Chapter 803: It's Your Turn to Perform, Clown

Foolish Game of the Gods

Honestly, when Cheng Shi heard that final sentence, it scared him so badly he shivered.

In all of creation, the only being brazen enough to question Origin's existence in front of another true god was the Fun God. No one else would dream of it.

Still, bold as the Fun God was, the challenge genuinely puzzled Cheng Shi.

Whether Origin was the Creator who had fashioned everything in the universe, or the conductor of the so-called Slice Universe experiment, He was undeniably a confirmed existence. So what did the Fun God mean by "doesn't exist"?

Cheng Shi didn't dare ask — especially not in front of Birth. He hadn't forgotten his purpose: he was here to petition a god. Birth had generously unveiled the history She'd witnessed before his very eyes. Granted, the privilege had piggybacked on the Fun God's presence, but you couldn't eat somebody's cooking and then flip their table for dessert.

Judging by Her reaction, Birth was unquestionably an "Approach Faction" deity — just one whose approach wasn't nearly as urgent as others.

In that moment, Cheng Shi felt Her method of drawing near to Origin bore a striking resemblance to how Hu Xuan drew near to Her. Devout? Absolutely. Frenzied? Not quite.

She and Hu Xuan were both steadfastly practicing Birth's will, unmoved by anything external.

No wonder Birth had favored Hu Xuan — She clearly preferred lives whose will mirrored Her own.

Of course, Birth was "fundamentally" still insane — the insanity simply expressed itself through world-view-shattering ethical arrangements and jaw-dropping reproductive capacity.

"Speak — not — reck — less — ly —"

The Divine Pillar began to sway once more, though She didn't seem angry. If anything, She resembled a gentle elder gently admonishing a junior.

The impression reminded Cheng Shi of the Tower of Logic's assessment of Birth: stable.

And She truly was.

"I said no such thing. Big Sis, what did You hear?

Someone dared question Origin? Who?!

Was it you?

You there — Clown!"

Those eyes brimmed with mischief as they dropped to gaze at His follower. As for Cheng Shi — inexplicably saddled with a colossal blame —

He gave up resisting.

Normally he might have nodded along with his Benefactor, letting Him enjoy a few more laughs. But today, whoever shouldered this blame was going to die. He didn't dare move a muscle.

So the helpless Clown could only lower his eyes, nose to heart, heart to void, and sink into contemplation.

This was not the outcome Deceit desired. After three idle turns of those star-bright eyes, a soft chuckle slipped out, and He spoke again.

"Oh yes — didn't you say that once you understood Him, you'd steer me back onto the right track?

Well, here I am, off the rails. So where, pray tell...

is the right track?"

"..."

'Silence is tonight's Clown.'

Cheng Shi had learned his lesson. In this arena where any word might be a landmine — and where Brother Mouth might backstab him at any instant — he figured that staying mute could deflect most interrogations. But this couldn't go on forever, so he was already crafting his exit lines.

The eyes, however, clearly had no intention of letting him off the hook. Seeing Cheng Shi remain mute, they scoffed.

"This look of yours — you've copied that mute's routine down to the last detail.

What, learned all these secrets and now you're too scared to talk?

Fine, since you won't speak, I'll speak for you.

Getting me back on the right track is actually quite simple. Right now, my path runs opposite to Big Sis's. So all you'd have to do is align our two directions, and I would be...

right back on track. Isn't that right?"

'Wrong!'

'Dead wrong!'

Before the Fun God had even finished, Cheng Shi was silently curling his lip. 'I know You too well, Benefactor.'

'Your idea of "aligning directions" is to drag Birth onto Your reverse course, isn't it? Get Her to walk away from Origin right alongside You — that's Your definition of "the right track," isn't it!'

'So this "right track" of Yours is relative, is that it?'

'I, as Your follower, know Your will inside and out. If I fell for this at a moment like this, I wouldn't deserve to call myself a liar.'

'Watch — I just have to not respond. Easy.'

"Right."

"..."

Cheng Shi's entire body went rigid. His spine locked. The light drained from his eyes.

'It's happened again. We have a traitor in our midst.'

"Heeheehee~

The Clown really does have a mind of his own. Well then — let the course correction begin.

If I recall, Time yielded some strange little talent to you when She submitted to Fate. Hmm — I believe that if used on Big Sis, it might help Her... see her situation in a new light.

So...

Big Sis — care to give it a try?"

"!!!"

Before Birth could respond, Cheng Shi froze first.

'Strange talent — what was that?'

'Time Deduction?'

'Wait, what? The Fun God wants me to use Time Deduction on Birth?!'

'Use a fusion talent on an actual god?!'

'Is that even possible?!'

Cheng Shi was stunned — but the next instant, his pulse ignited. He snapped his head up to stare at those eyes, flashes of excitement streaking through his own, a torrent of silent questions crashing through his mind:

'Benefactor, You want me to have a conversation with a Birth from another timeline?!'

'Are You serious?'

'And could those different timelines not merely span different times, but different slice universes entirely?'

'You want to expose that truth before Birth's eyes, to show Her the reality and drag Her into the Fear Faction's camp?'

'And if I actually do this, will my safety be guaranteed?!'

Although the concept of the "Slice Universe" was something Cheng Shi had conceived on his own, his meaning right now was crystal clear — and Deceit could see straight through it. Those eyes blinked once in confirmation.

!!!

Now Cheng Shi was fired up.

Think about it: under the Benefactor's protection, in a position of absolute safety, initiating a dialogue with the Birth of another slice universe — what would you even call that? It was nothing less than a full-blown audience with an "Outer God"!

In all the universe, who else would ever have that chance?

The Clown was instantly electrified. His blazing gaze locked onto the slightly puzzled Divine Pillar, eyes brimming with anticipation — though a healthy measure of fear still lingered across his face.

He had to choose his words carefully, to disguise the Fun God's — and his own — true motives.

"Great God of Birth, my Benefactor means to say that this universe is vast — perhaps far vaster than You imagine. Of course, all of this should be the result of Time's deduction."

Here, Cheng Shi silently added: 'As for how many different Times' deductions are involved — well, that's anyone's guess.'

"This humble Clown merely collected a few sparks of divine power from the collision of Time and Fate, granting himself a chance to glimpse the scenery beyond the universe. Given that You are my Benefactor's elder... Ahem — his senior, propriety dictates that You should be the first, ahead of even my Benefactor and myself, to explore the mysteries within.

Would You be interested?"

The instant he finished, those eyes slid a half-amused glance his way.

"You certainly have a silver tongue."

Then, pivoting to face the Divine Pillar, the Fun God giggled.

"Heeheehee~

Big Sis, why so quiet? You're not...

scared, are you?"

...