Apocalypse: I Have One More Keyword Than Others

Luyang City, situated along the Yangtze River, is the center for canal transportation, with bustling commerce and a population of hundreds of thousands, making it a super metropolis teeming with an innumerable transient population.

This is the territory of the Iron Palm Gang, but the five factions and three schools all have their own enterprises or stations here. The streets are busy with people going to and fro, and jianghu characters carrying knives and swords can be seen everywhere. Duge and his companions did not stand out in the crowd.

Along the way, while listening to Feng Yunjie's introduction to Luyang City, Duge observed the different local customs and cultures, growing increasingly astounded by the simulation.

It's so real!

What kind of technology could create a world like this?

And yet, such a world was only used to conduct assessments.

What extravagance!

If game developers on Earth had this capability, they'd become the world's richest in a matter of minutes...

"Mr. Seven, the Prosperous Jade Building up ahead is one of our Feng Family's properties. We'll stay there shortly, have something to eat, and then make other plans," Feng Yunjie said. "The people father sent out to find the Heavenly Demon would have come here first. A night has passed, and who knows if they've discovered any information. In a large city like Luyang, with only a few in the entire Daqian, even a small county town like the Feng family's can have two Heavenly Demons like you and Feng Jiu. There should be even more in Luyang City..."

"It's possible." Duge nodded. He had been keeping an eye on the changes in the total number of participants in the simulation field.

From last night until now, over six hundred fifty contestants remained in the simulation field; a hundred sixty people had been eliminated overnight. It had to be said that the simulation field was truly a merciless meat grinder that showed no reason at all.

He himself had been relatively merciful, sparing Feng Jiu's life; otherwise, Feng Jiu would have become one of the hundred or so who vanished last night.

At this rate, in less than ten days, only a few people would be left in the simulation field.

But that was just the most optimistic scenario. Duge knew that as the competition progressed, the rate of elimination would slow down, and those who remained would be the elites—those who could disguise themselves and were familiar with utilizing their keywords.

Feng Jiu was actually right; exposing oneself was indeed very foolish.

When everyone else was in the shadows, he became a bright and shining target for all to aim at.

The simplest way to join the top ten in the simulation field was not to maximize the use of one's keywords, but to survive until the end, eliminating everyone else.

With only ten people left, whether it's the top ten or not, it's still the top ten.

There's no wall in the world that doesn't leak some wind. Being so high-profile in the Feng family's Mansion, there would always be some loose-lipped people revealing him and his keywords.

It was unavoidable. Who told him he didn't understand the rules of the game?

Open attacks are easy to avoid, but hidden threats are hard to defend against. With several hundred contestants, only he was playing his cards openly...

Truly freaking unbelievable!

The only thing Duge was thankful for was that the simulation field only eliminated players; no one really died.

But having already become number one, being eliminated was something he couldn't get over—it was a transmigrator's pride that he must defend.

Luckily, in ancient times information spread slowly, and distances were far. Duge still had some time to buffer, so he wouldn't suddenly face hundreds of enemies.

If he had to face them one by one, Duge felt he could handle it. His status as the number one rank in the simulation field wasn't just for show.

Still, he needed to find a way to enhance his strength. The stronger he became, the safer he would be. It would be best to be like Martial Saint Qiao He and dominate an era...

...

Upon arriving at the Prosperous Jade Building, a waiter took the group's horses away, and the shopkeeper personally came out and escorted them into the backyard.

Feng Shiyi walked and asked, "Feng Zhong, the people who came over yesterday, did they find any clues?"

"Yes," Feng Zhong looked at Duge and nodded.

Duge and the others stopped simultaneously, looking towards the shopkeeper.

Feng Yunjie asked, "What did they find out?"

Feng Zhong turned to Duge and asked, "Second Master, this young hero looks unfamiliar, is he...?"

"He is our mansion's Supreme Elder Mr. Seven, and he is in charge of the Heavenly Demon affair," Feng Shiyi glared at him and said, "No need to hide anything from him."

"Feng Zhong has seen the Supreme Elder." Feng Zhong quickly greeted Duge with a fist and bow, respectfully.

"You're too kind, Shopkeeper Feng," Duge smiled, "Let's talk about the Heavenly Demon!"

"Speaking of which, it's quite a coincidence – the Heavenly Demon turned out to be our inn's errand boy, Wang San," said Feng Zhong. "A few days ago, Wang San contracted tuberculosis and the doctor said he wouldn't survive, so he was at home waiting to die. Last night, when people from the mansion came to investigate, I reported his situation.

Guess what happened? Wang San was alive and kicking, flirting with a neighbor's little girl, without even a single cough. Sudden recovery from a serious illness, all signs matched possession by a Heavenly Demon, so they captured Wang San and brought him back.

However, that guy has a tough mouth, he wouldn't admit to being possessed no matter what, claiming that a traveling doctor had passed by and cured him with a few needles. He was clamoring for us to find a master in the temple to exorcise him. The thing is, none of the neighbors saw that traveling doctor..."

"Where is Wang San now?" Duge immediately grew interested and interrupted to ask.

"He's been acupointed and locked in a guest room!" Feng Zhong said, "He's specifically requested by the family, I dare not let him escape. Second Master, if the Heavenly Demon is real, I can't wrap my head around this tuberculosis getting better just like that, it feels too sinister..."

"Feng Zhong, when will you ever learn to stop with the chatter? Less nonsense, take us to see Wang San," Feng Shiyi also interrupted.

"Second Master, this way," Feng Zhong said with a simple smile, hastening his pace as he guided them, "Room Seven with the Yellow Plaque, the one at the very end. Second Master, have confidence in my work, the Yellow Plaque rooms are rarely occupied, I guarantee no one can rescue him. Not only did I acupoint him, but I also tied him up, and I've prepared rooster blood, black dog blood, and glutinous rice in advance..."

...

As Feng Zhong prattled on the way, he led everyone to Room Seven with the Yellow Plaque, pulled out the keys and opened the room door: "Second Master, Wang San is inside."

"Alright, I got it, leave the rest to us, you go attend to other matters! Tell the kitchen to prepare a good meal and drinks for us," Feng Shiyi had had enough of Feng Zhong's rambling, and as soon as he opened the room door, he was eager to send him away.

"I've already prepared everything, Second Master, do you still not trust me to handle things?" Feng Zhong stood still, continuously looking into the room, "Second Master, you have to let me stay, let me see how you identify a Heavenly Demon, so that I can deal with it myself if I encounter one in the future!"

"Stay then, the shopkeeper is one of us, and he is more familiar with Wang San's situation," Duge casually defended Shopkeeper Feng's dignity before looking into the room.

A youth of around eighteen or nineteen, dressed as an errand boy, was tied up in a big bundle on the bed.

At the head of the bed, there was a bowl of glutinous rice, a bucket of dog blood, and a bucket of rooster blood...

Duge was speechless.

Good heavens, this fellow actually treated the Heavenly Demon like a ghost!

Realizing the door had been opened, Wang San struggled desperately, trying to lift his head but unable to do so: "Shopkeeper, Shopkeeper, is that you? You finally came; I'm really not a Heavenly Demon, please let me go. I shouldn't have failed to come to work even after my illness improved, please, let me out, I can't take it anymore..."

Duge and the others walked into the room.

Wang San's voice abruptly ceased: "Who are you?"

Feng Shiyi, without uttering a word, pressed his wrist to check his pulse. After a moment, he raised his head and said, "His essence is full of vigor, the pulse is soft and powerful, not like that of a patient recently recovered from a serious illness, Mr. Seven, there is no doubt of a Heavenly Demon possession."