413 Hidden Rules
Qin Huai paused, then said, âThereâs a flaw in the planâ¦The expectation of single-handedly eliminating everyone else in a massive fight is unrealistic. Because once there are enough people, the massacre will cease, and everyone will be assigned to various arrays.â
Fang Huo slapped his forehead. âHow did such an important thing slip my mind?â He looked despondent as he added, âIt seems we were overly eager that we overlooked such a simple loophole.â
Qin Huai remained silent. Clearly, the stress had gotten to everyone, causing them to miss this important issue. Now, this loophole had just occurred to him.
A wave of despair began to wash over him. How could he possibly eliminate everyone in one fell swoop? The challenge seemed to have just amplified.
âRegardless,â Fang Huo declared, âBrother Zhou, whenever you need my help, just call for me. Even if Iâm millions of miles away, Iâll rush to your side.â He pounded his chest. The act of having his life saved wasnât something he would forget easily.
âNext, I plan to continue my hunt for those old lunatics. Would you like to join me, Brother Qin?â Fang Huo invited.
âIâll pass for now. Recently, Iâve had some breakthroughs in understanding the ancient scripture,â Qin Huai declined politely. There were only one or two of the old lunatics left, which shouldnât pose much of a problem for someone as capable as Fang Huo.
After parting ways, Qin Huaiâs gaze turned intense. His body shook, and the long sword strapped to his back suddenly sprang into action. A fierce roar escaped his lips.
Just then, another familiar voice echoed out, âBrother Zhou, hold on! Please wait, Brother Zhou!â
A frantic Yang Tianhan emerged from the bushes. âItâs me⦠Yang Tianhan!â he shouted, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
The sword that had been airborne now plunged into the earth, leaving only the hilt visible.
âOh, itâs Brother Yang,â Qin Huai feigned surprise, asking, âHas Big Brother Yang also entered a level-one array?â
Yang Tianhan chuckled. âDidnât Brother Zhou also enter a level-one array?â He rubbed his hands together, grinning. âTruth be told⦠I, Big Brother Yang, have already reached the visceral prefecture realm.â
âVisceral prefecture realm?!â Qin Huai exclaimed in disbelief. He immediately bowed in respect and said, âI pay my respects, Senior Yang!â
Yang Tianhan frowned. âWhat are you doing, Brother Zhou? If you bow like this, wonât we be like strangers?â
âThat⦠is true,â Qin Huai replied, feeling a bit uncomfortable. âThen Iâll continue addressing you as Brother Yang.â
âThatâs more like it,â Yang Tianhan said with satisfaction. âEarlier, I saw you deep in conversation with an expert like Fang Huo⦠You two seem to have a close relationship?â
âTo be honest, we once fought alongside each other, so we are more or less acquainted,â Qin Huai replied sincerely.
âOh?â Yang Tianhanâs mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. After some hesitation, he asked, âWhatâs your opinion on Xiang Mingfengâs proposition?â
âThat proposition?â Qin Huai shook his head. âIt wonât work. Itâs unrealistic to expect to eliminate everyone in an instant.â
Yang Tianhan smiled. âActually⦠they are missing a crucial piece of information. There are hidden rules in this world related to the massacre.â
âReally?â Qin Huai was instantly intrigued. âPlease, do share more, Brother Yang!â
Cautiously, Yang Tianhan scanned their surroundings before leading Qin Huai to a secluded corner. âIn reality, a similar massacre occurred twenty years ago, led by those deranged old lunatics. They initiated an onslaught from the illusion realm that swept across our world.â
He paused, glancing around once again, before continuing, âI discovered it by accident and trailed them to observe. They were ruthlessly efficient in their killing, yet⦠the massacre concluded rather slowly. It took about a day, even though, given their speed, it should have ended in four to six hours.â
Qin Huai studied Yang Tianhan. âSo, youâre suggestingâ¦â
âMy theory is that if we manage to eliminate enough people within a short span of time, weâll trigger the illusion realmâs hidden rules. This would temporarily halt the previous division of the array, allowing it to conclude only after everyone has finished fighting.â
Yang Tianhanâs revelation hit Qin Huai like a bolt from the blue. âBut how did you figure out that it would wait until everyone finished fighting?â Qin Huai asked.
âBecause I survived till the end, only to be slain by a prominent figure from Wuji Mountain,â Yang Tianhan confessed.
âBut still⦠this doesnât meet the criteria of killing everyone single-handedly,â Qin Huai observed, scratching his head in confusion as he looked at Yang Tianhan.
âThere is a way,â Yang Tianhan countered, smiling. âJust as Xiang Mingfeng gathered everyone to discuss leaving the bronze realm, wouldnât there be an opportunity if we did the same?â
Qin Huaiâs eyes sparkled. âYouâre absolutely right, Brother Yang! With the groundwork from the last meeting, if we call another one, everyone is likely to assemble. Even if someone had ulterior motives, they would wait until after the meeting to act. So, with careful planning, we could actually fulfill this requirement?â
Yang Tianhan smiled, visibly relieved. âExactly! Thatâs what Iâm saying!â He then leaned in closer to Qin Huai, anxiously murmuring, âIâm only sharing this with you. Please, donât tell anyone else. I believe you deserve this opportunityâ¦â
Qin Huai was taken aback, stammering, âBut Brother Yang, why donât you seize this opportunity yourself?â
âIf I were twenty years younger, I certainly would⦠But now, Iâm old. All I wish for is to leave this world and reunite with my wife. Then, I want to see my dear motherâ¦â Yang Tianhanâs voice choked as tears welled in his eyes.
âDonât worry, Brother Yang! I wonât disappoint you,â Qin Huai asserted, his voice resolute. âIâll find Xiang Mingfeng and ask him to arrange another meeting.â
âGreat!â Yang Tianhan clapped Qin Huaiâs shoulder. âIâm counting on you.â