Daqin Zhentiansi

Zhang Yuan and Zhuque concealed their auras and blended into the crowd at the edge of the market like ordinary cultivators.

The eyes beneath the Vermilion Bird's red robe swept across the massive, earthen-yellow light barrier in the distance, which was flickering uncertainly amidst the bombardment of various spiritual lights and magical treasures.

That is the Huang Lin clan's protective formation, the "Zhen Yue Ba Huang Formation".

At this moment, outside the formation, three hundred guardian cultivators formed a massive military formation, raining down Daoist talismans and spells.

Further out, dozens of bronze chariots engraved with the "Shattering Mountain" rune floated in the air, constantly generating terrifying seismic waves.

These chariots were guided by a burly celestial being in the center, clad in black armor and wielding a huge diamond-shaped magical weapon, as they repeatedly and accurately bombarded the thick earth peak.

The battle was extremely fierce.

"Boom! Boom—!"

The deafening roar almost tore space apart.

The "Zhenyue Bahuang Formation" that enveloped Huang Lin's ancestral land emitted a painful groan.

The enormous, earthen-yellow light shield flickered violently, its surface covered with spiderweb-like cracks that spread rapidly. Each time the light dimmed, it tugged at the heartstrings of all the Huanglin people.

The "Thick Earth Peak," where the formation's core is located, is now facing utter destruction.

The Earth-Splitting Venerable wielded the "Earth-Piercing Cone," each swing drawing upon the power of heaven and earth, condensing it into a terrifying beam of energy that tore the earth apart, striking the Thick Earth Peak with precision and ruthlessness.

The ancient rock strata, as solid as refined gold, crumbled and collapsed like rotten wood under the power of the "earth sinkhole," stirring up clouds of rubble and dust.

Each impact was accompanied by a dull, painful roar, like that of a dying beast, emanating from the depths of the mountains.

"Roar—! Hold on! For our ancestral land!"

"Woo-hoo! You despicable celestial beings, you will never cross Zhenyue Mountain!"

Inside the formation, the roars and cries of the Yellow Lin Clan could be faintly heard through the crumbling light screen of the formation, filled with anger, despair, and a tragic indomitable spirit.

Some warriors who had transformed into their true forms as Qilin could be seen, their scales shattered and their blood flowing in a yellowish-brown hue, yet they still raised their heads to the sky and let out deafening roars, attempting to draw upon the power of the earth's veins to reinforce the great formation.

An elder's voice was hoarse as he gave commands, each mobilization of power accompanied by a suppressed groan, clearly indicating that he was on the verge of exhaustion.

Amidst the mournful cries, there were the panicked howls of young animals losing their protection, and the helpless wails of the wounded.

These sounds, amidst the continuous explosions and roars, sounded particularly shrill and heart-wrenching.

Even with the bloodline of a divine beast, there's nothing one can do in this situation.

Within the formation, the power of the earth, though thick and immense, showed signs of fatigue under the continuous consumption and erosion of the "earth-trapping cones."

"How long can it last?" Zhuque's voice rang in Zhang Yuan's mind.

Her expression carried a hint of barely perceptible solemnity.

The Qilin clan is an important ally of the Zhuque clan.

The destruction of this branch is a major blow to the alliance and also concerns the stability of the earth vein origin of the divine beast race.

Zhang Yuan's gaze was like lightning. The perception granted by his Chaotic God-Demon Body and the deductive ability of the Great Qin Army's Dao Will were instantly brought to their peak.

He captured the details of every energy flow on the battlefield.

The core of the grand formation, the thick earth peak, is experiencing turbulent fluctuations in its ley lines.

Elder Huang Lin and the others did their best to maintain the intermittent and stagnant true energy of the formation.

The connection point for the operation of the patrol and guard units.

During the brief pause in the Mountain-Shattering Chariot's charge-up.

The peak and fall of the Earth-Splitting Venerable's magical power when he activated the Earth-Piercing Cone...

