Zhou Xuan crushed the jade talisman between his fingers.
Second Brother sidled up, his two dark-red Vertical Pupils fixed on him.
"You look awful."
"Of course I do."
Zhou Xuan braced himself against the rock wall, his legs still weak.
"I just blasted my own consciousness into powder and stuffed it into tens of millions of people's heads. How good do you think I could look?"
Second Brother opened his mouth, then closed it again.
Zhou Xuan rolled his stiff neck and headed toward Apocalypse.
"What exactly did you do down there?" Second Brother followed behind, his dragon tail dragging along the ground.
After a dozen steps, Zhou Xuan stumbled and caught the handrail of Apocalypse's Gangway.
"Something I never want to do a second time."
Second Brother waited ages without getting anything more and grew impatient.
"So what was it?"
"I planted something in every mortal's mind."
Zhou Xuan stepped onto the Gangway, the Metal treads creaking beneath his feet.
"An existence they can't explain or describe, but wouldn't dare offend in their heart of hearts."
Second Brother froze.
"...Brainwashing?"
"More or less."
Zhou Xuan's tone was utterly flat.
Second Brother followed him into the cockpit and crouched in the copilot's seat, both claws resting on his knees. For once, he wasn't chewing on sinking silver scraps.
"Then aren't you just like that Buddha Kingdom back then?"
Zhou Xuan slotted spirit stones into the Energy Slot. Apocalypse's engine shuddered twice, then slowly lifted off.
"Yes."
The cabin stayed silent for a long while.
Apocalypse climbed into the low clouds, and the ruins of the Kui Kingdom rapidly shrank into a black dot below.
"So that's why you said vow power wasn't a good thing." Second Brother finally spoke, his voice muffled.
Zhou Xuan set their course, withdrew his hands