Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 1029 The Crimson Sun Venerable, Lord of the Burning Sun Palace

Yun Yixuan's withered fingers trembled slightly as he stared intently at the two floating treasures.

The aura of the Chaos God and Demon essence blood caused a faint yet clear tremor and longing to rise from the depths of his bloodline, which had been dormant for hundreds of years.

The light of the Star Crystal further illuminated the mad obsession in his eyes called "revival".

The glory of the Yunyi Clan has long been crushed by time and powerful enemies.

They were excluded from the core of the primordial world, lacking resources and their lineage was dwindling.

Even their once-proud celestial wings have lost their former luster.

This essence and source crystal are the only lifeline, the only hope to rekindle the fire of bloodline and regain status!

The price was betraying the Primordial World and assassinating a rising star of the human race who had just killed the Demon Lord and was at the height of his power.

“Zhang Yuan… possesses the entire Chentieling Pass, with its beacon towers and golden net already in place, and divine beasts protecting his path…”

Yun Yixuan's voice was hoarse and dry, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fear.

"Beacon towers and golden nets?" The demon envoy let out a low, grating laugh, like the hooting of an owl.

"This is the net of Heaven's will, not Zhang Yuan's net alone!"

"Within the Heavenly Palace, there are many who wish him dead! This is a golden opportunity!"

"You only need to find a sliver of an opening to disrupt the balance of the chaotic power within him, and our army will arrive in an instant. With an attack from both inside and outside, even if he has three heads and six arms, he will surely be reduced to dust!"

His "gaze" swept over the tattered wings of Yun Yixuan and the other two, carrying undisguised contempt and disdain.

"After this is accomplished, the Demon Lord will bestow upon you a great reward, helping you to completely restore the origin of your wings and return to the pinnacle of celestial beings! Otherwise..."

He abruptly changed the subject, a chilling murderous intent spreading through him.

"Let the Yunyi Clan be utterly annihilated in this dust!"

Yun Yixuan's body trembled violently, and his tattered wings subconsciously opened slightly before slumping back into place.

The two elders behind him had only despair and desperate madness in their eyes.

The allure of revival and the threat of annihilation are like two red-hot irons, fiercely searing the edges of a heart that has long been worn smooth by reality.

Withered hands, trembling uncontrollably, slowly reached out towards the two floating treasures.

When his fingertips touched the chaotic energy surrounding the essence of the Chaos God and Demon, a violent and pure power instantly surged into his decaying body, causing him to let out a suppressed, almost groaning sigh.

"Yunyi Clan...receive the order!" The voice was hoarse, but it carried a resolute determination.

A crack seemed to appear on the demon envoy's black hole-like "face," resembling a sinister grin.

With a wave of his hand, his essence blood and source crystal transformed into two streams of light, which entered Yun Yixuan's body.

"Await instructions. The opportunity lies at Boundary Pass!"

The shadow cloak rippled, and along with the other two demon figures, vanished silently into the distorted shadows of the floating continent, as if blending into ink.

Only the chilling aftertaste lingered, refusing to dissipate from the shattered fragments of Xuntian Continent.

Yun Yixuan clenched his fists, feeling the two completely different yet equally powerful forces within his body clashing and merging. A dark golden line quietly crept onto his withered cheek.

He gazed in the direction of Chen Tieling, the scorch marks on his tattered wings standing out starkly in the dim phosphorescent light.

In his eyes, the last trace of hesitation was replaced by a completely ignited madness.

……

Jielu Pass.

Like the spine of a primordial beast, it stretches between the blood-red wasteland and the relatively peaceful heartland of the primordial wilderness.

The wall, built from the "Primordial Mountain-Suppressing Stones" blessed by countless generations of powerful beings, is over ten thousand feet high.

Its surface is covered with runes and flows with a thick, earthy yellow aura, which is completely different from the sharp edge of the beacon towers and golden nets of Chen Tieling, making it appear more solemn and mountain-like.

