Daqin Zhentiansi

"Yunhe Ridge is in dire need of help! Highest level distress signal!"

A Heavenly Palace steward responsible for monitoring the sand table reported urgently.

After a brief silence, the chatter erupted like water droplets falling into a hot oil pan.

"Cloud Ridge? That nail deep into the edge of the chaotic vortex? The garrison is the Azure Cloud Guard of the 'Mysterious Spear Hall,' right? It's said that there are less than three thousand exhausted soldiers left!"

A middle-aged Celestial Elite dressed in a blue robe with silver patterns frowned.

"We're deep in danger, isolated and helpless—this is clearly a death trap! Go to rescue us now? With what means? Whom should we send?"

“Lord Li Xing, didn’t your palace have a reserve team resting last time? They were relatively close…” A representative from a medium-sized celestial palace tentatively looked at Venerable Li Xing of the Heavenly Punishment Palace.

Venerable Li Xing held his teacup, not even lifting his eyelids, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Reserve force? Hmph, that's the last force protecting the 'E' character fortress'!"

"If the Wuzi Fortress falls, the entire northern front of Jielei Pass will collapse!"

"Yunhe Ridge? It's nothing but a scapegoat. To divert the defensive forces of the Wu-character fortress for a place we're destined to fall into? I cannot bear that responsibility!"

He gently blew on the tea, his tone indifferent.

"Moreover, the chaotic storm has intensified and the shipping lanes have been cut off. Even if we send people now, by the time they arrive, it will be too late. It will only increase casualties and waste manpower."

“But it’s Venerable Li Xing!” A young celestial being dressed in a blue outfit and carrying a long sword suddenly stepped forward. He was none other than Young Master Xuan Lan, who had spoken rudely to Zhang Yuan in the main hall earlier.

At this moment, his face was full of anxiety and anger as he pointed at the sand table: "Everyone has seen the sand table simulation! If Cloud Ridge is lost, Black Wind Rift Valley will surely fall!"

"At that time, the Blood Millstone will be in grave danger, and the surrounding thirty-seven strongholds will be completely destroyed! This is a chain reaction of collapse! How can we sit idly by?!"

"Young Master Xuanlan, what do you know about matters of state? You're just a theorist!" A deputy general from the Heavenly Punishment Hall beside Venerable Li Xing shouted sternly. "Isn't the Blood Millstone supposed to be 'impregnable' with Zhang Yuan guarding it?"

"Let him figure it out himself! Our mission is to defend the core area of ​​Boundary Fortress! As for the outer outposts... abandon them if necessary!"

His words were laced with obvious schadenfreude and malice toward Zhang Yuan.

The erosion of human power was a decision made by the Heavenly Palace.

To the Celestial Race, there is not much difference between humans, demons, and the Heavenly Demons from beyond the Great Wall.

Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts.

"You bastard!" A furious shout boomed like thunder!
The golden-armored celestial general who had warned Zhang Yuan "don't die"—Zhaowu Venerable—slammed his fist on the long metal table in front of him!
"Boom!"

The hard, crystalline table shattered into dust, like rotten wood!

His tiger-like eyes widened, his beard and hair stood on end, and his surging blood and qi surged around him as he glared at Venerable Li Xing and the others: "What do you mean by abandoning what should be abandoned?! Every inch of lost territory is soaked in the blood of the cultivators of our Primordial World!"

“Every single one of those strongholds was once a shield protecting our borders! Now you stand by and watch your comrades perish, yet you dare to speak so shamelessly about ‘matters of state and military importance’?!”

"Do you still have even a shred of camaraderie or duty to protect yourselves?! Your cowardice and hesitation are a disgrace to our Heavenly Palace!"

His voice echoed throughout the hall.

Many celestial beings lowered their heads slightly, not daring to look directly at Venerable Zhaowu.

Regardless, they still felt guilty for letting the demons slaughter them.

Venerable Li Xing's face darkened, his eyes flashing with cold light: "Zhao Wu! How dare you roar in the Central Hall and damage public property! Do you want to test the laws of the Heavenly Punishment Hall?"

Taking a deep breath, he softened his voice slightly: "The bigger picture is paramount! Preserving our strength is the best policy! Acting rashly will only cost more lives!"

Venerable Zichen frowned, watching the two sides arguing, then looked at the increasingly faint, flickering light of distress on the sand table, resembling a candle in the wind, and finally let out a silent sigh.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but seeing Venerable Li Xing's cold gaze and the other silent Venerables in the hall, he ultimately did not speak.

The big picture... can sometimes be so cold and cruel.

A desperate stalemate ensued inside the hall.

The people from Li Xing's faction sneered and remained silent.

The Venerable Zhaowu's chest heaved violently, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails almost dug into his flesh, and his eyes were filled with endless anger and sorrow.

Xuan Lan Gongzi and a few other passionate elites of the Celestial Realm had pale faces and were clenching their teeth tightly.

Most of the neutral parties, however, hesitated and chose to remain silent.

