Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 1027 Golden Rain in the Blood Millstone

The stars in Xingheng's eyes seemed to shift faster, and the illusory shadows of mountains around him seemed to sink slightly.

Zhang Yuan's words were almost a blatant indication that the Heavenly Palace might be colluding with the Demon Clan!

How did he find out?

Or is it merely a keen intuition and a test?

Xing Heng spoke slowly, his voice still calm, yet carrying a hint of profound meaning: "The Demon Realm is ruthless, as it has always been. The Rift Abyss offers bounties, and many are blinded by greed. As for the undercurrents..."

"The primordial world is vast and the human heart is complex. Even if there are waves, they will not be tolerated by the Way of Heaven."

"As long as Zhang Shuai stays true to himself and remains steadfast in the face of adversity, he will be able to build an unbreakable wall. The laws of the Heavenly Palace monitor all the heavens, and anyone who goes against the way of heaven or colludes with evil will be punished by heavenly lightning, no matter what position they hold, and will never be able to escape eternal damnation."

He neither acknowledged nor denied the "undercurrents," but emphasized the laws of the Heavenly Palace and encouraged Zhang Yuan to "stand firm amidst the current," which can be seen as a tacit signal of approval and support.

Yunji added, "Chen Tieling has become a thorn in the side of the Demon Realm. Commander Zhang, guarding this place is to guard a corner of the pristine land in the eastern frontier of the Primordial World, and also to guard the hope that connects the Nine Continents."

"This matter is of great importance, and I hope Commander Zhang will treat it with utmost care."

He elevated the strategic importance of Shen Tieling and highlighted the significance of the Xuntianzhou Plan, which was both a sign of his high regard for Zhang Yuan and an invisible pressure.

Zhang Yuan understood.

A glint of chaos and primordial light flashed in his eyes, and a resolute smile appeared on his face: "Defending the territory, connecting the homeland, and protecting the people are Zhang Yuan's duties, and also the will of the 300,000 soldiers and civilians of Shentieling!"

"Even if there are a thousand demons and ten thousand tribulations, my heart will not waver, and my will will not falter! I am grateful for the trouble caused by the two venerable ones." He made a firm promise, which also implied that he was not fighting alone.

With the united will of 300,000 soldiers and civilians, there is much that can be accomplished.

The first meeting ended with seemingly friendly pleasantries and the exchange of generous gifts.

But all three parties are aware that beneath the calm surface lies a turbulent undercurrent and a deeper level of competition.

Zhang Yuan did not directly press for details about the Heavenly Palace, but instead changed the subject, looking calmly at the two of them.

"Though the bone-corroding is destroyed, the demonic calamity has not ended. The real threat may be rooted in a more ancient cause and effect."

His words were profound, and he then took out a leather scroll from his bosom, which exuded an ancient and desolate aura, and slowly unfurled it in front of the two of them.

On the scroll, the trajectories of stars are obscure, the mountain ranges are strangely shaped, and the locations of many shattered landmasses are clearly marked. In the center, a dragon-shaped pattern coils around and guards a hidden coordinate.

This is the ancient leather scroll given to me by Ao Gen, which records the fragments of the lost Sky Continent and the hiding place of the surviving Celestial Race.

"This item was entrusted to me by Senior Ao Gen, the Azure Dragon of Cangwu, on his deathbed." Zhang Yuan lightly touched the dragon pattern on the scroll with his fingertips, and the dragon shape actually moved slightly, exuding a trace of pure innate Yi wood energy and a vast dragon might, causing Xing Heng and Yun Ji's eyes to narrow at the same time.

"It not only marks the traces of important fragments of the Sky-Piercing Continent, but may also be related to the truth of the collapse of the continent in the past, as well as... clues to the 'Star Origin Crystal'."

He deliberately omitted the specific accusations made by Ao Gen, such as "the Heavenly Palace Guardian removed the array eye" and "attacking from both inside and outside," and only presented the exploration itself as an ancient proposition full of unknowns and opportunities.

