Invincibility starts when I see the BOSS health bar.

What's going on in Chapter 1010?

Looking at the eye-catching Gao Meng, Fang Yu sat in his seat, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the edge of the warm porcelain cup. His gaze seemed to be directed at the bustling street outside the window, but in reality, all his senses were like invisible tentacles, firmly locked on the figure that had just stepped into the second floor.

[Gao Meng: 430000/430000.]

Having already glanced at the opponent, Fang Yu had a clear understanding of their strength.

With an exceptionally high HP of standard demonic level, exceeding 400,000, Fang Yu used to be terrified and would turn and flee at the mere sight of it. But now, facing such a being, he had become quite calm.

Roughly speaking, Gao Meng's strength is equivalent to the Sixth Soul Realm among humans. However, the lack of extra numbers in her health bar suggests that her strength is stuck at a bottleneck, unlikely to improve further. Is that why she sought refuge with high-ranking officials in the capital, hoping for an opportunity?

A rudimentary image of a demon, who, having lost all hope for the future, turned to exploiting humanity for profit, quickly took shape in Fang Yu's mind.

He carefully observed Gao Meng out of the corner of his eye. Her attire stood out from the people around her; most of the customers who came here weren't particularly wealthy, and their clothing was naturally simple, which made Gao Meng stand out.

Fortunately, I don't usually care much about my clothes, so I should be considered to have blended in with the crowd at this moment.

However, as Gao Meng's gaze swept across the room, Fang Yu's heart began to beat faster involuntarily.

For some reason, a surge of heat, a mixture of tension and hunting impulse, coursed through his limbs and bones.

The two were not far apart at the moment. With his power ready to be unleashed, if he were to launch a surprise attack, aiming for a fatal blow, his target would be the head...

He was over 70% confident that he could preemptively behead the demon before it could react, tear open its human skin, force out its true demonic form, and then completely subdue it.

So even if we face a direct battle, we will have the upper hand.

In Fang Yu's deduction, the entire process was almost a foregone conclusion, with extremely low risk.

The temptation to kill was so close, like the whispers of a demon echoing in my ears.

But in the end, he managed to restrain himself.

Taking a deep breath, Fang Yu forcibly suppressed the restless blood and boiling killing intent within his body, bringing it back to calm.

With eyes lowered, the passing scenery outside the window serves as a shield to conceal the turmoil within.

He didn't come for that reason, at least not yet.

The surveillance mission I'm tasked with hasn't even begun yet, and creating unnecessary complications would be unwise.

Stirring up trouble is not a wise move; a lack of patience can ruin a grand plan.

He believed he had controlled his emotions very well and his movements were natural enough.

However, he underestimated the keen perception a demon possessed within its familiar territory, a power comparable to that of a human at the sixth level of the Soul Realm.

As soon as Gao Mengfu went upstairs, she habitually headed for her usual seat in the corner on the second floor.

The view from there is excellent, overlooking the lobby and allowing you to see what's happening on the staircase. Plus, it's backed by a solid wall, so it's safe and secure.

But just as her gaze casually swept across the entire second floor, passing over the unfamiliar figure by the window, her steps faltered almost imperceptibly.

“How careless…” A hint of amusement flashed through Gao Meng’s mind, like a cat discovering a mouse that had wandered into its territory. “Where did this unfamiliar face come from? The aura was concealed fairly well, but in this neighborhood, especially in this ‘Forget-Worry Pavilion,’ how could I not notice someone I’ve never seen before?”

Her eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, and the corners of her lips curved into an elusive smile.

Instead of heading to her usual seat, she turned and walked gracefully towards the figure facing the window.

Fang Yu was fully focused on playing the role of an ordinary tea drinker appreciating the street scene when he suddenly felt the light beside him dim, a shadow loom over him, accompanied by a faint yet subtly inhumanly cold fragrance.

He felt a sudden chill, realizing that he had been noticed after all.

Forcibly suppressing the emotions surging within him, he timely showed a look of astonishment and confusion on his face, and turned to look at Gao Meng standing by the table.

Eyes facing each other.

Gao Meng's gaze held a condescending scrutiny, as if it could pierce through his feigned calm and reach straight to his heart.

However, under Fang Yu's astonished gaze, Gao Meng did not question him or make any probing remarks. Instead, she did something that surprised him.

