Chapter 206 - - 205 Rush Valley_1

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“Senior Brother, what’s wrong?” The seventh junior brother looked at Duge with concern, his voice cautious.

“Nothing much, I might have found my Dao.”

Duge gave him a glance, his expression calm.

In a moment, he had figured it out. Better to be the target of everyone’s fury than to lose his life here.

Aren’t those keywords like slaughter and cruelty often associated with villains in the end?

How can one always play the good guy?

If he stumbled upon a keyword related to pillaging, the fact that he managed to come this far was already quite impressive!

As for being noble?

If it’s feasible, do it; if not, set it aside. Surviving is the top priority.

After all, isn’t everyone else just a keyword too?

“You’ve found your Dao?” The seventh junior brother looked puzzled.

Duge extended his hand and patted the junior brother.

The next moment.

The spiritual power he had cultivated in his Dantian surged like a torrent into the seventh junior brother’s meridians through his palm.

The seventh junior brother’s eyes widened in astonishment, “This… this… Senior Brother, your spiritual power… "

Duge released his hand and, in doing so, took off his junior brother’s coat, then tossed it back to him, “According to the Way of Heaven, take from the surplus and give to the deficient. From now on, you don’t need to cultivate, I will feed you my power…”

He turned to look at Zero One, “And the same goes for you. Don’t frown and harbor resentment towards me just because I absorbed a little of your strength. Stay loyal to me, and when my power grows, I will naturally reciprocate. As long as my strength keeps rising, Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages for all the people of the Seven Star Gate are within reach.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader.” A glint of surprise flashed in Zero One’s eyes, and he immediately knelt on the ground, “Your disciple will always follow your lead, and lay down life and limb for you.”

“Good, what’s your name again?” asked Duge, “Now that you have joined the Seven Star Gate, the number of a convicted criminal no longer applies to you. Return to your original name.”

“This disciple’s name is Ma Chuanzong, thank you, Sect Leader,” Zero One said with a salute.

“And you?”

Duge then turned towards Zero Two.

Zero Two was completely baffled. He saw his senior brother and the seventh uncle both had their clothes taken off after which their expressions changed completely. He didn’t understand at all what had happened.

But that didn’t stop him from wanting to reclaim his own name; after all, being called Zero Two was rather embarrassing.

Therefore.

He too knelt down opportunely: “This disciple’s name is Meng Chu, thank you, Sect Leader.”

…

For the next ten days or so, Duge led the seventh junior brother, and with the guidance of two traitors from Sky Mist Valley, they traveled day and night, heading straight for the valley.

During this time.

Duge did not engage in any pillaging.

Because he discovered a distressing fact: whenever he used his Plucking Feathers in Passing to pillage, Actions on Behalf of Heaven would also activate, and the power within his body would continuously transfer to the bandits with each pluck.

Although his attributes would increase, the power that slipped away could not be seized back, which felt a bit like a loss…

After all.

No matter how high the attributes might rise, flying on a sword still required spiritual power.

Heaven knows.

How he ended up with two such ridiculous passive skills…

To increase attributes and gain strength, he must plunder those with greater power than his own.

Of course.

If his spiritual power were high enough, he wouldn’t fear losing a little bit since, during battle, some loss of spiritual power is inevitable…

Fortunately, although Duge had left the Seven Star Gate, the sect’s fundraising program continued unabated.

As the influence of the Seven Star Gate spread, more and more people rushed to invest money, and his attributes kept increasing.

Duge guessed that if the Seven Star Gate collapsed once, turning the investors’ money to ash, his attributes would leap in quality.

But for now, the influence of the Seven Star Gate was still weak; it needed to grow to attract more investors’ attention, so he wasn’t ready to do that yet.

…

Sky Mist Valley was located in a smoky valley far from the mundane world.

A sign reading “No Entry for Outsiders” was planted at the entrance to the valley.

There were disciples standing guard. Within the valley, one could vaguely see disciples in uniform walking to and fro, and houses built against the mountainside, which made the dilapidated Seven Star Gate seem much more authentic by comparison.

Standing outside Sky Mist Valley.

The increasingly resolute Duge, covered in dust, was even more determined to achieve Golden Core. Traveling back and forth between the two minor sects had wasted a whole month in commuting alone—how could he possibly increase his attributes like that?

