Daqin Zhentiansi

Dozens of massive giant ape warriors either stood in meditation, concentrating on their stances to grasp the essence of boxing, or wielded heavy stone and iron clubs, practicing basic skills such as chopping, sweeping, and smashing.

Although their movements were somewhat clumsy, their calm and focused demeanor far surpassed their usual frenzy.

As they practiced, a powerful aura originating from their bloodline and drawing upon the earth's veins began to rise, intertwine, and resonate.

The spiritual energy around the platform was drawn in and gradually became more active, forming a faint earthy yellow halo that enveloped the peak, subtly connecting with the earth's veins and emitting a low hum.

Qing Xuanzi stood aside, watching the bustling yet orderly scene, and seeing Zhang Yuan patiently instructing the giant ape warriors, his heart still churning with the shock he had felt earlier.

He still couldn't understand why Zhang Yuan was so "generous" in passing on such a technique that clearly contained supreme truth to the alien race.

This exceeded his understanding of "unaffiliated cultivators" and also subtly touched upon his concerns about the laws of the Heavenly Palace.

But seeing the Giant Ape Clan's heartfelt awe of Zhang Yuan, and the visible change in their aura after practicing the new method, especially the fact that the tribute tax problem that had troubled him for so long was solved in this way, his doubts were eventually suppressed by the tangible "benefits".

"Well, although Junior Brother Zhang's actions are often unpredictable, the results are always beneficial to the affairs of the temple."

perhaps……

This is another kind of wisdom of human cultivators to survive in the cracks?
As long as the tribute is paid in full and the abbot is satisfied, he will teach these savage beasts some techniques to enhance their strength to resist the ferocious beasts, which can be considered killing two birds with one stone.

As for the martial arts essence that was faintly revealed deep within that technique, so different from the Qi Refining Method of the Heavenly Palace...

As long as he doesn't openly defy the Heavenly Palace, let him be.

Qing Xuanzi pondered to himself, and ultimately chose to observe and acquiesce.

However, amidst the amazement and acquiescence, a trace of worry crept into my heart.

His main task on this trip was to collect tribute. Although Zhang Yuan had reached an agreement with the Giant Ape Clan, the specific supplies had not yet been delivered.

Seeing that Zhang Yuan was engrossed in imparting the Dharma and did not seem to be in a hurry to expedite the delivery of tribute, Qing Xuanzi couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

The deadline set by the abbot is fast approaching, and tasks in other areas still await him.

Spending a few more days here is already the limit.

He wanted to remind them several times, but seeing the giant apes' genuine awe of Zhang Yuan and their fervor in practicing the new method, he felt it was inappropriate to interrupt.

Just as Qing Xuanzi was hesitating, Yan Feng, who had finished his training for the day, respectfully walked up to Zhang Yuan with a solemn expression on his face.

“Master,” Yan Feng’s form of address had changed, “our clan is willing to pay the full amount of tribute, and the spirit mines and spirit fruits are all ready. However… there seems to be some unusual activity deep within the main vein of that spirit mine recently.”

"Oh?" Zhang Yuan's eyes flickered slightly.

He already knew about the spiritual vein that Yan Feng mentioned.

These past few days, he has simply kept quiet and not asked.

Now, Yan Feng finally spoke.

This is a good sign.

“Just a few days ago, unusual tremors and roars came from deep within the mine. Several skilled individuals sent to investigate have all disappeared.” Yan Feng lowered his voice. “This disciple suspects that a powerful ferocious beast is lurking there, perhaps even…”

"We may have discovered the main vein of that rich ore deposit!"

"I originally intended to eliminate that ferocious beast before reporting to my master, but that thing is exceptionally cunning and fierce, and its whereabouts are unpredictable. Our clan has organized several manpower to encircle and suppress it, but all efforts have failed, and we have even lost some manpower."

"This matter will likely require Master's decision. If this fiend can be eliminated, our clan is willing to share the top-grade spirit ore produced by that main vein with Master!"

Share mineral resources!

