Chu Tianqiu looked at the Earth-Mouse meaningfully, then returned to the ranks of “Heavenly Gate.”

“What’s the verdict…?” Wen Qiaoyun asked. “What’s that ‘Earth-level’s’ position?”

“Rather hard to describe,” Chu Tianqiu said expressionlessly. “It seems he’s on the same side as ‘Heaven.'”

“Heaven…?”

“He said if ‘Heaven’s Will’ lets us live, then he’ll step in to help,” Chu Tianqiu said with furrowed brow, tossing the eyeball in his hand into his mouth.

“Only help if we survive… What’s the difference between that and not helping at all…?” Wen Qiaoyun murmured.

“There’s a difference,” Chu Tianqiu nodded. “He left us a thread of ethereal hope.”

Chu Tianqiu bit down on the eyeball, then summoned numerous withered trees scattered haphazardly across the ground, immediately disrupting the encirclement’s formation. But Chu Tianqiu’s eyes also began to turn red at this moment.

Today was destined to be a day of madness for everyone.

Chu Tianqiu only remembered that from the morning when they entered “Cangjie Chess,” everyone had been using their “Echoes” extensively. The subsequent destruction of the giant clock display screen and breakthrough of the encirclement meant that those who survived had almost all entered a state of “Echo” exhaustion.

So were they truly unable to use “Echo” anymore?

No, to describe the current feeling… it was like a person who knew they were about to get drunk, so their subconscious would reject all the alcohol on the table.

Because they knew that drinking further would cause them to lose composure, become confused, lose their wits, and reveal countless flaws.

“But what if this is the last drink of your life?”

Zhang Shan, Jin Yuanxun, Little Glasses, and others turned their heads to look at Chu Tianqiu after hearing this.

“Brother Chu…” Jin Yuanxun also looked at him.

The members of “Heavenly Gate” also turned their heads at this moment to look at their former leader.

“I’m sorry,” Chu Tianqiu answered with a smile. “Theoretically, I should be saying many things to inspire your fighting spirit right now, but I can’t say a single word, because we’re going to die.”

“Damn…” Zhang Shan also smiled and said, “What’s so surprising about that… Who among us here hasn’t died before?”

“This time we’re truly going to die. We’re not exploiting loopholes in a game—we’re challenging the entire set of rules,” Chu Tianqiu said. “‘Heavenly Gate’ will be disbanded here. You all scatter and flee for your lives. I alone will peer into ‘Heaven’s Will.'”

“Tianqiu…” Wen Qiaoyun furrowed her brow and tugged at his arm. “You’re saying this now… Isn’t ‘Heavenly Gate’ your faith?”

“‘Heavenly Gate’ is a faith I inherited,” Chu Tianqiu said. “Now this faith has about reached its end. There’s no need for all of you to die in vain.”

“Inherited…?”

Chu Tianqiu’s memories drifted back ethereally to many years ago at this moment.

…

A flower-armed man stood at the entrance of an old, worn-down inn, waving at him with animated excitement.

“We meet again!” that person called out. “Tianqiu boy! Want to try joining our ‘Hall’? It was just established half an hour ago—it’s really cool!”

“‘Hall’…?” The Chu Tianqiu of that time found the name both amusing and exasperating upon hearing it. “Strange name. It sounds like a gang. Just the kind of organization you’d create.”

“What’s so strange? ‘Temple Street’ or ‘Hall’—they all need to take in underlings,” the flower-armed man said. “Now that we’ve parted ways with ‘Gourd Brothers,’ we must grow strong on our own!”

“So what does this gang of yours mainly do?” Chu Tianqiu asked again.

“Well… I haven’t thought it through yet,” the flower-armed man shook his head. “It should probably be standing around with the ‘Zodiacs,’ then taking care of underlings who come seeking refuge from all sides, and finally opposing ‘Gourd Brothers.’ Most importantly, waiting for the liar boy to come back… Never mind, that’s about it.”

“That sounds slightly absurd,” Chu Tianqiu pushed up his glasses. “Like a bunch of people with nothing proper to do gathering together to loiter around.”

“Ah… mainly I don’t have much of a brain,” the flower-armed man said. “You seem smarter, so I’m asking if you want to join?”

“I…” Chu Tianqiu was clearly hesitant. “How many people are there now?”

“There are two people now,” the flower-armed man said with complete certainty.

“…” Chu Tianqiu’s eyes died on the spot. “One big brother… plus me as an underling?”

“One day letting you become the boss isn’t out of the question either,” the flower-armed man struck while the iron was hot. “With my brain, who knows when I might lose my memory and end up a corpse on the street. When that happens, a bunch of underlings will still need someone to take care of them. I’m planning to start recruiting in large numbers from today!”

“Interesting,” Chu Tianqiu nodded, raising his eyes to look at the inn behind the flower-armed man. “In that case… I suggest you don’t die.”

“How so?”

“If you die, this organization becomes mine,” Chu Tianqiu smiled. “I’ll definitely usurp the position, then immediately change your terrible name.”

“Usurping or not doesn’t matter,” the flower-armed man shook his head. “Too many people here need taking care of—anyone can do it. I just want to provide them with a place to settle down.”

“You’re quite magnanimous,” Chu Tianqiu said with a bitter smile. “Never seen anyone establish an organization like this.”

“Speaking of which, Tianqiu boy… do you think ‘Hall’ doesn’t sound good?” the flower-armed man scratched his head. “Would three characters be better? Because many gangs have three-character names…”

Chu Tianqiu didn’t speak, just walked into the inn.

The flower-armed man continued to press from behind: “Tianqiu boy, what do you think of names like ‘Azure Dragon Gang’ or ‘Heaven and Earth Society’? But that makes the organization sound too big, doesn’t really seem like a ‘Hall’… Hey! Tianqiu boy! Help me pick one!”

Chu Tianqiu still didn’t speak, only surveying the scale of the inn.

This place did indeed look like it could house quite a few people. Although some rooms were dilapidated, accommodating a dozen or twenty people would be more than sufficient.

“But once it’s called ‘Heaven and Earth Society’… how can people tell from the name that I want to help them?” the flower-armed man seemed to have confused himself. “That name sounds like we’re going to cause trouble for people… Damn, the liar boy and handsome boy aren’t here… my brain…”

“Alright, alright, I got it,” Chu Tianqiu said. “Three characters, seems like a ‘Hall,’ helps underlings from all sides—I’ve noted all these characteristics. If I ever do change the name, I’ll definitely make sure you can recognize it.”

“Ah, I’ve got it!” the flower-armed man slapped his forehead. “Just name it directly after you—how great! Damn, let’s call it ‘Qiuqiu Hall’!”

“Say that again and I’m quitting.”

…

So how could it not be considered an inherited “Heavenly Gate”?

Later, that person forgot about the “Hall.”

Later, he himself also forgot about the “Hall.”

But “Heavenly Gate” remained—it remembered everything.

What exactly was it waiting for, or whom was it trying to save?

It didn’t speak, only continued to struggle for survival in the “Land of Finality.”

So those memories no longer mattered.

Because it too would disappear today.

“‘Heaven’s Will’ has tilted in my favor many times already,” Chu Tianqiu said to everyone. “I can gamble alone, but I don’t dare bring all of you to gamble together. Let’s end it here.”