Far in the distance, Zhao Jundu was sneezing. Is someone plotting something against me?

Song Zining laughed. There are too many people plotting against you, but I think there might be more people who want to marry you.

Zhao Jundu waved his spear, saying, Cut it out with the meaningless stuff, the fight isnt over yet. We have to clear out this lair before nightfall.

Song Zining said helplessly, Dont be such a slavedriver! Even if I dont wait to recover my origin power, I still need to dress my wounds.

Why would you need to dress minor flesh wounds? Youll get injured again, anyway. With that, Zhao Jundu dragged Song Zining away.

Struggling, the latter pointed at the large body of the six-armed general. Lets collect the spoils first, spoils!

Others will deal with it, come with me. Your blood will cool down in a bit and the effects will diminish.

Song Zining kept struggling. Im already a divine champion, I dont have any more ambitions! Go ahead if you want to temper true gold in flames, why drag me along?

Training together isnt bad, even if youre not true gold. Zhao Jundu was quite literally dragging the seventh young master.

Song Zining was furious. Nonsense! My foundations are much better than yours, Im the real true gold here.

Then you need to be tempered.

Along the way, Song Zining found an opening to grab onto a large tree and wouldnt let go no matter what. He squealed like a pig about to be slaughtered, Im not going! I want to rest, I want to recuperate!

Zhao Jundu grabbed Song Zining by his legs and pulled him away. Stop trying to act cute, its useless against me!

Song Zining shouted hopelessly, Im a divine champion now, I dont want to fight, I want to enjoy life

The cries slowly receded into the distance and vanished into the beast lair.

At midnight, somewhere deep underground, Song Zining sat with his back against a stone wall, huffing and puffing with his tongue protruded. Zhao Jundu fished out a cigarette and passed Song Zining the rest. Want one?

Song Zining waved his hand feebly. This young master refuses to smoke such inferior tobacco. Y-You monster

Zhao Jundu smiled. Im tired, too.

Your wounds are still bleeding.

Just a bit, Im used to it.

Song Zining propped himself higher. When did you start smoking? Not to mention something so low-quality at that.

Zhao Jundu said with a smile, Its not easy to get cigarettes on the battlefield. Its good enough if you find one at all. Ill just stick to the inferior ones, lest I cant adapt in the field.

You didnt smoke before.

I thought I didnt need to, but I later discovered that its good to have some distraction after fighting for your life. Otherwise, the mind remains in the slaughter and cant calm down. That might just drive people crazy over the long term, Zhao Jundu replied calmly.

I say, this method of refining true gold in flames, is it even reliable?

The Martial Ancestor did the same thing back then and ruled the world. What do you think?

Song Zining snorted. Thats just a wild rumor, you believe that? Besides, even if it is true, youre no Martial Ancestor!

Zhao Jundu only laughed without giving a reply. He inhaled deeply on the cigarette and only tossed it away when the flame was close to his fingers.

Song Zining said, Look at you. You look like someone of poor birth, going all out in order to advance.

Whats so bad about that? Only now can I really feel the desperate resolution of those without a way out.

No one will dare marry you this way. Who knows when youll leave the house and never return.

Zhao Jundu said in a carefree manner, I have so many outstanding brothers and sisters, I dont need to leave a descendant. People like us should live and die on the battlefield.

Song Zining shook his head. All of you people from the Zhao clan are madmen on the battlefield. Its your business if you dont think this is a problem, but dont drag others into it. What do you say about Qianye?

Qianye?

Since Nighteye came into his heart, theres no longer space for anyone else. We both know Nighteyes current situation, and its no longer possible for them. I wont feel sorry if you want to be alone your whole life, but Qianye isnt you. He cant be alone his whole life, can he?

Zhao Jundu stared intently at Song Zining. Havent you already tricked him in the Great Maelstrom? I heard its two.

Song Zining shook his head. That has nothing to do with me! Dont speak nonsense.

Zhao Jundu looked suspicious. This thing has your name written all over it, no matter how I look.

Impossible! I, erm Song Zinings voice grew softer and softer under Zhao Jundus gaze. In the end, he sighed. I wanted to help him. How will he survive in the Empire without a couple of powerful backers? Can he rely on your Zhao clan alone?

Zhao Jundu snorted. I dont think thats all, is it?

Naturally, I got a little something out of it as well. The details arent all that important. Plans dont mean anything if fate doesnt allow for it. This is the will of the heavens as well. They were destined to be connected. Im no god, how could I have calculated everything in such detail?

