Without achieving Golden Core, it's all in vain.

In the Immortal Martial World, only by becoming a Golden Core can one possess the ability to fly through the sky.

Duge had always been pursuing speed during simulation sessions.

With speed comes mobility, and with mobility comes the initiative.

One can advance to attack or retreat to defend.

One wouldn't be trapped in the mountains like the disciples of Seven Star Gate, unable to even call for help without being blocked.

With speed, one can save more time for development, and therefore, gain greater strength.

The two complement each other.

Moreover,

Seven Star Mountain truly needs strong power to stand its ground in this world.

After all, this is a world of cultivation where the might of a single person can turn the tide.

Sky Mist Valley may hesitate to move against Seven Star Mountain for fear of attracting ordinary people, but a prestigious sect need only dispatch a few Golden Core Stage experts to circle above Seven Star Gate on their swords, and even without striking them down, they merely need to shout a couple of times that Seven Star Gate's fund-raising is illegal.

All the shareholders would scatter like birds and beasts, not daring to let out a peep.

In a world where strength is revered, one cannot talk about conscience.

Ordinarily, no disciple from a major sect would covet the modest wealth of Seven Star Mountain; it wouldn't be worth the loss of face.

But with warriors from the Alien Battlefield causing chaos from behind, that's unpredictable.

Although being in the top ten is like an amulet, most warriors wouldn't think about killing him to take his place.

But that won't stop them from using others to kill for them!

No one wants to watch their enemy grow limitlessly...

Ultimately,

Strength is everything, the greatest sense of security.

There are only twenty days left until the rankings will be announced, leaving Duge with not much time.

So,

Even though the power of Sky Mist Valley is far beyond his own, he has decided to take the risk; he can't wait for the Valley Master of Sky Mist Valley to come out of seclusion...

He's banking on the element of surprise, seeking fortune in the midst of danger.

...

"Sect Head Senior Brother, are we really going to Sky Mist Valley?" even after descending the mountain, the seventh junior brother was still confused.

It's one thing not to run before, but now that they've finally established such a big industry, they managed to temporarily ward off Sky Mist Valley with civilians, yet the third senior brother is planning to strike first. Was the person who snatched third senior brother's body a madman?

"To not return what has been given is against manners. They robbed us of our mountain gate, should we not rob theirs?" Duge smiled and turned to look at the two bald heads from Sky Mist Valley he had brought along, "I've already asked Zero One, Sky Mist Valley only has thirteen at Foundation Establishment, and most are in seclusion all year round. Only three of them manage daily affairs; the rest are at the Qi Refinement Realm. With senior brother's current skills, dealing with them shouldn't be a problem."

"How can you take the words of Sky Mist Valley's people as truth? What if he's deceiving you?" The seventh junior brother, annoyed, glared at the two bald captive, "Aren't we just walking into a trap?"

"He won't deceive me," Duge said nonchalantly, "I interrogated them separately."

"After being together for so long, couldn't they have agreed on a story in advance?" the seventh junior brother asked.

"Seventh junior brother, there's a technique to interrogation. I'll teach it to you later," Duge said with a smile, taking out a few sheets of paper from his bosom, "I didn't just clarify the situation in Sky Mist Valley, but also coaxed out their Cultivation Techniques. At first, all seven tried to be cunning with me. Then, with a slight application of methods, I obtained the complete techniques. Leaking a sect's techniques is akin to betrayal. Now, they are tied to our cause..."

Zero One and Zero Two behind him sighed in unison, their gazes at Duge complex, seemingly mingled with resentment and some resignation towards life.

"..." The seventh junior brother took the techniques from Duge's hands dumbfounded, reading them from top to bottom, his eyes filled with disbelief, "You got this out of them?"

"It's not easy with few people, but with more, there's no problem," Duge said, "This is called game theory. Unless one is exceptionally smart, no one can pass this test. Just break through one person, and the rest will collapse."

"Game theory?" The seventh junior brother was stunned again, "Is this also part of the way?"

Duge smiled at him, "Seventh junior brother, when we have some free time on the road, I'll pass on to you the principles and techniques of game theory. If Seven Star Gate wants to grow strong, it must plunder techniques from other sects. Seventh junior brother is smart and suitable to be the head of Seven Star Gate's Discipline Hall."

"..." The seventh junior brother looked at the cultivation technique in his hands, his palms trembling, "Sect Head Senior Brother, plundering the techniques of other sects, if this gets out, won't it incur the wrath of everyone?"

