Daqin Zhentiansi

Just then, ripples appeared in the space inside the hall, and the aura of the Eternal True Flame spread out.

The figure of the Vermilion Bird quietly appeared.

Her golden-red eyes swept over the Xuanqiong Talisman.

Then, his gaze fell on Zhang Yuan, filled with unprecedented complexity and solemnity.

“Zhang Yuan,” the Vermilion Bird’s voice resounded directly in Zhang Yuan’s mind, deep and solemn, “Mount Shenxiang…you have done very well. You have broken the shackles and rekindled the indomitable spirit of the divine elephant, its mournful cry echoing through the bloodlines of all races in the primordial world!”

"The divine beast race, which has been dormant for ten thousand years, has had its flame of resistance burning brighter than ever before because of your actions!"

Zhang Yuan nodded slightly, waiting for what was to come.

He knew that Zhuque's presence was not merely for praise.

Zhuque abruptly changed the subject, flames flickering in her golden-red eyes, carrying an indescribable heaviness: "However, fortune and misfortune are intertwined! The Heavenly Venerable usurped the power of the Heavenly Dao and maintained the barrier of the Primordial World. One of the core forces behind this was the 'Divine Beast Origin Extraction Array' that spans the entire starry sky!"

“Mount Shenxiang is a crucial node in this process! When you broke the shackles, you freed the remnant soul of the divine elephant and the legacy of the beasts, but you also instantly drained away the immense divine beast power that maintained the primordial barrier of that area!”

Her gaze pierced through the palace, as if she could see an invisible crack in the vast starry sky: "That barrier... has become weaker than ever before!"

"Those greedy 'Heavenly Demons,' ferocious beast kings, and even wandering star behemoths in the Chaos Sea have sensed the gap and are behaving abnormally! The pressure on the entire northern defense line of the Primordial Wilderness has increased dramatically!"

Zhuque's voice carried a hint of helplessness and determination: "The Heavenly Palace's early opening of the Chaos Trial was not a whim! It was because the Primordial Barrier was in dire need of intervention!"

"They need to immediately deploy all available resources to plug the gaps and resist the impending chaotic tide! This trial will take place on the weakest point of the barrier, the 'Shattered Star Sea' Ruins Node!"

"The goal is no longer merely to compete in trials, but... a battle for survival!"

She looked at Zhang Yuan, her gaze intense: "Not only the elites of the Three Thousand Palaces of the Heavenly Palace, but also the divine beast races of our Primordial World, the Central Qilin Holy Spirit has already issued a decree, the Southern Holy Spirit, the Northern Black Tortoise, the Golden-Winged Roc Clan..."

"The divine beasts from all sides will personally lead their strongest warriors to the 'Boundary Barrier Pass'! To resist the celestial behemoths, protect the primordial world, and safeguard the very foundation of our bloodline! This battle is unavoidable!"

Zhuque's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Zhang Yuan's heart.

The breaking of the seal on Shenxiang Mountain became the fuse that ignited the collapse of the prehistoric defense line!

He broke free of his shackles, but in doing so, he also prematurely triggered the greatest crisis in the primordial world.

The root of the cooperation, which the Phoenix Ancestor once described as "drinking poison to quench thirst," is now laid bare in a bloody manner—the Heavenly Palace is a shackle, but it also temporarily maintains a fragile balance.

Looking back now, the Xuanqiong Palace's orders were no longer purely calculated.

This is an emergency mobilization order for the primordial world, which is on the verge of collapse!

It is a beacon fired upon all those with ability!
Zhang Yuan slowly raised his head, the chaotic divine light in his eyes receding, transforming into a firm and resolute gaze.

He looked at the Xuanqiong Edict hanging on the palace ceiling, then at the Vermilion Bird. His voice was not loud, but each word sounded like the clanging of metal, containing the immense will of a myriad of furnaces and the fearless belief of the "Great Qin Martial Guard".

"A trial of chaos? A battle for survival? Very well! This primordial game will ultimately be decided in blood and fire!"

