I’m a Max-Level Taoist Master, and You’re Throwing Me Into a Rules-Based Horror Game?! - Chapter 135

Chapter 135: How Is That Any Different From Saying “No”?

When elegance meets extreme precision, the outcome is brutal.

The Bloody Slasher used his life to teach everyone a lesson: showing off in front of Zhang Yangqing is utterly pointless.

With just a casual backhand slap, the once-feared prison tyrant was instantly reduced to a lifeless corpse.

Zhang Yangqing had undoubtedly left a deep impression on the inmates present.

The prison bosses who had survived until now were all enhanced beings.

Yet, one of them had just been casually swatted to death like a fly. This forced everyone to reevaluate the newcomer’s terrifying strength.

The Blue Electric Man swallowed hard. Had he acted impulsively earlier, it would have been his neck snapped and his body lying on the ground right now.

Thankfully, the Mad Scientist had held him back—otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

He wasn’t a physical fighter; his true power lay in his formidable supernatural abilities.

Unfortunately, the inhibitor bracelet restricted his powers. Otherwise, he would have reduced this arrogant newcomer to a charred husk.

Seeing Zhang Yangqing’s overwhelming dominance, all eyes now turned to the Stone Colossus.

It was clear to everyone that this newcomer possessed inhuman physical prowess.

The Blue Electric Man and the Mad Scientist, being physically weaker mutants and superhumans, stood no chance against him. That left only the nearly three-meter-tall behemoth.

With a cold snort, the Stone Colossus stepped forward.

Each of his steps made the ground tremble.

The Bloody Slasher’s death meant nothing to him, but he despised being ordered around.

So, he decided to turn this insolent newcomer into paste.

As he charged, the molten lava within his body surged violently, and steam erupted from the vents on his back.

He was like an old-fashioned steam locomotive roaring at full speed, crushing everything in his path.

Trees toppled, the earth split open—nothing could withstand his advance.

The sheer momentum of his charge was nothing short of earth-shattering.

The Snake-Eyed Henchman gulped as he watched.

In the past, witnessing something like this would have left him paralyzed with fear, resigned to his fate.

But now, he could stand his ground—a monumental improvement.

Yet, he knew that without the man before him, he wouldn’t even have the right to stand here.

His eerie serpentine pupils intently observed every detail of the impending clash between titans.

The more he focused, the more he noticed things others couldn’t.

For instance, the Stone Colossus’s wild charge wasn’t unstoppable.

His speed kept increasing, but if he missed his target, his sheer momentum would make it impossible to stop.

The Snake-Eyed Henchman noticed that behind them lay the territory of the Mystic Fruit.

If it were him, he would dodge at the last moment, letting the Stone Colossus crash into the fruit’s attack range.

That might just turn the tables.

The realization sent a chill down his spine.

How… How did I even come up with a plan to counter a powerhouse like this?

Is this what Boss meant when he told me to observe carefully?

Blind fear would only make him miss crucial details.

Is this how the strong think?

The Snake-Eyed Henchman felt like he was beginning to understand something profound.

As the Stone Colossus closed in, he lowered his head—the hardest part of his body, comparable to a diamond drill—and rammed toward Zhang Yangqing with unstoppable force.

The impact generated a shockwave that sent nearby trees flying.

Against such a brute-force attacker, the best strategy would be to dodge like a matador, wearing him down through evasion.

But just as everyone expected Zhang Yangqing to sidestep, he calmly raised a hand and flicked his finger against the charging titan’s forehead.

Boom!

The sound of the collision reverberated through the air.

The supposedly indestructible diamond-like skull shattered into pieces under a single flick.

The resulting explosion of force sent the Snake-Eyed Henchman and nearby prisoners tumbling to the ground.

Even more terrifying was the bottomless crater that formed behind the Stone Colossus—created solely by the recoil of that flick.

The distant spectators, the Blue Electric Man and the Mad Scientist, were utterly dumbfounded.

They knew exactly how hard the Stone Colossus’s head was—rumor had it he once nearly broke out of his cell by headbutting the walls.

Yet, that same head couldn’t withstand a single flick?

