Extra's Strategy: Cultivate Protagonists, Become Invincible-Chapter 250: The Rules Of The Duel Seem A Little Off!

Crimson Snow Sect's official dueling platform was packed to the brim with disciples, servants, and pavilion officials.

Even the most worn-out, creaking, and dirty bench had been snatched up. Some disciples were engaged in furious tugs of war, holding onto the seat they wanted for dear life.

Some disciples were engaged in animated debates, speculating on the chances of winning, losing, and possible strategies of each contestant. Some were busy spinning conspiracy theories involving figures whom they didn't even know.

The noise of the crowd was deafening. Adding to it the view of thousands of colorful uniforms gathered in one place, the scene was bound to leave an impression on whoever gazed upon it from a distance.

Because of the fog tides, this part of the sect hadn't received many visitors in the last few months. And the newly recruited disciples weren't particularly keen on dueling each other openly anyway.

For many disciples of the junior generation, this platform was unfamiliar, a novelty of the sect that they'd never explored before. Han Xuhan was one of those disciples.

By the time he snaked his way past the dense encirclement of people, setting his foot on the edge of the arena for the very first time, the designated time for the duel was just a few minutes away.

Aside from Xuanyuan Zhou, Mu Ran, and Xiao Wu, many friends and acquaintances seemed to have been waiting for his arrival there. Senior brother Xiao Po, senior sister Qing Hua, senior brother Lin from the Archives, familiar healers from the infirmary, and several disciples from different mountain peaks came over when they saw him.

At the other end of the circular arena, maintaining some distance from the disciples seated in the front rows, Chen Yan scrutinized each exchange between Han Xuhan and his acquaintances. His small group of followers sat together nearby, whispering amongst themselves nervously.

Soon, the Elders from various mountain peaks who had agreed to play the roles of judges in this duel began to arrive one by one. Those around Han Xuhan, including his three martial siblings, returned to their seats, their faces tense.

In comparison, Han Xuhan's expression was plain. He surveyed the arena in front of him.

It was the epitome of what anyone would picture upon hearing the words: Dueling Arena. It consisted of a flat, round field, separated from the audience by massive wooden blocks laid horizontally.

Complex arrays had been inscribed on these blocks that acted as the arena boundary. The arrays were a part of the mechanisms that ensured that the audience would not be affected by whatever took place within the borders.

He then scanned the Elders sitting on the raised stands around the arena while speaking in a low tone with Zhanxian, who was standing in front of him in a commanding pose, attracting countless curious looks.

But being covered in a specially designed, spiritual perception-blocking cloak from head to toe, he was naturally not seen through. Even the Elders could only frown when they tried to probe him from a distance.

Gradually, the atmosphere around the arena started to solidify. Debates and whispers ceased as one of the officials appointed to oversee duels walked to the center of the arena, becoming the center of attention in the blink of an eye.

Clearing his throat, he seemed to cast a mystic art to turn his voice far louder than normal, rivaling the thunderous volume of a megaphone. It ensured that his voice reached every member of the audience.

"It has been a while since we've held a public duel in this arena. Many of you might be unfamiliar with the rules and restrictions. Seeing that almost the entire outer court has gathered here today, we can't miss out on this opportunity to teach you the basics."

The official glanced at Zhanxian and Chen Yan, the two unidentifiable contestants standing at the edge of the arena on opposing ends.

"This is an ordinary duel agreed upon by two disciples of the outer court, both of whom wish to remain anonymous.

As per the rules, before the contest starts, they may report their cultivation levels, declare what weapons, Mystic Arts, and Martial Arts they shall be using during the duel, and what offensive, defensive, or complementary treasures or tools they're carrying."

The official paused for a second before adding, "Of course, they're also allowed to keep such information hidden."

This produced a buzz among the crowd. Almost all the junior disciples started talking, most of them in agreement that the latter option was the better option.

After all, if you reveal all of your cards before the duel, what's the point of fighting?

When you're locked in a real contest of life and death outside the sect, are your enemies going to announce their cultivation levels and secret techniques before they attack you?

The official seemed to have expected this reaction. He shook his head and continued speaking in an even louder volume, suppressing those discussions in an overbearing manner.

"If they choose to keep the information hidden, there are some extra responsibilities that they must undertake. After all, this is an ordinary duel, not a contest of death.

Firstly, if either disciple is permanently injured in this duel, be it the result of a Mystic Art, or a martial art, or caused by a tool, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the side causing it must compensate the injured according to the regulations."

Many young disciples couldn't help but nod contemplatively at this revelation. It sounded like a reasonable rule.

But then, they heard the official add, "Of course, they must also pay a fine to the sect for causing the loss of manpower and other resources by inflicting such a severe injury."

Almost immediately, the entire arena witnessed an explosion of enraged, indignant exclamations and accusations.

"What kind of rule is that? Bullshit!"

"Who made this rule? Were they trying to ensure that nobody dares to duel in the sect's dueling arena?"

"I'm so tired of this damned sect finding every excuse under the sun to charge its disciples. I've met bandits with a better conscience!"

The official clearly had a great experience in handling such outrage. He turned his voice three degrees louder and roared,

"It's only a token sum, disciples! It's meant to discourage the contestants from being heavy-handed and inflicting injuries with malicious intent during the duel. We're charging you for your own good!"

Something about his reasoning was clearly not right, but for now, all the audience could do was to seethe in silence.

"Secondly, if the duel results in a contestant's loss of cultivation, or the capability of advancing his cultivation anymore, the amount of compensation and fine shall also be increased accordingly."

This rule seemed to be just a simple extension of the first one. So nobody bothered to raise a ruckus again.

"Thirdly, if either contestant ends up dying, whether by succumbing to injuries sustained in the duel or dying from a strike directly inside the arena, the one causing it shall be punished severely, alongside paying compensation to the victim's family, if any.

The range of punishment can go from being stripped of the status of a disciple to being crippled for life, forever losing the opportunity to cultivate."

A somber atmosphere enveloped the arena this time. The rule sounded harsh, but not to the point of being unreasonable.

After all, what sect would want its talented disciples to die from petty infighting?

A sect that allowed such incidents would not survive for long. Even if they did, the other orthodox sects would label them as unprincipled barbarians, perhaps even going as far as uprooting their foundation to erase such practices for good.

Just at this moment, the official added another clause to rule number three.

"Of course, they must also pay a fine to the sect for causing the loss of manpower and other resources by killing their fellow disciple."

Once again, the entire outer court was in uproar. Such an attitude towards the loss of a life, such rampant greed... Not even demonic cultivators would be so capricious, right?

"We do it because we cherish you, disciples!" the official roared with just as much indignation in his tone.

"Every loss of life is like a blooming flower wilting in our beloved garden. How can we bear to let it happen?

And if it happens, how can we not mourn the waste of resources, efforts, and emotions invested in it? That token sum of fine is barely enough to afford a grand funeral!"

Upon hearing those words, spoken so eloquently and righteously, the worldview of these young cultivators underwent a profound transformation.

Even Han Xuhan, who had always been an ardent critic of the Crimson Snow Sect's financial policies, couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.

He was strongly reminded of those big companies from his previous life, run by psychotic lunatics who wouldn't miss out on the opportunity to capitalize on an employee's death.

Whoever had come up with these rules of public duels surely would be a figure admired by those lunatics!