Rules of the Strange: I Became a God in a Bizarre World Through Taoist Arts

Get lost! What kind of bullshit brother-in-law are you! Stay away from Sister Shen!

Is it starting with a life-or-death situation?! They're not even giving us any time to prepare. How are the chosen ones supposed to gather information?!

But Sister Shen looks so cool every time she uses Taoist magic!

Wait, look at the northwest corner of the sky! When did another player appear?

[There really is one! (Current number of players: 1) Wait, what? So, in the Fusion Ghost Story, it's just me, Sister Shen, all alone?]

[Tsk tsk tsk.]

Is this a move to destroy Shen Xingzhuo?

I think this is malicious targeting!

As soon as this comment appeared, a horizontal split screen appeared below the sky on Shen Xingzhuo's side.

The text above began to scroll in a loop, explaining the reason for the current change.

[1. The fusion of supernatural tales is Shen Xingzhuo's time-out penalty, and the difficulty level is public and transparent. There is no such thing as "malicious targeting."]

[2. As this is the first case of a fusion of supernatural tales in history, it has a special form - a butterfly mark will appear on the wrist of the chosen one.]

Moreover, only after the chosen one Shen Xingzhuo officially begins the strange tales will the chosen ones from other countries gradually enter the strange tales.

Please wait patiently.

[Friendly Reminder: If the chosen one, Shen Xingzhuo, fails to find the plot trigger point to start the supernatural tale within 30 minutes... then the game will be considered a failure!]

The supernatural tales are permanently closed. All Chosen Ones carrying the mark (including Shen Xingzhuo) are to die immediately!

As the last character finished scrolling, the signal station in the Tianxia Kingdom's command center was instantly filled with various interstellar signals.

Guan Shanyue was very surprised that even ghost stories would use tactics like sowing discord and using others to do the dirty work.

Publicly stating that the key to starting the strange tale lies in whether Shen Xingzhuo discovers the plot trigger point is tantamount to putting her and the Tianxia Kingdom on the hot seat of the fire.

Those petty and narrow-minded countries will definitely take this opportunity to put pressure on Tianxia Kingdom.

Even if she doesn't buy into this, ignoring her would be...

A country that is already at its wit's end may very well take a risky approach.

If the situation worsens further, the straw that breaks the camel's back could be the fuse that ignites interstellar war.

With the mystery of the ghost stories still unresolved, no country has the resources to deal with this war.

The signal tower was already bright red, and the entire Huaxu team was busy as operators.

A chill ran through Guan Shanyue as he, in his capacity as the commander-in-chief of the Zhuhua Alliance, issued a warning to the interstellar frequency band.

Her core ideas consist of only three points:

First, the strange tales have not yet begun, and the Tianxia Kingdom's command headquarters is unable to contact Shen Xingzhuo, who is in the strange tales—no matter how anxious you are, it's no use.

Second, believe in Shen Xingzhuo—she is smarter than the chosen ones in your country.

Third, don't make any definitive statements, otherwise you won't be able to get any more of Shen Xingzhuo's talismans or tips for clearing the supernatural tales from Tianxia Kingdom in the future.

Guan Shanyue spoke frankly.

People from other countries gritted their teeth, but ultimately dared not openly provoke them again.

……

In the ghost story, Shen Xingzhuo, who was highly anticipated, was dragged like a corpse to the shrine's back chamber behind the statue.

This room was half again as big as the ancestral hall in front, but it was just an empty space with a wooden bed inside.

A piece of white brocade with a cold, satin-like sheen was laid on the wooden bed, and it was obviously very valuable.

"Push harder! Push down!"

The midwife's actions were very rough.

She pressed her hand against Shen Xingzhuo's stomach, pushing down hard.

They didn't care whether she, as a "pregnant woman," could exert any strength in that physical condition.

"Young lady, let me make this clear—"

If you keep using the wrong force and can't deliver the baby, don't blame me for using scissors.

The threatening words came from the midwife.

A pair of rusty scissors slammed onto the edge of the bed with a "clatter".

Shen Xingzhuo felt excruciating pain in her abdomen, and the strange feeling in her heart intensified, causing tears to gush out.

"Could this... be the power of hormones?"

She wasn't a crybaby, but at that moment she couldn't control her tears.

But just like in the ancestral hall, no one in the room cared about her feelings.

She used the support to prop herself up slightly and saw the midwife's eyes, which were as still as water yet incredibly focused.

"This child absolutely has to be born..."

As a Taoist master, Shen Xingzhuo was well aware that the little one in her womb had no chance of survival.

It doesn't seem like a stillborn fetus, nor does it seem like a ghost fetus.

Instead... a strange, solidified ghostly aura swelled up her belly.

The midwife's hands pressed firmly against her stomach like iron clamps.

Shen Xingzhuo knew that if she didn't intervene, the child wouldn't be born.

With her right hand forming a sword-like finger, she swiftly drew a talisman on her belly.

The golden light entered her body, but those around her seemed oblivious, their eyes fixed on the white brocade beneath her.

