Daqin Zhentiansi

The lines are bold and powerful, and a few striking fragments of the image can be barely discerned.

It appears to be a fierce battle between two indescribable, colossal beasts, larger than mountains!

One of its heads resembled a python, coiling around the body of another creature that looked like a giant bear, while the background... was a distorted and shattered starry sky!

Star fragments scattered like meteorites!
"What...what is this?" The old prospector's lips were dry, his eyes filled with shock and confusion. "The ancient star battlefield mentioned in ancient books? Or is it a description of some...unbelievable battle between ancient demons?"

These ancient fragments of information, buried deep beneath the permafrost of Xuzhou, are like ghosts of history, subtly hinting that this wild land once experienced a catastrophe far more ancient and terrifying than the 100,000-year-old demonic calamity.

Together with the spies and the half-demon settlements, they constitute an even more turbulent and profound undercurrent beneath the ice of Xuzhou, the full picture of which has yet to be revealed.

The light of the bulwark serenely enveloped Riftwind Keep, isolating this new foundation from the boundless coldness of the outside world.

Inside the fortress, there is the hustle and bustle of reconstruction and a faint glimmer of life; outside, there is an even more ancient silence buried deep beneath the frozen soil of Xuzhou and the undercurrents surging at this moment.

The discovery of the rock wall paintings was like a stone thrown into a deep pool, instantly attracting the attention of all the exploration officers in the Ministry of Works. They reported the news up the chain of command and eventually it reached the core of the Prison Warden.

……

At the same moment, deep within Riftwind Keep, in a secluded chamber isolated from the outside world.

Zhang Yuan sat cross-legged atop the earth's vein hub, his dark black python robe fluttering even without wind.

The vast divine consciousness, like an invisible tide, covered every inch of the newly expanded territory under the rule of Riftwind Fortress.

The smoke from the mine entrance had barely cleared when intelligence of the surprise attack on Team Seven flashed in the military report runes. Thousands of miles to the northwest, at the edge of the Shadow Rift Valley, the special envoy team led by Commandant Sima Hong had quietly infiltrated into the dense miasma...

Meanwhile, deep within the newly discovered rock wall recesses outside the fortress, the nearly obliterated images of ancient strokes were clearly projected into the "eyes" of his consciousness.

The lines are bold and wild, carrying a heavy sense of having traversed a long period of time.

The marks on the brushstrokes have long been blurred by wind and frost, the edges are rounded and blunt, and the color has blended into the surrounding rocks.

But when Zhang Yuan's mind was completely absorbed in it, the intermittent carvings seemed to come alive, emitting a silent roar.

Those were... fragments of a battlefield that destroyed the heavens and the earth!

A colossal creature dominates the main part of the picture, its body as majestic as a mountain, its limbs as thick as pillars supporting the sky, and every step it takes seems to shatter the stars!
Its head... was not the dragon's head I remembered, but rather shaped like a giant elephant!

But on those slightly curved tusks, which seemed to contain boundless power, were coiled cold and majestic dragon scale patterns, unlike those of an elephant!

His entire body was covered in rough, thick leather armor, with chaotic light, as hot as the core of a star, surging between the gaps in the armor.

What is most striking is the scene it carries on its back—

Countless shattered stars, broken mountains, and even indistinct, broken city walls form its moving, chaotic backdrop, as if it itself were a walking, ancient deity carrying the wreckage of the battlefield!
Primordial Dragon and Elephant!

In Zhang Yuan's mind, this name, which had almost been buried in the dust of history, suddenly sprang to mind.

According to scattered fragments of ancient records from before the collapse of the Heavenly Court, it was an invincible divine beast born from chaos, neither dragon nor elephant, possessing the ultimate power and indestructible divine might of both, and was one of the pillars for resisting evil spirits from other realms.

They feed on the vast power of the stars, and their bodies are an indestructible barrier. Dragon and elephant are one, and their power can break through all laws!
Fighting against this ancient dragon-elephant was another terrifying shadow that pierced through the heavens and earth.

The shadow was indescribable, but Zhang Yuan's spirit could "see" its core.

A void dragon twisted like a wound in the universe, its body flowing with viscous filth, seemingly capable of dissolving and devouring even the light!
It is not a native dragon race of this world, but rather one of the vanguard of destruction brought along when the Nine Provinces were scattered and foreign enemies invaded.

Countless churning tentacles extended from its body, the ends of which split open into sucker-like mouthparts, frantically tearing at the dragon-elephant's thick, chaotic leather armor.

Each bite unleashes a shockwave of annihilating energy, which manifests on the rock paintings as large areas of chaotic cracks and collapsing starlight halos.

This is a microcosm of the collapse of the ancient divine court!

Zhang Yuan was terrified.

Although the mural is damaged, its brushstrokes carry the powerful, almost desperate will of the recorder, penetrating deep into the soul of the viewer.

The Immortal Court rules over all heavens, and the Nine Provinces are as stable as a plate.

However, external evils invaded, the Milky Way collapsed, the pillars of the Heavenly Court crumbled, and gods and demons fell like rain.

