Chapter 306

Come, let me see how you want to trick me today!

(Feeling brave today, but two updates next week......)

Cheng Shi opened his eyes abruptly, a sharp light flashing in his pupils. He had an even bolder idea: what if the so-called turning point wasn't the trial, but could it possibly be that high and lofty He?

Or rather, is it 【Prosperity】 itself?

Since 【The Gods】 descended the 【Faith Game】, and the ending of the game is a tragedy, then to break the game, must one start from the game itself?

To be more blunt, must one start from the game's creators, 【The Gods】?

So...... Cheng Dashi set his sights on 【Prosperity】!?

He thinks 【Prosperity】 is the breakthrough point!?

Cheng Shi was shocked. This "future self" was actually calculating against a high and lofty 【Deity】!

This is too crazy, this is too dangerous, this is too horrifying!

But, this is also too interesting!

Cheng Shi suddenly laughed. While guessing all this, he had been thinking about whether he should join in. He was conflicted, but after the conflict, he thought of the scene where Old Jia looked at that top scholar's father in front of the barbecue stall.

At that time, his eyes clearly revealed undisguised envy.

A top scholar......

The old man also wanted to be a top scholar's father.

Seeing Cheng Shi open his eyes, Hong Lin frowned and sat in front of him, pouting as she asked:

"Figured it out?"

Cheng Shi looked at the 【Prosperity】 Chosen One in front of him and suddenly asked:

"Baldy, what does it taste like to be a Chosen One?"

Hong Lin was stunned, and then a strange look flashed in her eyes.

"Boring, uninteresting, nerve-wracking, and always on people's minds.

But......

There are benefits, which is that you can save yourself a lot of unnecessary trouble because of the prestige of being a Chosen One."

Hearing this, Cheng Shi was also stunned. He asked:

"You're still afraid of being on people's minds?"

"Yeah." Hong Lin nodded, her face serious, "Afraid of being on the minds of those 【Them】 who aren't 'human'."

"You seem...... to not like 【Prosperity】?"

"Can't say I like or dislike. I like power; He can give me power. I wouldn't say I'm grateful, but I do thank Him.

But what I do is worlds apart from His will; you've probably noticed that too.

What He advocates is the prosperity of all life within the universe, but me—I am a selfish person. I can't manage whether others prosper or not; I only seek for myself and my friends to prosper, and I only care about myself and my friends prospering.

His vision is as broad as my selfishness is narrow.

Yet even so, I can still receive His gaze, gain His appreciation, and continue to climb on the Ladder of Audience......

This feeling is very bad, extremely bad.

No matter how I think about it, it has the flavor of a conspiracy.

So every time I hear others call me a Chosen One, I always unconsciously project myself into it, thinking that these so-called 【Deities】 might really be choosing something. As for what, probably no one knows, and no one dares to know.

You should have heard it, right? Many people feel that the 【Faith Game】 is inherently a game with no victory and no completion. Although I am not a pessimistic person, I think they are very likely right."

Cheng Shi listened to the whole thing in silence, and then looked at Hong Lin with surprised eyes, as if he felt this "friend" was starting to seem like a real friend. She was actually confiding in him?

However, listening to it, Hong Lin's actions and 【Prosperity】's reaction were indeed somewhat strange.

This isn't faith in 【Prosperity】 at all; no matter how you look at it, it's like she's plundering 【Prosperity】!

She accepted the blessing of 【Prosperity】, used this power to gain more benefits, and then remained extremely vigilant and guarded on the path of faith. How is the essence of this behavior any different from a shameless robber?

So 【Prosperity】 is also strange. What did He see in Hong Lin?

But aside from this question, there was another question Cheng Shi cared about, which was that he seemed to have confirmed this theory today: the 【Faith Game】 is very likely a game with no victory and no completion.

Just don't know how much longer this game can go on?

And that Cheng Dashi who left him the choice, which 【Time】 in the future did he actually come from?

Cheng Shi's thoughts were complex, his eyes doubtful. Seeing the shock that flashed in Cheng Shi's eyes, Hong Lin laughed irritably.

"Don't overthink it, just felt you could understand this feeling.

I haven't communicated my inner thoughts with others for a long time. Those whose scores are similar to mine have different minds, making it hard to confide.

The so-called Chosen Ones are even more sparing no effort in walking on the path to the gods they believe is correct, confident and firm. There are too few conflicted players like me who want both and yet resist.

Although Tao Yi is my best friend, she is too...... weak.

The little fox can figure out many things, but a fox is a fox; she can't withstand a tiger's claw, so she shouldn't know too much.

To talk heart-to-heart with a tiger, first, you have to be a fox capable of eating the tiger.

I see, you look like one."

"......"

Cheng Shi was speechless. I'll just take that as a compliment......

Seeing him like this, Hong Lin sneered and said: "Why did you suddenly ask about the Chosen One?"

"Nothing, just asking casually. Baldy, do you think a Chosen One...... counts as a top scholar?"

This question really stunned Hong Lin. She thought for a while with an unreadable expression, then nodded in confusion.

"If you insist on counting it, then yes, but more like a martial top scholar...... hmm, a martial top scholar with some brains."

With some brains......

The directionality of this supplementary explanation might be a bit too obvious; it wasn't strictly necessary to add it.

"A martial top scholar......" Cheng Shi smacked his lips, "A martial top scholar is still a top scholar."

"Are you sick?

Talking about all this nonsense. I asked if you'd figured it out, and you're talking to me about Chosen Ones and top scholars. What do you mean?"

"Ah? It doesn't mean anything. I've figured it out."

"What is it!?" Hong Lin's eyes flashed with brilliance, and she suddenly became spirited.

"I want to take the exam...... ah, no......"

Cheng Shi almost blurted out his inner thoughts. He hurriedly swallowed the rest of his words, then looked at this new friend in front of him who was somewhat reliable but didn't like 【Prosperity】, and suddenly smiled brightly.

"What are you laughing at? Hurry up and say it."

Cheng Shi nodded, wiped away his smile, suddenly grabbed Hong Lin's hand with a serious expression, and said solemnly:

"Can I trust you?"

Hong Lin raised an eyebrow, glanced at her hand being held, and didn't pull away, but instead asked back with a playful expression and a teasing smile:

"The kind where we share our secrets?"

"......"

Just this one sentence ruined the entire atmosphere Cheng Shi had just built up.

His toes curled in his shoes until they almost cramped, his face stiff and pale. He was embarrassed for a good while before he remembered to let go of Hong Lin's hand, saying with a look of hopelessness:

"Tao Yi and you really do have a good relationship, huh...... haha...... ha......"

Hong Lin sneered.

"She said that when you say this sentence, it means you're about to start lying.

Come, let me see how you want to trick me today!"

"......"

Cheng Shi was numb!

Damn, this world really is one giant mouth!