The endless Black Tide lay silent.
Countless Immortals trembled.
Even the powerhouses on humanity's side, even those whose minds had already twisted beyond recognition, kept their mouths tightly shut.
Everyone was silent, not because Number Eighteen in white, whiter than snow, had been defeated.
But because, before all these living beings, Chu Qing had lifted this powerhouse's skullcap and sliced what was inside into paper-thin slivers.
Objects with eyes nested within eyes hung in the air, illuminating those slices.
There were also tiny figures resembling souls sprawled over the slices, copying down things.
That was not even the most terrifying part.
What truly made them shudder to the marrow, what filled them with sorrow, was this:
Number Eighteen, who had run rampant through the forbidden zone, was being sliced apart and studied, while strange little figures copied his memories and everything else.
Yet he wore a smile, constantly currying favor with Chu Qing.
"Great Lord Azure Sky... is one skullcap enough for you to lift? Should I make a few more?"
"...I can grow a few more heads..."
"Look... they're out... how many heads do you want?"
Crack!
Crack!
Chu Qing said nothing. He merely lowered his head and continued lifting the fellow's skulls, transcribing his memories and searching for the Fierce Tiger Gang technique from earlier.
Though he could dismantle that Fierce Tiger Gang technique, he did not understand its principles.
He could not even replicate it.
He had merely gained some understanding of it through repeated dismantling, then temporarily brought it under control.
He was exceedingly curious about that Fierce Tiger Gang technique.
Because:
He vaguely sensed that this Fierce Tiger Gang technique was connected to his future New Realm.
Therefore, he had to find Number Eighteen's memories concerning it.
As for whether Number Eighteen lived or died...