Too Fragile

The Iron Palm Gang operated much like the River Transport Gang in martial arts novels—colluding with the authorities and monopolizing water transport. Organizations like this were usually the mandatory gangs young heroes had to grind through after leaving the beginner village.

Martial arts like Iron Sand Palm and Eight Steps Chasing Cicada also sounded like common, low-grade techniques. Dug truly could not muster much interest in a gang like this.

Just how weak was the Feng Family's foundation, if even a gang like this could bully them? No wonder they handled everything so timidly...

After sighing over it for a moment, Dug did not forget his persona and immediately declared, "Rest assured, Fourth Young Master. Feng Qi will certainly do his utmost to eliminate the Iron Palm Gang and protect the Feng Family's interests."

Eliminate the Iron Palm Gang? Feng Yunlu froze for a moment, suddenly understanding the family head's helplessness.

But when he recalled Dug's Theory of Extremes, he accepted it. Normal, normal. This is just the Heavenly Demon's temperament. It would be stranger if he didn't say something like that.

From another perspective, he recovered from injuries quickly and stopped at nothing when getting things done. If the Feng Family could raise a group of dead soldiers like this, why would they have to worry about not rising to prominence?

Shaking his head and driving the army of dead soldiers made up of Heavenly Demons from his mind, Feng Yunlu found Dug increasingly pleasing to the eye. "Seventh Master, the Iron Palm Gang can be dealt with gradually. We only need to eliminate Qiu Feibao first..."

"Any force that obstructs the Feng Family's interests must be eliminated. It is only a matter of sooner or later." Dug smiled and continued, "Fourth Young Master, forget these tiny gangs. Tell me about the biggest forces in the martial world."

Feng Yunlu said, "Five sects, three gates, two gangs, and one family."

Dug straightened up, finally interested. "What are they?"

"The five sects are Kunlun, Mount Hua, Mount Tai, Mount Emei, and the Snow Mountain Sect. The three gates are the Blood Saber Gate, Divine Fist Gate, and Tianshan Gate. The two gangs are the Beggar Gang and Green Dragon Gang. The one family is the Qiao Family," Feng Yunlu said.

"Is the Qiao Family very formidable?" Dug asked. "Why is the Martial Arts Convention held at the Qiao Family?"

"The current Qiao Family is not even comparable to the five major sects." Feng Yunlu shook his head. "It is called the foremost martial family because a hundred years ago, it produced a Qiao He. Qiao He mastered the martial arts of countless schools. Even the simplest Martial Arts became miraculous and unfathomable in his hands. At twenty-five, Qiao He had perfected his skills. After leaving seclusion, he visited sect after sect to challenge them, defeating all the experts of the five sects and three gates. He was universally acknowledged as the number one man under heaven at the time.

Qiao He was the greatest martial artist in the world, yet he was chivalrous and loved making friends. Though he defeated many experts from famous sects, he also helped many sects refine their own martial arts. Thus, the various sects jointly honored him as the Martial Saint.

When Qiao He died, he sealed all his lifelong learning within a secret realm—the famed Qiao Family Sacred Land."

At the mention of Martial Saint Qiao He, Feng Yunlu's face shone with an unusual radiance, as though Qiao He were his own ancestor. With a soft sigh, he continued, "Unfortunately, after Martial Saint Qiao He, the Qiao Family never again produced anyone of such extraordinary talent. The Martial Saint had foreseen this. Before his death, he left behind the instruction that the Qiao Family was to open the secret realm once every three years, selecting the finest young people in the martial world and allowing them to enter in search of the manuals he had left behind. His purpose was to ensure that his life's work would not be lost and to nurture the rising generation.

This was a good deed that benefited the martial world. Countless sects had received the Martial Saint's kindness, so the many sects jointly recognized the Qiao Family as the foremost martial family. One could say that the Qiao Family had become a symbol of the martial world. If the Qiao Family encountered trouble, the other sects had to aid them. Thus, for the past hundred years, no one foolish enough had dared provoke the Qiao Family..."

Feng Yunlu's words came to an Abrupt Stop. He gave Dug an embarrassed look. Wasn't the man before him the very person who kept talking about seizing the Qiao Family Sacred Land?

Saying all that was no different from slapping Dug across the face. Feng Yunlu blushed slightly and awkwardly explained, "Seventh Master, I was not talking about you. You have only just arrived and do not know the Qiao Family's history, so it is normal for you to have such thoughts. But you should not think of seizing the Qiao Family Sacred Land. You will be attacked by everyone."

Dug glanced at him and thought, That is because you do not understand the tropes of martial arts novels. No matter what kind of sacred land it is, once the protagonist appears, it will be seized and eventually fall into ruin.

Throughout history, not a single sacred land had remained intact until the end.

Besides, this was a Simulation Arena. Hundreds of people were watching the main storyline closely. Who knew how many eyes were fixed on that martial sacred land? Even if he did not seize it, someone else would...

"Qiao He truly deserved the title of Martial Saint." Feng Jiu, who had been silent for a long time, gave a derisive laugh. "What a clever scheme. A martial arts feast held once every three years had protected the Qiao Family for a full century."

After learning the origins of the foremost martial family, Dug chose one of the five sects and three gates he was relatively familiar with and asked, "What about the Beggar Gang? What martial arts does the Beggar Gang use?"

