Daqin Zhentiansi

Zhang Yuan's gaze seemed to pierce through the barrier of the cave, landing on the Liefeng Guard City, where battle clouds were dense and the sounds of killing were deafening, and on the more distant Zhao Zhou, which was wailing in the flames of war, and Qi Zhou, which was in chaos.

As long as Xuzhou remains unstable and the foundation of the demon race is not eradicated, the demon race's claws and teeth will continue to extend into the heart of the Nine Provinces.

The sword cultivators of Zhao Zhou Tianjian Gorge filled the gaps with their own flesh and blood. Every moment of delay meant the fall of another heroic soul, and the danger of the defense line collapsing increased.

The chaos in Qizhou must be fueled by a high-ranking demon. If the threat to Xuzhou is not dealt with quickly, the chaos in Qizhou will only escalate, spreading like wildfire and eventually engulfing the Qin Dynasty.

Zhang Yuan narrowed his eyes: "Not to mention the lurking spy in those lost continents, and the main force of demons eyeing us from the depths of the void..."

"They are all waiting, waiting for us to be exhausted by this quagmire of Xuzhou, waiting for the Nine Provinces Barrier to completely collapse from the inside! Time... waits for no one."

He looked at Zhao Yu: "Liefeng is the fulcrum we need to break this deadlock!"

"With this victory, the foundation of the Xuzhou demon race will be severed, and the claws of the demon race extending into the heart of the Nine Provinces will be broken. Only then can the Great Qin be freed up to stabilize Zhaozhou, pacify Qizhou, deter the demons, integrate the remaining forces, launch a counterattack against Guixu, and reshape the mountains and rivers of the Nine Provinces!"

Zhao Yu met his gaze, and the worry in her eyes was gradually replaced by a resolute determination and trust.

She nodded vigorously: "I understand! Brother Yuan, what can I do? Everyone in Yu Yuan Trading Company is at your beck and call!"

“This is the key.” Zhang Yuan’s spirits lifted, and he pulled her to the miniature sand table in the center of the cave. He pointed to several winding ice valleys that stretched deep into the frozen ground behind Riftwind City. “The consumption at the front is like a whale swallowing the sea. The transport capacity of the Northern Great Wall alone is nearing its limit. Yu Yuan Trading Company must do its utmost to shoulder more!”

"Utilizing the hidden channels scattered throughout Yangtian Continent and even the remaining nodes of Qingtian and Zhao Continent, regardless of cost, we will continuously transport the urgently needed 'Blood Pattern Shield' refined iron ingots, 'Frost Prison Crossbow' core ice essence, high-grade 'Exorcising Powder' medicinal materials, as well as spirit grains, salt and iron to maintain the morale of the army and the people's livelihood to the designated rendezvous point outside the city!"

"Strengthen the guards of the merchant guild. If necessary, we can seek assistance from the Great River Sword Sect and the Heavenly Pivot Sword Pavilion, explaining that this is a battle for the fate of the Great Qin nation!"

His finger then traced the edge of the sand table, pointing to the area marked "Tongzhou Remains" and "Zhaozhou Tianjian Gorge" in a blurry way: "After this battle, regardless of victory or defeat, Liefeng Guard City will inevitably suffer heavy losses, but the strategic situation will change drastically."

"If we win, the gates of Xuzhou will be wide open, and our army will need to use Liefeng as a springboard to advance directly into the lost core area of ​​Tongzhou and explore the secrets of the former dynasty's armory and the Guixu passage; if we lose, we need an even stronger force to maintain a retreat route and a channel for counterattack on the shattered map of the Nine Provinces."

"Zhao Zhou Tianjian Gorge is a crucial nail that pins down the main force of the Demon Clan; it must not be broken!"

"Yu Yuan Trading Company must begin secretly stockpiling special materials suitable for the violent environment of Tongzhou's ley lines, for the bloody battle against Zhao Zhou's carnage—Demon-Slaying Heavy Armor forged from deep-sea gold, blueprints for the core components of the 'Star Shuttle' that can briefly navigate through shattered space, and a special medicine formula to cure the 'Demon Corpse Curse'!"

"We need to start planning now, gradually infiltrating and stockpiling resources in these two areas through clandestine trade routes!"

