Daqin Zhentiansi

There wasn't just one battle formation, but thirty-six!

The 36th Battalion was not independent; Zhang Yuan placed great emphasis on cooperation between battalions.

The Panshi Camp formed a defensive formation, withstanding the onslaught of the demonic tide.

The Thunder Arrows of the Rift Abyss Camp were fired with pinpoint accuracy.

The fiery torrent of the Starfire Camp swept past.

Scouts from the Youlong Camp quietly infiltrated the flanks and laid a trap.

The Wind Chariots' light cavalry were responsible for splitting and dividing the enemy, while the Tiger Legion's troops struck like heavy hammers at the enemy's weakest points...

The small-scale battle formation drills gradually revealed the true nature of the "Wuwei" (military defense force), making it resemble a sophisticated war machine and showcasing its ferocious beginnings.

With each successful coordination, the illusory martial spirits above the battle formation solidified a little more, with subtle connections between them.

This formation is no different from the military formation Zhang Yuan trained in Da Qin.

Lei Zhen was mesmerized by what he saw, and was even more awestruck when he participated in it himself.

He could clearly sense that this human army was undergoing a qualitative transformation.

A dormant, iron-blooded battle spirit originating from an ancient martial arts civilization is being quietly awakened in Zhang Yuan's hands and integrated into the prehistoric battle formation system.

The ten-day training session passed in the blink of an eye.

A streak of azure lightning pierced through the air from the direction of Thunderfall Abyss, hovering in front of Zhang Yuan and transforming into a thunderbolt to transmit a message.

Zhang Yuan swept his divine sense across the area, and a faint smile flickered across his usually impassive face.

"In the Thunderfall Abyss, Thunder Prison Venerable wielded the divine bow 'Skybreaker,' piercing through three Silver Radiance Guard commanders with a single arrow!"

"Silver armor shattered, souls and spirits perished! The Patrol Guard army retreated a hundred miles! The Jade City Governor was furious and was about to summon the army again to conquer Thunderfall Abyss!"

The news was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating huge waves in the camp!

The entire camp fell into an eerie silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Immediately afterwards, all sorts of sounds exploded like boiling water bubbles!

"Roar! Father's divine might!"

Young Kui Niu Lei Zhen was so excited that his face turned red.

He couldn't help but pound his chest and roar, the "Abyss Rift Bow" on his back hummed, and azure lightning danced uncontrollably around him, causing the surrounding space to ripple.

He was the only one who knew the inside story and was ecstatic about it.

Within the camp, there was more surprise, doubt, and noisy discussion.

"Venerable Lei Yu? He actually possesses such a divine weapon?!"

"Killed three Celestial Commanders with a single arrow?! This... how is this possible?"

"Hiss... The mythical beast Kui Niu is terrifying! No wonder the Patrol Division suffered a setback!"

"Hmph, divine might? I think they've stirred up a hornet's nest! No matter how powerful that bow is, can the Kui Niu clan withstand the endless army of the Heavenly Palace? Even the Jade City Governor is furious!"

"Exactly! The Patrol Division has suffered such a huge loss, how could they let it go? In the end, won't they blame us? Commander Zhang and that Kui Niu..."

"Shh! Quiet! Do you want to die?" Someone nearby hurriedly stopped them, but their tone was also full of worry. "This matter... is eerie. Commander Zhang has only been at Thunderfall Abyss for a short time, and this has already happened..."

"Hehe, who cares? Anyway, Thunderfall Abyss is far away from us. Let's just watch the show. It would be best if the Kui Niu and the Heavenly Palace fought like dogs and both suffered heavy losses!" Some people chuckled in a low voice, taking a schadenfreude stance.

"That's true, but the Patrol Division suffered a loss and will definitely seek revenge. Our 'Martial Guard'... is probably going to be thrust into the spotlight." A seasoned and prudent garrison commander sighed with worry.

The fact that Zhang Yuan collaborated with Lei Yu to forge weapons was a top secret, unknown to ordinary soldiers.

The sudden news and the enormous risks it contained made them instinctively uneasy.

Just as people were restless and discussions were in full swing—

A solemn and powerful aura, sharp as a drawn sword, suddenly descended upon the camp!
One of the Venerables of the Hundred Views Garrison, Venerable Heavenly Sword, arrived stepping through the air, his face solemn and frosty.

His gaze swept across the noisy camp below, his invisible pressure instantly silencing the commotion.

With a flick of his sleeve, a jade talisman, shimmering with cold starlight and bearing the unique mark of the Patrol Division, hovered before Zhang Yuan like a judgment token.

“Commander Zhang,” the Heavenly Sword Venerable’s voice was deep, each word like a heavy hammer striking everyone’s heart, filled with unyielding worry, “the Jade City Commander of the Patrol Guard has personally issued an order, commanding you to immediately lead the trained ‘Martial Guards’ to Luo Lei Abyss for ‘assistance in defense’.”

He emphasized the words "cooperative defense".

"In reality... it is likely a scheme to use one enemy to devour another, or to kill someone with another's knife. The Joint Command has already held onto this order for a while, but the pressure from the Heavenly Palace... may not be able to be delayed for long."

