Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 1063 Star Connection, Stirring Up the Enemy

Late at night, in the underground workshop of the planetarium.

Under the guidance of Venerable Xingheng, a wisp of pure stellar power was temporarily separated from the core of the Star Torch, projecting a hazy star map light screen.

Within the light screen, three blurry yet powerful phantoms slowly coalesced.

Xingheng, though aged, had eyes that shone brightly.

The crimson sun, with its flickering, flaming shadows, exuded a sense of rage and impatience.

Qing Shuang's demonic energy was temporarily suppressed, and her spirits improved slightly, but her face was still pale.

"General Zhang Yuandai".

Xingheng spoke, his voice tinged with weariness, yet also tinged with a rare sense of relief.

"The supplies have been put to good use. The stability of the Star Torch has increased by 40%, and the remaining soldiers in the city have also completed a round of re-equipping."

"The five thousand Demon-Slaying Crossbow Cores you sent in can at least keep the city's defenses in place for another month."

The Crimson Sun Venerable hummed, "Boy, you're quick to organize your army. You've trained 100,000 remnants to be quite disciplined in just a few days. I could hear your battle cries from the city."

Venerable Qing Shuang remained silent, only looking at Zhang Yuan with a complex expression.

She remembered that day when he emerged from the demonic energy and placed the Purifying Lotus in front of her.

I remembered what he said.

After millions of years of cultivation, she thought her heart was already as cold as ice.

But at that moment, a crack appeared in the ice.

"Thank you all, esteemed gentlemen." Zhang Yuan clasped his hands in greeting and got straight to the point. "Time is of the essence, and I need to discuss the next steps with the three of you."

"The Demon Realm suffered repeated setbacks: the Western District warehouse was robbed, the Nether Bone was severely damaged, and Blood Slaughter's trap failed."

"The demons will not be satisfied and are definitely brewing an even bigger conspiracy."

"And then there's Xuanwu. His influence within the Heavenly Palace is deeply entrenched, and there must be spies in the city that haven't been eliminated yet."

"Although we have obtained the list, the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. Passive defense is not a long-term solution."

The phantom of Venerable Crimson Sun flickered with flames: "What plan do you have?"

A cold glint flashed in Zhang Yuan's eyes.

"Beat the grass to scare the snake out of its hole."

He took out a jade slip from his bosom, probed it with his divine sense, and several names appeared on the light screen.

Zhao Qian, Deputy Commander of the Golden Feather Guard.

Li He, the steward of the Dan Ding Division.

There are also several contacts who hold low-ranking but key positions.

“These people on the list are the most suspicious and hold key positions.”

Zhang Yuan pointed to their names, speaking slowly but clearly.

"The Golden Feather Guards are responsible for patrolling and maintaining order in the city. If Zhao Qian is an inside agent, he can open the city gates for the demon army at any time."

"The Pill Refining Department is in charge of the preparation of medicinal herbs and the allocation of array formations. If Li He makes any moves, Star Torch's maintenance pills and the array formations' supplies will be cut off."

"The destructive power of these people is far greater than their cultivation level."

Xingheng pondered for a moment: "What do you want to do?"

“The three Venerable Ones jointly issued an edict,” Zhang Yuan said, “using the pretext of ‘maintaining the Star Torch Core and needing to allocate elite guards,’ to ‘invite’ these people to the Star Observatory for ‘assistance.’”

"The action must be grand and impactful, making sure the whole city knows about it."

The weak yet clear voice of Venerable Qing Shuang came through.

"This is like stirring up trouble. If the snake lurking in the shadows is truly an inside agent, it will surely panic. It might take risks to pass on the message, seek help from the demon army outside the city, or destroy evidence... It will eventually slip up."

“Exactly.” Zhang Yuan nodded. “In a state of panic, there will inevitably be flaws.”

"As long as they dare to make a move, we can follow the clues and uncover a deeper network of connections and transmission channels."

Secondly, and most importantly—

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three Venerable Ones.