If the Blue Electric Man and the Mad Scientist weren’t terrified before, they certainly were now.

As the dust settled, Zhang Yangqing glanced at the remaining two and said lazily, “I doubt you two have the guts to fight now, so I’ll come to you.”

With that, he began walking toward them, his steps unhurried.

Only now did everyone realize why this man had been so arrogant—because he truly saw no one as a threat.

To the Blue Electric Man and the Mad Scientist, it felt like an unstoppable force was advancing toward them, leaving no room for escape.

Even the usually fearless Blue Electric Man felt a sliver of dread.

At this point, anyone with eyes could see how monstrous this newcomer was.

Logically, the Blue Electric Man had wished for the Stone Colossus’s death before—even fantasized about killing him himself.

But never in his wildest dreams did he imagine someone could flick the Stone Colossus to death.

The sheer absurdity of Zhang Yangqing’s strength left him too terrified to act.

He even began to question whether the inhibitor bracelet was working on this newcomer at all.

How is this even possible?

What kind of monster did the prison even capture? And they threw him in here with us? Are they trying to get us killed?

Seeing Zhang Yangqing approach with murder in his eyes, the Mad Scientist gritted his teeth.

He had intended to keep this a secret, but now, revealing it was his only chance at survival.

He had no desire to remain a prisoner forever, forced into labor or experimentation.

So, he had spent countless nights studying the inhibitor bracelet and secretly built a disruptor, hiding it within his mechanical arm.

In emergencies, he could briefly disable the bracelet’s suppression, unleashing his full power.

The window was short, but it was enough.

And now, with no other options left, he activated it.

He grabbed the Blue Electric Man’s wrist with his mechanical hand.

The Blue Electric Man panicked, thinking the Mad Scientist was about to sacrifice him.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

“Relax. I can temporarily disrupt the bracelet’s suppression. Use your powers now—kill him, or we’re both dead.”

The moment the words left his mouth, the Blue Electric Man felt an overwhelming surge of energy flood his body.

Electricity crackled around him, arcing violently and reducing nearby trees to charcoal in an instant.

Unlucky prisoners caught in the discharge collapsed, unconscious before they hit the ground.

The Mad Scientist’s move left the Blue Electric Man ecstatic.

You old bastard, you’ve been hiding something like this all along?

But there was no time for questions. Right now, his task was to fry this newcomer to a crisp.

With his powers restored, his confidence soared.

So what if you’re physically strong? This is a world of superhumans. Without your abilities, you’re nothing!

The Blue Electric Man raised his hands, aiming at Zhang Yangqing.

In the next second, he channeled every ounce of electricity in his body—

—and unleashed a thunderous blast.

A blinding flash erupted from his palms, nearly blinding everyone nearby.

When the energy reached its peak, he released it.

A devastating bolt of lightning tore through the air, leaving a trail of scorched earth in its wake.

The ground itself caved in, forming a deep trench.

In this enhanced supernatural world, superhumans possessed terrifying destructive power.

Viewers back on Earth shuddered at the sight.

If I were hit by that, forget turning to ash—even a glancing touch from the residual electricity would kill me instantly.

Boom!

A deafening explosion rocked the botanical garden. Prisoners covered their ears, fearing their eardrums would burst.

Even the guards outside took notice.

From a distance, they could see a bolt of lightning shooting straight up toward the ceiling.

But they wouldn’t intervene. Their job was to guard the exits—why would they willingly step into this chaos?

The Blue Electric Man grinned triumphantly. He could feel his attack connecting.

The sheer exhilaration of unleashing his full power after years of suppression was indescribable.

This time, his lightning felt different—stronger, fiercer.

Had the prison’s food been enhancing his abilities all along?

As visions of dominating the outside world with his newfound power danced in his mind, a face suddenly appeared before him.

A strikingly handsome face.

His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

How… How is he still standing after taking that hit?!

What kind of monster is this?!

Had Zhang Yangqing heard his thoughts, he might have replied: “Playing with lightning? I’m your ancestor.”

With his spiritual energy suppressed, Zhang Yangqing might have dodged other supernatural attacks.

But lightning?

