[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-gods-foolish-game":3,"chapter-the-gods-foolish-game-the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-34":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Gods' Foolish Game",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2361162,4617,"Chapter 34: Dawn Piercing the Night","the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-34",34,"\u003Cp>Dawn Piercing the Night\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reality, an apartment in an unknown city and province.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling woke up in bed, feeling sunlight streaming through the window onto her cheeks, slightly warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She raised her hand, touched her face, then pinched it hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m not dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Final Gate is real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve survived again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyebrows and eyes first brightened with joy, and she laughed—but then her smile froze, slowly fading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stared blankly at the white ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why choose Him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi’s question kept circling in her mind; she still remembered her answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t it because I liked him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, isn’t it because I liked him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what exactly... did I like?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slowly rose, just as she had after every trial, stripped off her clothes, stood naked before the mirror, turning in circles to examine the marks left by [Defilement].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Embracing desire isn’t unpleasant—but do I truly like it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling smiled bitterly, stepped toward the bathroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was an old, poorly maintained apartment, but thanks to the collective prayers of nearby players, hot water remained plentiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned the shower to its maximum flow and highest temperature, letting scalding water pour over her skin until it turned red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She scrubbed her body relentlessly, even though no dirt came off the reddened skin—still, she pressed harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when she collapsed exhausted inside the bathroom, falling into weary sleep, did this “torture” end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her dream, she seemed to return to the day the [Gods] descended, staring at the only choice before her, Bai Ling asked naively:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I worship you, what should I do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That alluring voice, she still remembered clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【The body, power, money, selfishness, greed, laziness... all are desires you may pursue】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I... don’t want to hurt others.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Then bring them joy】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From that day on, a sensory hunter pursuing “physical debauchery” was born.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She never harmed others—only brought them...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hours passed before Bai Ling slowly awoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face lit up with a smile again; she rose, dried her body, selected a brand-new suit from the changing room, and dressed slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For players, old clothes had only one fate: the trash bin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Bai Ling never threw away her clothes—each dress was like a recording, letting her recall every detail of every trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She carefully hung the dress, smoothed it out, and quietly recalled every moment that had just passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet as she smoothed the hem, she suddenly noticed a letter tucked in the seam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A letter written on parchment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Ling gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth; she pulled the letter out, trembling as she unfolded it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elegant handwriting on the page slowly filled her vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Invitation... from the... Bearer... of the Flame?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reality, an unknown city and province, a classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing picked up chalk and skillfully drew a symbol on the blackboard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant her pen touched the board, the blackboard twisted into a pure black door; without hesitation, she walked through it with firm eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the door lay endless void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she stepped in, invisible steps rose beneath her feet, guiding her to her destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After only a few dozen steps, Fang Shiqing saw a “person” seated across from her—a figure outlined by flickering candle flames, floating high above, gazing down at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the gaze of this “person,” Fang Shiqing shook her head with a wry smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Must you be so flamboyant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qingqing, this is what I deserve—I’ve opened this path, invisible even to the [Gods], to connect you all. Shouldn’t you praise me every time we meet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop, stop, stop—praise you, praise the great [Flame of Hope], but please stop calling me Qingqing. It’s nauseating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, Qingqing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Fang Shiqing rubbed her temple helplessly. “Has he arrived?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s here. Right ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing nodded to leave, but after two steps, she stopped, turned back, and asked with confusion:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, why don’t you call him ‘Xin Xin’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The candle-man hesitated, then replied awkwardly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m afraid he’ll beat me up...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft.” Fang Shiqing couldn’t help laughing; even her steps grew lighter afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, she entered a bright hall and saw that towering man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re so cheerful—what’s the good news?