"This move is sending the strongest warning to the Heavenly Palace."

"The Hanyue Army and Tianyuan City have obtained a confirmed list of traitors and are taking action!"

"The higher-ups of the Heavenly Palace should be shaken."

Xingheng frowned: "This plan is extremely risky. If we force them into a corner, they might resort to desperate measures and cause destruction within the city..."

"Rest assured, Your Excellency," Zhang Yuan said confidently.

"Although the people on the list hold key positions, they are not part of the core decision-making team. They have limited resources at their disposal, and their destructive power is controllable."

"I have already ordered Yue Qing to lead 20,000 Iron-Blooded Rock Battalion troops to deploy outside the western defense line as a feigned attack, making it appear as if they are ready to strike at any moment."

"The main force of the demon army has been deployed to Black Wind Gorge to set up an ambush. Blood Butcher and Netherbone are preoccupied with their own affairs and are unable to organize a large-scale siege to provide support in the short term." "Third..."

His tone turned cold, and a deep light flashed in his eyes.

"I need this shock."

"This matter will cause chaos within the Heavenly Palace."

"Only in this way will Xuanwu and the forces behind it become restless and reveal their true colors."

"Only then do we have a chance—"

He raised his head, his gaze sharp as a knife.

"Rescue Fairy Yunyao, who is imprisoned deep within the Abyss Barrier."

Within the light screen, the three Venerable Ones fell silent simultaneously.

Fairy Yunyao.

The number one formation master in the Heavenly Palace, and the direct disciple of Venerable Chongling.

A hundred years ago, he was caught up in the internal struggle of the Heavenly Palace and imprisoned in the Deep Abyss Barrier's Dark Prison on charges of "colluding with the enemy".

Her mastery of formations was enough to reverse the course of a siege.

Because of her imprisonment, many teleportation arrays on Xuntian Continent were cut off.

Many of the formations were in ruins and no one was repairing them.

If someone within the Heavenly Palace deliberately framed her, then the person behind it... is not hard to guess.

"Are you confident?" Venerable Chiyang asked in a deep voice.

“No,” Zhang Yuan said frankly, “but it’s the only way.”

"The Heavenly Palace is unreliable. There will be no reinforcements. We can only rely on ourselves and everyone who could become our ally."

"Fairy Yunyao has been trapped for a hundred years. If we rescue her, we can repair the various formations."

"The prerequisite for saving her is to create chaos in the Heavenly Palace, diverting Xuanwu's attention elsewhere, and giving us an opportunity to act."

"Startling the enemy by beating the grass" is the first step.

Xingheng remained silent for a long time before finally nodding.

"Okay. As you wish."

"However, Zhang Yuan... you need to think this through."

"Once you take this step, there's no turning back."

Zhang Yuan smiled.

“Your Excellency, from the moment General Ba Yue fell, I never thought of turning back.”

A million-year-old illusion, where reality and fantasy intertwine.

Zhang Yuan didn't want to have any regrets about this vast and untamed world and these experiences.

He will do his best to do what he can.

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The next day, Tianyuan City.

Zhao Qian, the deputy commander of the Golden Feather Guard, was drinking in his camp when he suddenly received an imperial edict—

"The maintenance of the Star Torch core requires the deployment of elite guards. Deputy Commander Zhao Qian shall immediately lead his personal guards to the Astronomical Observatory to report for duty."

The imperial edict bore the joint seal of several venerable figures, including the Venerable Xuanji.

Zhao Qian's expression changed slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.

"Your subordinate obeys."

He put down his wine glass, stood up and straightened his armor, his mind racing with calculations.

Starlight Maintenance?

Why me of all people?

Is it...

No, it's impossible.

The list should only be known to Mo Wenshu, who has already been silenced.

He took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"Someone, summon thirty guards. Follow me."

At the same time, Li He, the steward of the Dan Ding Division, also received the same imperial edict.

His reaction was far more intense than Zhao Qian's. (End of Chapter)