Within the grotto, Zhang Yuan's voice was deep and powerful, each word seemingly striking a crucial point in the game of chess across the Nine Provinces.

Zhao Yu listened intently, her eyes growing brighter and brighter, as she could sense the weight and depth behind this plan.

This is no longer a battle over a single city or region, but a gamble with the isolated city of Liefeng as the stake, for the sake of Great Qin and the shattered Nine Provinces, to fight for a future where the land can be rebuilt!

The babbling brook seemed to whisper to this plan that pierced through the mist and bore the weight of the nine provinces.

A storm is approaching, and at its eye, the dark figure's gaze is already fixed on the wider battlefield beyond.

……

The sky over Xuzhou was completely obscured.

Beyond the city of Riftwind, what lies before one's eyes is no longer frozen earth and ice plains, but a churning, boiling sea of ​​death.

The projection of the will of the Shaking Mountain Demon Emperor, as massive as a molten lava mountain, hung high in the northern sky.

The Blood-Eyed Eyes transformed into two crimson demonic suns soaked in filthy blood.

The Netherworld Demon Emperor, like a condensed ghostly figure of the dead, emitted soul-corroding gray smoke.

Three distinct yet equally terrifying imperial-level pressures enveloped the surrounding area, distorting midday into a grotesque dusk.

A forest of banners? No, it's a forest of despair formed from countless withered bones, demon skins, and twisted demonic runes!
The remnants of the Lava Demon Dragon's kind converged into a scorching undercurrent.

The howls of the Frostwolf Guards coalesced into a white avalanche.

The swarm of ice bats shrieked like tearing silk.

Interspersed with this were the dull footsteps of a rotting corpse puppet pieced together from countless frozen corpses.

Together, they constituted the inky black torrent that the main force of the demon race poured down.

At the heart and flanks of this frenzy lies the demon race's cold and efficient killing machine.

The "Crystal Armored Warriors," covered in flowing dark purple crystal armor, formed a formidable array like a moving crystal forest. Each step they took created ripples in space, and the law crystal cones in their hands shimmered with an annihilating light that devoured all other light.

The towering "skeleton demon soldier" caused the frozen ground to crack with every step it took, and the pale white lightning wrapped around its spinal demon hammer crackled.

Wherever the "Shadow Army" passed, the light distorted and dimmed, and ominous dark crystals sprouted on the ground, emitting a faint corrosive sound.

At the very front of this demonic army and formation was a massive, suffocating gray torrent being driven along—billions of skin and bones, numb-eyed, and terrified half-demon cannon fodder!

They hunched over, dragging their feet, like waves crashing on the shore, driven by an invisible force, lifelessly surging towards the only light in Riftwind City.

The earth groaned, cracked, and sank under the trampling of millions of iron hooves, demonic soldiers, and countless footsteps!
The corrupting laws spread like a plague, distorting and deforming space. The purplish-black poisonous gas seeped into the wind and snow, causing everything to wither wherever it passed.

This all-consuming black torrent has only one target—

That lonely city, radiating an indomitable dark golden light in the boundless darkness!
"Strong wall!"

On the Demon-Suppressing Platform, Zhang Yuan's black python robe fluttered in the gale, but his voice was as deep and solid as ancient ice, instantly piercing through the earth-shaking howls and roars of demons, resounding throughout every defensive node of the city.

"Roar—Mount Pan remains unmoved!"

The roar of tens of thousands of soldiers in the Rock Camp was like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down. The specially made giant shield slammed into the black iron base, and the dark red "mountain" character runes lit up wildly. The soldiers' blood and fighting spirit turned into a surging torrent, fusing together with the array base runes through the giant shield.

The entire acropolis base emitted a deep rumble, as if it were rooted hundreds of feet deep, tightly connected to the frozen earth veins, and an indestructible aura covered all directions!
"Upgrade the ship—"

Accompanied by a piercing metallic scraping sound, three enormous vessels slowly rose from the edge of the barrier of light above Riftwind City, tearing through the surging demonic clouds and mist.

This is the prototype of the newly arrived "Zhenhai-class" rune-inscribed gunboat!
Despite its battered hull, the ship exudes an imposing presence. The menacing dragon-headed cannons on the bow gleam with an eerie light, while the massive "Yu Yuan Merchant Emblem" and "Supervised by the Ministry of Works" inscriptions on the sides shine brightly under the glow of the demonic flames.

