I’m a Max-Level Taoist Master, and You’re Throwing Me Into a Rules-Based Horror Game?! - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Okay, Maybe I Spoke a Little Too Loud Earlier!

The screen displaying China’s participant was dead silent.

Everyone held their breath, eyes wide.

Shock was written across every face.

Some clutched their heads, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

He’s still alive?!

He just beat the crap out of a supernatural entity?!

Is that even humanly possible?!

Countless questions flooded their minds.

Just as everyone expected China’s participant to face punishment—

The security room in the scenario reappeared.

Without so much as a second glance at the defeated horror, China’s participant turned and walked away.

Leaving behind nothing but an unfathomably cool exit.

It was as if he had just swatted a fly—no pride, no excitement. Not even worth a smirk.

This was the composure of a true powerhouse.

That effortless, unrivaled confidence burned itself into the minds of every viewer.

It took several seconds for reality to sink in.

Wait… so he actually passed this stage?!

They had seen people use the rules against the horrors before.

But beating one into submission?

That was a first.

Zhang Yangqing had just shattered their understanding of what was possible.

Who could’ve imagined this was a valid way to clear the stage?

The next second, the chat exploded.

• “HOLY SH—HOLY SH—HOLY SH—!!!”
• “You can DO THAT?! Was the baton meant for this all along?!”
• “No wonder he wasn’t scared—he’s just built different!”
• “From today onward, this man is my god. Everyone who talked shit earlier, KNEEL. I’ll go first—kowtow!”
• “Okay, okay, I admit I was a little loud earlier. My bad, bro!”
• “That was SO COOL. How is someone both this handsome AND this strong?!”
• “The rules say I can’t look at them —but they never said they could look at me*!”*
• “If I kill the horror first, it can’t hurt me. Galaxy-brain logic right here!”
• “If he makes it out alive, I’M MARRYING HIM.”
• “Back off, he’s MINE!”
• “He just did something I wouldn’t even DREAM of attempting. Who dares say China has no talent now?!”
• “A warrior like this entering the horror scenarios? Heaven has blessed China—we’re SAVED!”

Witnessing Zhang Yangqing’s overwhelming strength and unshakable confidence, the entire nation erupted.

Some even sprinted through the streets, cheering at the top of their lungs.

After nine consecutive losses, the suffocating despair had been unbearable.

Now, with a genuine powerhouse representing them, how could they not lose their minds?

It was as if all that pent-up frustration had finally been released.

Others took deep breaths, silently begging Zhang Yangqing to stop being so reckless.

With his skills and insight, he could easily clear the scenario—if he just played it safe.

Meanwhile, in China’s expert analysis room, Hu Liuqi addressed the audience’s confusion.

Calming the public was part of his job.

After all, many couldn’t understand:

Why wasn’t China’s participant affected by looking into the wax figures’ eyes?

Why didn’t he face consequences for destroying one?

Hu Liuqi typed out an explanation:

“First, our participant had already deciphered the rules. Rule 3 states that participants must avoid looking into the wax figures’ eyes—but this is specifically to prevent early encounters with horrors disguised as wax figures. In other words, looking at normal wax figures’ eyes is harmless. Only horrors in disguise trigger consequences. The rules are never explicit; interpretation is key.”

“For the horrors, eye contact is an absolute condition to attack. They cannot violate this rule. Since our participant could overpower the current horrors, he had no reason to avoid them. This is what we call a ‘specialized’ ability among participants. However—DO NOT TRY THIS YOURSELF UNLESS YOU HAVE THE SAME CAPABILITY.”

“Second, horrors disguised as wax figures are horrors*, not actual wax figures. Past scenarios have confirmed this, so I won’t elaborate further. Review older footage if curious. Thus, destroying a horror-in-disguise incurs no penalty.”*

“Lastly, if you ever enter a scenario, remember: horrors can only act under specific conditions. Learn to weaponize the rules.”

With Hu Liuqi’s breakdown, the audience finally understood.

So that’s how it is!

They had mistaken their participant’s fearlessness for recklessness.

Some even joked that they’d probably act even more arrogantly if they had his skills.

Hu Liuqi’s current mission was to share his survival expertise—teaching the public how to analyze rules.

After all, the next participant might not be this formidable.

Knowledge had to be passed down to improve national survival rates.

After posting his analysis, Hu Liuqi’s hands trembled with excitement.

His instincts screamed that the man in the scenario was far stronger than himself.

Just as Chinese viewers celebrated, international spectators rained on their parade.

• “It’s only the first round. It’s barely midnight. With China’s guy playing like this, he’s definitely dying later!”
• “Wow, cheering over barely scraping by? Pathetic. Oh wait—forgot you guys lost nine times in a row. My bad.”
• “LMAO, leaving a comment here so I can come back to laugh when China’s guy dies from his own arrogance.”
• “I bet five cents China’s participant won’t survive past 5 AM.”
• “5 AM? You’re too generous. The way he’s playing? He’ll be dead by 2.”
• “I made a poll—click the link to vote on [When Will China’s Participant Die from His Own Stupidity?].”

The mockery was relentless.

But Chinese viewers couldn’t care less.

Their eyes were glued to the screen, eagerly awaiting Zhang Yangqing’s next move.

Inside the scenario, Zhang Yangqing was the first to return.

Following Rule 4, he called in the mismatched wax figure’s ID.

Other participants weren’t so composed.

Even America’s John stood frozen for five minutes, triple-checking for traps before cautiously noting the wax figure’s number and hesitantly heading back.

Having studied past scenarios, he knew better than to let his guard down—even after clearing a stage.

Many had died from carelessness at this very step.

Japan’s participant, Yasuda Yu, had nearly pissed himself from terror.

Luckily, his instincts made him slam his eyes shut in time.

After fumbling to touch the wax figure’s ID tag, his legs gave out—crawling back to the security room on his knees.

(Not that Japanese viewers were surprised. Kneeling was practically second nature to him.)

The only downside?

The cold breeze made his damp pants extra uncomfortable.

A few others messed up—returning only to realize they’d forgotten the ID and had to go back.

By the end of the first round, only 42 out of 200 participants remained.

The difficulty of a 2-Star Scenario was no joke.

Lower-star scenarios at least had some friendly NPCs.

Participants didn’t feel this isolated, desperate, or terrified.

Here?

Not a single living soul in sight—just you and the horrors.

Most failed not from poor judgment, but from panic undermining their actions.

When the survivors finally returned, they found two new items on the desk:

A note.

And an access card.