"Dog-Beating Staff Technique, Mourning Staff Technique, Lotus Palm, and Spirit Snake Movement Technique," Feng Yunlu said. "These are all first-rate martial arts, countless levels above the Feng Family's Shattering Gold and Breaking Jade Hand..."

Lotus Palm? Mourning Staff Technique?

Hearing these familiar yet unfamiliar martial arts, Dug sighed inwardly. This was not, after all, the world he knew.

Still, the Beggar Gang here was rather down-to-earth. These few martial arts were all closely related to the gang's daily activities. There was nothing like Dragon-Capturing Art or Dragon-Subduing Palm, martial arts that sounded impressive at first mention.

Dug was silently mocking the Beggar Gang.

Suddenly, he shuddered violently, feeling an immense change sweep through his entire body.

He could clearly feel the muscles throughout his body swelling. Every cell seemed to store explosive power, as though he could casually punch a cow to death. His eyesight had been enhanced as well. He could clearly see the wings of a mosquito fluttering three meters away, while Eyes Behind the Head allowed him to observe even the subtle changes in Feng Jiu's expression.

His ears also picked up many noisy sounds: Feng Yunlu's and Feng Jiu's heartbeats, and even, faintly, Feng Shiren's voice in the council hall as he arranged for people to search everywhere for Heavenly Demons...

Holy shit!

What had happened? Dug's heartbeat quickened slightly. His physical abilities had suddenly improved so drastically—could it be because the Feng Family had put the plan he had made up into action?

If that was true, then how far would he improve if he pushed the Feng Family into the position of Martial Arts Alliance Leader? Would he become a humanoid mecha? His efforts had not been in vain after all. This really was a game from a higher world. It was far too interesting...

After steadying his emotions, Dug opened his hidden personal attributes panel.

Sure enough.

His personal attributes had changed:

Name: Dug;

Number: 48699527;

Mental Power: 80;

Current Rank: 1/813;

Round Keyword: Maintain;

Round Keyword: Backstab;

Advanced Skills:

Sacrifice for Righteousness: Those you have protected will lower their guard against you by thirty percent;

Eyes Behind the Head: Those who Backstab others may not be Backstabbed by others. You possess vision behind you.

Derivative Items: None;...

His Mental Power had increased by 20, and his personal ranking had leapt straight to first place.

Dug pursed his lips. Holy shit, that was it? That was all it took to reach first place? These people were way too fragile! Still.

The rankings probably changed at any time...

Calm down, calm down. Dug steadied his emotions. He had made a good start. Keeping first place until the end was what truly mattered...

Feng Jiu saw Dug's small movement and naturally knew he was checking his personal panel. Seeing the delighted expression on his face, his ranking had probably improved enormously.

Feng Jiu was filled with envy and wanted to ask Dug about his ranking, but Feng Yunlu was still here. Clearly, it was not appropriate to ask.

At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the door.

A moment later, Feng Yunjie pushed the door open. Looking at Dug in the room, he said excitedly, "Seventh Master, Father agreed to your plan. He has already sent people out to search for other Heavenly Demons."

Feng Jiu held his breath. It was over. The consequences had arrived. Once the Feng Family found another player, the lie about the Heavenly Demons would be exposed in minutes. They had acted too hastily.

"The family head is indeed a wise man." Dug was not flustered in the slightest. He rose to his feet and asked with a smile, "Since the people searching for Heavenly Demons have already set off, when are we leaving?"

"Seventh Master, there is no rush. Father said that Seventh Master and Ninth Master are still rather weak at present. You should rest and reorganize yourselves at the Feng Family for a few days, improve your strength, and then leave," Feng Yunjie said sheepishly.

"Third Young Master, do you remember what I said?" Dug shook his head and smiled.

You have said so many things. How could I remember every one of them?

Feng Yunjie grumbled inwardly, then respectfully asked, "May I ask what you mean, sir?"

"I am bound to the Feng Family. If one suffers, we all suffer; if one prospers, we all prosper." Dug lifted his chest proudly. "The moment the family head decided to carry out the plan I provided, the Feng Family's fate had already changed. Likewise, my strength has improved..."

As he spoke, he suddenly stepped forward.

Feng Yunjie's vision blurred. Dug was already right in front of him, less than three inches from his face. He moved so quickly that Feng Yunjie had not had time to react at all.

By the time he reacted, he reflexively raised his hands to push Dug away, only to find that Dug had somehow already seized both his wrists...

Feng Jiu's eyes bulged wide. "Holy shit."

"How is that possible?" Feng Yunjie abruptly rose to his feet and cried out.

Outside the door.

Feng Yunming stood frozen in place, dumbfounded.

In truth, Dug was a little surprised as well. He had intended to catch Feng Yunjie off guard by grabbing his throat and displaying his strength.

He had not expected his body to be so unaccustomed to the suddenly increased strength that he shot straight in front of Feng Yunjie. If he had not withdrawn his strength in time, he probably would have sent Feng Yunjie flying.

This lousy game was truly realistic. He even had to adapt to suddenly increased strength and agility...

Fortunately, aside from nearly kissing Feng Yunjie, the effect of showing off had been rather good.

Dug released Feng Yunjie's wrists, drifted back two steps, and smiled faintly. "Third Young Master, do you believe me now? If I had held a sharp blade just now, your heart would likely already have been pierced through..."