Inside the pass, massive teleportation arrays glowed intermittently, continuously transporting massive amounts of supplies, elite troops, and even powerful auras to the front lines of Chentieling.

This is the true lifeline of the Blood Mill, the hub of resources, and the fortress of the strong.

At this moment, inside the Zhenyue Hall, the core of the fortress, the atmosphere was as heavy as frozen lead.

The hall is spacious with a high dome that depicts a mysterious star map showing the veins of the primordial earth.

The Venerable Li Xing, Venerable Zi Chen, and others who were originally stationed at this pass and in charge of defense and material allocation were now standing solemnly on both sides of the main hall, heads bowed and silent, even deliberately holding back their breathing.

Their faces showed no trace of their usual power and authority, only deep reverence and caution.

Because at the head of the main hall, on the three jet-black thrones carved from the "Primordial Mountain-Suppressing Stone," sat three figures with profound auras and different attire.

These three are not the resident Venerables of Jielu Pass.

They were special envoys dispatched by the highest level of the Heavenly Palace due to the upheaval at Chentieling and the fall of the Bone-Eating Demon Lord. Each of them was in charge of the core palace of the Heavenly Palace, and their power and cultivation were far superior to those of the local governors, such as Li Xing.

Its overwhelming power seemed to freeze the entire space of the hall, even the flowing spiritual light of the earth veins became dim and slow.

Three figures, each with an aura as deep as the sea and dressed in different styles, sat high on the throne. Their invisible pressure made it difficult for the armored soldiers standing in the hall to breathe.

On the left is a man with fiery red hair, each strand standing on end like burning steel needles.

His face was resolute, as if carved by a knife and axe, and his bulging muscles made his dark golden "Burning Sun Armor" stand out sharply, as if it contained explosive power.

He was none other than the Crimson Sun Venerable, who was in charge of the Heavenly Palace's "Blazing Sun Hall." He was fierce and violent, hating evil as if it were his enemy, or rather, hating "heretics" as if they were his enemy.

At this moment, his eyes were like a furnace, radiating undisguised anger and scrutiny as he stared intently at the magically manifested battle scene of Chentieling hanging below.

In the interplay of light and shadow, the image of Zhang Yuan, clad in the Armor of Ten Thousand Beasts, battling against the projection of the abyss and ultimately turning the Bone-Eating Demon Lord into dust, is frozen in the final moment.

"Humph!"

A cold snort, like a muffled thunderclap, shook the stone pillars inside the hall, causing them to vibrate.

"Early stage of Venerable Realm? Slaying the Demon Lord? What immense power! What domineering Chaos Dao!"

The voice of Venerable Chiyang was like the clash of metal, carrying a scorching heat wave.

"Such power is domineering and unparalleled, seizing the creation of heaven and earth, and going against the great Dao! It is not the righteous path! This child is definitely not someone to be underestimated, but his path... is dangerous and unpredictable, and his sharpness is excessive!"

"If we allow it to grow too powerful, it will not be a blessing for the world, but rather a prelude to its downfall! We should restrain it as soon as possible and cut off its claws and teeth!" He slammed his hand on the armrest of the chair, and the armrest, which was carved from a single piece of "Yan Yang Jade Marrow", was instantly covered with spider web-like cracks.

A scorching heat filled the air, and the temperature inside the hall rose sharply.

On the right, Venerable Qinglin sat upright.

She wore an elegant turquoise robe with cloud patterns, her hair was styled in a high bun and adorned with a jade hairpin that looked as green as jade. Her face was gentle and beautiful, like a secluded orchid in a valley.

But deep within those seemingly gentle eyes lay a still, deep well, reflecting Zhang Yuan's figure in the light and shadow, as well as the undisguised hostility of the Crimson Sun Venerable.

She held a jade teacup in her hand, its contents shrouded in a misty haze, the tea fragrant and refreshing, yet unable to conceal the cool, aura emanating from her, like that of ancient, cold jade.

She was in charge of the Qingyuan Hall, and she was meticulous, shrewd, and good at weighing the pros and cons.

