Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 1049 What I Need Is Not a Loose Fleet

"The way of battle lies in the ability to control one's own arm and fingers, and to exert force from a single point."

Looking at the military formation that was gradually gathering an aura of iron-blooded killing intent, Zhang Yuan said in a steady voice, "No matter how brave an individual is, he is still just one person."

"The combined strength of 300,000 people can shake mountains and sever rivers."

"What I need is not scattered soldiers, but an indestructible giant hammer, an insurmountable wall!"

He pointed to the vanguard battalion practicing the "Spearhead Breaking Formation": "The essence lies in 'sharpness' and 'speed.' The magnetic force of the arrowhead troops must be extremely condensed. Once a point is broken, the subsequent power will flow like mercury."

"Your problem right now is that your attack isn't sharp enough, and the follow-up is too slow!"

He then pointed to the central army practicing the "Iron-Blooded Rock Formation": "The Rock Formation needs to be both 'stable' and 'tough'."

"You've only achieved 'stability,' like a dead rock. What about 'resilience'? How do you deflect the force when attacked? How do you bounce back?"

"How do we coordinate a small-scale counterattack? What's the rhythm of the formation's movement?"

The report hit the nail on the head, and the leaders at all levels were convinced and trained even more intensely.

Zhang Yuan also selected all the strongest soldiers in the army to form a separate "Formation Breaking Team," and personally taught them a simplified version of the "Chaotic Yuan Magnetic Shock Technique."

This technique is derived from his understanding of the power of chaos and the power of primordial magnetism. Although it is far less powerful than when he used it personally, when used by multiple people, it is specifically designed to break through various array barriers and demonic energy shields.

Time flies by in the process of forging and training.

On the evening of the third day, the first batch of recast Zhenyue armor plates and the core components of the Demon-Slaying Crossbow, produced using the "Earth-Mars Star Forging Mold Base", were completed.

The test results caused an uproar throughout the camp.

Its strength, toughness, and resistance to demonic energy completely surpass the previous standard equipment, directly reaching the threshold of the General's Personal Guard!

The craftsmen were moved to tears as they looked at the miracle they had helped create.

The soldiers stroked the cold armor plates, their eyes blazing with an unprecedented flame of hope.

Zhang Yuan, however, did not relax in the slightest.

He knew in his heart that equipment and battle formations were just the foundation.

The key to relieving the siege of Tianyuan lies in the Ice Heart Rejuvenation Pill and in finding the hidden traitor.

That night, Zhang Yuan secretly summoned Yue Qing and the three scout commanders.

The central command tent was fully activated, isolating the interior from the outside.

"General Yue," Zhang Yuan said, "the army should continue to train and hone its skills, preparing for a full-scale attack on Tianyuan in the near future. The bigger the commotion, the better."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Yue Qing clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Zhang Yuan turned to the three scout commanders and gave each of them a jade slip.

Inside were his deductions about the power struggles within the Heavenly Palace, based on clues from the cloud trails, identifying the most likely traitors and the possible locations where key items might be hidden.

Among them were a powerful steward from the Dan Ding Division and a special envoy dispatched by the Heavenly Palace to patrol the Heavenly Continent.

"Team A." Zhang Yuan handed the first token to a middle-aged man with a cold face and eagle-like eyes. "Infiltrate the vicinity of the Abyss Barrier and search for the whereabouts of Venerable Xuanjue."

"If you find it, give this jade slip to him, and he will understand."

He handed over the jade slip containing Ba Yue's last words and the truth about Tianyuan.

"Remember, act in secrecy and never reveal your relationship with the Hanyue Army. If things become unfeasible, prioritize your own safety and passing on the message."

The commander of Team A nodded emphatically: "This subordinate understands. We must see the person alive or dead... bring back the news."

"Team B." Zhang Yuan looked at the wiry, short-bearded man. "Our target is the Xuanming Cold Abyss. We must find the Pure Heart Lotus of the Demon Purification at all costs. This is the key to saving Venerable Qing Shuang. The Cold Abyss is dangerous, teeming with demons, but we must succeed."

