Foolish Game of the Gods - Chapter 112

After hearing Hu Xuan’s explanation in full, Cheng Shi took a moment to process everything. When he finally spoke, he cut straight to the heart of the matter.

“So, you found a loophole in [Eternal Sun]’s ritual and used it to merge His authority with your own [Birth] divine power… Then you attempted to ‘inherit’ these authorities into the child inside you through the methods of [Birth]?”

Hu Xuan wasn’t surprised that Cheng Shi had quickly grasped her intentions. Instead, she nodded with a smile, neither shocked nor panicked.

This was an extremely rare ability, scarcely known even among the followers of [Birth].

Devouring Offspring, an SS-rank [Birth] faith talent.

In a multiple-birth scenario, one child would always emerge as the most talented. This child would absorb nutrients from the other offspring, devour their gifts, and amalgamate them, inheriting all of the “parents’” abilities.

However, the inheritance of the “father’s” abilities was more about enhancing the newborn’s understanding of divine gifts and faith rather than actually transferring power—it was more like a boost to the child’s constitution.

But the “mother” was different; the child would always inherit the mother’s faith and abilities.

Thus, up until now, this SS-rank talent had mostly been used to improve the offspring’s physical constitution.

But Hu Xuan had conducted an extraordinarily dangerous experiment. She had fused the “father’s” power with her own, combining [Eternal Sun]’s authority with her internal [Birth] divine power.

This way, when the child was born, it might be able to steal part of the “father’s” authority!

Yes, steal, not inherit!

Because authority cannot be inherited!

“And that’s why you can’t give birth to her when He rises. At that moment, His pull on His authority would kill the child inside you.

But during the night, the blood moon can act as a shield, weakening His influence.”

Cheng Shi’s gaze sharpened as he locked eyes with Hu Xuan and asked:

“[Bloody Moon] is [Corruption], isn’t it? Just like [Eternal Sun], an incomplete version of [Corruption].”

“It is Him.”

Hearing this, Cheng Shi could now guess why Hu Xuan had sought him out.

As a follower of [Birth], she would have been highly sensitive to the presence of [Corruption], and as a top-tier player with a score over 2400, she had likely noticed the secret hidden within his ring—

The faint trace of Le Le’er’s power.

Cheng Shi didn’t bother trying to hide it. He raised his hand, inspecting the ring that bore Le Le’er’s essence, and asked:

“You think this will help?”

“It will!

Even though I can only sense a faint trace of [Corruption], as long as it carries His will, it will work.

I’ve stolen part of [Eternal Sun]’s authority, so the child inside me carries the will of [Birth]. When stimulated by the external force of [Corruption], she will fight back.

And this will accelerate her birth.”

“But this isn’t just [Corruption] we’re talking about.”

“Other divine powers will work too. But His divine power is the most effective.”

Hu Xuan’s gaze was intense, filled with anticipation. She could barely contain her excitement.

Cheng Shi’s mention of “not just” had sparked a glimmer of hope within her!

“I see. So you’ve been using [Bloody Moon] to suppress the stolen authority of [Eternal Sun]. You’ve chosen this moment, the transition between night and day, when their powers are at their weakest, and now you need the strongest external stimulus to bring about the child’s birth.

No wonder you didn’t call for help from Li Bola all night.

You’ve been waiting for this moment…

This very moment!”

Cheng Shi suddenly turned his head to look outside just as the blood moon was fading and the sun was beginning to rise.

The world briefly lost both light and darkness, falling into a momentary state of chaos.

Hu Xuan smiled.

She raised her arms, embracing the forces at play.

“To conceive life, to nurture nature!

Now is the time, Cheng Shi. Do it.

Let’s witness her birth together!”

Wait!

Lady, you’re so crazy, I’m starting to feel like the sane one here.

Cheng Shi’s face suddenly twisted into a mischievous grin. Not only did he not move, but he also interrupted the solemn and sacred atmosphere of the ritual with an offhand remark.

“Ahem, hang on. What about the final payment?”

“???”

Hu Xuan’s pious demeanor was abruptly derailed. She blinked, her emotional flow disrupted.

With a trace of irritation, she glanced at Cheng Shi, then sighed helplessly.

“After she’s born, she will naturally lead you to the answer.”

She was referring to the answer to completing the trial.

Cheng Shi was satisfied with that price.

Since the price satisfied the doctor, the doctor should ensure the patient was satisfied as well.

And so, it was Cheng Shi’s turn to go a little crazy.

He raised his arms high, embracing the void, praising [Birth].

“To conceive life, to nurture nature!

Before one touches the divine, madness is the only stairway.

And now, someone has crawled to the end of that stairway.

Is it genius, or insanity?

The answer lies before us!

Let us witness…

Her birth!”

At that sacred moment, as the power of [Life] surged, Cheng Shi sprang into action.

With a sweep of his hand, a rusty blade slashed across Hu Xuan’s massive belly, slicing through the strained black silk gown. Then, a palm crackling with electric energy slammed against Hu Xuan’s taut yet soft stomach.

Thanks to the energy gathered from the town’s residents, the Bone Servant Le Le’er ring was fully charged.

Electric plasma spread across Hu Xuan’s distended belly, like cracks in a web. In the blink of an eye, her entire body was enveloped in the electrical storm.

“Gah—ugh—!”

Hu Xuan coughed up a mouthful of blood, splattering it across her belly. It was like the final straw that pushed her body beyond its limits, causing her skin to tear open.

With a deafening explosion, the house erupted.

