Chapter 824: The Tower of Logic's Terrifying Experiment

Foolish Game of the Gods

Ai Si's single remark combined with Cheng Shi's pointed look cornered Zhang Jizu completely.

He couldn't just shamelessly say "Oh, that 'Truth follower' line was a joke" the way Cheng Shi would. That'd erase the reputation he'd built across countless trials — all ruined by Deceit's influence.

Yes — ruined by Deceit's influence.

Mi Laozhang had always suspected that his occasional habit of telling white lies was a "contamination" from spending too much time near Cheng Shi and the Deceit path.

But his second faith was already a done deal. He couldn't show cracks in front of a 2,400-point War Supervisor. So after a moment's thought, Zhang Jizu slowly nodded.

"Not difficult. But I'll need certain materials — materials that aren't in this room."

"What do you need? I'll go look."

The instant Zhang Jizu spoke, Ai Si perceptively understood: these two peak Players had something to discuss privately. She didn't find this problematic — empathy told her that if she were matched with lower-ranked teammates, she too would prefer conferring with equals.

That was precisely why, upon recognizing this trial was above her tier, she'd kept her posture low from the start.

Searching for materials, she figured, was just the Death Chosen's excuse to send her away. Fine by her — she also wanted to explore what these vast underground pipes were hiding. So she'd helpfully asked the question.

She expected him to rattle off something vague. Instead, Zhang Jizu listed genuine mechanical-construction materials with a straight face.

"High-density bonding metal. Pseudo-tendon soft alloy. Extension-muscle controller... The last one is a multi-layered metal composite capable of holding inscribed arrays. If you absolutely can't find it, just bring plenty of thin metal sheets."

Both Cheng Shi and Ai Si were stunned.

Cheng Shi, internally: 'Wait — you actually know this stuff?!'

Ai Si just blinked, automatically filtered out everything she didn't understand, and latched onto one sentence:

"If you absolutely can't find it, bring plenty of..."

'Got it. She should take her time and come back later.'

'These two have a lot to discuss.'

She nodded tactfully, turned, and left the chamber — thoughtfully knocking out the bewildered Pro To on the way out so the scavenger wouldn't become an unwanted eavesdropper.

After Ai Si left, Cheng Shi stared at Zhang Jizu, unable to suppress a teasing grin.

"Zhang-lao, since when do you have this skill?

Did you steal techniques from Truth's people?"

"Steal? No — I always knew." Zhang Jizu smiled serenely, totally serious.

"Oh?" Suspicion crept into Cheng Shi's gaze. "You're saying your logical thinking aligns with Truth because you studied their materials early on?"

"Not exactly. I was referring to this." Zhang Jizu pointed at the broken War Machine Pawn and explained earnestly. "Completing this is actually simple. Find the right materials, then stitch it together like stitching a corpse."

"?" Cheng Shi was dumbfounded. Tiny eyes filled with enormous confusion. "Stitch... a corpse?"

"Hold on — since when are you the Fate Weaver and I'm not?

You think you can just sew this thing and it'll work?

If that's all it took, what has the Mechanical Engineering Department been researching for all these years?

You might as well tell me Truth is useless."

Cheng Shi laughed in disbelief. Today's Mi Laozhang was definitely different from the usual model.

Zhang Jizu smiled, shaking his head.

"Truth is certainly useful. But... Death is equally useful.

What's the difference between a corpse and a lifeless war machine?

The shells differ, sure. The only real distinction is that flesh once housed a soul, while machinery only ever received commands.

But as long as something was once a 'vessel,' it qualifies as a dead husk.

I've told you — I joined a small group called the Undead Salvation Society. Those people were obsessed with making corpses stand again. Some of them devised unthinkable methods to awaken bodies that couldn't be awakened — making them move puppet-like, yet not as puppets, and devoid of all consciousness.

The drawback: the awakened husk only lasts five or six minutes, and beyond basic movement, it has virtually zero combat capability.

But we don't need combat capability right now.

Five or six minutes is more than enough for a completely inert 'dead thing' to walk to the Theater and push open the door.

And once we have one of our own tools inside that Theater, 'swapping' ourselves in shouldn't be too hard. Wouldn't you agree, Cheng Shi?"

Cheng Shi mulled it over, eyes lighting up. "If conditions inside the Theater differ from the Devout Land — if there are no such rules in there — then yes, it's feasible... Impressive, Zhang-lao. What other tricks are you hiding from me?"

Zhang Jizu was about to laugh when he sensed the Fate Weaver digging a trap. He wiped the smile and pivoted, pointing at the paper fragments in Cheng Shi's hand.

"I've done my part. Time for you to do yours.

Cheng Shi, how long are you planning to keep puzzling over scraps?

Just pull out your tool. I know you have something that can restore this scene."

"..."

Under Zhang Jizu's knowing half-smile, Cheng Shi's eyelid hammered.

'Crap. Mi Laozhang's got me pegged.'

"How did you—" He started to ask, then swallowed it with a pained expression. Sighing, he extended a clenched fist — something bulky hidden in his palm.

"This is going to cost me big. Zhang-lao, if your method doesn't work, the loss comes out of your share."

He activated the tool. Everything around them began to blur and shimmer, dreamlike. Moments later, the archive room's entire history unspooled like a revolving lantern through their minds — ages of events compressed into pages, flipping one by one.

Cheng Shi and Zhang Jizu watched with bated breath. From fragmentary conversations among research staff and their study of documents, the two pieced together the horrifying Tower of Logic experiment that had taken place in San Dales.

When the vision ended, they locked eyes. Each saw shock and disbelief mirrored in the other's pupils.

"What do you mean, 'No-Faith Experiment'...?

If the world's people had no faith, how could they possibly create a so-called 'God Without Faith'?

Mi Laozhang — use that Truth brain of yours and explain this to me. Is this even something I can comprehend?"

Zhang Jizu was equally floored. Everything in this experiment exceeded his understanding. His squinting eyes narrowed to threads as his mind raced, yet he still couldn't fathom why the Tower of Logic would conduct — no, dare to conduct — such an absurd experiment.

And the most absurd part? They'd actually succeeded?!

"So the 'path to godhood' the scavengers talk about is the result of this experiment?

That so-called 'God Without Faith' — is it locked inside the Faith Theater?

And the Secret Peeping Ear you're searching for may be in Its hands.

Judging by the Devout Land's rules, those ears have most likely already become a recognized... 'authority' of that entity.

Cheng Shi, I must warn you: even if the Tower of Logic's descriptions are somewhat exaggerated, your opponent could be an experimental creation approaching 'Pseudo God' status. It may be something mortals cannot resist — like Zangier was. And what you seek may have already merged with It.

Of course, that's the worst case...

On the bright side, the experimental creation could have been destroyed long ago. Everything we're seeing might just be the Secret Peeping Ear's doing.

Regardless, the situation is far more complex than we imagined.

And from this moment on, we can't casually discuss deeper secrets like this. Because I can feel it — we're getting close to the truth."

...