This was undoubtedly the greatest sincerity from the giant ape clan, and it also showed that the ferocious beast was indeed troublesome.

Otherwise, how could the giant ape clan be willing to give up this mine?

Upon hearing this, Qing Xuanzi's heart stirred.

Rich ore main vein?

This is an unexpected gain; if we can master it, it will be a great achievement for Xuanyu Temple.

However, the ferocious beast is lurking, the situation is unclear, and time is needed to deal with it...

Just then, a warm, smooth communication jade talisman in Qing Xuanzi's arms suddenly began to vibrate violently.

It emitted a rapid and bright blue light!

His expression changed, and he hurriedly took out the jade talisman and probed it with his divine sense.

A moment later, Qing Xuanzi's expression turned extremely ugly, even showing a hint of panic.

He put away the jade talisman, strode to Zhang Yuan's side, and said urgently and solemnly, "Junior Brother Zhang! Something terrible has happened! The Abbot has urgently ordered a message to be sent!"

"The Iron Feather Eagle Clan of 'Black Wind Gorge' and the Black Armored Crocodile Clan of 'Sinking Sand River' have engaged in a large-scale conflict over a newly discovered Mystic Crystal Mine, which has affected more than a dozen dependent villages and resulted in heavy casualties!"

"Furious beasts are taking advantage of the chaos, and the situation is on the verge of spiraling out of control! The abbot has ordered me to rush there immediately to mediate and quell the unrest, without fail! This place... this matter will probably have to be temporarily entrusted to my junior brother!"

His eyes were filled with anxiety and helplessness.

Mediation and suppression of ethnic conflicts is the mission of the Zhenshouguan (镇守观).

In the primordial world, the demon race acted savagely, and inter-clan conflicts were almost endless.

This is also the most troublesome thing for the garrison commander of the garrison.

"Black Wind Gorge and Sunken Sand River?" Zhang Yuan frowned slightly.

Both of these are formidable and powerful clans under the jurisdiction of Xuanyu Temple. If the conflict gets out of control, the consequences could be severe.

"It is my duty as a senior brother, so I should go immediately," he nodded and said.

Qing Xuanzi looked at Zhang Yuan, then at Yan Feng who stood respectfully beside him, and at the group of giant ape warriors who were practicing new techniques and whose aura had changed. His thoughts raced through his mind.

Although the tribute tax has not yet been handed over due to the matter of the ferocious beast occupying the mine, judging from Yan Feng's attitude towards Zhang Yuan and his promise to share the mine, Zhang Yuan is probably more suitable and effective in handling this matter than he, an "outsider"!

Moreover, the strength and methods displayed by Junior Brother Zhang were enough to keep the situation under control.

“Junior Brother Zhang,” Qing Xuanzi took a deep breath, made a decision, and solemnly cupped his hands to Zhang Yuan, saying, “I am truly unable to attend to both the Giant Ape Clan’s tribute and the threat of the ferocious beasts in this mine.”

"The abbot's decree is urgent and cannot be delayed. I will temporarily entrust all matters here to you, junior brother! You may act as the garrison commander and act as you see fit! I will return to join you after I have dealt with the chaos in Black Wind Gorge!"

"Thank you for everything, junior brother!"

He quickly handed the jade token representing the temporary authority of the garrison commander to Zhang Yuan.

According to the rules, Zhang Yuan is a newcomer to the Guardian Temple and should not act alone.

However, almost all of the 38 million guardian temples in the prehistoric world are facing a shortage of manpower, so this kind of temporary task can only be handled more flexibly.

The situation was urgent, so Qing Xuanzi said no more. He quickly bowed to Zhang Yuan and Yan Feng, then rode on a blue auspicious cloud, turning into a streak of light and speeding towards Black Wind Gorge, disappearing into the vast sky in the blink of an eye.

On the platform, only Zhang Yuan, Yan Feng, and a group of giant ape warriors remained.

A strong wind blew, billowing Zhang Yuan's dark robes. He held the warm, smooth jade token in his hand, his gaze calmly fixed on Yan Feng. "Yan Feng."

