I’m a Max-Level Taoist Master, and You’re Throwing Me Into a Rules-Based Horror Game?! - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Say What You Will, but Winners Have the Right to Speak!

Zhang Yangqing’s brutal execution of the hidden anomaly was just one display of his power.

The first time he killed the hidden anomaly, it took two minutes to regenerate.
The second time he killed it, the same thing happened—another two-minute recovery period.

From this, expert teams across the world could deduce two key pieces of intel:

1. The hidden anomaly cannot be permanently killed (for now). Only Zhang Yangqing could confirm the specifics—everyone else was just watching the screen.
2. The hidden anomaly can be damaged. Its two-minute recovery period means it has a regeneration phase.

These might seem like minor details, but for humanity across the planet, they represented a massive leap forward.

After all, no one else was willing—or able—to risk their life just to gather intel for everyone else.
The only person bold enough (and skilled enough) to do so was the Dragon Nation’s Celestial Master.

Other nations might not want to admit it, but in this round of the Rules Anomaly, Zhang Yangqing had contributed the most.
The intelligence he provided could be crucial for future challengers.

Only the experts—those with higher analytical thinking—could truly grasp the deeper meaning behind Zhang Yangqing’s actions.
To everyone else, it just looked like he was killing time by tormenting anomalies for fun.

After recording the data, Hu Liuqi sighed and said, “What a shame. A master like him got stuck in a two-star difficulty dungeon—such a waste of talent.”

The other experts chimed in:

• “Two-star dungeons provide very little intel, but Celestial Master Zhang has basically uncovered everything useful for us.”
• “Exactly. Thanks to him, we now know that every Anomaly World seems to have hidden treasures—most people just don’t dare go after them.”
• “I bet even a three or four-star dungeon would be no problem for him. What a waste—he could’ve uncovered even more intel.”

Zhang Yangqing’s intel was by far the most comprehensive of any challenger—no contest.
He had practically unraveled everything in this two-star dungeon:

• Special items, reward items—things that aid in clearing the dungeon.
• Treasures, hidden anomalies—things most people wouldn’t even dare approach.

Zhang Yangqing had solved it all, giving expert teams worldwide a masterclass.
This was of monumental significance for humanity’s survival in the Rules Anomaly.

Many challengers had the skill to clear dungeons—they just lacked experience and couldn’t make the right judgments.
Take, for example, South Korea’s professional sprinter Lee Jin-pyo or Eagle Nation’s Professor John. With more intel and experience, they could’ve cleared it too.

Most challengers were too nervous and clueless, dying in the first stage.
Many of these deaths could’ve been avoided.

That’s why Zhang Yangqing’s intel would be invaluable for future challengers.
In the Anomaly World, everything could be exploited—even an NPC’s life.

Back in the dungeon, Zhang Yangqing checked the time—7:59.
After killing the hidden anomaly one last time, he returned to the wax museum.

“Enough experiments. Don’t want to trigger some weird bug and get stuck here.”

At exactly 8:00 PM, a staff member in a wax museum uniform knocked on the door.
The remaining eight challengers were let out, marking the end of the Midnight Wax Museum anomaly.

A message appeared before all citizens of the Dragon Nation:

[Congratulations to the Dragon Nation’s challenger for clearing the ‘Midnight Wax Museum’ anomaly. Rating: SSS]

• Standard Reward: One city freed from anomaly infestation.
• Special Reward 1: All citizens’ lifespans increased by 15%.
• Special Reward 2: All citizens’ physical attributes +1.
• Special Reward 3: National rice production increased by 20%.

The entire nation erupted in excitement.

Until now, the highest rating had been S, achieved by Eagle Nation’s Muscle Doctor.
Celestial Master Zhang had just blown past that—straight to SSS?

That was two whole tiers higher!
But given how dominantly he’d played in the dungeon, an SSS rating was well-deserved.

Eagle Nation’s Muscle Doctor had gotten an S, granting a 10% lifespan increase nationwide.
The Dragon Nation just got 15%—far beyond what anyone else had achieved.

For someone with a 90-year lifespan, this boost would extend it to 103 years.
Many people could already feel the changes—their bodies felt younger, healthier.

The experts theorized:

• Standard clearance = freeing one city from anomalies.
• Each additional ‘S’ rating = an extra special reward.

The lifespan boost was self-explanatory—who wouldn’t want more time?
The +1 to physical attributes was a hidden stat, but it improved speed, strength, and reflexes.
A +1 nationwide was already an insane advantage.

And a 20% increase in rice production? For an agricultural superpower, that meant massive economic gains.

The Dragon Nation was overjoyed.

[Public Reactions]

• “Turning the tide in desperate times, holding up the heavens when they’re about to fall! Celestial Master Zhang is our nation’s undisputed pillar!”
• “Time to check the global chat—let’s see who dares say the Dragon Nation has no talent now!”
• “Bet there’s gonna be a flood of people trying to immigrate back, especially those who just renounced their citizenship. Don’t let them in!”
• “Exactly! If they weren’t with us in hardship, they don’t deserve our prosperity!”
• “With Celestial Master Zhang here, if we can learn even a fraction of his skills, the Anomaly World won’t scare us anymore.”
• “Let’s go! Group pilgrimage to Mount Longhu to thank the Celestial Master!”

For the Dragon Nation’s people, Zhang Yangqing was nothing short of a deity—a savior who’d pulled them from despair.
Anyone who dared insult him would face the wrath of the entire nation.

Meanwhile, the international chatrooms were a mix of gloating, salt, and desperate pleas:

• “Where are all the people who immigrated to Sakura Nation? Seven straight losses now! (IP: Dragon Nation)”
• “Don’t hide! You left after mocking us—speak up now! (IP: Dragon Nation)”
• “Don’t get cocky! You just got lucky with a random superhuman. Other nations have them too! (IP: Iron Tower Nation)”
• “Why are Sakura Nation’s people so quiet now? You’re on the longest losing streak! Dragon Nation bros, I’m your distant cousin—please let me immigrate! (IP: South Korea)”
• “You Koreans have no pride, always groveling. Disgusting! Dragon Nation bros, ignore him—we’re* your real brothers! (IP: Kangaroo Nation)”*
• “Dragon Nation, don’t get arrogant. Let’s see if you can keep producing superhumans. (IP: Eagle Nation)”
• “Let them have their moment. Acting like they’ve never won before. (IP: Maple Nation)”
• “Oh, so winners can’t celebrate now? You guys were way louder when you won. Losers shut up! (IP: Dragon Nation)”
• “Say what you will, but winners have the right to speak! (IP: Pyramid Nation)”

Pyramid Nation’s citizens were also riding high—their challenger, Rahman, had scored an S, matching Eagle Nation’s Muscle Doctor’s previous record.

When Rahman emerged, he let out a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, his reward items had saved him from a few close calls.

Other challengers had barely scraped by, with some last-minute traps in the main hall.
But no one had died—as long as they stayed calm and observant, they’d made it out.

Rahman was ecstatic, bragging to his nation’s experts like he was the best performer of the round.
An S-rating was legendary—only the Muscle Doctor had achieved it before him.

But his boasting didn’t last long.
One expert cut in, dead serious: “You did great, but this time, there’s someone even more insane. Watch his replay.”

Rahman refused to believe it. How could anyone outperform me?
Then he watched Zhang Yangqing’s footage.

…Silence.

This wasn’t just about being “better.”
Rahman’s only thought was:

“I was fighting for my life in there… while this guy was just playing around?”