Chapter Three: The Game of the Mastermind

Within the Hongmeng Space, only Hongmeng and Linmeng sat beneath the laurel tree; Qin Yu was still in the Misty City, keeping Jiang Li company. Nearly every few days, Jiang Li would ask after their two sons, and the only comfort for Qin Yu was that Jiang Li herself had realized her own favoritism—each time she inquired, she asked about Qin Shuang first.

“Elder Brother, that cup of Hongmeng Spirit Wine you cast away—if an ordinary mortal were to drink it, wouldn’t they ascend to the heavens in a single bound!” Linmeng watched over his own universe, speaking with a cheerful laugh. The greatest feature of the Hongmeng Spirit Wine was that it adapted to the drinker’s constitution; even an ordinary mortal would not explode from the overwhelming power but instead, the wine would automatically adjust their body, transforming them into a superior-grade divine being in a very short time.

Hongmeng smiled. “Of course. Any random god who drank it could, in a short while, fully comprehend the spatial laws and become a Godking. Even a mortal who’s never cultivated could withstand its power and directly become a superior divine being; reaching the Godking realm would be just a matter of time.” He poured himself another cup of Hongmeng Spirit Wine, a drink potent enough to create a Godking with a single cup.

“Hongmeng Spirit Wine contains the very laws of the universe. If a Godking drinks it, they could, through their own comprehension of the laws of time, become a Supreme. Even for a Supreme, the effects are tremendous!” Linmeng nodded. “It really is extraordinary. If you hadn’t given a cup to Crewevig back then, Zhou An would never have fallen so far behind him.”

“But, Elder Brother, isn’t it too easy, tossing such a precious wine into some place to let anyone claim it?” The Hongmeng Spirit Wine lay quietly beneath the surface of an uninhabited lower realm planet. As Linmeng had said, whoever found it could seize it for themselves and ascend to the heavens in a single leap.

Hongmeng paused, then smiled. “That’s true; it didn’t occur to me. Both you and Qin Yu struggled through life and death, arduously ascending step by step. If someone of unknown destiny entered the God Realm simply by relying on the wine, and later truly became a Controller, neither of you would be content!” Hongmeng laughed heartily. Linmeng did harbor such thoughts, but he hadn’t noticed the cunning glint in Hongmeng’s eyes when pouring him wine.

“Second Brother, tell me, how can we make this game more interesting?” Hongmeng sipped his wine, gazing at Linmeng. Just as Linmeng was about to speak, he seemed to realize something and frowned slightly.

“Elder Brother, you didn’t overlook anything—you’re deliberately teasing me. Now, with Third Brother’s two sons both there, especially the younger one, that cup of wine is most useful to him. No matter if it’s the elder or younger son, obtaining the spirit wine in that space is effortless for them; no one in the mortal world can rival them.”

“Exactly, Second Brother, as long as you understand. But it’s good of you to consider Third Brother’s feelings! Very well, let’s summon him. The three of us should set detailed rules for this game—devise a method that doesn’t interfere with those of unknown fate, yet lets the wine serve its purpose!”

Hongmeng smiled faintly. In the Misty City, Qin Yu had already received Hongmeng’s summons—the reason left unsaid, only a request for Qin Yu to hurry to the Hongmeng Space, where both Hongmeng and Linmeng awaited him.

“Elder Brother, Second Brother, how are you both so free today?” After comforting Jiang Li, Qin Yu went straight to Hongmeng Space, now thoroughly familiar with it.

Hongmeng burst out laughing, interrupting before Qin Yu could speak, “Linmeng and I cannot compare to you—accompanied by a beauty every day, while we’re left here, drinking and chatting in solitude!”

“Exactly, Third Brother, lost in your wife’s gentle embrace, you never spare a thought for your two elder brothers!” Linmeng joined Hongmeng in jesting with Qin Yu. Qin Yu never thought Hongmeng would call him over in such haste only to tease him before getting to the main point.

“Elder Brother, Second Brother, I admit my guilt and will drink three cups as punishment. Please spare me further teasing!” Qin Yu smiled wryly, picked up the three cups prepared for him, and downed them in one go. Setting the cup aside, he conjured a stone chair with a casual gesture, sat down comfortably, and said, “Elder Brother, Second Brother, you didn’t call me here just to punish me with three cups, did you?”

“Third Brother, this time we called you to discuss the Hongmeng Spirit Wine in your Second Brother’s universe,” said Hongmeng, his laughter fading as he looked quietly at Qin Yu.

“Hongmeng Spirit Wine?” Qin Yu was puzzled. “Elder Brother, could you explain in detail?”

“Very well. Since you haven’t been a Controller long, Second Brother, you should explain it clearly to him.” Hongmeng picked up the golden book, leaving Linmeng and Qin Yu to their discussion.

