Daqin Zhentiansi

"Roar!"

From the depths of the altar came the furious roar of the Balrog.

Several enormous fire monsters, which had just condensed into half their bodies, struggled to crawl out.

"Get back!"

Zhang Yuan's eyes flashed, and he thrust out the bone spear from a distance!

"Trapping Immortals, Devouring Souls!"

Several black spear shadows, imbued with the power of devouring, plunged into the core of the altar.

This devouring power is frantically consuming the energy source needed to summon the Flame Demon!
The newly formed half of the Flame Demon instantly disintegrated!

Zhang Yuan, single-handedly, temporarily suppressed the greatest source of calamity: the Flame Demon Altar!
At the same time, his powerful divine sense was like an invisible commander on the battlefield, constantly monitoring the entire battle situation.

"At the northeast corner of the Flame Suppressing Tower, three armored rhinoceros demons charge! The true essence infusion into the Kun position of the Xuanyu Formation increases by 30%! The Zhen position shifts three zhang to the left, and the sword energy thrusts diagonally seven fen!"

"A gap has appeared in the Xun position of the West Wing Rock Formation! Flowing Cloud Lock Yuan, Third Squad, fill the gap, Frost Talisman covers thirty feet in front!"

"Suppress the fire and concentrate your forces to attack the rock base three zhang to the left of the lava vent; that's the weak point!"

His instructions appeared precisely in the minds of every cultivator at every crucial juncture, as if he were a prophet.

Under his overall command, the human garrison, which was originally fighting independently and on the verge of collapse, was instantly integrated into a highly efficient whole!

The Mysterious Jade Returning to Truth Formation was as stable as a rock, neutralizing the fire poison and healing the wounded.

The Rocky Cloud Formation, like a swamp, made it difficult for the demon race to advance, leaving them divided and surrounded.

The spells used to suppress the fire were precise, continuously weakening the raging energy of the lava lake.

Zhang Yuan himself is like a god of war on the battlefield.

Whenever a powerful demon tried to attack a weak point in the human battle formation, his figure would appear like a ghost.

Wherever the bone spear points, demonic blood will surely follow!

"boom--"

The Demon King of the Holy Realm led his personal guards to break through the defenses and attempt to destroy the base of the "Flame Suppressing Tower".

"kill--"

With a low shout, Zhang Yuan unleashed the Divine Beast Sky-Splitting Spear, which transformed into a rainbow piercing the sun. The spearhead, wreathed in divine fire and tribulation lightning, instantly pierced through the demonic aura. The sword intent of annihilation erupted, nailing the demon king and his soul to the scorched rock!

The Flame Demon Altar condensed a new Flame Giant, whose bone spear, carrying the power of "Spirit Devouring Immortals," broke through the air and forcefully drained its earth fire core, causing the magma giant to collapse and disintegrate before it could even roar!

What terrifies the demon race the most is that his killing is itself a form of cultivation!
The chaotic god-demon body transformed into an invisible furnace, and the thirteen levels of the "Guiding Qi to Profound Mystery Chapter"—"Returning All Qi to the Source"—operated at full power.

The blood essence and malevolent energy of the fallen demons, the scorching heat of the exploding earth fire, and even the raging fire spirits emanating from the Flame Demon Altar... were all forcibly devoured and refined.

His pores emitted chaotic light, and with each breath his aura grew ever deeper, as if the entire battlefield was being used as fuel to temper his indestructible foundation!

The Blazing Sky Wings vibrated for the last time, tearing apart the last clump of thick, ink-like demonic clouds above Blood Maple Ridge.

The enormous wings of light, outlined by the divine fire of the Heavenly Blaze and edged with dark red tribulation lightning, slowly closed, the intense light dimmed, revealing Zhang Yuan's tall and imposing figure.

He lightly touched the ground with his toes, landing on the dilapidated city gate that had been nearly half destroyed by the demon race's magic, covered with scorch marks and congealed black blood.

Beneath their feet were scorching hot bricks and stones, and behind them were the remnants of the Xuanyu Temple, who had been pulled back from the abyss of despair, as well as the original garrison of Blood Maple Ridge.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of blood, burnt food, and various poisons.