"Senior Brother Chiyang, please calm down." Venerable Qinglin's voice was clear and melodious, like spring water striking stone, instantly diluting some of the heat and killing intent in the hall. "Zhang Yuan is indeed an anomaly. His Chaos Furnace has forged all the Dao, and the Heavenly Dao of the Two Realms are intertwined and balanced. Such a foundation is rare in the Primordial World."

"Slaying the Bone-Eating Corruptor, severely damaging the Abyss Projection, greatly boosting the morale of our Primordial World, and quelling the ferocity of the Demon Realm."

"He gathered the remnants of all ethnic groups in Shentieling, promoted various industries, and established order. The 'war merit vouchers' circulated smoothly, and their strong credit demonstrated his governing talent. Suppressing such a person indiscriminately may lead to unforeseen changes."

She gently set down the teacup, her slender fingers lightly brushing the rim of the cup. A faint, almost imperceptible stream of light flashed from her wide sleeves and disappeared into a warm, smooth communication jade talisman.

The other end of the jade talisman was connected to Ling Xuzi, who was far away in the depths of the Myriad Stars Palace and whose thoughts were unfathomable.

She conveyed Chi Yang's attitude and her assessment of Zhang Yuan's "talent for governance" in a concise and clear manner.

Her words were not only addressed to Chi Yang, but also to Ling Xu Zi, and perhaps even to higher beings who might be paying attention to this place.

Before the situation became clear, she chose to wait and see, leaving herself channels to communicate with all parties.

"Oh? Does Junior Sister Qinglin mean that such lawless and arrogant people who disregard the rules of Heaven should be rewarded and indulged?"

Enraged, Venerable Crimson Sun laughed, his crimson flames rising around him, scorching and distorting the air.

"It's not about condoning it, but about assessing the situation," Venerable Qinglin said calmly. "His power is enough to slay the Demon Lord, and his influence has already gathered the hearts of all races. What would be the price of forcibly suppressing him?"

"If we arouse the will to die of the 300,000 soldiers and civilians under his command who survived the bloody battle, or even cause those divine beast incarnations to rebel, then an internal strife will probably break out in front of this boundary pass first."

The raging aura of the Crimson Sun Venerable paused slightly. The flames in his eyes still burned, but a hint of apprehension appeared.

The Venerable Xuanwu, who sat upright in the center, did not utter a single word from beginning to end.

He was clad in a pure black heavy armor that seemed to absorb all light; the armor was devoid of any patterns, exuding only an extreme darkness.

His face was shrouded in the shadow of his helmet, with only his eyes visible. His pupils were pure black, like two bottomless, icy pools, without the slightest ripple.

He is none other than Venerable Xuanwu, who is in charge of the "Xuanming Palace," and is in charge of the Heavenly Palace's punishments and secret guards. His whereabouts are mysterious, and his methods are ruthless, making people tremble with fear at the mere mention of his name.

He sat there like a solidified, all-consuming abyss, where even the scorching aura emanating from the Crimson Sun Venerable was silently annihilated when it approached within three feet of him.

He silently watched Zhang Yuan's figure in the light and shadow, watched the shattered abyss knuckles, and watched the Bone-Eating Demon Lord turn to ashes.

When the image freezes on Zhang Yuan holding the tattered demon flag, standing proudly atop Chen Tie Ridge, a tiny, fine black lightning bolt, thinner than a hair, seems to flash deep within his dark pupils.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the tip of his right index finger, which was hanging under the dark armor, trembled very slightly, almost imperceptibly.

A wisp of demonic energy, as black and pure as the deepest night, as fine as dust, instantly peeled away from his fingertips. As if it had a life of its own, it silently seeped into the ground paved with Primordial Mountain-Suppressing Stones beneath his feet and disappeared without a trace.

Seeing Xuanwu remain silent and Qinglin's attitude remain ambiguous, Venerable Chiyang's anger intensified, but he suppressed it and let out a cold snort that had no clear meaning.

