Daqin Zhentiansi

Inside the Xuanyu Temple, Zhao Kun suddenly looked down at an elder with a goatee and shrewd eyes: "Elder Zhao, increase the 'gift' prepared for the Hundred Temples Garrison by 30%! No, increase it by 50%!"

"Send over those three 'Nine-Leaf Spirit-Nourishing Grasses' in the warehouse, along with that box of 'Star-Patterned Cold Iron'!"

"You must personally deliver this to Manager Liu of the Treasury! Make sure he puts a good word for our Xuan Yu Temple before the Venerable Ones' Joint Meeting, stating that with core members like Zhang Yuan and Qing Xuanzi all dead, the temple cannot be without a leader for even a day!"

"It's time that my position as the abbot was rightfully mine!"

"Yes! Abbot is wise!" Elder Zhao bowed hurriedly, a hint of heartache flashing in his eyes, but more so awe for Zhao Kun's ruthlessness.

"Furthermore," Zhao Kun's eyes flashed with a sharp glint as he lowered his voice, "contact the people 'over there.' Tell them that we are all ready, waiting only for the position of Abbot to be settled. The entire Xuanyu Temple will follow the Heavenly Palace's lead!"

"Please, they absolutely must... give it another push!"

The garrison commanders below exchanged glances, bowed, and remained silent.

In the primordial era, the human race was driven by the celestial beings.

But over the years, the human guardians have come one after another, and have developed a sense of belonging.

Unless absolutely necessary, no one will submit to the Celestial Race again.

At this moment, Zhao Kun's actions were somewhat despicable.

Xuanyu Temple was also disgraced.

Unfortunately, in the current situation, no one dares to oppose it.

Did you not see Qing Xuanzi and Zhang Yuan, who were opposing Zhao Kun? They had already been completely destroyed, body and soul.
……

High above, the fierce wind was as sharp as a knife.

The main hall of the Celestial Guard, suspended above an endless sea of ​​clouds, is constructed entirely of a cold, silvery-white material that is neither gold nor jade. Its lines are hard and simple, exuding an aura of superiority and disdain for the mortal world.

Inside the hall, however, the atmosphere was as still as the calm before a storm.

"Useless! A complete and utter bunch of useless trash!"

A roar containing thunderous fury suddenly exploded, causing the starlight tassels hanging from the palace ceiling to tremble.

The patrol commander "Yu Cheng" slammed his palm down on the Starfall Jade Table in front of him!

"boom!"

The jade table, which was as hard as refined gold, shattered into countless fragments that shot out and were then annihilated into dust by an invisible force as they approached the palace wall.

The governor of Yucheng wore a silver-white brocade robe embroidered with the trajectories of the sun, moon, and stars, and his face was so handsome that it was almost otherworldly.

But at this moment, those long, narrow silver eyes were burning with a fury powerful enough to incinerate the stars.

Before him stood Ling Hao, the Celestial Commander who had fought Zhang Yuan at the Shensha River, kneeling on one knee with his head bowed, the luster of his silver armor dimmed.

"A meticulously planned scheme, using the three tribes of Chensha River as bait, how much effort did it take to pinpoint the location of that young Kui Niu!"

"They were about to be drawn into the 'Nine Abyss Binding God Net'! And what happened?"

Yu Cheng's voice was icy cold, every word carrying a chilling edge.

"The world has been turned upside down by a mere human garrison commander!"

"Now that the main forces of the three races have perished in the sea of ​​fire, and the Kui Niu has fled into the chaotic mist in fright, leaving no trace! Tell me, Ling Hao, what use do I have for you?!"

Ling Hao's body trembled almost imperceptibly, and his voice was hoarse: "Commander, please calm down! It's not that we haven't done our best, it's just that that human Zhang Yuan... is too strange!"

"The battle formation techniques it controls are unprecedented. They can actually draw upon the true meaning of chaos, combine the power of thousands of Saint Realm experts, and unleash a power that threatens Venerable Realm experts!"

"In the battle of Lava Canyon, he was even able to use the power of the earth's fire to create a blazing inferno!"

"Even the projection of the Nine-Headed Nether Serpent Venerable was severely injured and forced back! If I were to act rashly, I fear I might expose the Heavenly Palace's presence and ruin our grand plan..."