Countless pieces of information intertwined, were analyzed, and deduced in his mind.

After a moment, he replied in a deep voice: "Without strong reinforcements, judging from the current consumption and the extent of damage to the core array, it will last at most one day."

"Before sunset, the foundation of the Thick Earth Peak array will be completely pierced by the 'Earth-Piercing Cone,' causing the array to collapse and the Huang Lin lineage to perish."

“One day…” Zhuque pursed her red lips slightly, a golden-red flame flickered in her eyes, and then she looked at Zhang Yuan, her tone carrying a hint of challenge and determination, “What if you were to command this battle?”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuan's lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes sharp as drawn blades: "Give me command of the Qilin Clan, and a thorough understanding of their strengths and terrain. I am 70% confident that I can reverse the tide of battle and turn defeat into victory!"

"If the enemy doesn't have top-notch generals to organize their troops, I can have these three hundred guards and patrol officers buried to the graves of Zhenyue Mountain!"

"Okay!" Zhuque said without any hesitation, uttering only one word.

Before she could finish speaking, the figure of the red-robed female cultivator she had transformed into suddenly blurred!

The next moment, the weather above Panshi Market changed dramatically!
"Wow—!"

A clear, resonant phoenix cry, capable of shattering gold and splitting rocks, echoed through the heavens!

The Vermilion Bird revealed its true form, its wings spread wide, blotting out the sky and the sun!
The eternally inextinguishable golden-red divine flames erupted with a roar, like a world-burning river of fire falling from the heavens, carrying the terrifying power to reduce all things to nothingness, and ruthlessly smashed into the area where the patrol guards' army formation and the mountain-shattering chariots were most densely packed!

"Enemy attack! It's Suzaku!"

"Form ranks! Hold them off! Hold them off now!"

"Heavy treasure body protection! Lord Split the Earth!"

The patrol army was thrown into chaos instantly!
The Vermilion Bird's attack was too sudden and its power too terrifying!
That blazing flame was enough to make even ordinary Venerables retreat in fear!
The Earth-Splitting Venerable's pupils contracted sharply, forcing him to divert most of his attention away from the Earth-Piercing Cone.

He roared, urging his own treasures and several Mountain-Shattering Chariots to condense a thick earth barrier, and went all out to meet the Vermilion Bird's World-Burning Flames!
"Boom—!!!"

The energy torrents of golden red and earthy yellow collided violently, causing the world to lose its color!
The violent shockwave flattened the surrounding mountains and instantly ignited the entire battlefield!
With her own strength, Suzaku tore a huge gap in the ironclad encirclement and used herself as bait to firmly attract the attention of the Earth-Splitting Venerable and most of the high-end combat force of the Patrol Division!
In the instant of this earth-shattering explosion and the chaotic energy obscuring the heavens, a steady, heavy, and somewhat anxious yet resolute yellowish-brown stream of light silently pierced through the chaotic energy turbulence at the edge of the battlefield and landed precisely in front of Zhang Yuan.

As the light faded, an old man appeared, dressed in an ochre-yellow robe, with a square and resolute face and short golden spiral horns on his forehead.

His aura was as deep as the earth; he was none other than the mountain-guarding elder of the Huanglin clan, Venerable Panyue!
His robes were stained with blood and dust, clearly indicating that he had just escaped from a fierce battle.

Venerable Pan Yue's gaze swept swiftly across the human youth before him, whose aura was deep and reserved.

Time was of the essence, so without any pleasantries, he tossed a palm-sized, neither gold nor jade, golden token with a thick, earthy yellow aura and a pattern of a qilin treading on a mountain engraved on its surface, directly to Zhang Yuan.

"Fellow Daoist Zhuque has sent a message: I entrust everything to you!" Venerable Pan Yue's voice was deep and urgent, carrying an unquestionable trust and the weight of entrustment.

"This is the 'Suppressing Mountain Token,' containing the core hub of our clan's grand formation, the deployment of all combat-ready troops, the earth vein nodes, and... the residual power of the Earth Divine Crystal mine!"

