You're not Hong Lin. Who are you?

The moment Hong Lin sensed the killing intent, her whole body tensed. Her instinct was to break free from Cheng Shi's embrace at any moment, but she didn't. Instead, she clenched her fists, frowned, and cautiously asked:

"Don't panic, it's me. What happened?"

It was her restraint that Cheng Shi, but he still couldn't believe that Hong Lin's appearance was so coincidental, appearing just when he was at his most Despair, and claiming that she had walked ahead.

This reason is very ingenious. No one has ever directly broken through the Spacetime Barrier, nor do they know whether time distortion exists in the True Universe. Therefore, Cheng Shi cannot find any flaws in this, and can only temporarily believe that the Big Cat in front of him is real.

Of course, the "real" here means that the Big Cat in front of him is a real living being, not some figment of his imagination. As for whether this living being is actually the Big Cat, that remains to be discussed.

Cheng Shi frowned and pondered for a moment. Instead of moving the Daggers away, he used his other hand, which was holding the Big Cat, to take out a Dice and gently tap it on the other person's back.

Hong Lin understood, and as quietly as possible took out a Dice, whispering:

"The way we came and the way we went..."

Cheng Shi breathed a sigh of relief. He put away the Scalpel, held the Dice, and clashed them against the Big Cat, saying, "... All is predestined."

Upon hearing this, Hong Lin visibly relaxed. Her expression softened, and she looked around as she said:

Is this the True Universe?

Why is there nothing here?

Cheng Shi, what exactly happened?

Cheng Shi stared straight into the Big Cat's eyes, first letting out a self-deprecating chuckle, then sighing and shaking his head:

"I should be the one asking you what happened."

I came here but couldn't see you, so I searched for you for ten days in this desolate universe.

Ten whole days!

And now you're telling me you just got here...

Hong Lin was startled and said in disbelief, "How is this possible! I only felt darkness for a moment, and when I opened my eyes again, I saw you. How could it have been ten days!"

Cheng Shi carefully examined Hong Lin's expression, found nothing unusual, frowned and shook his head, saying:

I don't know either, but luckily I found you.

However, the supplies I prepared are insufficient for the upcoming needs, you...

Before she finished speaking, Hong Lin took out the food she had prepared from her personal storage space.

"Here, I've been preparing for a long time, there's plenty!"

Cheng Shi smiled with relief. With the support of food, he could indeed continue his search for Divine Authority. But in the instant Hong Lin turned to look around, a sharp glint flashed in Cheng Shi's eyes.

The other party is definitely not Hong Lin!

Even if the conversation itself wasn't lying, the food in her hand couldn't be faked.

Don't forget who Hong Lin is now. She is Flazhol, the daughter of [Prosperity], a candidate of [[Prosperity]] recognized by the [Covenant] to attend the Gods' Covenant Assembly. She possesses the Divine Authority of "Vitality" and "Abundance," and has no need to rely on external supplies. Why would she prepare food in her personal space?

Even if she stored some food for her friend in case of emergency, she would never say "enough". She only needs to share her Divine Authority to let the two of them roam freely in this True Universe, but the Big Cat in front of her did not mention the word "[Prosperity]" at all!

This discovery put Cheng Shi on edge once again.

If this had happened during the Trials, Cheng Shi have had a thousand ways to confirm the other party's identity. After all, only the players could pull off such a feat, and the pool of possibilities would quickly shrink to five people.

But this is the True Universe, a place Cheng Shi has never set foot in before. He doesn't even know if everything happening here can be explained using his experience from his original world!

Take Hong Lin, for example. Is she a "wise, deceitful creature" wandering the True Universe, or a skilled actor and native of this desolate place?

Or, even more terrifyingly, could she be Hong Lin from another Starry Sky?

If so, it means the Big Cat in front of you isn't an enemy at all, but at most a familiar stranger; but if not...

The identity of that Big Cat undoubtedly became a landmine planted next to Cheng Shi.

Given Cheng Shi cautious approach, he wouldn't carry such an uncertain threat around, but this time was different; he didn't expose the other party's "lie."