"Zhang Yuan! It's Zhang Yuan again!" Yu Cheng's eyes flashed with a cold light, his killing intent almost tangible. "How dare this mere ant from the lower realm thwart my Heavenly Palace's important affairs time and time again!"

He paced back and forth, his silver-white brocade robe fluttering without wind, and the space around him subtly distorting.

"Nine-Headed Nether Serpent..." Yu Cheng's steps abruptly halted, a cold and cruel smile slowly curving his lips. "Very good. Since that old serpent suffered a great loss at Zhang Yuan's hands, he must be harboring resentment with nowhere to vent it. Issue the order!"

Ling Hao suddenly looked up.

Yu Cheng's voice, like a chilling wind from the depths of hell, echoed throughout the hall: "Use the 'Bewitching Divine Induction' at its maximum dose, and inject it into the Blackwater Serpent Ancestral Land of the Sunken Sand River, the Nine Abyss Cold Pool! Target—the Nine-Headed Nether Serpent himself!"

"I want this old monster, dormant for so many years, to go completely insane!"

"Let it unleash its boundless rage—the loss of offspring, the theft of its treasures, and the devastation of its own life—a hundredfold, a thousandfold, upon those ignorant human guardians of the temple!"

"Tell it that the 'Fire General' named Zhang Yuan is at the Baiguan Garrison!"

"If it has the guts, it should go there and grind that human ant, along with the hundred temples that protected it, into dust!"

A flicker of horror flashed in Ling Hao's eyes, which quickly transformed into a cold, unwavering resolve: "Yes, sir! I will carry it out immediately! I will make that nine-headed serpent the most frenzied fire to burn down the human realm!"

……

The Baiguan Town Guardian Mansion is located in the middle reaches of the Chensha River, atop a massive floating mountain range that was raised from the ground by great magical power.

The main body of the mountain range resembles a giant blue sword piercing the sky, and is named "Zhenyue Shenfeng" (Suppressing Mountain Divine Peak).

The summit has been flattened, and a magnificent palace complex, carved from a single piece of "Zhenhai Qingjin" (a type of agate), stands majestically, exuding an aura of suppressing the eight wastelands and enduring through the ages.

This is the true core and brain of the human forces in the Shensha River war zone.

Inside the main hall, the Hall of Decisive Decisions.

The cool, clear light projected by the star gems illuminated the enormous bronze cauldron in the center, whose light and shadow of the ever-changing sandy river region appeared solemn and mysterious.

Light and shadow flowed on the tripod.

The crimson demon stronghold and the blue garrison fortress are intertwined.

The lava canyon area has completely turned into a stable blue color, like a piece of jade embedded in a turbid stream.

The five Venerable Rock, Venerable Heavenly Sword, Venerable Spiritual Charm, Venerable Mighty Strength, and Venerable Cloud Mist sat upright on the futons, their auras as deep and profound as the sea.

Zhang Yuan sat slightly ahead of the Rock Venerable, his dark blue Taoist robe from the Xuan Yu Temple replacing his battlefield armor, which only accentuated his inner sharpness.

The crimson "Burning Heaven Token" hovered silently in front of him, radiating a domineering yet restrained pressure.

"...After the battle of Lava Gorge, the name of the Fire General shook the sands, and the arrogance of the demon race was severely damaged. They should be unable to organize a large-scale counterattack in the short term."

The Venerable Rock stroked his beard, his gaze sweeping over the large areas turning blue on the map of light and shadow, his steady voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction.

"This is a golden opportunity, the perfect time for our human race to prepare for war and consolidate our gains." Looking at Zhang Yuan, Venerable Pan Shi said softly, "Commander Zhang, you are in charge of the training of the Hundred Temples. What are your next strategies?"

All the venerable ones' gazes fell upon Zhang Yuan as if they were tangible objects.

Inside the hall, you could hear a pin drop. The only sound was the faint hum of the giant bronze cauldron as its light and shadow shifted.

Zhang Yuan's gaze fell on the light and shadow map, on the vast crimson area at the junction of the upper and middle reaches of the Chensha River.

"The Ancient Forest of Ten Thousand Miasmas".

