Foolish Game of the Gods - Chapter 93

When Cheng Shi opened his eyes again, he spotted Su Yida nearby.

This chatty Su Yida was enthusiastically trying to cozy up to Tao Yi, but judging by Tao Yi’s expression, his efforts weren’t yielding much success.

Gao Yu, who was sitting to the side, noticed Cheng Shi’s awakening first. Seeing the confusion in his eyes, he whispered softly:

“You’re finally awake. The trial has ended.

But this time, it’s different. Instead of directly transporting us out, we were sent to this strange place.

The space seal has been lifted. The blanket covering you… it’s from Tao Yi.

How do you feel?”

Cheng Shi nodded weakly, not saying a word. His hand, hidden under the blanket, discreetly checked for his ring. It was still there.

“You were seriously injured. When we found you, you were barely breathing.

What happened outside?

When Elder Cui and I came out, we could feel a strong presence of [Time] power.”

Cheng Shi glanced sideways at Su Yida, his face pale as he shook his head.

“I don’t know. I just saw a burst of multicolored light, and then I blacked out.”

“Multicolored light?

Alright, Su Yida didn’t remember either. He passed out even farther away than you did and wasn’t in much better shape than you.

We think something outside the trial might’ve affected it, and that’s how we got lucky and survived.”

“Hmm, maybe. By the way, where’s Elder Cui?”

“He’s gone. He left the trial.”

“……?”

Seeing Cheng Shi’s surprised expression, Gao Yu sighed with a hint of admiration.

“I’ve never met anyone like Elder Cui. Don’t you feel any different?”

Different?

Cheng Shi quickly checked his internal state. The next second, his expression froze.

[Divinity]!

[Prosperity]’s [Divinity]!

His body was now brimming with [Prosperity]’s divinity, forcefully stuffed into him!

“During the chaos, it seems the divinity inside your body was extracted. When we escaped the [Time] rift, the entire ice field was filled with the scent of [Divinity]…

Elder Cui could’ve taken it all and left. But instead…

He tied up Tao Yi and me and stuffed the divinity back into you.

Though his method was pretty rough, it’s probably not the same as how you were sealed before.”

“……”

Cheng Shi was stunned, his mind blank, unsure of what to think.

He had schemed to get Elder Cui the real [Divinity], only for the old man to return it to him.

And what’s more, he had even bound Gao Yu and Tao Yi in the process.

Despite knowing how complicated human nature could be, the old man had still done this.

Cheng Shi’s shocked gaze flicked over to Su Yida. Though Su Yida was wearing his usual fake smile, the dark shadow in his eyes was impossible to hide.

Su Yida was probably thinking that all of this had been part of Cheng Shi’s plan.

Of course, who would risk their life for someone else’s gain?

But if it was for himself… then it made sense.

Su Yida, with his calculating nature, was now somewhat fearful of Cheng Shi’s ability to manipulate people’s hearts so skillfully.

But Cheng Shi didn’t know—nor did he care—what went on in Su Yida’s mind. All he could think about was how Elder Cui…

Elder Cui Dingtian had lived up to his name.

As Cheng Shi was lost in thought, Tao Yi noticed the shift in the atmosphere and happily slipped away from Su Yida’s awkward advances and headed over to them.

Su Yida shot a sideways glance at Cheng Shi but didn’t follow.

“How are you feeling?

Elder Cui’s method was too crude, so I helped you organize the… well, the stuff inside your body.

Hmm, talking about this openly feels a little… unsettling.”

“Thank you.”

There was genuine sincerity in Cheng Shi’s gratitude.

To be honest, aside from using his Gravekeeper talent on himself before passing out, he hadn’t taken any additional precautions.

If more than one unexpected event had occurred during his unconsciousness, it would have been his own fault.

Although he had anticipated Elder Cui protecting him once he saw the [Divinity], he had never expected the old man to go as far as he did…

“What are you thinking? Wondering why Elder Cui left?

Haha, let me tell you—he was afraid that if he didn’t leave soon, he might be tempted to take the [Divinity] from your body.

