Daqin Zhentiansi

"Wow—"

After a brief silence, an even more heated discussion erupted.

"My God! Even Tian Hu lost?!"

"This recruit... no, Brother Zhang Yuan, is too fierce!"

"Did you see that? When he pulled out the stake, the ground beneath his feet cracked! How much force must that have taken?"

"The general was right! This physique is simply made for the 'Mountain Moving and Mountain Shaking Technique'!"

"I'm convinced! I'm truly convinced!"

Those soldiers who were initially just watching the spectacle, even with a hint of disdain, now looked at Zhang Yuan with obvious awe.

Zhang Yuan won Yue Jun's initial approval with pure strength and solid foundation in martial arts, using the most impressive method.

Zhang Yuan returned the greeting to Tian Hu and the people around him with clasped hands, remaining neither humble nor arrogant.

"Brother Tian Hu, you are too kind."

Those who were impressed by him through their struggles and hardships began to look at him with awe.

However, not everyone was convinced.

Deep within the military camp, several pairs of eyes remained fixed on Zhang Yuan's figure.

Those were the true elite of the Hanyue Army, veterans of countless battles, and even capable generals under several commanders.

Zhang Yuan, a newcomer who "got in through connections," quickly rose to prominence, his physical strength increasing at an alarming rate within just a few days.

He made a name for himself in wrestling and carrying heavy loads, quickly winning the respect of some soldiers, but he was also like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

One of them was as muscular as an iron tower, with dark skin that gleamed like metal. His arms were covered with hideous scars, as if recording countless brutal battles.

He was none other than Xiong Kui, the "Iron Tower," a famous strength maniac in the Hanyue Army.

He stared at Zhang Yuan, who had just easily completed the extreme load without changing his expression, and let out a heavy snort, like a muffled thunderclap, his eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit.

It was a pure desire for the clash of powers, mixed with a hint of displeasure at the challenge to their territory.

"Hmph!" Xiong Kui's voice, like a drumbeat, echoed throughout a corner of the training ground, drowning out the low growls of the training. "Just a little stronger, huh? Newbie, dare to spar with me?"

"Let me see just how tough your 'mountain-moving and mountain-shaking' bones really are!"

Countless eyes focused on it instantly.

The air seemed to freeze, filled with the smell of gunpowder.

This is the rule in the military: the strong are respected, and those who avoid battle are often seen as cowards.

However, Zhang Yuan's expression remained as calm as a deep well.

He was not afraid.

Although Xiong Kui's strength was astonishing, it was like an ant trying to shake a tree in front of his divine and demonic body, which had been tempered in the Chaos Furnace and fused with the Armor of Ten Thousand Beasts.

However, he knew that when he and the three Venerables came to this illusionary world from millions of years ago, this "Qi Refiner" body was his best disguise.

What he needs to do is integrate into this world, not become an outsider.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed slightly in the direction of Xiong Kui. His movements were standard and steady, and his voice, though not loud, clearly reached everyone's ears: "Brother Xiong Kui is renowned for his prestige. Zhang Yuan has just entered the military camp and his foundation is still shallow."

"The general has ordered me to master the first level of the 'Mountain Moving and Mountain Shaking Technique' within three months, and I dare not slack off. Once I have made some progress in my skills, I will seek further instruction from my elder brother. I hope that my elder brother will not hesitate to teach me."

His tone was neither humble nor arrogant, giving Xiong Kui face while also using General Ba Yue's orders as a shield.

He further emphasized his status as a "newcomer" with "shallow foundations," adopting an extremely humble attitude.

Xiong Kui frowned, clearly dissatisfied with this rebuff, but since Zhang Yuan had brought up General Ba Yue and his explanation was reasonable, he couldn't force the issue. He could only let out a heavy snort: "Hmph! You're smart enough to know what's good for you!"

"I'll be waiting for you in three months! Don't make any excuses then!"

