Chapter 61: The Rules of the Dueling Horror

“Fang Canshaoxia, the stone tablet has been brought.”

From afar, Yan Zhi carried a one-ton stone tablet to Fang Can’s side and said.

As a Wu Gong practitioner of Xuanguan Second Layer, carrying a multi-ton blank stone tablet was no great feat.

Gazing at the towering blank stone tablet before him, Fang Can raised his index finger and began carving into its surface.

Having studied for several days, Fang Can was no longer the illiterate he had been before.

“Crack! Crack!”

As stone dust continuously fell from the tablet, clear, orderly characters began to emerge on its surface.

Watching this, Yan Zhi felt deep admiration—he could carve characters into stone with his bare hands too, but to carve them so precise and balanced required exquisite control of force.

Since his location had been exposed, Fang Can no longer pretended—he directly wrote his demands onto the stone tablet.

The tablet detailed the rules of the contest: no limit on number of challengers, no restriction on methods; any person, any means were permitted.

After spending several incense sticks writing the hundred-character contest rules, Fang Can lifted the massive tablet with one hand and stood it at the martial school’s entrance.

He slammed the tablet down with a thunderous crash, turned, and closed the gate again; the crowd gathered behind him surged forward.

Thanks to the innocence of this world’s ancient era, most people still could not read.

But soon, a literate scholar was found who explained the tablet’s contents to everyone.

“Welcome to challenge me (Fang Can).”

“Please abide by the following rules.”

“Remember, Fang Can needs rest—do not challenge during rest hours.”

“Only Xiangxiang Wu Gong practitioners are eligible to challenge.”

“During the challenge, all means are permitted, including but not limited to assassination, poisoning, ambush, sneak attacks, and mob assaults.”

“During the challenge, please minimize damage to the surroundings.”

“Below are the times Fang Can permits challenges—recommended to form teams and challenge collectively.”

……

“What is this?” As the scholar finished reading the challenge rules, everyone was baffled, then intrigued.

Because they had never seen anything like it before—openly displaying challenge rules and demanding everyone follow them—this was sheer audacity.

In an era without the internet, entertainment was simple; the biggest daily topic was always the changes in the Tianji List’s rankings.

Nearby residents found that since Fang Can’s arrival, new events had multiplied, daily fights were now guaranteed, topics changed too fast to keep up, and life had become thrilling.

After posting the tablet, Fang Can entered the martial school, only to see from afar the Xiangxiang Wu Gong practitioners he had just defeated gathered around Ye Yonglie.

Seeing Fang Can return, Ye Yonglie stepped forward to explain: “Master, these are devout followers moved by your divine miracle.”

At Ye Yonglie’s words, the Xiangxiang Wu Gong practitioners Fang Can had just defeated began fervently praying.

Looking at the few devotees before him, Fang Can felt awkward—he hadn’t expected their transformation to be so swift.

As if sensing Fang Can’s confusion, Ye Yonglie added: “Master, as your fame grows, many seek to assassinate you—but even more seek to worship you as a god.”

“This is only the beginning. As time passes, believers from Dayan and neighboring nations will come to kneel at your feet.”

“Those who wish to worship are countless as stars, but these martial artists know little—they do not even know whom to worship, so they judge only by reputation.”

“Every Wu Gong on the Tianji List is the same—even the lowest-ranked has at least a thousand followers offering worship.”

Whenever those heretics’ false gods fight, hordes of believers arrive to cheer—even if crushed by the battle’s residual waves, they cling on until their deity’s battle ends.

“And you, Master, as the top of the Shenglong List, renowned across nations, draw countless worshippers—most are already riding here. You need only wait a while to see.”

Saying this, Ye Yonglie paused: “This morning alone, I’ve received over a thousand applications to join our church, and most have pledged to donate all their wealth just to become members.”

Though battle-hardened, Fang Can still found this situation absurd.

It seemed that even in this mind-based world, traffic ruled—and the Tianji List was like an otherworldly trending chart.

Once you gained fame, even if you stayed for only a month, wealth would pour in uncontrollably—you’d never again worry about training expenses.

And you’d have at least a thousand servants who worship you as a god and obey your every command—no need to describe the feeling.

Some martial artists were so corrupted by this spiritual ecstasy that they abandoned cultivation entirely, spending the rest of their decades in unrestrained indulgence.

“So, Master, go forth boldly—even if you stand against the entire world, we, your faithful sheep, will follow behind you,” Ye Yonglie bowed.

“...Why would I stand against the world?” Fang Can asked, puzzled.

“Because Master, you will inevitably rule this world, bring war to the land, and we shall be your soldiers.”

Looking at the fanatics before him, Fang Can was utterly speechless.

He hoped no future fan wars would erupt over rival idols, triggering massive battles between sects.

“By the way, what is ‘Shi Xin Feng’?” Fang Can asked, recalling the martial artist he had defeated earlier.

“Shi Xin Feng means a martial artist’s Wu Dao heart has shattered, causing them to go insane and lose all logic,” Ye Yonglie explained.

“Take the former Chu Overlord as a classic example—he suffered seven consecutive defeats, causing Yang to generate Yin; he transformed from a peerless warrior into a peerless beauty, and even his lineage underwent a complete change.”

Fang Can roughly understood what Shi Xin Feng meant, then turned and walked into the martial school.

“Master, where are you going?” Ye Yonglie asked, watching Fang Can’s back.

“To deal with a traitor within the school. Gather all the disciples here now,” Fang Can said calmly.

“Traitor!” At Fang Can’s words, Ye Yonglie’s brows snapped upright.

He too suspected the leak had come from within the school, but had no proof.

“Yes, Master. I’ll summon them at once,” Ye Yonglie whispered.

……

Inside the martial school, Yuan Dang trained among the disciples, but his inner state was far from calm.

Suddenly, Yan Zhi ran over from afar and shouted: “Hey, everyone gather! The Divine One has an announcement—come together!”

Hearing this, Yuan Dang’s steady hands trembled violently, yet he kept his face expressionless as he blended into the crowd heading toward the dining hall.

(End of Chapter)