He abruptly stood up, his dark gold armor clanging, and a scorching aura rippled through the hall: "Good! What a brilliant assessment of the situation! Since the Heavenly Venerable has decreed that the three of us 'sit in' at this pass to oversee the battle at Blood Millstone, then I will personally 'oversee' this Fire Commander!"

"Let's see if this General Zhang, who can slay the Demon Lord, truly deserves the title of 'pillar of strength'!"

His gaze, sharp as torches, swept over Qinglin and Xuanwu before finally settling outside the hall: "Issue the order! Gather my personal guards, the 'Burning Sun Guard,' and have them accompany me to Chentie Ridge! A feast for the troops, and a ceremony to be held!"

He emphasized the words "rewarding the troops and observing the ceremony" with great force. Although the soldiers standing in the hall did not understand the deeper meaning, they all felt a heavy pressure coming towards them, and cold sweat poured down their faces.

Venerable Qinglin frowned almost imperceptibly, picked up the teacup, and gently stirred the foam with the lid without stopping him.

The Venerable Xuanwu remained as unchanging as an ancient black iron statue, not even his eyelashes trembling.

……

Inside the "Lifeng Hall" of the main fortress of Chentieling.

The lights were bright, but they couldn't dispel the tension and fatigue that followed the initial respite from the great battle.

The air was filled with the bitterness of herbs, the metallic tang of cooled metal, and the lingering smell of gunpowder.

On the enormous sand table, the black markers representing the retreat of the demonic tide had been swept to the edge.

However, a new, crimson-gold dot representing the direction of Jielu Pass lit up at the edge of the sand table, next to which were two smaller, blurrier ink dots and blue dots.

Zhang Yuan sat in the main seat, his black robes revealing the immense power of his Chaos God-Demon Body, which was like a dormant volcano, restrained yet boundless.

His left eye was filled with the slowly rotating chaotic star vortex, while his right eye was filled with the calm burning of the Xuanhuang divine fire. His gaze fell on the three points of light on the sand table, and he remained silent.

Ying Wuji and the others all had solemn expressions.

"Urgent report from Jielu Pass." Zhao Yu's voice was clear and calm. "The highest level of the Heavenly Palace has sent three special envoys to oversee the battle."

"The Crimson Sun Venerable, the Lord of the Burning Sun Palace, is fierce and violent in nature. He is known for 'purging heretics,' and his 'Burning Sun Guards' are extremely powerful."

Ying Wuji, still clad in his black armor, radiated a chilling, platinum aura of killing intent. His voice was as cold and hard as iron: "Who cares who they are! We'll meet them head-on. If Chiyang dares to intimidate us, I'll use my coiled dragon spear to drink the Venerable's blood once more!"

He had just broken through and withstood the Demon Lord's attack head-on; his momentum was at its peak, and his brilliance was fully revealed.

Zhang Yuan raised his hand, suppressing the surging malevolent energy within the hall.

“Chiyang is an open weapon, his momentum is like fire, and his intentions are obvious. His arrival must be a test, or even a provocation. Such a person is easy to deal with.”

His gaze shifted to the two even more blurred dots of light on the sand table.

“Venerable Qinglin, the Palace Master of Qingyuan, is meticulous, shrewd, and adept at weighing pros and cons. Her attitude depends on the value and risks we present.”

He paused, his gaze finally settling on the ink dot that almost blended into the darkness, his brow furrowing slightly: "The one we need to be most wary of is this Venerable Xuanwu. He is in charge of the Xuanming Palace, and oversees the Heavenly Palace's punishments and secret guards. His whereabouts are elusive, and his methods are ruthless. His silence is as deep as an abyss, unfathomable."

"This person is quiet when he doesn't move, but when he does, it's with overwhelming force, and... he may not be upright or honorable."

"Lord of the Xuanming Palace?" The Vermilion Bird, in her avatar, slowly approached the sand table, her beautiful eyes fixed on the ink dot, the light of the Burning Dao True Flame flickering within them. (End of Chapter)