"Disciple is here!" Yan Feng bowed, his expression becoming even more respectful.

"Summon your clan's elite warriors." Zhang Yuan's voice carried an undeniable chill. "Lead the way to the depths of that mine. I want to see what kind of ferocious beast dares to occupy your clan's spirit mine and disrupt my tribute collection."

A look of excitement and fierceness flashed in Yan Feng's eyes, and he pounded his chest: "Yes! Master! This disciple will go and prepare immediately!"

He turned and roared at the giant ape warriors who were already itching for battle: "Men! Grab your weapons! Follow Master and me down into the mine and kill that blind beast!"

"Roar--!"

Dozens of giant ape warriors responded in unison, their roars rolling, filled with violent power and fanatical devotion to their new "master".

They gripped heavy clubs and giant axes tightly in their hands, and a faint, earthy-yellow aura of power flowed across their bodies, subtly echoing the residual spiritual energy of the earth veins at the summit.

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

Deep within the Nuyan Peak.

The entrance to the deep tunnel leading to the obsidian mine.

Zhang Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, while Yan Feng and more than twenty of the most elite giant ape warriors, who had already begun to grasp the basics of the "Zhenyue Hantian Fist" and the "Hunyuan Poshan Cun" techniques, stood solemnly behind him, holding heavy weapons and surrounded by a flowing earthy yellow aura.

"Master, it's down there." Yan Feng said in a deep voice, pointing into the darkness. "That beast is very cunning. It's lurking near the main vein, and its poisonous miasma can even corrode refined iron."

Zhang Yuan nodded slightly and stepped into the mine first.

Upon entering, a rich, primordial spiritual energy rushed towards them, several times purer and more concentrated than that outside.

The cave walls were not ordinary rocks, but obsidian ore that was pitch black and shimmered with silvery light like stars.

Those silvery rays are the natural crystals of the rare spiritual mineral "Mystic Star Iron" that nurtures them.

It gleamed in the darkness, as if a miniature starry sky had been embedded into the mountain.

Deeper still, faint, more refined and purer stellar energy fluctuations emanated from within; these were the core material for crafting sacred artifacts, "Mysterious Star Iron Essence."

'The primordial world is indeed rich in natural resources and treasures.'

Zhang Yuan sighed inwardly.

Such rich mines, which would be enough to trigger a dynastic war in Yongtian Continent, are merely a "troublesome" spot deep within the territory of the Giant Ape Clan in this realm.

In this primordial era, the abundant resources bestowed by the Heavenly Dao contrasted sharply with the barren and decaying state of the Thirty-Six Continents due to the demonic calamity, further solidifying his resolve to integrate the origin of the Great Qin Heavenly Dao into this world.

The cave twists and turns downwards, and the deeper one goes, the more open the space becomes, and the more dazzling the light of the Xuanxing Iron becomes.

However, the fishy, ​​sweet smell of sulfur in the air grew stronger, gradually forming a pale green mist that lingered.

Scattered on the ground were corroded, pitted fragments of ore and the remains of several giant apes, long since turned to bones, silently testifying to the danger of this place.

"Roar--!"

A roar filled with rage and greed suddenly erupted from the core of the mine, shaking the cave walls and sending dust flying.

Immediately afterwards, a dark green, foul wind, carrying a pungent, corrosive miasma, surged in like a living creature!
"It's here! It's that earth vein poison dragon!" Yan Feng roared, not only not retreating, but also unleashing his ferocity.

"Men, follow me and kill this beast! Let our master see what we're capable of!"

"Roar!"

The giant apes responded in unison, their pent-up fighting spirit ignited instantly.

They activated their new training method, and a bright, earthy yellow aura shone forth, their power flowing through their blood vessels.

Faced with the gushing poisonous miasma, the giant ape warriors no longer relied solely on brute force to withstand it or dodge it in a sorry state, as they had done in the past.

