How did my clothes come off?

Why was my spiritual power absorbed by him?

Xu Heming was both shocked and terrified. He couldn't bother to retrieve his severed hand anymore and turned back, launching a torrential assault on Duge with his remaining hand.

The surging spiritual power blew the surrounding grass and trees in all directions.

Crack!

Crack!

Onlookers could hear the sound of Duge's tendons snapping and bones breaking. They could even see bulges appear on Duge's back, clearly bone protrusions caused by blows to his body.

Duge was spitting out blood mouthful after mouthful, as if it cost him nothing.

However, Xu Heming's clothes were similarly decreasing one piece at a time. In the blink of an eye, he was down to just a few undergarments.

"Third Senior Brother!" The Seventh Disciple had never seen Duge beaten so miserably. He cried out in alarm and was about to step forward to help.

"Don't come over here," Duge stopped him in time. He didn't want this capable helper he had barely managed to train to fall here.

"Third Senior Brother..."

Tears streamed from the Seventh Disciple's eyes on the spot. That single "Don't come over here" convinced him that Duge was his true Third Senior Brother for life and that he would only serve him loyally from then on.

"What are you waiting for? Come and help me!" Xu Heming's words paled in comparison to Duge's willingness to face danger. The disciples of Sky Mist Valley felt their hearts grow colder.

Qian Dajin and the other three Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators watched their Valley Master getting stripped gradually and Duge, who seemed impossible to kill. Hesitant, they dared not step forward.

"Idiots, do you think you can survive if I die?" Xu Heming ranted desperately.

He was out of options.

Truth be told, he had never encountered such a tenacious enemy before---just brushing against him and spiritual power would be absorbed.

This was the nightmare of every cultivator.

Compared to having one's cultivation absorbed, being stripped of clothes was child's play.

"Join the Seven Star Gate, and we are all one family." Duge was fighting more ferociously as the battle went on. His adrenaline surged, and he was healing from his injuries before he even felt the pain.

Furthermore, the spiritual power in Xu Heming's body was vast and powerful. Once absorbed by Duge, it could be used directly. Plundering from those higher in rank also granted greater attribute boosts. As the battle wore on, his power steadily rose.

Xu Heming was landing fewer and fewer hits on him.

"Who do you trust, me or him?" Xu Heming shouted angrily, "Go kill the people of the Seven Star Gate and divide his attention."

"Dare to touch my people, and after killing Xu Heming, I will flay and dismember you," Duge countered sharply.

Qian Dajin and the others, who had just started moving, were stopped dead in their tracks.

The Seventh Disciple looked at the three Foundation Establishment elders and calmly said, "Elders, my Sect Head Senior Brother risked his own life to protect us; Valley Master Xu, on the other hand, urges you to face death for his own safety. Who deserves your trust more, is it not clear?"

Qian Dajin and the others looked at the two men fighting, their expressions complex.

By all rights.

Wang Chong came knocking at their door, mugging and chopping off arms, clearly the act of an Evil Demon.

But somehow, compared to their own greedy and cowardly Sect Leader, they found themselves admiring the other side more.

"Elders, the momentum of Sky Mist Valley has been lost, and the Seven Star Gate is lacking Foundation Establishment experts. If the elders join the Seven Star Gate, the preferential treatment you receive will surely be much better than in Sky Mist Valley," said the Seventh Disciple. "Moreover, once the Sect Leader defeats Valley Master Xu, he will obtain the cultivation techniques of Sky Mist Valley; you elders won't even need to change your cultivation techniques..."

Qian Dajin and the others exchanged looks, visibly tempted.

"Scoundrel!" Xu Heming was both shocked and frightened, "Don't try to undermine my troops' morale."

"Valley Master Xu, there's a saying that if the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked. You are so indecisive, greedy for life and afraid of death, how can you expect your disciples to sacrifice themselves for you?" Duge laughed heartily, "As for me, who leads by example and cherishes my disciples, I am the virtuous one whom people will follow sincerely. Disciples of the Seven Star Gate, do you regret joining me?"

"I do not regret it, even if it costs me my life," the Seventh Disciple was the first to respond.

"I do not regret it, even if it costs me my life," Lu Dong, who had his cultivation absorbed and arm cut off by Duge, was the second to respond. At this moment, he was truly captivated by Duge's charisma. He believed that following such a Sect Leader wouldn't be a mistake.

"I do not regret it, even if it costs me my life."

Those who had been wronged were moved, let alone those who Duge had shared his plundered power with. Suddenly, cries of unwavering loyalty filled Sky Mist Valley.

On the hillside.

Hundreds of Sky Mist Valley disciples watched the impassioned disciples of the Seven Star Gate with mixed emotions, feeling an inexplicable envy in their hearts.

...

What is nobility?

This is nobility!

As long as you can win people's wholehearted admiration, they don't care how reprehensible your actions might be.

A surge of attributes flooded into Duge's body.

His personal interface flickered, obviously exhibiting new skills, but Duge had no time to check what those skills were at this moment.

Xu Heming's clothes had already been completely stripped by him.

The old fellow realized that with any contact, his power would be absorbed, so he became extremely elusive, not giving Duge any chance to touch him. It had been half a day since Duge had absorbed any spiritual power.

He needed to think of a strategy.

Duge's gaze instinctively shifted towards Xu Heming's legs.

Xu Heming's body jolted in shock, and he instinctively stepped back.

At this moment.

