Daqin Zhentiansi

The cold wind, carrying ice shards and a strong smell of sulfur and blood, lashed against every inch of exposed skin.

Outside the city of Riftwind, seven elite squads, like seven poisoned daggers darting along the edge of a boiling sea of ​​demons, were carrying out the perilous mission of "clearing the wilderness" with precision and lethality.

The Pass of the Rotten Bone Forest.

Xue Dingyue stood like an eagle on an ice cliff that had been half blown off by an explosion.

His face was as cold and stern as iron, and his bloodshot eyes were sharp as lightning, fixed on the pass below.

The demon alliance there was driving a tidal wave of half-demon cannon fodder in, amidst cries and the sound of whipping.

"put!"

His voice was hoarse but resolute as he swung his arm down sharply.

"call out--"

"Boom!!!"

A heavy arrow, "Thunderbolt Starfall," crackling with blinding electric snakes, tore through the polluted air and pierced with unparalleled precision into an inconspicuous ice crevice above the pass!
The next instant, the earth shook violently!

The pre-set landmines were detonated!
The accumulated ley line fire poison mixed with the fragments of permafrost from millennia-old soil awakened like a sleeping magma behemoth, spewing out scorching air waves and destructive shockwaves!
"Roar--!"

Several lava trolls that were driving away the half-demons were the first to be hit. Their hard shells shattered and disintegrated in the close-range explosion, and their huge bodies were violently thrown into the already chaotic half-demon horde, instantly causing even greater panic and trampling!

Smoke and dust, mixed with demonic blood, shattered ice, and the smell of burning, rose into the sky, leaving the pass in a mess.

"Silverscale! Now!"

Xue Dingyue's voice traveled through the talisman, penetrating the noisy battlefield.

"Brothers of the Rock Armor Tribe! Those who refuse to be slaves and food, follow me and fight your way out!"

The roar of the silver scales was like the clash of metal, drowning out the howls of the demons!

His massive body was covered in fine scales, and the spiral battle markings on his forehead gleamed in the firelight. His eyes burned with a fury that had been suppressed for ten thousand years and a resolute light!

The strange bone knife in his hand flew like lightning, without any fancy skills, only with heavy power that could split mountains and cleave peaks!

"Hey!"

"Crack!"

He charged into a flock of sheep like a tiger. With a flash of his blade, the shackles on several half-demon strongmen, whose eyes were numb and who were bound by demonic chains, snapped!

"Aruo! Take men and cut the shackles! Anyone who can move, pick up stones and bones from the ground and charge towards me!"

As Silverscale roared, it mercilessly cleaved the small group of demon soldiers who tried to rush up to stop it in two.

The wolf-eared girl, Aruo, moved like a wisp of green smoke, leading a dozen equally agile companions through the chaotic crowd.

Each swing of her sharp dagger was accompanied by the crisp sound of metal breaking and a glimmer of hope breaking through the numbness in the eyes of a half-demon!

"Hurry! Let's go! Follow Brother Yinlin!" Her voice was clear and loud, filled with an undeniable urgency.

The breach was torn open by the explosion and the fierce attack of the silver scales!

Countless half-demons looked up, their eyes shining with hope.

The ruins of Bloodvine Valley.

"You little bastard! You better lie still!"

Wang Wu's hoarse roar carried a bloody stench.

The one-armed veteran was covered in blood. Underneath his tattered uniform, a claw mark that ran from his chest to his back was still bleeding. The hideous scar on his face was twisted with rage.

His only remaining arm gripped a nicked ring-pommel sword, the yellowish-brown aura flickering on its blade.

Like a mad tiger, he charged out from behind a pile of ruins entangled by demonic vines, ignoring the two rotting corpse puppets lunging at him from behind. With a resolute determination to perish together, he slashed fiercely at the roots of the corrupt vines that were wrapped around the giant rock-armored tortoise and emanating demonic energy!
"Crack!"

Blood splattered!

The thick, magical vine snapped in two with a snap!

The old tortoise let out a low, painful, and relieved cry.

"Go through the water tunnel! Quickly!"

Wang Wu swung his sword backhand, cleaving the head of a rotting corpse puppet that lunged at him, the blade getting stuck in its rotten bones and unable to be pulled out for a moment.

Another rotting corpse's claws were already reaching for his back!

His eyes were bloodshot, and he suddenly turned to the side and slammed his shoulder into the rotting corpse, smashing it aside with his body. He staggered and fell to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

He pointed to a hidden rune mark on the rock tortoise's thick shell and shouted hoarsely, "The mark... Jump in! Protect the child!"

A glint of light flashed in the rock turtle's murky eyes. It let out a mournful roar and struggled to take heavy steps, with several half-demon children, terrified and pale, clinging tightly to its back.

Several less injured rock tortoises also struggled to keep up, their heavy bodies crushing over the scattered bones.

"Stop them!"

A sharp, piercing demonic wail echoed from the misty, shadowy army.

More rotting corpse puppets howled and pounced.

"Don't even think about it! My life is hanging by a thread!"