Not only were there dense clusters of lights, but several enormous dark red skull markers also loomed there, radiating a chilling and malevolent aura.

"Esteemed Venerable Ones," Zhang Yuan began, his voice steady and powerful, yet carrying an invisible penetrating force that resonated clearly throughout the empty hall.

"Although the demon race suffered heavy losses, its foundation remains intact."

"The Ancient Forest of Ten Thousand Miasmas is one of the important lairs of the demon race in the upper reaches of the Sunken Sand River. It is rich in resources and is also the lair of several ferocious demon tribes such as the 'Iron-backed Demon Ape' and the 'Poisonous Heart Wood Demon'."

"If this place is not eliminated, it will become a major threat and will continue to provide support to the remaining enemies downstream."

He raised his hand, and a wisp of chaotic true essence flowed from his fingertip into the map of light and shadow, precisely pointing to the core area of ​​the "Ancient Forest of Ten Thousand Miasmas," where he drew a circle: "I propose that we establish a 'Ten Thousand Army Camp'!"

"A massive army camp?" Venerable Lingyun frowned slightly, her ethereal voice carrying a hint of doubt. "Commander Zhang, isn't this move a bit too... ostentatious?"

"According to the rules set by the Celestial Guardian Division, the Guardian Temple is not allowed to gather a large number of troops to prevent... 'threats to the order of the upper realm'."

Her words were brief and to the point, but the venerable ones present all understood their deeper meaning.

This is an invisible shackle used by the Heavenly Palace to suppress the power of the human race in the lower realm.

The Heavenly Sword Venerable's sharp gaze swept over Zhang Yuan: "Fellow Daoist Lingyun is quite right. Gathering tens of thousands of garrison commanders is too much of a commotion, and may attract the attention of the Celestials, causing unnecessary trouble."

"In the previous battle at Lava Canyon, we had already reached our limit by coordinating our tactics."

Although he admired Zhang Yuan, he remained cautious about matters that violated the taboos of the gods and men.

The Heavenly Palace is an unreachable existence.

The Celestial Venerable is the true supreme being in this primordial world.

The Venerable Giant Strength frowned and said in a deep voice, "Rules are rigid, but demonic threats are flexible! But that celestial being... is indeed troublesome!"

His tone was filled with resentment.

The atmosphere inside the hall became somewhat tense for a moment.

Although Venerable Panshi and Venerable Yunmiao did not speak, their eyes revealed the same concerns.

The Celestials are like a sword hanging over our heads; the "rules" they set are a heavy burden on the hearts of all the high-ranking members of the human race.

Zhang Yuan remained expressionless, as if he had already anticipated the Venerable One's reaction.

His expression was calm as he murmured softly, "Rules? Of course, we must 'obey' them. But we are not gathering a large army; rather, we are... 'hunting' them."

"A hunt?" Venerable Rock was slightly taken aback, a thoughtful expression appearing on his ancient face.

“Exactly.” Zhang Yuan’s fingertip swept across the map of light and shadow, pointing to several locations marked with icons of spirit mines and spirit herbs on the edge of the Ancient Forest of Ten Thousand Miasma. “The edge of the Ancient Forest of Ten Thousand Miasma is rich in ‘Yin Sha Xuan Iron Ore’ and ‘Bone-Eating Grass’, both of which are valuable and helpful to our human race in refining weapons and alchemy.”

"Recently, the Ironback Demon Ape and the Poison Heart Wood Spirit clans have been clashing over these mineral veins and medicinal fields, resulting in considerable casualties."

His words were clear, as if stating an obvious fact, yet they also concealed a sharp edge: "In order to maintain order in the Shensha River and protect the resources and interests of the human race, our Baiguan Garrison has organized a large-scale 'hunt' to clear these mineral veins and medicinal fields occupied by ferocious beasts."

“Selecting elite hunters to acquire resources, while simultaneously deterring the surrounding demon races… this is our duty, reasonable, and justified.”

Zhang Yuan's gaze swept over the venerable ones: "Under the guise of 'hunting,' the real purpose is 'training troops' and 'selecting elites.' Tens of thousands of garrison commanders have gathered on the outskirts of the Ancient Forest of Ten Thousand Miasma to practice battle formations, familiarize themselves with the environment, and select elite troops."

