Stop, [Destiny]. I'll Go with You

The visitor was none other than Zhang Jizu.

Even before the Gods' Covenant Assembly began, Zhang Jizu had already approached Hong Lin.

The salvation plan may not lack a Long Jing, but it certainly cannot do without the help of a "god". Hong Lin, in a sense, is a god, and a god that can be trusted and easily persuaded!

Zhang Jizu certainly knew that the help of a true deity would be more useful, but where could he find a god willing to protect Clown these days?

So what seems like the best choice is actually no choice at all.

Just then, a small meeting in another Starry Sky had just ended, and Hong Lin was still anxiously searching for Cheng Shi's whereabouts when she was blocked in the Void by this [Death] Chosen of God of Death].

Zhang Jizu told her that he had a way to save Cheng Shi's life, but it might come at a price.

Hong Lin didn't even ask what the price would be; she just repeatedly confirmed, "You're not lying to me? You can really save Cheng Shi? Save Cheng Shi from such a scheming Outer God [Deception]!?"

Zhang Jizu nodded solemnly, Hong Lin, without the slightest hesitation, replied just as solemnly:

You say, I'll do.

Zhang Jizu narrowed his eyes, a barely perceptible glint flashing within them, and suddenly laughed, "For friendship?"

Hong Lin said earnestly, "For friendship."

Even if the price is death?

Hong Lin was taken aback, then smiled even more brightly, "I said, for friendship!"

Zhang Jizu said nothing more, seemingly having anticipated Hong Lin's response. He took out a palm-sized green crown and handed it to her, saying:

"[Prosperity] Crown, something I stumbled upon from Lost Memory, is perfect for you."

By activating its Divine Authority, it can help you draw upon the power of [Prosperity] from the Cosmos. This is a feedback from Faith. As long as the Faith of [Prosperity] stands, you can infinitely borrow the power of Believer.

Of course, even with the power of Faith, you cannot contend with a true god. What we need to do is not to fight, but to save!

I will pierce through space with the roots of the crown and come to you along the roots. Then, I will send Cheng Shi in the same way, giving him even a second to catch his breath.

But the Void is, after all, the territory of Nothingness; will he have a chance to escape...?

Zhang Jizu sighed; clearly, he lacked confidence in his plan.

Hong Lin raised an eyebrow, looking at the shrunken green crown in her hand, and asked in confusion, "This thing... I've never even seen it in the [Prosperity] treasury, where did you get it?"

"It's a secret," Zhang Jizu said, squinting. "When to activate it is up to you."

I'll be ready to provide backup at any time, but remember, it's best not to do it when he's fully committed to resisting, otherwise I'm afraid he'll reject the plan outright and break free through the escape route."

Hong Lin kept in mind Zhang Jizu's instructions, so when Cheng Shi was at his most distraught, she activated the Crown and led the [Death] Chosen of God to this place.

As a Mortals, this was all Zhang Jizu could do.

He watched as the coffin disappeared before his eyes. One second he was smiling with relief at the success of his plan, and the next he froze on the spot, watching as the coffin was squeezed out of the Void again and stood directly in front of those cold, Starry Eyes!

Nothingness, ethereal wind lifted the coffin, transforming it into an invisible hand that tore it apart inch by inch until the figure inside fell out. Only then did everyone realize with astonishment that the person pulled into the coffin was not the Predestination Clown, but the second [Death] Chosen of God of Death]!

Zhang Jizu!

What fell out of the coffin was yet another Zhang Jizu!

This scene left Hong Lin completely bewildered. She turned sharply to look at Zhang Jizu behind her, still trying to confirm who he was, when she heard the Outer God [Destiny] ruthlessly expose her:

"A very creative Double Trick, arguably the most brilliant act of the Finale Performance, but you can't fool me."

As [Destiny], I see the truth in everything. Do you think you can escape this calamity by hiding it in the dark?

My Believer, you seem to have forgotten that all your abilities were bestowed upon you by me.

Zhang Jizu, standing behind Hong Lin, changed his expression, gave a self-deprecating laugh, shed his disguise, and reverted to his original appearance as Cheng Shi.

