```
"No matter how eloquently you put it, it's still betrayal," Feng Jiu cut off Duge, saying, "Family Head, don't trust him. Heavenly Demons are cunning and capable of disguising their key phrases. Don't listen to what he says, watch what he does. A Heavenly Demon like me that grows simply by eating is the easiest to control..."
Having undermined Duge's standing, Feng Jiu felt a surge of satisfaction, inexplicably comforting.
"Brother Jiu, you've really hurt my feelings. You may insult my body, but you mustn't tarnish my reputation," Duge shook his head and sighed. "It was you who proposed this cooperation in the beginning. Now that the situation is favorable, it is also you who are targeting me. Didn't it occur to you that if I truly wished to kill you, I would have slit your throat with that tile when I fed you the blood? Why else would I bring the third young master and the second elder to see you, and try to persuade you to see reason and introduce you to the Feng Family?"
Feng Jiu crossed his arms and looked at Duge with a cold voice, "If you hadn't tormented me to the brink of death, I might have believed you."
"Enough, I won't explain any further. You may abuse me a thousand times, yet I treat you like my first love," Duge shook his head as he looked at Feng Jiu. He then turned to Feng Shiren and gave a fist-palm salute, speaking earnestly, "Family Head, please don't mind Feng Jiu's impulsiveness. 'One pays handsomely for the horse of true mettle.' If even a Heavenly Demon like Feng Jiu could be treated as an honored guest by the Feng Family, isn't it even more likely other Heavenly Demons would join? Now that Heavenly Demons have descended, the times have changed. We may appear weak now, but in the future, whoever controls more Heavenly Demons will be able to grow stronger and have more sway in the Martial Worlds. Being ahead, staying ahead... "
With those words, Duge not only defended Feng Jiu but also the Feng Family, feeling twice as powerful as before. Every cell in his body was brimming with strength.
Exciting!
Grow stronger?
Have more sway in the Martial Worlds?
In the council hall.
The Feng Family members looked at Duge as if he were a fool, what a boast!
The vast Martial Worlds, the Feng Family is merely a second-rate household, lacking both cultivation techniques and talent. To think about growing stronger is wishful thinking!
Relying on a few Heavenly Demons?
Seeing how easily the two of you could be subdued, it's probably more empty talk!
What does he mean by 'a Heavenly Demon like me'?
What does he mean by 'One pays handsomely for the horse of true mettle'?
I had already decided to join the Feng Family, and with just a few words, you make it seem like I owe you a favor?
What do you take yourself for?
You're clearly not aiming to defend, but to beguile, aren't you?
Feng Jiu's anger was stirred up by Duge once again, and he was about to retort.
Suddenly, a shiver ran through his heart as he considered a possibility.
Deception!
Duge's key phrase might be deception or mere trickery...
From the beginning, everything he said and did was a lie—a way to recover just as effectively.
Damn!
How careless of me!
Only because I was careless, did I believe his key phrase was to defend...
MMP!
This bastard must've exclusively studied the keyword deception in school, using it so adeptly that he probably even awakened an advanced skill.
Otherwise.
Given his character, when Feng Qi asked him about the Feng family's mansion layout, he naturally should've laid a few traps instead of disclosing everything...
When did things get out of control?
Was it when he planned to use himself as bait to kill Feng Qi?
No.
It was after Feng Qi fed him the blood, and I let my guard down against him.
Feng Jiu inhaled sharply and looked back at Duge, forcing himself to calm down and seriously analyze the current situation.
At this moment.
Feng Qi had already gained power. If I wish to survive in the simulation, I might have to flatter him for the time being, and to get rid of him, I'll need to discover his true key phrase and target it accordingly.
He surreptitiously surveyed his surroundings, seeing the contempt on the faces of the Feng Family members. He sneered inwardly; this fool was too confident. How could the natives be so easily deceived? The school emphasized time and again not to expose one's key phrase to the natives. Did he really think it was a joke? It was an invaluable lesson learned on the Alien Battlefield...
This idiot, even if he wanted to coax the Feng Family, should've waited until he was stronger!
The powerless have no voice; they'd be fools to listen to you!
The story of a flawed Heavenly Demon's invasion would crumble at the slightest investigation!
"Mr. Seven, do all Heavenly Demons possess Divine Skills like the two gentlemen?" Feng Shiren stroked his beard and asked.
"Family Head, the Demon Realm is barren and everyone is a Heavenly Demon. It's difficult to leverage one's innate abilities since everyone is roughly the same. However, it's different in the Mortal Realm. With its vast population and abundant resources, Heavenly Demons have room to grow and can become omnipotent. This is why Heavenly Demons, despite losing immortality, still yearn to come to the Mortal Realm. This land is too conducive for Heavenly Demons to thrive. As for Divine Skills, naturally, they have them..."
```
Duge had a Rear Eye, so what Feng Jiu could see, he naturally could as well, and with his heightened senses, he saw even more clearly than others.
Sacrifice Oneself for Justice could only lower others' guard, not their intelligence.
However, this didn't hinder him from continuing to spin his tale. All he needed was for his words and actions to match key phrases to achieve rapid growth.
"As Mr. Seven said, the Heavenly Demon is omnipotent. So, when the Heavenly Demon grows stronger, will this world be theirs or ours?" Feng Yunjie asked.
"Third Young Master worries too much. How many people are the Heavenly Demons? They all have their weaknesses. Besides, after possessing bodies, they rely on the human form and lose their immortal nature. How could they control the Mortal Realm?" Duge said, "Take Feng Jiu, for example, cut off his food supply, and he'll keep weakening until he starves to death. As long as you grasp the Heavenly Demons' weaknesses, you can control them and use them for your purposes..."
Fools!