They either lowered their waists and stood at attention, gathering the true meaning of "Condensing Mountain" from the "Suppressing Mountain and Shaking Heaven Fist" on their fists. With a punch, the fist wind was like a solid mountain rock, which actually shook and pushed away the poisonous miasma that surged in front of them!

Or they might wield heavy clubs, employing the "Sweeping the Eight Desolations" technique from the "Hun Yuan Po Shan Cun" manual. The club's shadow would be like a wheel, stirring up the airflow and creating a vortex that would sweep in, tear, and fling large swaths of poisonous miasma against the cave walls, sizzling and corroding the rocks.

Yan Feng was even more valiant, roaring as he charged ahead, his fist, as big as a bowl, smashing with the force of shattering mountains and splitting rocks, fiercely slamming into the source of the poisonous miasma, a ferocious head that peeked out from the shadows of the mine!

The ferocious beast resembled a giant lizard, but was several times larger, nearly ten zhang long, and covered with thick, dark scales that shone with a metallic luster.

Its back was covered with jagged bone spurs, its head was flat, and its vertical pupils gleamed with a cruel and cunning eerie green light. What it spewed from its mouth was that deadly dark green poison.

It is the "Earth Vein Poison Dragon" that occupies this place. Although it contains only a trace of earth dragon blood that is so thin that it can be almost ignored, it has reached the peak of the Saint Realm by virtue of its advantageous location and poison glands.

Yan Feng's punch, which embodied the essence of the new method, landed squarely on the side of the poison dragon's protruding snout.

With a muffled thud, the venomous dragon cried out in pain, letting out an angry roar. Its heavy head was knocked slightly to the side, leaving a shallow dent on its scales!

Although it failed to inflict serious damage, the effect far exceeded that of the past!
In the past, their attacks were so difficult that they couldn't even break through the defenses!
"Hit!"

The soldiers behind Yan Feng were greatly encouraged, and their fighting spirit was even stronger.

Zhang Yuan's inherited martial arts techniques brought them a sense of control over their power and an attack effect far exceeding their previous ones, which boosted their confidence to the max, and their offensive surged towards the Poison Dragon like a tidal wave.

In an instant, the shadows of the staff were as thick as mountains, and the wind of the fists howled, forcing the Poison Dragon to roar and retreat repeatedly in the core area of ​​the mine, and the poisonous miasma was also effectively suppressed.

An unprecedented sense of exhilaration from the boost in power filled the hearts of every giant ape warrior.

Zhang Yuanli stood at the back, watching all of this with a calm expression.

Unconsciously, as the giant ape warriors circulated their cultivation techniques, the power of the Great Qin Heavenly Dao gradually merged into this primordial world.

Though faint, it is a beginning.

"Roar--"

The Earth Vein Poison Dragon has been entrenched here for many years, devouring the essence of Xuanxing Iron. Although it is not very intelligent, its fighting instincts are extremely fierce and cunning.

It seemed to be completely enraged by the provocation of this group of "ants," and its eerie green vertical pupils locked onto the rock peak charging at the forefront.

Its massive body suddenly contracted, and a muffled, thunderous gurgling sound came from within. The venom glands in its neck suddenly swelled, their color changing from dark green to a chilling deep purple!

The "Thirteen Arts of Destiny" silently operated within Zhang Yuan's sea of ​​consciousness.

The "Shadow Sword Technique" instantly detected the dramatic change in the trajectory of the poison dragon's aura and predicted its attack target.

It was Yanfeng who became somewhat overconfident due to his initial victory!

"retreat!"

Zhang Yuan's voice rang out calmly, yet carried an undeniable warning.

But Yan Feng was immersed in the excitement of his surge of power. When he heard the warning, he instinctively wanted to retreat, but his movements were slowed down by half a beat due to the inertia of his forward momentum.

"laugh--!"

A deep purple beam of poisonous breath, exuding an aura of destruction, shot out from the mouth of the poisonous dragon with perfect precision, like the breath of death, silent yet as fast as lightning, and aimed directly at Yan Feng's chest!
That terrifying corrosive energy caused space itself to slightly distort! (End of Chapter)