Extra's Strategy: Cultivate Protagonists, Become Invincible-Chapter 251: Rules For Thee, But Not For Me

As the saying goes, a small affliction makes you cry, but a big tragedy turns you numb. Thousands of disciples seated around the dueling arena were numbed and silenced by the official, who merrily continued to explain the rest of the rules. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Finally, the weight of these responsibilities, as I’ve said earlier, can be alleviated to some degree as long as the contestants honestly report some information before the duel starts.

I’m sure I don’t have to explain the logic behind it. In short, when everyone is aware of the exact risks involved, they can prepare themselves accordingly against severe injuries and deadly outcomes.

The Elders can also intervene if they foresee such a situation. Hence, they prefer to be informed of the techniques that may be employed during the duel, as well as the tools and weapons involved."

Turning towards Zhanxian, the official said pointedly, "Contestant number one, do you wish to provide a report?"

Zhanxian shook his head under the cloak. The official looked a little surprised. Sighing, he turned to look in the other direction, facing Chen Yan.

But before he could repeat his invitation, Chen Yan nodded and jumped over the boundary in front of him, crossing nearly a dozen meters of distance in one casual leap.

But his decision to provide the report was outrageous enough to overshadow anyone’s appreciation towards that physical feat. Whispers broke out around the arena in a frenzy as people tried to guess what he was thinking.

Some senior disciples who were familiar with Chen Yan recognized his figure despite the mask and the thick robe. They suddenly became extremely interested in the duel. Around the arena, many older disciples started shushing the juniors around them.

Sitting some distance away from Han Xuhan’s position, Xuanyuan Zhou, Mu Ran, and Xiao Wu muttered among themselves, giving Chen Yan dirty looks.

"That guy definitely has ill intentions," Xiao Wu said vehemently.

"He’s trying to make our side look bad." Mu Ran gnashed his teeth.

Xuanyuan Zhou said thoughtfully, "He’s threatening Xuhan. Agreeing to provide a report isn’t necessarily done out of goodwill. Han Xuhan knows that Chen Yan won’t hold back.

So, providing a report could mean that Chen Yan has already planned to inflict fatal injuries on him, and then use this rule to avoid being punished for doing so. It’s a decent tactic to weaken an opponent mentally before combat."

Xiao Wu harrumphed. "Brother Xuhan’s mental fortitude shouldn’t be weak enough to succumb to these tricks."

"...That’s hard to say for certain," Xuanyuan Zhou whispered. "I heard he’s been fighting Chen Yan’s followers for a month now, just to prepare for this duel. But the pressure of facing someone at his own level is nowhere near the nervousness he’d feel facing someone who’s a major realm above him."

"Haven’t you been claiming that you’re his teacher or something?" Mu Ran sneered suddenly. "Lost faith in your own disciple? Or did you not have faith in your own teachings to begin with?"

Very slowly, Xuanyuan Zhou turned towards Mu Ran, her countenance radiating an imperious force that usually stifled arguments. But Mu Ran didn’t back off, maintaining eye contact with her rather provocatively.

Sitting between the two, Xiao Wu’s gaze darted back and forth in deep confusion. He had a feeling that this discussion was moving off its proper track for some inexplicable reasons, venturing into dangerous, uncharted territories.

Meanwhile, Chen Yan walked to the center of the arena, his momentum rising with every confident step. Coming to a stop beside the official, he started speaking just loudly enough for the Elders sitting around the arena to hear.

"In this duel, I shall be using only one martial art: the Sweeping Saber Style, taught by Elder Long. The saber I’ll use is the standard one issued to me by the Sect. It’s an ordinary weapon."

Elder Long, one of the judges of the duel, smiled at him approvingly.

"As for Mystic Arts, I’ll use only three, each of which I’ve cultivated to the peak of the ninth layer. They are: Dragonskin, Child Of Earth, and Sun Phantom Sutra."

The Elders exchanged quick looks amongst themselves and began to discuss something, probably weighing the risks of death that those techniques could carry.

Mu Ran frowned. "I haven’t heard of these Mystic Arts before..."

Xiao Wu gave him a sidelong glance. "Are you messing with us at a moment like this? Dragonskin is the most popular defensive Mystic Art on the first floor of the Archives Pavilion! It’s literally the first Mystic Art you’ll see when you step inside that building!"

Mu Ran scratched his head. He had only entered the Archives of this sect once, that too for a specific Mystic Art that was in the ’trash pile’. He had little attraction to the other techniques available for the junior disciples of the outer court.

"I recognize the other two as well," Xuanyuan Zhou said, catching them both by surprise.

"The Sun Phantom Sutra is on the second floor of the Archives. As for the Child of Earth manual, I saw it on the restricted section of the third floor once and took a look."

"What? You were allowed to visit the third floor? The restricted sections as well? How?!"

Xiao Wu’s head was spinning. Since the morning, every conversation he had been a part of revealed something so incredible that his thoughts kept freezing.

Junior disciples were barely allowed to take occasional peeks at the manuals on the second floor. The third and fourth floors were only accessible to older disciples who had accumulated considerable merit points and had a high cultivation level.

"The sect master gave me a pass after I donated some core Mystic Arts of my family to the Archives," Xuanyuan Zhou replied, leaving him even more flabbergasted.

Selling off the core Mystic Arts of your family? Aren’t you afraid of being held accountable? Do you have no concerns for the clan that raised you?

In this world, where a clan’s private Mystic Arts often became the foundation of its strength and influence, selling them to outsiders was no different from exposing this foundation to all kinds of harm.

Mu Ran grew impatient and cut into their exchange.

"Sister Zhou, this isn’t the time to brag about your lack of filial piety. Since you recognize those Mystic Arts, can you analyze whether they’ll be a threat to underling Xuhan?"

Xuanyuan Zhou reluctantly said, "He only told me about how he plans to use the martial art techniques in his arsenal. He’s hopeless in the path of Mystic Arts anyway. Fortunately, the design of the duel leaves him some room for improvisation."

At this moment, the discussion of the Elders came to an end, and they signalled to the official inside the arena to continue his speech.

"Since only contestant number two has provided a report, contestant number one must proceed with some caution, hahaha!"

The official laughed in amusement. "Now-"

"Wait!" Han Xuhan raised his hand behind Zhanxian.

Alongside the official’s curious look and Chen Yan’s sharp gaze, the focus of more than a thousand members of the audience fell on him. But he didn’t seem to feel any discomfort under the scrutiny.

With an innocent smile on his face, he shouted, "Why hasn’t he reported his cultivation level? Since you dare to use this rule to escape liabilities, you should obey every part of the rule, shouldn’t you?"