The setting sun, like blood, painted a tragic and devastating afterglow on this mountain range that had just undergone a baptism of hell.

The battlefield was a scene of utter devastation. Broken weapons, shattered armor, and enormous, strangely shaped demon corpses piled up like mountains. Filthy blood gathered into dark red streams that meandered through the scorched earth and eventually seeped into the ground.

The cultivators who survived the calamity, whether they belonged to Xuanyu Temple or the local garrison of Blood Maple Ridge, were mostly covered in blood, their spiritual energy depleted, and they stood up with each other, barely able to stand, bearing numerous wounds.

Their gazes as they looked at the figure on the city gate were filled with a dazed feeling of surviving a catastrophe and an unbelievable shock.

Ultimately, it all transformed into an almost fanatical awe and worship.

Qing Xuanzi's Daoist robe was torn, and a deep, bone-revealing claw mark on his chest was still bleeding.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the churning blood and the excruciating pain in his internal organs, pushed away the disciple who was helping him, and with great difficulty but with utmost solemnity, straightened his blood-stained clothes.

He walked unsteadily to a spot a few feet in front of Zhang Yuan and stopped.

Without saying a word, he simply bowed deeply to Zhang Yuan and remained standing.

Behind him, all the Xuan Yu Temple cultivators who could still move, whether elders, deacons, or ordinary disciples, regardless of the severity of their injuries, struggled to follow Qing Xuanzi's movements and bowed deeply to Zhang Yuan in unison.

After a brief moment of shock and bewilderment, the local garrison of Blood Maple Ridge was also swept up by this silent torrent.

They witnessed firsthand how Zhang Yuan descended like a god, tearing apart the seemingly indestructible Ten Thousand Demons Covering the Sky Formation with his Burning Heaven Divine Wings, a formation that had annihilated countless comrades.

How can one transform into a chaotic giant under the oppressive domain of that terrifying demon lord, devouring the raging demonic power with every move and turning it into one's own, thus severely injuring the demon lord?

How could they crush tens of thousands of fierce demon soldiers with overwhelming force, leaving them utterly terrified and routed?

At that moment, they felt nothing but reverence.

On the ruined city gate and the scorched earth, hundreds of cultivators bowed deeply in the same direction. The scene was solemn and awe-inspiring, with only heavy breathing and the whistling of the mountain wind sweeping through the broken walls and ruins.

"Qing Xuanzi of Xuanyu Temple," Qing Xuanzi's voice was hoarse from injuries and excitement, yet exceptionally clear and firm, piercing through the wind and echoing across the silent battlefield, "leading the remaining disciples of the temple, and on behalf of my comrades from Blood Maple Ridge, I kowtow to thank Master Zhang for turning the tide and saving us from annihilation!"

"We will never forget the kindness that gave us a second chance at life!"

He bowed deeply again, his forehead almost touching the cold bricks.

"We kowtow in gratitude to Master Zhang for saving our lives!" Hundreds of voices converged into a torrent.

Everyone was filled with a trembling sense of relief and heartfelt gratitude.

The sound roared and echoed through the mountains, even stirring up the lingering smoke in the distance.

Qing Xuanzi straightened up, his eyes bursting with intense anticipation and pleading, his voice filled with unquestionable piety: "The Daoist Master possesses unparalleled supernatural powers and profound Daoist teachings, and also has the well-being of all living beings in his heart! Although we survived the bloody battle by chance, our Daoist hearts are clouded and our future is shrouded in darkness."

"We humbly beg the Daoist Master to have mercy and, in this place where the blood and fire have not yet been extinguished, open an altar to preach the Dao and transmit the supreme and wondrous Dharma! Dispel the fog of confusion for us and point out the way forward! This is our tearful plea, and we earnestly hope that the Daoist Master will grant it!" "We humbly beg the Daoist Master to open an altar to preach the Dao!" Hundreds of people pleaded in unison again, their voices soaring into the sky.