“Third Brother, do you know why, when you first connected to Hongmeng Space, Elder Brother and I didn’t meet with you? And later, why we only sent you three pieces of Hongmeng Spirit Treasure in your son’s name, but never directly aided you?”

“Second Brother, do you mean…?” Qin Yu seemed to understand. Back then, when Linmeng intervened against Lei Fa Supreme on Supreme Mountain, it was indirect help; and later, when Lei Fa was recalled to White Cloud Hall, it wasn’t to save Qin Yu directly, but the people of Misty City.

“Before me, there were three unknowns of fate who stood a strong chance of becoming Controllers—one even reached the very edge of Hongmeng Space!” Linmeng spoke calmly, though the memory gave him pause. Had those three actually become Controllers, neither he nor Qin Yu would have a place among the Four Great Controllers of Hongmeng Space.

“Those three, because Elder Brother directly aided them, hoping they’d become Controllers sooner, in the end amounted to nothing more than Supremes at best,” Linmeng sighed. Compared to Che Houyuan, their fate was even more lamentable; Che Houyuan failed due to himself, but these three missed their destiny because of Hongmeng’s intervention.

“So, Second Brother, you mean if a Controller intervenes directly, then even if someone is fated to become a Controller, their destiny would be completely altered?” Qin Yu understood. “Elder Brother, Second Brother, is this about the cup of Spirit Wine in the mortal realm?”

“Exactly. Elder Brother only tossed the wine out, letting them rely on their own luck to obtain it. That’s not direct help—only chance. Just as I once used Crewevig to send you three first-rate Hongmeng Spirit Treasures!” Linmeng smiled and nodded. It was best that Qin Yu understood; his younger son was himself a person of unknown fate, and if Qin Yu tried to help him become a Controller, the result would be the opposite.

“I understand. As for Xiaoshuang’s future, I won’t interfere directly. Whether he can become like us depends entirely on his own fortune.”

“That’s best. Both your sons are exceptional. This time, Qin Si didn’t gain the opportunity of the Spirit Wine, but your younger son—who knows?” Hongmeng smiled. Qin Si’s descent to the lower realms was certainly with Qin Yu’s tacit approval. As a Controller, every action of his son was under his gaze. Still, letting Qin Si descend was more to have the elder son help the younger—yet that did not count as direct intervention for Qin Shuang.

“Good. Now that you understand, Third Brother, we can discuss the rules for our little game!” Linmeng laughed. For Controllers, boredom was the norm. Unlike Qin Yu, who had family, especially for Hongmeng, little intrigues were their favorite pastime. The time the energies of the Immortal, Demon, and Fiend Realms formed characters, floating above Hidden Emperor Star, was Hongmeng’s idea.

“What game rules?” Qin Yu was confused again. Linmeng’s earlier hint seemed important; he’d thought Hongmeng called him for this matter, but now it seemed there was something more significant.

“Your Second Brother means that, without interfering with those of unknown fate in the lower realms, we should make things a bit harder for them. After all, Hongmeng Spirit Wine is as valuable as a Supreme Divine Treasure—letting them get it too easily isn’t good either.” Hongmeng smiled. Linmeng shot him a glance, suspecting that Hongmeng had this in mind from the moment he threw out the Spirit Wine.

“I have no objection. I’ll follow Elder Brother’s arrangements,” Qin Yu quickly agreed, understanding Hongmeng’s temperament from Linmeng. After so many lonely years, Hongmeng’s fondness for such curious games was only natural.

As for that cup of Hongmeng Spirit Wine, Qin Yu now rather hoped it would go to his younger son, Qin Shuang. In the past, he hadn’t cared about that cup; even if Qin Shuang drank it, at most he’d reach the peak of upper-tier heaven gods, and helping his son break through to Supreme wasn’t difficult—he didn’t care about upper-tier heaven gods at all.

Now, however, things were different. Qin Yu absolutely couldn’t help Qin Shuang directly. If Qin Shuang could obtain the wine, he’d save much cultivation time and could more quickly set out on his own path.

“Elder Brother, Second Brother, you needn’t worry!” With everything clear, Qin Yu felt a trace of gratitude. “Elder Brother, if you have an idea, say it. Making things a bit harder for them is good—without trials, there can be no growth! Besides, who knows whose hands the wine will ultimately fall into?”

Qin Yu understood Hongmeng and Linmeng’s intentions well—they were worried that making things harder for Qin Shuang would upset him. After all, in that space, apart from Qin Si, Qin Shuang was second only in cultivation. Even if Qin Si got the wine, out of guilt for Qin Shuang, he’d probably give it to his brother.

“Very good! Let’s call this cup of Hongmeng Spirit Wine the ‘Controller’s Game’ and let the three of us watch to see who the final lucky one will be!” Hongmeng nodded with a smile, and his plan slowly appeared on the stone table before them.