He was filled with hate and fear. Knowing this would happen, why did he think of expanding his territory and provoking the Seven Star Gate? Wouldn't it have been better to break through to the Golden Core and think about expansion afterward?

How come this guy just won't die?

In this world, there cannot be a man who is invulnerable to death, there are always weaknesses, his cultivation technique must have a flaw, and once that flaw is found, he can certainly be killed with a single blow.

While Duge was pondering how to take Xu Heming down.

Xu Heming was also scouring Duge's body for weaknesses, looking for his flaws.

He was already in a situation where he could not back down; if he did not kill Duge, let alone attaining the Golden Core, all the industries he had worked so hard to establish would be lost.

"Brothers on the hillside, the power of Sky Mist Valley is gone. Tear off your sleeve, and you may join the Seven Star Gate. As Sect Leader, I will protect you thoroughly and lead you to soar," Duge channeled his spiritual power, attempting to persuade Sky Mist Door's disciples to defect, thus dividing Xu Heming's attention.

Rip!

As his voice fell.

A series of sounds of tearing sleeves came from the hillside.

...

"I wish to join Seven Star Gate."

"I also wish to join Seven Star Gate, please take me in, Sect Leader."

...

Scattered voices rang out, and more and more disciples of Sky Mist Door tore off their sleeves.

Hearing the sounds of sleeves being torn off one after another, Xu Heming's heart bled, his face trembling, "Thief, thief, I will not rest until you are dead!"

Before he could finish.

Rip!

A slight sound.

It was Qian Dajin tearing off his own sleeve.

Xu Heming caught this in the corner of his eye, and with a start he exclaimed, "Qian Dajin!"

At that moment of distraction, he felt a pain in his wrist. The last of his fighting hands was touched by Duge and instantly flew off his body.

Duge laughed heartily, "Old Qian, well done! After we take down Xu Heming, you shall be recorded as having the greatest merit."

Qian Dajin held his torn sleeve, full of confusion. Heaven knows, he never intended to tear it off. Somehow, influenced by the crowd's actions, he unconsciously did just that.

The other two Foundation Establishment Stage gave Qian Dajin a disdainful look and did not hesitate to tear off their own sleeves.

"Sect Master Wang, I wish to join Seven Star Gate."

"Sect Master Wang, I come to lend you a helping hand."

Two voices arose.

One person swore allegiance to Seven Star Gate.

The other person simply drew his sword and rushed up to stab Xu Heming in the back.

Seeing this, the other person also launched an attack.

Qian Dajin was stunned, "You two fools, surrendering even more thoroughly than I, why despise me, dishonorable rats!"

Then.

He drew his sword and joined the fray, "Xu Heming, I've long found you displeasing to my eyes."

Seeing this, Xu Heming was haunted by the horrors of death and gave no thought to his hands; he turned and rushed towards the valley exit. He couldn't understand how within the blink of an eye, the Sky Mist Valley he had painstakingly established had become part of Seven Star Gate?

He had provided for them, taught them arts, yet in his time of trouble, everyone chose to betray him. Was he really such a failure as a person?

Duge roared with laughter and pursued him, "Valley Master Xu, the situation is beyond salvage. Wouldn't it be better to also join the Seven Star Gate? I might even leave you a whole corpse..."

Xu Heming did not look back, "Thief, do not be arrogant! Once I escape, I will go to the Supervisory Academy to report your demonic deeds. Let's see if the academy will tolerate you..."

Bang!

A loud noise.

It cut off Xu Heming's words.

It was Ling Pingshuang who saw the opportunity; like a scallion sprouting from the dry earth, he leaped towards Xu Heming for an interception.

Two bare naked old men collided, perfectly cutting off Xu Heming's chance of escape.

Duge took the opportunity to catch up and removed Xu Heming's legs.

He sealed the acupoints to stop the bleeding and caught him by the neck with one hand, lifting him up and freely plundering his spiritual power.

Ling Pingshuang looked at Duge with difficulty, showing a pleasing smile, "Sect Master Wang, have I made a meritorious deed?"

"Of course, Elder Ling, you also have the greatest merit." Duge glanced at him with a smile and instructed, "Elder Ling can go find his own arms, use ice to preserve them. Once I have dealt with Xu Heming, I will find a doctor for you to reattach the limbs..."

Ling Pingshuang was suddenly taken aback.

At this moment, instead of focusing on consolidating Sky Mist Valley, he was thinking about reattaching his arms?

After a moment of silence, Ling Pingshuang sighed and stood up, bowing deeply to Duge, "Sect Leader, Ling Pingshuang swears, I am willing to lay down my life for Seven Star Gate, to plunge into fire and water for it. If I break this oath, may I be cursed by gods and men alike."

At this point.

He was full of emotion, having forgotten that he was unclothed, as well as how he lost his arms!

Feeling the enhancement of his attributes, Duge smiled and turned to instruct the seventh disciple, "Junior Brother, go and pick up the arms of those elders, use ice to preserve them. Once we find the doctor, we will reattach them all at once..."

As these words were spoken.

Duge's attributes increased once more, and the elders lying naked pretending to be dead on the ground could no longer remain lying. One after another, they stood up, swearing to join the Seven Star Gate.

"False righteousness," Xu Heming glared furiously at Duge, his body trembling, his eyes fierce as if he wished to devour Duge's flesh and sleep on his hide.

"Valley Master Xu, it's just karma, the killer shall always be killed in turn," Duge said nonchalantly with a smile, "The moment you harbored the intention to seize another's sect, the fate of Sky Mist Valley was sealed."