"Yu Cheng will not give up easily after suffering a setback in Thunderfall Abyss. His next target is..."

The Heavenly Sword Venerable's gaze swept across the entire camp, his unspoken meaning clear.

The loss of face and the humiliation suffered in Thunderfall Abyss will likely be sought back from Zhang Yuan's Martial Guard Camp.

Zhang Yuan's gaze swept over the command jade talisman floating in front of him, radiating a cold starlight. His eyes were indifferent, as if he were looking at a useless piece of waste paper.

"Delay? No need." Zhang Yuan's voice was resolute and resounded through the sky. "If Yu Cheng wants to transfer me, I, Zhang Yuan, will not play along!"

He abruptly raised his hand, pointing to the crimson, ancient forest of miasma on the sand table, his voice like thunder:
"Pass on my order—!"

"The hunt for the Ancient Forest of Ten Thousand Miasmas shall begin immediately!"

"Thirty-six battalions, according to the pre-arranged strategy—break into smaller units and disperse!"

Begin now and hunt down the ancient forest of miasma!

"promise--!"

The thirty-six commanding officers responded in unison, their roars shaking the heavens!
In an instant, the vast and orderly military camp, like solid ice thrown into boiling water, melted and dispersed!
The battle flags representing each battalion were quickly rolled up and put away.

Clad in camouflage nets and smeared with mud, the giant ape warriors, led by leaders like Yan Feng, moved like earth dragons turning over, silently disappearing into the dense forests and ravines of the nearby mountains. Their heavy footsteps were concealed by the deliberately orchestrated tremors of the great earthquake.

The Ironfeather Eagle warriors sheathed their feathers and, taking advantage of the low twilight and rising mist, scattered into the clouds in twos and threes like real wild birds, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

The human cultivators displayed their unique abilities, with earth-element cultivators using earth-遁术 (earth-遁术 is a type of magic that allows one's aura to merge with the earth).

Wood-elemental cultivators disappear into ancient trees, their vitality indistinguishable from that of the forest.

The water-based cultivators used streams and river networks to travel stealthily.

Even more skilled are those who can conceal their presence and disappear into the shadows like ghosts…

All large tents and permanent fortifications were dismantled, buried, or removed in an orderly manner within half a day.

All that remained was the compacted ground, the embers of the extinguished campfire, and... a desolate, lifeless emptiness.

In just half a day, the once bustling and murderous "Wuwei" camp became completely empty.

The mountain wind howled past, swirling up a few withered leaves, leaving only a lingering sense of desolation to prove that tens of thousands of troops had once been stationed here.

One day later.

Several streaks of silver light, imbued with rage, tore through the sky and crashed into the center of the now-empty camp!

The leader was a cold-blooded Celestial Commander from the Patrol Division, followed by Zhao Kun, whose face was ashen.

The Heavenly Human Commander's silver armor gleamed, and his wings of light trembled slightly with extreme rage.

He stared in disbelief at the desolate camp before him.

There was no army, no flags, no battle formations, and not even a trace of life!

Only dust and sand swirled in the wind, a desolate wasteland!
"Zhang—Yuan—!" A sharp roar, filled with boundless rage, shame, and disbelief, suddenly erupted from the Heavenly Human Commander's mouth. The sound wave was like a tangible shockwave, completely scattering the remaining embers of the campfire!
"How dare you... defy the Heavenly Palace's orders! Hide a large army!"

"Where are they?! Tens of thousands of troops, get out here—!"

His violent divine sense swept across the surrounding mountains and forests like a hurricane, startling only a flock of birds, but finding no organized force.

Zhao Kun was deathly pale, his body trembling like a leaf. He knew that the wrath of the Governor of Yucheng would soon fall upon him next.

In the empty camp, only the roar of the Celestial Commander echoed lonely among the mountains, sounding particularly jarring and... a display of impotent rage.

The confiscated jade talisman, which had fallen from the sky at some unknown time, lay forlornly on the cold, muddy ground, its starlight dimmed, like a huge irony.

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

Ancient forests shrouded in miasma.

The perilous and desolate area upstream of the Chenbi River war zone.

It is also one of the most relied-upon lairs of the demon race in the Sunken Sand River.

This place is shrouded in colorful, highly toxic, and deadly miasma year-round, causing ordinary living beings to decay upon contact.

The ancient forest, spanning over 100,000 square miles, is home to countless demons.

The ancient trees here have intertwined roots and gnarled branches that resemble ghostly claws, blocking out the sunlight as if it were dusk.

Deep within the ancient forest, the earth's veins are rich in Yin energy, giving rise to the "Yin Sha Xuan Iron Mine," a precious material for forging weapons.

And other strange and magical plants such as "bone-corroding grass" that can be used in medicine and alchemy, as well as in the preparation of highly poisonous substances.

Its abundant resources and strategic importance make it like a poisonous thorn stuck deep in the throat of the Shensha River human defense line.

This is why the demons that inhabit this place are not only numerous, but also exceptionally ferocious.

The "Iron-Backed Demon Ape" possesses immense strength, climbs with incredible speed, and has a violent temperament.

