I’m a Max-Level Taoist Master, and You’re Throwing Me Into a Rules-Based Horror Game?! - Chapter 188

Chapter 188: The Best Way to Remove a Mask is to Tear It Off!

As the difficulty increases, the Chosen Ones need to be even more cautious.

There are too many details in this stage; missing even the slightest one could lead to complete failure.

Even a superhuman like Gregorio doesn’t seem confident he holds an absolute advantage here.

After all, when Gregorio entered the five-star Ghost Stories , it took him two moves to defeat the final boss.

In the last time he witnessed the Elf Queen that Zhang Yangqing faced, he couldn’t help but sigh, realizing that the final boss of the supernatural world seemed to be getting stronger and stronger.

At the time, with his colleagues from the Church present, no matter what he truly thought, he verbally claimed he could also achieve a one-hit kill, while going along with the crowd to disparage the Dragon Nation’s Celestial Master.

This is the standard procedure followed by top-tier superhuman forces from various countries after witnessing Zhang Yangqing’s outstanding performances.

Basically, as long as I haven’t gone up, I can say, whatever he can kill in one hit, I can do just as easily.

As long as Zhang Yangqing isn’t standing right in front of me, in my words, he’s still insignificant.

Now, in this six-star Ghost Stories world, Gregorio has set aside any thoughts of underestimating the enemy and begun to take it seriously.

Even though he has undergone the baptism of the Holy Lord’s Temple and his power has greatly increased, he cannot use Holy Energy recklessly.

If he accidentally kills a teammate, he won’t be able to lift the curse imposed by the rules.

The best method is to let teammates deal with the paranormal entities.

Here, both the audience and the expert panel are paying extra close attention.

In many previous Ghost Stories worlds, it seemed most problems could be solved with brute force, so watching them didn’t offer much to learn.

But this kind of Ghost Stories world, which relies on detailed observation and analysis, gives the audience a sense of urgent participation.

They even imagine themselves inside, figuring out how to identify which teammate is an imposter and how to eliminate the paranormal entity.

Furthermore, audiences are discussing on various major platforms, sharing their views and analyses.

Under these views and analyses, there are naturally many who hold opposing opinions, leading to arguments.

Basically, while the outcome is still uncertain, no one concedes to the other.

Even after the outcome is decided, they still stubbornly argue.

This highlights the principle of ‘I can lose, but I won’t admit defeat.’

The expert panel, using different large screens and combining the intelligence gathered by the various Chosen Ones, begins recording, comparing, and then analyzing the results.

Inside the Ghost Stories world, this stage tests the Chosen Ones’ experience and eloquence.

Gregorio, unlike his usual decadent appearance upon entering a Ghost Stories , appears exceptionally composed and at ease in this stage.

As a Chosen One entering for the third time, he naturally has experience and a better mindset.

He understands that communicating with NPCs has its benefits, and his strategy is to reveal himself.

Since he’s already exposed, he lets everyone know he has some capability.

Then, as teammates from the human faction, they will certainly need to help him.

As enemies from the paranormal faction, they will want to eliminate him.

By making himself the core, he can discern many issues and quickly distinguish his teammates’ identities.

In this stage, protecting one’s own safety is important, but protecting the safety of teammates is even more crucial.

If a teammate is killed, he will also be eliminated.

This is what Gregorio calls his unique strategy.

To be honest, it’s basically copying the Dragon Nation Celestial Master’s past strategies—things the Dragon Nation Celestial Master has already done.

He watches the Dragon Nation Celestial Master’s recordings almost every day.

He noticed that every time the Dragon Nation Celestial Master displays his unparalleled strength, the difficulty of the Ghost Stories world inexplicably starts to decrease.

The native inhabitants even come to cling to his coattails.

They actively help him complete some tasks.

This isn’t surviving a paranormal world; it’s practically a vacation.

It was after realizing this that Gregorio began imitating Zhang Yangqing’s methods.

However, this imitation isn’t something just anyone can attempt; only top-tier superhumans like him can pull it off, as one’s own strength is the fundamental requirement.

If an ordinary Chosen One tried to play it this way, they might not survive past the second day.

Furthermore, Gregorio has another significant advantage: his communication skills.

As a Cardinal of the Church, he started from being a parish priest.

