Foolish Game of the Gods - Chapter 173

As Kuwei finished his words, it was as though a thunderous storm exploded in Cheng Shi’s mind.

No result?

How could there be no result?

The [Twilight Church] had already breached the inner city, and the Death’s Bell Knights were surrounding the Void Experimental Site!

This fruit, a result of over 500 years of nurturing by the World Tree, was about to be snatched by some unknown follower of [Chaos], and now you’re telling me it hasn’t even ripened yet?

What?

You must be joking, right?

What you’re saying doesn’t match the history books at all!!

Neither the history told by [Chaos] nor the history told by [Truth]!

“……”

Looking into Kuwei’s eyes, which were filled with anticipation, Cheng Shi realized that he had misunderstood everything.

Completely misunderstood!

This grand scholar had remained here under the command of [Truth] not to give Cheng Shi the fruit, but to wait for Cheng Shi to bring him the fruit and complete the experiment!

Great! Just great!

Where am I supposed to get this fruit from?

You wouldn’t expect me to single-handedly hold off the [Twilight Church] for half a year, waiting for this iron tree to bear fruit, would you?

Have you even seen how much time I have left in this trial?

One day!

Not even a full day! If I could withstand the bombardment from the Doomsday Brigade and the endless onslaught of the Death’s Bell Knights for half a day, [War] would have to vacate His throne and clean it for me to sit on!

In the midst of this baffling confusion, Cheng Shi suddenly remembered that phrase:

History will always be rewritten to suit the preferences of those who come after.

So, both Hu Wei and Ji Yue… their versions of history were wrong.

Because what Cheng Shi was witnessing right now—this was the real history.

For players, this might just be another trial, but for the Void Matter Theory department and Grand Scholar Kuwei, this was the harshest reality!

And it was a reality already etched into the annals of time, immortalized in the unbreakable cycle of history.

No wonder no one knew where the fruit of the World Tree had gone—because the World Tree of Gasmira never bore any fruit!

The legendary fruit passed down in history was nothing more than a figment of imagination crafted for different purposes!

They used imagination to fill the gaps in the history that had been consumed by flames!

The followers of [Chaos] merely wanted to shatter order and trample on truth.

And the idea that a fruit, which never existed, had fallen into the hands of the [Chaos] followers perfectly matched their will.

The followers of [Truth], on the other hand, sought to preserve the reputation of the Tower of Logic.

Thus, in the limited official records, the experiment was deemed a success, albeit with a touch of tragedy.

But this “tragedy” elevated the Tower of Logic and the Void Matter Theory department, earning them respect and sympathy for countless generations to come.

Thinking this, Cheng Shi felt a swirl of complex emotions, his expression heavy with conflict.

He suddenly understood what Ji Yue meant when she said that Grand Scholar Kuwei had compromised.

He had indeed compromised, but it wasn’t a compromise with [Chaos]—it was a compromise with [Truth]!

He had stumbled his way down the path of seeking truth his entire life, only to have his final moment, the one where he would finally see the answer, disrupted by external forces beyond his control.

This left him with no choice but to ask for help, not from the truth he was on the verge of understanding, but from the very entity already behind the door—to merely catch a glimpse of what lay beyond it!

This absurd situation was akin to a wise man, who was about to announce the answer to a riddle, having his mouth covered at the last second. He could only turn to the one who posed the riddle, asking them to reveal the answer to validate his efforts.

But afterward, everyone would only remember that the one who posed the riddle had revealed the answer. Who would remember the countless scholars who had worked day and night to solve it?

To a scholar, this was unbearably cruel.

But Kuwei had still done it.

In the final moments of his life, his curiosity about what lay beyond the door had surpassed his original devotion to the pursuit of truth.

Through Cheng Shi’s eyes, Kuwei saw a flicker of understanding, but to him, this understanding felt like pity.

Kuwei offered a sorrowful smile and sighed:

“I am but a scholar, not a saint.

I couldn’t bear the thought of this experiment, which was on the brink of completion, being obliterated by outside forces, resulting in the loss of the efforts of countless generations…

Thankfully, you’ve arrived.

I know that the Council of Scholars has abandoned Gasmira, and I am aware that I have no way out.

But to bear witness to the mysteries behind the veil of reality and void before I die, that is already the greatest mercy He could grant me.

Young man, I don’t expect you to continue our research in the same way, nor do I expect you to use the results wisely.

I only ask that you let the world know that the scholars of the Tower of Logic did not lie, and that the researchers of the Void Matter Theory department did not deceive anyone. They truly cultivated a World Tree.

And this World Tree truly bore fruit, containing the most profound mystery of the coexistence between reality and void.”

Kuwei’s tone was both agitated and melancholy.

His pride and dignity as a scholar forbade him from bowing so low, yet the unavoidable circumstances forced him to bend his back.

His words were filled with a plea, though it wasn’t the most desperate kind—it was still a plea from the depths of his soul.

“And… if it’s possible, I beg you not to reveal that I begged [Truth] for guidance.

I can withstand the condemnation of future generations, but I cannot bear for my ancestors, my teachers, and my students—those who worked tirelessly throughout their lives—to be remembered as laughingstocks, to be mocked for eternity…”

Cheng Shi remained silent as he listened to Kuwei’s heartfelt words.

Only after the grand scholar had finished did Cheng Shi respond in a solemn voice:

“I can see your love and dedication to the pursuit of truth.

But, Grand Scholar, I have to tell you…

I don’t have the result you’re looking for.

I’ve never seen this fruit, and I don’t have it on me.

You might be disappointed.”

“No, you’ve misunderstood.

The moment I saw you, I knew that He is merciful.

He wishes for me to complete the final step of my experiment with my own hands.”

Kuwei stared directly at Cheng Shi, his hand pointing to Cheng Shi’s chest, as he spoke each word:

“[Prosperity]!

With the [Divinity] of [Prosperity] as the nourishment, I can fully mature the Conjugated Whispering in a short time.

And then, you and I will witness—the greatest result of this centuries-long experiment.”

Cheng Shi was stunned.

He had never imagined that the [Prosperity Divinity] sealed within him, which he had never used, would be needed here.

So, Patron… are you involved in this too?

[Fate] may have been generous, handing out favors, but when it comes to You, who also belongs to the [Void], I doubt You’d let Him take something from Your follower without a fight.

I can guess that Your stake in this game is the [Divinity] You sealed within me, but what is it that You hope to win?

Cheng Shi furrowed his brow, deep in thought.