Chapter 986: Hope

Hope’s Flame?

But yin and yang are yin and yang—I’m not taking the blame for this pot.

“My Lord, I never sought to collect anything; if anything, it was only that mask suspected to belong to Klaun.

As for these containers...”

Saying this, Cheng Shi laid out all the containers in his hands without any concealment.

“...were all sent to you by you.”

【Deception】, 【Chaos】, 【Time】, 【Prosperity】, 【Corruption】, 【Decay】...”

Cheng Shi didn’t know whether the three newest containers were related to the Jester God, but blaming it on Him was definitely safe.

“I have always been devout to 【Void】, never once harboring the desire to draw near any other deity.”

Those eyes blinked slowly:

“Oh, I understand. Good. I’ll relay your disdain to Old Bone—the poor old god, no one likes him even in his twilight years.”

“???”

Wait, that’s not what I meant!

Cheng Shi was genuinely panicked now.

My Lord, please don’t cause trouble—had it not been for that Lord pulling me back from the Sea of Desire, how could you still be here teasing the Jester?

Even if your company boss doesn’t pull his weight, you can’t ruin my side job too, can you?

But then again, can a side job even let me see containers?

What would that Lord’s container be?

Two interlocking skull fragments?

Seeing his thoughts spiraling further, Cheng Shi snapped himself back and decisively skipped the topic, asking outright in a more direct manner:

“My Lord, it’s useless—you keep mocking the Jester simply because you won’t explain why you pushed the containers toward him. But I still want to know.

Why?”

Those eyes blinked rapidly twice, stars swirling within, spiraling in reverse; after a long pause, He let out a mocking chuckle:

“Are you afraid?”

“No.”

“Stop acting. You brought out the 【Corruption】 container precisely to absorb your own fear so you could ask me this question, didn’t you?”

Saying this, 【Deception】 blinked twice more, severing the container’s influence on Cheng Shi, letting the faint fear in the Jester’s heart return, then added:

“What, do you think I intend to annihilate the world, to destroy all that 【Origin】 created?”

“!!!”

Cold sweat suddenly drenched Cheng Shi’s forehead and back.

Though terrifying, this was precisely what Cheng Shi had feared but never dared voice.

From his perspective, the deities of each slice universe were merely insignificant experiments in 【Origin】’s vast laboratory—how could a gnat hope to shake a tree? So Cheng Shi had long suspected 【Deception】’s scheme wasn’t about “toppling” 【Origin】 and winning the world, but about steering 【Origin】’s experiment into “deviation.”

That fit His nature—only this way could 【Deception】 truly honor His own “rebellion,” and honor the 【Void】 He bore.

Remember, even if the Jester God feared 【Origin】 most, He remained eternally “devout” to 【Void】; all His warnings to Cheng Shi stemmed from 【Void】, and even after parting ways with 【Fate】, He still defended 【Void】’s reputation.

He cared deeply for 【Void】, but cared nothing for this world—or even countless universes.

And this was precisely why Cheng Shi had never dared speak this aloud before 【Deception】—for experiment failure could mean universal annihilation.

This might not be the kind of Void 【Fate】 envisioned, but it was still Void.

“So is this the predetermined path, My Lord?

The world will inevitably return to ‘Void’—whether through 【Deception】’s path or 【Fate】’s path, they both lead to the same end...”

Those eyes flickered with a barely perceptible shift, then sneered:

“Ch—

Do you think you've seen through Fate's predetermined path?

“...I don’t think so.”

“Good. Even I dare not say what is predetermined—don’t go imagining things.

Predetermination is far more complex than you imagine.

And put your heart back in your chest—I’m not annihilating the world, I’m... saving it.”

The Jester God is saving the world?

Yeah, yeah, sure—I’ll believe you when I see it.

Cheng Shi grew even more anxious; 【Deception】 watched His believer and snorted again:

“If your anxiety stems from these containers, then just give them away. This world needs fresh blood. If it’s always held up by those ancient relics, it’s too dull.”

Give them away?

To whom?