In their hearts, Yunhe Ridge had already been sentenced to death.

That blinding red light, a cry for help, seemed to serve as its epitaph.

……

Blood Millstone, Battalion No. 7, Class C.

Zhang Yuan withdrew his divine sense from the sand table, as if piercing through layers of space, and saw the chilling conflict and silence within the Boundary Barrier Pass.

"Thunderclap!" Zhang Yuan's voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence of the camp. It was clear and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Your subordinate is here!" Lei Zhen stepped forward like lightning, the Thunder Pattern Bow already in his hand.

"You are hereby given full command of the headquarters. Hold the camp! Rely on the existing defense system. If the Heavenly Demons invade, do not fight to the death. Focus on delaying and attrition!"

Zhang Yuan's eyes were sharp and piercing.

"If a Primordial-level behemoth appears, activate all 'Star-Shattering Annihilation Runes' to lure it into the pre-set 'Thunder Prison Trap,' and do everything in your power to stop it! Wait for me to return!"

"Yes, sir!" Lei Zhen accepted the order without hesitation, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

He knew the weight of this order and trusted Huo Shuai's judgment even more.

"Yue Zhenshan!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Gather three thousand elite soldiers from the Rocky Camp! Clad in heavy armor, wielding massive shields, and equipped with 'Demon-Slaying Cones' and 'Soul-Suppressing Thunder Talismans.' Distribute three 'Emergency Recovery Pills' to each soldier! Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, assemble at the western exit of 'Broken Ridge Gorge'!"

"Understood!" Yue Zhenshan's voice boomed like a bell. Without the slightest hesitation, he turned and strode away.

"The Holy Son of the Qilin!"

"Panlin is here!"

"Bless the relief legion with the aura of 'Auspicious Purification Domain'!"

"Leader!"

"Elder Jinpeng!"

"What are your orders, Marshal Huo?"

"Take off! Proceed 100 li ahead and patrol the route from 'Rift Valley' to 'Cloud Ridge'! Issue an immediate warning if there is any large-scale movement of monsters!"

"Screech—!" The Golden-Winged Roc let out a clear cry, and golden light shot into the sky!

"Lord Xuan Turtle! Stabilize the earth veins in the rear and ensure the energy nodes of the camp are unobstructed!"

"Roar!" the Xuan Turtle responded in a deep voice.

Orders were issued rapidly, and the entire Seventh Battalion of the C-Class was like a sophisticated war machine, instantly operating at high speed.

There were no unnecessary questions, only absolute obedience and efficient execution.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn is over in the blink of an eye.

At the exit of Broken Ridge Gorge, the three thousand elite soldiers of the Rocky Camp were already in formation!
His entire body was covered in dark black heavy armor, and a huge tower shield stood upright like a mountain, with thick earth element lightning patterns flowing on its surface.

Each warrior had three gleaming armor-piercing spikes and several talismans that flickered with lightning hanging from their waists.

The Qilin Saint Son, Panlin, stood at the front of the formation, his two horns above his head radiating a seven-colored glow that transformed into a gentle yet resilient halo that enveloped the entire legion and dispelled the surrounding demonic miasma.

A powerful aura, as solid as a mountain and as resilient as iron, gathered above the military formation.

Zhang Yuan's figure appeared at the front of the formation.

Without saying much, his gaze swept over the three thousand heavily armored elites before him, who stood as silent as mountains, and finally pierced through the layers of chaotic mist, fixing on the increasingly faint flame of distress in the northwest direction.

"Target: Cloud Ridge! Time limit: one incense stick's time!" Zhang Yuan's voice wasn't loud, but it was like the clash of metal, instantly igniting a flame in everyone's hearts. "Rock Camp—"

"boom!!!"

Before he finished speaking, three thousand heavily armored soldiers, like a black torrent bursting through a dam, charged out of the defensive light shield of Broken Ridge Gorge with steps that shook the shattered stars!
The massive tower shield crashed against the jagged stone wall, sending sparks flying.

"Raise your shield! Ride the wind!"

Yue Zhenshan let out a long shout.

The entire army formation instantly formed a moving steel wall, crashing headlong into the oncoming chaotic storm!
Following closely behind was the Qilin Saint Son Panlin, whose head was filled with a burst of seven-colored rainbow light, desperately trying to open the "Auspicious Pure Land" halo.

"Buzzing—"

A seven-colored halo spun, enveloping the army, as if opening up a relatively clear passage in a turbid torrent, stubbornly dispelling the bone-corroding miasma and soul-devouring whispers.

Zhang Yuanxuan's black Taoist robe fluttered in the wind, his figure transforming into a leading arrowhead, merging into this resolute torrent of charges.

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

Jielu Pass, Central Hall.

On the entire sand table, in the direction of Battalion No. 7 of the C-class, a dazzling golden arrow representing Zhang Yuan's personal attack, like a meteor tearing through the night, burst out of the red aura representing the Blood Millstone's defensive circle without warning, and accurately pierced the "Cloud Ridge" distress signal that was about to be extinguished!
The hall fell silent instantly; you could hear a pin drop.

