city gates, and even sky passages in all directions of the imperial city, with only one goal—the Zhen Tian Si Imperial Guard Camp!

"Boom! Thump! Thump!"

The dull yet rhythmic footsteps struck the earth!
The entire Zhuque Avenue is like a giant drum that is being constantly beaten!
It wasn't a chaotic run, but a terrifying resonance of thousands upon thousands of pairs of black armor boots, forged from fine steel and with rune-patterned iron plates covering their soles, stepping in unison!
With each step, the earth trembled slightly, and the glazed tiles on the tall buildings lining the streets hummed!

Those people who had just left the spring festival had already been driven into the cordoned-off alleys on both sides. Their faces were filled with horror and a kind of suffocating fear-worship.

Crowded and silent, they looked up at the war behemoth that was marching with earth-shattering force!
Only a few children excitedly rode on the shoulders of adults, waving small flags, before quickly covering their ears in fear and shrinking into the adults' arms.

Zheng Kanglin ran against the flow of people along the edge.

The newly branded tiger-striped talisman of a seventh-rank military officer bounced violently against the cold armor plates on his chest.

That talisman was not only an identity token, but also a small, low-level array key that resonated with the rune-inscribed heavy armor on his body!
He forcefully pushed aside several auxiliary soldiers, who were being swept along by the tide and were dizzy from being jostled, and rushed into a "short archery path" of the imperial guards along the central axis of the imperial city.

At the end of the arrow path lies the Zhen Tian Si Imperial Guard Camp!

Suddenly, a vast expanse opened up before me!
The iconic, towering, black iron gate of the Imperial Guard camp, resembling a giant black sword pointing towards the sky, was wide open.

But at this moment, there was no space left on the huge training ground outside the camp gate, which was large enough to accommodate 100,000 troops for training!
What greets the eye is a sea of ​​steel, a mix of pitch black, dark red, and indigo!

Heavenly Armor, Blazing Flame Guard, Mountain Giant Guard, Swift Thunder Cavalry...

Each legion formed its own neat and dense square formation, as if cut by a knife and axe!

Even more awe-inspiring was the sky above: that colossal machine that existed only in blueprints and legends—

A colossal floating warship, hundreds of feet long and covered with a deck several feet thick, forged from a unique anti-magic alloy refined from molten rock tortoise shells and mixed with black iron, gleaming with a cold, hard, dark luster in the sunlight, its streamlined hull resembling that of a ferocious beast—

"The Prison Guard"!
Like a floating steel mountain, it hovered dozens of feet above the entire training ground!
Its enormous shadow was cast upon the square formation on the ground, like a heavy, dark curtain.

Hundreds of gun barrels gleaming with dangerous energy were already deployed on the ship's sides, their deep muzzles pointing towards the sky like the bared fangs of a giant beast.

It hovered silently, and the oppressive feeling it brought even overwhelmed the soaring murderous aura of tens of thousands of elites on the ground!

Zheng Kanglin's heart was pounding so hard it felt like his sternum was about to shatter!

He recognized the prominent insignia on the side of the giant ship—

That's the flagship of the Zhen Tian Si's core fleet!

The Marquis... must be overseeing the battle from above!
His gaze swept rapidly across the surging crowd below, searching for the command flag of the vanguard captain—

Three striking golden thunder patterns are embroidered diagonally downwards on a black background!

found it!
Right below the massive bow projection of the "Prisoner"!
The front of that Xuanjia formation!
He took a deep breath, his muscles bulging, like a bull unleashed, and recklessly pushed aside a group of giant spirit guards who were inspecting the arm shield array in front of him.

Smash it open!

Squeeze through!

Military insignia, badges, and that taut, clenched-teeth face were his only means of passage!
No one stopped an officer with a ferocious expression, clad in thunderous armor, and clearly carrying the authority of a thousand soldiers, from rushing toward his position!

The warmth of the new house, Guo's sister-in-law's silent tears, Tie Dan's suppressed sobs...

He used all his strength to compress all of these things into the small space between the fire fox vest and the cold iron armor that clung to his chest!

At this moment, all he could see was the command flag that represented the thousands of battle spears under his command!
"Former Army Colonel Zheng Kanglin, ordered to assemble!"