Please. He didn’t even need to move.

A cultivator of Zhang Yangqing’s caliber had long since tempered his body with heavenly tribulation lightning.

Using electricity against him was like offering him a free recharge.

And this level of lightning was nothing compared to the divine thunder he had endured.

So not only did Zhang Yangqing not dodge—he welcomed it.

Crack!

Before the Blue Electric Man could revel in his victory, Zhang Yangqing twisted his head clean off.

The sight made the Mad Scientist’s legs give out, collapsing to the ground in terror.

“Boss, please don’t kill me! I can remove your bracelet! I can tell you how to get stronger!”

Here, the Mad Scientist made two fatal mistakes.

Had he simply offered insider information, Zhang Yangqing might have spared him.

But claiming he could remove the bracelet? Zhang Yangqing didn’t need it removed—his physical prowess alone was more than enough.

And suggesting he could make Zhang Yangqing stronger?

I’m already struggling to suppress my power, and you want me to get stronger? Are you trying to make me explode?

So, Zhang Yangqing casually tossed the Blue Electric Man’s head at him.

Splat!

The two skulls collided, exploding into a gruesome mess of brain matter, blood, and shattered bone fragments.

The Blue Electric Man never imagined his own head would be used as a projectile.

The Mad Scientist never expected to be killed by a flying skull.

Just like that, all four prison bosses were effortlessly wiped out.

The remaining underlings snapped out of their daze and scrambled for their lives.

The Snake-Eyed Henchman, ever the quick thinker, immediately handed Zhang Yangqing a pile of leaves he had gathered.

He knew his boss wouldn’t bother chasing down these small fries—a few thrown leaves would suffice.

Zhang Yangqing couldn’t help but appreciate having such an efficient subordinate.

Amid their casual conversation, the leaves were flung, and dozens more corpses joined the pile.

Without needing orders, the Snake-Eyed Henchman then arranged a comfortable resting spot for Zhang Yangqing using leaves before hauling the bodies to feed the Mystic Fruit.

The fruit, sensing the potent energy of the superhuman corpses, eagerly awaited its feast.

The Snake-Eyed Henchman worked tirelessly for one simple reason:

No matter what his opponents did—whether they unleashed their ultimate techniques or erupted with overwhelming power—his boss never even flinched.

That was the most terrifying part.

He didn’t even perceive them as threats.

This level of strength bordered on invincibility.

No wonder he remained so composed.

After what felt like an eternity of labor, the Snake-Eyed Henchman finally finished feeding the Mystic Fruit.

Now satiated, the fruit returned to its perch atop the towering tree, motionless.

Whether it was due to consuming so many enhanced prisoners or undergoing evolution, the fruit’s colors had shifted to five distinct hues.

Two-colored Mystic Fruits were already rare—five was practically unheard of.

Handing this over to the guards would undoubtedly secure an early release.

But whether to consume it or turn it in wasn’t his decision to make.

He wouldn’t dare presume to advise his boss, either.

So, mustering his last bit of strength, he climbed the tree, plucked the fruit, and hurried back to Zhang Yangqing.

“Boss, here’s the fruit you wanted.”

Not a single selfish thought crossed his mind.

Facing an existence of this magnitude, even if his bracelet were removed, he doubted he could survive a casual sneeze from his boss.

Absolute loyalty was his only option.

Maybe, just maybe, if he pleased his boss enough, he’d be rewarded with a few lesser fruits.

After all, he’d worked so hard—was it too much to ask for a snack?

He knew how rare it was to survive a trip to the botanical garden, let alone leave with spoils.

And consuming the fruits here seemed to enhance one’s abilities.

His boss had just slaughtered five prison bosses.

A quick count revealed over forty colored fruits among their loot—a windfall by any measure.

Would it be too much to hope for a few?

But the Snake-Eyed Henchman had one golden rule:

Never ask Zhang Yangqing for anything.

He knew that if his boss wanted to give, he would. If not, begging was pointless.

Taking the Mystic Fruit, Zhang Yangqing immediately noticed its pungent odor.

He couldn’t fathom how a head-sized fruit had devoured so many corpses.

