Chapter 996: A Mature Assembly Line — The Gods' Production Mechanism |
"Everyone, no need to worry about that gentleman learning what's said here."
Cheng Shi smiled and offered his explanation:
"The moment He chose to bestow this artifact, He was declaring Himself on our side. Isn't that so?
Since time immemorial, those plotting rebellion either had a powerful minister to shield them or military might to back them. The latter clearly doesn't apply to us mortals. So having His protection isn't bad at all."
The phrase "plotting rebellion" elevated the gathering's atmosphere to an entirely new level. Zhen Xin frowned slightly:
"An additional god's protection is welcome. But I'm curious — aside from the blasphemy-laced prayer at the opening, you haven't once mentioned the Fun God.
The Jokers were born of Him, yet you say nothing about Him. Am I to understand this 'rebellion' is aimed at the Fun God?
Or do we need to fight the gods, but the Fun God also can't be fully trusted?"
Talking with smart people saved effort, but Cheng Shi smiled and didn't follow Zhen Xin's thread. Instead he continued his own script.
Let me explain it more simply with a single question:
Why are you attending this Joker Society?"
He waved his hand. "Don't say exchanging intel or memories. That's surface level, not the essence. Ask your own hearts. Be honest with yourselves for once.
I don't need your answers. But I can tell you mine:
To stay alive."
The simpler the truth, the more sincere. Those four characters clearly struck a chord. The Jokers gazed at Cheng Shi's beaming face and felt a disconnect between the warm smile and the weight of those words.
"As you probably all know about my dual [Void] faiths — thanks to a certain someone's refusal, both [Void] rulers turned their gaze on me. I don't know what [Void] is pushing toward. I only know that, influenced by this era, I've received more and more attention.
Among those gazes was a servant god of [Void], an envoy of [Deceit] — Yu Xi.
Under His guidance, I learned more and more of the world's truth — discovering that even the gods are struggling to survive in this 'game.' This deepened my fear, leaving me lost on the road ahead. So I gathered you all to pool our wisdom.
Hence: to stay alive.
Of course, if anyone here still has reservations or simply isn't interested in the universe's truth, you may leave now. We can continue exchanging intel regularly — being information partners isn't bad.
But if you choose to keep listening... leaving afterwards may no longer be an option."
"..."
Everyone present was sharp enough not to be intimidated by Cheng Shi. They knew he wasn't threatening — merely emphasizing the gathering's gravity. And the Fate Weaver's uncharacteristic solemnity raised their expectations infinitely.
Except for Long Jing.
This acrobat already knew the world's "truth" — had even started giving up because of it. He simply couldn't envision a path to survival through such absurd reality. His expectations weren't about truth, but about method.
He was deeply curious: how could a handful of liars come up with a way to survive? Especially Cheng Shi. The other world's Cheng Shi, that powerful, still couldn't break free of the universe's fence. What made this [Void] walker think he could?
Seeing everyone's silence, Cheng Shi sensed the timing was right. He dropped the gathering's second bomb.
"I said before that the gods are not gods. This isn't fear-mongering — because the gods were mass-produced!"
"?"
This claim made even the unflappable Squinty Zhang narrow his eyes further. Cheng Shi took in everyone's expressions and pressed on:
"You may know about that supreme existence and have guessed that It created the gods. But do you know how the gods were created?
In a way, they are... assembly-line products, mass-manufactured by that supreme existence.
To explain this properly, we need a concept: eras."
"The cause behind the scrambled epochs and memory gaps?"
"Precisely." Cheng Shi nodded and began outlining the relationship between eras and epochs for the Jokers. Then he steered back to [Origin].
"That supreme existence observes the progression of each era. Then, at an era's end — or beginning — It formally names the deities that emerged during that era.
Based on current evidence, every named deity arose from the development of life and civilization. The Paths of Fate come from this. True gods are born from this.
Of course, why Its descent timing varies remains a mystery. But undeniably, this existence that created the gods is the only one who truly qualifies as a god.
And if we want to survive, we'll probably have to escape Its grasp. So the 'rebellion' I mentioned isn't about this moment. Nor against the sixteen true gods including the Fun God. It's against the one — and only — true deity above the true gods!"
"..."
Though the Jokers' thoughts varied, they were all moved. Viewing it purely from the "staying alive" angle, the world's layered oppression was suffocating. The question remained: they still didn't understand why Cheng Shi needed to stay alive so desperately.
The "why" wasn't about his inner desire. It was about what kind of terrifying pressure this world — this game — exerted on a player. Even its very top player. So much that his fear was spreading through the Joker Society itself.
Zhen Xin and Li Jingming frowned simultaneously. They weren't strangers to fear, but under high-intensity trials, such emotions had grown rare. Now, from a mere glimpse of the world's truth, faint fear had crept in again — even though Cheng Shi hadn't even explained the source. Why?
They scanned the room and accidentally locked eyes, reading mutual confusion and suspicion. They even wondered whether the gathering's organizer was using special means to achieve his goals...
[Corruption]?
Not impossible. But was Cheng Shi really playing this dirty?
Of course not. Cheng Shi hadn't done a thing. This was his most sincere presentation yet. The stakes were too high — he knew only sincerity would earn sincerity. So regarding divine intelligence, there wasn't a trace of fabrication.
Non-essential lies were a different matter, naturally. Forbidding a liar from lying was like demanding a mute to speak. Too much to ask.
Long Jing, hearing such detail, grew uncharacteristically serious. The other Cheng Shi had told him much of what mortals shouldn't know, but their meeting was brief — only the essentials were shared. What Long Jing had was a rough framework; the details were blank.
Precisely because the framework was so overwhelming, he'd felt powerless.
Now, as Cheng Shi gradually filled in the flesh and blood of that framework, Long Jing's understanding of the world crystallized. Connecting it with what he already knew, a thought suddenly flashed:
"You're planning to become a god?"
Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow, thinking Long Jing was sharp this time. But wrong.
"No. I don't want to."
"How can mortals escape the cage the gods built? Without becoming one of Them, you can never break free. What else is there?"
Hearing this, Cheng Shi smiled.
"I only said I don't want to become a god. I didn't say no one wants to.
Since we've come to this — let me ask: among those present, does anyone want to become a god?"
...