Countless gazes, filled with longing, hope, and even a pilgrimage-like light, were fixed on Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan stood atop the ruined pass, the mountain wind whipping his blood-stained robes.

His face showed little arrogance after victory, only a deep calm after a great battle.

His gaze slowly swept down, taking in the weary yet hopeful faces of the people below, across this land repeatedly stained by blood and war.

The murderous aura and malevolent, resentful atmosphere that permeated the air had not yet dissipated, and it intertwined with the complex emotions of surviving the calamity, forming a heavy and oppressive "momentum".

This "momentum" is the residue left after being tempered by blood and fire, the sediment of countless resentments and confusions.

He was silent for a moment.

This silence is not hesitation, but rather a process of perception and reflection.

Deep within the sea of ​​consciousness, the golden pearl of the Great Dao slowly rotated, flowing with a warm and vast radiance.

The rune chains of the Thirteen Arts of Destiny were silently unfolding in the divine mind, deducing the most suitable trajectory of the Heavenly Dao on this battlefield ruins.

Scorched earth, broken blades, still-warm demon blood, the faint spiritual power and indomitable fighting spirit remaining in the cultivator's body... all of these became the materials for his deductions.

Finally, he nodded slightly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching the ears of every cultivator, carrying a strange power to soothe their anxiety: "Alright."

There was no elaborate altar, no complicated rituals.

With a slight movement, Zhang Yuan gracefully landed on a relatively intact scorched open space in front of the city gate.

He sat down cross-legged, beneath him on scorching hot earth mixed with blood and mud.

Its posture is natural, as if it has become one with this land that has experienced great calamity.

He slowly closed his eyes, and there was no deliberately powerful pressure emanating from his body, only a profound and restrained, calm aura that was as deep as a mountain.

"The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao."

Zhang Yuan's voice rang out.

Initially, it was like a clear spring dripping into a deep pool; it was not grand, but it pierced through the lingering noise and silence of the battlefield with exceptional clarity, reaching the depths of people's hearts.

"Isn't the path of cultivation just like this? Xuan Yu returns to the truth, but to which truth? Tian Gang refines the form, but what form is being refined? Guiding Qi to the Mysterious, but to which mystery is being reached?"

He did not directly explain the scriptures and techniques, but instead posed three fundamental questions.

Each question was like a heavy hammer, striking the Dao hearts of the cultivators below.

Those disciples of Xuanyu Temple who cultivated the "Mysterious Jade Returning to Truth Technique," "Heavenly Gang Refining Form Method," and "Guiding Qi to Profound Mystery Chapter" were particularly shaken, and countless obstacles and doubts in their past cultivation were instantly illuminated.

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, the golden pearl of the Great Dao shone brightly, extracting Zhang Yuan's profound understanding of these three cultivation techniques, which had been pushed to the thirteenth level of their ultimate realm. It also revealed the inclusiveness and nurturing of the Chaos Ancestral Aperture, the source of the great power of the Law of Heaven and Earth, and the ultimate direction of the return of all laws to their origin, all with the purest essence of his will.

The Thirteen Arts of Destiny then began to operate, miraculously "transforming" and "reducing" these profound and obscure ultimate mysteries that were enough to make even Saint Realm experts dizzy.

“Returning to one’s true self is not about following the rules or trying to find a sword by marking the boat.” Zhang Yuan’s voice became grand and ethereal, as if it resonated with the universe. “The primordial energy of heaven and earth is like a surging river, flowing endlessly through the ages. Its momentum is unpredictable, and its form is uncertain.”

"The 'truth' sought in the 'Mysterious Jade Returning to Truth Technique' is not the fixed 'Heavenly Palace Cultivation Route' in the diagrams of the ancients, but rather to trace its origin and align with this eternally flowing 'momentum'!"

“Where the mind goes, spiritual energy arises spontaneously, as naturally as an arm or finger; this is what is meant by ‘true movement’.”

As he spoke, a wondrous scene unfolded.

Centered on the spot where he sat cross-legged, the chaotic spiritual energy remaining in the air, the sparse primordial energy dissipating from the battlefield, and even the residual energy deep within the earth's veins, all seemed to be smoothed and combed out by an invisible hand.