She casually tossed her skirt and sat down opposite him with an air of nonchalance, her movements as natural as if they had arranged to meet there beforehand.

"What do you want?" Gao Meng asked directly, her voice calm but carrying an undeniable certainty.

This completely unexpected turn of events left Fang Yu momentarily stunned.

He could even hear the heavy beating of his own heart in his chest.

What's this? The surveillance mission hasn't even officially started, and the target is already sitting right in front of me?

Has his identity been exposed?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but he kept his expression perfectly under control, subtly revealing more confusion and a hint of displeasure at being disturbed.

“This… young lady?” Fang Yu asked hesitantly, his voice carrying just the right amount of hoarseness and unfamiliarity. “Are you mistaken? I don’t seem to know you.”

Gao Meng didn't answer immediately. Instead, she quietly observed him with her eyes, which seemed to absorb all light, and the ambiguous smile on her lips seemed to deepen slightly. The air on the second floor of the teahouse seemed to freeze at that moment, filled with a silent, tense, and subtle atmosphere.

……

While Fang Yu and Gao Meng were locked in a strange standoff on the second floor, the lobby on the first floor of the teahouse was bustling with activity.

"For our bright future! Let's do it!"

Jiang Yong stood directly on a square stool, raised his rough porcelain wine cup high, and spoke in a loud voice, full of infectious passion.

As soon as he finished speaking, the people sitting around him excitedly raised their glasses in response, their faces beaming with excitement and anticipation.

"Dry!"

"Brother Jiang is right!"

"Follow Brother Jiang, and you'll get to eat meat!"

Although the contents of the cups were ordinary rice wine, they now seemed to be filled with nectar, which the group drank in one gulp. They were clearly influenced by Jiang Yong's highly persuasive words, or rather, they had been successfully "fooled" by him.

It has to be said that the opportunity to follow the "adopted son of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion" is irresistibly attractive to these "players" who are struggling at the bottom of the game world of "Seeking the Demon" no matter when or where it is.

Without exception, all of these people present are "players".

They contacted Jiang Yong through a gaming forum and arranged to meet privately here today.

Initially, they were extremely skeptical of Jiang Yong.

After all, the world of "Seeking the Demon" is too realistic, with unpredictable human nature and countless scammers.

They even secretly prepared to join forces and eliminate the guy who dared to fool them, as soon as they discovered that Jiang Yong was a fraudster who made empty promises, so that others would know what the consequences would be for deceiving them.

To have survived for so long in the chaotic capital city and still maintain a certain level of strength, none of them are soft-hearted. They all have blood on their hands, whether from NPCs or other players.

However, Jiang Yong seemed to have been prepared.

He himself was weak and frail, seemingly having never even learned the most basic martial arts, yet he was secretly accompanied by guards with steady auras and sharp eyes. The presence of these guards was like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing any possible ulterior motives the group might have, and ensuring the "peaceful" atmosphere of this meeting.

More importantly, Jiang Yong displayed shrewdness and eloquence that did not match his actual abilities.

He did not make empty promises, but gradually built his credibility through a series of seemingly unintentional details, his understanding of the Tianji Pavilion and certain unknown rules within the Qian family, and his accurate analysis of the current situation in the capital.

He frankly admitted that he was not directly under the command of that esteemed adopted son of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion; there was an important bridge between them—a young master from the Qian family.

Even so, the resources, intelligence, and even the special missions that this line can access are undoubtedly a huge, glittering path to advancement for these "miserable" players who struggle at the bottom of the capital city and often have to fight tooth and nail for a little bit of cultivation resources or silver.

The game "Seeking the Demon" is becoming increasingly popular.

It's been almost a year since the game's open beta launch, and its notoriously harsh death penalty system should have deterred countless players. But the opposite has happened; player enthusiasm is soaring, with players flocking to the game. All this is because everything in the game can be converted into real-world money.

Compared to the 9-to-5, fixed-income jobs in the real world, in "Seeking the Demon," there are a wide variety of ways to make money, and they are full of opportunities.

Just by forming a group to kill monsters in the wild and obtain some rare materials, you can earn enough for an ordinary person to make several years' worth of income from a regular job, even if the mortality rate of this activity is ridiculously high.

Or they could infiltrate a powerful clan to steal a few low-level martial arts manuals to sell, or simply become henchmen or thugs for those extravagantly wealthy players... There are countless similar ways to make money.

