I’m a Max-Level Taoist Master, and You’re Throwing Me Into a Rules-Based Horror Game?! - Chapter 132

Chapter 132: Thinking Clearly After Stopping Being Human! 

“Boss, run! The plants here are going crazy!”

The snake-eyed lackey, who had just been basking in confidence—feeling like there was nothing left to fear—now wore an expression of terror.

If they had encountered other prisoners, he wouldn’t have doubted his boss’s ability to win. With his boss’s overwhelming strength, there was no need to even lift a finger.

But in this eerie botanical garden, the most terrifying things were the endless, ravenous plants.

Even the most dominant prison bullies would be devoured alive if they violated the rules.

A single corpse was enough to attract the surrounding carnivorous plants.

Now? Fifteen corpses. The stench of blood drove the nearby flesh-eating flora into a frenzy, swarming toward them like a tidal wave.

“Blocking out the sky” wasn’t an exaggeration.

Looking up, one could see gaping maws lined with razor-sharp teeth, thick drool dripping from their edges.

It was clear—these plants were starving.

The snake-eyed lackey was certain that if they didn’t run now, they’d be torn apart and eaten alive.

When the plants went berserk, collateral damage was common.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t take the colored fruits that the crocodile-men had stolen or gathered.

A shame, but survival came first.

He glanced at his boss, only to see him staring back with an exasperated expression.

The lackey was stunned. “Boss… aren’t you scared?”

But he didn’t dare question him. A good lackey knew his place—if the boss wasn’t running, there must be a reason.

So he stayed close to Zhang Yangqing, silently thinking: “Fine, I’ll just watch you show off.”

Any other contestant witnessing this scene would’ve bolted immediately.

The plants were special entities—their killing methods were unpredictable and horrifying.

But to Zhang Yangqing?

“Your tricks might be bizarre, but I can still handle them.”

“Find me a rock. The harder, the better.”

Zhang Yangqing made full use of his subordinate—even bending down to pick up a stone was too much effort.

This made sense.

He wasn’t carrying the lackey—he was leading him. The lackey had to pull his weight.

The snake-eyed lackey had no idea what Zhang Yangqing needed the rock for, but his job was to obey.

As the plants surged toward them like a living tsunami, the lackey picked up a sturdy-looking stone and handed it over.

“Boss, will this work?”

Zhang Yangqing took it, weighed it in his hand, and nodded.

Then—

With a slight squeeze of his fingers—

CRACK!

The supposedly unbreakable stone shattered into dust and fragments, a small cloud of debris puffing into the air.

The lackey gulped.

“How strong is this guy?! He crushed a rock like it was nothing!”

“If he grabbed my head, wouldn’t it just… pop?”

Yet, Zhang Yangqing frowned in dissatisfaction.

“Didn’t control my strength properly.”

After all, his last performance had earned him five S-ranks, boosting his stats significantly.

Plus, he hadn’t used brute force in a while—his grip was a little off.

But to onlookers?

“Is this guy for real?!”

“He just crushed a rock bare-handed and claims he ‘didn’t control it’?!”

“Meaning he wasn’t even trying?!”

The audience couldn’t fathom how terrifying Zhang Yangqing would be at full power.

Dragon Country viewers flooded the screen with comments:

• “If I hadn’t seen the lackey pick that rock off the ground, I’d swear it was a prop made of flour!”

• “We underestimated Zhang Tian Shi. Even without spiritual energy, he’s still a monster.”

• “A mage who knows martial arts? The supernatural must be shaking in fear.”

• “Cultivation starts with the basics. Zhang Tian Shi just prefers not to fight physically—doesn’t mean he can’t.”

• “Note to self: If I ever shake his hand, get insurance first. One squeeze and I’m done.”

• “Pretty sure Zhang Tian Shi could crush my… never mind.”

• “Pretty sure I could crush yours too!”

…..

Zhang Yangqing wasn’t in a hurry. He glanced at his lackey.

“Notice any patterns?”

The question made many envious—being personally mentored by the Heavenly Master was a rare privilege.

Seeing his boss’s calm demeanor, the lackey’s fear faded.

If the boss isn’t worried, he must have a plan.

He scanned the surroundings.

The so-called “botanical garden” was more like a primeval jungle—thick with the scent of earth and now, blood.

But Zhang Yangqing wasn’t asking about that.

The lackey’s serpentine pupils darted, searching for clues.

The towering canopy blocked most sunlight, but faint beams still pierced through.

Then—his eyes widened in realization.

“Boss… these man-eating plants… they avoid light?”

Zhang Yangqing nodded. “Good observation.”

“Exactly. In open areas with strong light, these plants don’t exist. They only lurk under dense foliage.”

He was explaining the rules.

In the Rules World, common sense didn’t always apply—but patterns could always be found.

If the lackey hadn’t been there, Zhang Yangqing wouldn’t have bothered explaining.

But since he was, Zhang Yangqing incorporated him into the plan.

A free extra hand was better than doing everything himself.

The smarter the lackey, the less work for Zhang Yangqing.

As the head of the Taoist sect, laziness was a virtue.

