Daqin Zhentiansi

Zhang Yuan immediately used his divine sense to share the contents of the scroll with the three Venerables.

"Xuntianzhou stands guard over the eastern frontier to resist the demonic tide."

"However, the Heavenly Palace has decreed that of all resources obtained by the patrolling Heavenly Continent, 60% shall be handed over to the Heavenly Palace, 30% shall be retained, and 10% shall be given to the garrison."

"The garrison was dissatisfied and frequently complained."

"The Heavenly Palace showed no mercy, but instead used cruel methods to suppress them."

……

"Over the course of 130,000 years, the garrison of Xuntianzhou has accumulated deep resentment."

"Among the Celestial Race, there is a member of the Yunyi clan who secretly colluded with the Demon Realm, using the essence and blood of Chaos Gods and Demons as bait to induce the garrison to rebel."

"The Heavenly Palace noticed this and sent a large army to encircle and suppress them. The garrison of Xuntian Continent fought back fiercely, and the two sides fought fiercely for three months. The continent collapsed, the garrison was completely wiped out, and the Heavenly Palace also suffered heavy casualties."

"The truth has been obliterated, and the Heavenly Palace remains tight-lipped. The collapse of the Sky-Patrol Continent was not the work of the Demon Realm, but the fault of the Heavenly Palace!"

"The betrayal of the Celestial Race is not due to the evil of the race itself, but rather to the oppressive policies of the Celestial Palace!"

The scroll broke at this point, and the subsequent contents were lost to time.

"Absurd! Ridiculous!" Venerable Chiyang was like a powder keg that had been lit, with golden flames surging violently around him, turning the stone chamber a crimson red!
His hair and beard stood on end as he stared intently at the scroll, as if he wanted to burn it to ashes with his gaze. His roar shook the stone chamber, causing dust to fall.

"This is slander! Utter slander!"

"The Heavenly Palace rules over the primordial world and bestows blessings upon all living beings; how could it possibly implement such harsh and cruel policies!"

"It must be fabricated evidence by those traitors of the Yunyi clan to exonerate themselves from their crimes!"

Venerable Xingheng remained silent for a long time, his eyes swirling with starlight as he seemed to be analyzing the compatibility of the scroll's material, text, Daoist rhyme, and history. Finally, he spoke slowly, his voice heavy: "Senior Brother Chiyang, the ancient era was long, and neither of us experienced it firsthand."

"However, the 'Mysterious Jade Tablet' used in this scroll is a secret creation of the Heavenly Palace, and the 'Heavenly Law' Daoist rhyme remaining on it cannot be faked."

"The structure of the runes and the choice of words all conform to the regulations of the ancient celestial palace."

"Moreover," he paused, looking at Zhang Yuan, "the fact that the Yunyi Clan colluded with the Demon Realm to assassinate Commander Zhang using the essence and blood of Chaos Gods and Demons is living, breathing evidence that happened right before our eyes!"

"How similar it is to the deeds of his ancestors as described in this scroll!"

Venerable Yunji's face was ashen, and his mountain-like body seemed to grow heavier as he said in a deep voice, "If what is recorded in this scroll is true, then the Heavenly Palace..."

He didn't continue.

But the three venerable ones felt as if they had been struck by a heavy hammer.

The foundation of "justice" upon which the Heavenly Palace relies to maintain the order of the primordial world will be shaken!

This is far more impactful than the fall of ten Bone-Eating Demon Lords!

Zhang Yuan carefully put away the scroll, looked at the three Venerables with different expressions, and said calmly, "Venerables, I have no intention of using this scroll to overthrow the Heavenly Palace, nor do I intend to pursue matters from thousands of years ago at this moment."

"But the truth is like the stars; though covered by dust, its light will eventually shine through."

"The betrayal of the Yunyi Clan, the collapse of Xuntian Continent, and the sacrifices and injustices that were deliberately buried—all the spirits of the primordial world will one day know."