He’s… sigh, he’s a good man.”

Yeah, he is a good man.

“Thank you all for staying with me.”

“I should be thanking you for saving us,” Tao Yi said sincerely, though it was unclear which time she was referring to.

“Thank you.”

Gao Yu’s expression was noticeably friendlier than before, but there was still an undeniable sense of distance between them.

The boy seemed to have changed his attitude toward Cheng Shi.

Was he afraid of him?

Had Gao Yu figured something out?

Or had he uncovered one of Cheng Shi’s lies?

Forget it. There’s no point overthinking it now that the trial is over.

Cheng Shi struggled to his feet and once again expressed his sincere thanks to Tao Yi and Gao Yu, but his glance purposely skipped over Su Yida.

He hated sharing the same space with an enemy he couldn’t kill, especially when he now carried “interest” he’d extracted from that very enemy.

Just as Cheng Shi was preparing to leave the trial, his gaze was inexplicably drawn to a single blade of grass not far away.

He watched as a drop of dew gathered on the grass, absorbing the surrounding moisture and growing larger.

The dew became heavier, weighing down the blade until it bent under the pressure, and the clear droplet finally fell, reluctantly, from the leaf.

It struck the frost-covered ground, splattering upon impact.

Soon after, it froze once more, becoming part of the icy surface.

Seeing this, Cheng Shi suddenly began to laugh.

Gao Yu followed his gaze but saw nothing. Confused, he asked:

“What are you looking at?”

“I’m watching… the annihilation of a world.”

“?”

Gao Yu thought Cheng Shi was acting strangely. “Maybe you should heal yourself first? Could it be that the [Divinity] extraction messed with your brain…?”

But before he could finish speaking, Cheng Shi suddenly vanished.

He was gone.

Without much of a farewell, Cheng Shi had voluntarily exited the trial.

In that final moment before leaving, he had come to a realization.

[Oblivion] wasn’t just about destruction.

Perhaps, in this world, offerings to Him were made every moment of every day.

He was everywhere, and His power far exceeded anything Cheng Shi had ever imagined.

[Special Trial (The Vanishing World [Oblivion]) Challenge Cleared]

[Calculating score and distributing rewards…]

[Player: Cheng Shi, Performance Score: S]

[Reward Item: Mask of Innocence (S) x1]

[Reward Item: Mask of Terror (A) x1]

[Reward Item: Mask of Witness (S) x1]

[Reward Item: Mask of Choice (B) x1]

[Path to Godhood +16]

[Ladder of Ascent +0]

[Current Path to Godhood Score: 2141, Global Rank: 452007]

[Current Ladder of Ascent Score: 164, Fate Path Rank: 60]

[Trial Cleared, preparing to exit…]

…

Cheng Shi’s departure had been so abrupt that even Tao Yi and Gao Yu were caught off guard.

They had thought that after sharing life-and-death experiences, they might gain a new friend in this fragmented world. But it seemed Cheng Shi had no such intentions.

“Well… maybe that’s for the best,” Gao Yu muttered to himself, then chose to leave as well.

Only two remained.

Seeing that Cheng Shi had left the trial alive, Su Yida finally breathed a sigh of relief and was preparing to make his own exit.

But just then, Tao Yi turned to him with a smile.

“So… I’m still really curious about what happened outside after you pushed me into the tent. Could you tell me again?”

Huh?

Girl, do you really think I’m your lapdog?

Su Yida had played his part for long enough and was tired of it.

With no danger left and only the two of them now, he no longer needed to pretend to be a lecherous fool to hide his faith or play the understated, original version of himself to keep a low profile. He sneered, his eyes roaming over Tao Yi with unrestrained contempt as he coldly replied:

“Before I get the urge to kill you, why don’t you just piss off? You’re a damn nuisance.”

Tao Yi wasn’t surprised by his reaction. In fact, her smile only brightened.

“In that case, I think I understand now.

But, can I ask just one more question?

Did Cheng Shi… know that you’re a Master of Trickery?”