They began to flow and converge slowly, following an indescribable yet exceptionally harmonious rhythm.

The wisps of pure spiritual energy seemed to be "returned to their true nature" from the filth and chaos by an invisible force, transforming into visible pale blue light spots, like countless tiny sprites, spontaneously swirling and dancing around Zhang Yuan.

What's even more astonishing is that these points of spiritual energy are not disordered; they subtly form a mysterious and ever-changing star map.

This is precisely the external manifestation of "momentum" that Zhang Yuan presented after simplifying the initial conception of "Chaos Ancestral Aperture" which encompasses all phenomena and gives birth to all things by billions of times with his supreme divine thought!

Many cultivators practicing the "Mysterious Jade Returning to Truth Technique," especially those disciples and elders who had been stuck at a bottleneck for many years, felt a loud bang in their minds, as if a gate that had imprisoned them for countless years had been suddenly burst open!

The practice route map, which I used to memorize meticulously and dare not deviate from in the slightest, now became incredibly vivid and lively in my mind.

For the first time, they clearly "saw" the immense power of the flowing primordial energy beneath the cultivation technique diagrams, and felt the opportunity for their own spiritual energy to harmonize with the great power of heaven and earth.

The previously stagnant spiritual energy within his body suddenly accelerated, emitting a joyful hum, and the barrier that had troubled him for many years cracked under the strain!
Several people on the spot experienced a surge in their aura, directly breaking through to a minor realm, and were moved to tears.

"Tian Gang Refining Form is not about forging the flesh and skin to be strong, nor is it about pursuing physical strength recklessly."

Zhang Yuan's voice changed again, carrying a resounding force that could penetrate metal and stone and shake mountains.

"The highest form is the 'intention' of the chaotic gods and demons! The ultimate realm of power is not the pinnacle of brute force, but the origin of chaotic power!"

"The body is like a furnace, forging all laws. Drawing upon the power of the primordial origin, one tempers every particle of the body, making it like stardust, like the foundation stone at the beginning of chaos, so that it can bear the weight of heaven and earth and evolve the changes of all things!"

"boom--!"

As he explained the profound meaning of the thirteenth level of the "Tiangang Refining Form Method" – the "Ultimate Realm of Power" – an invisible and extremely heavy "force" suddenly spread out from him!
It's not about intimidation, but rather a pure sense of "weight".

On the ground, tiny pebbles silently turned into dust and sank into the scorched earth.

The air seemed to have turned into viscous mercury, and even the light was slightly distorted.

The swirling azure spiritual energy points, drawn by this "heavy force," suddenly accelerated, as if thrown into an invisible vortex, spinning rapidly and emitting a subtle yet sharp sound of air being torn apart.

In the center of this area shrouded by an invisible gravitational field, Zhang Yuan's seated figure seemed to transform into a pillar of chaos supporting heaven and earth, radiating an eternally unyielding and majestic will.

Cultivators who practice the "Heavenly Gang Refining Form Method", especially those who cultivate the body, feel their bones cracking and popping all over their bodies, as if every inch of muscle and every meridian has been thrown into an invisible forging furnace!
A profound and boundless sense of "force," originating from the very beginning of creation, was brutally and directly infused into their souls.

The traditional approach to body training, which aimed for bulging muscles and vigorous blood circulation, has been completely overturned!
When discussing the "Introduction of Qi to the Mysterious Realm" chapter, Zhang Yuan's voice carried a profound and direct tone: "Introduction of Qi to the Mysterious Realm, 'to connect' means to reach and penetrate. It is not only about drawing in external spiritual energy into the body, but also about penetrating one's own 'mysterious gate' and understanding the 'mysterious mechanism' of all things."

"All energies return to their source, flowing upstream. The essence of all things can be used by me. Wherever my thoughts are focused, all energies come to me. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the essence of the five elements, the brilliance of the sun, moon and stars, and even... demonic power and demonic essence, can all be drawn in, transformed, and returned to my original path!"

These words shocked the garrison commanders below, who were just recovering from serious injuries! (End of Chapter)