"Naturally, there are a few points you must remember above all else.
"First, you will show me the necessary level of respect. You will do exactly as I say. The consequences of defiance... well, you've just witnessed them."
"Second..."
Qin Tang continued his lengthy speech.
The cultivators below maintained an outward silence. But privately, frantic exchanges buzzed between them via divine sense.
"Does any Fellow Daoist understand what's happening?"
"It's an Oddity! This Cloudwater Palace must be the ruins of a sect, and it’s now filled with Oddities."
"Is that Qin Tang even real? Or is he something else?"
"He's definitely not alive! Can't you sense that he has no aura at all?"
"Everyone, stay calm. Oddities operate by their own rules. If we just do what this Qin Tang says, we should be safe for now."
***
Li Fan discreetly glanced toward Sikong Yi and Baili Chen.
Their expressions remained perfectly normal, as if they had anticipated encountering Oddities all along.
Or perhaps, even when faced with Oddities, these two already had a plan?
Li Fan's gaze returned to the white-robed figure of Qin Tang.
Based on the experiences of those who had explored Cloudwater Palace in his previous life, this Qin Tang was the first test one faced upon entering the palace.
He was not a living person, but an existence akin to an Oddity itself.
His words were the rules of the Oddity. To survive, one had to obey.
Only by passing his trials could one earn the right to explore the various parts of Cloudwater Palace.
***
Qin Tang finally finished speaking.
He clapped his hands together. "It's getting late. I'll take you to your quarters to rest. The trials will begin first thing tomorrow morning.
"Follow me."
With that, he turned and walked toward the edge of the plaza.
The vast majority of cultivators, including Sikong Yi and Baili Chen, obediently followed the white-robed Qin Tang.
Li Fan kept close to the group.
Only a handful of individuals chose not to follow. Instead, after exchanging glances, they sped off in the opposite direction, attempting to flee.
Qin Tang seemed completely unaware of their actions, showing no reaction whatsoever.
As these cultivators raced away, they failed to notice the faint blue light seeping from their bodies, which grew more pronounced the farther they moved from Qin Tang.
Eventually, after covering some distance, all of them withered into desiccated corpses, crashing heavily to the ground.