"Send the order to the 'Great Qin Martial Guard'—"

"Gather the troops! Ten thousand! Assemble at the drill ground at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow!"

"Target: Shattered Star Sea, Boundary Barrier Pass!"

————————————————————

Chensha River, outside the Qianguan Town Guard Hall, the Panshi Camp garrison.

Shi Feng took a deep breath and ran his fingertips over the "Rock" emblem on the chest of the black heavy armor—there, a brand-new "Mysterious Ink" badge with fine dark purple lightning patterns flowing along its edges was polished to a shine.

This is the mark of "Great Qin Martial Guard".

The symbol of Marshal Zhang Yuan's personal army.

His movements were gentle and solemn, as if he were handling a rare treasure.

The fingertips could clearly feel the cold metallic texture of the badge, as well as the slightly raised lightning pattern that contained the power of thunder.

Each touch felt like an electric current shooting through my fingertips and into my heart, bringing a burning, throbbing sensation.

You've been selected!

Having survived that earth-shattering campaign in the wilderness, he was selected from three million elite guards to become one of the ten thousand who would follow the Fire Commander on his expedition to the Chaos Abyss "Boundary Barrier Pass"!

This honor was so heavy that he could hardly breathe, yet it was also so intense that it made his blood boil.

He lowered his head again, carefully examining every seam of the armor.

The "Thunder Pattern Armor," tempered by the primordial thunder of the Thunderfall Abyss, is incredibly hard, and the dark purple patterns on its edges shimmer with a restrained sense of power under the sunlight.

Each tenon and mortise is tightened meticulously to ensure that the blade fits perfectly without any looseness.

This is not only a means of survival, but also a matter of prestige for the Fire Commander's personal guard.

The "Thunderclap" battle sword at his waist lay quietly in its sharkskin sheath.

Shi Feng slowly pulled the blade out half a foot, the cold blade reflecting his resolute brows and eyes.

On the blade, fine annihilation lightning patterns flickered slightly as if they were alive, emitting a low hum.

He used a soft cloth soaked in thunder rhinoceros oil to stroke along the direction of the thunder patterns again and again, ensuring that each pattern was smoothly connected and could unleash the strongest demon-breaking power in an instant.

This sword, which he once used to slay the Heavenly Palace guards at the foot of Shenxiang Mountain, will now accompany him into the even more dangerous Jielu Pass.

He looked up and saw that the entire Rock Camp was already a sea of ​​solemnity yet boiling activity.

The air was filled with a unique blend of leather, metal, and oil, along with a fighting spirit soaring to the point of near-burning.

Not far away, a giant shield bearer from the Rock Camp, also wearing a brand-new Xuanmo badge, was repeatedly stroking the edge of the newly forged giant shield, which was engraved with the Xuanwu Zhenyuan rune, with his rough palms, his eyes as focused as if he were caressing the face of a lover.

The chaotic energy and lightning radiance flowing across the shield surface were more condensed and substantial than ever before.

Further away, the elite soldiers of the Rift Abyss Camp were making their final calibration of the Rift Abyss Divine Bow.

As the specially made Thunder Annihilation Arrow was nocked, the slight vibration of the drawn bowstring blended into a dense buzzing sound, and the electric arcs jumping on the arrowhead left brief but dangerous scorch marks in the air.

Their eyes were sharp as eagles, locked on the void ahead, as if they were about to tear apart the chaotic shadows at any moment.

"Look! The Lingxiao Sword Camp has arrived too!" came a deliberately hushed, excited voice from the side.

Shi Feng looked in the direction of the sound and saw a group of sword cultivators carrying long swords, their auras sharp as unsheathed blades, silently passing through the camp.

Each of them wore the same striking black ink badge on their chest, their steps were perfectly synchronized, and each step carried a sharp will that seemed to cleave through the void.

The aloof swordsman at the head of the group glanced at his fellow warriors making their final preparations in the camp, and a slight upward twitch of his icy lips seemed to indicate a hint of approval and pride.

