Chapter 189 - 189 171 Rule-level

Words : 1538 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

Unfolding in Chapter 189 of "How Am I Still Alive?": 189: Chapter 171: Rule-level 189: Chapter 171: Rule-level “Damn, is this a Sword Saint…” Upon landing,... Keep reading!

189: Chapter 171: Rule-level 189: Chapter 171: Rule-level “Damn, is this a Sword Saint…” Upon landing, the small team of three immediately encountered a large number of mechanical beasts attacking them. But with just one swing of Xia Qin’s sword, only scattered parts were left on the ground. Lu Ping’an roughly estimated that there were at least 20 of them, so that one swing had killed 20 targets? Or had 20 swings been made in an instant? “…Seems like the latter, which is more terrifying.” In all aspects, this was the first time Lu Ping’an had witnessed Xia Qin draw her sword. When she had chased after him, she had always used the sword sheath. Now thinking about it, if they were at this distance, would he be able to withstand that one swing… “…Damn, just a mere Xia Qin.” It seemed that the answer was pretty clear: if they were to actually face each other head-on, Lu Ping’an would be cut in half by a single swing. Considering the current situation, he would do better not to show off in front of high-level professionals who specialize in close combat. “Wait a moment.” As his two companions prepared to move forward, Lu Ping’an stopped them. He lowered his head, pretending to inspect the scattered parts and casually asked a question. “Sister Xia Qin, are you planning to go directly for the enemy’s boss? Do you have a plan against a fifth-tier Beast Tamer?” “…If it’s a surprise attack, high-level logistics profession’s body is also fragile. Although it’s difficult for a Life system to die completely, if we force the master to replace their body, we’ll win more than half the battle.” Xia Qin considered for a moment, if it were a fourth-tier opponent, she would have a high chance of success, but she would have to gamble with her life against a fifth-tier one. “Unfortunately, this is a sixth-tier, and in the latter half of the sixth-tier at that. I can sense the ‘Command’ from within.” Lu Ping’an pointed to the parts at their feet. Even though these “creatures” were already dead, their parts were still twisted. Just like the Copper-Iron Curse is divided into “curse technique” and “curse” levels, the Silver-tier “Decree” is actually divided into “Law” and “Command” levels. Just as third-tier professionals can usually use “curse” skillfully, only sixth-tier professionals have the authority to use “Command.” “…They’ve been dead for more than 20 seconds, and the internal parts still retain physiological structures, and their actions violate the basic principles of mechanical spiritual awakening. In a sense, they are already complete creatures. The opponent should be a sixth-tier or above, Mechanic Spiritualist specializing in ‘hatching life.’ Captain Xia, with all due respect, I don’t think you can kill him.” Lu Ping’an deliberately used the more distant title “Captain Xia” to present an official suggestion to his superior from a subordinate’s perspective. Hua Xueyi was confused by all this, as this information was far from what she knew. Each of these words was a gift from the great cat Beast Tamer Master to Lu Ping’an. Although he didn’t understand them either, he knew that Xia Qin should. “…So, what’s your suggestion?” Xia Qin pondered for a moment and didn’t make a decision on her own. “At the end of the day, we’re currently in a tricky situation. Aside from killing the ringleader, we have two choices: save the hostages and ensure their safety, or stop this crazy device. Since this thing is now a creature, it must have a weak point…” Lu Ping’an’s plan was quite simple. He had seen the design diagram of this tower, and while the limbs were twisted like doughnuts, the overall structure remained unchanged. There are three main parts to its core: first, the rectangular base of the tower, which houses most of the hardware facilities, basic utilities, and stairways to other floors. This area is also the focus of Cai Jingjing’s contracted maintenance and is likely her “zoo.” Next, the circular structure at the very top is where most of the staff and equipment are located. Right now, it’s probably also the area with the most metal monsters. And the rectangular area in the middle serves as the administrative and residential area, where that sixth-tier adversaries are located. “How do you know all this? How do you know the opponent’s position?” Xia Qin asked directly. Lu Ping’an pointed to his ears. “Rescue