Zhao Jundu said, Those people youre working with arent easy to push around, so good luck. Just dont drag Qianye down if something happens to you in the future.

Zhao Jundu! Weve fought so many battles together, how can a friend say things like that?

Were not friends. Zhao Jundu gave him no face.

He stood up and, picking up his spear, walked toward the giant core of the lair.

What are you doing?

Im going to try subduing it.

Youre mad! Thats a contest of willpower. Look at that giant thing, how can you Song Zining was just about to stop Zhao Jundu when a prismatic bridge of origin power appeared between him and the core.

In the blink of an eye, Zhao Jundu began to tremble and his entire body was covered in sweat. All of his wounds burst open, drenching his combat robes in blood.

Song Zining stood up but slowly sat down again. He grabbed his head with both hands, muttering, True gold tempering only refines the body, not the will. Goddammit! Trying such a thing in this goddamn place! Now I have to avenge you if you go and get yourself killed, how troublesome damn! Why didnt I pull him back?!

Song Zining knew he could do nothing else at this point but wait for the results of the battle. Even if he were to separate them by force, the backlash would deal tremendous damage to Zhao Jundus spirit, causing him to become an idiot in the best scenario. Besides, experts suffering grave injuries in the new world were sure to die. No amount of medicines could save them in time.

He didnt even dare watch.

Just as he was blaming himself constantly, someone patted him on the shoulder. What are you mumbling about?

The shocked seventh young master jumped to his feet. Seeing the young man standing in front of him, he said, Done so fast?! Wait you actually won?!

What else?

Thats not right! I dont mean to say you shouldnt have won but damn, you shouldnt have won, and so fast at that! How did you do it?

Simple, I said Ill poke it full of holes with my spear if it doesnt submit.

Song Zining scoffed. Youd be dead if you had lost. How are you going to poke it?

Zhao Jundu said, laughing, They only possess simple intelligence, so its not hard to lie. You can try next time.

This time, it was Song Zinings turn to look at him suspiciously. Nope, Im not an idiot.

Zhao Jundu laughed. Of course youre not an idiot, youre too smart in fact. I mightve been the same as well, but now, Ive noticed the problem.

Did you get any from subduing it?

Yes.

What did you get?

For instance, it gave me some information. Our location is only the surface of the new world. The true entrance lies in the central region. Its not so far away, but well have to pass through a forest with four holy trees along the way.

Four holy trees that wont be easy. Song Zining became solemn.

We dont need to worry about the six-armed general. It told me just now that the forest has already fallen to an outsider and the core has been subdued.

Outsider? It cant be Qianye, can it? Song Zining was startled.

Its probably not Qianye. According to its description, theyre likely demonkin.

Song Zining heaved a sigh of relief. Now that makes things easier. I like the demonkin.

So do I.

The two exchanged glances.

Lets go, Im feeling uncomfortable here. Are you okay to walk or do you need me to carry you?

Zhao Jundu glanced at Song Zining. You? Carry me? Even your weapon is so light. What else can you carry but women?

Song Zining wasnt angry. Would you say these things if you arent strained? Is your spear feeling too heavy now?

Zhao Jundu snorted after being poked where it hurt. He simply kept walking without continuing the conversation. The duo started their slow climb toward the surface. There was no telling how long it would take at this rate.

Song Zining complained, Do these creatures have nothing better to do? Why dig so deep? Speaking of which, I still dont understand how their system works. Can these cores communicate with one another remotely?

Not all, only the adjacent ones.

Thats more like it. Theyre relaying information from one to another.

Thats indeed the case.

Lets return to the Qin Continent first. The latest intelligence reports shouldve arrived by now, and we also need to switch out our troops. Fighting beasts is different from fighting the dark races.

Fine, I also want to invite some dukes over to help out. The demonkin should have needed at least three dukes to conquer the forest with four holy trees, and we still dont know whos holding the line. You and I are far from enough.

Song Zining glared at him. So you do know some limits. I thought youd keep tempering yourself by challenging three dukes.

I might just do that after some time.

Song Zining became alert. Do that yourself, dont drag me into it.

Of course, you need to join. Otherwise, itll be too boring. Zhao Jundu laughed out loud.

Song Zining was angry, but he couldnt do anything except clench his jaws. Oh, I heard that idiot Wei Potian is here.

Yeah, I sent him to take down a forest with one holy tree.

Not a bad idea, let him stay there for a couple of months.

We might see him by the time we get back, Zhao Jundu replied.

Song Zining was skeptical. Someone like him?

Dont forget that the dumb have their dumb luck.

Song Zining had no retort for this.