Chapter 112: Tempering True Gold in the Fires of Trial

In the distance, Zhao Jundu suddenly sneezed several times and said oddly, “Is there someone plotting against me again?”

Beside him, Song Zining chuckled, “There are plenty who want to harm you, but perhaps even more who want to marry you, right?”

Zhao Jundu brandished his long spear and said, “Enough of that nonsense. The battle isn’t over yet. We need to clean out the lair before nightfall.”

Song Zining sighed helplessly, “Must you be so relentless? Even if I don’t need to recover my original power, at least let me bandage my wounds, okay?”

“A little flesh wound, what’s the point of bandaging it? It’s just going to get injured again,” Zhao Jundu said without mercy, dragging Song Zining along.

As Song Zining struggled, he pointed at the massive body of the Six-armed Commander and shouted, “Let’s deal with the spoils first, the spoils!”

“Others will handle it. Come on, if we wait any longer, the blood will cool, and it won’t be effective.”

Song Zining struggled even more, shouting, “I’ve already broken through to the rank of Divine General, and I have no ambitions for now! If you want to use the True Gold Fire Refinement method, go ahead, why drag me into it?”

“Even if it’s just copper, iron, lead, or tin, refining them together is good.” Zhao Jundu dragged Song Zining along.

Song Zining was furious, “Nonsense! My foundation is far better than yours now. I’m the true gold!”

“Then all the more reason to refine you.”

As Song Zining was dragged along, he seized the opportunity to grab a nearby tree and refused to let go, screaming, “No! I need to rest, I need to heal!”

Zhao Jundu reached out, grabbed Song Zining by the leg, and dragged him away, saying, “Stop being cute, it doesn’t work with me!”

Song Zining screamed in despair, “I am already a Divine General, I don’t want to fight anymore, I want to enjoy life…”

His screams faded as they disappeared deep into the lair.

In the middle of the night, deep underground, Song Zining sat slumped against the rock wall, panting heavily. Zhao Jundu, on the other hand, leisurely took out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, and offered it to Song Zining, “Want one?”

Song Zining weakly waved his hand, “I don’t smoke such lousy cigarettes. You, you’re truly a monster…”

Zhao Jundu smiled, “I’m tired too.”

“These wounds of yours are still bleeding.”

“Just a few drops, I’m used to it.”

Song Zining propped himself up, sitting a bit higher, and asked, “When did you start smoking? And such poor quality ones at that.”

Zhao Jundu smiled slightly, “On the battlefield, sometimes even getting a cigarette is hard. Having one is good enough. Now, I smoke the worse ones so I can adapt later.”

“You didn’t use to smoke.”

“I thought I wouldn’t need to. But later, I found that after a life-or-death battle, I needed to do something to distract myself, or my mind would stay in the bloody slaughter, unable to calm down. If it goes on for too long, one can go mad.”

“Do you think this True Gold Fire Refinement method is reliable?”

“Back then, the Martial Ancestor achieved greatness and swept the world using this method. What do you think?”

Song Zining snorted, “That’s just wild history and legends. You believe that? Besides, even if the legend is true, you’re not the Martial Ancestor!”

Zhao Jundu smiled without answering, taking a deep drag of the cigarette. As it burned to the end, about to burn his fingers, he reluctantly tossed it aside.

Song Zining looked at him and said, “You look like you come from a humble background, having to fight your way up.”

“What’s wrong with that? Only now do I understand the desperation and resolve of those with no way back.”

“If you keep this up, no one will dare to marry you. Who knows, one day you might leave and never come back.”

Zhao Jundu laughed, “I have many brothers and sisters, all very capable. I don’t need to leave descendants. Isn’t it our duty to die in battle?”

Song Zining shook his head, “All of you Zhao Clan are arrogant and crazy. If you don’t see the problem, that’s your business, but don’t drag others into it. What about Qian Ye?”

“Qian Ye?”

“Ever since Nighteye entered his heart, he can’t let go of anyone else. We both know the situation with Nighteye, and there’s no possibility for them. If you live alone forever, I won’t pity you, but Qian Ye is not like you. He can’t live like this forever, can he?”

Zhao Jundu looked at Song Zining and said, “Didn’t you get him into trouble in the Great Vortex? Twice, I heard.”

Song Zining immediately shook his head, “This has nothing to do with me! Don’t speak nonsense.”

Zhao Jundu looked suspicious, “From start to finish, it looks like your doing.”

“How could it be? I, uh…” Under Zhao Jundu’s gaze, Song Zining’s voice grew lower until he sighed, “My original intention was for Qian Ye’s good. Without some powerful backers, how can he survive in the Empire? Can he rely solely on your Zhao Clan?”

Zhao Jundu snorted, “I don’t think it was just that, was it?”

“Naturally, there were some other benefits, but they are minor details, unimportant. Besides, man proposes, God disposes. This matter succeeding is also the will of heaven. They had a connection, otherwise, I’m not a god, how could I have planned this far?”

