Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 1050 There's only one chance; we must be absolutely certain.

“Yes. They’re waiting for me.” Zhang Yuan stood up and walked to the sand table. “After the battle at Burial Dragon Pass, the Demon Realm’s higher-ups have already set their sights on us.”

"They are not in a hurry to break through the city. They want to use Tianyuan City as bait to lure me and the Hanyue Army out and annihilate them in an open area."

He pointed to the red areas marked around Tianyuan City on the sand table: "Look at these defenses. The front has the thickest defenses, and the flanks have a lot of room to maneuver. It seems like there are quite a few loopholes."

"But as soon as our army leaves the camp by a hundred miles, it will be surrounded on all sides."

Yue Qing stared at the sand table, cold sweat pouring down his back.

"Then wouldn't our army be unable to move?"

“Therefore, I cannot follow their pace.” Zhang Yuan picked up a chess piece representing the Hanyue Army and placed it in the main camp. “I choose not to move.”

"Don't move?"

“Don’t move.” Zhang Yuan pressed down on the chess piece. “But ‘not moving’ doesn’t mean waiting to die. I’m going to use this time to do three things.”

He held up three fingers.

"First, forge equipment and train battle formations to push the combat effectiveness of 300,000 men to their limit. Second, send out scouts to gather intelligence, find weaknesses, and identify traitors. Third—"

He pointed to a spot on the sand table with his fingertip, where it was marked "Black Stone Forest".

"Third, quietly assemble an elite force in the Black Stone Forest. The number should not be large, but it must be the strongest, fastest, and most fearless. I don't want a decisive battle outside the city, but a decapitation strike."

Yue Qing's pupils contracted slightly.

"Decapitation?"

“Yes.” Zhang Yuan withdrew his hand and stood with his hands behind his back. “Tianyuan City is besieged, and the main force of the demon army is no less than a million.”

"If the 300,000-strong Shan Yue Army were to engage in a head-on confrontation, they would undoubtedly be defeated."

“But if I can infiltrate the city, revive Venerable Qing Shuang, stabilize Xing Ju, and work together from the inside to create an opening—” he paused, “there might be a chance to turn the tide.”

"But General Dai just said that the Demon Realm is waiting for us to leave the camp..."

“Therefore, I need a ‘feint’.” Zhang Yuan turned around, his eyes blazing. “I need to make the Demon Realm believe that the main force of the Han Yue Army is still in the camp, preparing for battle at a frantic pace, and may launch a large-scale rescue of Tian Yuan at any time.”

"The more they believe this, the more they will 'besiege the city and attack the reinforcements,' the less likely they are to launch a direct attack on Tianyuan City, and the safer the city will be."

"Our true elite forces will be hidden in the Black Stone Forest, waiting for the most opportune moment to strike and decide the fate of the world."

Yue Qing took a deep breath and understood Zhang Yuan's plan.

This is dancing on the edge of a knife.

Use an empty camp to tie down a million-strong demon army, and send a lone force deep into the tiger's den.

"General, this plan... is too risky," Yue Qing said hoarsely. "If the demon army discovers our plan, they'll send a large force to attack the camp—"

"The outer perimeter of the main camp has been fortified with the Nine-Bend Magnetic Maze and the Earth Fire Chain Explosion Array," Zhang Yuan said calmly. "If the demon army attacks, it will be exactly what I want."

“Those two formations are enough to give them a hard time. Even if they break the formations, the 300,000 Hanyue Army will hold out against the terrain and it won’t be something they can take down in a short time.”

"But what if they don't attack the camp, but instead launch a direct assault on Tianyuan City?"

“That means they don’t intend to use me as bait.” A cold glint flashed in Zhang Yuan’s eyes. “Then I will gather my elite forces in the Black Stone Forest, flank the Demon Army’s command post from behind, strike at the snake’s vital spot, and capture the king first.”

Yue Qing opened his mouth, but finally nodded emphatically: "This subordinate obeys!"