“Senior Brother, should we wait until nightfall to go in?” the seventh junior brother whispered, “There are more than a thousand people inside Sky Mist Valley, right?”

“No need, let’s just go in. It’s not clear enough at night, and the shock value won’t be enough. This time, we’re here to make a name for ourselves. We want the people in the valley to see what happens to those who offend the Seven Star Gate, so when we take them over, we’ll encounter less resistance.” Duge took a deep breath, adjusting the spiritual power within his body, “I’ll lead, and the rest of you follow behind to take down anyone who slips through—let’s not let a single person get away.”

“Yes.”

The group nodded in agreement and responded all together.

No sooner had their voices faded.

Duge’s figure had already vanished from their sight.

Duge was at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Stage, and with the addition of attribute enhancements, his personal combat capability was comparable to that of Foundation Establishment.

Outside Sky Mist Valley.

The guarding disciples were just novices in cultivation—no match for Duge. In the blink of an eye, Duge had touched their heads, and before they could even sound the alarm, they were taken down.

Afterward.

Duge flashed into the valley.

Because Sky Mist Valley was far removed from the secular world and mostly comprised of handymen for procurement and disciples immersed in cultivation, they seldom had contact with the outside.

Moreover, small sects like Sky Mist Valley without even a single Golden Core were rarely visited by anyone from the cultivation world. Martial arts sects often engaged in worldly activities and had little intersection with cultivation sects.

Thus.

When Duge burst into the valley, the disciples inside did not even consider the possibility of an enemy attack.

With the advantage of surprise, Duge’s Plucking Feathers in Passing technique was overpowering, and to prevent his power from draining too quickly, he didn’t even bother stripping clothes anymore.

He resorted instead to the touch of death.

With a single touch, they were gone.

Many didn’t even catch a glimpse of Duge’s face before they were decapitated and met untimely deaths.

In no time at all.

Duge had made his way into the heart of Sky Mist Valley.

The seventh junior brother, following closely behind him, was astonished at his senior brother’s swift and efficient killing technique.

After his Enlightenment Dao.

The senior brother became ever more formidable.

…

Duge fought his way to the practice ground outside the main hall of Sky Mist Valley, when finally someone realized something was amiss.

After all,

beheading is not the same as plucking feathers, and no matter how fast Duge moved, he couldn’t avoid being splattered with blood.

Seeing Duge drenched in blood, the expressions of the disciples on the practice ground changed abruptly.

The Senior Brother responsible for training the disciples immediately went to meet him, blocking Duge’s path, and demanded sternly, “Who are you? Why do you intrude on Sky Mist Valley and slaughter our Sect Disciples?”

“Wang Chong of Seven Star Gate has come to discuss the matter of Sky Mist Valley merging with Seven Star Gate,” Duge gave him a glance, announced himself, and suddenly lunged forward, thrusting his sword and then reaching towards the man.

But when he reached out, he grasped at nothing.

Duge was startled, and the man’s sword was already sweeping toward him, its light casting a trail of afterimages, as if more than ten swords were slashing at him simultaneously.

Duge quickly dodged and retreated.

The man, seeing Wang Chong dodge, sneered contemptuously, “So you are from Seven Star Gate. With such meager skills, you can only bully our Sect’s mountain-guarding disciples. And now you dream about Sky Mist Valley merging with Seven Star Gate? What folly. Disciples, surround the valley entrance and don’t let him escape…”

Upon hearing his command, the many disciples of Sky Mist Valley moved into action, surrounding Duge with swords drawn.

At this moment,

the seventh disciple and Ma Chuanzong, among others, were late to arrive.

Seeing the man confronting Duge, Ma Chuanzong quickly warned, “Sect Leader, be careful! He is Lu Dong, the First Senior Brother of Sky Mist Valley and has been at the Foundation Establishment Stage for three years.”

“Ma Chuanzong?” Lu Dong turned toward Ma Chuanzong, and even though he was bald now, he recognized him instantly, “You betrayed Sky Mist Valley? No wonder there’s been no message. It turns out you few became traitors. Disciples, seize Ma Chuanzong…”

Foundation Establishment Stage, ah!

