Daqin Zhentiansi

The "Enlightenment Hall" has been expanded three times.

The windows were bright and the desks were clean, and the sound of students reading aloud could be heard all around.

In addition to teaching Qin characters and basic arithmetic, several learned old scholars were invited to systematically teach etiquette, laws, and basic military strategy and forging knowledge.

In a quiet room set up in a corner of the school, the historian Zhou Mingxuan, along with several elderly people who were well-versed in ancient Chinese and a half-demon priest, were deciphering and translating several scrolls of animal hides and stone slabs that recorded scattered songs and legends, as well as fragments of ancient scrolls presented by the old clan chief.

"As our ancestors said, 'The armory is hidden in the abyss, its sharpness concealed in the eye of the Northern Sea'..."

An elderly survivor, who had lost his teeth, narrated the story in fits and starts.

"Not from Xuzhou, but fragments of celestial weapons and demonic blades that fell from the Heavenly Court of the previous dynasty? Hidden in the bottomless abyss... requiring the Star Map Key..."

His cloudy eyes gleamed with awe and bewilderment at the distant legend.

The recorder quickly jotted down the keywords "armory sinking into the abyss".

Although the clue was vague, it stirred up a storm in the mind of the historian and was quickly marked as a confidential matter that needed to be investigated in depth.

Northwest of Riftwind Keep.

The area where the rock murals of the rock-shelled tortoise and the "Python Entangling Bear Shattering Stars" painting were discovered has been officially named "Ancient Star Rock".

A joint archaeological team, consisting of a senior surveyor from the Ministry of Works, an appraiser from Yu Yuan Trading Company, several knowledgeable half-demon guides, and a pharmacist from the Qingnang Sect who is skilled at identifying residual energy, is carefully conducting a small-scale excavation here.

The rune pen swept across the rock face, peeling away the weathered layer from the surface.

Some unusually hard fragments were removed from below.

What's astonishing is that one of the seemingly ordinary grayish-white "rocks" revealed a strange non-crystalline state under the illumination of a specially made refining lamp, and its texture was more like... a fragment of the skeleton of some kind of giant creature!

The fragments were enormous; even a small section of their curvature far exceeded that of any known giant monster!
The discovery of the incomplete skeleton of a creature not known to this world left everyone speechless.

More importantly, in a recessed area below the core area of ​​the rock painting, naturally protected by a boulder, the tip of the rune pen touched a very faint, cold, and sharp metallic reflection.

Everyone held their breath as the Master of Works' precise cutting technique unearthed a thin metal sheet, no bigger than a fingernail, with cracked edges and covered in spiderweb-like fissures.

The thin sheet is entirely a deep night sky blue, with an exceptionally precise pattern of star trails etched on its surface, seemingly in perpetual rotation and flow.

It has no weight, but from its broken cracks, wisps of cold, pure, unknown energy, reminiscent of stardust annihilation, are slowly dissipating, like a dying star breathing.

Suspected fragment of a star map!

The thin slices were quickly placed into a specially made lead box cast from a combination of cold jadeite and demon-suppressing gold for isolation and preservation.

The information and energy it carries may far exceed our current understanding.

In the center of the Demon-Suppressing Platform at Liefeng Fortress, Zhang Yuanxuan's black robe sleeves remained motionless in the wind.

His divine sense covered the entire fortress: the training of new recruits, the hum of the city walls, the sowing of seeds in the fields, the sound of reading in the school, the energy fluctuations of the ancient star rock, the subtle murmurs of trading within the half-demon district...

And the ancient, chilling aura emanating from the mysterious thin sheet sealed in the lead box.

The fortress is taking root, the foundation is being strengthened, and the defense is being reinforced. The flame of hope and inheritance is burning with difficulty but with unwavering determination on this land that has endured many vicissitudes.

Carving stones and building foundations is not something that can be done in a day, but the foundation of Liefeng Fortress is constantly spreading into the depths of the frozen soil of Xuzhou, following the bloodstains of the predecessors and the new greenery.

The light of the barrier above Riftwind Valley has never been so bright and stable.

It is no longer just a light curtain that isolates the evil atmosphere.

It is more like a celestial river piercing through the darkness of Xuzhou's frozen soil, firmly welding Riftwind Valley together with the distant Northern Great Wall.

The "Northern Rift Wind Great Wall," a supply lifeline built by Zhang Yuan with massive resources and the painstaking efforts of top rune array masters, has finally reached its "return" moment after enduring several probing harassments from small groups of demons and paying the price of several small transit fortresses being attacked and destroyed, and more than ten rune-inscribed airships crashing.

"Woo——"

A deep, resonant horn sounded from the highest tower of Riftwind Keep, the Black Iron Tower—a signal of welcome and a triumphant proclamation.

At the edge of the sky, several enormous transport airships, adorned with ferocious black tortoises treading waves, moved like mountains, tearing through the remaining demonic clouds and mist, and slowly entered the airspace shrouded in the light of the barrier.