Wang Wu struggled to his feet, threw away the jammed broken knife, drew a short dagger from his waist, and blocked the retreating turtles with his single arm. With a ferocious yet almost relieved smile on his face, he recklessly crashed into the horde of rotting corpses!
The daggers flew, spraying blood and bits of flesh, each attack a brutal exchange of lives!
On the turtle's back, the children turned to look in the direction where Wang Wu was.

Their eyes burned with intense passion.

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

The battlefields became increasingly chaotic.

The Eagle Guard's arrows were like precise scythes of death, constantly sniping the demon leaders who were trying to reorganize their lines.

It provides valuable firepower suppression and cover for the half-demon refugees pouring out from the various gaps.

"Quick! Get in there!"

Soldiers from the Riftwind Battalion responsible for the rendezvous shouted and reached out to pull at the pre-arranged temporary entrance, which was disguised as a giant ice rock.

Inside the entrance is a frozen passage temporarily reinforced by rune array masters, leading into the depths of the acropolis.

A flood of rescued people poured in!
The number far exceeded expectations, reaching an astonishing several million!
The crowd, including the elderly and children, dressed in rags, with eyes that were a mixture of extreme fear and elation at surviving a catastrophe, included more than 100,000 strong and capable soldiers who could immediately join the battle!
The procession also included nearly a hundred large rock tortoises with scarred shells but now gentle eyes. The backs and bellies of the tortoises were crowded with women, children, the elderly, and the infirm.

The demons' frenzied counterattack followed!

An elite pursuit force composed of hundreds of crystal-armored war demons and thousands of rotting corpse puppets broke through part of Xue Dingyue's arrow rain and crashed into the last refugee group like a steel torrent! The air was thick with demonic energy, and the diamond-shaped spikes shimmered with annihilation light!

"Shield Formation! Hold the line!"

Qin Zheng, the scarred-faced platoon leader of the Liefeng Battalion responsible for covering the rear, roared with eyes bulging with rage!

Dozens of Riftwind soldiers shouted as they slammed their newly issued "Blood Pattern Shields" into the frozen ground. The dark red patterns on the shields lit up instantly, forming a simple yet resilient wall of light!
boom!
The Crystal Armored War Demon's impact was like a giant hammer crashing down!
The wall of light shook violently, and the soldiers behind the shields coughed up blood, their hands split open, and several blood-patterned shields even groaned under the strain!
The rotting corpse golem's claws scratched frantically at the shield, making a piercing scraping sound!
"Raging Wind Battalion—Fight to the death, never retreat!"

The scar on Qin Zheng's face resembled a centipede that had come to life, roaring as it swung its knife and chopped down a rotting corpse, splattering blood all over its face.

More soldiers stepped forward, using their bodies to hold the shields in place!
Ignoring their own exhaustion, the Eagle Guards on high ground unleashed their remaining "Thunderbolt Starfall" arrows at the core of the pursuing demon horde, the explosions temporarily halting the demon soldiers' advance!
Gravel and clods of frozen soil were also hurled down by the soldiers and civilians on the city walls!
This brief respite, bought with lives and blood, finally allowed the last group of refugees to tumble and crawl into the passage!

The gate closed.

As the last soldier from the Riftwind Camp, covered in blood and supporting the old man, fell into the passage, the heavy black iron gate, engraved with demon-suppressing runes, crashed down with tremendous force amidst a piercing metallic scraping sound!

"Thump—!"

The deafening roar was like a hammer blow to everyone's heart!

The gate shut out the deafening sounds of battle, the howls of demons, and the suffocating filth and demonic energy from the outside world!

The passageway was instantly enveloped in a blood-stained silence, a silence born of the aftermath of a catastrophe.

"Pfft!"

Xue Dingyue could no longer hold on and slid down to the ground, leaning against the cold gate.

His black armor was covered with dents, corrosion marks, and claw marks that revealed bone. His left shoulder armor was shattered, revealing the rolled-up flesh inside. Blood mixed with ice shards dripped down his arm armor onto the frozen ground, quickly freezing into dark red ice beads.

He was panting heavily, each breath causing excruciating pain in his lungs. Sweat mixed with blood streamed down his forehead, obscuring his vision.

He struggled to raise his blood-stained hand, wiped his face haphazardly, revealing a pair of tired, bloodshot but still sharp eyes.

His gaze swept over the millions of faces inside the gate, a sea of ​​black faces, still in shock yet filled with unbelievable ecstasy and gratitude.

A burly half-demon warrior, ragged yet with eyes burning with fighting spirit; a half-demon woman, clutching her child tightly and weeping; an old man with white hair and beard, trembling all over; and those docile, crouching, wounded giant rock turtles...

These are the sparks of life they fought desperately to snatch back from the clutches of evil!
With trembling fingers, he painstakingly pulled the warm communication jade talisman from his bosom. Using his last bit of strength, his voice hoarse and weary yet carrying a penetrating determination and a sense of relief at having completed his mission, he clearly sent the message into the jade talisman.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, the clearing of the fields is complete! Over 3.8 million compatriots have been rescued, and 53,000 soldiers are ready for battle! Ninety-seven rock-armored turtles..."