He took out three talismans and a bottle of pills: "These three Concealing and Escape Talismans were given to you by Senior Xingheng. They can help you temporarily integrate into the extremely cold environment and avoid the perception of most of the Frost Abyss demons."

"This bottle of Blazing Sun Pill was refined by me using the power of Chaos Star Origin and the essence of Earth Fire. After taking it, it can resist extreme cold for a quarter of an hour, but after the medicinal effect wears off, it will severely damage one's vital energy. It should not be used unless it is a matter of life and death."

The commander of Team B took the items, his eyes showing no fear: "General, rest assured. No matter how cold the abyss may be, it can't be colder than the chill in the hearts of our brothers. I will definitely bring this lotus back."

“Team C.” Zhang Yuan finally looked at the seemingly ordinary man who could be easily lost in a crowd. “You’ve broken up into smaller groups and infiltrated the area around Tianyuan City, and even tried to sneak into the city.”

"Do three things: find out the outer defenses of the demon army, especially their weak points and command nodes; investigate the current situation inside the city, how long can it hold out? Is the Star Torch secure?"

"Where is Venerable Qing Shuang imprisoned? Where are the civilians and remnants of the army gathered?"

"Pay attention to any unusual movements, especially those who use Shadow Escape Talismans or manipulate Corrosive Spirit Powder."

He handed over the jade slip containing the aura fluctuations provided by Yunji: "Use this as evidence to investigate secretly. If you find conclusive evidence, do not alert the enemy; simply leave a record and send a message."

The commander of Team C silently accepted the jade slip and uttered only two words: "As you command."

"Go, all of you." Zhang Yuan stood up. "Remember, you are the eyes of the Hanyue Army, and the key to breaking the deadlock. Take care."

The three bowed and silently retreated into the darkness.

Only Zhang Yuan and Yue Qing remained inside the tent.

"General, then we..." Yue Qing asked tentatively.

“Let’s continue to put on this show.” Zhang Yuan walked to the tent and looked at the brightly lit and clanging forging camp outside. “Let everyone believe that the 300,000-strong Hanyue Army is working hard to forge an invincible iron army, which will soon crush Tianyuan in all its might.”

"The bigger the commotion, the more attention it will attract, and the safer their three teams will be. The pressure within Tianyuan City... will also be reduced slightly."

"But what if the demon army or those bastards from the Heavenly Palace are really fooled and mobilize a large force to attack?" Yue Qing worried.

Zhang Yuan turned around, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "That's exactly what I wanted. The camp is built against the mountain, in a treacherous location. I have already set up the Nine-Bend Magnetic Maze Array and the Earth Fire Chain Explosion Array on the outer perimeter."

"If they dare to come, let them taste what it truly means to 'shake the mountain'."

He patted Yue Qing on the shoulder: "Starting tomorrow, you will personally lead the team to take turns 'training' outside the camp every day. The scale will be huge, but the activities will only be within a hundred miles of the outer perimeter."

"Kill any small groups of demons or spies without mercy."

"When encountering a large enemy force, make brief contact and then retreat to the camp. What we are going to portray is a lone army that is eager for revenge but whose strength has not yet recovered and is hesitant."

Yue Qing suddenly realized: "This subordinate understands! It's a bluff, a feint!"

“Not bad.” Zhang Yuan looked out the window at the dark night sky, where he could still vaguely see the faint but persistent starlight and demonic energy tug-of-war coming from the direction of Tianyuan City. “The real deciding factor is not on the front lines.”

"And the lotus flower in the Cold Abyss, a message in the Abyss Barrier, a name in Tianyuan City."

Seven days later, Black Stone Forest.

The night was as dark as ink, and the cold wind was as sharp as a knife.

Black Stone Forest is a stone forest composed of pitch-black basalt, with complex terrain, located 300 li northeast of the Hanyue Army camp.

A pre-arranged rendezvous point.

Zhang Yuan was alone, hidden in the shadow of the tallest stone pillar.