Their size far exceeds that of previous airships, making them true behemoths with long-range strategic delivery capabilities.

The massive cargo door on the side of the ship opened, and without fully landing, boxes and bundles of military-standard talisman arrows, standard "mysterious scale armor" ready for deployment, and mountains of refined rice and spirit grains treated to dispel demonic energy poured down like a waterfall into the neatly planned giant cargo yard below, aided by levitation magic and small mountain-moving puppets.

Following closely behind were several more ferocious escort gunboats, each equipped with a giant crossbow bolt.

As soon as the ship came to a stop, the heavy hatch slammed down.

"Tread! Tread! Tread!"

Elite armored soldiers, clad in uniform dark heavy armor and carrying standard demon-slaying spears, surged forth like a torrent with deafening footsteps.

Beneath the armor was a rugged face tempered by the harsh winds and snows of the North, with eyes as sharp as knives and a condensed aura of iron and blood surrounding him.

"The 7th and 8th thousand men of the 2nd Battalion of the Northern Border Guard have arrived at Riftwind City! Reporting for duty!"

The leader of the army spoke in a deep, resonant voice that cut through the noise as he clasped his hands in a salute to the waiting generals, including Jin Yuelin and Yuchi Changshan.

They took over several key defensive outposts on the perimeter, greatly reducing the pressure on the Rock Camp, which was able to retreat to the core area to rest and regroup, becoming the most solid foundation of Riftwind Fortress.

At the same time, more than ten masters dressed in the dark blue robes of the Ministry of Works, their auras deep and composed, walked quickly towards a closed area isolated by a tight array of runes, escorted by a team of elite armored soldiers.

There, a massive, dark gold, rhomboid metal core component was being carefully unloaded from the airship.

This is one of the key core components for constructing the higher-level "Qiankun Reverse Xuan Grand Array". Its arrival signifies that the overall defense system of Riftwind Fortress will leap to a higher level.

"Return to the source!"

The soldiers and civilians watching from the city walls, the newly surrendered half-demons, and even the resettled survivors all spontaneously erupted in unrestrained cheers.

This massive, orderly, and inexhaustible force, like molten iron poured into frozen soil, gives the deeply embedded Rift Valley an unprecedented "confidence" and "weight"!
At the center of the fort, the original site of the monument has been leveled and a raised platform has been erected.

Fang Zheng, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, an elderly official with white hair and beard but vigorous spirit, stood personally in the center of the high platform on behalf of the Ministry of Works of the Empire.

Holding the Xuan Tie City Seal inlaid with gold patterns, his voice, imbued with the power of runes, proclaimed loudly:
"Through blood and fire, Riftwind Fortress has stood firm, expanded its territory, and protected its people, its might shaking the Demon Realm! Now, it connects to the Great Wall on the outside and stabilizes the world on the inside, its achievements are outstanding. Therefore, by imperial decree, Riftwind Fortress is elevated to 'Riftwind Guard City'! With this as its core, we will restore Xuzhou!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the talismans that the masters of the Ministry of Works had already set up at the four corners of the city wall lit up simultaneously, instantly activating a massive flow of energy. "Buzz!"

The entire fortress emitted a deep hum, and the earthen-yellow "Pan Yue Talisman" on the originally rough surface of the main wall became even thicker and more solid as its spiritual light flickered.

Several huge magic arrays composed of countless fine rune lines lit up on the ground of the outer defensive area of ​​the fortress, as if adding several flowing energy barriers to the citadel.

On the high platform, generals Jin Yuelin, Yuchi Changshan, Xue Dingyue and others stood solemnly and gave orders.

Below the high platform, Zhang Yuan, his black python robe fluttering, stood in the central position.

He did not ascend the platform to receive his title; his domineering presence and authority over the city needed no further ceremony.

His gaze calmly swept across the entire area, and the newly arrived elite troops from the North quickly integrated into the designated defense zone under the guidance of their officers.

The banner of "Rock Solid Camp" was unfurled at the core of the fortress.

The "Riftwind Battalion" and the newly integrated half-demon auxiliary troops were specifically assigned to secondary important routes and large-scale material transfer lines, responsible for patrolling and protecting logistics.

Under his coordination, the entire defense system, like a sophisticated war machine, completed the iteration of core forces and the refinement of layers.

The area around the Acropolis's "gate area" is busier than ever before.

In front of a newly opened, huge stone-built shop, the deafening gongs and drums and the flying confetti announced the opening of "Yu Yuan Trading Company Liefeng Branch".

Shopkeeper Zhao Shiqi, beaming, displayed a dazzling array of goods to the soldiers, civilians, survivors, and even the half-demon peering out: refined salt, silk, ironware, low-level runic artifacts...

And most importantly, the "Riftwind Guard City Exchange Certificate" officially authorized by the Qin Dynasty.

A luxurious carriage, pulled by a giant beast and covered with the unique cloud patterns of the Nine Rivers Alliance, slowly drove in, surrounded by elite guards.

