[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-foolish-game-of-the-gods":3,"chapter-foolish-game-of-the-gods-foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-272":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Foolish Game of the Gods",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},579543,829,"Chapter 272: The Fog Gate","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-272",272,"\u003Cp>The Fog Gate wasn't actually a door. It was a spatial distortion and subsidence caused by an excessive accumulation of [Decay] power. Since [Decay]'s outward manifestation in the Sighing Forest was mist, the spatial subsidence — when observed by living beings — appeared as a dense clump of concentrated fog, eerily resembling a portal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though in a sense, it was one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who could withstand the spatial subsidence and tearing forces within could use one end of a Fog Gate to rapidly transit to the other. In some ways, it resembled Mockery and Jeering, except the latter only existed in the Void and was far safer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spatial corridor inside a Fog Gate was unstable. Aside from those blessed by [Decay], living beings of other faiths could rarely survive the passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the fact that the Mushroom-Footed Person's trail ended inside the Fog Gate was utterly baffling — tantamount to saying that the individual they'd found was a [Decay] follower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While that might explain his immunity to the Sorrow Tide, the deeper question remained: how could a Mushroom-Footed Person possibly follow [Decay]?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were born worshipping [Prosperity]. That faith was etched into their very genes — unalterable by any external means. For a divine lineage race like the Mushroom-Footed People, they would sooner give up life itself than abandon their faith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the group found themselves mired in doubt before the gate. Had they followed the right trail?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could the hunter have led them wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked like a diligent bodyguard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would the Baptism of New Life work against the Fog Gate's erosion?\" Cheng Shi whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Lin shook her head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. Inside a spatial subsidence corridor, [Decay] isn't erosion — it's protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Decay]'s power shields His followers from the tearing forces of space itself. That's why they can traverse it. The Baptism of New Life counteracts [Decay]. Under these circumstances, using it inside would only kill you faster.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi had expected it wouldn't work — but hadn't counted on it actively making things worse. He pursed his lips and turned his gaze back to Zuo Qiu, sandwiched between him and Big Cat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My dear Poop Scooper, how about you take that insect-lamp back out for another look?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Qiu's face froze. Realizing he was cornered, he had no choice but to feign nonchalance, grunt an \"Mm,\" and produce the broken fluorescent lantern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Cheng Shi and Big Cat examined it more closely this time, Hong Lin's expression changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's impossible!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did you find?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The breath of [Prosperity]!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Lin extended one thick paw, popped out a single razor-sharp claw, and gently touched the scant remaining blue-tinted fluorescent liquid inside the lantern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"An extremely, extremely faint trace of [Prosperity]. Without this tiny bit pooled together, I could barely distinguish it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi followed her claw and looked — but sensed no trace of [Prosperity] whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither did anyone else. Zuo Qiu asked in surprise: \"Are you sure?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh. Are you questioning my perception of [Prosperity]? Are you sure about that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\" One retort shut the Poop Scooper right up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mid-conversation, Hong Lin seemed to think of something else. She squeezed a thread of [Prosperity] power from her claw-tip and slowly released it into the fluorescent liquid. But to everyone's shock, the instant the [Prosperity] power touched the liquid, it merged in and vanished — while the liquid's glow brightened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now everyone understood. This was unmistakably a faith-lamp that consumed [Prosperity] as fuel!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder the glow had faded — the Mushroom-Footed Person who'd provided its \"lamp oil\" was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as one question found its answer, an even bigger one emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because every person present could clearly sense wisps of [Decay] power evaporating from the fluorescent liquid inside the lantern!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Hong Lin's mind went blank!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strand of [Prosperity] she'd dropped in — the fluorescent liquid had converted it into pure [Decay]!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant the lantern in the historian's hand wasn't merely a faith-lamp. It was a faith converter — one that desecrated [Prosperity] and offered [Decay]!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Hiss—'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So... this Mushroom-Footed Person was infusing his own faith into the lantern, using the converted [Decay] output to travel through the Fog Gate. Is that right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi spoke his deduction slowly, word by grave word, then looked at Zuo Qiu holding the lantern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Poop Scooper, please don't tell me you knew nothing about this lantern!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Qiu's expression shifted. He looked somewhat embarrassed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I truly didn't know what it did. It's just — it's rare to find an underground cultural artifact, and I got excited. Collector's impulse. This absolutely isn't a lie. Everyone — believe me. I have no connection to [Prosperity] or [Decay]. I was genuinely just curious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Cheng Shi's frown deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Truth. The historian isn't lying.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it also felt a little too convenient. Once again, he sensed an invisible hand pushing him forward — only this time, the force was far more subtle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine. I believe you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that case, the situation is clear. This dead Mushroom-Footed Person carried the lantern through the Fog Gate's spatial corridor from the other end. So if we want to find that so-called 'dying ember,' we need to enter the Fog Gate and see what's on the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now we have the means, too. The only question is whether this tiny bit of remaining fluorescent liquid can shield all of us through a corridor of unknown length.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So — in or out? Give me an answer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing, Cheng Shi studied each person's face. But to his surprise, no one responded. Instead, every single one of them turned to look at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What's with all of you?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I already violated my freeloader's oath by giving you this analysis. And now you want me to make the decision too!?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Dream on!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Am I some kind of tour guide now? The historian seemed pretty knowledgeable — why don't you step up! Go on!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Are you the one who stole my freeloader spot!?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody spoke. Five people stared at each other in a standoff that grew more awkward by the second. Cheng Shi's eye twitched. He turned to Hong Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'You're the Chosen One, sis! Look at how the [War] Chosen One does it — zero hesitation, made every call for the team. And you? You grew this big and actually decided to act like a cat?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Lin caught his look. She sniffed and rumbled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You tricked even Zhen Yi. Your judgment can't be wrong. I trust you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Trust my foot!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi was gnashing his teeth, ready to slug Big Cat — but when Hong Lin finished speaking, everyone else nodded along. Even the cold-faced hunter muttered \"trust... or don't trust?\" to himself before silently nodding and looking at Cheng Shi again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Great. Forced onto the stage like a duck on a perch. Should've kept my mouth shut back there.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi's face darkened. Then his eyes spun with a new idea. He clapped Zuo Qiu on the shoulder:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then let's go in. First, clean off any Baptism of New Life on yourselves. Then Poop Scooper takes point with the lantern. We follow behind. Sound good?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All in favor, say nothing. All opposed, swap places with Poop Scooper — take the lantern and walk up front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let me see... just one vote against. You're swapping with yourself, so you're still up front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Off you go, Poop Scooper. Don't worry — you're our mightiest meat shield.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, sorry — misspoke. We're your mightiest rear guard!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zuo Qiu hadn't been particularly resistant — until he heard that. His face went black as a kettle's bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Fate Weaver... didn't seem to be joking!\u003C\u002Fp>",1281,"2026-05-30T16:17:59.408Z","2026-06-01T04:31:40.442Z",1,"novelbin.me","9b050edad6797ba5047276c8c5ceb73a776ab0555fffea6c948d23945a786b42","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-273","foolish-game-of-the-gods-chapter-271",1463,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffoolish-game-of-the-gods-cover.jpg"]