The aura of the Myriad Beasts Divine Armor was completely contained, the Chaos Furnace slowly began to operate, and perception expanded to its limit.

The appointed midnight is approaching.

In the distance, a distorted shadow, almost blending into the night, staggered toward the direction of the Cold Abyss.

He's the leader of Team B!

His body was covered in a thick layer of white frost, his face was bluish-purple, his left arm was twisted unnaturally, and his breath was extremely weak.

But he was tightly clutching a jade box wrapped in layers of ice silk and talismans.

Zhang Yuan flashed and appeared in front of him. The Chaotic Star Source Power gently flowed into his body, dispelling the chill that had seeped into his bones.

"What about the rest?"

The commander of Team B, his lips trembling, handed over the jade box, tears welling in his eyes that instantly froze into ice beads.

"General... the lotus seeds have been retrieved..."

"Li Laosan fell into the ice cave while trying to lure away the Snow Soul Demons... Wang Laowu was caught by the bone-corroding cold wave and turned into an ice sculpture..." "So... I'm the only one left..."

Zhang Yuan took the cold jade box; it felt heavy in his hand, as if it carried three living lives.

He patted the commander heavily on the shoulder, his voice deep: "The blood of our brothers will not be shed in vain. You did a great job. Go back to camp and heal your wounds."

He placed a nourishing pill into the commander's mouth, wrapped it with star energy, and gently sent it towards the camp.

Almost simultaneously, a Star Source Resonance Seal at my waist began to heat up slightly.

It's Team C sending the message!

With a telepathic connection, the weary yet calm voice of the Team C leader rang out:

"General, the map of the demon army's deployment outside Tianyuan has been recorded in the jade slip and sent back to the main camp through the secret passage."

"The situation inside the city... is terrible. The light of the Star Torch has dimmed by nearly half, and Venerable Star Balance seems to be burning his own essence to maintain the Star Network."

"Several Venerables, including Chi Yang and Yun Ji, were entangled by several demon generals and demonized cultivators, and were unable to spare any attention."

"The Azure Frost Venerable is imprisoned in the center of the City Lord's Mansion ruins by the Yuan Magnetic Chains. The demonic energy is eroding him deeper and deeper, and the area within a ten-mile radius has become a dead zone."

"Civilians and remnants of the army are concentrated in the underground cavern of the Star Observatory and several sturdy bunkers, but food and clean water are running out, and the infiltration of demonic energy is intensifying, with large numbers of people being mutated or dying every day..."

"Where are the clues about the traitor?" Zhang Yuan asked in a deep voice.

“We have a lead. We traced the trace amounts of ‘Corrosive Spirit Powder’ and discovered that its final destination intersected with the supply line of the Heavenly Palace’s ‘Supervisor Envoy’s’ entourage.”

"Further investigation revealed that a clerk surnamed 'Mo' under the command of the warlord's special envoy has been frequently going to an abandoned mine in the western district alone at night recently, and his whereabouts are mysterious."

"Our people ventured closer and sensed faint fluctuations of the 'Shadow Escape Talisman' and... remnants of chaotic demonic energy similar to Yun Yixuan's within the cave. However, due to the heavy guard, we were unable to infiltrate and confirm."

A clerk surnamed Mo... a special envoy of the military governor...

A cold glint gathered in Zhang Yuan's eyes.

Sure enough. The culprit was among "our own people," and in a crucial position.

"Good job. Continue monitoring, don't get close, wait for my orders."

The moment the communication was cut off, the last Star Source Resonance Seal belonging to Team A suddenly fluctuated violently.

The transmitted thoughts were fragmented, filled with shock, anger, and urgency:

"General... the Abyss Barrier is sealed!"

"Venerable Xuanjue... is under house arrest in the 'Demon Suppression Tower'!"

"It's Xuanwu... People from Xuanwu have taken over the fortress with the Heavenly Venerable's warrant!"