……

The huge temporary resettlement area inside the gate was like a pot of oil that had been lit, boiling over instantly!
"Hot water! Hot porridge! Over here! Everyone gets some!"

"The injured! Quickly bring them over here! Qingnang Guard! Where is the Qingnang Guard?!"

"Get blankets! One coarse linen blanket for everyone! Wrap yourself up tightly!"

The officials of the Remnant People's Office and the women and elderly people who volunteered in the garrison shouted at the top of their lungs, their voices loud and urgent.

Dozens of huge iron pots were placed on the blazing, talisman-patterned stoves, bubbling with thick millet porridge that exuded the fragrance of grains. The white steam dispelled the chill and fear.

Large buckets of boiling water were quickly brought in to warm the frozen bodies and hearts of the rescued people.

"Weapons! All you men who can wield a knife, come here!"

The lieutenant in charge of ordnance stood on a makeshift pile of wooden crates, his voice booming like thunder.

Behind him, a mountain of standard-issue longswords gleamed coldly in the light of the ramparts.

The strong, half-demon warriors stood in a long line, their eyes burning with desire as they looked at the long swords that had been distributed to them.

That heavy, cold, and solid feel was no longer that of a fragile bone spear or stone axe, but a true, finely crafted iron blade belonging to a warrior!

Many soldiers stroked the blades with their rough, calloused hands, their knuckles turning white from the force, and tears welled up in their eyes.

This is trust, acceptance, and empowerment to defend their new home!

"I'm in! Count me in!"

"Me too! Give me a knife, I'm going to kill all those beasts!"

"Brother Silverscale, count me in!"

The crowd is excited!
The roars rose and fell!

Having just escaped death, the half-demon warriors, warmed by hot porridge, hot water, and coarse blankets, had their bloodlust and hatred ignited the moment they grasped their steel swords!
They are no longer lambs to the slaughter, but warriors eager for revenge and to protect their homeland!

Long lines formed instantly at the registration point for those voluntarily joining the combat battalion.

At the edge of the resettlement area, in front of the colossal dark blue stele bearing the weighty will of "How can we say we have no clothes?", the atmosphere was solemn and dignified.

An old half-demon with white hair and beard like frost and snow, and a face covered with deep wrinkles and dark scales, was the old chieftain of the Rock Armor tribe who had almost died at the pass of the Corpse Bone Forest.

He broke free from the support of his clansmen, his cloudy old eyes fixed on the four large characters on the stone tablet that seemed to contain infinite power, his cracked lips trembling.

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, he trembled and used all his strength to straighten the tattered animal skin robe he was wearing, which he tried to smooth out. Then, he slammed his knees heavily onto the cold frozen ground!
His forehead slammed down, making a dull thud!
"How can we say we have no clothes? How can we say we have no clothes!" The old clan chief's voice, filled with endless sorrow and gratitude, rang out in the silence. "For ten thousand years, I, on behalf of the Yanjia tribe, kowtow to express my gratitude for your life-saving shelter and the bestowal of weapons!"

"This body, this clan, is willing to follow in the footsteps of Marquis Qingyang, and fight to the death without retreating!"

Tears streamed down the lines of his face, dripping onto the cold base of the monument.

At this moment, ten thousand years of humiliation and despair, and today's rebirth and hope, are all released in this heavy knock!
On the city tower, the biting wind blew the hem of Zhang Yuanxuan's black python robe, making a soft whistling sound.

His deep gaze slowly returned from the direction of the demonic alliance that was frantically crashing against the triple crimson-gold light barrier in the distance, like a boiling sea of ​​filthy blood.

They poured their hopes into the resettlement area beneath the city walls, a place that had suddenly turned from despair to hope, burning like oil on a raging fire.

He saw Xue Dingyue slumped down on the gate after delivering the message.

He saw Yinlin and A'ruo bustling through the crowd, organizing the newly arrived warriors; the fire in their eyes was a declaration of revenge and rebirth.

He saw Wang Wu being rescued from the brink of death by the Qingnang Guards. As the stretcher was carried over, he struggled to point out of the city. The old soldier's fighting spirit will never fade.

He saw the dust and tears splashed up when the old patriarch repeatedly kowtowed to the Xuan Stele—that heavy kowtow was trust, entrustment, and a weighty responsibility.

He also saw the millions of eyes, their initial numbness and fear transforming into a complex light as they held hot porridge, wrapped in rough blankets, and gripped steel knives—

There is hatred, hope, confusion, and above all, a resolute desire to find belonging and fight!

This light was hotter than any talisman and more resilient than any barrier.

This is Xuzhou.

Xuzhou was one of the Nine Provinces of the Great Qin Dynasty!
Zhang Yuan's well-defined fingers slowly traced the thick frost that had formed on the battlements. The icy chill was nothing compared to the gravity of his heart as he faced the impending tide of destruction outside the city.

His figure seemed to merge completely with the rumbling, shimmering steel fortress beneath his feet, a formidable structure standing tall against the relentless tide of demonic energy. (End of Chapter)