Daqin Zhentiansi

"I see."

Zhang Yuan nodded slightly, said nothing more, and simply stood quietly in the void.

Seeing that he was so sensible, the Eagle Demon Elder stopped wasting words.

He snorted coldly and turned his gaze to the menacing Time Dragon Lizard below.

His main purpose in coming here was to deal with this beast.

He stretched out his withered hand and reached out to grab the Time Dragon Lizard from afar!
There was no earth-shattering noise, only an invisible force that seemed to be the embodiment of the rules of heaven and earth descending in an instant!
"Roar--!!!"

The Time Dragon Lizard roared in shock and rage, its body engulfed in boiling lava and twisted with the power of time as it struggled to resist.

But in the face of the absolute control of the rules by the Venerable Realm, its proud power seemed so pale and powerless!
Its massive body was as if gripped by an invisible giant hand, instantly frozen in mid-air, and even its roar was forcibly silenced!

With a flick of his wrist, the struggling Time Dragon Lizard seemed to shrink countless times, transforming into a stream of light that disappeared into his sleeve.

After doing all this, the Grand Elder glanced at Zhang Yuan, nodded slightly, and his figure vanished into the void like a bubble, as if he had never existed.

The eagle demon elder who had been injured by Zhang Yuan and caught the Blood Bodhi thrown by him struggled to his feet.

Its body surged with black light, and its enormous eagle body rapidly shrank and changed, eventually transforming into the image of a middle-aged man dressed in a black robe, with a pale face but complex eyes.

He bowed deeply to Zhang Yuan, who was in mid-air.

"Elder Tieyi of the Iron Feather Eagle Clan thanks Garrison Commander Zhang for the gift of fruit, and also thanks him for showing mercy earlier!"

His voice was slightly hoarse and filled with lingering fear.

At this moment, he fully understood that if Zhang Yuan had truly wanted to kill them during their previous battle, they would have been reduced to ashes long ago.

Zhang Yuan nodded slightly, looking at the Blood Bodhi in Tie Yi's hand, and said calmly, "This fruit contains immense vitality and bloodlust. Although it is effective to swallow it directly, it is mostly wasted and can easily trigger inner demons."

"I am well-versed in alchemy and can refine this fruit into a 'Blood Marrow Rejuvenation Pill,' which will increase its efficacy by at least tenfold and further purify the bloodline, removing any hidden dangers of malevolent energy."

"If you trust me, you can bring this fruit to Xuanyu Town Guardian Temple to find me."

Upon hearing this, Tieyi's eyes instantly erupted with unbelievable ecstasy!
Alchemy!
This is a secret technique that only the core inheritance of the Heavenly Palace or a few ancient sects have mastered among the prehistoric human race!
It's absolutely impossible for an ordinary town to possess such a thing!
Not only can it increase efficacy tenfold, but it can also eliminate hidden dangers?

This is an incredible opportunity!
"Really?! Garrison Commander Zhang's kindness is deeply appreciated!"

"Once this matter is settled, Tieyi will personally visit Xuanyu Temple with generous gifts to request an audience with the garrison commander!"

Tieyi bowed again, his voice trembling with excitement.

Zhang Yuan said no more, his figure transformed into a streak of light, and chased after Qing Xuanzi and the others in the direction they had retreated.

Halfway there, they indeed saw a mysterious light shining in the sky ahead.

The abbot of Xuanyu Temple, an elderly man with a star-patterned Taoist robe, a gaunt face, and a profound aura of time surrounding him, was leading a team of elite guards, rushing over under the guidance of Qing Xuanzi and Yan Feng.

"Junior Brother Zhang!" Qing Xuanzi was relieved to see Zhang Yuan safe and sound, and his face lit up with joy.

Yan Feng and the other giant ape warriors also breathed a sigh of relief.

The abbot's gaze was like lightning, instantly sweeping over Zhang Yuan's entire body.

Sensing that his breathing was steady and he was unharmed, a hint of surprise and approval flashed in her eyes.

