What Savage Rules!

Sect Prohibitions:

First, no disciple of the sect may provoke anyone who meets any of the above conditions.

Second, no disciple may casually provoke others. Our principle is: if others do not offend us, we do not offend them.

Third, if others offend us, we must eradicate evil completely, pull up the weeds by the roots, leave no survivors, grind their bones to dust, and preferably wipe out their entire family, sect, close friends, and so on, leaving no one alive!

Afterward, scatter their ashes from an upwind location so they can blow farther away.

Fourth, if the conditions of the third rule cannot be met, absolutely do not make an enemy of them. Just endure it. A gentleman's revenge can wait ten years.

Fifth, if special circumstances make it necessary to provoke someone who meets the "recruitment criteria," they must be killed in a single strike, and their family must be wiped out in the shortest possible time—especially their girlfriend!

Furthermore, the person sent must be at least three major realms stronger than the opponent's strongest fighter. Never give them any chance to react.

If the sect lacks the strength...

Then no matter how special the circumstances are, you are forbidden from provoking them!

Even if that means offering gifts and apologizing.

Even if the premise is that one of our disciples has been cuckolded by them.

Sixth: ...

After reading through this series of new rules, all five elders were stunned numb.

The new rules for recruiting disciples were still acceptable. Though they did not understand what use they had, they were at least not too outrageous. They could reluctantly accept them. But what the hell were these sect prohibitions!?

No provoking people who met the disciple recruitment criteria?

Fine, they could let that slide.

But if they did act, they had to wipe out the other party's entire family, even spare none of their relatives and friends, leave no survivors, grind their bones to dust afterward... Wasn't such behavior likely to get them labeled a Demonic Cult?

The First Elder shuddered. "Sect Master, I'm afraid these prohibitions are somewhat inappropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about them?"

Lin Fan rolled his eyes and shot back.

"Wiping out an entire family at the slightest provocation... This is too ruthless. It goes against the harmony of heaven and is likely to bring backlash!"

"What backlash?"

Lin Fan retorted again. "Once we've wiped out their entire family, killed all their close friends, ground their bones to dust, and left no trace behind, who would know we did it?"

"Even if they did know, with no family or friends left, who would avenge them?"

"Or does First Elder think killing only one person makes it safe? Wouldn't their family and friends seek revenge?"

Su Xinghai was left speechless. His eyes widened, but he did not know how to refute him.

Second Elder Wu Xingyun pondered for a moment. "Sect Master, if we are to do this, I'm afraid the Moon Embracing Sect currently lacks the strength."

"Even if all us old fellows went out together, we would only barely match the Combat Power of a third-rate sect."

"Which is why I wrote it so clearly, didn't I?"

"If you don't have enough strength, then endure it! You don't have the strength to wipe out their entire family, yet you still dare provoke them? Aren't you afraid they'll wipe out yours instead? Haven't enough people died already?"

He gave the beauty no face whatsoever.

Lin Fan knew what he wanted, and he knew even more clearly how to "survive"!

Therefore, these rules had to be enforced.

At those words, Wu Xingyun's red lips opened and closed several times. In the end, she had nothing to say and fell silent.

Of course she wanted to argue.

But honestly, what Lin Fan said made a lot of sense.

His words were crude, but his reasoning was not.

The Great Dao was simple.

"Especially those who meet our recruitment criteria. If we truly offend them, we must kill them in one strike and wipe out their entire family as well! Forget people—even their dogs must get slapped twice and have their heads blown apart. Their eggs must be scrambled, and even earthworms must be dug out and sliced vertically!"

At this point, Lin Fan looked at them. "Does anyone else have any questions?"

Fifth Elder Duan Qingyao lightly raised her hand. "Sect Master, I have a question. What does cuckolded mean?"

"It means someone put a green hat on you," Lin Fan replied casually.

The five elders all wore the exact same bewildered expression. "Huh?"

"The hatred of having one's wife stolen. Understand?"

"Like when your woman gets taken by someone else and runs off with him."

"..."

Hiss!

The five elders immediately sucked in a cold breath.

Good heavens.

They had to endure even that kind of grudge?!

Fourth Elder Chen Erzhu hurriedly said, "Sect Master, I'm afraid that is inappropriate. If such hatred is suppressed in one's heart and cannot be released, one's thoughts will become obstructed, which is harmful to cultivation. It may give rise to inner demons. At best, one will be unable to advance further. At worst... one's cultivation may regress, or one may even explode and die!"

"How could that give rise to any inner demon?"

The other four elders all nodded repeatedly.

Lin Fan folded his arms. "I know what you're thinking, but why not look at it another way?"

"If a woman or cultivation partner can be stolen away, is she still worthy of being your cultivation partner?"

The five of them froze, then shook their heads.

She definitely was not.

A good horse did not eat old grass, much less a person.

"Then what are you suppressing?"

"Think of it another way. You got to sleep with someone else's cultivation partner for free. What are you suppressing?"

"Even if you spent money, what doesn't cost money? Don't you have to spend money at a brothel too? Isn't a respectable woman more pleasant than visiting a brothel?"

"Suppressed? Shouldn't you be secretly delighted? And if you're still unhappy, you can work hard and cultivate, then go beat that person up afterward. Work hard just so you can beat him up!"

