From Demon Slayer to the Multiverse: The Ultimate Exploiter

Beep, beep!

Relaxing at home, Tong Gu unlocked his phone. To his surprise, QQ was buzzing with activity. Strange—no one on QQ should know his true identity. Curiously, he opened the app and discovered that messages in both the class and academy group chats were refreshing at lightning speed.

Principal Zhang Xingwen:

"In the past three years, you have endured hardships and strived for excellence. Tomorrow, you will face your trials."

Principal Zhang Xingwen:

"A thousand ancient challenges culminate in one death. I will prepare 3,423 cups of celebratory wine at the school, waiting for you all to return and drink with me!"

Principal Zhang, now 57 years old, had watched countless fresh-faced students leave for their trials over the years. Fewer than half returned. This year, he broke his usual restraint, delivering an impassioned speech in the group chat through voice messages. His words deeply resonated with the students about to embark on the Game of Fate tomorrow.

Liu Zhao from Class 3:

"Count me in, Principal! I'll drink that cup of wine!"

Tong Gu knew Liu Zhao well, having offered him pointers on physical training before. Orphaned by parents lost in the Game of Fate, Liu Zhao had not succumbed to despair but instead remained fervent and full of hope.

Zhu Xiuwen from Class 5:

"Yes! We'll all come back to drink, Principal. Oh, and… Tang Shutao, I like you!"

Tong Gu smirked. Zhu Xiuwen was a well-known figure at school, a practitioner of Jiang Gu-style martial arts like himself. Rumor had it Zhu had even managed to sense Qi. Though usually boisterous and fond of joking, Zhu's feelings for Tang Shutao were genuine.

Tang Shutao from Class 5:

"Get lost! But I'll join in for that wine."

Dai Xiumei from Class 13:

"Count me in too…"

More and more students began to speak up, some Tong Gu knew and others he didn't. Some boldly proclaimed they'd drink Zhang Xingwen under the table, while others jumped on the bandwagon to confess their crushes. The lively and youthful atmosphere lightened Tong Gu's mood—a rare reprieve he hadn't felt in a long time.

Tong Gu didn't join the chatter. He simply watched the spirited chaos unfold.

Bzz… Bzz…

A vibration from his phone interrupted his thoughts. It was a call from an unmarked but familiar number.

Tong Gu answered, staying silent. The other end was equally quiet except for the faint sound of breathing. He knew she was there but sensed neither of them knew what to say. Just as he thought the silence would drag on until the phone died, a crisp female voice broke the stillness.

"Promise me—you'll come back."

"…I will."

Tong Gu gripped the phone tightly, his thoughts drifting far away. For the first time in years, he skipped his nightly training and fell into an unexpectedly restful sleep.

---

The next day, Tong Gu awoke refreshed like never before. The clock read nearly noon. After a hearty meal, he performed some basic exercises, showered, and donned a black hooded cloak. His destination was set—the Amber Plaza on the western edge of Mountain City.

At the plaza stood a massive, 50-meter-wide portal, dominating the area. Two centuries ago, elderly couples would gather here for evening dances. Now, the atmosphere was somber. Hooded figures milled about, their faces hidden, and their voices hushed.

At 5:30 PM, the portal began to shimmer with prismatic light. A tangible pressure emanated from it, weighing on Tong Gu's chest. Though he couldn't fully grasp its nature, he knew it was a manifestation of some kind of power.

Hooded figures gradually approached the portal, disappearing one by one. Some might return twelve hours later when the portal reopened. Others would vanish forever.

Tong Gu calmly checked his timer, waiting for the critical moment—5:40 PM.

Suddenly, a commotion arose from the crowd. A group dressed in dark red robes and white masks advanced toward the portal.

"Children! Congratulations on your impending Destiny Death!"

"Do not resist. Do not blaspheme. And most of all, do not harbor resentment."

"Everything is inevitable. Everything is… fate!"

Tong Gu frowned. He recognized them immediately—Harbingers of Death. These zealots were notorious extortionists, preying on fear and misery. But what caught Tong Gu off guard was the complete absence of official enforcers or vigilantes to maintain order. Something must have gone wrong.

Before Tong Gu could act, a voice rang out from the crowd.

"Don't listen to these Harbingers! We will conquer the damned Game of Fate!"

To Tong Gu's surprise, it was Liu Zhao, boldly standing up to the Harbingers. One of the zealots stepped forward and launched a punch at him.

Prepared for retaliation, Liu Zhao dodged deftly. But the attacker followed up with a spinning kick, catching Liu Zhao off guard. Forced to block with his arms, Liu Zhao was sent sprawling to the ground, his hood falling back to reveal his face.

Damn, they've seen me! Liu Zhao thought, panicking as he endured another series of blows.

The red-robed Harbinger, emboldened, leapt into the air to deliver a brutal kick aimed at Liu Zhao's head. Just as the blow was about to land, Tong Gu appeared.

With a firm tug, he pulled Liu Zhao out of harm's way, raising his alloy-reinforced arm to intercept the kick. The Harbinger's foot struck the steel plate with a sickening thud.

"Ahhh!"

The Harbinger collapsed, clutching his foot in agony. He had kicked with full force, only to break his bones on Tong Gu's armor.

"Do you dare defy the will of fate?!" the leader of the Harbingers roared, drawing a machete as his followers followed suit with an assortment of weapons.

The crowd, mostly ordinary people with little power, began to scatter in fear. Tong Gu glanced at his timer—5:37 PM.

"Stay back!" Liu Zhao shouted, signaling Tong Gu to let him go. Both men sprinted toward the portal, dodging attacks along the way.

Tong Gu, remaining calm, defended against each strike while ensuring he reached the portal precisely at 5:40 PM. Just as the Harbingers closed in, their leader shouted:

"Push him into the portal! He must not enter his chosen world!"

The zealots swarmed Tong Gu, trying to force him through prematurely. Despite their numbers, they couldn't overpower his immense strength.

Then, one Harbinger pulled out a high-tech weapon, its barrel glowing ominously. Sensing the danger, Tong Gu made a split-second decision. He stopped resisting and allowed their momentum to shove him into the portal—just as the timer struck 5:40 PM.

---

Thus began Tong Gu's trial in the Game of Fate.

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