Zhao Jundu spoke slowly, “The people you’re plotting against now are not easy to deal with. Be careful. If anything goes wrong, don’t involve Qian Ye.”

“Zhao Jundu! After all the battles we’ve fought together, is this how you treat a friend?”

“We’re not friends,” Zhao Jundu said, leaving no room for face-saving.

He stood up, picked up his spear, and headed towards the massive lair’s central hub.

“What are you doing?”

“See if I can subdue it.”

“You’re crazy! This is a battle of wills, and with its size, how can you possibly…?” Before Song Zining could stop him, Zhao Jundu raised his hand, and a colorful bridge of original force connected him to the lair’s core.

In an instant, Zhao Jundu began to tremble, sweat pouring down like rain, all his wounds reopening, blood soaking his armor.

Song Zining stood up, then slowly sat down again, holding his head, muttering, “True Gold Fire Refinement refines the body, not the will. Damn it! How dare you try this in this place! If you die, I’ll have to avenge you, what a hassle… Damn! Why didn’t I stop him!”

Song Zining knew there was nothing he could do but wait for the outcome. Forcing them apart would severely damage Zhao Jundu’s soul, turning him into an idiot at best. Moreover, in this new world, a severe injury for a strong person means death, no elixir can save them.

He dared not look at the battlefield.

As Song Zining berated himself, someone patted his shoulder, “What are you mumbling about?”

Startled, Song Zining jumped up and saw Zhao Jundu standing in front of him, exclaiming, “You won so quickly?! Wait, you actually won?!”

“Of course, what else?”

“It defies common sense! I mean, not that you shouldn’t win… damn it, you shouldn’t have won, and certainly not so fast! How did you do it?”

“Simple, I told it that if it didn’t submit, I’d stab it to shreds with my spear.”

Song Zining scoffed, “If you lost, you’d be dead, how could you stab it?”

Zhao Jundu laughed, “It has simple intelligence, easily deceived. Try it next time and you’ll see.”

Song Zining looked at him skeptically, shaking his head, “I won’t, I’m not stupid.”

Zhao Jundu laughed, “Of course you’re not stupid, but the problem is that you’re too smart. I used to be like that too, only now I realize it.”

“What’s the benefit of subduing it?”

“There is.”

“What benefit?”

“For example, it told me that we’re only on the surface of this world. The true entrance to the new world is in the central region. It’s not far from us, but we need to pass through the Four Sacred Tree Forest.”

“The Four Sacred Tree Forest, that’s not easy to handle,” Song Zining became serious.

“We don’t have to worry about the Six-armed General. It just told me that the forest has fallen into the hands of outsiders, and the lair’s core has been conquered.”

“Outsiders? Not Qian Ye, right?” Song Zining was taken aback.

“From its description, it’s not Qian Ye, probably the demon race.”

Song Zining relaxed, “That makes things easier. I like the demon race.”

“So do I.”

They shared a smile.

“Let’s get out of here, I feel uncomfortable staying here. By the way, can you still walk, or do you need me to carry you?”

Zhao Jundu looked at Song Zining disdainfully, “Need you to carry me? Your weapon is so light, you can barely carry a woman, who else?”

Song Zining wasn’t angry, “If you weren’t exhausted, would you say that? Is the spear too heavy?”

Zhao Jundu, hit in the sore spot, huffed and walked towards the surface. Song Zining followed, both of them stumbling, crawling out slowly. At this rate, who knows when they would reach the surface.

Song Zining couldn’t help but complain, “These beasts must be full, digging such a deep hole for what? By the way, I still don’t understand how their system works. Each lair’s core can communicate remotely, right?”

“Not all, only with the surrounding areas.”

“Still, it spreads the information, right? I tell you, you tell it, and the message gets around.”

“Exactly.”

“After we get out, let’s head back to Qinland. The latest intelligence should be there, and the troops need reequipping. Fighting dark races and beasts is different.”

“Agreed, I’ll also invite a few dukes to come. If the demon race can take the Four Sacred Tree Forest, there are at least three dukes, and who knows who else. Just the two of us aren’t enough.”

Song Zining glared, “You know it’s not enough? I thought you wanted to continue the True Gold Fire Refinement and challenge three dukes alone.”

“Maybe in a while, I will.”

Song Zining became alert, “You go, don’t drag me into it.”

“Of course, I need you, otherwise, it’d be lonely,” Zhao Jundu laughed.

Song Zining was furious but powerless, gritting his teeth. He suddenly remembered something, “I heard Wei Po Tian, that fool, is here too?”

“Yes, I sent him to capture a Single Sacred Tree Forest.”

“Good, let him stay there for two months.”

“Maybe we’ll see him when we return,” Zhao Jundu said.

Song Zining was skeptical, “With him?”

“Don’t forget, a fool’s luck can be surprising.”

Song Zining had no counter to that.