I’m a Max-Level Taoist Master, and You’re Throwing Me Into a Rules-Based Horror Game?! - Chapter 148

Chapter 148: “I Studied All Night—It’s Not That I Understood, It’s That the Sun Rose!”

Thanks to Zhang Yangqing’s influence, both inside the Strange Tales world and the real world, a wave of enthusiasm for Taoist culture had surged.

On the train, it wasn’t just the prison warden and the snake-eyed follower—even the other death row inmates were sitting cross-legged, contemplating the Taoist teachings Zhang Yangqing had shared with them the day before.

In this world, where people focused solely on supernatural abilities and technology, their understanding of energy was rudimentary at best—limited to raw destructive power.

As Zhang Yangqing put it, cultivating the Tao didn’t require joining a specific temple or sect. Anyone could pursue enlightenment on their own. The Tao was open to all.

This was his interpretation of “the Tao follows nature.”

If Taoist cultivation was confined to wearing robes or joining temples, it would only become another form of shackles.

While Zhang Yangqing appeared to be teaching the natives of the Strange Tales world, Su Muyu was right—he was engaging in a global cultural export.

Other factions had stringent entry requirements: undergoing baptisms, unwavering faith, or years of dedication.

But the Taoist philosophy, with its open-minded approach, resonated deeply with people worldwide.

Moreover, with Zhang Yangqing’s undeniable power on display, audiences from every country couldn’t help but wonder: If I train hard, could I become like him?

Even if it was just a pipe dream, many still devoted themselves to studying the Tao.

Now, even before Zhang Yangqing had reappeared, people everywhere were already “stealing” his teachings.

They recorded his words, replaying them repeatedly, hoping to grasp even a sliver of wisdom.

Some, with sharper comprehension, had even begun to unravel the mysteries of Taoism.

Audiences worldwide were developing a growing fascination with the enigmatic Taoist culture of the East.

This was an excellent start—a foundation for Taoist culture to spread globally.

Many international viewers were already flooding forums, begging for Taoist texts.

The Dragon Tiger Sect’s reputation had skyrocketed, not just in China but across the world.

However, Zhang Yangqing’s methods had drawn the Pope’s ire. Decades of effort to spread his faith had earned him millions of followers, yet Zhang Yangqing had achieved even greater reach in a single day. The Pope couldn’t help but feel bitter.

…..

Inside the Strange Tales World

Since the nuclear power plant was far away, the group switched to an inverted train, gliding through the bustling, high-tech world.

The streets outside were a neon-lit spectacle, yet no one on the train paid it any mind.

Most of the passengers were death row inmates who had endured endless suffering in prison.

They had once dreamed of indulging in worldly pleasures upon release, yet now, given the chance, they were all meditating and cultivating.

The neon lights meant nothing to them anymore—just fleeting distractions.

After earnest practice, they realized they could now control the chaotic energy within them, unleashing far greater power than before.

The snake-eyed follower had benefited the most from Zhang Yangqing’s guidance, experiencing a dramatic leap in strength.

The most shocking part? After lifting his seals, he no longer looked monstrous—just a pale-skinned human, blending seamlessly beside Zhang Yangqing.

The other inmates even suspected he had reached Seven-Star strength overnight—an unimaginable feat.

Among them, the lion-man was doing fairly well and wanted to grow stronger.

But he wasn’t qualified to ask Zhang Yangqing directly.

In this world, even being Zhang Yangqing’s dog was an unattainable honor.

So, he shamelessly fawned over the snake-eyed follower, begging for training tips. Soon, other Six-Star inmates crowded around, eager for advice.

Faced with their hopeful gazes, the snake-eyed follower sighed:

“The Tao is too profound. I studied all night—it’s not that I understood, it’s that the sun rose!”

Everyone: “…”

He had only grasped the basics—just enough to cycle energy through his body—yet even that was beyond the others.

But with each cycle, his comprehension deepened, leaving him in awe of the Tao’s depth.

If the snake-eyed follower had only skimmed the surface, the others hadn’t even touched it—yet even that had improved them significantly.

Witnessing this, viewers were astounded. If even Strange Tales natives benefit this much, why shouldn’t we train too?

…..

Meanwhile, in the Real World…

Su Muyu was drowning in work.

The Dragon Tiger Sect had always been selective, with only a handful of applicants each year in a materialistic world.

But now? Over a million applications—and counting.

Others weren’t staying away by choice—they just didn’t know how to apply.

Su Muyu was speechless. “We don’t have enough resources for all of you!”

For the first time, he realized that too many followers could be a problem.

Other factions would’ve cursed him for complaining.

“You’re just riding Zhang Yangqing’s coattails!”

But Su Muyu didn’t care. Zhang Yangqing was the sect leader—he just handled logistics.

“Go ahead, insult him to his face. Just don’t blame me when things go south.”

…..

Back in the Strange Tales World

No one on the train feared their destination.

They were too busy with their own tasks, unconcerned about danger.

Because they all knew:

The most dangerous being in this world was riding this very train.

…..

Abdul, the headscarf-wearing celestial from the Sand Kingdom, was far more nervous than the death row “cannon fodder.”