"You sleep with someone else's cultivation partner, then beat him up afterward, and you're feeling suppressed?"

"Even if you still can't get over it, this at least lets you see what kind of thing your cultivation partner truly is. Isn't that better than having her betray you at a critical moment and get you killed?"

The five elders said, "Huh?!"

(ΩДΩ)!!!

At that moment, they were all utterly dumbfounded.

What kind of logic was this?

It was a line of reasoning they had never imagined before.

But damn it.

Damn it, it actually made sense!

Third Elder Li Changshou slapped his thigh repeatedly, his gaze at Lin Fan blazing.

Well said!

In the end, even the most stubborn First Elder felt that it made a little sense, though he still found it inappropriate. "What the Sect Master says is not without reason, but this is ultimately somewhat unpresentable, isn't it?"

"If such sect rules spread, I fear people would ridicule us."

"It is one thing for us elders to read them, but it may be inappropriate for the disciples to see them."

"Inappropriate?"

Lin Fan sighed softly. "Ridicule?"

"At a time like this, you still care about saving face?"

"Which is more important, face or the sect and our lives?"

"First Elder, you have been in the Moon Embracing Sect far longer than I have. By seniority, I should call you ancestor. So tell me, the previous generations of the Moon Embracing Sect did take in some promising seedlings, but why has it come to the point where I am the one serving as Sect Master?"

The First Elder's expression changed slightly as countless memories came to mind.

His senior brothers and sisters, his disciples, his martial nephews and nieces, his disciples' descendants, and even...

Too many. Far too many.

Over the years, they had all become nothing more than yellow earth.

His voice gradually turned hoarse. "Everyone else is dead. Sect Master is the best seedling the Moon Embracing Sect has now."

"Was there even one among them who died of old age?"

The First Elder's voice became even hoarser. "No."

"Do you still not understand?"

Lin Fan sneered. "At a time like this, you still cannot recognize reality, yet you want to talk to me about dignity?"

"If we can cling to life, then cling to life. When the time comes that we do not even have the chance to cling on, then we will truly be beyond saving."

"Besides, I know why you chose me as Sect Master."

He did not hide it. "That night, by chance, I overheard your conversation."

"You did not want to bear this responsibility, so you chose me. I'm not afraid."

"But since you chose me, you must give me the authority. Only then can I act boldly and decisively!"

"Whether I succeed or fail, at least I will have tried."

"I will have done right by the sect, and even more so by my own conscience!"

"Don't make me Sect Master in name while vetoing everything I do behind the scenes, even when you know that what I am doing has some merit..."

Lin Fan laughed at himself.

"If that is how it will be, then I might as well not be Sect Master. Whoever wants the position can take it. Or I have several other senior brothers—why not let them become Sect Master?"

At this point, Lin Fan sighed again.

"The Moon Embracing Sect is already sick, sick unto death."

"Change may not necessarily lead to success, but refusing to change is absolutely a dead end."

"Chaotic times call for harsh measures. A loud drum needs no heavy hammer."

"Whether you agree or not, decide for yourselves."

He stared directly at the five elders. There was not a trace of humility in his eyes. At that moment, he was the true Sect Master—not a puppet, much less a scapegoat!

If you want me to do this, then fucking give me the authority, and I'll do it properly.

If you won't let me do it, then carry this burden yourselves!

His words were extremely impolite. In this era, they could even be called heretical.

Yet they left all five elders speechless.

Finally, the First Elder lowered his head and sighed. "We shall do as the Sect Master says."

"I have no objections." Wu Xingyun nodded.

After that, the other three elders also voiced their support.

Only then did Lin Fan smile. "Elders, please do not blame this junior for being disrespectful toward his seniors. This junior truly has no other choice."

"After all, you understand the Moon Embracing Sect's current situation better than I do."

"This is also my only option."

"And rest assured, I am not merely treating this as a game. I have already resolved to live and die with the Moon Embracing Sect!"

At those words, the five elders were startled, but they could not help feeling deeply moved.

A feeling of resonance spread among them.

Live and die together...

Was that not exactly what these old fellows wanted as well?

At that moment, they even had a feeling.

Perhaps this little fellow, whom they had pushed into the position because they did not want to bear the burden, truly could bring about some changes...

"So, I ask all of you elders to assist me!"

"Don't worry."

Duan Qingyao smiled, sweeping away the earlier awkwardness. She patted Lin Fan on the shoulder. "Our goals are the same. We will certainly assist you with all our strength."

"That's right! Perhaps this is our last chance. We must naturally give it our all!" Chen Erzhu also patted Lin Fan on the shoulder.

Then came the First, Second, and Third Elders.

They all patted Lin Fan on the shoulder, saying they too would give their all.

"Then we will go down and make preparations first."

The five elders looked solemn. "Whether anything can change may depend on three days from now..."

"Mm. Thank you for your hard work."

Lin Fan nodded.

Watching their retreating backs, Lin Fan secretly let out a sigh of relief. Good. At least I didn't fall out with them. As long as they are willing to assist with all their strength, there is still hope.

"As for my senior brothers..."

Thinking of them, Lin Fan scratched his head.

They were all Outer Sect Disciples, with talent barely worth mentioning.

It was basically impossible for them to achieve anything.

"I'll try to protect them. Even if they amount to nothing, they can at least serve as mascots and fill out the numbers."