Was it compressing and storing their energies?

After a brief inspection, he handed it to the Snake-Eyed Henchman.

“You eat it.”

The words sent the henchman crashing to his knees in terror.

“Boss, I swear I’ve never once coveted this fruit! Please believe me!”

Zhang Yangqing blinked, then realized—Oh, he thinks I’m testing him.

You’re so scared you won’t even take a gift?

Rolling his eyes, Zhang Yangqing said, “Just eat it. Stop wasting my time.”

Still trembling, the henchman ventured, “Boss, this thing can reduce sentences and enhance your power. It’s incredibly valuable!”

His words were sincere.

As a newcomer, Zhang Yangqing might not fully grasp its worth.

But even so, the henchman wouldn’t exploit his ignorance.

He laid out everything he knew, ensuring his boss understood.

Though exasperated, Zhang Yangqing couldn’t deny the man’s loyalty.

He truly embodied the ideal subordinate—hardworking, obedient, and free from greed.

The more earnest he was, the more Zhang Yangqing felt he deserved the reward.

This time, Zhang Yangqing simply said, “I already knew that. That’s why I’m giving it to you.”

“Boss… you don’t need to get stronger?” the henchman asked hesitantly.

“At my level, you’ll understand. Now eat.”

Zhang Yangqing was already struggling to control his power—why would he need some fruit to enhance it?

Even someone like Ge Lieke had disdained these fruits, let alone Zhang Yangqing.

Besides, as a normal human, the idea of eating something that had digested dozens of corpses was… unappetizing.

Under Zhang Yangqing’s insistence, the Snake-Eyed Henchman finally took a bite.

The moment he swallowed, his body convulsed violently.

He collapsed, writhing in agony as unimaginable energy surged through him, reforging every fiber of his being.

His skin grew paler, faint scales shimmering into view.

“So, it grants power while also awakening latent bloodline traits?”

Zhang Yangqing observed calmly, making no move to interfere.

This was something the henchman had to endure on his own.

I gave you the fruit. Whether you can handle it is up to you.

Five minutes later, the henchman staggered to his feet, gasping.

His body now felt indestructible.

If the Stone Colossus or the Crocodile Man were still alive, he was certain he could pulverize them with a single punch—no need for his boss to lift a finger.

The energy within him was staggering. Without the bracelet’s suppression, he felt capable of tearing the entire prison apart.

“Is this the power of the Mystic Fruit?”

As he marveled at his newfound strength, his gaze drifted toward Zhang Yangqing.

He wanted to see how much closer he was to his boss now that he had grown stronger.

His enhanced perception allowed him to see things he never could before.

But one glance nearly made his heart stop.

His pupils dilated in sheer awe, as if staring at a deity.

The stronger I become, the more I realize how unfathomably strong he is.

Before, he had only sensed Zhang Yangqing’s power intuitively.

Now, he could see it—and it terrified him.

Noticing his stare, Zhang Yangqing smirked.

“Want to spar?”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Snake-Eyed Henchman immediately kowtowed.

“Boss, please don’t test me like this! I’m scared!”

He might be stronger now, but he wasn’t stupid.

“Sparring” with you? More like volunteering to get beaten to a pulp!

The bloodstains and devastation surrounding them were all the work of his boss’s casual movements.

Even with ten lifetimes’ worth of courage, he wouldn’t dare raise a hand against Zhang Yangqing.

Even if his boss genuinely meant it as training, his subordinate instincts screamed at him to maintain absolute reverence.

Seeing his henchman’s cowardice, Zhang Yangqing didn’t press the issue.

As long as you stay loyal, that’s enough.

On the way back, Zhang Yangqing casually remarked, “Remember, there’s always someone stronger. Never think you’re invincible.”

It was both advice and a warning—don’t get cocky and get yourself killed. I still need you.

The Snake-Eyed Henchman nodded solemnly.

“Understood, Boss. But… can I ask something presumptuous?”

“Go ahead.”

“Is there really anyone stronger than you?”

“Of course. I just haven’t met them yet.”

The answer left the henchman speechless.

Good grief, Boss. How is that any different from saying “no”?