Unlike the battle-hardened inmates, Abdul lacked experience.

The prison warden and the fox warrior’s plan was simple:

The inmates would serve as shields, covering Abdul’s infiltration into the nuclear plant.

Whether they survived? That was up to fate.

As the destination neared, Abdul’s heart pounded.

“Thank the heavens for those four life-and-death trials in prison—otherwise, I’d never dare do this.”

The train couldn’t go straight to the plant—it was too heavily guarded.

After disembarking, the group hiked through streets, scaled a mountain, and finally faced a massive energy barrier—the nuclear plant’s shield.

Even mutated plants couldn’t breach it, let alone them.

Their only option? The front entrance.

Guarding it was a Seven-Star heavy-armored mech warrior—the fox warrior’s target.

She would create a diversion elsewhere, luring the mech away.

Then, the death row squad would storm the gates.

Abdul, carrying explosives, would slip inside.

Two more mountains stood between him and the plant—but at his current speed, that was manageable.

By the time the mech warrior realized the ruse, the fox warrior would keep him occupied.

This was Abdul’s final mission.

Destroy the plant, escape, and return to prison—just in time to watch Paradise crumble.

…..

Sand Kingdom viewers were even more anxious than Abdul.

This was the final stretch—failure meant no second chances.

After exchanging words with the prison warden, the fox warrior sauntered off, her allure ignored in the face of impending danger.

Abdul took deep breaths.

Before him loomed a colossal metal fortress—like two giant hands shielding its core.

Patrolling mechanized creatures and an impenetrable checkpoint only heightened the oppressive atmosphere.

“Can I even make it inside?”

Then—movement at the gates.

The towering Seven-Star mech warrior marched out with a squad, heading toward the disturbance.

Eight meters tall, clad in armor, twin cannons on his back—he was a walking apocalypse.

Abdul shuddered.

“One hit from those cannons, and I’m vaporized.”

As the mech’s rumbling footsteps faded, the group seized their chance.

…..

The bear-man and elephant-man roared, their bodies swelling with power—a side effect of their prison “diet.”

They charged the perimeter, drawing enemy fire.

Explosions and energy clashes erupted.

Then—a surprise attack.

The rhino-man, energy concentrated in his horn, rammed the gates at full speed.

BOOM!

The doors burst open before they could seal.

“Go! Buy the warden time!” the lion-man barked, leading the charge.

Without Seven-Star opponents, the Six-Star inmates were a formidable force.

Blood painted the ground as guards and convicts clashed.

Meanwhile, Abdul slipped inside, avoiding combat.

Sprinting over hills, he reached the plant’s interior—only to find rules waiting.

Nuclear Plant Rules:

1. High radiation levels. To survive, find a hazmat suit.

2. Avoid red-glowing passages. They don’t lead where you want.

3. If attacked by unknown creatures, flee into yellow-glowing passages. They won’t follow.

Sand Kingdom viewers panicked.

“More obstacles?!”

But Abdul was relieved. Rules meant clues—better than stumbling blindly.

Stepping inside, a wave of unnatural heat hit him—radiation.

He needed a hazmat suit, fast.

Two options:

• Search staff rooms for spares.

• Kill a worker and take theirs.

Time was critical. If the fox warrior or inmates failed outside, he’d be trapped.

Then—he saw them.

The “unknown creatures.”

Hairless, oily-skinned, five-armed, nine-eyed, with razor teeth and dripping green slime.

Abdul ran.

Dodging red passages, he hunted for yellow ones—the creatures’ safe zones.

…..

Global Reactions

The world chat exploded:

🇰🇷 “See this, Japan? This is nuclear mutation! Dump waste, and this is your future!”
🇷🇺 “Just let the Strange Tales invade Japan. Their existence pollutes Earth.”
🇨🇳 “I drank Japan’s ‘raw cola’—now my pee glows!”
🇬🇧 “Really?”
🇨🇳 *”Yep. I’m an 80-year-old man, and now I’ve got my period. Magic!”*

Japan’s netizens stayed silent—not out of ignorance, but because they agreed.

…..

The creatures multiplied, radiation gnawed at him, and panic set in.

“I won’t turn into those things…”

Thankfully, the rules held.

The monsters stopped at the yellow passage.

Inside, he found two workers.

After “persuading” them for directions, he silenced them, stole their suits, and planted the bomb.

Exiting was trickier—the creatures now swarmed his original path.

Sticking to yellow routes when possible, avoiding red at all costs, he finally emerged.

But he wasn’t safe yet.

He needed to detonate the plant from a distance—or the blast would kill him.

Two mountains later, he pressed the trigger.

BOOOOOOM!

The shockwave tore through Paradise, the energy shield collapsing.

Backup systems failed—someone had sabotaged them too.

The plant’s explosion reshaped the landscape, pollution spewing everywhere.

Abdul had the mountains to thank for shielding him.

“If I’d blown it up close, I’d be dust.”

As the barrier fell, he climbed out—only to face his greatest crisis yet.

Two massive, pitch-black cannon barrels stared him down.