"Fear not. First, we'll take their techniques, then their sects. Once we merge their sects into the Seven Star Gate, we're one family, and it won't count as robbery. We can call it acquisition." Duge turned back to look at the two prisoners from Sky Mist Door, "Yesterday, after they offered up their techniques, I've already agreed to let them join Seven Star Gate. In terms of seniority, they should now address you as 'Senior Uncle'..."

"Senior Uncle, greetings." Under someone's roof, one has no choice but to bow one's head. Hearing Duge's hint, the two prisoners from Sky Mist Valley hurriedly saluted the seventh junior brother.

"..."

The seventh junior brother let out a dry laugh and nodded blankly in return.

Duge chuckled and continued, "The Way of Heaven is to take from the excess and give to the lacking; the way of humanity is to take from the lacking to serve the excess. By a paper agreement, to gather the wealth of thousands to build the Seven Star Gate, this is the way of humanity; to take the secret manuals of Sky Mist Valley to supplement what Seven Star Gate lacks, this is the Way of Heaven. Whether it's the Heavenly Dao or the human way, at the end of the day, it's all a process of plundering! Seventh junior brother, now do you understand why the way of plundering is called the essence of the Tao?"

To articulate plundering in such a fresh and refined manner, you are truly a first, the prisoners from Sky Mist Valley suddenly froze, looking up to Duge with profound respect.

The seventh junior brother was shaken and asked tremulously, "Sect Head Senior Brother, is this the general principle you have comprehended?"

"Precisely. Otherwise, why would I have the confidence to campaign against Sky Mist Valley?" Duge looked at the seventh junior brother and said, "Seventh junior brother, you are perceptive. I have already told you the essence of the Dao. In the future, your every action can be guided by this principle. But be cautious in your methods; there's but a thin line between the Heavenly Dao and the Demon Path. Once you do something wrong, and cross from the Heavenly Dao to the Demon Path, there is no return..."

Recalling everything Duge had done in these past days.

The seventh junior brother pondered for a moment, then asked, "Brother, does the plundering of the Way of Heaven require a justified cause?"

"Indeed, you can be taught!" Duge smiled and nodded, then looked up to see his personal panel flickering.

He felt a surge of joy inside and clicked on it.

As expected.

Under the skill of plundering, a new advanced skill appeared:

Actions on Behalf of Heaven: Take from the insufficient to serve the excess (you may draw power from those stronger than you for your own use); take from the excess to supply the insufficient (you may transfer power to those weaker than you);

Damn!

This is the Star Absorbing Technique!

Not only is there the Star Absorbing Technique, but there's also the Bridal Clothes Divine Skill!

At the moment he saw the skill description, Duge's spirits soared. He glanced at Zero One and targeted him with the skill, but there was no change in his body;

He hesitated for a moment, then reached out towards Zero One.

Zero One dodged subconsciously, but his speed was no longer anywhere close to Duge's. Duge easily laid his hand on his shoulder.

The next instant.

He only felt a great suction force from Duge's palm, and the spiritual power in his Dantian was reduced by a tenth in an instant.

When they were taking people's clothes before, it was still theoretical, but in just a few days, stealing people's powers had moved from theory to practice?

Too outrageous!

Zero One was horrified, feeling his spiritual power rapidly draining away, and quickly took a step back, freeing himself from Duge's grasp.

As soon as Duge took his hand off his shoulder, the inner garment he had been wearing was suddenly in Duge's palm...

"Sect Head, I..." Zero One looked at the clothes that had left his body and tried to make excuses with an awkward expression.

"No need to explain, I understand."

Duge smiled, casually tossed the clothes back to him, and sighed inwardly. As domineering as it was, the need for physical contact, and the inability to absorb instantly, with the possibility of counterattack, it was indeed quite lackluster!

Everything requires hands-on action, not at all like the Immortal Martial World!

The worst part is, after targeting someone, Plucking Feathers in Passing would also initiate, stealing powers along with things...

Who wouldn't struggle and resist when their power is being drawn away? If they struggled a few more times, they would be left naked by him!

With one Star Absorbing Technique, Ren Woxing became an enemy of the martial arts world, widely denounced.

With his combination of skills, stealing power and clothing, he feared he couldn't avoid being termed a pervert!

With the name of a pervert, how could he still cultivate nobility!?

Maddening!