When an unknown life form tries to approach you by lying instead of hunting you directly, it means either it can't take you down head-on, or it has other plans for you.

Coincidentally, Cheng Shi has never lost in the competition of "having ulterior motives".

Don't forget, he wasn't just a conman, he was also a gambler, a crazy gambler.

Since the current Hong Lin is "fake," her apparent bewilderment about the True Universe is also likely "fake." In that case, as long as we keep her calm for now, we might be able to unravel the truth about the True Universe from her words and actions.

Therefore, Cheng Shi remained still, appearing thoughtful, and said:

"Based on my exploration and understanding of this area over the past few days, the True Universe is far from what we see in the world."

It is vast and desolate, boundless and silent. We would probably find nothing even if we exhausted all our efforts. So I think there might be some unknown secrets here, such as time or space, that would allow us to explore this place more efficiently.

As he spoke, Cheng Shi looked at Hong Lin, who had Hong Lin brows furrowed and looked completely bewildered, clearly unaware of anything.

Seeing that the other party was very cautious, Cheng Shi continued:

"Of course, this may just be my imagination. The True Universe is vast and boundless, and we humans are too insignificant to understand the reality of 'reality'."

But in any case, let's get moving; if there's no road, we'll find one.

Hong Lin nodded and asked, "Which direction?"

Cheng Shi smiled and held up the Dice: "Let it tell us."

Hearing this, Hong Lin said irritably, "Your Dice don't have the answer, I'll do it."

As she spoke, she tossed a 12-point Dice, rolled a 7 in her palm, glanced to her side and behind her, and tossed her head, saying:

"Set off?"

Cheng Shi glanced at the 7 o'clock position, seemingly lost in thought.

That was in the exact opposite direction from my own point 1; the last time I walked like that was during the [War] Trials.

Must I defy Destiny once again?

Cheng Shi remained silent, nodded, and followed Hong Lin towards the 7 o'clock direction. Shortly after setting off, he asked again:

How can I get back to my original world?

Hong Lin, who was leading the group, seemed not to have heard clearly. She stopped and turned around, asking, "What?"

Cheng Shi smiled and shook his head, "It's nothing, I just hope the trip goes smoothly."

On the other side.

Hong Lin had been searching for Cheng Shi ten days without success, was nearly driven mad.

Unlike Cheng Shi, her strategy was to keep searching and searching. The Divine Authority of [Prosperity] could support her until the world was destroyed Divine Authority disappeared. But given the current situation, she was afraid that even if the original world was destroyed, she would still not be able to find Cheng Shi.

The True Universe is so vast, yet I've lost Cheng Shi.

The Big Cat was frustrated and angry.

In her most Despair moments, she even considered charging in a certain direction like in [War], hoping Cheng Shi see her there. But she was also afraid that if she "awakened" the Creator, He would wipe out everything in the True Universe.

If you can't find the person, at least you can comfort yourself by saying they're alive. But once [*He] takes action... that person is truly gone.

As Hong Lin stumbled around aimlessly, she grew increasingly irritable and powerless. She tried to stay as far away from the "starting point" as possible, afraid that seeing that place would remind her of the scene where she would have to explain herself to her the Fated when she returned.

She dared not tell them that Cheng Shi was missing; she would rather it was herself who disappeared.

But she had no other choice; she felt she had to go back and get help.

And it was at this moment, just as Hong Lin mechanically returned to the starting point, that a figure suddenly appeared at the "starting point" where no one had been seen for 10 days.

"Cheng Shi!??"

Hong Lin's eyes widened suddenly, and she slapped herself in disbelief. Then, without saying a word, she transformed into a Spotted Leopard and trampled the hateful Fate Weaver under her feet.

She brandished a fingernail, pressed it against the Fate Weaver's forehead, and roared hysterically:

Cheng Shi!!!

Why did you take so long?! Why are you 10 days late?!

Do you know how I've spent these past 10 days?!

As he spoke, the Spotted Leopard's eyes reddened.

Cheng Shi bewilderment in his eyes.

Hong Lin, what happened?

What, ten days?

I clearly followed right behind you...