"The two Venerable Ones are very knowledgeable and should know what the ruins of Xuntian Continent mean. What is sealed there may be the key to understanding the root of this demonic calamity, and even to finding a new opportunity in the primordial world."

Zhang Yuan put away the scroll, his tone sincere and weighty.

"The defense line at Chentieling has been initially established, but for long-term planning, we must trace back to the source. I would like to invite the two venerable ones to explore this lost Tianzhou together when the time is right?"

"Combining the mysteries of the Hall of Ten Thousand Stars with the grandeur of the Hall of Guardian of the Mountains, it may be able to uncover the secrets buried by time and find a different way out for this world."

Xingheng and Yunji exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock and deep contemplation in each other's eyes.

Zhang Yuan is not only exceptionally skilled in combat and commanding troops, but he also holds the key to the secrets of the ancient times.

This invitation is far more than an ordinary collaboration; it is an exploration that touches upon the very essence of heaven and earth.

"The ruins of Xuntianzhou..." Xingheng spoke slowly, his star-patterned Daoist robe fluttering without wind. "This matter is of great importance, involving both ancient history and the present world. I need to report back to the palace for further consideration. But I have remembered the Fire Marshal's invitation."

Yunji stroked the sleeve of his mountain-patterned robe and said in a deep voice, "This matter certainly requires careful consideration. If the opportunity arises, I, Yunji, am willing to personally investigate and unravel the mysteries of ancient history."

The two did not make a promise on the spot, but their attitudes showed seriousness and interest.

They left with a deeper and more complex assessment of Zhang Yuan.

This young man is not only a sharp and insightful "game-changer," but may also be a key figure who holds ancient diagrams and can lead them to glimpse the lost truth of the primordial world.

After the two left, Lifeng Hall returned to silence.

Holding the jade slip containing the "Thousand Waves" power control annotations given to Zhang Yuan by Xing Heng, and the fragments of the Breath of Earth Core given to him by Yun Ji, Zhang Yuan felt as clear as a mirror in his mind.

These two generous gifts were not only a gift of skills and resources, but also a subtle signal and an attempt to win him over from certain factions within the Heavenly Palace.

He clearly saw that he and Shen Tieling were now at the center of a complex vortex.

He immediately handed the jade slip to Lei Zhen, who stood to the side with a burning gaze, eager for improvement.

Then, he walked to the core of the main castle and bent down to press the fragment of the Breath of Earth rock into the ground.

The fragments silently merged, and a warm, thick, earthy yellow halo spread out, causing a joyful tremor to emanate from the foundation of Chentieling, making it even more stable.

Zhang Yuan straightened up, his gaze passing over the towering walls and landing in the unfathomable darkness where demonic energy still surged.

The smoke of battle at Chentieling had not yet dissipated, but the bustling marketplace of Blood Mill had already been reignited.

"when--"

"when--"

"when--"

As soon as the meeting at Lifeng Hall ended, Zhang Yuan ordered someone to ring the bronze bell to signal the end of the work.

The bell tolled three times short and one time long, piercing through the lingering echoes of the battlefield that had not yet completely subsided, and spreading throughout the entire Chentieling Basin.

The quartermaster department was located on an open space to the east of the original weapon-refining area.

Six of the seventy-two "Immovable Rock" rune stone pillars were temporarily requisitioned to support a simple but sturdy long shed.

In front of the shed stands a black obsidian stele that is three zhang tall.

The newly revised "Detailed Rules for Redeeming Battle Merits at the Blood Mill" were engraved on the stone tablet in gold paint, the characters gleaming in the afternoon sunlight.

At the very top are eight large characters carved by Zhang Yuan with his fingers.

"Forged in blood and fire, merits will surely be rewarded."

The area in front of the stone tablet was already crowded with people.

No, it's not just people.

The Rock Armor warriors carried armor-piercing heavy arrow boxes still stained with demon blood.

The hill dwarf dragged his repaired heavy shield.

Yumin flapped his dusty wings and hovered in mid-air, looking around.

Several Shadow Cat Clan figures appeared and disappeared in the shadows of the crowd.

Everyone lined up in an orderly fashion.