Having said that, he turned and strode away, a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes.

The atmosphere on the training ground eased slightly, but the gazes directed at Zhang Yuan became even more complex.

There was approval for his tact, disdain for his avoidance of battle, and anticipation for the potential clash three months later.

Ignoring these stares, Zhang Yuan calmly left the training ground and returned to the simple single tent assigned to him.

The curtains were drawn, shutting out the noise of the outside world.

Zhang Yuan sat cross-legged on the rough futon and slowly closed his eyes.

The outside world's disturbances receded like the tide, leaving only his long, deep breathing in the tent.

He did not immediately activate the "Mountain Moving and Mountain Shaking Technique," but instead focused his mind on the vast and boundless "universe" within his body.

With a thought, the dormant chaotic furnace within his body slowly awakened.

It did not burn violently like in later times, but rather was like a dormant ancient behemoth, containing the power to create the world.

Deep within the furnace, the chaotic star source power flowed slowly like a galaxy vortex.

This is a brand-new power formed by the fusion of the origin of chaos, the order of stars, the essence of demonic energy, the residual power of star crystals, and the newly refined star core essence.

It is more profound, refined, and all-encompassing than the power of chaos alone.

At this moment, it rippled slightly, yet it exuded a powerful pressure that subtly distorted the space itself.

Zhang Yuan felt this power; it was both the foundation and the shackles.

In this Tianyuan City, which existed millions of years ago, he had to keep it deeply hidden beneath the guise of a "Qi Refiner".

His thoughts swept over the furnace, turning towards the power of the "Mountain Moving and Mountain Shaking Technique," which had been stripped of the Heavenly Palace imprint and now contained only its pure, refined essence.

This force is domineering and fierce, drawing upon the earth's veins and tempering muscles and bones; it is truly exquisite.

The Chaos Furnace silently analyzes and reveals its core essence: the "fulcrum" that leverages the earth's magnetic field.

The "veins" that allow immense force to enter the body without causing harm are clearly visible.

He did not directly absorb this power to strengthen the furnace, but instead used it as a "mirror" to reflect himself.

Every inch of flesh and every bone in the god-demon body was trembling slightly.

This primordial physical form, originating from the beginning of creation, is the embodiment of power.

The earth's ley lines power activated by the "Mountain Moving and Mountain Shaking Technique" flowed like a stream into the ocean before the bodies of gods and demons.

Zhang Yuan comprehended the essential difference between the two: the Shaking Mountain Technique was about "borrowing" and refining power, while the Divine Demon Body itself was the source of "power" and the manifestation of the Chaos Dao.

The essence of the Shaking Mountain Technique was instinctively absorbed and assimilated by the Divine Demon Body, becoming one of the nutrients that nourished its growth, adding an earth-like weight and stability to its already incomparably tough body.

The profound secrets of the Dragon Elephant Suppressing Prison Technique, which he had practiced in his early years, also quietly emerged at this moment.

This martial art, which is also known for its strength, has a concept of "dragon and elephant strength" and "suppressing hell" that subtly echoes the meaning of "moving mountains" and "shaking mountains" in the "Mountain Moving and Mountain Shaking Technique".

Its body is based on gods and demons, its bones are the dragon and elephant that suppress the prison, and its sinews are the power to shake mountains.

The three elements within him were not simply superimposed, but rather, under the control of the Chaos Furnace, they began a deeper fusion.

The grandeur of the dragon and the imposing weight of the mountain are gradually merging into the primordial, chaotic essence of "power" within the divine and demonic body, becoming inseparable. Deep within consciousness, an unyielding, iron-blooded, and ruthless will shines ever brightly.

That was the beginning of his martial arts journey, the mark of the Qin Dynasty.

The belief of "dedicating oneself to the country and never retreating even at the cost of death" has long been ingrained in my bones.

At this moment, in the Hanyue military camp filled with the aura of iron and blood, this imprint seems to be activated.