Yes, he is Cheng Shi!

Hong Lin then realized that the flipping of the lid was just a trick; the two people had not actually switched bodies, but had simply used the coffin prop to conduct a quick exchange and identity swap!

Cheng Shi transformed into Zhang Jizu and remained in place, while Zhang Jizu was disguised as Cheng Shi and sent into the Void along the roots of the crown.

If this plan succeeds, Zhang Jizu will indeed have paid a "price" to give Cheng Shi a chance to catch his breath, just as he said.

Hong Lin never expected that the so-called price would not be hers, but Old Zhang himself.

Unfortunately, they were facing Outer God [Destiny], a true [Nothingness] who not only saw through the essence of the Cosmos but also Proxy the Divine Authority of [Deception] in the present moment.

The plan failed... not even for a second.

[Destiny] snorted coldly, and countless Nothingness gusts of wind swept towards Zhang Jizu, who had fallen out of the coffin. He was fulfilling his promise: every struggle Predestination would splatter blood and stain the Curtain red.

Just as the raging wind was about to crush Zhang Jizu, a torrent of White Bone Flood suddenly shot into the sky, dispersing countless gusts of wind and carrying the unconscious [Death] Chosen of God One from the eye of the Storm back to the Bone Throne.

The enormous skull protected its Believer and spoke in a deep voice to the Outer God:

Enough is enough.

Take away your Predestination, and then tell us the real answer.

Upon hearing this, [Destiny] glanced Indifference at Zhang Jizu, who was protected by the giant skull, then spun around for a moment before looking at Cheng Shi, whose Cheng Shi was solemn in the distance, and said coldly and ruthlessly:

"Shall we continue?"

"Of course!"

The answer came not from Cheng Shi, but from Qin Xin, who had been gathering strength, and Hong Lin, who roared forward. In this situation where the gods were watching from the sidelines, the two "gods" who were least like gods launched a final charge against the Outer God.

The power of [Prosperity] intertwined to form a crown, and the flames of [War] spread accordingly. The terrifying momentum was almost comparable to a real God War in the eyes of the gods. But the problem is, that was only in the eyes of the gods.

In the Outer God [Destiny], He saw nothing more than two streaks of blood about to stain the Curtain of the era red, a turning point that would Predestination cause the predetermined to turn back.

Humans are not plants or trees; how can they be without feelings?

Even Hong Lin said that Cheng Shi is a grateful person, so how could he not react when he saw his friends putting themselves in danger or even about to lose their lives for him time and time again?

But what other options are there?

The two most godlike beings among humanity are now joining forces to fight against the Outer God, but they seem to have no hope of victory whatsoever.

The gale tore their flesh apart, Nothingness devoured their spirits. They were covered in wounds, yet they charged at the Outer God time and time again.

Must he really wait until Qin Xin and Hong Lin both die before his eyes?

Not just them, there were others too...

Where did Zhen Xin go after being the Magician in the Finale Performance?

And who can summon [Death], who already knew the truth, to offer a final, unsolicited "support" for them?

Qin Xin has already appeared, which means the Fire Keeper already knew. Yet, nothing Change to this point. Does this mean that even the Hope's Flame hasn't seen where hope lies?

So what am I still holding on to?

What's the point of persisting?

Cheng Shi suddenly looked up at those merciless eyes of "Destiny," gave a miserable smile, and finally resigned himself to his fate.

"I... I'll go with you..." he said weakly.

The Big Cat shuddered, then screamed hysterically, "Absolutely not!"

Qin Xin's flames flickered and were about to extinguish when he angrily turned around:

"Cheng Shi, you don't need to carry the weight of the whole world on your shoulders, nor do you need to worry about this hopeless world..."

Before Qin Xin and Hong Lin could finish speaking, Cheng Shi shook his head and smiled gently at the two blood-stained figures:

The world has nothing to do with me, and I owe the world nothing.

I did it not for the world, but for my friends.

Old Jia once taught me a very simple principle: My friends help me, and I help my friends.

So now, my friend saves me, and I save my friend.

Stop, Hong Lin, Qin Xin.

[Destiny]...

I'll go with you.