If someone else could do it, why lift a finger?

Brushing off the stone dust, Zhang Yangqing kept the fragments.

Then—with a flick of his wrist—

BANG! BANG!

Several towering trees collapsed.

Sunlight poured in.

The monstrous plants recoiled instantly. Those too slow withered and blackened upon contact with the light.

Since Zhang Yangqing hadn’t violated any rules, the plants could only retreat, seething with hatred.

Fifteen corpses now lay exposed under the sun.

The lackey swallowed hard.

“If the boss taught me that move… I’d be unstoppable.”

But as a subordinate, he knew better than to ask.

“Boss, I’ll go collect their colored fruits for you.”

He assumed Zhang Yangqing’s goal was to secure their loot.

But Zhang Yangqing shook his head.

“No rush. The fruits aren’t important—the bodies are.”

The lackey was confused. What use were the corpses?

But he obeyed without question.

Most wouldn’t understand, but Zhang Yangqing had already deciphered the botanical garden’s true nature from the rules.

The more corpses, the better—they were the key to the garden’s ultimate treasure.

…..

After deciding to stop being human, Abdül’s thought process underwent a radical shift.

He realized this wasn’t just a prison—and the botanical garden was far more than it seemed.

While viewers grew anxious watching Abdül refrain from picking fruits, he had his own strategy.

To him, this prison was a massive experimental facility.

The rules hinted at one thing: Find ways to grow stronger.

And this stage offered that opportunity.

The colored fruits were likely the garden’s rare resource—something that could empower contestants.

His theory?

This garden was a feeding ground—where prisoners and plants consumed each other.

The plants devoured inmates with special abilities, absorbing their nutrients to produce the fruits.

In turn, prisoners could eat the fruits to gain power.

A cycle of mutual predation.

This led to his “no longer human” plan.

By abandoning conventional thinking, he saw a path no one else did—the only way to kill a guard solo.

Most contestants were too weak to even fight prisoners, let alone guards.

But Abdül noticed something critical:

1. The plants were deadly. Even veteran prisoners could be eaten if they slipped up.

2. Guards avoided entering the garden, meaning they feared the plants too.

3. Guards were weaker than prisoners. If they were stronger, why need control devices?

Then, the most crucial detail:

[Rule 8: If you believe your life is in danger, seek the fat guard with sunglasses. He will help you once.]

Abdül had met this guard earlier—a kind, trustworthy man who followed the rules.

In other words, he was the only guard contestants could kill.

Because he was the only one who’d respond to their pleas.

Other guards wouldn’t care if they lived or died.

This was their one and only chance.

Most contestants would save this lifeline for emergencies.

But Abdül?

He saw an opportunity.

The garden was a blind spot for surveillance.

In the Rules World, changing clothes often meant changing identities.

Becoming a guard would grant him better resources, intel, and survival odds.

Playing it safe wouldn’t work here.

So, with a heavy heart, he made his choice.

“Sorry, good sir. But I need to live.”

…..

Abdül located a carnivorous plant, memorized its attack range, and returned to the entrance.

The guards eyed him suspiciously.

He approached the fat guard, panting.

“Sir, please help me! I collected two fruits, but they were stolen. The thieves are blocking the entrance—they’ll kill me if I go back! If you don’t help, I’ll fail my task!”

This triggered Rule 8—the guard had to assist him once.

“Fine. I’ll chase them off. Do your job properly.”

The guard followed him into the garden, soon gasping for breath.

Once they were deep inside, hidden from view, Abdül struck.

With a sudden shove, the off-balance guard tumbled straight into the waiting maw of a man-eating rose.

The plant bit off his head in one snap.

Others swarmed, devouring his body within seconds.

The gruesome scene left even viewers horrified.

Abdül didn’t flinch.

The plants, now satiated, let out grotesque burps.

And just like that—a contestant had solo-killed a guard.

Was it ruthless? Absolutely.

But in the Rules World, survival justified all.

Middle Eastern viewers praised him:

• “Abdül’s brutal, but that’s how you survive.”

• “To those criticizing him: Sign up for the next round or shut up.”

• “Anyone who enters is a hero. I support his choice.”

• “You’ve got this!”

Even the analysts agreed—his actions were necessary.

…..

After changing into the guard’s uniform, Abdül studied his new equipment:

• Uniform

• Control Device (Couldn’t unlock bracelets—only command prisoners.)

• Baton

He tested the device on two unlucky prisoners:

1. Blue Button: The first prisoner convulsed and collapsed, unconscious.

2. Red Button: The second’s eyes bulged, blood gushing from his orifices before he dropped dead.

Blue = Subdue. Red = Execute.

Satisfied, Abdül finished off the unconscious prisoner.

No witnesses.

Viewers were aghast at his cruelty.

But then again—he was a prisoner.

(Though in reality, Abdül was just a fraudster, not a murderer. The Rules World had changed him.)

Now, with his mind crystal clear, Abdül saw possibilities others missed.

He would use his new authority to kill more.

Because the rules hinted at one truth:

The more corpses, the greater the reward.