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re injured?” Fang Shiqing frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minor wound, nothing serious. Ran into a [Defilement] Chosen. Fought twice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man spoke lightly, but any thought of the danger revealed how terrifying it must have been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difficulty of that trial segment nearly exceeded ordinary players’ imagination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing didn’t press further—only nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak. Time is precious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I sent out two new invitations—one to the Forgotten Doctor, one to the Sensory Hunter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man raised an eyebrow, surprised: “A [Defilement] believer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. A [Defilement] believer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The doctor refused. The hunter... probably won’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?” The man’s interest sparked; he smiled. “Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because her heart’s melody, like yours and mine, is composed entirely of compassion, pulsing with the rhythm of hope.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you certain this is a [Defilement] believer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m certain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm... you’re the Seeker of the Flame. Your word stands. Shall I prepare a welcome ceremony for our new companion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Shiqing seemed to recall someone—but she shook off the thought and smiled, nodding:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She will come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reality, an unknown city and province, a bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Lu jolted awake with a scream, leaping up from her desk and knocking over the crystal ball and cards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She struggled as if strangled, until her back hit the wall and she snapped back to awareness—realizing she was no longer in the trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest zone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the [Gods] assigned all players fragmented activity zones, the term “home” had largely vanished from people’s minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most players called their living space the rest zone; some called it a foothold, or a place to barely survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Lu stared in disbelief at her hands, then frantically patted herself down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when she confirmed she was unharmed and alive, her fear grew even more intense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did that Cheng guy drag me into the wrong Final Gate—and yet I’m still alive?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why, when he had the chance, didn’t he kill me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did [Fate] show me the vision not to trust the [Time] believer—yet the outcome proves the [Time] believer was right!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does [Fate]’s will mean I’m meant to die!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since I began worshipping [Fate], not one day passed without reverence, without praise, without obedience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in the end, you—guided me to die?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why should I?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this really my fate?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I refuse to accept this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Lu’s eyes swam with fear and fury, her resentment and hatred growing; she clenched the Dice of Fate in her hand, her face dark and shifting, her expression flickering wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yang on the rooftop seemed to hear the commotion below; he leaned over the edge, crouching down, and asked anxiously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu Lu, Lu Lu? Are you alright? What happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Yang’s call pulled Xu Lu’s reason back a little; she retracted her hand, about to throw the dice, and fell silent with bitter resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, she quickly reverted to her earlier voice, soft and trembling, replying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Xie, I’m fine, just bumped into the table.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet from start to finish, she took not a single step toward the balcony where Xie Yang could see her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good, good, you’re unharmed, right? No injuries in the trial?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks to your potion, I’m fine, but the potion… seems to be used up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Oh! No problem, I’ll ask Cheng Shi for another bottle—he might still have some.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, Cheng Shi!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Lu’s thoughts churned unseen; hatred flashed across her eyes several times, yet finally she spoke in a frail, gentle voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… won’t it trouble you, Brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, no trouble at all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reality, an unknown suburb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Ming lay on the ground, gazing up at the blazing sun, his mind boiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving the Order’s decree to erase the Chaotic cultists and being countered by Huang Bo, he knew he was going to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bound to the wall by enemies, subjected to inhuman torture, feeling his life ebb away, he had once even despaired enough to give up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, just as he believed his consciousness would vanish, a snap from the depths of nothingness pulled his awareness back into reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He woke up, unharmed, from the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he had when first entering the trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Ming stared at his fully restored self, stunned beyond words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tore out the blood nails, struggled down from the wall, glanced at the time—two hours remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Ming suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Forgotten Doctor’s trick—the Art of Time, state reversal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That doctor, Cheng Shi, had saved him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Praise the Time, which had granted him one more reprieve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, he searched for the Memory Gates and his teammates’ traces, only to find his teammates had already left the trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, at every Memory Gate, they had left him clues to the answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had dreamed a dream: of abuse, of death looming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he awoke, the trial had automatically cleared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cheng Shi… thank you…”\u003C\u002Fp>",1508,"2026-06-21T06:05:06.137Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a0369ba57e48d8e4ff5581a7012e4b6d7b5fc97e552641f0a9484e974137f67a","the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-35","the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-33",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-gods-foolish-game-cover.jpg"]