The Crimson Sun Venerable suddenly looked up, his burning gaze fixed on Zhang Yuan.

The raging flames around him subsided slightly, but he appeared even more dangerous: "What do you want to do, kid! You want to use this scroll as a bargaining chip to threaten the Heavenly Palace? In exchange for your Chaos Dao not being suppressed?"

Zhang Yuan met Chi Yang's gaze, which seemed to incinerate him, and shook his head firmly: "No. Your Excellency misunderstands. This scroll is not a weapon to me, but a key, a guide."

"I want to use it, combined with Senior Ao Gen's scroll, to find the core of the Star Torch, rebuild the Sky-Patrolling Teleportation Array, connect the shattered continents of the primordial world, link back to my homeland, and find a true path to survival for the billions of living beings struggling to survive in this world!"

"As for the truth," he said, his gaze sweeping over the broken jade platform that bore the weight of a heavy history, "it should be remembered and reflected upon, but it should not become a fuse for new hatred and division."

"It should serve as a warning to those who follow, not an excuse for slaughter."

The Crimson Sun Venerable stared intently at Zhang Yuan, his gaze seemingly trying to pierce through his soul and discern the truth or falsehood in every word he uttered.

The stone chamber fell into dead silence, with only the faint hum of the star torch remnants and the crackling of the golden flames burning on Chi Yang's body.

After a long while, the raging golden flames that had consumed everything in the eyes of Venerable Crimson Sun seemed to be forcibly suppressed by an invisible force, slowly subsiding and finally transforming into an extremely complex, chaotic, bewildered, and scrutinizing look deep in his eyes, carrying the aftermath of a great shock.

He opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but in the end he only uttered a sentence tinged with deep confusion and a hint of barely perceptible weariness:

"Boy, you, you are becoming more and more incomprehensible to me."

Zhang Yuan chuckled but did not speak.

He designed this journey of discovery precisely to change the impressions of the three venerable ones.

Whether it's the Celestial Race or the powerful figures in the Heavenly Palace, their impression of the human race is too biased and rigid.

This time, it seems, the mindset of these three powerful figures in the Heavenly Palace will change.

The four of them climbed the spiraling stairs inside the ruined tower, enduring the oppressive atmosphere of sorrow and the chaotic laws, and finally reached the top.

Suddenly, a breathtaking view opened up before me, but it was a scene that sent chills down my spine.

The top of the tower is a huge circular platform.

The platform appeared to have been cleaved flat by a giant axe, with its edges forming an endless abyss of void.

In the center of the platform, a colossal object composed of countless intricate silver-white metal components floats in the air.

Starlight Core!

It is like a cold and sacred metallic starflower blooming in the void.

Each "petal" is covered with intricate and complex star-like patterns.

The petals emitted a faint yet resilient starlight, attempting to dispel the surrounding darkness.

However, this sacred radiance is being tightly bound and eroded by a layer of viscous, filthy, and writhing gray-black demonic energy!

The demonic energy, like a maggot clinging to a bone, was deeply embedded in the crevices of the star torch's core, spreading along the star patterns and emitting a teeth-grinding "sizzling" sound.

The core surface was covered with spiderweb-like cracks, and several key metal components were missing, leaving glaring holes.

The light of the entire Star Torch Core was dimming at a visible speed, like a heart about to be swallowed by darkness.

“Deeply polluted by demonic energy!” Venerable Yunji’s face turned ashen.

With a low shout, the heavy magnetic force of the earth veins instinctively spread out, attempting to stabilize the platform.

But the invisible demonic energy's corrosive force field actually made his power feel sluggish. "The core structure has become symbiotic with the demonic energy; if I forcibly purify it, the Star Torch will be destroyed!"

Golden flames blazed wildly in the eyes of the Crimson Sun Venerable, and the Blazing Sun Armor emitted a deep hum: "What can we do? Are we just going to watch this ancient artifact be defiled and destroyed by that demon brat?!"