"In addition, we must continue to follow up on the traitor's trail." Zhang Yuan took out a jade slip and handed it to Yue Qing. "This is intelligence sent back by Team C. There is a clerk named Mo under the command of the military governor's special envoy who often goes to the abandoned mine in the western district at night."

"I need you to send your most reliable people, through an inside contact in Team C, to find out all about this person, but without alerting him. I want him alive."

"clear."

……

In the days that followed, the Hanyue Army camp became busier than ever before.

The forging camp operates day and night.

Based on the "Earth, Fire, and Star Forging Mold Base", the craftsmen continuously optimized the process, and the production of armor plates, crossbow bolts, and halberd blades increased day by day.

The old craftsman Zong took the lead, sleeping only two hours a day, his eyes bloodshot, but he was full of energy.

For them, this new forging method was a once-in-a-lifetime miracle, and who would be willing to waste a single second?

On the training ground, the formation practice is in full swing.

Zhang Yuan personally oversaw the operation, appearing at the training ground every morning to lead the vanguard battalion in practicing the "Sharp Arrow Breaking Formation".

From formation changes to magnetic resonance, from offensive and defensive coordination to adaptive cooperation, every detail has been repeatedly refined.

He summoned each of the commanders to his side and explained the essence of the battle formations in detail.

"Remember, I don't want wooden figures," Zhang Yuan said to a group of generals. "The battlefield is ever-changing; formations are static, but people are dynamic."

"You need to be quicker than the monsters at deciding when to change tactics and when to fight head-on."

Yue Qing led his troops out of the camp every day for "drills," making a great show of force, but they only operated within a hundred miles of the outer perimeter.

Slaughter small groups of demons without mercy, and retreat to camp after brief contact with large enemy forces.

The portrayal of this lone army, "eager for revenge but lacking strength and hesitant," is incredibly lifelike.

The spies from the Demon Realm observed this and reported back the same information over and over again.

The main force of the Hanyue Army is in camp, preparing for battle day and night, and has not yet set off.

The Demon Realm Camp, Central Command Tent.

Dark purple demonic flames danced within the enormous skull lamp, illuminating the ferocious face of the Soul-Splitting Demon General, Blood Slaughter.

He was standing in front of a floating topographical map of the Sky-Surveying Continent, formed from demonic energy, his scarlet demonic eyes fixed on the light spot representing the Mountain-Shaking Army's camp.

A lieutenant, clad in scale armor and sporting a single horn, bowed and reported: "General, our scouts report that the remnants of the Hanyue Army are holed up in their camp, training day and night, with the sounds of forging never ceasing. Judging from their posture, they certainly intend to launch a full-scale attack to rescue Tianyuan."

Blood Butcher's lips curled into a cruel grin, revealing his gleaming white fangs: "Hmph! Just as I expected!"

"Zhang Yuan and those remnants of his army finally couldn't sit still any longer!"

His withered fingers traced a path on the map from the Hanyue Camp to Tianyuan City, demonic energy swirling around his fingertips, leaving several charred marks on the map.

"Pass on the order!" Blood Butcher's voice was like the scraping of metal, carrying an undeniable killing intent. "All units besieging the city, tighten the encirclement and temporarily halt the all-out attack on the city!"

"Give those old fogies in the city a breather, let them keep sending out distress signals! Let me lure them with the 'bait'!"

He suddenly pointed to several key nodes on the map that were "inevitable routes" for the Hanyue Army.

Broken Soul Valley, Black Wind Gorge, White Sand River Ferry.

"Dispatch the elite 'Bone-Eroding' and 'Rock-Shattering' units and send them here immediately!"

"Order the 'Shadow Claw' demon army to sneak to the flanks and await orders! Lay a net of traps for me, dig the deepest snares!"

Blood Butcher's eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty light, as if he could already see the Mountain Shaking Army stepping into the trap and being torn to shreds by the million-strong demon army.

