Chapter 174: Chapter 174: The Struggle for Command, Fusing Gold and Refining Iron

’Arrogant... Is this kid trying to seize power?!’

Jian Ziheng’s eyes narrowed when he heard Su Ye’s words.

But on the verge of making a move, he forced himself to calm down and think rationally.

In this world, among those who become high-level cultivators, there were greedy ones, brutal ones, bloodthirsty ones, and debaucherous ones... but almost no fools!

’Trying to use me as a stepping stone to seize power? This kid... he’s planned this well!’

’However, I can play along and turn his plan against him!’

Jian Ziheng’s eyes darted as a thought took shape.

He said coldly, "Ridiculous. I am of the Jian Family’s direct bloodline, the commander-in-chief appointed by the Celestial City!"

"Command rightfully belongs to me!"

"You’re a nobody. If you want command... you’ll need to raise the stakes!"

"If you win, I’ll hand over command to you... but if you lose..."

Jian Ziheng let out a vicious laugh. "You will have to obey my commands unconditionally during the upcoming Reverse World cleanup!"

"And another thing... you should know this, right?"

"The Reverse World suppresses Magical Power, which favors Body Cultivators... You’re a Body Refining cultivator too. How about we make this duel a pure contest of Body Refining?!"

"Su Ye, do you dare?!" Jian Ziheng sneered.

Bai Xiuying’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly sent a Divine Sense transmission, "Mr. Su, don’t!"

"Jian Ziheng has been practicing the Jian Family’s ancestral Body Refining Technique, the [Gold Melting and Iron Refining Skill], for nearly a century!"

"This Cultivation Technique strengthens the body and builds a deep foundation by consuming spirit iron and spirit ores. It excels in both offense and defense, making it incredibly powerful..."

"Over the last hundred years, the amount of spirit iron he has consumed has reached some kind of limit..."

"I know you are strong, but in a pure contest of Body Refining, I’m afraid Jian Ziheng is still stronger!"

"He’s trying to provoke you, to use his strength against your weakness... Mr. Su, you must not fall for it!"

Bai Xiuying warned anxiously.

But she saw Su Ye just chuckle, looking as calm as a summer breeze.

"A pure contest of Body Refining, you say? Interesting... I accept!"

"Hey! Mr. Su! What are you thinking?!"

Bai Xiuying was incredibly frustrated. She stomped her foot in anger, biting her red lip and revealing two cute little fangs.

Just then, Su Ye turned back and glanced at her.

The handsome youth’s eyes were perfectly calm, like an unfathomably deep pool.

A faint smile lingered on his lips, carrying an air of absolute confidence.

Seeing this, Bai Xiuying was suddenly taken aback.

For some reason, a sense of reassurance washed over her.

"Senior Bai, do you think... Mr. Su can win?" Zhong Qi asked worriedly.

"Yes."

"I believe in him."

Bai Xiuying’s beautiful eyes seemed distant as she nodded slightly.

...

The training grounds.

Su Ye and Jian Ziheng walked to the center of the training grounds.

BZZT!

Chains of light materialized in the air, forming a barrier that enveloped the center of the training grounds.

When late-stage great cultivators fought, their power was terrifying. Even the aftershocks could easily devastate an area of several hundred yards!

If a Qi Refining cultivator were unfortunately caught in the crossfire, their chance of survival was next to none!

Therefore, a Protective Array was activated to prevent the aftershocks from leaking out and harming the innocent!

At this time, hearing the news of the duel, the cultivators in the military camp gathered.

Nearly a thousand cultivators stood outside the Array, watching the two people inside with a mixture of tension and excitement!

"A duel between late-stage great cultivators, I never thought..."

"I wonder who will win...?"

"Late-stage Foundation Establishment... I wonder if I’ll ever have a chance to reach that in my lifetime..."

Over the tens of thousands of years of this world’s history, its cultivators had countless times witnessed high-level experts single-handedly reverse the tides of fate and influence history...

