Daqin Zhentiansi

Zhang Yuan glanced at the five Venerables, his voice clear and steady, carrying a confidence born of years of experience and a comprehensive understanding of the situation: "The demon race is powerful and cannot be defeated by a single battle. In the Chensha River war zone, although the various garrison temples are all human, their cultivation methods are different, their battle tactics are scattered, they fight independently, and there are even conflicts between them, which is a great taboo."

"Faced with the organized legionary attacks of the demon race, they often collapse at the first touch, or fall into a dead end where they are divided and surrounded, fighting alone. The battles of Blood Maple Ridge, Soul Broken Gorge, and even Blackwater Abyss have all exposed this weakness."

He paused, then continued, "To break this deadlock, we need integration! We need reorganization! We need to operate with the precision of an extension of our own limb!"

"How to integrate? How to train?" Venerable Lingyun pressed.

“First, unified commands, and strict enforcement of orders,” Zhang Yuan responded loudly.

"Abandoning sectarianism, all participating cultivators guarding the temples must temporarily break the original organization and be reorganized according to their special skills and cultivation level."

Zhang Yuan's tone was resolute.

"Secondly, we will teach the basic methods of battle formations. These are not secret teachings passed down through individual study, but rather the most basic and universal methods that can maximize the power of the group, combining offense and defense, and adapting to the ever-changing battlefield!"

"'Military formation'?" Venerable Tianjian frowned slightly. "We human cultivators emphasize comprehending the world and possess exquisite supernatural abilities. This military formation method is mostly used by mortal dynasties. In battles between high-level cultivators, its effectiveness may be limited, and it may even restrict individual performance."

"Your Excellency is mistaken." Zhang Yuan's gaze was like lightning as he stared directly at the Heavenly Sword Venerable, a powerful aura emanating from the War Marquis of Qin faintly emanating from him. "There are countless paths to the Great Dao, but they all lead to the same destination. The Dao of 'Array' is not about restraint, but about the resonance and sublimation of power!"

"The power of individuals is like a stream, but when it flows into an army formation, it becomes rivers, lakes, and seas! Facing a Demon Lord, a Saint Realm cultivator fighting alone is suicide, but if a hundred or a thousand Saint Realm cultivators form an array, their power will resonate and draw upon the power of heaven and earth, which may well be able to shake a Demon Lord!"

"Furthermore, who says that military formations cannot accommodate supernatural powers? On the contrary, by using formations as a foundation and integrating various techniques, the power of supernatural powers is multiplied, and they can complement each other's deficiencies and transform fragments into a whole!"

He raised his hand, and the chaotic true essence flowed from his fingertips, instantly outlining several simple yet infinitely varied formations in the void.

"Look! This is the 'Arrowhead' attack formation, concentrating all forces into one point, making it indestructible! This is the 'Rock Solid' defense formation, with interconnected energy, doubling its defense and capable of withstanding tremendous impacts!"

"This is the 'Flowing Clouds' mobile formation, which is agile and swift, capable of splitting and weaving, and is specifically designed to break enemy formations! Furthermore, it has variations of 'Two Elements,' 'Three Powers,' 'Four Symbols,' and 'Eight Trigrams,' which can be adapted to the terrain and the enemy, evolving infinitely!"

As he sketched and explained, the array diagrams in the void flowed and interacted, subtly drawing upon the spiritual energy of the surrounding heaven and earth to form tiny energy vortexes.

The array diagram appeared simple, yet it contained the profound meaning of simplicity, and its transitions between offense and defense were incredibly smooth.

It also leaves enough space for cultivators to unleash their own supernatural powers and guide, amplify, and integrate their power into the whole.

What kind of insight do the five Venerable Ones possess?
They could clearly sense the brilliance of these formations.

Unlike those complex sect formations that require long-term practice and rely on specific magical artifacts to form, they are more flexible, faster, and more adaptable to the ever-changing battlefield environment!
In particular, Zhang Yuan's emphasis on "resonance" and "integrating the fragmented into a whole" directly addresses the key to overcoming the strong with the weak and confronting the high-level demon race!