"Zhang Yuan, you did a great job. You remained calm in the face of danger, protected your fellow disciples, and even discovered the true strength of the rebellious Eagle Clan, thus safeguarding the rare treasure, the Blood Bodhi. I will remember your merits."

His voice was calm, yet carried the authority of someone in a superior position.

"It's my duty, Master. You flatter me." Zhang Yuan bowed, his expression calm.

The abbot nodded slightly, asked no further questions, and waved his sleeve, saying, "Return to the abbot!"

The group immediately changed direction and flew towards Xuanyu Temple.

During the flight, Qing Xuanzi quietly approached Zhang Yuan, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of lingering fear and awe, "Junior Brother Zhang, to be honest, the Abbot has already reached the edge of the battlefield. But..."

"He sensed the unfathomable aura of the Eagle Demon Elder and dared not act rashly, remaining on the periphery as he observed. Only after confirming the Elder's departure did he dare to appear and meet us..."

Qing Xuanzi's words revealed a hint of helplessness and apology.

If it weren't for Zhang Yuan's rescue, he would have perished here, but he was powerless to help Zhang Yuan and felt truly guilty.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuan looked towards the churning sea of ​​clouds in the distance, but did not reply. He simply hummed softly, as if it were all within his expectations.

Let alone a newly arrived garrison commander like him, even the elders of the garrison would not allow the abbot to risk his life to save him.

This is the foundation of the lineage of the Primordial Qi Refiners.

Human cultivators have always been indifferent to worldly affairs.

……

Auspicious blue clouds descended in front of the gate of Xuanyu Town Guardian Temple.

Rather than a "viewing" site, it is more like a large-scale stone fortress complex built against the mountain.

The towering walls were built from massive obsidian stones, their surfaces engraved with simple yet protective Daoist patterns that shimmered with a faint mystical light under the abundant spiritual energy of the primordial world.

The buildings inside the temple are scattered and mostly built on huge stones. The style is rough and simple, far less exquisite than the palaces of immortals in later generations, but it exudes a sense of weight and resilience rooted in the primordial land.

Upon entering the temple, the concentration of spiritual energy is slightly higher than outside, but that's about it.

The air was filled with a faint smell of sweat, herbs, and the lingering stench of blood from long battles with ferocious beasts.

On the training ground, dozens of cultivators dressed in uniform gray-blue Taoist robes were practicing.

Zhang Yuan scanned the area with his divine sense and understood immediately.

Of these dozens of garrison commanders, the vast majority were at the Grandmaster or Great Grandmaster level. They practiced basic spells or martial arts techniques, their movements were rigid, and their power was quite limited under the rules of the primordial world.

Only a dozen or so people reached the semi-saint level, their auras were somewhat refined, but there was still a considerable gap between them and Qing Xuanzi's Creation Realm.

Those who have reached the second stage of the Saint Realm, the Creation Realm, like Qing Xuanzi, are already top-tier combatants in the temple, and are the core force for guarding a region and handling thorny matters.

The return of Zhang Yuan, Qing Xuanzi, Yan Feng, and others immediately attracted attention.

Especially when they saw that Qing Xuanzi was pale and injured but still in good spirits, and that the giant ape warriors such as Yan Feng were full of vigor and even showed a different kind of strength than usual, everyone gathered around.

"Senior Brother Qingxuan! You're back! Over at Black Wind Gorge..."

The garrison commander, who was on good terms with Qing Xuanzi, asked anxiously, his face showing obvious concern.

He was one of the few people who knew how dangerous Black Wind Gorge was.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Wang. With Junior Brother Zhang here, we were fortunate enough to fulfill our mission. Although we encountered some setbacks, we managed to escape danger." Qing Xuanzi patted Wang Zhenshou on the shoulder, his tone filled with relief at surviving a disaster and admiration for Zhang Yuan.

"Commander Zhang! I heard that you displayed great power at Nuyan Peak, defeating the young chieftain of the giant ape with a single finger, and even helping his clan slay the poisonous dragon and exceed the tribute quota! Such achievements are truly rare in my observation in recent years!" Another shrewd-looking commander stepped forward, his face full of smiles and his tone enthusiastic.