"When the time is right, with a single command, this 'hunting' net can be tightened instantly, transforming into a thunderous strike to 'annihilate' the core demon tribe of the Myriad Miasma Ancient Forest!"

"What can a celestial being say?"

"We're just... clearing out the wild animals in our own backyard, and maybe digging for some minerals and gathering some herbs along the way."

Under the guise of a hunt, they legitimately gathered a large army!

With a casual remark, Zhang Yuan found the perfect, "legitimate" justification for assembling the army, one that even the heavens and earth could not find fault with.

This approach not only served the interests of the human race but also silenced the celestial beings, demonstrating their foresight and political wisdom.

The hall fell silent, then several venerable ones' eyes flashed with a sharp light!
"Brilliant! Brilliant indeed!" Venerable Might slapped his thigh, his voice booming like a bell, causing the light and shadows to tremble slightly. "A hunt! What a brilliant hunt! Clearing out wild beasts and seizing resources is only right and proper! Damn it, how come I didn't think of that!"

The Heavenly Sword Venerable's sharp eyes were filled with admiration: "Use profit to drive them, use fame to cover it up, openly repair the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass! Commander Zhang, excellent methods! This plan is feasible!"

The doubts in Venerable Lingyun's eyes vanished, replaced by amazement: "In this way, we can avoid offending the celestial beings, while achieving the goals of training and assembling, acquiring resources, and ultimately encircling and annihilating the powerful enemy—a win-win situation!"

"Commander Zhang's thorough consideration is truly admirable."

The look in her eyes when she looked at Zhang Yuan was no longer just admiration, but also a kind of respect for a wise man of the same path.

The Venerable Rock stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his voice resounding throughout the palace: "Hahaha! Excellent! Very good! Commander Zhang's plan is exactly what I wanted!"

"The Ancient Forest of Ten Thousand Miasmas is filled with poisonous miasma, and the ferocious demon tribe has been entrenched there for many years. It is precisely the kind of thunderous measures needed to wipe it out in one fell swoop!"

"The Yin Sha Black Iron and the Bone-Corroding Grass are also things that our human race urgently needs! This matter is settled!"

"Hunt the edge of the Ancient Forest of Ten Thousand Miasmas, train the army, and seize the opportunity to strike at the heart of the enemy!" He looked at Zhang Yuan, "You are in charge of drafting the specific strategy! The Hundred Views Garrison will provide full support in terms of resources and manpower!"

"As you command!" Zhang Yuan nodded slightly, and the crimson light of the Burning Heaven Token flickered, as if echoing the upcoming great battle.

Just as everyone was immersed in the excitement of the grand hunting plan, the usually taciturn Venerable Yunmiao's ethereal gaze fell upon Zhang Yuan, as if piercing through time.

With a slight movement of his sleeve, a jade slip document, shimmering with the luster of jade yet carrying a faint air of gloom, appeared in his hand.

Venerable Yunmiao's voice echoed like a valley, carrying a strange meaning: "Commander Zhang, you come from Xuanyu Temple, don't you?"

Zhang Yuan turned his gaze to Venerable Yunmiao and calmly said, "Yes."

"Hmm." Venerable Yunmiao gently tossed the jade slip in his hand, and the jade slip seemed to be supported by an invisible force, slowly flying towards Zhang Yuan.

"This is an official document presented to the garrison headquarters by Zhao Kun, the acting abbot of Xuanyu Temple."

"It is said that Xuan Chengzi, the abbot of Xuanyu Temple, died in the Chensha River, and Qing Xuanzi and Zhang Yuan, along with other core members, perished in the battle of the Lava Canyon."

"Xuanyu Temple cannot be without a leader for even a day. As the acting abbot, he earnestly requests the garrison headquarters to formally appoint him as the new abbot of Xuanyu Temple. What is your opinion on this matter?"

The document hovered in front of Zhang Yuan, its jade-like surface shimmering, and the characters "Zhao Kun" and the seal of "Acting Abbot" on it were particularly glaring.

The document exuded an aura that Zhao Kun possessed—an undisguised calculatingness and a hint of obsequious flattery towards the heavens and man.

The atmosphere inside the hall changed slightly in an instant.

He said I was dead?

Zhang Yuan chuckled. (End of Chapter)