Immortals and gods shed their blood across the sky, and the laws of the Dao were shattered.

Divine beasts like the Primordial Dragon Elephant served as the flesh and blood bulwark on the front lines of resistance.

The mural in front of us probably records a corner of a key battlefield.

The dragon and the elephant confront the demonic dragon; the supreme power of the most masculine and yang forces confronts the filth and corruption of the most wicked and yin forces.

The battle between the two has long transcended the physical fight; it is a clash of the laws of the Dao, the ultimate struggle between power and darkness!

In the mural, a dragon and an elephant stomp down with one foot, their force as if the sky were collapsing!
It was not a pure physical impact, but rather as if the power of billions of stars had been gathered in an instant, transformed into the Dao pattern of the "Suppress" mantra, condensed under the elephant's foot, sealing off space and time, and crushing the illusion!
That will—heavy! Unwavering! Firm!

It was as if it wanted to completely crush that chaotic demonic dragon, along with the filthy laws it represented, into the abyss of nothingness, so that it would never be able to rise again!
This is a supreme battle strategy that proves the Dao with force and wards off evil with "suppression"!

The Void Dragon, however, was even more enigmatic.

The filth churning around it not only dissolves matter, but also erodes willpower and pollutes the laws!
Its very existence is a moving "void," attempting to distort and devour the vast stellar power and chaotic blood of the dragon and elephant, transforming it into demonic energy to nourish itself.

Its attacks with claws and tentacles carried a chaotic and destructive power, leaving indelible corrosive marks on the dragon-elephant's thick armor with each contact.

Zhang Yuan's spirit was frantically deducing and absorbing the ancient war spirit revealed in the remaining strokes.

His "Dragon Elephant Suppressing Prison Skill" originated from ancient times, and at this moment it resonated with the ancient dragon and elephant essence in the mural like never before!
The Prison Suppression Chains he previously forged by devouring the roots of the demonic vines were essentially an application of the laws of "binding," "suppression," and "refining." Now, under the reflection of the scene where the ancient dragon and elephant crushed the illusory demons with the word "suppression," countless subtle details suddenly became clear!
The way the elephant's foot landed, the way the dragon and elephant's power was gathered, was not a brute force collision, but a technique that combined blood, qi, and will, and condensed the rules of the Great Dao into a tangible weapon! A perfect fusion of "power" and "method"!

His dormant blood and qi began to surge silently, and a faint but powerful hum resounded deep within his bone marrow. The phantoms of dark gold chains flowed, reorganized, and solidified between the meridians on his body.

In his visualization, he seemed to transform into the ancient dragon and elephant in the mural, stepping on the filthy body of the Void Demon Dragon twisting and struggling.

A more vast, refined, and almost tangible true meaning of "suppressing the prison" was gestating in his heart, waiting to break free and perfect his "Nine Revolutions of Primordial Chaos" and "Dragon Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique," which combined the power of dragon and elephant.

...Almost at the same time that Zhang Yuan was immersed in the world of ancient rock paintings, thousands of miles northwest of Riftwind Valley, deep in the miasma-shrouded Thousand-Ren Barrier, at the edge of Shadow Rift Valley.

The Imperial Guard Commandant Sima Hong stood as firm as a rock behind a natural boulder shelter.

Behind him stood Zhou Mingxuan, the historian with a calm and collected demeanor; Qin Zizhan, the meticulous advisor; and twenty elite guards clad in gray-black camouflage cloaks, their bodies taut like cheetahs.

Team leader Zheng Yong's sharp eyes scanned the depths of the thick fog ahead.

Amidst the miasma, jagged rocks and gnarled vines create a complex terrain.

The air was thick with an overwhelming stench of fish and decay, and a...

A complex, uneasy, yet subtly yearning aura of life.

They could sense that countless eyes were hiding in the fog, behind the trees, and in the crevices of the rocks, watching them.

Those eyes, some with inhuman, eerie vertical pupils, some covered in scales, some with deformed little horns on their heads, and some with sharp, hook-like nails, were all different in shape, just like the "half-demon" race described in the intelligence.

The oppressive, vigilant, and silent standoff continues.

“Mr. Zhou,” Sima Hong’s voice was extremely low, steady, and powerful, “what have you noticed?”

The scribe Zhou Mingxuan stroked a few strands of his beard, squinting as he carefully discerned the subtle sounds emanating from the mist.

The deep, suppressed guttural sounds of beasts, the short, indistinct syllables that resembled human language yet were distorted and unclear, and...

A suppressed, faint sob from a child.
He slowly said, "Commander, the tribes in the mist live in clan settlements based on blood ties. Their auras are mixed and chaotic, and their strength varies greatly. There are obvious traces of clan structure, and also..."

"Deep fear and wariness towards the outside world."

He paused and said in a low voice, "The fear stems from the long experience of being ostracized and hunted down, while the wariness comes from our human identity and our entanglement with the demon race."

“Mr. Qin?” Sima Hong looked at his advisor Qin Zizhan.