His name is Li Xuan, and he is usually well-informed in the temple.

At this moment, he had obviously learned some information from the wounded who had returned earlier. He was now deliberately flattering Zhang Yuan, staring intently at him, clearly intending to befriend this newly powerful figure.

In the garrison, strength is the only measure of power.

"Senior Brother Zhang, thank you so much for your help!"

Yuan Gang, the chieftain of the Iron-Armed Ape Clan, with his right arm still bandaged, bowed deeply to Zhang Yuan with the help of his clansmen, his eyes filled with sincere gratitude.

If Zhang Yuan hadn't appeared in time, they would have already perished at Broken Soul Cliff.

Among the crowd, there were a few gazes that appeared rather complex or even indifferent.

The white-haired, highly experienced old garrison commander Zhao Kun merely nodded slightly to Qing Xuanzi from afar, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Yuan with a hint of scrutiny and barely perceptible aloofness.

He was a senior figure, and his cultivation level in the temple was second only to the temple master and Qing Xuanzi. He was already at the peak of the late stage of the Half-Saint realm, just one step away from the Creation Realm.

He instinctively maintained a distance and a hint of potential competition with this suddenly emerging, high-profile, and "unknown" junior brother who was a "freelance cultivator."

Two or three other garrison commanders, who were also quite senior, were rather reserved and simply cupped their hands in greeting.

Zhang Yuan remained calm, nodding slightly to those who expressed gratitude, treating those who flattered him with indifference, and ignoring those who were indifferent.

He had long been accustomed to the fickleness of human relationships, and his mind was only focused on his own goals.

After settling in briefly, especially after arranging for the giant ape warriors to rest and depositing the tribute into the treasury, Zhang Yuan and Qing Xuanzi were immediately summoned to the abbot's meditation place, "Xuanyu Cave Heaven".

The cave is located deep in the back mountain of the town. Passing through a light curtain, the interior space suddenly opens up, and the spiritual energy is so rich that it turns into a light mist.

In the center stands an ancient stone hall, which is the place where Abbot Xuanchengzi practiced his meditation.

Xuan Chengzi wore a star-patterned Taoist robe, his face was thin and refined, and the power of time flowed around him, as if he were independent of time.

He sat upright on the futon, his gaze deep as he looked at the two people who entered, lingering particularly on Zhang Yuan for a moment.

"You've had a tough journey to Black Wind Gorge." Xuan Chengzi's voice was calm, yet carried an invisible authority. "Qingxuan, your injuries haven't healed yet. Go to the alchemy room to get the 'Jade Marrow Muscle Regeneration Pill' to heal. This danger was not your fault; you did your best."

"Thank you, Abbot!" Qing Xuanzi bowed respectfully and stepped aside.

Xuan Chengzi turned his gaze to Zhang Yuan, a rare hint of approval on his face: "Zhang Yuan, you have made great contributions since you first entered my temple."

"The collection of tribute from Nuyan Peak exceeded the target, which also helped the Giant Ape Clan stabilize the region. This is one of its merits."

"Black Wind Gorge was entrusted with a critical mission: to rescue its fellow disciples, thwart the plot of the rebellious Eagle Clan, and protect the 'Earth Vein Blood Bodhi'."

"Although this treasure was not brought back, the fact that it was obtained by the Eagle Demon Elder is invaluable information, which is the second achievement; demonstrating outstanding strength, intimidating the demon race, and enhancing the prestige of our Xuanyu Temple is the third achievement."

He paused, then took out three tokens that were neither gold nor jade, but engraved with the character "天" (heaven), and handed them to Zhang Yuan: "As a reward for your three merits, I bestow upon you three '天功' (Heavenly Merit) tokens. With these Heavenly Merit tokens, you may enter the third level of the 'Scripture Cave' and freely peruse the classics for three days."

"Within the Scripture Cave, there are some basic Qi cultivation methods, spell manuals, and illustrations of ancient geography and strange beasts bestowed by our temple and even the Heavenly Palace. I hope you will make good use of this opportunity to solidify your foundation."