Sounds. There are cries for help everywhere, extremely noisy. It took me a lot of effort to find out the area related to the ‘female demon’.” “Judging from the cries for help, most of the hostages are on the top floor and may be traversing the torso. There are still military special forces fighting on top, but the situation doesn’t seem to be going well. The opponent is in the middle layer, and there’s nobody in the lower layer. My personal suggestion is that we split our forces…” Lu Ping’an’s plan was straightforward: have Hua Xueyi and Xia Qin fly directly above the middle layer to rescue the hostages, while he would go down alone to see if there was anything he could do to stop the monster. “It’s up to Captain Xia to decide.” Xia Qin thought for a moment. There was no doubt that this plan had a lot of uncertainties. It might be a little cold-blooded, but time was indeed on their side. As time passed, reinforcements would continue to arrive. Delaying tactics and ensuring the safety of the hostages were optimal at the moment. As long as they avoided that potential sixth-tier opponent, the pressure on their side wouldn’t be too great. But if Lu Ping’an, a first-tier individual, wanted to break through someone else’s workshop alone, wouldn’t he be dying fast enough?Looking at the calm expression on Lu Ping’an’s face, she nodded her head in agreement. At least, this decision was more reliable than going headlong into danger with a group of people. “OK, self-preservation first.” After a final glance, she let Hua Xueyi fly up. And Lu Ping’an laughed happily. What could be more delightful than breaking into a boss’s lair? Moreover, if his guess was correct, soon, everyone would be too busy to pay attention to him, a mere small fry. “….It’s coming, the taste of rules…” The cat’s reaction was much faster than expected. Before Lu Ping’an could act, a new round of attacks arrived. Suddenly, the sky darkened, and a giant birdcage appeared faintly. “Clang!” The gigantic war beast that had been wreaking havoc just moments ago vanished among the city ruins. More precisely, the metallic creature and the area surrounding it disappeared into thin air in broad daylight. In fact, it was still in its original place and the clear sky and white clouds around the ruins remained, but from afar, only iron bars could be seen. A similarly-sized metal parrot appeared, squirming restlessly above its head. “It’s Haibolon’s Metal Birdcage! Your Special Service Team actually has a Rule-level Taboo item!” Each Rule-level Taboo item was a treasure, and the well-informed cat immediately recognized its name. This birdcage could be used, at a certain cost, to bind any individual and place them in the “Birdcage” space for a duel. “Boom!” The metal parrot swooped down and clashed with the metallic giant. In the duel, the “Two Sides” combat power is naturally balanced, which is why the “Parrot” transforms into metal. The victor can leave the metal cage, while the loser stays trapped. If they don’t die of starvation, they will wait for the next prisoner. As the strength is forcibly averaged, the outcome is largely dependent on luck, but if the “bound” escape, the holder of the birdcage will lose everything by “losing the bet” and become the new “parrot.” In other words, there’s a fifty percent chance that the user of this item will suffer from a sudden death. Rule-level Taboo items are essentially double-edged swords, offering great power at the cost of madness. At this moment, Lu Ping’an felt relieved, as it meant that powerful individuals leaning towards the official side were about to enter the battlefield… No, considering the spatial properties of the Birdcage, they should have already entered but were simply not visible. However, surprises seldom come alone. Since a rare Rule-level item had appeared, the next moment gave everyone another “surprise.” The sky instantly turned dark. All people, everyone in the city, subconsciously checked their phones, watches, or clocks that could tell the time, as if someone was prompting them in the darkness. “July 8, 1998, 2:03 AM…..” At this moment, Lu Ping’an was stunned too. In an instant, time flew by, arriving at the agreed-upon time. As the two moons converged, the golden constellation meteor shower set the sky ablaze. In a certain secret chamber, a pair of hands were busily attaching incantations to an old wall clock. The time marked on it replaced the city’s normal time. Time hadn’t traveled or reversed; it was just that everyone realized that this moment was “2 AM on July 8.”

Chapter 189 - 189 171 Rule-level

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