Fantasy: After transmigrating, I effortlessly became a god.

Chapter 414 Red Smoke Signals a Message

At the summit of Huaxu Cliff Fortress, the demon warriors moved with agility, like ferocious beasts atop a mountain, their eyes flashing with a bloodthirsty glint. They roamed every corner of the fortress, surrounded by a dense aura of demonic energy, as if even the air itself trembled under their killing intent.

The demon warriors were filled with a thirst for victory and contempt for the human race. Their Demon Saint General, Lie Yuchen, was currently holding a hero's funeral, and a great battle was inevitable after it ended. They saw this impending battle as a perfect opportunity to display the glory of the demon race. Every demon warrior firmly believed that, under the protection of their Demon Saint General, they would sweep away the human race like a whirlwind, utterly crushing them.

Beneath the fortress, however, the 50,000-strong anti-demon army led by Ma Yi presented a different picture. Clad in heavy armor and wielding sharp blades, they stood ready in battle, a steel torrent silently awaiting the call to arms. The human soldiers, too, held a firm belief in victory.

However, amidst this tense standoff, Zheng Qian, in the center of the battlefield, seemed to be in another world. He lay on his bed, sleeping soundly, his legs tucked under the large quilt, his expression serene.

"Master is truly a man of character; he can even sleep soundly in a situation like this." Li Zun looked at Zheng Qian with admiration. If it were him there, he really wouldn't be able to sleep.

“Grandmaster is a dragon among men, so his actions cannot be judged by the standards of an ordinary prodigy.” Li Ming sighed. Zheng Qian was fully qualified to be his grandmaster. In terms of both potential and temperament, he was no weaker than him, the young sect leader, and was only stronger.

The title of the most monstrous talent in the Southern Region should belong to Zheng Qian, not him.

As the sun set and the stars twinkled, Zheng Qian finally stretched and slowly got out of bed.

After a day of fighting, even though the mysterious elixir replenished his energy, he still slept from day to night. The Fierce Dragon was very strong, and he had suffered internal injuries, so he took medicine to heal before bed. Now, upon waking, he felt refreshed and his injuries had healed.

"Master, you're awake! How are you feeling? Are you injured anywhere?" Li Zun ran over, the eight-foot-tall man bending over slightly, looking at Zheng Qian with concern.

Behind Li Zun, Li Ming and the disciples of the Heavenly Vein Sect surrounded him, which warmed his heart and deeply moved him. From the moment he met Li Zun, Li Zun had called him Grandmaster and had never given him a hard time. The other disciples also showed him ample respect and care, and did not exclude him because of his humble origins. Especially Li Ming, who was of a higher cultivation level and older than him, yet still respectfully called him Grandmaster, which made Li Zun feel a little embarrassed.

Behind the Heavenly Vein Sect, Zhao Minghang, representing the Radiant Legion, came to offer his condolences and presented Zheng Qian and the Heavenly Vein Sect with delicious food. He also kindly told him not to feel guilty, as they would be there to protect him during the gate-blocking battle.

On the city wall of Huaxu Cliff Fortress, Lie Yuchen looked at Zheng Qian on the ground through the clouds, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

"General, we have been blocked at the gate for thirty-eight hours. Should we start a gate defense battle and wear Zheng Qian down outside the city gate?" Lie Yi asked cautiously. After Lie Yuchen finished the funeral for Lie Long and the fallen warriors, he stood here watching Zheng Qian and forbade the prodigies from going out to fight.

The three races of demons couldn't understand Lie Yuchen's thoughts. Even Lie Yi couldn't guess what Lie Yuchen was thinking. Did Lie Yuchen not want to avenge Lie Long?

Lie Yuchen wanted nothing more than to devour Zheng Qian's flesh and drink his blood, but the spirit of the Flaming Leopard Clan restrained him, repeatedly telling him that he could not bully the weak and kill Zheng Qian. Moreover, if he did, it wouldn't just be a simple matter of breaking the rules; it would also invite the wrath of the human race and the contempt of all three races.

On the battlefield, if high-level beings could casually attack low-level prodigies, then no race would dare to let low-level prodigies train, because they would be ambushed and assassinated by the enemy, directly severing the foundation of an entire race. Therefore, no high-level being would suddenly kill a low-level enemy prodigy unless it was on a main battlefield where both sides were engaged in a large-scale melee, in which case being killed would be understandable.

"You will die soon." Lie Yuchen stared at Zheng Qian. He already had a plan in mind, and now he was just waiting for the right time to carry it out.

Huang Jinzhong and Zhao Minghang negotiated, and they had one chance to save Zheng Qian, meaning they couldn't kill Zheng Qian during the goalkeeping battle. Therefore, Lie Yuchen's plan to kill Zheng Qian could only wait until after the goalkeeping battle.

Zheng Qian did not leave the battlefield at Huaxu Cliff. He slept in front of the Three Clans Fortress, without even leaving to eat or drink. How could he bear to give up 10,000 military merits a day?

