Fortunately, Cheng Shi wasn't playing Yu Xi for laughs. He had a plan. So after a few clearing coughs, he broke the silence and said with practiced gravitas:
"I have observed all of your performances today.
You may have had your petty calculations...
But your devotion to Him is adequate."
He swept a aningful gaze across every player, projecting an aura of "I've seen through everything." In truth, the only one being fooled was Long Jing.
Because the mont Long Jing lowered his head, too reverent to look up, our Lord Yu Xi had already started winking at Dragon King.
And when Li Jingming saw Yu Xi signaling him, the clever mory Chosen imdiately understood: the stage had beco nothing more than a clown circus.
As for who was the clown... that didn't have to be limited to those on stage.
But Li Jingming had plenty on his mind. Recalling the mories from the stage, he had to wonder: what role had Zhen Xin played in this deception, and what deal had she struck with Cheng Shi?
And how had Cheng Shi made his Yu Xi impersonation so convincing?
This Fate Weaver had clearly secured the Secret Peeping Ear. A step behind again — but ultimately, for Li Jingming, mories were worth more than artifacts. This trip wasn't a loss. At minimum, he'd learned Yu Xi's past.
Crown was surely Yu Xi's forr self!
And that was probably this trial's greatest secret.
As for whether the current Yu Xi was an Envoy or simply a mask bearing that na — that remained for Him to decide.
Without the Secret Peeping Ear, he lacked the entrance ticket to the Jokers. He'd need another approach — sothing else to satisfy this Fate Weaver's insatiable appetite. Otherwise, impersonating Cheng Shi to sneak into San Dales would never be forgiven.
With that reasoning, Li Jingming cooperated smoothly with Cheng Shi's performance. The two on stage were background props with zero lines. So for a while, the entire theater beca Cheng Shi's stage — just like Crown before him, the clown stood center where he belonged.
Cheng Shi reviewed each player's performance with playful comntary. At the end, he credited the Secret Peeping Ear's discovery to Zhen Yi, offering her a small reward.
The normally unruly Zhen Yi was docile as a kitten before Lord Yu Xi. Following the "script," she made a bold and impudent request:
She asked Lord Yu Xi to guide her sister's second faith!
Look at the sisterly love! During a rare divine audience, this Deceit follower still thought of her dear sister.
Anyone unfamiliar with her would think Zhen Yi was a thoughtful, caring sibling.
But Long Jing, hearing this, practically mourned for Zhen Xin on the spot.
'She's not your sister — she's your overlord.'
'Listen to what your sister just said! She's asking a Deceit Envoy to find another faith for a Deceit follower!'
'Sure, the gods promote faith fusion. But you can't openly tell your company's board of directors you want a side gig at a competitor!'
Zhen Yi hadn't said that, of course. She was too clever. So she said it was for her sister — finding sis a side job.
This way: she could push faith fusion to "curry divine favor"; maintain her own piety; use her sister to test whether their dual personalities could both fuse; and all it cost was... one Zhen Xin.
'What a steal.'
'After all, if Zhen Xin runs into trouble — that's got nothing to do with , Zhen Yi.'
Long Jing nearly laughed at the thought. 'No wonder you bring bad luck wherever you go.'
In truth, when Cheng Shi had handed this script to Zhen Xin, her expression had been spectacular. She'd even muttered, "You and Zhen Yi are really alike..." — but Cheng Shi hadn't heard, pressing on with his plan.
He wasn't setting up Zhen Xin's future second faith. As a forr Deceit Chosen, she didn't need anyone's permission to fuse whatever she wanted. This was all for... fishing.
He was waiting for Long Jing to take the bait.
Because he was certain: the mont his Yu Xi agreed to Zhen Yi's request, this power-hungry Acrobat would scramble for his own benefit — perhaps copying Zhen Yi, using his "ager" credit to make a wish.
And that was Cheng Shi's true aim.
He didn't want ordinary intel from a peak player who'd never had a divine audience. He wanted to use Long Jing to probe his other Benefactor — Ti!
Whatever Long Jing asked for, Cheng Shi would refuse. But to honor a "follower's" devotion, he could generously point the way — toward a second faith fusion. And that direction was Ti!
Rember: the Fun God had impersonated Ti before. So if a forr Deceit number-two attempted to approach Ti — what would happen? How would Ti react? Would the fusion succeed? All information Cheng Shi wanted.
He needed to reconfirm the alliance boundary between Deceit and Ti, and determine whether he could freely leverage Ti's power going forward.
Ti not having ti to refuse versus Ti actively supporting were fundantally different attitudes. If the forr, even with Ti fusion, Cheng Shi could only tiptoe around borrowing divine prestige. But if the latter...
'I'm showing my hand. I am the cheat code.'
'While you're grinding through this ga, my sights have already ridden Ti's winds across dinsions into the real slice universe.'
So on-stage Cheng Shi theatrically granted Zhen Yi's reward, promising to guide her sister's second faith.
The illusory Cheng Shi jumped in, also making a rare spoken wish. Under Long Jing's stunned observation, Lord Yu Xi agreed again — like a wish-granting tycoon scattering generosity.
Watching this, Long Jing could hold back no longer.
'I contributed one ear! rit like that can't be left out of the rewards!'
He pretended not to care, carefully crafting a seamless interjection to bring up his request.
Finally, after waiting for the right mont, he seized upon the phantom Cheng Shi's thank-you and launched into a torrent of praise — about how the Lord's guidance helped Deceit followers go further, how His presence strengthened the camp. And as one of that camp's mbers, Long Jing simply wished to contribute...
Blah, blah, blah — he talked until his mouth went dry before reaching the point: might he also have the honor of receiving Lord Yu Xi's guidance?
Cheng Shi nearly dozed off. He'd thought Mi Laozhang and Zhen Xin's serious modes were dense enough. Turns out Long Jing's was even denser — almost rivaling the Prisoner.
He snorted, looked at Long Jing, cut off the rambling, and said with layered aning:
"Fine. Your performance left sothing to be desired... but your devotion has a touch of novelty.
Speak — what guidance do you seek?"
'It's happening!'
'Lord Yu Xi agreed!'
Long Jing's eyes blazed. He straightened his back, devotion intensifying.
"Lord Yu Xi — I too wish to find my second faith!
Of course, everything I do is for Deceit and Void. So that the Benefactor's glory may blanket the universe. So that Your will may reach the world. I can endure hardship — even misunderstanding."
Already Cheng Shi sensed sothing off. 'Wait — this guy isn't about to pick... Existence, is he?'
"Indeed — You must have guessed. So that Existence may also be written in Void's na, I seek Your guidance. For Your humble but devout follower — a path toward Ti!"
"?"
Cheng Shi froze.
'Bro — did you steal my script?'
...
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