This High Martial World is Too Crazy!!!

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: The Bizarre Rules of the Martial Arts Contest

”Young Master Fang Can, I’ve brought the stone tablet.”

From a distance, Yan Zhi approached, carrying the one-ton stone tablet before Fang Can.

For a Martial Artist at the Profound Gate Second Layer, carrying a blank stone tablet weighing over a ton was no difficult feat.

Fang Can looked at the massive, blank stone tablet standing before him, then raised his index finger and began to carve into its surface.

After several days of studying, Fang Can was no longer the illiterate he had once been.

SCRAPE, SCRAPE!

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

Yan Zhi watched from the side, filled with admiration. He could also carve words into stone with his bare hands, but to do so with such neat and orderly script required a level of strength control that was simply sublime.

Now that his location was exposed, Fang Can dropped the act and carved his challenge directly onto the stone tablet.

The tablet detailed the rules of the competition: within the specified time frame, there were no limits on the number of challengers, the methods they could use, or who could participate. Any and all means were permitted.

It took him the time of several burning incense sticks to inscribe the hundred-plus words of the rules. Afterward, Fang Can single-handedly lifted the massive stone tablet and set it up at the entrance of the martial arts hall.

He set the stone tablet down with a RUMBLE, then turned and closed the main gate. The crowd of onlookers behind him swarmed forward.

Given the primitive nature of this ancient Otherworld, most of the people were illiterate.

But soon, a scholar who could read was found to describe the tablet’s contents to the crowd.

Welcome to challenge me (Fang Can)

Please adhere to the following rules:

Remember, Fang Can requires rest. Do not challenge him during his rest periods.

Only Heart Image Martial Artists are qualified to challenge.

During the challenge, all methods are permitted, including but not limited to: assassination, poisoning, sabotage, sneak attacks, and group assaults.

Please minimize damage to the surroundings during the challenge.

The following are Fang Can’s designated challenge times. Challenging in concentrated group efforts is recommended.

...

’What the hell is this?’ As the scholar finished reading the rules aloud, the crowd was first bewildered, then intrigued.

They had never seen anything like it. To so brazenly post a public set of rules for a challenge, demanding that everyone abide by them—it was outrageously arrogant.

In this ancient world without an internet, entertainment was sparse. The biggest news was usually a change in the Martial Artist rankings on the Celestial Secret List.

But the local residents found that ever since Fang Can’s arrival, there was more and more excitement. There were fights to watch every day, and they had so much to talk about they could barely keep up. Life had become incredibly thrilling.

After leaving the tablet outside, Fang Can walked back into the martial arts hall. From a distance, he saw the Heart Image Martial Artists he had just defeated gathered around Ye Yonglie.

Seeing Fang Can return, Ye Yonglie hurried over to explain. ”My Lord, these are also devout believers, moved by your divine miracle.”

As Ye Yonglie spoke, the Heart Image Martial Artists Fang Can had just defeated began to pray with fervent devotion.

Fang Can felt a little awkward looking at the new believers. He hadn’t expected them to change allegiances so quickly.

As if sensing Fang Can’s confusion, Ye Yonglie took the initiative to explain. ”My Lord, as your fame grows, many will want to assassinate you. But just as many will want to worship you as a god.”

”This is just the beginning. As time goes on, believers from the Great Yan Country and even surrounding nations will rush here to prostrate themselves at your feet.”

”There are people who wish to worship a god as numerous as the stars, but these Martial Artists have limited knowledge and don’t know who to choose. They can only judge based on reputation.”

”It’s the same for every Martial Artist on the Celestial Secret List. Even those at the very bottom have at least a thousand followers who make offerings to them.”

Whenever the Evil Gods worshipped by those heretics fought, throngs of believers would show up to cheer them on. They would stay until the very end, even if it meant being killed by the battle’s aftershocks.

”And you, my Lord, are number one on the Ascending Dragon List, your fame resounding across the nations. The believers flocking to you will be innumerable. They are likely on their way here by horse as we speak. You need only wait a short while to see.”

At this, Ye Yonglie paused. ”This morning alone, I’ve received at least a thousand membership applications from believers. Most of them have offered to donate their entire family fortunes, just for a chance to join our church.”

Fang Can had seen his share of battles, but even he found this situation utterly absurd.

’It seems that even in a world governed by ideals, popularity is king,’ Fang Can thought. ’And the Celestial Secret List is basically this Otherworld’s version of a trending chart.’

’All you have to do is make a name for yourself, even if you’re only on the list for a month, and the money will come pouring in. You’d never have to worry about the expenses for your martial arts training again.’

’Plus, you get at least a thousand followers who worship you as a god and obey your every command. The feeling must be incredible.’

Some Martial Artists were completely corrupted by this immense spiritual gratification. They would abandon the Martial Dao, cease their cultivation, and spend the remaining decades of their lives in debauchery.

”So, my Lord, go forth without worry. Even if you make an enemy of the entire world, we, your devout lambs, will follow behind you,” Ye Yonglie said with his head bowed.

”...Why would I make an enemy of the world?” Fang Can asked in confusion.

”Because, my Lord, you are destined to rule this world and bring war to the land. We will serve as the soldiers under your command.”

Looking at this group of fanatics before him, Fang Can was completely speechless.

’I just hope this doesn’t lead to a fandom war. If our followers start trashing another god’s followers, it could escalate into a full-blown battle between the ’idols’ themselves.’

”By the way, what does it mean to ’lose one’s mind’?” Fang Can asked, remembering the Martial Artist he had defeated earlier.

”’Losing one’s mind’ is when a Martial Artist’s Dao-heart shatters, causing them to succumb to their inner demons. Their actions lose all logic, and they descend into chaos,” Ye Yonglie explained.

”A classic example is the Overlord of Great Chu. After seven consecutive defeats, his extreme yang energy gave birth to yin, transforming him from an unrivaled titan into a peerless beauty. I heard that even his martial arts legacy was completely altered.”

Having a general understanding of what ”losing one’s mind” meant, Fang Can turned and headed deeper into the martial arts hall.

”Master, where are you going?” Watching Fang Can’s back, Ye Yonglie couldn’t help but ask.

”I’m going to deal with a traitor in our ranks. Gather all the disciples of the hall immediately,” Fang Can said, his tone flat.

”A traitor!” Hearing Fang Can’s words, Ye Yonglie’s eyebrows furrowed sharply.

He had also suspected that a Disciple from the hall was responsible for leaking Fang Can’s location, but he hadn’t been able to identify the culprit.

”Yes, my Lord. I will gather them at once,” Ye Yonglie said in a low voice.

...

Inside the martial arts hall, Yuan Dang trained alongside the other disciples, but his heart was far from the calm his face projected.

Suddenly, Yan Zhi came running from a distance and shouted to the group, ”Hey! Everyone gather up! The god has an announcement! Come on, let’s go!”

At this news, Yuan Dang’s steady hands gave a violent shudder. He quickly schooled his features into a blank expression and shuffled along with the crowd toward the dining hall.