[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-gods-foolish-game":3,"chapter-the-gods-foolish-game-the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-39":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},2361167,4617,"Chapter 39: This High-Stakes Game!","the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-39",39,"\u003Cp>This is a high-stakes game!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bed, desk, chairs, floor-to-ceiling windows, balcony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A warm breeze crossed the window frame and leapt into the room, curiously inspecting every corner, brushing the curtains, tugging at hair, warmly intoxicating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strands of hair tickled Cheng Shi, making him suddenly open his eyes—he found himself lying on a soft bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hotel room?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat up in surprise, glancing around—the room was spacious, but empty inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi’s heart skipped a beat; he frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the first time in any trial he’d woken up without seeing anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, any change meant new risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi didn’t dare slack off—he quickly got out of bed and carefully inspected every inch of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when he confirmed there were no arrays or traps did he exhale softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During his inspection, he thought he heard faint movement from the next room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be... everyone gets their own room this time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, Cheng Shi quietly climbed back onto the bed and pressed his hand against the wall beside it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment he pressed his ear to the wall, listening for what was on the other side, he heard a faint, almost imperceptible breathing sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, on the other side of the wall, someone else was eavesdropping on his room!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi’s pupils shrank sharply!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though startled, he felt no fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he knew—if he were the one eavesdropping, he’d hold his breath completely, not letting out a single sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the other side had made a slight noise, it wasn’t eavesdropping—it was a probe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person next door is almost certainly another player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a clever, scheming one at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The best way to deal with someone like that? Go straight for the jugular.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi mentally simulated a single exchange with the empty space beyond the wall, then pressed his lips to the wall and whispered softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Imperial Jade Wine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The breathing next door instantly halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead of the response he expected, there came a loud “Bang!”—a sharp dagger pierced through the wooden wall and thrust itself before Cheng Shi’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gleaming blade hovered just 0.1 cm from his Adam’s apple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precise control, perfect distance, astonishing burst power!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi didn’t dare swallow his saliva, afraid even a twitch of his throat might scrape off a hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn’t move either—he sensed no kill intent from the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other side truly had no kill intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just a greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dagger turned slightly, its flat side tapping Cheng Shi’s neck, then slowly withdrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, through the small hole the dagger had made, a delicate, boneless white hand squeezed through, fingers spread open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fingers like white scallions, tips like tender bamboo shoots, crimson nails like painted lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nice manicure!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi smiled and gripped the cold little hand firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pleasure to meet you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke the words, but his eyes never left the narrow slit in the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calling it a “hole” was an exaggeration—it was barely a crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dagger was slender; the gap it left was less than 2 cm tall, and the width? Nearly nonexistent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet through this nearly invisible slit, a normal adult’s arm had slipped through as if flattened into two dimensions, then expanded into a soft, pale hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Cheng Shi’s first impression of the person next door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After these two exchanges, the other side finally responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pleasure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Definitely a woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her voice was nothing like what he’d imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the clear, sweet tone of a neighborhood girl—instead, low and husky, a classic smoky contralto.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sister, your voice and image are seriously out of sync.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi wasn’t some pervert—he let go of her hand immediately and smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can sense my position precisely?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other side fell silent for a long moment, then gave a soft “Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, everyone’s got secrets, right? So what now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he spoken than a knock came at his door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just his—knocking echoed from the next room too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both doors knocked at once?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi frowned but stayed quiet; the girl next door simply shouted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get lost!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knocking paused for a moment, then a snort of laughter came through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come out—you two are the last ones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Players?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t sound like a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to keep a backup plan, Cheng Shi tapped the wooden wall and whispered to the next room:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll open the door first. Don’t move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spoke first last time—he acted first this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s the most basic cooperation and discipline in a trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it came to seeking cooperation, Cheng Shi never played dirty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the dagger girl next door ignored him entirely—she jumped off the bed and ran straight to open the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi sighed helplessly and got up to open his own door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pushing open the door, three men with striking presence stood in the hallway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their aura was hard to describe precisely, but one look told you they were warriors forged in battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike ordinary soldiers’ grit, their eyes carried an unshakable air of superiority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi glanced at them once—he knew he was definitely safe playing the fool here!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All experts!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two of them had clearly changed into the hotel’s provided clothes—Cheng Shi had noticed them on the table during his inspection, but out of caution, he hadn’t changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it seemed these two players were really into character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man closest to Cheng Shi, seeing him open the door, wrinkled his nose and sniffed, slightly disdainful:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pointless caution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he being judged?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi shook his head and smiled, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl next door stepped out too—Cheng Shi looked at her and remembered nothing except the bold, flamboyant tattoo on her arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tight cropped top, tactical cargo pants, dagger tucked at her waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly an assassin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man standing in the middle of the hallway, seeing both had emerged, glanced over the railing down to the floor below, then smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A fresh challenge—but still rigid faith, isn’t it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let me introduce myself: Fang Jue, Lawbringer, 2437.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lawbringer—the Singer of [Order]!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Shi had just witnessed the death of a Lawbringer NPC in his last trial—now here was a real one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, this guy had 2437 points!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a beast!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this game, high-stakes play is completely different from low-stakes play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s said that players above 2400 points immediately introduce themselves upon meeting, completely ignoring ideological opposition—completely different from how the “weaklings” under 1000 points play the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is probably what the legend means: all fear stems from lack of confidence in one’s own strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this rank, no one believes they can be easily killed by an enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all have sufficient confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This confidence may come from experience, or from caution, but mostly from the blessings of their respective patrons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They already possess enough and strong enough talents to support their thoughts and actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And most importantly, players at 2400 points gain one additional blank talent slot compared to those at 2000 points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the start of the [Faith Game], everyone receives one initial Faith Talent and one initial Career Talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon reaching 1200, 1600, 2000, and 2400 points on the Path to Divinity, each player gains an additional blank talent slot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This blank slot can be replaced with either a Career Talent or a Faith Talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And talents, without doubt, are the players’ greatest reliance in this insane game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Lawbringer was one of the two players who changed clothes—he wore a commoner’s outfit from Hope Continent, yet the “noble” aura on him could not be hidden at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than a Lawbringer, he now resembled a wandering bard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Jue, [Order], Singer, 2437\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from Cheng Shi, the others didn’t seem surprised by the Lawbringer’s score; the man beside him who had knocked on the neighboring door adjusted his glasses and smiled too:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I love all forms of support, especially Lawbringers. Du Qiyu, Memory Traveler, 2502.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much?\u003C\u002Fp>",1340,"2026-06-21T06:05:06.137Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7cddf0e605ac907a103a134c7c1c1bc111dac1816f688b4f3e78e50789d8175b","the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-40","the-gods-foolish-game-chapter-38",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-gods-foolish-game-cover.jpg"]