Parish priests communicate with believers daily, resolving their inner doubts and encountering all sorts of people.

These people have different professions, speech patterns, habits, and characteristics. Gregorio naturally developed excellent communication skills, capable of friendly communication even with believers who are somewhat psychologically troubled.

This was part of his daily work, giving him a huge advantage in this stage.

People from the Church are also sighing in relief, finally encountering a Ghost Stories that aligns with their expertise.

This time, they judge that Gregorio already has an 80% chance of surpassing the Dragon Nation’s Celestial Master.

Gregorio’s colleagues have already made such statements.

As for whether Gregorio can actually achieve it, that’s not their concern.

After all, they won’t be the ones facing the criticism in the end.

If Gregorio knew his colleagues were just making things harder for him, he’d probably say: Thanks a lot, guys!

Inside the dilapidated temple, through these simple conversations and observations, Gregorio has already gathered a fair amount of information.

He connects the useful information in his mind, forming a so-called character map.

First, professional characteristics are very important.

The paranormal entities can tear off the mountaineers’ skins. Even if they can perfectly replicate a teammate’s appearance, they certainly cannot copy the teammate’s special abilities and professional traits.

If someone cannot demonstrate the professional characteristics they claim, or if their abilities don’t match their displayed appearance, there’s a high chance they are a paranormal entity impersonating a teammate.

This is the direction of Gregorio’s judgment.

The purple-eyed woman unabashedly says she is a circus magician. This profession has a certain characteristic: performing magic tricks.

Once she starts performing magic tricks, her authenticity can be verified.

Except for Zhang Yangqing, other Chosen Ones haven’t seen the purple-eyed woman perform magic yet and need to verify it.

However, since she dares to claim she is a magician, it’s unlikely she fabricated the identity randomly.

After all, magicians can usually perform on the spot. If, under everyone’s urging, she truly cannot perform, it would prove she is lying.

Next is the slicked-back hair man’s profession as a chef, which is probably the one everyone is most eager to verify.

Chefs also certainly have certain professional characteristics, namely, cooking.

Once certain conditions are met, everyone will ask him to cook. If he makes excuses or the food he makes isn’t good, he will become an object of suspicion.

As for the other two, they basically don’t have strong professional characteristics.

The goateed team leader says he is a tour guide. The profession of tour guide is vague, without any exclusive special skills, making it difficult to judge. He must be observed when he leads the way.

Moreover, the team leader shows a strong desire to take charge, making the Chosen Ones suspect he has a problem.

The gold-rimmed glasses man says he is a fitness trainer. Judging this also has a certain degree of difficulty. If he is impersonated by a paranormal entity, the entity would choose a profession with characteristics and abilities similar to its own, and one that isn’t too difficult to portray, based on the impersonated person’s traits.

If the paranormal entity itself is strong, it can claim to be a fitness trainer.

Thinking about it this way, it seems many Chosen Ones are similar, as everyone seems to be lying.

This time, Gregorio is playing with open cards, stating that he is a priest.

When he said it, the other four pairs of eyes simultaneously fixed on him. Through their gazes, it can be seen that their hearts were very complex, but none of them showed their emotions.

In this stage, what Zhang Yangqing said about being a security guard made his teammates find it absurd.

Being a security guard has no professional characteristics at all; one could say anyone can be one. Does that mean they need to find a delivery guy to test him and see if he’s a professional security guard?

While the Chosen Ones are observing their teammates, the several teammates also seem to be observing each other.

That feeling is as if everyone more or less knows something.

So when Zhang Yangqing spoke up, his teammates were speechless, feeling that he was just talking nonsense.

Because the teammates couldn’t glean any information or abilities about him from the identity he claimed.

In this conversation, Gregorio, the purple-eyed woman, and the slicked-back hair man are the types who play openly, telling everyone about their skills.

However, it could also be bait, or they might have second professions, etc.

Zhang Yangqing, the goateed team leader, and the gold-rimmed glasses man are the types who hide their identities.

It can be said that Gregorio seems prepared to imitate Zhang Yangqing’s methods every time, but each time Zhang Yangqing’s methods seem different from what he expected.

Having obtained some information, the next step is to make bold conjectures.

Here, Gregorio has already come up with one conjecture.

As the core figure of the team, the goateed team leader seems very eager to know the abilities and characteristics of the others through their professional traits.