Duge’s eyes lit up, and he charged forward once again.

“Overestimating yourself,” Lu Dong snorted, sidestepping Duge’s sword and stabbing at his chest.

Duge didn’t dodge or evade.

In Lu Dong’s astonished gaze, Duge thrust his chest forward onto the oncoming blade.

Pu!

The Longsword pierced straight into Duge’s left chest.

Lu Dong’s battle experience was vast; he was about to use his sword to sweep sideways and worsen Duge’s injury, but in the next instant, his hand was empty. The Longsword, which had been stuck in Duge’s chest, was already in the latter’s hand without notice.

And the wound on the other’s chest seemed as if it was non-existent, as not a drop of blood came forth.

Lu Dong was momentarily stunned.

The next moment,

Duge, with a smile in his eyes, touched his hand.

Before Lu Dong could react, his wrist ached, and his entire hand had already left his body.

At the same time,

he felt the surging Spiritual Power within him being stripped away the moment his hand was severed.

What was happening?

With what had his hand been severed?

Having lost his sword and now a hand out of the blue, Lu Dong was completely baffled. He instinctively turned around and ran toward the valley.

“Thinking of leaving after catching my eye?”

Duge tossed away the severed hand and leaped forward, his Longsword aimed straight at Lu Dong’s lower back.

Although he was at the Qi Refinement Stage, with his attribute enhancement, his speed was nearly on par with someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Lu Dong had been stripped of a layer of Spiritual Power and was fleeing in a panic; how could he possibly evade Duge?

Schlick!

Lu Dong’s robe was split open by the tip of the sword, blood seeping out immediately, as Duge’s hand took advantage of the opening to reach forward.

With the removal of a garment, Lu Dong lost another layer of Spiritual Power.

As Duge grew stronger,

the cycle continued—each slash from his sword followed by a touch, and before long, Lu Dong was riddled with wounds and stripped bare.

With all his possessions removed,

Duge, not wanting to kill him and hoping to obtain more Spiritual Power, found it necessary to strip away even his hair.

The once handsome Lu Dong abruptly became a shining bald man, his body carved with one wound after another by Duge.

He desperately dodged Duge’s left hand, a look of horror on his face, “What Spell is this?”

“Big Dipper Seven Star Skill,” Duge smiled and said, “Senior Brother Lu, stop struggling. I showed mercy just now. If you keep struggling, you won’t lose just a hand anymore. Stand still and don’t move, offer up your power to me, and I might spare your life. Find a good doctor, and you might even get your hand reattached…”

Lu Dong was taken aback.

Seizing the moment, Duge firmly grabbed the arm from where Lu Dong had lost his hand.

The Spiritual Power in Lu Dong surged out like a burst dam, all pouring into Duge’s meridians.

Lu Dong was horrified, raising his palm to strike at Duge’s chest.

Duge reluctantly let go, but then, he also took another one of his arms.

Lu Dong was stunned.

Duge gave him an innocent look as he threw the arm back, “I told you not to move! Look, now you’ve lost an arm too.”

“Evil Demon!”

Lu Dong spat out a mouthful of blood and tried to flee again. But with his Spiritual Power scraped away by Duge and bearing grave injuries, how could he possibly outrun Duge?

He barely got two steps away before Duge had grabbed his throat.

As Lu Dong tried to resist,

Duge’s voice was already by his ear, “Don’t move; this time I’ve got your neck.”

Lu Dong suddenly stiffened, the Spiritual Power he gathered drained away completely, leaving him vulnerable to Duge sucking away the Spiritual Power he had been accumulating, without daring to make a move.

At the same time,

the seventh disciple and Ma Chuanzong were engaged in a tough fight, all of them wounded and barely holding on.

Too weak!

Duge sighed and carrying Lu Dong, charged toward them, “Stop! Lu Dong is in my hands, or I will kill him.”

Upon turning their heads and seeing the situation, all disciples of Sky Mist Valley were stunned on the spot.

What was happening?

Was that naked bald man Senior Brother Lu Dong?

What had befallen him in such a short time?

As they looked at Duge, unsure of what to do, a thunderous voice came from within the valley, “Don’t worry about Lu Dong, kill them…”

As the voice echoed,

a green figure shot forth like an electric flash.

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