"puff"

Something slid out of the body.

The midwife quickly wrapped the baby in a small blanket and handed it to the maidservant who was serving nearby.

"Keep pushing!"

She didn't lessen the pressure on her hands.

The power of having nine babies in one pregnancy is indeed well-deserved.

Even someone like Shen Xingzhuo, who had practiced physical skills since childhood, was finding it difficult to keep up.

Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

In the last second before her consciousness faded, she saw a blood-written letter appear on the curtain—the belated "backstory" of this strange tale.

Shen Xingzhuo drifted off to sleep.

Dark clouds swallowed the moonlight.

In the pitch-black night, two magpies intertwined their necks and flapped their wings on a tree branch.

The birdsong was clear and melodious; I wonder to whom they were announcing good news.

……

When Shen Xingzhuo opened her eyes again, it was already broad daylight.

The white brocade she had seen yesterday was gone, and she was only wearing a rough cloth haphazardly draped over her body, stained with sweat and blood.

She looked around, but there was no one there.

So he stared straight ahead and opened his chapped lips.

"Captain Guan, I need to connect from the sidelines."

Her voice was hoarse from yesterday's cries of pain.

Soon, Guan Shanyue's image appeared in front of her.

"Take a break. We've already recorded the background of yesterday's strange tale."

Shen Xingzhuo nodded and listened quietly.

Guan Shanyue's steady and cool voice came through, and he read each word very clearly.

"Welcome, Chosen One, to the SS+ level Fusion Mystery: Guanyin Brocade."

"You are the eldest daughter of the Pei family, and you have been frail since childhood, so you were pampered and raised in seclusion."

"In your memory, your parents were loving, your relatives were harmonious, and everyone cared for you. Especially your father, who was so worried about you that he couldn't eat or sleep, and went up the mountain to pay his respects every year."

"His actions finally moved the high monk, who then brought you a white jade statue, which he worshipped day and night, praying for your safety."

The jade statue, with its compassionate lowered eyes, has been burning with incense for ten years…

"Inspired by the jade statue, the Pei family wove Guanyin brocade, which not only sold well but also gained the favor of the royal family."

In an instant, the Pei family rose to prominence.

"Until the Ghost Festival of the year, the Pei family held a sacrificial ceremony as usual."

At that time, you had come of age and, because of your youthful infatuation, you secretly ran out of the mansion to see your beloved.

But I didn't expect your absence to enrage the jade statue.

The Pei family was never able to weave a decent piece of brocade again…

"..."

"Bowing to Heaven and Earth—"

"Bowing to the parents twice—"

"Three prostrations to the Guanyin statue."

"After the wedding ceremony, you developed a high fever and became delirious. You dreamt that Guanyin descended from the lotus platform. With a touch of the lotus tip in her hand, dew fell onto your abdomen."

When I woke up again, I could feel the baby moving in my belly.

Everyone in the family says this is a blessing, and that once you give birth to a son, the Pei family's former glory will be restored...

After Guan Shanyue finished reading, she turned her gaze back to Shen Xingzhuo.

"That's utter nonsense!" Shen Xingzhuo exclaimed angrily.

A demonic statue dares to call itself Guanyin! What audacity of this dog-like tale!

Guan Shanyue knew she was upset, so she gently comforted her, "Don't be angry. According to the supernatural tales, you are still very weak right now, so be careful not to hurt yourself."

"At worst, we can just find an opportunity to smash up the ancestral hall later."

Shen Xingzhuo nodded.

"Don't worry, Captain Guan. I know what's important."

Guan Shanyue smiled gently and continued.

"After you entered the ghost story yesterday, the ghost story posted an announcement on the sky."

"It mentions the differences between fusion ghost stories and ordinary ghost stories, but only says one thing—that is, a ghost story is only officially started when you unlock the 'backstory.' Only chosen ones from other countries can enter the ghost stories."

"Also, the northwest corner of the sky will now display the number of people in the same ghost story in real time."

Shen Xingzhuo raised an eyebrow.

"Real-time online user count?"

Guan Shanyue paused for a moment, then searched his mind for the ancient word "online," and nodded.

My gaze naturally turned to the sky.

"at present……"

Guan Shanyue narrowed his eyes slightly, and his expression became serious.

"Currently, you are still the only chosen one in 'Guanyin Brocade'! And there is..."

"Bang!"

The door of the ancestral hall was suddenly pushed open, and a richly dressed woman appeared in the doorway, which was blinded by the morning light.

"Pei Yin!"

"It's just having a child, how long do you plan to lie in the ancestral hall? Do you think you're Guanyin or something!"

"Do you expect me, as the mother, to come and ask you to breastfeed the baby myself?!"

The footsteps grew closer.

Shen Xingzhuo and Guan Shanyue exchanged a glance and then cut off the communication.

She thought for a moment, then lightly patted her forehead.

No wonder she felt something was off; it turns out the babies she gave birth to with such difficulty yesterday... weren't there...