Qin Zizhan's gaze swept across the front, as if examining an invisible chessboard: "Reporting to the Commandant, the predicament of half-demons lies not only in their bloodline, but also in their stance. They are regarded as aliens and disgrace by pure-blooded humans, and as inferior bloodlines and cannon fodder to be sacrificed at any time by the demon race."

"Xuzhou has been occupied for 100,000 years. They have survived in the cracks, and their survival instinct far outweighs their sense of belonging and identity. To win them over, neither coercion nor empty promises will work."

The Marquis of Qingyang sent them not for war.

The goal is not to exterminate the half-demon race.

The Xuzhou region is home to countless half-demon tribes, which is the reason why the Qin Dynasty lost Xuzhou.

"We need to show our fists, and we also need to show them the way." Qin Zizhan said succinctly, "Let them see the order under the 'light of the barrier,' which is far better than their current precarious existence. We also need to make them understand that under the iron law of the Great Qin, there is a place for those who are willing to abide by the rules to live with dignity."

"At the same time, we must also make them see the consequences of being enemies with Qingyang Hou. The wave of demon king scouts that escaped just now can be used to warn them of the consequences of standing on the wrong side."

Sima Hong nodded slightly, his burly frame leaning forward slightly. His voice wasn't loud, but it possessed a deep, penetrating power, as if it could dispel some of the thick fog:

"Fellow countrymen of Shadow Rift!"

His address caused many breaths to pause slightly in the shadows.

"We are envoys from Liefeng Fortress under the command of Marquis Qingyang of the Great Qin Dynasty! We are not here to kill, but to deliver orders and inquire about directions!"

"Ten thousand years ago, Xuzhou fell into the hands of demons, and its mountains and rivers wept blood. Ten thousand years later, Marquis Qingyang, leading the ironclad warriors of the Great Qin, has already entered Riftwind Valley, coming to restore Xuzhou! Riftwind Fortress is now complete, and under the light of its fortress, the demonic aura has dissipated, and the remaining people have been saved!"

He turned around and took a small photographic crystal from Zhou Mingxuan.

As the elemental energy was injected, the crystal hummed and projected a faint light screen.

Beneath Riftwind Fortress, within the camp of the remnants, the newly sprouted tender green shoots of the Qingxin Herb Garden.

In the workers' quarters, the survivors gathered to drink porridge and share salt, in an orderly fashion; further away, on the training ground bathed in the light of the fortress, soldiers of the Riftwind Battalion, wearing repaired old armor, were rehearsing a shield formation, simple yet exuding an indomitable spirit.

as well as……

The Qin-character battle flag atop the fortress fluttered in the wind, stained with blood yet all the more imposing!
And that most eye-catching new landmark—

A colossal, dark blue stele bearing the spirit of "How can we say we have no clothes!"

The images are cold, but the message they convey is passionate: there is protection, food, order, and hope here!

Most importantly, there were fellow human beings who stood tall amidst the ruins!
The images on the light screen flickered in the thick fog, causing a suppressed commotion. Countless figures hidden behind the fog seemed to push forward.

"The Marquis has given the order!" Sima Hong's voice suddenly rose, carrying a resolute and forceful tone, "Below Riftwind Fortress, on the territory of Great Qin! Since this is the territory of my Great Qin, under the law, only stance matters, not origin!"

"Anyone who is willing to abandon evil laws, abide by the rules of the borders, and take the clothing and etiquette of the Nine Provinces as their soul, no matter how mixed their bloodlines may be, may all come under our rule! They shall be protected by the light of the fortress and enjoy the blessings of reconstruction! They shall work for food and be rewarded for military merits. There are laws to follow and paths to take!"

His voice turned cold, like the icy wind of the tundra, and his gaze, almost tangible, pierced through the dense fog, targeting several particularly dark and malicious figures: "Anyone who spyes on the inner fortress's military affairs, colludes with demons, disrupts order, or wreaks havoc on the remnants of the fallen..."

The black iron ruler at his waist, a symbol of law enforcement, clanged softly, and a murderous glint flashed in Sima Hong's eyes:
"Under the chains of the prison, there is no leniency! That reckless demon spy from the other day is a prime example! His remains are already used as a flagpole outside the fortress!"

Although he did not witness the details of the demon detective's execution, he conveyed Zhang Yuan's will with every word carrying immense weight.

quiet!
The miasma seemed to freeze in an instant.

Those malicious, spying glances suddenly recoiled, clearly showing their apprehension.

The increasingly scrutinizing gazes became more complex—

Fear, hesitation, struggle, and a faint glimmer of hope that had been suppressed for 100,000 years, a hope that might lead to a normal future.

Just as this suffocating silence was about to reach its peak, from the depths of the thick fog, a hoarse, sandpaper-like voice rang out, carrying a deep distrust and an inescapable sorrow:
"Great Qin? Ten thousand years ago... you already lost! You abandoned us! Now... what makes you think my people can believe in you?"

A figure slowly emerged from the mist. (End of Chapter)