Audience Assembly · Audience

That's right, it was all directed by Cheng Shi.

The Starry Eyes that opened above the audience hall were not true [Deception], but merely the Puppet Eyes!

The moment those eyes opened, Cheng Shi thought the God of Merriment had descended, but he quickly realized something was amiss, because the timing of those eyes' appearance was too perfect, exactly when he wanted the God of Merriment to make his appearance.

Furthermore, the stars in those eyes were no longer dazzling; this was clearly the image of Outer God in False Curtain Call, not the true Eyes of [Nothingness]. Therefore, Cheng Shi immediately noticed the abnormality and frowned slightly.

Then something even more absurd happened: the pair of eyes that had just descended from outside frowned slightly.

The perceptive Cheng Shi noticed this detail, paused for a moment, and then a crazy idea popped into his head.

Could I possibly control those... Eyes of the Deity?

Even Cheng Shi was startled by this absurd idea. He blinked, but unexpectedly, the eyes in front of the screen blinked as well.

"!!!"

When enough coincidences come together, they can no longer be considered coincidences. So Cheng Shi tried to say something softly:

"Long Jing, as the victor of the Audience Assembly... what reward do you desire?"

Then, Director Cheng came online!

He was absolutely certain that he could control the pair of Starry Eyes outside, although he didn't know whether it was God of Merriment repeating his words or a prank for the person behind the scenes. In any case, Cheng Shi was having a lot of fun.

Seeing Long Jing looking unhappy on stage, Cheng Shi became even happier.

However, simply teasing was not Cheng Shi's intention. Now that he had this opportunity, Cheng Shi could do more, even using the fake God of Merriment as a means to guide Long Jing to ask those difficult questions, and openly speculate on the God of Merriment's will to see where He wanted to lead the world.

Then, the eyes of the Audience Grounds blinked again, spiraling back and forth like flowing water, and said in a playful voice:

Time is always precious.

Although I am not like [Time] who has no time at all, I cannot waste time here.

Since you want a reward so badly, fine, then answer one question for me first.

Long Jing immediately perked up, "My Lord of Grace, what's the problem?"

Where do you see the future of this world?

Long Jing was taken aback, but without hesitation, replied, "Isn't it on Cheng Shi?"

"?"

The swirling light in his eyes paused for a moment, then the upturned corners of his eyes instantly flattened.

Seeing his Lord of Grace's Change in demeanor, Long Jing quickly bowed his head and said, "Isn't that so, my Lord of Grace?"

Yes, but that's obvious.

Helpless, Cheng Shi could only try a different approach. "So, where do you think my future lies?"

"You?" The people of Long Jing were dumbfounded. How could a Mortals presume to discuss the future of True God?

Actually, it wasn't that we hadn't thought about it. During the Jester's Gathering' Cheng Shi, Cheng Shi explicitly stated that he wanted to give the gods a blood transfusion. Whether this so-called blood transfusion included [Deception] was something no one mentioned at the time, and everyone tacitly glossed over it.

After all, the people in the room were all Believer [Deception], so this topic was a bit difficult to bring up.

But since our Lord of Grace has already asked this question, could it be... that the God of Merriment will really be replaced?

Who could it be?

Zhen Xin or Cheng Shi? It can't be myself!

Long Jing loves to show off, but he is also self-aware. An Acrobat is too far behind in information cannot become the pillar of the troupe, and naturally cannot inherit the "leadership" and support a whole new world.

But this didn't stop him from speculating and imagining. In fact, he felt that Zhen Xin was more suitable, and as for Cheng Shi... it seemed that there was a more suitable place for him in this world.

Long Jing never told anyone that when he sat on that Divine Throne from the Gods’ Graveyard, the feeling he had at that moment told him that the Divine Throne did not belong to anyone but to Cheng Shi.

He didn't know whether it was the influence of the twisted will of the gods' corpses or some other illusion, but he did have that thought.

And after learning of the existence of [Origin], he also thought that only [Origin] could fight against [Origin]!

And Cheng Shi is the Predestination of this world. If the future of the world rests on the other person, then how could the other person not become a... [Origin]?

But these ideas were too crazy, so crazy that he couldn't find anyone to share them with.

Therefore, Long Jing couldn't help but wonder if Lord of Grace benefactor's question today was actually aimed at what he was thinking.

What is His attitude towards the fact that He is about to undergo a "blood transfusion"?

Long Jing remained silent for a moment, not answering God of Merriment's question, but instead mustering his courage to ask a question in return. He raised his head, his gaze slightly solemn, and said:

"My Lord of Grace, does this world still have a future?"

"..."

Silence fell over the room. After a long while, the swirling of those eyes grew faster and faster before she finally answered softly:

It depends on how you define the future.

The world certainly has a future, but the future I see may not be the future you want to see.

Your question was good; please don't ask it again next time.

"..."

"..."

For a moment, the entire Void fell into a deathly silence.

Even Cheng Shi, who was behind the scenes, stood frozen in place, motionless.

Because the answer just now did not come from him, but from the real God of Merriment who took control of the Puppet Eyes and answered Long Jing's question!

Deception has occurred!

In director Cheng Shi's script, it quietly replaced the role that originally belonged to Him.

At this moment, Cheng Shi was completely at a loss.

He strained every muscle in his body, trying to control his trembling. He gritted his teeth, unsure of what expression to make, his eyes darting around, not daring to look directly into those long-unseen Starry Eyes through the curtain.

He had countless questions to ask the God of Merriment, but when the God of Merriment appeared, he desperately wanted to leave, to leave the Audience Grounds, to leave the Void, and even to leave this world, just to escape the impending confrontation.

He didn't know where that one glance would lead him; he only wished he had more time so he could gather more information, gain greater strength, and be better prepared to face everything.

But now, the Clown doesn't seem ready.

Unfortunately, Destiny is cruel; it's not just [Time]'s scarce, the whole world is lacking time.

Those eyes finally glanced over, and at that moment, the gaze of a god met the gaze of Mortals...

"Buzz--"

The Cosmos fell An Jing instantly.

Countless colors, things, thoughts, and existences receded like the tide, turning into starlight and Annihilation at the edge of the Void. The entire universe seemed to be left with only pure emptiness and darkness, and the only light source hanging high in the sky.

The Eyes of Nothingness!

The human and the god gazed at each other silently, neither speaking.