Zheng Qian counted the spirit crystals he had obtained. Apart from the 10,000 mid-grade spirit crystals that Lie Yuchen had given him, he also had 66,750 low-grade spirit crystals. This was the money that Huang Jinzhong of the Shadow Serpent Clan had used to collect the demons from the three clans.

"This is how fast I can make money," Zheng Qian murmured. He not only had spirit crystals, but also more than two hundred weapons of all kinds, all of which were snatched from the demons of the three races. Among them were many spiritual artifacts. All of these, he had several thousand or even tens of thousands of low-grade spirit crystals.

Zheng Qian looked northwest, towards the fifty kingdoms. He would invest all this money in the development of those fifty kingdoms; only when they prospered would he possess his own power. The Heavenly Vein Sect was powerful, but Zheng Qian never considered it his backer, nor did he believe it would unconditionally support him should anything happen in the future.

This world is very realistic. Even with fifty countries, Zheng Qian couldn't guarantee their absolute support in the future. However, as long as he was powerful enough, those fifty countries would become his rear base.

At Dawn Fortress, hundreds of teenagers shouted in the streets and alleys: "Breaking news! The battle of Dragon Shaping Void Cliff has been a resounding victory! Human hero Zheng Qian single-handedly killed the demon guards and started the gate-blocking battle. The gate has been successfully blocked for 24 hours."

"What? A prodigy at the Dragon Shaping Realm went to block the entrance?"

"Brother, are you deaf? It was Zheng Qian who blocked the door all by himself."

"Who is Zheng Qian? He's so powerful, how come I've never heard of him before?"

"Hehe, your information is too outdated. The prodigies of the Dragon Shaping Realm did not return yesterday, and Zheng Qian is a disciple of the Heavenly Vein Sect."

The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching Dawn Barrier from Void Transformation Cliff, and then, through the organization of the Radiant Legion, it spread by word of mouth throughout the streets and alleys. Throughout the human race, from highly skilled elders to inexperienced youths, everyone was shaken, and a raging fire ignited in their hearts.

Zheng Qian's name, like the brightest star in the night sky, illuminates everyone's heart, making him a hero in their mouths and a source of hope in their hearts.

As dawn broke, people emerged from their homes and gathered on the city walls, gazing towards the direction of Huaxu Cliff. They silently chanted Zheng Qian's name, praying for him and cheering him on. They knew that this battle was not merely a matter of Zheng Qian's personal honor or disgrace, but a symbol of humanity's dignity and hope.

"Light the signal fire! I want to spread the news of the Dawn Barrier's gate-blocking battle to every corner of the Darkwind Rift." Zhao Nuo's scar trembled; he was equally excited. When Zheng Qian blocked the gate, he only hoped for it, after all, the battle that followed would be extremely brutal, and he wouldn't let the humans of the Darkwind Rift get excited without good news.

As Lie Long went into battle, Zhao Nuo watched from the mountaintop. He witnessed Zheng Qian's invincible potential and his desperate fight for the honor of humanity. Even after Lie Long was slain, Zhao Nuo still didn't feel the urge to retaliate, because Zheng Qian was injured and might not be able to withstand the successive challenges from the other prodigies of the three races.

Things are different now. The Huaxu Cliff Fortress has its gates tightly shut; they clearly dare not come out to fight again, not wanting to let the early-stage Zen Demon Realm prodigies die in vain. The strongest Fierce Dragon was killed by Zheng Qian, and now that Zheng Qian has recovered, he will not lose in today's or tomorrow's battles.

Three days—this is the shortest time Zheng Qian has ever spent blocking the gate. And three days is the same amount of time Yun Youzi and Long Batian have spent blocking the gate. Zheng Qian's current combat prowess is enough to break the historical record for gate-blocking battles in the last three hundred years.

The Gate-Blocking Battle also occurred during my jurisdiction, Zhao Nuo's. Zheng Qian's name will become synonymous with invincibility among those of the same Dragon Shaping Realm. He will be revered as a "true prodigy," a legend worthy of being recorded in history. In future chapters about the Gate-Blocking Battle, when Zheng Qian is mentioned, Zhao Nuo will also be credited. He is the highest-ranking official in the Dawn Barrier and also dispatched 50,000 Anti-Demon Army soldiers. These were all guarantees for Zheng Qian's success in the Gate-Blocking Battle.

The smoke rose, soaring straight into the sky. It was a magnificent and solemn red, shining brightly in the twilight, like the most blazing flame in the world, burning with hope and courage.

The residents of Dawn Fortress looked up, their hearts filled with excitement: admiration for Zheng Qian, hope for the future of humanity, and a longing for a peaceful life.

The red smoke trails traveled from the Dawn Barrier to the Starry Chess Formation, to the Misty Illusion, to the Mirror Moon Secret Realm, and continued to spread. Every barrier that saw the red smoke trails lit their own, releasing a large "Dawn" character to announce that the message originated from the Dawn Barrier.