"Let those remnants of the army, oblivious to their own mortality, continue their rampage! When they can no longer contain themselves and march out in full force onto this 'dead end'... I will personally send them on their way, leaving not a single one alive!"

Inside Tianyuan City.

As the main force of the Demon Realm quietly shifted, the offensive of the besieging demon army visibly slowed down.

It was no longer a fierce, overwhelming attack, but rather a continuous barrage of harassment and pressure, like a dull knife slowly cutting flesh.

Although the danger remains, the terrifyingly violent fluctuations of the protective array in the core area have finally subsided somewhat, and the rate of its disintegration has greatly slowed down.

On the dome of the planetarium, the towering beams of starlight, though still dim, were fading at a significantly slower rate.

Venerable Xingheng's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, allowing him to catch his breath for a moment before focusing more intently on repairing the Star Network and maintaining this crucial passage.

In the center of the ruins of the city lord's mansion, the raging ice storm and demonic energy seemed to have become slightly sluggish due to the reduced external pressure.

Venerable Cloud Trace was covered in blood, his arms trembling violently from the continuous struggle, and the chains emitted a teeth-grinding groan, but he keenly sensed that the strength of the demonized Azure Frost's struggle had weakened slightly.

"The pressure...has lessened?"

A thought struck him. Taking advantage of this rare respite created by the enemy's "cooperation," Yunji risked sending out an extremely weak wisp of divine thought through a hidden node deep within the earth's veins, painstakingly transmitting the message:

“Young friend Zhang Yuan, the demon army’s offensive has slowed down strangely, as if they are ‘raising’ us as bait… The situation in the city is temporarily stable, and the pressure on the defensive formation has been greatly reduced.”

"The frost's demonic influence is deepening, and it may not be able to hold out for another ten days. The earth's veins may also only be able to hold out for ten days."

The main camp of the Hanyue Army.

Upon receiving the message from Yunji, Zhang Yuan gently stroked the Zhenyue Token with his fingertips.

He gazed in the direction of Tianyuan City.

"Wait."

He still only replied with one word.

But at this moment, the word "wait" carries even greater weight.

The cooperation from the game unexpectedly bought them an extra five precious days!

What is he waiting for?

Once the forging battalion completes the final batch of reforged Zhenyue armor and the core components of the Demon-Slaying Crossbow, the elite troops will be fully armed to the teeth.

Yue Qing trained the new battle formation among the assembled elite troops until it became second nature, with the energy flowing smoothly and without hindrance.

The scouts from Team C brought back the list of traitors that was crucial to the life and death of the city, as well as the most precise weak point in the demon army's defenses.

Once Team B brings back the Pure Heart Lotus, the alchemists in the camp will combine it with other precious ingredients to refine the "Ice Heart Rejuvenation Pill," a pill with only a slim hope of success.

Wait until the "sharp blade" in Black Stone Forest, which is being tempered, reaches its most perfect unsheathed state.

We only have one chance, so we must be absolutely certain of success.

These extra five days were a turning point given by fate, and the key to the final sprint!

……

The eighth day.

Zhang Yuan stood on the observation platform, overlooking the entire camp.

The furnaces in the forging camp burned day and night, and the newly produced armor plates were piled up into small mountains.

On the training ground, the ranks stood like a forest, and the sounds of battle were deafening.

The initial confusion and fear in the eyes of the 300,000 soldiers had transformed into a burning fighting spirit.

They knew they were the last line of defense for Xuntianzhou.

They also knew that Zhang Yuan, this "acting general," was truly capable.

Everything is proceeding according to plan.

But Zhang Yuan's brows remained furrowed.

Yue Qing walked up to the observation platform, his expression solemn: "General, urgent report from Team C: the Black Stone Forest assembly point is ready and can accommodate 30,000 elite troops."

"The provisions and weapons have been secretly transferred to their destination. In addition..."

"What else?"