They hovered high above the acropolis like mobile steel fortresses, their dark cannon muzzles coldly pointing towards the churning sea of ​​death outside the city.

"Demon-Slaying Crossbow Formation - Full Strike!"

On the city wall, three thousand improved "Frost Prison Crossbows" were spun to their full length amidst the roars of the warriors.

The cold crossbow body was covered with newly engraved runes for "Exorcising Evil" and "Chasing Souls." On the crossbow string, which was as thick as a child's arm, deep blue ice energy gathered and compressed wildly, forming a nearly tangible glacier-like substance.

A bone-chilling cold spread, the temperature around the crossbow array plummeted, and the moisture in the air instantly froze into thousands of ice crystals, which clattered and tinkled as they fell onto the metal crossbow arms.

The crossbowmen felt the biting cold even through their thick armor, but their eyes, sharp as eagles, were locked onto the surging, gray-black torrent. "Dragon Elephant Suppressing Prison—Open the Monument!"

Zhang Yuan gave a low shout and pressed both palms onto the core array plate.

The solid, ancient monument-like "Dragon Elephant Prison-Suppressing Monument" behind him suddenly expanded, instantly transforming into a giant monument thousands of feet tall, standing proudly in the sky!
The stele's body shimmered with a dark golden, chaotic light, and was adorned with the Daoist inscriptions "Power to suppress the ten directions!" and "Protect the mountains and rivers!" shining as brightly as the sun and moon traversing the sky!

The vast and powerful true meaning of the Prison Suppression erupted suddenly, instantly merging with the dark gold rune light shield of the Barrier Light and the spiritual light of the seventy-two jade pillars of the "Heaven and Earth Reversal Array" rising from the earth veins!
"Om-!"

A dazzling, crimson-gold sky instantly formed!
No longer a single light shield, but a perfect stacking of three giant shields—

The resilience of the light of the barrier, the profound mystery of the reversal of heaven and earth, and the weight of the dragon and elephant suppressing the prison!

When the first wave, composed of driven half-demon cannon fodder and low-level demon soldiers, crashed hard into the crimson-gold light barrier, a deafening roar resounded throughout the heavens and earth!

The shockwave spread wildly as visible ripples, and wherever it passed, the charging Frost Wolf Spiders within dozens of miles were instantly pulverized as if they had crashed into an invisible iron wall!

The overwhelming momentum of the demon alliance, capable of devouring heaven and earth, faltered momentarily!
Qingye!

Just as the massive encirclement formed by the overwhelming demonic forces was not yet fully closed, and at a critical moment when the outer perimeter was in brief chaos due to the large and disorganized cannon fodder army, several hidden gates of Riftwind City quietly opened and then quickly closed.

Seven elite squads, already poised for battle, moved like arrows piercing the shadows. Under the cover of the light from the ramparts and the surrounding chaos, they silently slipped into the outer perimeter of the battlefield along the pre-planned hidden ice crevices and frozen ravines marked by the Ministry of Works' explorers and half-demon guides.

Their goal was not to confront the main force of the demons head-on, but to find, ignite, and harvest the scattered but precious sparks of life on the edge of this death swamp!
The Pass of the Rotten Bone Forest.

“Swoosh—boom!!!”

A heavy arrow, crackling with blinding lightning, tore through the polluted air and struck a seemingly inconspicuous ice crevice above the pass with perfect accuracy!
"burst!"

The cold voice of Xue Dingyue, commander of the Eagle Guard, rang out in the wind and snow.

"boom--!!!"

The pre-set landmines were detonated instantly!
The long-accumulated fire and poison from the earth veins, mixed with frozen soil and broken ice, erupted violently!

The scorching air currents and violent shockwaves, like invisible giant hammers, slammed into the lava trolls that were driving a large group of half-demons through the pass!
"Roar--!"

The troll roared in pain as its hard lava shell shattered in the close-range explosion, sending its massive body flying and crashing into the chaotic horde of half-demons, instantly causing even greater trampling and panic!

"Silverscale Tribe, clear the way!"

With a flick of his long spear, Xue Dingyue unleashed dozens of elite Eagle Guards behind him like cheetahs, their specially made "Wind-Splitting Armor-Piercing Crossbows" unleashing a dense rain of arrows, suppressing the small group of demon soldiers who were trying to organize a counterattack amidst the chaos.

