Straight Hook Fishing

With a single sentence, Feng Zhong knew he had been accepted.

He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. "Seventh Brother, what are your plans next? I'll cooperate fully. Should we first use Qiu Yuanlang to lure back a few hall masters from the Iron Palm Sect? I can write a public notice in Luyang City saying Qiu Yuanlang is dying and wants to see a few hall masters before he passes. As soon as this news reaches their ears, no matter how far, they'll come themselves to verify it."

This guy's advancement skill is too overpowered!

A true troublemaker. Even without his help, this guy could grow easily. No wonder he said he'd add fuel to the fire in Luyang City...

However, his weaknesses must be attack and defense. Once his ranking is exposed and he's targeted, the chance of him dying is too high. The faster he grows, the easier it is for others to reap the benefits.

It really tests a person to grasp the keywords in the simulation field...

Du Ge glanced at him and said, "Alright."

Wang San said, "Seventh Brother, you can't believe everything he says. He can lure monsters, but he can't control the size of the monsters he lures! A few hall masters from the Iron Palm Sect might be lured here, but we don't know how many people they'll bring, how they'll come, or when. The uncertainty is too high. We can't be on guard day and night!"

"I can add a date to the notice," Feng Zhong glared at Wang San, displeased. "Wang San, we're a team, can you stop targeting me? I only prepared some black dog blood for you, I didn't actually splash it on you. If it were someone else, they would have killed you long ago upon learning your identity. Qiu Yuanlang is here. Qiu Muqian and the others are Qiu Yuanlang's children, they won't be far away, so they can't bring many reinforcements in a short time. If you have any better suggestions, just say them, no one's stopping you..."

Wang San opened his mouth, said nothing, and turned to silently tend to his severed hand. His skills focused on deterrence and burst damage; he really couldn't play a significant role in the overall strategy.

"We can also write a notice saying Qiu Yuanlang has discovered who the Celestial Demon is within the Iron Palm Sect," Du Ge ignored the bickering pair, intending to fully utilize Feng Zhong's skills. "A small Feng Family has four candidates mixed in. In the vast Iron Palm Sect, I don't believe there isn't even one."

"Good idea," Feng Zhong said. "Right, if the keywords are useful, keep them. If not, get rid of them. We can't let these guys lurk around us. I think the scope can be expanded to the entire Luyang City, saying we have a list of suspected Celestial Demons lurking within Luyang City."

"Not for now," Du Ge glanced at Feng Zhong and shook his head. "If we release a list of suspected individuals, it won't just attract candidates, but people sent by various factions to investigate. The real candidates won't need to come themselves; they can find others to scout around and verify the truth. Anyone with decent skills wouldn't expose themselves. We need to take things step by step and be steady."

"Seventh Brother is right," Feng Zhong chuckled. "I was too impatient."

That night.

After Du Ge and the other two deduced the subsequent events, they had Wang San scare Qiu Yuanlang, easily seizing the Iron Palm Sect's martial arts manuals. The remaining time was spent practicing martial arts.

While attribute increases did enhance their combat power, the simulation field contestants all had the ability to increase their attributes. At this point, martial arts could determine the victor.

With the same attributes, one person practices martial arts and the other doesn't. If they meet, the one who practiced martial arts will surely win.

Moreover, attributes can be weakened when targeted, but learned martial arts cannot. Even a tiny gain is still a gain; at a critical moment, it might be martial arts that turns the tide.

Besides, with a body improved by attributes, as long as one understands the meridians and acupoints, practicing martial arts will yield twice the results with half the effort. Therefore, in the simulation field, any contestant with a competitive spirit will do everything they can to improve their strength.

The Iron Palm Sect's two most famous martial arts were the "Iron Sand Palm" and the light footwork technique "Eight Steps Chasing Cicada" obtained from the Qiao Family Holy Land.

Like the Feng Family's "Shattered Gold, Broken Jade Hand," the Iron Sand Palm was also an external martial art, cultivating internal energy from the outside in. It required auxiliary practices like sand-pounding to temper the palms and medicinal power to maintain them. When practiced to a high level, the palms would be as warm and smooth as jade yet harder than steel. The cultivation process was naturally long and complex, so Du Ge abandoned it.

He focused more of his energy on the light footwork technique, "Eight Steps Chasing Cicada."