Even real-life celebrities and internet influencers are starting to join games, creating a new fan economy.

Even more outrageous is that many large companies are now organizing their employees to collectively join games under the banner of "exploring the second world" and "seizing the high ground of the future virtual economy".

These things, which used to sound like a fantasy, are now actually happening in "Seeking the Demon".

Therefore, everyone can feel that "Seeking the Demon" is different.

Its popularity, the economic benefits it can bring, and its gradually emerging influence on all levels of society are on a completely different level from any previous online game.

The players here are all considered to be quite lucky.

I successfully entered the game at the beginning of its launch and established myself in this perilous world. Through tireless efforts and a bit of luck, I have cultivated myself to the point where I am capable of protecting myself and have managed to barely survive in the capital city, a place teeming with hidden talents.

It can be said that among the huge player base, their strength and survivability are definitely in the upper-middle range.

Of course, compared to those "monster" level players who are rumored to have had extraordinary encounters, been taken in as personal disciples by some reclusive old monsters, or received the inheritance of ancient divine skills, their achievements are not worth mentioning.

Take Jiang Yong, for example. Although his personal strength is vastly different from theirs, and he might not even be able to withstand the weakest move from them, he has incredible luck. Somehow, he got involved with the young master of the Qian family in the game, and then indirectly climbed the high branch of the Tianji Pavilion. He has risen to prominence in one step.

Faced with such a solid "relationship" and huge potential benefits, it seemed natural for them to set aside their initial doubts and reservations, willingly call him "Brother Jiang," and follow him.

Seeing the crowd's emotions fully stirred, Jiang Yong felt quite pleased with himself.

He knew that making empty promises was unsustainable and that it was necessary to demonstrate strength and generosity at the right time.

"I'm so happy today!" Jiang Yong clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention, and announced loudly, "Manager, put it on my tab! The tea and wine bills for everyone here today are on me!"

Upon hearing this, not only those at his table but also the scattered tea drinkers at other tables in the hall cast surprised and grateful glances, with some even cheering.

Jiang Yong enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention, and the thrill of spending lavishly made him feel somewhat elated.

Putting down his wine glass, Jiang Yong suddenly remembered Lord Gao Meng, who had gone upstairs alone earlier.

He had a sudden thought and felt it was necessary to take the opportunity to report the good news of his successful recruitment of a group of people to Lady Gao Meng, so as to show his ability and further consolidate his position in her heart.

Of course, all of this had to be done discreetly, and he couldn't expose his relationship with Gao Meng to outsiders.

So he picked up his half-finished glass of wine and smiled at the others at the table, saying, "Brothers, please sit for a moment. I'll go upstairs and say hello to our friends on the second floor."

Everyone naturally agreed.

Jiang Yong straightened his robes, put on a respectful yet natural smile, and stepped onto the wooden staircase leading to the second floor.

He was in a relaxed and cheerful mood, pondering how to phrase his words in front of Lord Gao Meng.

However, as he stepped onto the second floor, his gaze habitually swept across the entire space, finally landing on that familiar window. The smile on his face instantly froze, and his steps abruptly halted. He stood frozen at the top of the stairs, as if under a spell.

Because he witnessed an absolutely unexpected scene. There sat Diao Deyi, the NPC he remembered as ridiculously powerful, sitting opposite Lord Gao Meng!

The two were separated by a small tea table, and there was no verbal exchange. Diao Deyi's face was solemn and cautious like he had never seen before, while Lord Gao Meng had his back to him. Although his expression could not be seen, his posture was definitely not like that of someone meeting an old friend.

The atmosphere was unusually subtle and tense, even carrying an invisible pressure that made Jiang Yong feel like he couldn't breathe.

what's the situation? !

Jiang Yong's mind went blank for a moment, completely stunned.

How could Diao Deyi be here? How could he be sitting with Lord Gao Meng? Do they know each other? That's impossible!

No! Could it be that Qian Wu discovered my betrayal of him and my defection to Yuwen Wuji, and he has brought Diao Deyi to settle scores with me?
Countless question marks, like boiling bubbles, instantly filled his mind. Cold sweat broke out on his back, shattering his previous smugness and calculations.

The scene before him was completely beyond his comprehension, leaving him at a loss and standing there dumbfounded, unable to move forward or backward.

(End of this chapter)