The "Poisonous Heart Wood Spirit" is unpredictable and can control poisonous ancient vines, killing people invisibly.

Furthermore, powerful demon tribes such as the "Corroded Bone Poison Lizard" and the "Ghost-Faced Spider Mother" live and thrive in the core area of ​​the ancient forest.

They have operated here for countless years, deeply rooted, and their fearsome reputation resounds throughout Chensha River.

Even the high and mighty Celestial Race, unless absolutely necessary, would not easily venture into this dangerous land filled with poisonous miasma and teeming with demons, lest they lose their strength.

On the human side, there are thousands of guard posts year-round, forming a defensive line along the edge of the ancient forest.

Countless guardians are engaged in endless bloody battles with the demon race in this place.

The forest floor was littered with corpses, yet the core remained untouched, and a fragile balance could only be maintained.

……

Boiling Bone Cliff.

Several hyena-like "scabies-infested demon dogs" are patrolling along a path covered with poisonous vines at the foot of the Bone-Rotting Cliff.

They are a small group that attaches itself to the Ironback Demon Ape and is responsible for perimeter security.

"Boo! Hah! Hah!"

Several crossbow bolts, almost blending into the dim light of the forest, shot out without warning from the huge ferns!

The arrow gleamed with a chilling blue light, clearly indicating that it was coated with a potent poison.

The arrows were incredibly accurate, instantly piercing the relatively vulnerable necks and eye sockets of these demonic hounds.

They didn't even have time to scream before they convulsed and collapsed, their blood quickly staining the decaying leaves red.

Almost at the same time they fell to the ground, several figures, clad in camouflage nets that blended almost perfectly into their surroundings and with faces smeared with miasma-repelling mud, emerged from behind the ferns like ghosts.

Their movements were swift and silent. The two of them worked together, deftly dragging the corpse of the demon dog and quickly disappearing into the shadows of the cliff, as if they had never been there.

The entire process left behind only a few pools of filthy blood that were quickly absorbed by the humus layer, and a faint smell of blood that was instantly covered by the poisonous miasma in the air.

……

at the same time.

Near the Crackclaw Valley camp, where the Scabies Hounds are entrenched.

A group of about thirty "armed guards" quietly appeared at the entrance of the valley.

The aura emanating from them underwent a subtle change.

This is achieved by using "Illusionary Talismans" containing the true meaning of chaos to simulate the aura fluctuations of the scabies-infested demon dog clan.

The leading centurion, Ironclad, was a veteran who had fought a bloody battle in Lava Gorge.

He is currently one of the ten centurions in the Wind Battalion.

He strode forward, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, and made a few simple gestures.

Behind him, the group, like a silent venomous snake, took advantage of the natural cover of the poisonous miasma in the valley and the effect of the shapeshifting talisman to pass through several loose outposts on the outer perimeter with great ease.

In a short while, they had quietly infiltrated the camp, which was built against the mountainside and filled with makeshift shacks and piles of bones.

In the center of the camp, hundreds of mange-infested dogs of various shapes and sizes were either lying down or resting.

There were also some larger, more powerful elite demon dogs patrolling back and forth.

Just as they penetrated deep into the heart of the camp, less than ten feet from the nearest patrol of demonic hounds, a cold glint flashed in Tie Zhan's eyes!
"Do it!"

"Om-!"

The dozen or so "Stone Talismans" that had been held in his hands were activated instantly!
The earthen-yellow light surged, and the solid earthen wall rose up from the ground with a roar!

The earthen walls were not a single wall, but rather appeared instantly, like maze walls, on several main passageways inside the camp.

These walls precisely and forcefully divided the surging pack of demonic dogs into several sections!

"Woo-"

The sudden turn of events caused chaos throughout the camp, with deafening roars and barks.

"Release!" Tie Zhan shouted fiercely.

"Whoosh whoosh-!"

The archers of the Rift Abyss Camp, who had already occupied the high ground of the valley wall and removed their disguises, simultaneously emitted a deadly hum from their specially made armor-piercing crossbows!

The arrows, imbued with poison and explosive runes, rained down like a precise death storm, instantly covering the most densely packed area of ​​the demon hounds, which was divided by earthen walls and plunged into chaos!

As the rain of arrows fell, a shrill scream erupted, and blood splattered everywhere.

"Kill!" the order was given again.

The guards of the Dizang Camp and the Tiger Guard Camp, who had been waiting in ambush, rushed out.

Led by two giant ape warriors clad in dark, heavy iron armor and resembling miniature iron towers, the Martial Guards, like two red-hot daggers, suddenly burst forth from their disguises and plunged fiercely into the separated demon horde!
The giant ape warrior's "Mountain-Shaking Cudgel" swept across the air with a dull thud, smashing the demonic hounds blocking its path like ripped sacks, breaking their tendons and bones.

The human warriors followed closely behind, their swords flashing and their attacks combined with exquisite techniques, each slash and thrust highly effective and deadly.

They formed a small wedge formation, and with the giant apes powerfully clearing the way, they forcefully cut and tore apart the chaotic camp.

This was a crushing massacre! (End of Chapter)