The bugle calls of the barracks, the shouts of the soldiers, the clanging of metal... these sounds acted as a catalyst, making the essence of "military battle" and "unyielding spirit" in his martial arts will even clearer.

It is no longer just about individual bravery, but a force connected with protection, belief, and the collective will.

This will is quietly merging into his newly formed chaotic star power, imbuing it with a layer of iron-blooded sharpness.

Zhang Yuan slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his breath long and deep like a dragon's.

Inside the tent, the air seemed to grow heavier.

On the surface, he is Zhang Yuan, a new recruit in the Mountain-Moving Army, who is practicing the "Mountain-Moving Technique" and whose physical strength is growing "astonishingly".

In reality, he was using this technique as a guide to organize and integrate the vast power system he already possessed.

The Chaos God-Demon Body, the Dragon-Elephant Prison Suppression Technique, and the Great Qin Martial Arts Will, with the Chaos Furnace as the core, are forged into an even higher level of Chaos Star Source Power.

Every breath, every moment of sorting out and understanding the power within the body, is another step in solidifying one's foundation.

The Chaos Star Source Power circulated within his body. Although the total amount did not increase significantly due to suppression, its purity, control, and understanding of the various Great Daos such as chaos, stars, power, and will were all quietly deepening.

The cracks in the Myriad Beasts Divine Armor had long since healed, and now, nurtured by the Chaos Star Source Power, the divine light within it grew even more profound.

This body is undergoing a transformation from the inside out, evolving into a more perfect divine and demonic body capable of bearing the Great Dao of Chaos.

Outside the tents, the hustle and bustle of the military camp continued.

Inside the camp, Zhang Yuan was like a silent volcano, deeply concealing his power and insights.

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

The main city of Xuntianzhou, the core council hall of the city lord's mansion.

The hall is built from a single piece of "Starry Sky Rock," and is tall, spacious, and solemn.

The star array on the dome cast a cool, clear light, illuminating the massive sand table in the center, revealing the mountains, rivers, and city defenses in minute detail.

The air was heavy and oppressive, filled with a chilling, ruthless atmosphere and an inescapable sense of unease.

On the seats on both sides, the commanders of the various armies of Xuntianzhou were gathered, all of them powerful warriors who had experienced countless battles and whose murderous aura was restrained.

At this moment, everyone's face was ashen, and the atmosphere was as oppressive as an abyss before a storm.

Venerable Xuancang sat in the main seat, wearing the "Sky-Patrolling Starfall Armor" that shimmered with starlight, his face resolute as if carved by a knife and axe.

He was merely sitting there, yet his imposing presence made the entire hall seem shorter. Deep within his profound eyes lay an overwhelming sense of worry and profound weariness.

Chi Yang, Xing Heng, and Yun Ji were mixed in with the generals, their positions not conspicuous.

They were forcibly pulled into this fragment of time and space from millions of years ago by Senior Brother Xuancang's remnant soul, and their identities were thus integrated.

Chi Yang is Xuan Cang's hot-tempered junior brother, while Xing Heng and Yun Ji are old acquaintances from Xun Tian Continent.

At this moment, they are experiencing this humiliation etched in the dust of history in a way that is appropriate for the times.

Venerable Xuancang unfurled a jade edict radiating a cold golden light, his voice low and rumbling like thunder echoing through the hall.

"Heavenly Palace decree: All armies of the Sky Patrol Continent shall immediately select 30% of their elite troops and, within ten days, be escorted by the Golden Feather Guard to replenish the Heavenly Guard Army."

"Furthermore, the first-grade spirit mines within the continent, such as 'Star Marrow,' 'Sinking Gold,' and 'Fire Refined Copper,' will be sealed off immediately. Sixty percent of the output over the next hundred years will be uniformly allocated by the Heavenly Palace's 'Requisition and Allocation Department'..."

"boom!"