Dressed in brocade robes and with a composed demeanor, the regional representative of the Jiuchuan Alliance stepped down from the carriage.

He glanced at the somewhat chaotic but vibrant market, then said to the military officer in charge of receiving them, "The alliance is in dire need of rare mineral deposits, especially materials with good Yuan energy conductivity."

"I've heard that there are newly mined 'Mysterious Flowing Fire Crystals' and 'Frosty Heart Jade Marrow' near your city, and there have been some strange discoveries in the Ancient Star Rock?"

"Please show me the way, I need to inspect the samples in person."

His words were calm, yet carried great weight.

This means that the geographical advantages of Riftwind City have officially come into the view of the top powers of the Great Qin Dynasty.

In the somewhat remote temporary inn area, the atmosphere was much more complex.

Several figures, dressed in distinct styles and exuding either fierce or cryptic auras, arrived one after another under the watchful eyes of the guards.

They were representatives of the large clans of Xuzhou survivors who were still observing and struggling to survive, leaders of small armed groups of survivors hiding in the deep mountains and dangerous places, and an old hermit who was said to be proficient in feng shui and Taoist magic.

They arrived with wariness, probing, and a hint of pleading for help, presenting petitions stamped with different seals or animal hide symbols, seeking an opportunity to "dialogue" with or even "become dependent" on the newly established Acropolis.

Their arrival confirms that Riftwind City has become the undisputed center of order and safe haven on this shattered land.

Almost simultaneously, an inconspicuous crystal bird with faint lightning patterns flashing on its wings silently passed through the complex array of runes.

The bird hovered on the shoulder armor of Iron Hand, the bodyguard beside Zhang Yuan, emitting a faint vibration that could only be heard at a specific frequency.

Iron Hand's expression hardened, and he quickly took out a small crystal jade slip and presented it to Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan probed in with his divine sense.

The information did not come from the North, nor from the court.

A vast and profound aura instantly filled his mind, and the jade slip contained only a concise yet weighty warning:
"A message from the heavens: Recently, the stars have shifted, and the undercurrents in the Ruins of Return are increasing. Xuzhou is one of the key points for the reunion of the Nine Provinces, and there is a fear that something may happen. Please be cautious."

It's Qingtianzhou!

This information, transmitted across endless space through a merchant guild or some secret channel, echoes the concerns that Young Master Tao had previously raised about "hiding one's strength in a box" and attracting a powerful enemy. It also confirms that the "central" position of Riftwind City at this moment has touched the deepest, most sensitive nerves of the Nine Provinces.

The enemy in the void has not gone far.

As the ceremony ended and the noise subsided, the real challenge for Riftwind Fortress was just beginning.

At the heart of the fortress, a building constructed of massive black stones, with a rugged and somber style, has been officially designated as the "Fortress Government Office." Although still temporary, it is already beginning to take shape.

The newly appointed chief clerk of the garrison is temporarily being held by Fang Zheng, the vice minister of the Ministry of Works, who is also assisting him with the assignment of capable clerks. Manpower is being organized to post the "Liefeng Garrison Security Order," which has been personally reviewed and stamped with the Marquis's seal by Zhang Yuan.
Private fights and armed brawls are prohibited; violators will be dealt with according to military law.

Goods circulation and transactions must take place in designated markets, jointly supervised by merchants and officials, and the initial implementation of a combination of "exchange vouchers" and physical goods.

Anyone who damages defensive fortifications or colludes with evil spirits shall be executed without mercy!

……

The terms are concise and strict, aiming to establish order in the shortest possible time during wartime.

Not far away, another notice sparked considerable discussion. The notice clearly stipulated...

During wartime, the primary taxation factor is "military merit," which includes activities such as monster extermination, exploration, and important production. These contributions are converted according to rank and can be exchanged for supplies at designated merchants or exempted from some basic rations.

A certain percentage of "wartime trade tax" will be levied on shops and other merchants operating within the city walls, with the tax intended for city defense construction and army supplies.

In addition, a separate provision was established that any newly formed family with children within the city walls could receive an extra "child protection grain cloth" per month upon presentation of an official document.

This last point, though brief, is like a spark in the cold night, igniting the genuine hope for the future in the eyes of countless survivors and half-demons.

This is not just rationing, it's a commitment.

In this fortified city forged in blood and fire, the hope for life and prosperity is being clearly and enticingly written down by the authorities!
With the completion of the "Return to the Source" project, the heart of "Riftwind City," which is embedded in the land of Xuzhou, beats even stronger.

It not only connected the Great Wall, absorbed the half-demon, and deterred powerful enemies, but also inscribed new inscriptions on the ruins called "Order," "Vitality," and "Future."

The gazes of all forces converge, like beams of focused light, illuminating this newly born city, but also inevitably drawing in the deepest shadows.

The path to the Blackrock Demon Cave is now beneath our feet, and whispers from the void are already brewing deep within the starry sea. (End of Chapter)