Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 1146 War Rages Across Cities, Battles Erupt in the Northern Border

The second recipient of the message was the Canglangjiang General's Mansion.

After reading the message, the old general remained silent for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Then, he issued three orders.

All ferry crossings along the Canglang River were immediately closed.

All ships, dock and wait.

All twelve beacon towers along the river were lit and kept burning day and night.

The garrison camp immediately entered a state of combat readiness, and all leave was cancelled.

That night, twelve beacon towers along the Canglang River were simultaneously set ablaze.

The firelight illuminated half of the river surface.

The third to receive the message was the Qingtian Pass Garrison.

After reading the warrant, the garrison commander handed it to his deputy and said only one word: "Open."

The city gates burst open with a roar.

A squad of scouts in black armor galloped out, their hooves shattering the moonlight as they disappeared into the night.

After a million years, the twelve long-silent beacon towers finally lit up one after another on this night.

A long string of crimson flames ignited on the horizon, like a fire dragon winding its way along the mountain ridge, tearing a burning hole in the dark night sky.

Then there is the General Zhenbei's Mansion.

Then there was the encampment of the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun.

Then there are those ancient passes whose names have been forgotten.

Overnight, the northern border of Qingsong Realm was on full alert.

Zhang Yuan sat on the highest rock next to the camp, gazing at the northern night sky.

There, the purplish-black clouds were still slowly churning, like an eye that had not yet fully closed.

The image of that enormous hand, bound by chains, tearing through the sky was still vividly imprinted in his mind.

That's not something the Wolf King can summon.

Before it, the Wolf King was nothing more than an insect that could be crushed at will.

Zhang Yuan's gaze pierced through the clouds, as if he could see something even further away.

He remembered something.

Millions of years ago, outside Tianyuan City, he had seen a similar aura.

At that time, he stood on the city wall, watching those black wings press down, covering the sky, and watching the Yunyi clan's silver wings be dyed black inch by inch by demonic energy.

The people standing on the city wall at that time were Xuanqing, Yunxia, ​​and Xuanjue.

He remembered Xuanjue standing atop the city wall, directing dozens of reinforcements, and he remembered the golden light that stretched across the sky.

He remembered the deafening roar that echoed throughout the entire world when Tianyuan City fell.

Those people, those events, those memories of blood and fire have not faded with millions of years.

They were like branding irons, deeply imprinted on the depths of his soul.

He withdrew his gaze and glanced down at the Zhenyue Token in his hand.

The token gleamed with a dull luster under the moonlight.

The gray specks of light have quieted down; they no longer surge or collide.

But he could sense their presence.

It was heavy and warm, pulsating in his palm.

It's as if it's telling him that they're still here, that they've always been here.

He also glanced inward at his dantian.

The seed of the Dao in the Venerable Realm.

Like stars, or like the swirling sun.

That Dao Seed floated quietly in the core of the Chaos Furnace.

The surface of the Dao Seeds intertwined, weaving together the brilliant silver light of the Milky Way and the gray light of the chaotic mist.

Each beat was more steady and powerful than the last, like an ancient war drum resounding in the chest.

His current cultivation level is at the mid-stage of the Venerable realm.

But that's not entirely true.

In the battle against Kuiyan on the eighth floor of the Demon Suppression Tower, he forcibly fused the Star Qi and Chaos, and embarked on the path of half-step Hunyuan.

This is not the conventional path of spiritual practice.

The stars represent order and are the core of the Great Qin Heavenly Way.

Chaos represents disorder, which is the underlying nature of the primordial world.

The two forces were inherently incompatible, but his will served as a bridge between them.

His half-step Primordial Chaos power allowed him to unleash combat strength approaching that of a peak Venerable in a short period of time.

But the cost is also clear.

That was ultimately just a fragile balance.

Like a double-edged sword, it can backfire if one is not careful. In the fierce battles of Canglang Plain, this fragile balance has been repeatedly forged.

The conflict between the stars and the chaos is slowly transforming into a tacit understanding.

It wasn't a true fusion, but at least they were no longer two ferocious beasts tearing each other apart.

He raised his right hand, and a tiny wisp of power gathered at his fingertips.

Silver-gray.

It was neither pure star energy nor chaotic gray light.

That wisp of power lingered at my fingertips for three breaths before dissipating.

Three breaths, one more breath than three days ago.

This progress is so small as to be almost negligible.

But Zhang Yuan knew that on the path of Hunyuan, every breath was earned with one's life.

If he operates at full power, he can maintain this fused state for about half an incense stick's time.

Within half an incense stick's time, his combat power could approach that of a peak Venerable.

Even at a higher level.

While in the Demon Suppression Tower, Zhang Yuan had already gained some understanding of his own power.

He understood, however, that above the Venerable Ones lay an insurmountable chasm.

The methods used by the Celestial Venerable were beyond his current comprehension.

Moreover, his current power is not lasting, only about half an incense stick's time.

Beyond this time, the two forces will begin to backfire.

This has always been his weakness, and it's a key issue he must address as soon as possible.

Looking up, Zhang Yuan's eyes shone with a deep, unfathomable light.

During the great battle in Tianyuan City, he witnessed the power of the Supreme Realm firsthand.

That is the true power of Heaven, a power capable of rewriting the laws of nature.

The golden light that Emperor Jun Tianzun left him on the ninth floor of the Demon Suppression Tower, although only a part of the inheritance, was enough for him to touch the threshold of that level.

That golden light still hovers in the center of his sea of ​​consciousness, slowly rotating and radiating endless patterns of laws.

Each turn deepened his understanding.

If one can fully digest the legacy of Emperor Jun, if one can truly integrate the Star Gang and Chaos into one…

He glanced at the dark purple cloud in the northern sky.

The owner of that hand probably won't give him that much time.

This is probably why he was able to come to this world.

Millions of years later, the Great Dao of Xuntian Continent had changed, so he came.

"Heavenly Venerable..."

Zhang Yuan whispered.

Behind all this must be the Heavenly Venerable's scheme.

"Mr. Zhang."

A voice came from behind.

Zhang Yuan looked back and saw Yan He climb up the rock and sit down next to him.

After a long silence, Yan He spoke up: "That hand, have you seen it before?"

Zhang Yuan did not answer immediately.

After a while, he spoke in a low voice: "No."

"But I've seen similar ones."

"Millions of years ago, they nearly destroyed the entire human world."

Yan He remained silent for a long time.

"And this time?"

Zhang Yuan did not answer the question.

He simply held the Zhenyue Token, gazing at the slowly swirling purplish-black clouds in the northern night sky.

There was no fear in his eyes, only a deep calm.

He said softly, "The Yue Battalion held out for 173 days back then."

"We don't need to hold out for that long."

"Reinforcements are on their way."

Yan He nodded.

He didn't ask any further questions.

He simply sat side by side with Zhang Yuan, looking at the northern sky, quietly waiting for dawn.

The campfire behind them flickered in the night breeze. (End of Chapter)