Feng Jiu, who had just suffered another backstab, glanced at Duge, maintained his composure, and held back his anger!
He was curious to see how Duge would end up.
"I heard from Mr. Nine before that you also have teachers. Is the Demon Realm the same as the Mortal Realm?" Feng Yunjie kept probing for information.
"Of course, without a teacher, how is there inheritance?" Duge laughed, "We are also a world. Heavenly Demons are not born out of thin air; they too must learn how to survive in other worlds..."
"Mr. Seven, aren't you afraid of the Heavenly Demons retaliating for selling their secrets to us?" Feng Shiyi asked.
"Heavenly Demons have different attributes, some of which even counter each other. Fighting for domination is common in the Demon Realm; they are inherently at odds, so there is no talking of betrayal." Duge turned to look at Feng Jiu and smiled, "Moreover, my attribute is protection. I grow by protecting others. Compared to my growth, what do other Heavenly Demons' freedoms have to do with me? By finding them a sanctuary, I'm also fulfilling a kinship..."
As he spoke.
He took a moment to check his personal profile.
In this short while, the rankings had changed again, with the value becoming 108\860.
More than seventy participants had been eliminated from the simulator; Duge had no idea how they were knocked out, but it made him increasingly aware of how cruel this game was...
Of course, there was also good news. His ranking had advanced by more than seventy places, and although he didn't know how the individual ranking was calculated, he still had a long way to go before reaching the top ten. Yet the rapid advancement also gave Duge a glimmer of hope.
"Family Head, make a decision!" Duge continued to tempt, "The Heavenly Demons have just entered the world, mostly still weak, all in hiding. Once they become stronger, it will be much harder to recruit them. If other sects discover the benefits of the Heavenly Demons, we'll lose our chance."
Cough!
Feng Shiren coughed again and shook his head, "Mr. Seven, I know you're considering the Feng Family's interests, but the Feng Family's reputation in the Martial Worlds isn't prominent. If the recruitment of the Heavenly Demons is exposed, I'm afraid it could bring disaster upon our clan. I know Mr. Seven is sincere, but the Feng Family's capacity is too small. This matter is better discussed later. Sires, why not tell me more about the Demon Realm, so I can have a preliminary understanding of the Heavenly Demons."
Duge looked at Feng Shiren and after a moment of silence, said, "Family Head, you may think we're too weak to help the Feng Family now. Or perhaps you fear that once the Heavenly Demons grow they will become uncontrollable and eventually turn against the Feng Family. But throughout history, opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared. The Family Head only wants stability for the Feng Family, but have you considered, once the Heavenly Demons are utilized by others, will there be a place for the Feng Family in the Martial Worlds? Even if others commanded the Heavenly Demons to annex the Feng Family, how would you resist? Rely on the disciples of the Feng Family?"
Feng Yunlu, the Feng Family's fourth son, sneered, "All talk, acting like you weaklings could actually cause any disturbance. I alone could take on ten of you."
"Weak?" Duge was stunned for a moment and said, "Please, Family Head, seal my Inner Strength!"
"There's no need. I have already checked; your Dantian is shattered, your Inner Strength has long been dissipated," Feng Shiyi suddenly said.
Damn!
Duge was startled and cursed inwardly. He had wondered why, unlike other sparring partners, he couldn't feel any Inner Strength, and here was the reason.
MMP.
It seemed there would be no chance to experience martial arts for now, and he was uncertain if there were any herbs or Cultivation Techniques that could repair a Dantian. Logically, having a shattered Dantian was the protagonist's treatment...
Crack!
Duge casually struck at the square table beside him.
The square table shattered upon impact.
Feng Shiren was stunned.
Feng Jiu's mouth twitched, and he subconsciously swallowed, impressed by how quickly this rascal had grown!
Feng Yunlu was dumbfounded.
Duge smiled and said, "Fourth Young Master, Feng Qi possessed me for less than half an hour, and just by protecting the Feng Family, I've grown this much. If I could truly help the Feng Family soar to greatness, even I do not know how powerful I could become. Do you still think the Heavenly Demons are weak?"
Feng Shiren stood up, approached Feng Qi, and grabbed his wrist. His fingers touched the pulse and after a moment, he lifted his head, looking at Duge with surprise, "The Dantian is Like New, but indeed the Inner Strength is gone."
As these words came out.
Everyone was in an uproar.
Feng Shiyi rushed over, pressed Duge's pulse, and after careful examination, said in disbelief, "How is this possible? Can the Heavenly Demon repair even a shattered Dantian?"
His Dantian had indeed been repaired — the keyword was really effective!
Duge was overjoyed, and looking at everyone, he said, "Gentlemen, do you still underestimate the Heavenly Demons? My attribute is maintenance, which is extremely difficult to operate and requires sincere consideration for others to grow. Yet even so, I can still grow so swiftly. Take Feng Jiu, for instance, who can grow simply by feeding, or the Heavenly Demons who grow through other simple attributes. When they grow, can the Feng Family really hold its own against them?"
Watching the Feng family members deep in thought, Duge struck while the iron was hot, "Family Head, the Feng Family might not need to use the Heavenly Demons, but it absolutely must not be without them. The power of Martial Family clans comes from their martial arts manuals. If you have a group of Heavenly Demon retainers, will the Feng Family lack secret manuals? Maybe in no time at all, the Feng Family will become the next Qiao Family, and it will be the Feng Family who convenes the Martial Worlds' great meetings."
He paused, and his voice suddenly rose, "Family Head, seize the opportunity."
Seize the opportunity?
Feng Shiren's pupils shook, and he turned to look sharply at Duge. Evidently, he was moved.
Fuck!
Feng Jiu nearly bit his own tongue, damn, he really managed to make a convincing argument. Was this guy schooled at an elite academy or what!