"Strip, repair, then purify!" Venerable Xingheng spoke at lightning speed, his eyes flashing with a galaxy of stars as he frantically deduced the future.

"We must first find the missing core component, complete the Star Torch structure, and restore some of its self-cleaning ability. Only then can we work together to strip away the demonic energy and preserve it!"

Zhang Yuan's gaze was fixed on the empty spaces in the core of the Star Torch, and the ancient scroll of Ao Gen in his mind trembled violently.

He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the depths of the scroll, resonating with the tragic and unyielding dragon soul imprint.

In an instant, a torrent of information surged into his mind.

The shape and location of the missing components, as well as their spatial coordinates scattered on several specific fragments of the Sky-Surveying Continent nearby, are crystal clear!
He suddenly opened his eyes and spoke rapidly: "The location of the components is known! But they are scattered in three directions, and the demonic energy is intensifying the erosion. Time is of the essence, we must split up and retrieve them at the same time!"

The Crimson Sun Venerable stepped forward, his scorching aura pushing aside the surrounding viscous air. His piercing gaze swept across the three coordinates: "Which direction has the densest demonic energy and the greatest resistance? I'll go there! The Blazing Sun Flame is the best weapon against filth!"

Venerable Xingheng pointed eastward.

"East! The spatial turbulence and lingering resentment at the coordinate point intertwine, forming a natural maze. It requires the power of the stars to guide us and dispel the illusion. I'll go!"

Venerable Yunji said in a deep voice, focusing on the west: "The west! The floating continent structure is the most fragile, on the verge of disintegration. It needs the power of the earth's magnetic veins to be forcibly anchored. I'll go!"

Zhang Yuan took a deep breath, suppressing the surging blood and qi within his body caused by forcibly communicating with the scroll, and pointed north: "North! There... is another protective mark left by Senior Ao Gen. There might be some changes. I'll go!"

"Good!" Venerable Chiyang shouted, without uttering any more words. He transformed into a golden rainbow of burning sun that tore through the void, carrying the momentum to burn the eight wastelands, and shot straight to the east!

Starlight flowed around Venerable Xingheng, and his figure merged into the void like ripples on water, disappearing without a trace.

Venerable Yunji stomped heavily on his foot, the platform roared, and he shot off like an arrow, carrying immense primordial magnetic force as he crashed into the darkness to the west.

Zhang Yuan dared not delay. He enveloped his entire body with chaotic primordial energy and, following the only silver spatial line pointing north as indicated by the scroll, shot into the vast sea of ​​fragments like a gray lightning bolt.

Countless remnants of the Sky-Piercing Continent swept past me at high speed, some as large as isolated islands and mountains, others as small as dust and gravel, all deathly silent and cold.

Zhang Yuan's divine sense was like the most sophisticated radar, scanning through countless fragments for the specific aura marked on the scroll.

The primordial chaos energy transformed into countless fine threads that reached out, searching for the faint metallic resonance of the stars in the void.

Finally, a relatively intact floating landmass, resembling an ancient altar, appeared in front of them.

At the center of the altar, a fist-sized, silver-white metal sphere with mysterious star patterns naturally engraved on its surface floats quietly above a circle of dim protective runes, radiating a pure and resilient starlight.

Star Core!

It is one of the most critical components missing from the Star Torch core!

However, around the altar, three figures, like vultures waiting for their prey, had been waiting for a long time.

The leader, with his tattered dark gold robe and withered, ghostly face, was none other than Yun Yixuan!
Behind him, two elders of the Yunyi clan had charred wings, exuded a sinister aura, and had mad flames burning in their eyes.

Their bodies were imbued with a rich aura of chaotic divine and demonic essence, intertwined with residual demonic energy, making them appear exceptionally sinister.

"Zhang Yuan!" Yun Yixuan's voice was like sandpaper scraping, filled with deep-seated hatred and twisted pleasure. "The flames of war at Chentieling didn't burn you to death, and the assassination attempt at Jielei Pass couldn't take your life either..."