"How to proceed is entirely up to Marshal Huo! The survival of the Huanglin clan rests in your hands!" Zhang Yuan reached out and steadily caught the flying golden token.

The token felt warm and heavy in my hand, as if it carried the weight of a mountain.

His divine sense instantly sank into it, and a massive torrent of information surged into his sea of ​​consciousness.

The crumbling Zhenyue Bahuang Formation diagram, the status and location of the elders at the formation's cores, and the number and combat strength of the Qilin warriors fighting bloody battles scattered among the mountains.

The flow and blockages of the earth's energy, even the core mineral vein nodes that are heavily protected but are being relentlessly attacked by the Patrol Division...

The entire battlefield unfolded before his eyes in a vivid, three-dimensional panorama.

The illusory image of the golden pearl of the Great Dao rotated slightly in the sea of ​​consciousness, instantly sorting out the complex information clearly.

Zhang Yuan's eyes showed no panic, only an absolute calmness that was both icy and burning with the flame of wisdom.

He gripped the Zhenyue Token tightly with his five fingers, raised his head to look at the chaotic and tumultuous battlefield before him, and gazed at the distant figure of Zhuque, who was fighting against many enemies amidst raging flames.

Finally, his gaze fell on the solemn and expectant face of Venerable Pan Yue.

"Rest assured, Elder." Zhang Yuan's voice was not loud, but it carried an unwavering determination.

"I, Zhang, will certainly not fail your trust!"

With a swift movement, Zhang Yuan had already stepped onto the battlefield.

His divine senses were quietly transmitted throughout the battlefield via the token in his hand.

The Qilin warriors, who had been fighting fiercely, all felt a jolt and suddenly looked up.

Zhang Yuan's divine sense, transmitted through the "Suppressing Mountain Token," surged into their souls like thunder.

"Thick Earth Peak stands firm, the Qilin bloodline remains with me! Form the formation!"

As the voice faded, the power of the Wutu Divine Crystal Mine and the core array base of the Thick Earth Peak suddenly erupted with a blinding yellow light, and the earth vein energy surged back like a raging dragon.

Instantly, the mountain shook, the rock strata cracked, and the violent earth elemental power surged like waves.

Witnessing this scene, the Earth-Splitting Venerable roared, "If you do not surrender, then die!"

He extended his palm and poured all his magical power into the "Earth-Piercing Cone".

"Boom—!!!"

The power of the destructive beam solidified, just as it was about to completely pierce through the core array base of the thick earthen peak—

A deafening explosion ripped through the sky!
This was not the roar of a cavernous cone piercing through the mountains, but the sound of two immense and irresistible forces fiercely clashing within the belly of Houtu Peak!

The arrogance on the face of the Earth-Splitting Venerable suddenly froze.

A violent, heart-pounding force emanating from the depths of the earth collided violently with his all-out "earth-trapping cone"!
It was not a passive defense of the mountains, but a violent counterattack that had been accumulating for a long time and was imbued with the sharp essence of the Earth Divine Crystal!
"not good!"

Warning signs were blaring in his mind, but it was too late to stop!
Panshifang Market.

The cultivators and demons watching from afar felt the ground beneath their feet suddenly jolt, and then they saw the direction of Thick Earth Peak.

"Snap—"

The space was like glass struck by an invisible giant hammer, instantly covered with dark spiderweb-like cracks!

A violent surge of void currents erupted, devouring light and sound.

Immediately afterwards, a shockwave even more terrifying than the Vermilion Bird's Heaven-Burning Flame swept in!

The protective light barrier at the edge of the market flickered violently, groaning under its strain!
"My God! This is... an earth dragon turning over?!"

A powerful demon at the half-step Saint Realm trembled at the corner of his mouth.

Inside the formation, several elders of the Yellow Lin Clan, who were desperately pouring their last bit of true essence into the formation base, suddenly felt the power of the earth veins being forcibly drawn away by an irresistible will!