"The matter of Mo Wenshu has been investigated." Yue Qing lowered his voice. "This person's real name is Mo Wen. On the surface, he is a civil servant under the military governor's special envoy, but in reality, he is a spy planted by Xuanwu in Xuntianzhou for many years."

“He’s not the only one in Tianyuan City, but he’s the central liaison. The Corrosive Spirit Powder and the Shadow Escape Talisman both flowed into the city through him.”

Zhang Yuan's eyes flashed with a cold light like a knife.

"Can we catch them?"

"Team C said he goes to the abandoned mine every three days to meet with traitors in the city. The next time is tonight."

“Tonight…” Zhang Yuan pondered for a moment, then ordered, “Have Team C keep a close eye on him, but don’t make a move.”

"I need to know his superiors and subordinates so I can catch them all in one fell swoop. If we stir things up now, it will only make the people in the city hide completely."

"Yes."

Just as Yue Qing was about to step back, a sharp alarm suddenly sounded in the distance.

"Woo-woo-woo-woo-"

Three long and two short, highest combat readiness!

Zhang Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted.

He looked out of the camp and saw a black tide rolling in on the horizon.

The demonic energy surged like dark clouds pressing down, obscuring the sky and the sun.

The ground was shaking, and the air was filled with the stench of blood.

"They're here," Zhang Yuan said in a low voice.

Yue Qing's expression changed drastically: "It's the banner of Blood Slaughter, the Soul-Splitting Demon General! At least 100,000 demon troops!"

"They've arrived earlier than I expected." Zhang Yuan said calmly, "But that's alright. General Yue, proceed with the engagement according to the plan."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Yue Qing leaped down, his roar echoing throughout the camp: "All troops, listen up! Prepare for battle! Nine-Bend Magnetic Maze Formation, activate!"

"Om-!"

The earthquake trembled, not violently, but rather spread out like ripples on water.

On the ground, countless mysterious runes interwoven with earthy yellow and silver light lit up, their halos flowing and enveloping the entire camp.

At the core of the array, flames soared into the sky; it was the "Earth Star Fire Forging Mold Array Base" that Zhang Yuan had personally carved.

It is not only a forging array, but also the central hub of the entire defense system.

The vanguard of the demon army consisted of thousands of Wind-Eating Winged Demons.

They swooped down with shrieks, and the poisonous mist enveloped the camp like dark clouds.

However, when they stepped into the area within ten miles of the main camp, a sudden change occurred.

Nine-Bend Magnetic Maze, activate at full power!

An invisible force field distorted space.

The flight paths of the Wind-Eroding Winged Demons instantly became chaotic, and they collided and fell.

Some collided with an invisible force field, resulting in broken bones and torn tendons.

Some were deflected by the magnetic field and plunged into the ground.

Immediately afterwards, dense runic flames erupted from the ground.

"Earthfire Chain Explosion Array, Explode!"

boom!

boom!

boom!

Countless pillars of fire erupted from the ground, engulfing the Wind-Eating Winged Demon that had fallen to the ground.

The intense flames, condensed from the essence of earth fire, are specifically designed to counter demonic energy. They ignite upon contact, causing demons to scream in agony.

Tu Shan, a subordinate general under the Soul Splitter Demon General, stood in the center of the army, his face ashen as he watched the vanguard being ambushed.

"Array formations? Child's play!" he roared. "Black Crystal Trolls, charge! Crush those array nodes!"

Heavy footsteps echoed on the ground.

One after another, giant trolls, each over three zhang tall and covered in black crystal armor, strode forward.

They are incredibly strong, leaving deep footprints on the ground with every step they take.

The crystal armor reflected the firelight, resembling a mobile fortress.

"Is this the Black Crystal Troll newly transferred from the Demon Realm?" On the observation platform, Zhang Yuan squinted his eyes. "Thick-skinned and tough, it's quite a good human shield."

He picked up a jade slip and infused it with his star power. (End of Chapter)