"Brilliant!" Venerable Giant Strength slapped his thigh, making the stone platform vibrate, his eyes filled with excitement. "This is what real warfare looks like!"

"I've been fed up with that disorganized bunch for a long time! Zhang kid, where did you learn this trick? Xuanyu Temple doesn't have that kind of foundation!"

Zhang Yuan withdrew his hand, the array diagram dissipated, and he calmly said, "This was created by me during my time in the mortal army, after experiencing hundreds of battles and observing the killing energy of battle formations in the world, combined with my cultivation insights. It is called the 'Chaotic Battle Array Technique'."

He did not mention the Qin Dynasty, but the four words "ordinary military life" were enough to be shocking.

Ordinary military life?

How could he comprehend such a battle formation that can be applied to cultivator warfare?

The five venerable ones looked at each other, their hearts filled with a mixture of shock and joy.

They finally realized that the young man's true strength lay far beyond his personal martial prowess.

More importantly, he possesses a strategic vision that transcends the norms of this world, and unparalleled talent in organizing and training troops!

This is simply a colossal pillar sent by heaven to the Chenshahe war zone!

Venerable Rock took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, his eyes flashing with determination.

He suddenly pulled something out of his pocket.

It was a palm-sized token, neither gold nor jade.

The token is dark blue all over, with a halo of light flowing like water ripples on its surface, and an ancient character "镇" (zhen, meaning town) is engraved on the front.

The reverse side features ten miniature mountain peaks, surrounding the central emblem.

The outline of one of the mountains bears a striking resemblance to Xuanyu Cliff, where Xuanyu Temple is located!

“Zhang Yuan!” Venerable Panshi’s voice was solemn, filled with unwavering trust and entrustment. “This is the ‘Ten Directions Guardian Token’! The holder of this token can command the ten core guardian temples, including Xuanyu Temple, Panshi Temple, Liuyun Temple, and Chiyang Temple!”

"Possessing the authority to urgently mobilize personnel and supplies during wartime, and to coordinate defense deployments! Ranked equal to the Vice Lord!"

He solemnly handed the token to Zhang Yuan: "From this moment on, you are in full charge of training the 137 garrison posts and nearly 30,000 garrison commanders in the lower reaches of the Chensha River!"

"I order you to forge this force into a sharp sword capable of directly confronting the demon army and even threatening the Demon Lord in the shortest possible time! All necessary resources and manpower will be fully supported by the Joint Command! Anyone who dares to disobey this order will be executed without prior notification!"

Ten Directions Garrison Order!
The same rank as the Vice Lord!
Even with Zhang Yuan's iron will, he felt a heavy sense of responsibility and...opportunity at this moment!
With this order, his reorganization strategy will proceed smoothly!
These venerable ones truly possess extraordinary courage and charisma!
He accepted the token with both hands; it felt warm and heavy, as if it carried the hopes and blood of countless people.

A mysterious fluctuation emanated from the token, connecting with the aura of the Rock Venerable and also subtly communicating with the fortunes of the other nine guardian temples.

"Zhang Yuan, obey!"

This time, his voice had a more metallic quality.

The Heavenly Sword Venerable clapped his hands and laughed: "Good! Vice Venerable Zhang! My Heavenly Sword Sect's young men, you may train them!"

"If they die while training, it's their bad luck; if they succeed, they'll become a treasured sword for slaying demons!"

Venerable Lingyun, Venerable Juli, and another taciturn and ethereal Venerable Yunmiao also expressed their full support.

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

At the foot of Zhenyue Peak.

A vast plain, carved out by powerful magic, has now become a temporary training ground.

Nearly three thousand guardians from one hundred and thirty-seven guardian temples, with cultivation levels ranging from half-saint to saint, gathered here.

The crowd was bustling with a cacophony of voices and atmospheres, a mix of anticipation, doubt, arrogance, and the fervor of those who had witnessed Zhang Yuanwei's abilities.

Zhang Yuan held the Ten Directions Guardian Order and stood on the temporary high platform.