The pressure on the thick earth peak base decreased sharply.

But what followed was a terrifying, earth-shattering roar of collision emanating from inside the mountain!
They looked up in shock, only to see that the protective array's light barrier was not broken, and feedback was coming from the core array eye.

The great formation miraculously stabilized!
"It's...it's that Fire Marshal?! What did he do?!"

At the moment of impact, time stood still!
A point of intensely compressed, blazing white light suddenly shone at the confluence of the cone tip and the earth's veins, and then—exploded with a deafening roar!
"boom--"

A shockwave a hundred times more terrifying than the Vermilion Bird's World-Burning Flame clashing with the Earth-Splitting Venerable's attack, like billions of ancient ferocious beasts breaking free of their shackles, accompanied by shrill screams that tore through space, spread wildly in all directions!

"Crack—Snap!"

The space was like a fragile glass mirror, torn open with countless hideous, pitch-black cracks!

A violent surge of void energy erupted from it, devouring light and sound!
The majestic Houtu Peak bears the brunt!

The mountain groaned in agony under the immense force of destruction, shaking violently as if it were about to collapse completely at any moment!
Huge layers of rock crumbled and collapsed like a torrential downpour, raising clouds of dust that instantly enveloped the core battlefield!

"boom--"

The "earth-depositing cone" shattered with a mournful cry!
The once indestructible cone tip, under the violent and unparalleled force of the reverse surge containing the sharp essence of the Earth Divine Crystal, emitted a piercing, mournful cry that seemed to pierce the soul!
The mysterious and complex earthen-yellow runes flowing endlessly on the surface of the cone dimmed, disintegrated, and shattered in an instant, like a candle flickering in the wind!
The thick cone vibrated and twisted violently, cracks spreading like a spider web!
The Earth-Splitting Venerable stared wide-eyed.

An irresistible, violent backlash surged through his arm and crashed into his body.

He groaned, and his black iron wrist guards and sleeves shattered inch by inch!

The veins on his bulging muscles stood out, and golden celestial blood gushed out like a spring from the tiger's mouth!
His powerful body staggered back several steps uncontrollably, and his domineering aura suddenly froze as if struck by an invisible hammer!
A metallic taste rose in his throat, which he forcibly suppressed, but ultimately coughed up blood with a "pfft!"

He looked up, his eyes filled with horror and disbelief!
"Damn it! Earth vein backlash?! How could it be so precise?!"

This precious artifact, which the Patrol Guard relied on to destroy the mountain's veins, suffered an unprecedented and fatal backlash!
Although the thick earth peak has collapsed, the foundation of the formation still remains!
The massive mountain collapsed by a large portion of the destructive energy from both inside and outside, with debris raining down like meteors, creating a horrific scene.

Amidst the violent shaking, the Qilin cubs huddled within the formation let out terrified whimpers, while the warriors clung tightly to the rocks beside them, feeling the earth beneath their feet—no longer the tearing sensation of despair, but rather a kind of…

The resilience of surviving a catastrophe?
"The mountain...the mountain didn't collapse completely?! The core of the formation is still intact!"

Someone shouted hoarsely, and a look of wild joy suddenly burst forth from their despairing eyes!
Despite his injuries, Venerable Pan Yue used the Zhen Yue Token to sense the array's core, and his mind was shaken!

The core array base, because its energy had already been drawn away by Zhang Yuan for this earth-shattering counterattack, actually avoided the most concentrated and deadly penetrating power of the "earth-trapping cone"!
The "Zhenyue Bahuang Formation" light shield that enveloped the ancestral land was extremely thin and dim, fluctuating violently like a bubble and on the verge of collapse.

However, its most crucial hub, the Hou Tu Peak Formation Eye, miraculously remained unbroken!
"What a brilliant move to strike at the heart of the problem! Heaven has not forsaken me, Huang Lin!" (End of Chapter)