"They say... that Venerable Xuanjue colluded with the Demon Realm, leading to the great defeat of Xuntian Continent, and is currently on trial! We... have been discovered! There's a pursuit—"

Communication abruptly stopped.

Zhang Yuan's heart sank.

The worst-case scenario has still occurred.

Xuanwu not only took preemptive action to purge Xuanjue's forces, but also turned the tables and pinned the blame for the fall of Xuntianzhou on Xuanjue.

As a result, with no hope of reinforcements, even General Ba Yue's dying wish to "see Senior Brother Xuan Jue" became an almost impossible task.

The wind in Black Stone Forest was even colder.

Holding the jade box containing the Demon-Purifying Lotus, Zhang Yuan cast his gaze towards the Abyss Barrier, then turned to the Heavenly City where demonic energy soared into the sky.

One of the medicinal materials has been obtained.

Clues to the traitor have emerged.

But the situation took a sharp turn for the worse.

Time is really running out.

He had to make a decision immediately—

Is it a risky daring infiltration of the fortress to attempt a rescue or contact with Xuanjue?

Should we first concentrate our efforts and use the Ice Heart Rejuvenation Pill as a breakthrough to eliminate the biggest internal threat, Venerable Qing Shuang?

Or perhaps... running two parallel lines, risking everything?

Zhang Yuan took a deep breath of the cold air. The chaotic star vortex in his left eye spun rapidly, while the Xuanhuang Divine Fire burned faintly in his right eye.

Millions of years of cause and effect, the lives of 300,000 soldiers, the perseverance of the three Venerable Ones, the entrustment of General Ba Yue, and the precarious future of the primordial world—

At this moment, the entire burden rests on his shoulders.

He turned around, his figure disappearing into the darkness, and sped off towards the Hanyue Army camp.

We must go back first. We need to gather information, allocate resources, and devise a plan that is almost insane, but absolutely must succeed.

The final countdown to Tianyuan City was already ticking in his mind.

Zhang Yuan's figure swept into the camp like a ghost.

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

Inside the central command tent, the lamplight was dim.

Yue Qing had been waiting for a long time, and when he saw Zhang Yuan return, he quickly got up.

"General Dai, any news from the third squad?"

Zhang Yuan sat down and placed the jade box on the table.

Inside is the Pure Heart Lotus, obtained at the cost of three lives.

"Team B succeeded, but was almost completely wiped out."

His voice was calm, yet it sounded like a massive boulder pressing down on him.

"Team C has found clues about the traitor. Team A... the last news before the annihilation of the entire army: the Abyss Barrier has fallen into the hands of Xuanwu, and Venerable Xuanjue has been placed under house arrest."

Yue Qing's expression changed drastically.

"Xuanwu? He actually dared to—"

“He not only dared, he actually did it.” Zhang Yuan interrupted him. “Now Xuan Jue is a sinner who ‘colluded with the Demon Realm and caused the fall of Xuntian Continent.’ We can’t wait for reinforcements from the Abyss Barrier.”

A deathly silence fell inside the tent.

Yue Qing clenched his fists so tightly that his joints cracked.

After a long pause, he said in a hoarse voice, "Then... what about Tianyuan City? What about the three Venerables?"

Zhang Yuan did not answer immediately.

He closed his eyes, his mind racing through all the clues.

Tianyuan City is under siege, the starlight is dim, and Venerable Qing Shuang is being corrupted by demonic energy and is in imminent danger.

Yunji and Chiyang were entangled and unable to break free.

There is a traitor in the city who possesses the Shadow Escape Talisman and the Corrosive Spirit Powder. He is of high status and works under the command of the warlord envoy.

The fortifications of Shenyuan have fallen, and reinforcements have been cut off.

The 300,000-strong Hanyue Army was the last organized resistance force in Xuntianzhou.

He only has one chance to make a move.

once.

"General Yue," Zhang Yuan opened his eyes, his gaze as calm as an abyss, "Do you know why the Demon Realm has been so slow to take Tianyuan City?"

Yue Qing was taken aback: "Ambush the enemy's reinforcements?" (End of Chapter)