"Being selected as a member of the Martial Guard and going to war with the Fire Commander... this life is worth it!" A young Black Horn Heavy Cavalry warrior murmured to himself beside Shi Feng, his fingers unconsciously stroking the rune-covered heavy armor his mount was wearing, his eyes filled with undisguised fervor and glory.

Shi Feng remained silent, simply straightening his already javelin-like back and taking a deep breath. His heart pounded powerfully in his chest, each beat seemingly a response to the weighty glory—to fight for Fire General Zhang Yuan, to fight to protect the Primordial World—the highest peak a cultivator of the Guardian Temple could reach!
This honor of being chosen and trusted is enough to make any passionate man go through fire and water for it!

Just then, a distant and powerful moo of a bull came from the horizon, carrying the wild and untamed atmosphere unique to the primordial world.

Shi Feng's spirits lifted, and like the other guards, his gaze instantly turned to the source of the sound.

He knew that reinforcements from the wasteland had also begun to respond to the Fire Commander's call.

But none of the powerful figures from all races who were about to gather could compare to the sense of belonging and supreme glory brought by the small black ink badge on his chest.

He tidied his short hair, which had been ruffled by the wind, and looked firmly toward the highest point of the Thousand Views Guardian Hall, waiting for the figure in black ink to appear.

……

Deep within the Thunderfall Abyss, the raging lightning is no longer an enemy to be fought against, but an aid to tempering oneself.

Lei Zhen stood in front of a warehouse built of ancient lightning-struck wood. His figure was more muscular than during the Battle of the Wasteland, with faint purple lightning crackling beneath his bulging muscles.

He was no longer the boy who wielded an ordinary thunder bow. His gaze was calm and sharp, and he held tightly in his hand the Rift Abyss Divine Bow, which Zhang Yuan had personally forged and which had drunk the blood of demonic weapons.

He carefully examined each of the specially made Thunder Arrows, the arrowheads of which were covered with fine, annihilating lightning patterns.

The jet-black "Thunderclap" battle blade was repeatedly wiped clean, its edge reflecting the leaping arcs of electricity.

Around him were piles of thunder talismans made from the source crystals of Thunderfall Abyss, beast cores containing chaotic blood and qi, and thunder-patterned meteorite iron used to repair his armor.

Every item was treated with utmost care, as it was the foundation for venturing into the most dangerous battlefields of the primordial world.

"Boom!"

A thick bolt of purple lightning struck the Thunder Pool outside the warehouse, and the figure of Thunder Prison Venerable condensed in the lightning.

He was no longer the ferocious figure he was on the battlefield; his aura was deep and unfathomable. Looking at his busy son, a subtle, complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

“Zhen’er,” Lei Yu’s voice echoed like thunder, but he deliberately lowered it, “Although the Rift Abyss Bow is powerful, the Chaos Battlefield is unpredictable, the Star Beasts are thick-skinned and tough, and the Heavenly Demons are formless and shapeless.”

"Don't be recklessly aggressive. Remember the essence of Fire Commander's 'Rift Camp' tactics—precise energy gathering to pierce armor and destroy souls!"

He walked to Lei Zhen's side, picked up a Thunder Arrow with his rough, large hand, and ran his fingertips along the inscription on the shaft.

"This 'Shattered Star' rune was something your mother researched and developed to deal with meteorite iron..."

His words trailed off, and a gentle figure seemed to flash in his eyes amidst distant lightning.

Then, he patted Lei Zhen's shoulder heavily. The heavy force made Lei Zhen's body sway slightly, but he stood more steadily.

"Make good use of it. Come back alive and tell me what the stars outside the border pass look like."

Lei Zhen looked up at his father's stern face, where a deep concern and melancholy were hidden, and said in a deep voice, "Father, rest assured! Your son will live up to the name of Rift Abyss, the trust placed in him by Fire Commander, and the expectations of Mother!"

He gripped the Rift Bow tightly, its bow emitting a deep hum, as if responding to his father's expectations and his own growth.

Lei Yu looked at his son's tall and straight back, which resembled a thunder spear, took a deep breath of the air filled with thunderous energy, and muttered to himself, "You've grown up."