Even the most irritable bull demon warrior could only pant heavily, staring at the small print on the stone tablet that read, "Those who disrupt order will have 30% of their monthly battle merits deducted," and obediently move forward.

"Next!" The chief clerk of the Military Merit Office was a thin, middle-aged scholar surnamed Zhou. He was originally a clerk in the Ministry of Revenue of the Great Qin Dynasty, and later joined the army. He was specially transferred here by Zhao Yu at this time.

Before him lay a long table made of rosewood, on which were neatly arranged different colored paper vouchers, jade slips, counting rods, and a "Demon Appraisal Cauldron" capable of verifying the grade of demonic materials.

"Name, Affiliation, and proof of merit presented."

Standing before the table was a young Qin soldier, whose armor still bore a stain of demonic blood that had not been wiped away.

He swallowed nervously, took out a cloth-wrapped object from his pocket, and carefully placed it on the table.

When the cloth was lifted, three crystal nuclei, each the size of a pigeon egg and gleaming with a faint blue luster, were revealed.

“Third Scout Squad, Wang Ergou.” The soldier’s voice trembled slightly. “These are… the cores of three Shadow Demon Captains. My squad ambushed them last night at the breach in the northeast corner of the barrier, using the Rift Crossbow in conjunction with the Shadow Binding Talisman.”

Zhou, the registrar, picked up a crystal core and placed it into the Demon-Detecting Cauldron.

The cauldron trembled slightly, and a pale blue halo appeared on its surface, within which a shadowy figure could be vaguely seen struggling.

The markings on the side of the tripod rise from "Bingxia" all the way up and finally stop at "Yizhong".

"Shadow Demon Captain Crystal Core, Class B, Rank 2".

Zhou, the registrar, spoke calmly as he swiftly wrote on the pale yellow leather document with his brush.

"According to Article 7 of Chapter 3 of the 'Detailed Rules': A single Class B Shadow Demon Crystal Core grants 50 basic battle merits. Three cores total 150 points. Furthermore—"

He looked up at the soldier: "Last night, when the barrier in the northeast corner was breached, your squad volunteered to ambush and stop the demon tide from infiltrating for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, thus buying the main force a crucial opportunity to adjust their defenses."

"According to Chapter 5 'Special Contribution Rewards' of the 'Detailed Rules,' an additional 30 points will be awarded. The total is 180 battle merits."

The soldier's eyes widened in surprise.

A low gasp came from the line behind him.

180 points!

According to the exchange list, one point of combat power can be exchanged for ten catties of high-grade spiritual grain, or a bottle of "Rejuvenation Powder", or three basic talismans.

180 points...

That was a resource he couldn't accumulate even after running errands in the black market for three years!

"What...what do you want to exchange?" asked Registrar Zhou.

Wang Ergou licked his chapped lips and almost roared, "Exchange for thirty catties of spirit grain! Ten bottles of Rejuvenating Powder! The rest... all exchange for 'Evil-Slaying Crossbow Arrows'! My squad is almost out of arrows for the Rift Abyss Crossbows!"

“Alright.” Clerk Zhou wrote with lightning speed, tearing off a pale yellow leather voucher and stamping it with a vermilion seal bearing the character “远” (Yuan).

He then took out a small bronze counting rod, engraved the words "One Hundred and Eighty" on it, and handed it to the soldier.

"With this voucher and counting rods, go to Warehouse A at the rear to collect your lodging. Next!"

Wang Ergou clutched the leather coupons and counting rods, his hands trembling.

When he turned and squeezed through the crowd, the expression on his face, a mixture of disbelief and ecstasy, ignited the atmosphere of the entire procession like a spark.

Behind the military merit office's main shed, in the makeshift "Madam's Governance Tent," Zhao Yu was sitting behind a wooden table piled high with account books.

She wasn't wearing fancy clothes, just a plain blue outfit, and her long hair was simply tied into a ponytail.

Besides the account books, there was also a specially made bronze abacus on the table.

The abacus beads are not round, but rhomboid crystals engraved with tiny runes, which emit subtle spiritual light fluctuations when moved.