He roared with all his might, his voice weak amidst the huge, metallic hum and the deep blast of the horn, but strong enough to pierce the eardrums of the centurions in front of him who were also running toward the flag formation!

"Colonel Captain!"

A man with traces of wind and sand on his face suddenly turned around. It was Liu Mang, his deputy who had shared cornbread with him in the walled village and followed him to fight in Liangyuan.

"We've finally arrived! The bugle has sounded twice! The order is to board the ship within 15 minutes!"

Boarding the ship?

Zheng Kanglin suddenly looked up and gazed once more at the "Prison Guard" hovering in the terrifying shadow overhead!
The Marquis's flagship... a former military academy graduate... is going to accompany the flagship... straight to the front lines?!

A tremendous chill exploded from his tailbone, only to be replaced by an even more surging, almost sacrificial, fanatical fighting spirit!
Tie Dan's voice calling him "Dad" still echoed in his ears, and the candy that Sister-in-law Guo had stuffed into his bag was stuck to the hard corner of the military supply box...

The carved decorations on the lintels of the three-courtyard residences along Zhuque Street in the Imperial City…

A fleeting thought flashed through my mind, only to be instantly replaced by the biting wind and snow of Blackrock Fortress and the demonic shadows tearing through space in my memory!
He didn't say anything more.

He suddenly flung open the sharkskin buckle of the military equipment box on his left arm and pulled out a folded command flag with lightning speed!
Black background with gold thunder pattern, unfolds with a "whoosh" sound in the wind!

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

Qingyang Marquis Mansion.

Zhao Yu, dressed in a moon-white brocade palace gown, stood before the steps, the morning light casting a cool, golden glow around her.

Zhang Yuan, dressed in black gold python-patterned armor with a black iron chain lightly fastened at his waist, walked up to her.

He raised his hand, his knuckles brushing against a strand of hair that had been lifted by the wind near her ear. His movements were slightly rough from the friction of his calloused fingers, and his voice was deep and resonant like the striking of a rock: "Yu'er, this time... I owe you another grand wedding."

His deep eyes gazed at her, filled with an overwhelming sense of guilt and longing. His lips were tightly pressed together, and his jawline was taut and rigid.

Zhao Yu raised her face, a faint yet incredibly warm smile curving her lips. Her eyes shimmered with tears, yet revealed a clear and resilient understanding of everything.

She gently placed her hand on the back of his hand, which was resting on the sword at his waist. The cool, black iron armor made her fingertips appear even whiter. "Zhang Yuan, the Nine Provinces are not yet complete, and the Heavenly Abyss is still there. How could I not know your heart?"

Her voice was soft yet clear, carrying a profound understanding of the world: "My heart is the same. If this world is not at peace, how can we have a home? I await the day when you shatter the chasm and the mountains and rivers are reunited."

Her gaze turned to the northern horizon: "The Yu Yuan Trading Company's thirteen warehouses and nine land and water routes are operating at full capacity, transporting cloth, grain, weapons, spiritual materials, secret talismans, and flint to the Great Wall in the north day and night."

"Once this victory is achieved, the Great Wall will expand three thousand miles outward, covering the Chenzhou Ice Plain and the shores of the Vast Sea. The Heavenly Dao's veins will then be able to be stabilized and extended, and the foundation of the Nine Provinces' mountains and rivers will be restored! This is not a task that will take a hundred years; it is just around the corner!"

Zhang Yuan met her resolute gaze, nodded emphatically, his Adam's apple bobbed, and uttered a single, weighty word: "Good!"

He gave her one last deep look, his gaze seeming to etch her image into the depths of his soul, before abruptly turning away.

The black armor cloak billowed up with a whoosh, like a battle flag suddenly unfurled.

He stepped out of the Marquis's mansion.

"Greetings, Lord Marquis!!!"

A loud shout, like a thunderclap from the heavens, suddenly exploded!
The guards of the Marquis's mansion, who had been standing solemnly on both sides of the passageway, wearing dark armor and with their faces covered with black iron unicorns, all knelt down on one knee, their heads bowed, and the sound of their armor plates clanging together was deafening!
The sound waves converged into an unparalleled killing intent, soaring straight into the sky!
This is just the beginning! (End of Chapter)