Because of this, the people of this world held a deep, almost instinctual reverence and admiration for the strong!

The clash between two late-stage great cultivators made their blood boil with excitement!

...

BZZT!

The Array’s membrane of light enveloped them.

"Heh..."

Jian Ziheng chuckled and rolled his wrists.

Then, a savage expression appeared on his face.

"Come, let me teach you what real Body Refining is!"

BOOM!

A divine light erupted from Jian Ziheng’s eyes!

As his qi and blood surged, a scorching heat wave rolled out!

The entire training ground instantly felt like an arid, sweltering desert!

CRACKLE CRACKLE.

His muscles trembled and his body swelled, causing the iron armor he wore to expand with him.

In the blink of an eye, he had transformed into a thirty-foot-tall golden giant, completely encased in iron armor that glinted with a golden light!

No!

He wasn’t ’encased’ in iron armor.

Su Ye’s Divine Sense could perceive it.

As Jian Ziheng’s body changed, most of his flesh and blood had turned into spirit iron!

’The Gold Melting and Iron Refining Skill?’ Su Ye mused.

WHAM!

The golden giant’s figure flashed, and with the force of a charging army, he threw a ferocious, unstoppable punch toward Su Ye!

"Heh... A good attack!" Su Ye gave a cold smirk and summoned his Frost Thorn Spear!

SHING!

A silvery light, brimming with incomparable sharpness, illuminated the training grounds!

The weaker cultivators present felt a stabbing pain in their eyes and were forced to look away!

Su Ye’s robes whipped in the wind and his black hair flew wildly. Arching his back and planting his feet, he shot toward Jian Ziheng like an arrow loosed from a bow!

BAM!

Fist and spear collided head-on!

The ear-piercing sound of striking metal exploded outwards!

A violent shockwave, carrying sand and dust, blasted out in all directions!

WHOOSH!

In an instant, the shockwave swept over a hundred yards, slamming into the barrier right before the crowd.

It struck the Array’s protective shield with a series of muffled THUDS!

Many of the Qi Refining cultivators gathered there looked terrified. They couldn’t help but retreat, causing a brief panic!

Silver light flashed amidst flying sand and stones.

Su Ye and Jian Ziheng were locked in battle!

Howling shockwaves continuously battered the Protective Array, making the spectating cultivators’ hearts pound with fear.

They were terrified that the shield might shatter at any moment, and the aftershocks would tear them to shreds!

Meanwhile, inside the training grounds, the longer Jian Ziheng fought, the more shocked he became!

’This kid... What kind of monster is he?’

’I’ve manifested my Melted Gold Battle Body, and I still... can’t completely overpower him?’

’Having a high cultivation base is one thing, but Body Refining requires years of accumulation and constant polishing...?’

Su Ye’s expression was calm as he relentlessly attacked.

In terms of Body Refining, the *Taiqing Cold Jade Skill* was indeed inferior to the *Gold Melting and Iron Refining Skill*...

’But... adding a few stat points doesn’t count as cheating, does it?’

With the boost from his stats, Su Ye’s physique and strength were nearly on par with Jian Ziheng’s Melted Gold Battle Body!

And his agility far surpassed that of the golden giant!

Wielding the Frost Thorn Spear, he posed a significant threat to Jian Ziheng!

Before long, nicks and cuts began to appear on the surface of Jian Ziheng’s battle armor!

’This is bad... If this keeps up, I’ll lose...’ A chill ran through Jian Ziheng’s heart.

Jian Ziheng let out a low shout.

Suddenly, the space around them seemed to become countless times heavier!

Su Ye’s flashing figure abruptly froze!

’This is... gravity?’ Su Ye was slightly surprised.

And then, the golden giant’s right arm flashed with golden light, transforming into a massive hammer that smashed down toward Su Ye with unstoppable momentum!

’Let’s see you dodge this... The match is over...’ Jian Ziheng thought.

However, Su Ye’s expression remained calm as he raised his spear.

"Whale Hunt... Spear!"