……

Outside the Thunder Abyss.

The vast plain leading to the Thousand Views Guardian Hall of the Sand River has now become a bustling military camp, not in chaos, but in a sea of ​​solemnity and glory.

The three million-strong garrison army has not yet fully mobilized, but the most elite units of ten thousand men each have already assembled under the leadership of their respective abbots.

The rocky camp stood like a mountain, its massive black armor shields reflecting the cold, hard sunlight.

The cultivators of Cangming Temple drew upon the power of water element, their aura flowing continuously like an abyss.

The sword energy of the Lingxiao Sword Camp soared into the sky, its sharpness fully revealed.

Every elite guard selected for this "Boundary Fortress Pass" expeditionary force stood tall with their chests held high and their eyes burning with fervor.

To be able to follow Fire General Zhang Yuan to the front line of the Primordial Barrier and face the threat of Chaos is an unparalleled honor and a testament to one's strength!

What's even more shocking is that the plains are not only home to humans.

Auspicious clouds pave the way in the eastern sky, and thousands of auspicious omens grace the sky.

Several magnificent and extraordinary Qilin, their feet treading on golden flames, came forward with their heads held high. The first one was particularly extraordinary; although it was slightly smaller in size, its bloodline and aura were pure. It was the holy son sent by the Qilin Holy Clan, representing the Central Holy Spirit's support for Zhang Yuan's trip.

The elite Qilin warriors who followed behind were clad in armor radiating light, exuding a powerful and imposing aura.

The earth's veins pulsate in the north, their heavy footsteps shaking the ground.

Several massive, mountain-like tortoises slowly approached, their ancient shells covered in mysterious runes, each carrying a huge war weapon.

The Northern Black Tortoise Clan responded to the call with their unparalleled defensive and protective power.

On the wasteland, a squad of elite Minotaur heavy cavalry dispatched by the Skybreaker King, their bodies covered in newly forged rune-inscribed heavy armor, exuded explosive power.

The several Venerable Ones of the White Elephant Clan beneath King Shenyue walked with steady steps, the power of the earth beneath their feet surging naturally.

You could even see the withered vines stretching out emerald-like vines, and the fire lizard's scales shimmering with a lava-like luster...

Representatives of the "Wilderness Guardians" of the wasteland arrived with the newfound power bestowed by Shenxiang Mountain and with complex yet unwavering beliefs.

The solemn and imposing military formations of the human race merged with the overwhelming aura of the divine beasts and the various races of the wasteland, forming a torrent powerful enough to change the very fabric of the world.

Countless eyes were fixed on the highest point of the Thousand Views Guardian Hall, waiting for that figure to appear.

Zhang Yuan's name is no longer just the title of a commander, but has become a shared belief that unites the forces on the edge of the primordial world and confronts chaos!

over nine days.

Deep within the Xuanqiong Palace.

Several venerable figures, their auras as deep as the sea, and dressed in star-patterned Taoist robes, sat in a circle.

A giant water mirror floats in the air, reflecting the awe-inspiring scene of thousands of tribes gathering and banners waving on the Chensha River Plain.

The slender-faced Venerable Xuanheng, holding a whisk, stroked his long beard, his eyes gleaming, a smile playing on his lips: "All races gather, weapons gleam in the sun. How many years has the primordial world not seen such a scene? Zhang Yuan certainly knows how to stir things up."

The burly, resolute-faced Venerable Wu Yue snorted, his voice like the clash of metal: "It's more than just causing trouble! The breaking of the shackles on Shenxiang Mountain may seem like a mess, attracting the attention of the Heavenly Demons, but it has also completely ignited the hearts of all races in the wasteland."

"This appeal, this ability to stir up trouble..."

He paused, looking in the mirror at the well-equipped and menacing core formation of Zhang Yuan's "Great Qin Martial Guard."

"Back then, the Grand Master went against the majority opinion and staked the mess of conquering the wilderness and the power of three million troops on him. Although there were risks, it seems that this move was the right gamble!" (End of this chapter)