"Has he...has he gone mad?!" The lieutenant beside Venerable Li Xing exclaimed in shock, nearly dropping his teacup. "He dares to charge into the Chaos Storm with three thousand men to save a doomed stronghold?!"

For the first time, Venerable Li Xing's usual cold smile froze.

A look of disbelief and astonishment flashed in his eyes.

Immediately, his expression turned even more sinister and mocking: "Brutal fools! Reckless courage! A mere three thousand exhausted soldiers venturing into the edge of the chaotic vortex? They're simply courting death!"

"I think Zhang Yuan is tired of living and wants to drag his private soldiers down with him to be buried with Yunhe Ridge!"

"Ridiculous! Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!" Another elite from the Heavenly Punishment Hall sneered, shaking his head as if watching a farce.

However, most eyes were fixed on the unwavering golden arrow.

Young Master Xuanlan clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, his eyes blazing with indescribable excitement and anticipation: "He's gone! He's really gone!"

The passionate elites behind him were also shaken.

It is a fact that they do not get along with Zhang Yuan.

But that doesn't mean they don't admire Zhang Yuan's courage!

The world's strong may only be judged by their strength.

But many more people have a sense of morality.

The lingering anger on Venerable Zhaowu's face was now replaced by a solemn expression.

He stared intently at the point of light representing Zhang Yuan and the Rock Camp, his eyes filled with complex emotions—shock, worry, and even a hint of admiration that he himself was unaware of.

He didn't speak, but the veins on his clenched fist bulged again.

On the ancient face of Venerable Zichen, his brows were furrowed, and his turbid eyes reflected that solitary golden light, which finally turned into an extremely soft sigh that was almost imperceptible to anyone.

That sigh seemed to contain something long buried, now stirred up by this reckless rush.

Inside the main hall, whispers hummed, filled with astonishment, disdain, and mockery...

Yet it also contained an undeniable sense of awe, and a hint of anticipation that even the speaker was unwilling to admit.

Zhang Yuan's actions were like a boulder thrown into a stagnant pool called "indifference".

……

Yunhe Ridge.

This place is no longer a formidable pass, but a living hell.

"Crack..."

The last, crumbling runic shield, like a spiderweb cracking in the wind, shattered completely with a "crack" when struck by the viscous poisonous flames spewed by another venomous lizard demon!

Before the fragments even hit the ground, they were corroded into wisps of green smoke by the filthy demonic energy.

The remaining scene was shocking.

The original massive fortress, built against the mountain, is now reduced to a small section of charred ruins, covered with moss and congealed purplish-black bloodstains.

The ground was littered with shattered fragments of black armor, broken weapons, and the mangled remains of comrades.

Of those still standing, including the commander Cangyun, only seven remained.

Everyone was wounded, and their spirits were extremely low.

Commander Cangyun was leaning on a broken sword with one hand, his other arm severed at the shoulder. The wound was blackened and rotten by demonic energy, and he could only barely suppress it by burning his own life force.

Beside him, his deputy general Cao Quan, who was also seriously injured, had his right eye blinded by a poisoned thorn.

With his remaining left eye fixed on the frantically flashing yet increasingly dim distress runes at the core of the array, he roared hoarsely, "Hold on! Hold on! The signal... the signal has been sent! Rescue..."

Before he could finish speaking, another mouthful of black blood mixed with fragments of internal organs spurted out.

Seven cultivators sat cross-legged around the core array eye, their bodies already exhausted and withered, yet they still burned the last of their divine soul essence to maintain that faint distress signal.

On their skin, flesh-colored moss was spreading wildly.

"For...the Xuange Palace..."

One of them whispered, his voice already as faint as a mosquito's buzz, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably and carbonize.

"Roar--!"

Several mountain-sized monsters trudged through the mountain of demonic remains with heavy steps, their foul-smelling saliva dripping and corroding the ground.

Their crimson eyes greedily locked onto the last human beside the center of the formation.

"You son of a bitch! Come on!"

A young cultivator, whose face was now only half intact, dragged his nearly broken legs, grabbed a broken, blood-stained flagpole, and like a wounded lone wolf, let out a final roar as he staggered to block the front of the formation.

In his remaining eyes, there was no fear, only a burning madness and determination!
Commander Cangyun suddenly raised his head, his blood-stained face contorted like a demon, and a terrifying glint of light burst forth from his single remaining eye.

He suddenly plunged his broken sword into the charred rock in front of him, and slammed his remaining right hand hard against the core of the formation!
"Xuan Ge Cang Yun Guard—!" he roared, his voice tearing through the howls of demons, carrying a resolute determination that seemed to shatter the very soul, "Fight to the death—never retreat!!!"

With his final surge of power, the distress rune, as if in a final burst of light, erupted with a last, blinding crimson glow, and then—

It was completely extinguished. (End of Chapter)