The tent was quiet, with only the crisp sound of abacus beads clinking and the occasional hushed conversations between Zhao Yu and the stewards.

"How much of the 'Starfall Iron Ore' handed over by the Rock Armor Clan was counted today?" Zhao Yu asked without looking up.

The young female official standing by immediately flipped through the jade slip in her hand: "Reporting to the princess, as of noon, the total is 8,437 catties."

"Of these, 920 jin are of Grade A purity, 3,500 jin are Grade B, and the remainder are Grade C. Calculated according to yesterday's market price..."

“Not based on market price.” Zhao Yu interrupted her, lightly pointing to a page in an account book. “It will be calculated according to the ‘Internal Settlement Price of Strategic Cooperation Tribes’.”

The female official was taken aback and quickly recalculated. After a moment, her voice trembled slightly: "If... if we use the internal settlement price... Grade A can be exchanged for 15 battle merits per catty, Grade B for 8 points, and Grade C for 3 points. In total... it's about 53,700 battle merits."

"Hmm." Zhao Yu's expression was calm, as if it were just an ordinary number. "The Rock Armor Clan guarded the west wall last night, moved three thousand boxes of arrows, repaired seventeen damaged shield formations, and suffered six dead and twenty-three seriously wounded."

"According to the 'Detailed Rules' 'Reward for Assisting in Defense', an additional 15,000 points will be awarded."

"To round it up, this is 70,000 battle merits. Send the corresponding battle merit vouchers to the Rock Armor Clan camp before sunset today."

"Seventy thousand points..." The female official gasped. "This...this is enough for their entire clan to exchange for three months' worth of spirit grains, pills, and..."

“That’s exactly what we need.” Zhao Yu finally raised her head, her usually gentle eyes now sharp as knives. “The Rock Armor Clan has been trapped in Gray Rock Valley for three hundred years, and the old and young in the clan all look pale and sickly.”

"The blood they shed last night was worth it. Not only should it be given in full, but it should be given in a grand and impressive manner."

"Let all the bereaved families see that in Chentieling, the blood shed will not be in vain, and the merit will be well rewarded."

The female official bowed deeply and solemnly, saying, "Your subordinate understands."

Zhao Yu lowered his head and continued to manipulate the counting rods.

Her fingers flew swiftly, and as the crystal beads collided, a hazy halo of light appeared.

In my mind, countless numbers are intertwining, colliding, and recombining.

The estimated value of the demonic materials seized today, the battle losses and achievements reported by various races, the rate at which the stockpiled spirit grain pills are being consumed, the expected yield of the newly cultivated spirit fields, and the list of the next batch of supplies to be transported from the Great Qin Nine Continents via the starlight channel...

Most importantly, there is the balance between the total amount of war merit vouchers issued and the material reserves.

War merit certificates are not pieces of paper printed out of thin air.

Behind each pale yellow voucher lies real supplies from the Shen Tieling warehouse.

Spiritual grains, elixirs, talismans, weapons, armor...

This may even include guidance on cultivation techniques and secret arts that may be made available in the future.

Zhao Yu was well aware that the core of this system was "credit".

The foundation of trust is Zhang Yuan's name, the material allocation she personally oversaw, and the burning hope in the eyes of the soldiers of all ethnicities who are now lining up in front of the Military Merit Office.

"Mistress." The curtain was lifted, and a Shadow Cat Clan girl dressed in black entered silently, kneeling on one knee. "Elder Black Horn of the Bull Demon Clan is outside requesting an audience. He says... he wants to use the battle merit coupons he just exchanged today to advance the next season's 'Purifying Flame Exorcising Talisman'."

Zhao Yu raised an eyebrow: "Has the demonic energy in the mineral veins of their clan's territory intensified again?"

"Yes. Elder Blackhorn said that although the demonic tide receded last night, the demonic energy seeping from the depths of the mine is even stronger, and three miners have already shown signs of demonization."

“They urgently need a large number of exorcism talismans to stabilize the mine tunnels, otherwise... the largest black-veined fire copper mine will have to be abandoned in at most half a month.”

Zhao Yu remained silent for a moment. (End of Chapter)