He changed into a dark blue battle robe in the style of Xuanyu Temple, but his aura was completely different from that of all the other garrison commanders. He was as imposing and majestic as an unparalleled commander-in-chief who commanded thousands of troops.

"quiet!"

The voice was not loud, but it contained the pressure of the chaotic god-demon body and the authority of the Ten Directions Guardian Order. It was like muffled thunder rolling across the entire scene, instantly suppressing all the noise.

Tens of thousands of eyes were focused on him.

"My name is Zhang Yuan. I have received the joint decree from the Venerable Ones and hereby assume the command of the Ten Directions Guardian. From this day forward, I shall command you all to prepare for war!"

Zhang Yuan's voice carried clearly to every corner.

"The demon race is powerful and cannot be defeated by scattered soldiers! If we want to survive, wipe away our shame, and protect our human territory, we must unite as one and fight together!"

He swept his gaze across the entire arena, his eyes sharp as knives, as if he could see through everyone's thoughts: "I know that some of you are arrogant because of your cultivation, some are proficient in secret techniques, and some come from prestigious families, and you look down on this seemingly simple 'military formation'!" "But I want to tell you, in the true crucible of war, individual bravery is like a candle in the wind! Only by uniting our strength into a single rope, turning our scattered forces into a cohesive whole, and drawing upon the power of heaven and earth, can we shake mountains and annihilate the Demon Lord!"

"The training ahead will be very tough, it will overturn your previous understanding, and some of you may even get injured or die!"

Zhang Yuan's voice suddenly turned stern.

"But this is the only way to become a true warrior! Those who are afraid of death or crave comfort can quit now and go back to their temples to live a wretched life!"

"Those who remain must be prepared to give their lives to their comrades and shed their blood on the battlefield!"

"Now tell me, who wants to quit?!"

The whole place was dead silent.

Moments later, a roar like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami erupted:

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"I am willing to follow the Vice Lord and slay the evil spirits!"

"Fight to the death and never retreat!"

Zhang Yuan nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

The army's morale is good!

Training officially begins!
The first thing Zhang Yuan did was to completely disrupt the existing small group structures such as disciples, apprentices, and relatives.

Regardless of whether you come from Xuanyu Temple or Tianjian Temple, whether you are an elder or a disciple, at this moment you are all reorganized into eight basic formations based on your cultivation level and the characteristics of your techniques.

This method caused quite a stir. Many cultivators who were used to their original small circles found it very difficult to adapt, and some even secretly resisted it.

However, Zhang Yuan was ruthless and iron-fisted. With the Ten Directions Guardian Order in place and several of the Venerable's trusted confidants suppressing the unrest on the spot, all disturbances were quickly quelled.

Only by breaking down the old order can a new one be established!
Zhang Yuan did not rush to teach complex formations, but started with the most basic and core "chaotic resonance".

He stood on the high platform, using himself as a guide, and slowly released the boundless blood and energy and vast true essence of his chaotic god-demon body.

At the same time, he activated the thirteenth level of the "Guiding Qi to Profound Mystery" technique, "Returning All Qi to the Source," forcibly connecting his own "momentum" with the spiritual energy of the training ground and the sky.

"Concentrate! Calm your mind! Feel my presence! Feel the presence of your comrades beside you!"

Zhang Yuan's voice was like a resounding bell, striking deep into the souls of every cultivator.

"Abandon pointless rejection and distracting thoughts! Imagine your breath, like a gentle stream, flowing into the same great river!"

"The name of this river is 'Chaotic Torrent'! The power of the river is the resonance and sublimation of your power!"

He formed a hand seal, and the golden pearl of the Great Dao shone brightly in his sea of ​​consciousness.

The Thirteen Arts of Destiny were frantically deduced, transforming the author's understanding of "Chaotic Resonance" into countless subtle guiding intentions suitable for different individuals, which were precisely injected into the sea of ​​consciousness of thousands of cultivators below.

At the same time, he activated the Ten Directions Guardian Order.

The token emitted a bright blue light, transforming into a massive light curtain that enveloped the entire training ground.