He must have some purpose for doing this.

Moreover, from his appearance until now, he has revealed very little. Even when warming himself by the fire, he doesn’t take his hands out.

According to Gregorio’s thinking, perhaps the goateed team leader also discovered a body on the way here.

If so, then it makes sense.

Because he knows someone in the team has died and been replaced by a paranormal entity.

As the team leader, to ensure the safety of the expedition, he needs to determine which teammate has been replaced. That’s why he asked everyone to introduce themselves, to find some clues.

And coincidentally, Gregorio also discovered a body.

Following this line of thought, there should be at least two paranormal entities impersonating teammates in this team.

If there are two paranormal entities in the team, then Gregorio judges that these two entities should be the slicked-back hair man and the gold-rimmed glasses man.

He has a basis for this. According to Rule 10, your teammates are not weak.

So, when the paranormal entities try to kill a teammate, might they encounter some difficulty?
In other words, when the paranormal entities fought with the two teammates, they were injured by the teammates.

In the whole group, only two people are injured: the slicked-back hair man and the gold-rimmed glasses man.

From the earlier information, it can be judged that their injuries are fresh, which inevitably makes them suspicious.

Thus, a complete line of reasoning forms in Gregorio’s mind.

Because the goateed team leader and the purple-eyed woman don’t have many suspicious points.

The purple-eyed woman started trouble right from the beginning, which also fits her character setting. If she were a paranormal entity, she probably wouldn’t start by offending people, right?
The goateed team leader has been trying hard to play the role of a team leader, talking continuously from the beginning until now.

However, it’s also possible that he is a paranormal entity, wanting to quickly gather information to target and kill everyone.

No matter what, Gregorio first prepares to test the slicked-back hair man and the gold-rimmed glasses man.

As long as there is a target, action needs to be taken.

While other Chosen Ones are still pondering hard, Gregorio uses the reason of going out to gather firewood to invite his teammates out one by one for testing.

Seeing his refreshed performance, so different from his listless appearance in prison, forms a sharp contrast.

The audience all say his performance in this stage is very good.

Gregorio’s popularity begins to rise again.

Other Chosen Ones are also verifying their teammates’ identities using their own methods.

The pyramid nation’s Chosen One, Rahman, is also entering the Ghost Stories world for the third time. He is an archaeologist by profession and has experience spending nights in the wild.

Especially in this harsh environment, he is actually one of the Chosen Ones performing quite well.

Here, Rahman acts honestly. He directly states that he is an archaeology expert, and when the goateed team leader questions him, he answers fluently.

As an ordinary Chosen One without superhuman abilities, he has his own set of strategies.

The rules must exist to protect him, so he needs to utilize the rules.

[Rule 10: Your teammates are not weak. If you want to seek a teammate’s help, please first confirm that they are indeed your teammate.]

Just this rule can be understood differently by different Chosen Ones.

Rahman’s understanding is: Since I cannot actively determine who my teammates are, then I will reverse the logic. I need to let those strong teammates know that I am their teammate, so they will protect me in secret.

This is the key to survival for ordinary Chosen Ones.

Then, try to stick with the group and avoid going out alone with any teammate.

Zhang Yangqing and Gregorio dare to go out alone with teammates because they have the ability to fight back.

Other Chosen Ones don’t have this capability.

So Rahman believes that sincerity is the ultimate weapon.

In a sense, it means currying favor with the NPCs on his side, seeking a path to survival.

And quickly help the NPCs on his side identify who the paranormal entities are, then use them to eliminate the entities.

Then, in this stage, the troubles within the team will basically be gone, which is also the key to survival.

After Rahman honestly expresses himself, the discussion moves to tonight’s arrangements.

The current firewood certainly won’t last until tomorrow, so sufficient firewood needs to be gathered.

Also, along the way, people are needed to carry the firewood, just in case they can’t find any later.

When it comes to physical labor, the gold-rimmed glasses man takes it upon himself, as his professional characteristic is great strength.

He says he only sprained his ankle and might recover by tonight.

Or perhaps he wants to show off in front of the beauty, giving off a somewhat boastful vibe.

Of course, Rahman naturally won’t compete for this. Preserving more energy is his primary goal, but he also says he can help carry some, though the gold-rimmed glasses man refuses.