Something in the Jester God’s words felt off.

Cheng Shi frowned slightly, savoring His Lord’s words but finding no clear meaning—yet he noticed another noteworthy issue, and looked at the eyes before him with confusion, suddenly asking:

“My Lord, 【Fate】 repeatedly warned me not to approach 【Corruption】—but this trial... no, even this container!” Cheng Shi pointed to the 【Corruption】 container before him, “Even while I’m using it, you’ve never warned me. Have you already gotten the answer you wanted from this test?

Is 【Corruption】 not as terrifying as people imagine?”

“Ignorant words.” Those eyes hardened slightly. “He is far more terrifying than any deity imagines—but you need not know this.

Speaking of 【Corruption】, there’s a curious tale—you’ve probably already met him in the trial, my other believer.”

Another believer? Who?

Cheng Shi froze, suddenly realizing the believer the Jester God meant seemed to be... Xiao Qi?

This doesn’t make sense!

This is absurd.

A player mentioned by a deity can’t be ordinary—but how could it be Xiao Qi? What happened to him?

Could he not be dead!?

As Cheng Shi’s thoughts spiraled, 【Deception】 chuckled softly:

“I conducted a very interesting experiment on this little believer—he originally belonged not to 【Void】, but to 【Drowning】. He was a follower of 【Corruption】.”

“!!!”

【Corruption】!?

Upon hearing the Jester God confirm Xiao Qi had once been a 【Corruption】 follower, all of Cheng Shi’s doubts instantly resolved.

So Xiao Qi’s cost wasn’t due to innate talent, but a vow-breaking curse?

That made more sense—after all, 【Corruption】 tugs at desire and emotion; such a curse wouldn’t be strange... wait!!

That’s even more wrong!

【Corruption】 never refuses—how could He bestow a curse upon His own follower?

Cheng Shi was stunned. He realized the problem and looked up at his Lord; the Jester God burst into laughter:

“This is the most interesting part.

I altered the description of a talent granted to this little believer, disguising it as His vow-breaking curse—but this amusing mortal actually manifested the curse’s effect...”

Before He finished speaking, Cheng Shi was dumbfounded.

What!?

Altering the talent description...

So there’s a second victim in this game?

In a way, Xiao Qi really was lucky.

But why?

Cheng Shi frowned, pondering: “You mean 【Corruption】 never refuses—even the talent you rewrote?”

“Hmph. That’s precisely what happened. But strangely, I’ve never exchanged authority with 【Corruption】—how did He transform my 【Deception】 power into 【Corruption】’s power?”

That’s why I say 【Corruption】 is far more terrifying than you imagine.

Stay away from Him, or if you lose your life, don’t come crying to me.”

“Enough. Mortals shouldn’t meddle in divine affairs. Go do what you need to do.”

“...”

You’re the one who brought it up—I didn’t even ask!

But after hearing this, Cheng Shi’s brow twitched; he keenly seized the key point and probed: “You mean once I become a deity, I can meddle?”

“Ch—

‘I don’t want to become a deity.’ Someone seems to have forgotten what they said.”

I haven’t forgotten!

Cheng Shi straightened his back, thinking firmly: Even if I don’t become a deity, won’t it be the same if my friend does?

Deity status is merely a ticket to join the game—if my friend can bring me in, why must I become one myself?

I’ve never forgotten who I am: just an ordinary father’s ordinary son. Whether I’m a deity or not means nothing to me.

I just want to live—and if I can win the top imperial exam, all the better.

“Hmph. Foolish mortal emotions. Get out. Take these annoying things and leave.”

Saying this, a gale swept through the void, hurling Cheng Shi and the containers back into reality.

Back on the rooftop, Cheng Shi stared at the newly acquired 【War】 container, feeling his blood stirred, restless and eager—desperate to find someone right now and fight.

Salvation...

Will the God of Joy truly save the world?

Could it be that the Firebearer is not merely a human delusion, but His longing?

Otherwise, why would the means by which He protects the Firebearer be called the Flame of Hope?

Who gave this hope, and where is this fire?