Almost at the instant the smoke and dust rose from the explosion, a figure covered in fine silver scales and with spiral battle patterns on his forehead, leading hundreds of half-demon warriors with fierce eyes and more beast-like features, crashed into the chaotic half-demon horde like a tiger released from its cage!
"Aruo! Lead the men to cut the shackles! Brothers of the Rock Armor Tribe, charge this way!"

The leader, Silverscale, spoke with a voice like the clang of metal, carrying an undeniable resolve.

A strangely shaped bone knife flew through his hand, instantly slicing through the demonic chains binding several half-demon strongmen who were clearly under demonic control and trying to stop him.

A young, agile half-demon woman named "A'Ruo," with wolf ears and sharp claws, responded to the call and led a dozen incredibly fast companions, weaving through the chaotic crowd like ghosts, her sharp short blades precisely slashing at the heavy shackles and collars of her fellow tribesmen.

Each crisp sound of metal breaking was accompanied by a rekindled light of resistance in the eyes of a half-demon, a light that had faded from numbness!

"The Rock-Armored Turtle Cave is to the north! Those who wish to fight, those who do not wish to be slaves, follow me and charge out!"

Silverscale's voice rang out amidst the explosions and screams, like a beacon in the darkness.

In the chaos, some half-demon descendants who still had blood and guts, or who had always harbored rebellious intentions, let out long-suppressed roars the moment the chains broke.

They grabbed the rough bone spears and stone axes scattered on the ground, and even their bare hands, following Yinlin and A'ruo towards the direction covered by Xue Dingyue's rain of arrows—

A hidden, snow-covered glacial crevice was rushing towards it!
The ruins of Bloodvine Valley.

This place is a bit far from the main battlefield, but it is also blocked by a wandering Shadow Demon army and a small group of rotting corpse puppets.

A giant rock turtle was tightly bound by vines corrupted by demonic energy, emitting a low, mournful cry. Several trembling half-demon children were curled up on its back.

"You little bastard! Hold on tight!"

A hoarse roar rang out.

Then, an old soldier named Wang Wu, covered in blood and with only one arm left, charged out from behind a pile of rubble like a mad tiger!

The nicked ring-pommel in his hand unleashed its last earthy yellow aura, slashing fiercely at the roots of the demonic vines that were entwining the rock tortoise!

"Crack!"

The vine snapped with a snap, and blood splattered everywhere!

Before Wang Wu could catch his breath, he swung his sword and cleaved down another rotting corpse puppet that lunged at him.

He grabbed the terrified little girl with tiny, twig-like horns on her head from under the tortoise's shell and roughly shoved her into the gap between the rock-shelled tortoise's carapace and body: "Hold on tight to its neck!"

"Take the water hole!"

Wang Wu used the back of his knife to strike a specific spot on the edge of the rock turtle's thick shell. This was a hidden entrance marker that the Ministry of Works had discovered during their exploration, connecting to an underground river!
The old rock tortoise seemed to recognize the mark. A glint of light flashed in its cloudy eyes, and it let out a deep growl. It struggled to take heavy steps and rushed toward the mark!

Several rock tortoises that were less seriously injured also struggled to keep up.

"Stop them!"

A sharp, demonic wail echoed from within the misty shadows.

Several rotting corpse puppets howled and pounced.

"Don't even think about it!" Wang Wu, wielding a knife with his one arm, blocked the retreating turtles' path. The hideous scar on his face twisted with rage. "Grandpa will play with you bone scraps!"

He charged into the horde of rotting corpses, his blade flashing as he fought for his life, buying the rock-armored turtles precious few moments.

"Pfft!"

The sounds of heavy objects falling into the water rang out one after another.

The rock-armored turtles, carrying the infants and wounded on their backs, leaped without hesitation into the entrance of the icy, turbulent underground river, only to be instantly swallowed by the torrent.

The pursuing corpse puppets and shadow demon army were blocked by the surging river and could only let out angry roars.

Covered in blood, Wang Wu watched the turtles disappear, grinned, revealing a mouthful of bloody yellow teeth, and staggered towards another chaotic spot in need of rescue. (End of Chapter)