The strongest cultivator at the Mahayana stage, now completely convinced of Zhou Hong's might, closed his eyes in despair. However, Zhou Hong did not kill him, ordering the giant to throw him to the ground instead. In the next second, Zhou Hong instantly recalled the hundred thousand giants back into his sub-world.
Seeing so many giants appear and then vanish in an instant, everyone was momentarily unsure if it was a mere illusion. Yet, they couldn't explain the scene where one of the giants had nearly killed their strongest fighter.
Zhou Hong walked up to the strongest Mahayana stage cultivator and said with a cold snort, "I won't kill you today, seeing as we are all of the same race."
"Thank you, Senior, for sparing my life," the old man hastily kowtowed.
"There's no need to kowtow. Strictly speaking, I am merely in the tribulation-transcending waiting period and cannot be considered a senior."
"No, no, no, you are our senior."
Zhou Hong, too lazy to banter with the old man, swept his gaze across the crowd. Everyone present now looked at Zhou Hong with immense admiration. Originally feeling a bit displeased, Zhou Hong found his mood instantly lifted.
"Everyone, please do not speak carelessly about what just happened. Although you are filled with questions, just remember this: since we are of the same race, I am naturally your friend."
"Senior Zhou Hong, rest assured," the crowd unanimously promised not to speak of it. They all suspected Zhou Hong possessed some incredibly powerful immortal artifact, and such matters were naturally not to be disclosed.
"Very well, we remain friends. I am still a part of this place. Now, my Immortal Slaying Formation is nearing completion. Once it is done, humph," Zhou Hong smiled mysteriously.
"Senior Zhou Hong, what is the Immortal Slaying Formation?" a young junior suddenly asked. This "young" junior, in relation to the elders, was still at least several hundred years old, though hardly a junior to Zhou Hong.
"The Immortal Slaying Formation is a powerful formation utilizing a hundred thousand giants, possessing both formidable defensive and offensive capabilities. Once my Immortal Slaying Formation is complete, I believe no giant on this Deep Sky Continent will be my match."
Upon hearing this, the crowd found it hard to believe.
"Impossible, surely?"
"Heh heh, I am not boasting. This Immortal Slaying Formation is a technique possessed only by some sects in the immortal realm. Dealing with the giants here will be no difficulty at all. Even the giants at the Mahayana stage might not be able to withstand my Immortal Slaying Formation."
The crowd became extremely excited and eagerly asked, "Senior Zhou Hong, if your power becomes so immense, what will you do?"
"I will unify this Deep Sky Continent," Zhou Hong stated without hesitation.
"Ah," everyone was stunned.
"What about the giants here? There are quite a number of giants on this Deep Sky Continent."
Zhou Hong pondered. Indeed, killing so many giants was not an easy task, and it would create too much karma, which was not worth it.
"In any case, even if I cannot unify the Deep Sky Continent, I will forge a territory for humans. In the future, humans from below can come here to cultivate more freely."
As the crowd was about to ask more questions, Zhou Hong waved his hand. "Everyone, disperse. There's no need to ask further. Wait until I have refined the Immortal Slaying Formation."
Only then did everyone gradually disperse, murmuring amongst themselves, each filled with anticipation and reverence for Zhou Hong.
Lu Qianqian walked up, looking at Zhou Hong incredulously. "Zhou Hong, I truly can't believe this is real."
"Heh heh, what's so unbelievable about it?"
"How do you possess such a powerful immortal artifact?" Lu Qianqian asked.
"What immortal artifact?"
"You just collected a hundred thousand giants instantly. Isn't that a powerful immortal artifact?"
Zhou Hong smiled slightly. Since Lu Qianqian had already formed this impression, Zhou Hong saw no need to explain further. It would do. Even if the story reached the immortal realm, the allure wouldn't be too great, as immortal artifacts were plentiful there.
"You don't need to ask so many questions about this."
"Alright, everyone has their secrets," Lu Qianqian nodded.
"Let's go, let's find a quiet place," Zhou Hong said, taking Lu Qianqian's hand.
"Where are we going?" Lu Qianqian asked, a little confused.
"You'll know when we get there."
Lu Qianqian rolled her eyes, seeming to discern something from Zhou Hong's gaze.
"You don't mean...?" Lu Qianqian lowered her head, blushing, and asked.
"Hahaha," Zhou Hong burst into laughter.
"You are my wife now. Isn't it natural for me to do as I please?"
Lu Qianqian rolled her eyes again but said nothing, allowing Zhou Hong to lead her away.
The two arrived at a secluded forest.
The events that followed need not be detailed. In short, for Lu Qianqian, it was the most unforgettable day of her life.
A day passed in the blink of an eye. Zhou Hong and Lu Qianqian slept in the forest for one night.
"Alright, Qianqian, I need to seize this time to refine the Immortal Slaying Formation," Zhou Hong said the next morning, after getting dressed.
"Why does your expression seem so anxious?" Lu Qianqian immediately noticed Zhou Hong's urgency.
"Actually, there's an important matter I haven't told everyone. The giants are already investigating the mystery of the disappearance of the hundred thousand giants. The loss of a hundred thousand giants is no small matter for the giant kingdom. They will surely send their strongest forces to investigate, and it won't be difficult for them to discover it was me."
"What if they find out?"
"Heh heh, then they will surely come for me. By then, the entire human base camp will be annihilated, and even all the humans on the continent below will be crushed like ants."
"Ah," Lu Qianqian's face changed drastically.
"That's why I must hurry and successfully refine the Immortal Slaying Formation."
"How much longer will it take? After it's refined, can it truly deal with the giants?"
Zhou Hong smiled and shook his head. "Actually, what I told everyone yesterday was somewhat exaggerated. I'm not certain if the Immortal Slaying Formation, once refined, can truly defeat the giants with ease. As for unifying this continent, that's even less certain."
Lu Qianqian's face turned pale.
"You're betting the lives of all humans! If your Immortal Slaying Formation cannot withstand the giant army here, then humanity will be completely wiped out."
"Indeed. I can only hope my Immortal Slaying Formation is powerful enough."
Zhou Hong wasted no more time. He immediately had Lu Qianqian return to the base camp, while he himself returned to his sub-world.
As soon as he entered the sub-world, Zhou Hong saw his grandfather training the hundred thousand giants in the practice of the Immortal Slaying Formation.