"Eight Steps Chasing Cicada" was not just a light footwork technique; it also included moves. The first move, "Asking Leg," involved leaping over ten feet high to attack the opponent's head with a foot. If it missed, another foot would be used to attack. It incorporated feints and real moves, with complex variations, which could indeed increase Du Ge's combat power.

However, for the current Du Ge, the increase was limited. Firstly, his internal energy was insufficient to support him leaping over ten feet high. Secondly, if he had the skill to jump that high, he would have already rushed forward and pierced the opponent.

Still, having it was better than not having it.

As Du Ge practiced the "Eight Steps Chasing Cicada" technique, he pondered finding a suitable internal energy cultivation method. Compared to external martial arts and light footwork, internal energy would clearly benefit him more. Most light footwork techniques also required internal energy assistance.

Early the next morning.

Just as dawn broke, Du Ge and the other two were still practicing when the new Hall Master of the Righteousness Hall, Liu Cheng, proactively came to pay his respects.

Seeing Liu Cheng, Du Ge stopped his movements and smiled, "Hall Master Liu, you're up quite early."

Liu Cheng cupped his fists respectfully and said, "Gang Leader, the Peacekeeping Gang has just been established, and there are many affairs. Your subordinate dares not be lazy."

"It's fine to sleep a little longer," Du Ge smiled. "You're different from us. Only with sufficient energy can you achieve twice the results with half the effort when doing things."

Looking at the energetic Du Ge and the others, Liu Cheng marveled at the boundless energy of the Celestial Demon and smiled. "The Gang Leader is a Celestial Demon, so your subordinate naturally wouldn't dare compare himself to you. But matters cannot be delayed. Sleeping less won't kill me."

He paused and continued, "Gang Leader, yesterday, Qiu Muqian and Han Zuo did not return. They likely know what's happening here and have fled for safety or are seeking reinforcements. The old Gang Leader and the sect master of the Divine Fist School, Tong Shihong, were old acquaintances. Tong Shihong is a top master of this era. His 'Overlord Fist' is performed with divine skill, and his martial arts are far superior to the old Gang Leader's. I ask that the Sect Master make plans early. The external industries of the Iron Palm Sect should also be recovered as soon as possible, lest changes occur over time."

Yesterday, Liu Cheng publicly acknowledged Feng Qi as the Gang Leader, cutting off his own retreat. For his own safety, he had to plan wholeheartedly for Du Ge. The thought of Du Ge's failure made him unable to sleep.

"Hmm, I already have a plan," Du Ge glanced at him and nodded. He pointed to the notice Feng Zhong had written earlier. "You'll post the notice later. To deal with external threats, we must first pacify internal ones. We need to find the Celestial Demon within the Peacekeeping Gang before making other arrangements. Today, many people who received the news should come to plead their grievances. I plan to establish a Hall of Redress within the gang. From now on, Wang San will be responsible for handling false and wrong cases and various injustices. You find a few incense masters to assist him..."

"Yes." Liu Cheng nodded and went to pick up the notice Feng Zhong had written. Upon seeing the content, he couldn't help but be stunned. "Gang Leader, since you already know who the Celestial Demon is, why aren't you directly capturing him? Why write such a notice?"

"The old Gang Leader knows, not me," Du Ge said. "After the old Gang Leader finished speaking to me yesterday, he fell back into a coma. The reason I'm writing this notice is to deter the Celestial Demon within the gang and see if we can trick him out."

"Isn't it easier to just ask him when the old Gang Leader wakes up?" Liu Cheng said. "Why go through unnecessary trouble and alert the enemy?"

"Look at the second notice," Du Ge pointed to the paper below.

Liu Cheng looked at the second notice, his expression changed, and he trembled, "Is the old Gang Leader... on his deathbed?"

"Yes," Du Ge sighed. "The old Gang Leader's injuries are too severe; he probably doesn't have much time left. We are the Peacekeeping Gang; we must uphold the final dignity of a dying person and not pressure him too much. Post that notice in Luyang City. The old Gang Leader's last wish is to see his children. We will try our best to fulfill his request..."

Your fishing method is too obvious!

Only a fool would fall for it!

Liu Cheng was silent for a moment. He felt he couldn't keep challenging the new Gang Leader's authority, so he gritted his teeth and said, "The Gang Leader is indeed benevolent and righteous beyond compare."