Capture

Luyang City, located on the Yangtze River, is a hub for canal transport. It's a super city with flourishing commerce and a population of several hundred thousand, not including the countless transient residents.

This is Iron Palm Gang territory, but the Five Gates and Three Sects also have their own businesses or outposts here. The streets are bustling, and jianghu folks wielding swords and sabers are everywhere. Dug and his group didn't particularly stand out in the crowd.

Along the way, as Dug listened to Feng Yunjie's introduction to Luyang City, he observed the diverse local customs and felt an even greater sense of awe for the Simulation Arena.

It's so real!

What kind of technology could create such a world? And such a world is just for an assessment.

So extravagant! If game developers on Earth had these capabilities, they'd be the richest people in the world in no time…

"Seventh Master, the Xingyu Tower ahead is property of our Feng Family. We'll stay there for a bit, get something to eat, and then figure out our next steps," Feng Yunjie said. "The people Father sent to find the Heavenly Demon probably came here first. It's been a night; I wonder if they've found any information. There aren't many major cities like Luyang in the entire Great Qian. Even a small county like the Feng Family's hometown could have two Heavenly Demons like you and Feng Jiu, so Luyang City should have even more…"

"Possibly," Dug nodded. He had been keeping an eye on the changes in the total number of participants in the Simulation Arena.

From last night until now, there were still over 650 contestants left in the Simulation Arena. 160 people were eliminated overnight. It had to be said, the Simulation Arena truly was a cold, ruthless meat grinder, completely unreasonable.

He was relatively merciful, having spared Feng Jiu's life. Otherwise, Feng Jiu would have been one of the 100-plus people who disappeared last night.

At this rate, in less than ten days, there wouldn't be many people left in the Simulation Arena.

But this was just the most optimistic scenario. Dug knew that the further they progressed, the slower the rate of attrition would become. Those who remained would be elites—the kind who could disguise themselves and skillfully use their Keywords.

Feng Jiu was right; exposing himself was truly foolish.

When everyone else was in the shadows, he was a glaring, living target, and everyone would aim for him.

The easiest way to become one of the top ten in the Simulation Arena wasn't to maximize the use of one's Keyword, but to survive until the end and eliminate everyone else.

If only ten people were left, they would be the top ten, even if they weren't originally.

There's no such thing as an airtight wall. He had been so high-profile in Feng Manor that there would always be loose-lipped people who would leak information about him and his Keyword.

There was nothing he could do about it. Who told him he didn't understand the rules of the game? Open attacks are easy to avoid, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. Among hundreds of contestants, only he was playing with his cards face up…

This is truly a nightmare!

The only thing Dug was grateful for was that the Simulation Arena only eliminated people; no one actually died.

But having already reached first place, if he were to be eliminated again, he wouldn't be able to get over it. This was the pride of a transmigrator, and it had to be protected.

Fortunately, information spread slowly in ancient times, and distances were great, so Dug still had time to buffer. He wouldn't have to face hundreds of enemies all at once.

If they only came at him one by one, Dug felt he could handle it. Being ranked first in the Simulation Arena wasn't just for show.

However, he still needed to find a way to increase his strength. The stronger he was, the safer he'd be. Ideally, he could be like the Martial Saint Qiao He and dominate an era…

Upon arriving at Xingyu Tower, a waiter led their horses away, and the manager himself came out to escort them to the back courtyard.

Feng Shiyi asked as he walked, "Feng Zhong, did the people who came yesterday find out anything?"

"Yes," Feng Zhong glanced at Dug and nodded.

Dug and the others stopped simultaneously and looked at the manager.

Feng Yunjie asked, "What did you find?"

Feng Zhong turned to Dug and asked, "Second Master, this young hero looks unfamiliar, is he…?"

"This is our manor's Grand Elder, Seventh Master. He's in charge of the Heavenly Demon matter," Feng Shiyi glared at him. "You don't need to hide anything from him."

"Feng Zhong greets the Grand Elder." Feng Zhong quickly cupped his hands to Dug and said respectfully.

"No need to be so polite, Manager Feng," Dug smiled. "Tell me about the Heavenly Demon."

"It's quite a coincidence; that Heavenly Demon is none other than Wang San, the young waiter in our inn," Feng Zhong said. "A few days ago, Wang San contracted consumption, and the doctor said he couldn't be saved, so he was just waiting to die at home. Last night, when people from the manor came to investigate, I reported his situation.

And guess what? Wang San was lively and energetic, flirting with the neighbor's little girl, not even coughing once. A serious illness, rapid recovery—all characteristics matched a Heavenly Demon's Body Snatching. So, they brought Wang San back.

However, that guy was stubborn and absolutely refused to admit he was possessed. He only said that a wandering doctor passed by his house and gave him a few needles, which cured his illness. He even clamored for us to go to a temple to find a master to exorcise him. But, none of the neighbors had seen that wandering doctor…"

"Where is Wang San now?" Dug immediately became interested and interrupted him.

"He's acupunctured and locked up in a guest room!" Feng Zhong said. "He was specifically requested by the family, so I wouldn't dare let him run off. Second Master, is this Heavenly Demon real? A consumption patient just gets better like that? No matter how I think about it, it feels sinister…"

"Feng Zhong, when are you going to stop your incessant rambling? Say less nonsense and take us to see Wang San." Feng Shiyi also interrupted him.

"Second Master, this way." Feng Zhong gave an honest smile and quickened his steps, leading the way. "Room seven, character Huang, the innermost one. Second Master, you can rest assured with my work. The Huang rooms usually have no one staying in them, so no one can rescue him. Not only did I acupunct him, but I also tied him up. I even prepared rooster blood, black dog blood, and glutinous rice in advance…"

Feng Zhong rambled on, leading everyone to Room Seven, Huang character. He pulled out a key and opened the door: "Second Master, Wang San is inside."

"Alright, I know. Leave the rest to us. Go busy yourself out front! Tell the kitchen to prepare a lavish feast for us." Feng Shiyi had had enough of Feng Zhong's nagging. As soon as he opened the door, he was eager to send him away.

"It's already prepared, Second Master. Don't you trust my work?" Feng Zhong stood still, peering into the room. "Second Master, you have to let me stay! Let me see how to identify a Heavenly Demon. If I encounter one again in the future, I can handle it myself!"

"Let him stay. The manager is one of us, and he's more familiar with Wang San's situation." Dug casually defended the manager's dignity before looking into the room.

A young man, about eighteen or nineteen, dressed as a waiter, was tied up and thrown onto the bed.

Next to the bed was a bowl of glutinous rice, a bucket of dog blood, and a bucket of chicken blood…

Dug's face darkened.

Well, this guy really treated the Heavenly Demon as a ghost!

Sensing the door open, Wang San struggled, trying to lift his head but unable to: "Manager, Manager, is that you? You're finally here! I'm really not a Heavenly Demon, please just let me go! I shouldn't have gotten better from my illness and not come to work. Please, let me out, I can't hold it anymore…"

Dug and the others entered the room.

Wang San's voice cut short: "Who are you?"

Feng Shiyi said nothing, went over and checked his pulse. A moment later, he looked up and said, "Full of vitality, pulse soft and strong. Doesn't seem like someone recovering from a serious illness. Seventh Master, it's undoubtedly a Heavenly Demon's Body Snatching."