On the light screen, the positions of the eight basic square arrays are clearly marked, and countless fine rays of light flow within the arrays, representing the "resonance channels" of the flow of energy.

Initially, progress was slow.

The cultivators were used to independent cultivation and were both unfamiliar with and instinctively resistant to the external resonance of their auras. The light in the formation was chaotic and weak.

Zhang Yuan remained calm and patiently guided the team repeatedly, while also having the temporary captains of each formation set an example and motivate those around them.

Whenever a formation shows a clearer resonance pattern, Zhang Yuan will activate his own Chaos True Essence, like a boulder thrown into a lake, instantly amplifying the resonance power!

The amplified power was fed back to the cultivators in the formation, allowing them to instantly experience a surge in power and a feeling of invigorated spirit!

Having tasted the benefits, the monks' enthusiasm was greatly aroused.

The tedious resonance training began to show significant results.

Above the eight formations, a faint but stable aura of energy gradually began to condense and circulate, like eight huge, slowly rotating energy vortexes.

The cultivators' auras began to resonate with each other, their true essence flowed in harmony, and their every move subtly conveyed a sense of collective power.

After the basic resonance was stabilized, Zhang Yuan began to teach the specific basic formations of the "Chaotic Battle Formation Technique".

Arrowhead, rock, flowing clouds, Yin and Yang, Three Powers, Four Symbols, Eight Trigrams.

Instead of personally guiding the process, he used his divine sense to directly imprint the key points of the formation, the changes in movement, and the profound mysteries of the flow of qi into the sea of ​​consciousness of all the cultivators in the eight formations!
It's as if a sophisticated battle formation program has been directly inputted into their combat instincts!
The training intensity suddenly increased!

Day and night, rain or shine. Under Zhang Yuan's almost demanding requirements and with the blessing of the Ten Directions Guardian Order, the cultivators were as if they had been thrown into a giant furnace.

Formation shifts, energy coordination, offensive and defensive cooperation... the slightest mistake will result in a backlash from the formation's power or Zhang Yuan's cold rebuke.

Countless people were trained to the point of exhaustion, depletion of their vital energy, and even vomiting blood.

But no one dared to back down!

Because everyone could clearly feel that as the training progressed, the energy vortexes surrounding the formation became more and more solid, and the pressure they emitted became more and more terrifying!
Quantitative change eventually led to qualitative change!
Beneath Zhenyue Peak lies a vast plain.

The eight battle formations, like eight ancient beasts lurking on the earth, stood silently in their positions.

After a hundred days of brutal tempering, the difference between the Jade and the Rock has long since vanished.

The three thousand garrison commanders, their qi and energy intertwined, became one.

Three thousand powerful streams of qi and blood, condensed into a tangible dark red plume of smoke, pierced straight into the gloomy sky, stirring up the wind and clouds, forming a majestic force field that made one's heart tremble.

An atmosphere of chilling desolation permeated the surrounding area, even causing the howling winds to freeze.

On the platform, Zhang Yuan stood proudly.

His entire body was covered in dark heavy armor, and his ferocious mask concealed his true face, with only a pair of deep, abyss-like eyes revealing a cold, sharp edge.

His dark battle robes fluttered in the powerful aura, and the Ten Directions Guardian Token he held tightly in his hand shimmered with azure light, echoing the aura of the eight battle formations below, as if he held the lifeline of the entire army in his grasp.

His voice wasn't loud, but it rang out like the clang of metal, clearly penetrating the entire plain:
"Wedge Formation—Arise!"

"Roar--!!!"

A thousand body cultivators who mainly practiced the "Heavenly Gang Refining Body Method" roared in unison, their sound waves shattering the floating clouds!
With a deafening roar, a thousand dark golden pillars of blood energy shot into the sky, instantly merging and collapsing!
The formation resembled a peerless arrow, poised to tear through the sky, its sharpness fully revealed.

At the head of the formation, the auras of a hundred Saint Realm cultivators completely merged into one, and their vast power converged wildly.

A colossal phantom of a chaotic god, hundreds of feet tall, suddenly coalesced amidst the flames! (End of Chapter)