"Thank you for the reward, Abbot." Zhang Yuan accepted the Heavenly Merit Token. It felt warm to the touch, and he could sense a special aura of the Heavenly Dao contained within it. This was probably the proof of the Heavenly Palace's merit system.

Obtaining this item signifies that Zhang Yuan has finally established himself in the prehistoric world.

He could feel that this trace of the Heavenly Dao's aura recognized him.

With this recognition, he is no longer an outsider, and his identity no longer needs to be hidden.

After Zhang Yuan put away the Heavenly Merit Token, Xuan Chengzi's expression turned solemn, and he continued, "Your experience this time is just a small part of the chaos in the primordial world."

Recently, conflicts among various demon tribes have intensified in the western region of Lei Ze and even in the surrounding tens of thousands of miles of territory.

Whether it's the Iron Feather Eagle Clan and the Black Armor Crocodile Clan, or the Crimson Scale Python Clan and the Cloud Leopard Clan, they seem to be competing for resources, but there are subtle traces of the Celestial Race's activities behind the scenes.

Based on scattered intelligence, it is speculated that Tiangong may be intentionally guiding or even provoking these disputes.

Zhang Yuan listened quietly, not surprised by the message conveyed in Xuan Chengzi's words.

The celestial beings are high above, and all races, whether demons, humans, or even divine beasts, are under their rule or attack.

Even the divine and the human world cannot be a monolithic entity; there must be various schemes and infighting among them.

Xuan Chengzi sighed, his voice tinged with weariness and helplessness: "We humans guarding the temple are sandwiched between the Heavenly Palace and the powerful races of the prehistoric world. In name, we patrol on behalf of Heaven, but in reality..."

In reality, they were merely pawns, or even cannon fodder, used by the Heavenly Palace to maintain a minimum level of order, collect tribute, and quell small-scale conflicts.

Xuan Chengzi whispered softly, as if talking to himself.

He speculated that the Celestial Race's true target was probably the strongest divine beast lineages in the area.

For example, the ancient Kui Niu deep within the Thunder Swamp that controls thunder!
Using its essence and origin as a guide, it can be used to refine precious treasures or help celestial beings break through to higher realms.

"We who guard the temple will likely be pushed to the front lines, bearing the wrath of the divine beasts and demons..."

These words were almost a complete revelation, revealing Xuan Chengzi's inner worries and pessimism about the fate of the garrison commander.

The ancient city was guarded by 38 million guardians, and countless of them were destroyed.

Despite the fact that the Guardian Temple is quite powerful, with some of its strongest members even reaching the Venerable Realm, the human race's combat strength is greatly suppressed in the face of the Celestials.

Whether facing celestial beings or demonic beasts, the human race's heritage appears extremely weak.

Leaving the Xuanyu Cave, Zhang Yuan did not delay and went straight into the heavily guarded third level of the Scripture Cave using the Heavenly Merit Token.

The cave is quite spacious, with rows of ancient stone shelves displaying jade slips, bone fragments, and animal skin scrolls.

Zhang Yuan's divine sense swept across the area, quickly identifying several fundamental but widely circulated cultivation techniques within the Heavenly Palace Qi Refining System:
"The Secret of Returning to Truth from the Mysterious Jade" is the foundational practice for calming the mind and spirit.

It is possible to cultivate to the second stage of the Saint Realm, the Creation Realm, but only the first five layers of the mental cultivation method remain here.

The "Tiangang Refining Form Method" is a technique for tempering the physical body and drawing upon the power of the stars. The first four levels are preserved here.

The "Guiding Qi to Penetrate the Mysterious Chapter" contains the first five levels of the basic methods for drawing in primordial spiritual energy and opening up acupoints.

"The True Explanation of Basic Talismans" contains some basic runes and talisman crafting methods.

Zhang Yuan sat down cross-legged and picked up a jade slip containing the first five levels of the "Mysterious Jade Returning to Truth Technique".

His divine senses sank in, and the contents of the cultivation technique flowed through his mind. (End of Chapter)