Dust and debris filled the air.

A surge of [Birth] power exploded outward, filling the air with the overwhelming force of life. Cheng Shi took one breath of it and immediately felt his reproductive instincts kicking in, his face flushing bright red as he struggled to contain himself.

He fought to suppress his surging desires, falling to his knees, his eyes bloodshot as he looked ahead at the ruins.

Amid the rubble and scattered flesh, blood flowed in rivers.

And at the end of those rivers of blood, beneath the shed skin, a flawless body slowly opened its eyes.

Those eyes were so bright, so seductive, that one gaze could drag anyone into a state of insatiable desire, leaving them utterly trapped.

Damn, I shouldn’t have looked!

She’s too enchanting!

Every muscle in Cheng Shi’s body seemed to gain a will of its own, and he couldn’t stop his body from moving—an uncontrollable lust drove him toward the newborn.

He crawled forward, writhing and struggling until he reached her, his gaze locked on the perfect body before him.

Finally, a sliver of clarity returned to his eyes, and with all his strength, he roared:

“Enough! Hu Xuan!

You’re going too far!”

Hu Xuan smiled and nodded.

But this Hu Xuan wasn’t the same Hu Xuan.

She was the newborn—the thief who had stolen part of [Eternal Sun]’s authority, the newly reborn Sage of Life.

In short…

Hu Xuan gave birth to… Hu Xuan.

With a single gesture, she pointed into the air, and in an instant, all the lustful desires filling the atmosphere dissipated as if they had never existed.

The immense pressure that had been weighing down on Cheng Shi’s mind disappeared, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, his body shuddering with exhaustion.

“Damn!”

Hu Xuan laughed softly and extended a pale, jade-like hand toward Cheng Shi.

“If you wish, come.”

“……”

Thanks, but no thanks!

Summoning strength from somewhere deep inside, Cheng Shi scrambled backward on all fours at a speed that would rival even the fastest wild horses, far surpassing what he had achieved with the Uren bard’s hunting song.

“I thought you were my patient, but you want to sleep with me?

It’s people like you who give doctor-patient relationships a bad name!”

Hu Xuan wasn’t surprised by Cheng Shi’s refusal. She knew full well that in the eyes of others, she probably seemed utterly insane.

But only she truly understood that she wasn’t mad.

In fact, she had gained a massive advantage in this trial.

Her rebirth had allowed her to steal a fragment of [Birth]’s authority, merging with a piece of divine essence. She had taken a step beyond mere humanity, breaking past her limits, and was now on the true path to godhood.

At this moment, she was far stronger than Cheng Shi could comprehend.

If her strength had to be measured, she was now comparable to a half-divine artifact with independent consciousness!

Although her power didn’t yet reach SSS-level strength, her rank was approaching that of a minor demigod.

Because what she had “merged” with wasn’t just a scattered fragment of divine power—it was a piece of the divine essence itself, a part of the broken puzzle of [Birth]!

By contrast, Cheng Shi, though containing a sealed fragment of [Prosperity]’s divinity, had merely stored it away.

The difference between their situations was like night and day.

“Cheng Shi…

You shouldn’t have rejected me.

With the [Birth] energy now within me, I could transform your body, cleanse your soul.

I couldn’t make you like me, able to open the door to godhood…

But I could ensure that you survive the game long enough, before everything changes.”

Hu Xuan’s tone was sincere, her expression earnest.

“If you’re worried, let me assure you:

The current me is brand-new, free from any flaws—just as you see me.

This is…

The purity of rebirth!”

Hu Xuan elegantly displayed her perfect form once more, extending her hand toward Cheng Shi.

“Come.”

“……”

Cheng Shi could hear the sincerity in Hu Xuan’s voice.

But he wasn’t interested.

He had no desire to embrace the madness of [Birth], nor did he wish to desecrate this newly born purity.

In the end, I’m a walker of [Void]. There’s no need for me to delve too deeply into [Life].

And certainly not in such a crazed way.

Cheng Shi shook his head with a wry smile. “Forget it—I’m not that lucky.”

Hu Xuan laughed, her smile as radiant as a field of blooming flowers.

But within that smile was a trace of regret.

Her presence now felt entirely detached from desire, imbued solely with pure, unblemished vitality.

“No, it’s I who lack the fortune.”

With that, she turned gracefully and walked toward the rubble. Her delicate hand reached out, and with surprising ease, she began clearing away the debris.

Before long, beneath the broken stones and shattered timbers, the body of Hu Xuan was revealed.

The other Hu Xuan.

She was dead.

The moment the new life was born, the past had ceased to exist.

But the new Hu Xuan felt no sadness.

She gazed resolutely at the discarded skin, at the closed eyes of the mother, at her former self…

Kneeling down, she gently held the hand of her predecessor.

“May the road ahead be smooth, may your dreams come true, may we… ascend to godhood. Relax—I’m watching over you.”

Having completed the farewell, her belly once again swelled with the slightest of curves.

Cheng Shi stared at Hu Xuan in shock, a chill running down his spine.

“……”

This woman was preparing to give birth to herself again.

She was planning to repeat the process—to be reborn over and over, shedding her skin each time…

Gradually… ascending to godhood!

“Maniac!” Qin Chaoge appeared behind Cheng Shi at some point, her face dark as she stared at the naked Hu Xuan.

Hu Xuan turned and bowed to them.

“Wait for me until nightfall.

Tonight, I will lead you to the answer.

Trust me—I’ve found it. I’ve found His location.”