The contents of the imperial edict were like igniting a long-suppressed powder keg!
"Outrageous!" A general with a full beard and wearing heavy armor slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly.

The stone table cracked open with a spiderweb pattern.

His hair and beard bristled, and his roar shook the heavens.

"The demon cubs are eyeing us menacingly outside the Rift Valley, increasing their troops daily! Why withdraw 30% of our elite forces now?"

"Lord Xuancang, are you asking us to cut off our own arms and offer our necks to the demon cubs?!"

Another general, with a sharp and shrewd face, pointed at the glittering mineral veins on the sand table, his voice trembling: "Sixty percent! And it's still a hundred-year timeframe!"

"That's the lifeline for repairing the Star Torch, forging the Demon-Slaying Crossbow, and maintaining the city's protective array!"

"If we hand everything over, how will we defend the city?"

"Are we going to use our brothers' flesh and blood to fill that bottomless pit?!"

"The Heavenly Palace... what exactly does the Heavenly Palace intend to do?!" A white-haired old general pounded his chest and stamped his feet, filled with grief and indignation. "In the rear, there are celestial palaces and pavilions, with heavenly music playing, yet they want to squeeze the last drop of blood from our front lines!"

"Is this Xuntian Continent still the gateway to the primordial world?!"

Chi Yang sat in the crowd.

Listening to this heart-wrenching accusation, and seeing Senior Brother Xuancang's tightly furrowed brows and the unfathomable pain in his eyes, the despair of a million years ago and the overwhelming rage of future generations upon learning the truth intertwined and boiled in his chest!
The Venerable-level golden flames within his body, capable of burning the eight wastelands, were almost about to burst forth from his disguise, burning the decaying hall and the jade edict to ashes!
"Senior Brother Xuancang!" Chiyang could no longer bear it and suddenly stood up!

He did not intentionally exert any pressure.

But that revered aura, originating from the depths of his soul and honed through millions of years of battles, suddenly cracked open like a dormant volcano.

In an instant, the entire noisy hall seemed to be gripped by an invisible giant hand!

The hearts of the generals closest to him clenched, as if they were being stared at by a prehistoric beast; instinctive fear gripped them instantly.

His hand, which had been slamming on the table, froze in mid-air. His roar was stuck in his throat, leaving only a bewildered look in his eyes as he stared intently at this "Junior Brother Chiyang."

Chi Yang's voice boomed like thunder from the heavens, each word ringing out with a furious intensity that seemed to consume everything, causing even the stars in the sky to tremble.
"The Heavenly Palace's actions are tantamount to destroying its own Great Wall and digging its own grave!"

"They treat the lives of hundreds of millions of people and millions of soldiers in Xuntianzhou as worthless!"

"If we obey this chaotic order, we will be sitting and waiting to die, offering our necks for slaughter! Senior brother, we should argue based on reason, and even... disobey orders!!"

The word "disobeying orders" was earth-shattering!

The entire council chamber fell into a deathly silence; you could hear a pin drop.

All the generals, including those who had just been cursing, stared at Chi Yang in disbelief, as if frozen in place.

Disobeying orders?

A crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!

How could this junior brother, who is usually hot-tempered yet restrained, be like this today... making one's soul tremble?
Xingheng and Yunji's expressions changed slightly, and they became secretly on guard.

Watching their former comrades fall silent under the unintentional pressure of Chi Yang's aura, and knowing that this was only the tip of the iceberg of his true power, a huge sense of "dislocation" brought an indescribable, bittersweet "exhilaration".

Venerable Xuancang's gaze was like two tangible lightning bolts, instantly piercing the air and locking onto the Crimson Sun!
A heavy pressure, as if a star field were collapsing, suddenly descended, enveloping the entire area. It was more condensed and vast than the wisp of the Crimson Sun, and filled with an unquestionable iron will!

Those with weaker cultivation levels instantly broke out in a sweat, almost collapsing to their knees. (End of Chapter)