And so the news spread like wildfire among the humans of the Ghostwind Rift Valley. People came out of their homes and gathered at the village entrance and market, discussing the red smoke signals.

"Look, that's the smoke signal from the Dawn Barrier!" An old man pointed to the sky, tears welling in his eyes: "Our man, our hero, he did it!"

"Grandpa, who is he?"

"Child, remember this: blocking the gate is the highest honor for a prodigy, and successfully blocking the gate for 24 hours, which is a whole day, sends out a message of red smoke."

"Then who is he?"

"He is a hero. I don't know his name yet, but his name will soon spread throughout the Ghostwind Rift and throughout the human race."

At the same time, Zhao Nuo's Wind Whisper Stone continuously emitted faint yet clear sound lines, which were the other barriers asking who had started the gate-blocking battle.

"Old Zhao, has the Dawn Barrier started its gate-blocking battle? Which level of prodigy is it?"

A hint of smugness appeared in Zhao Nuo's eyes as he picked up the Wind Whisper Stone and slowly said, "Hey Old Chen, how did you know about this?"

"Stop being so mysterious. The red smoke has already traveled three hundred miles away. What are you still pretending for?"

Zhao Nuo sighed helplessly before saying, "My men are really clueless. The battle at the gate isn't even over yet, how can they set off the signal fire? But since you're curious, Old Chen, I'll tell you. My subordinate Zheng Qian, standing atop Huaxu Cliff, pointed his sword at the sky, using his strength to declare that humanity cannot be bullied..."

Messages kept coming from Fengyushi, but Zhao Nuo wasn't annoyed at all. Instead, he replied to each one: "Hey, Lao Wang, the beacon fires were lit by my impatient kids. They just can't hold their tempers and lit them for Zheng Qian. Zheng Qian, he fought his way from the Shaping Dragon Void Cliff to the Void Cliff Fortress all by himself and his sword, making the three races' demons unable to raise their heads, and no one dared to challenge him..."

Zheng Qian's name quickly spread among the high-ranking members of various strongholds, and then spread at an extremely fast speed, soon becoming known to everyone in Youfeng Rift Valley.

"Zheng Qian, he is our pride, the hope of our human race!" The young people were filled with enthusiasm. They seemed to see the shadow of their future and longed to become heroes like Zheng Qian, able to protect their homeland and resist foreign enemies.

"May God bless the human race, may God bless Zheng Qian." The elderly people all prayed for Zheng Qian.

"Zheng Qian? Just from the name, I know he's very handsome. I want to go see him and become his Daoist partner." The girls were full of ideas. Each of them had been blocking the gate with a sword for 24 hours, and the battle was still going on. They put on their colorful clothes, applied beautiful makeup, and embarked on their journey to the Dawn Barrier.

Xiao Zhi and Yun Youzi stood on the mountaintop. He looked helpless and kept talking to Feng Yushi.

"The person who started the gate-blocking battle is Zheng Qian. He is a prodigy in our Strategic Alliance."

"What? He's married? You're talking nonsense. How could your dinosaur granddaughter be worthy of Zheng Qian? I forgot to tell you something: Zheng Qian is a prodigy in our Strategic Alliance."

"When did the gate-blocking battle begin? Yesterday, it's been over forty hours now. We've already defeated the monsters from the Zen Demon Realm. Yes, Zheng Qian is the monster from our Strategic Alliance."

"You asked if Lie Long participated in the battle? That's obvious. Our strategist alliance's prodigies launched the gate-blocking battle. As the strongest early-stage Zen Demon Realm prodigy, would Lie Long not participate? But don't worry, Lie Long was already killed by Zheng Qian with a single sword strike. He's dead beyond any doubt. From now on, there will be no more Lie Long, the Flaming Leopard, in Youfeng Rift Valley!"

Xiao Zhi replied to message after message, seemingly helpless, but secretly overjoyed. To everyone who asked him for news, he emphasized one thing: Zheng Qian was a prodigy of the Strategic Alliance.

Yun Youzi felt proud of Zheng Qian, yet sighed softly, his gaze lingering on the distant horizon stained red with the smoke of war. He pondered to himself: Zheng Qian, are you truly a darling of fate, or an unfortunate lone boat caught in the whirlpool? In this world where strength reigns supreme, power is undoubtedly important, but strategy and opportunity are equally indispensable. You initiated the gate-blocking battle, single-handedly slaying the Fiery Dragon, demonstrating astonishing strength, but also undoubtedly pushing yourself into the eye of the storm.

Only those prodigies who grow up can become overlords; those who die young will only be submerged in the long river of history, like himself, the Wanderer.

Zheng Qian glanced at the red smoke rising from the Dawn Barrier. He didn't know what the smoke was for, nor did he know that his name had spread throughout the Ghost Wind Rift Valley.

After putting the "Spatial Vibration" book into his spatial ring, Zheng Qian washed up, covered himself with a blanket, and went to sleep guarding his military merits.