"Your life is so stubborn it's annoying!"

"However, you have come after all, walking right into our trap to bring last glory to the Yunyi Clan!"

Zhang Yuan stopped a few dozen feet in front of the altar. His black robes fluttered in the air without wind. His face was still pale, but his eyes were sharp as knives, coldly piercing Yun Yixuan: "Colluding with the demons, assassinating your comrades, betraying the Primordial World, is this the 'glory' that your Yun Yi clan pursues?"

"It's just a final madness before falling into the abyss."

"Leave the star core behind, and perhaps we can at least preserve your body intact, so that your name as a traitor won't be completely infamous for eternity!"

"Hahaha! Betrayal? Infamy for eternity?" Yun Yixuan seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. His withered face was distorted by wild laughter, and his eyes blazed with red light. "The Heavenly Palace treats us like straw dogs, steals our resources, destroys our homes, and blames our clan for the collapse of Xuntian Continent!"

"They are the biggest traitors!"

"They are vermin of the primordial world!"

"Zhang Yuan, who do you think you're fighting for?"

"For that hypocritical Heavenly Palace? They'd love for you to die right now!"

"You and I are both pawns who are used and discarded!"

He suddenly spread his tattered wings, dark golden light covering them as if they were alive, exuding a savage and ferocious aura: "This star core contains the origin of an ancient star, it is our clan's last hope to reignite our bloodline and take revenge on the Heavenly Palace! How can I give it to you? Kill him!"

"Yes, patriarch!" The two elders of the Yunyi clan could no longer contain themselves. With a sharp cry, their broken wings flapped violently!
The dark golden power of heaven and man, mixed with the violent aura of the blood essence of chaotic gods and demons, transformed into two dark golden blades that tore through the void. With a piercing shriek, they crossed and attacked Zhang Yuan from the left and right!
Its speed and power far exceeded those of Shen Tieling's assassination attempt!

Clearly, in this lost land, they had no more scruples and fully unleashed the power of their blood essence!

Zhang Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted!

His left eye's chaotic star vortex reversed wildly, while his right eye's primordial divine fire roared up!
"Chaos Barrier!"

A highly refined, hazy gray light shield, composed of countless intricate chaotic runes, instantly condensed in front of him, its surface swirling as if capable of devouring everything.

boom!
boom!
Two dark gold blades slashed fiercely at the Chaos Barrier!

A deafening explosion rang out!

The violent energy shockwave exploded in a ring, instantly turning the rubble around the altar into dust!
The chaotic barrier trembled violently, its surface instantly covered with spiderweb-like cracks, and its light dimmed rapidly!

Zhang Yuan felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer. He let out a muffled groan, and pale golden divine blood once again spilled from the corner of his mouth.

His body was pushed backward by the enormous force, his feet carving two deep furrows in the hard altar floor!

"Hmph! You're at your last gasp, yet you dare to be so reckless? Break it!" An elder sneered, once again channeling his power. The dark gold blade shone brightly, attempting to completely shatter the light shield.

"Now!" Another elder flashed like a ghost, bypassing the front and launching a surprise attack from the flank. His withered claws, sharp as hooks, aimed straight for Zhang Yuan's heart! The claws were fierce and carried with foul demonic energy!
Besieged on all sides!

Dangerous!

A ruthless glint flashed in Zhang Yuan's eyes, and he stopped passively defending!

He abruptly removed the shattering Chaos Barrier, letting the raging dark gold blade energy brush past him, tearing a huge gash in his black robe to reveal the Myriad Beasts Divine Armor shimmering with a faint light inside.

At the same time, he twisted his body at an incredible angle, narrowly avoiding the deadly claws from the side!
"Chaos Furnace, the source of all paths, the prison!"

He formed profound hand seals, and frantically activated the already unstable Chaos Furnace within his body in a near-self-destructive manner! (End of Chapter)