Next is the selection of people for night watch shifts.

According to the goateed team leader, although this is an icy, snowy wasteland, various strange animals can still appear.

If no one keeps watch, they could be attacked by these animals.

If one person keeps watch alone, no one seems to feel at ease.

After all, wild beasts are scary, but the hidden paranormal entities among the teammates aren’t much better.

So the night watch definitely requires two people taking turns. As for how to arrange it, everyone is discussing.

In this stage, the Chosen Ones fully demonstrate their wisdom.

Even though it’s only the first night in the Ghost Stories world, few dare to be careless.

No one wants to fall asleep and never wake up, right?

So far, nearly two hundred large screens are basically still lit.

After watching the performances of other Chosen Ones, audiences worldwide habitually open the Dragon Nation’s large screen, wanting to see how the Dragon Nation’s Celestial Master, who has always performed perfectly, will play this round.

He is the one truly awaited by all.

But when they open the Dragon Nation’s large screen, many viewers rub their eyes, even wondering if they are seeing things.

While other Chosen Ones are still gathering information, this one is already asleep?
On the large screen, Zhang Yangqing has long been comfortably lying in his sleeping bag, enjoying the process of camping in the snow.

He completely ignores the speechless and resentful expressions of the other four.

Say whatever you want, scheme however you want, I’m going to sleep regardless.

This move truly stuns the audience.

Based on their understanding of the Dragon Nation’s Celestial Master, shouldn’t he be performing even better than Gregorio?
Many, before watching, were speculating that the Dragon Nation’s Celestial Master might, like before, just need to display his awe-inspiring presence, and then subordinates would come to worship, seeking the big brother’s care, while paranormal entities would be too scared to make a move.

At the very least, he should have taken the lead in the team, the type who exudes overwhelming confidence.

But now, the Dragon Nation’s Celestial Master, from start to finish, is truly deeply concealed, giving people the feeling that ‘he seems to be playing something very new.’

His professional identity and abilities are not mentioned, and he doesn’t even tell everyone that he has a lighter.

But the more incomprehensible Zhang Yangqing’s actions are, the more people feel that ‘the Dragon Nation’s Celestial Master must have a profound reason for doing this.’

Then, thousands of interpretations of Zhang Yangqing’s methods appear worldwide.

However, most are not very accurate or comprehensive.

Zhang Yangqing wouldn’t simply want to sleep; he is using stillness to counter movement, responding to changes with constancy.

As soon as he starts slacking off, he is bound to be targeted by the purple-eyed woman and the gold-rimmed glasses man.

Because at this point, these two are already complaining to the goateed team leader, saying that Zhang Yangqing and the slicked-back hair man burning the temple for firewood is an unwise move.

Since Zhang Yangqing just spoke up for the slicked-back hair man, the slicked-back hair man should naturally also speak up to defend him, leading to verbal conflicts.

The goateed team leader, not wanting things to escalate, plays the role of peacemaker.

But the relationship between the slicked-back hair man and those two seems to have deteriorated after this argument.

If they act this way, Zhang Yangqing’s goal is achieved: to intensify the contradiction.

Zhang Yangqing saw through it early: everyone present is skilled at disguise.

If one merely tries to glean information through conversation and observation, it’s basically impossible to discover anything.

If clues could be found at this stage, then the Ghost Stories world would be too easy.

The best way to make them remove their masks is to make them tear them off themselves.

Only when these people’s emotions become unstable will so-called ‘flaws’ appear.

As for the identities they claimed, Zhang Yangqing thinks they are probably all made up.

Since he himself could think of fabricating an identity, how could his teammates not think of the same?

Engaging in these mind games with these people is simply a waste of time.

So Zhang Yangqing simply chooses to sleep directly, allowing him to recover his energy.

He has always been the one who sees things most clearly.

For other Chosen Ones to use themselves as bait, to verify the identities others claim, or even to gather professional information, Zhang Yangqing would only say that it’s possible to do so, but it’s not very useful.

Zhang Yangqing’s method of determining who is a paranormal entity is actually very simple, not as complicated as the Chosen Ones and audience might think.

In this Ghost Stories , genuine teammates certainly hope more people can survive, while paranormal entities want to kill everyone.

So, whoever shows an urgent desire to put someone to death is the paranormal entity!