Sky Curtain: An Initial Overview of the Immortal Lord of the Myriad Laws of the Mortal World

[He discovered that his other fellow disciples had also been affected by his influence, their magical power depleted and they had died, but Huang Liang felt nothing that time.]

Dead silence.

Unlike the previous scenes on the screen, which were filled with passionate excitement or tragic grandeur, this time, the screen was permeated with a suffocating grayness. Young Huang Liang stood amidst the ruins of his sect, surrounded by withered corpses. These were once his fellow disciples, some of whom he might have even shared drinks with, but now, looking at them, his eyes were like a stagnant pool, devoid of any emotion, guilt, or even the slightest fear.

That "lack of feeling" is more chilling than a ferocious laugh.

The world of Tokyo Ghoul.

Beside the ruins of the antique coffee shop, the white-haired Ken Kaneki sat alone on a concrete block, clutching the blood-stained novel by Sen Takatsuki in his hand. He stared at the vacant-eyed boy on the screen, his fingertips trembling slightly.

"Don't you... feel anything?" Kaneki Ken's voice was soft, as if he were asking Huang Liang, or perhaps himself. He covered one eye, a bitter smile curving his lips. "That's the numbness that comes after being overwhelmed by an immense sense of absurdity. When the pain exceeds the threshold, tears and screams become superfluous. I once thought deprivation was a sin, but when 'living' itself becomes a process of constant deprivation... you'll find that becoming a monster to protect something doesn't seem so hard to accept. But, Huang Liang, is this really the peace you want?"

"Fate/Zero" world, Fuyuki City Church.

Kirei Kotomine was elegantly swirling the red wine in his glass. In the dim candlelight, his dull eyes were fixed on the screen, as if he were admiring a masterpiece.

"Pleasure...it's a real shame. He doesn't seem to have grasped true pleasure yet." Kirei Kotomine's deep voice echoed in the empty church. "What pure nothingness that is. To sever the life force of one's own kind with one's own hands, yet feel neither pain nor pleasure, merely 'existence.' This empty vessel awaits to be filled with some more intense color. That man named Pan Nan-kun must have also smelled this alluring, soon-to-be-rotten scent of a soul."

Pan Nanjun developed a strong curiosity about Huang Liang's performance, and the two had a rare, heartfelt conversation. Upon learning that Huang Liang only desired the feeling of longing, Pan Nanjun smiled genuinely. He told Huang Liang that when he became a monster like himself, he would naturally experience the desire for life. Those experiences and feelings from those years later became Huang Liang's innate supernatural abilities.

The world of "Under One Person", Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion.

Wang Ye was lying listlessly on a tree branch, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth. He had been half-closing his eyes, but when he saw this conversation, he clicked his tongue and spat out the grass.

"That old bastard, he's up to no good." Wang Ye scratched his messy Taoist bun and sighed helplessly. "'Becoming a monster makes one crave life'? What kind of twisted logic is that? Isn't that just pushing people into a fire pit? After losing the anchor of 'humanity,' people may indeed desperately want to live out of fear of death, but what's the difference between that kind of living and being a walking corpse? Huang Liang is the same. At this time, he could at least go out for some barbecue and drinks, but he had to discuss the philosophy of life with this dangerous person. This is a classic case of 'taking the wrong path'."

On the throne in Hueco Mundo.

Aizen Sousuke propped his chin on his hand, a strand of brown hair hanging down, but it couldn't hide the arrogant look in his eyes. He looked at Pan Nanjun's smile, and gently curled the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile that seemed to control everything.

"The feeling of longing... an interesting topic." Aizen's voice was calm and magnetic. "The distance called yearning is the furthest distance of understanding. Huang Liang chose a step closer—fall. The guide was right. Only when standing on the edge of a cliff, or even jumping off, does the biological instinct for 'life' shine the brightest. If you don't want to live as a weakling, then plunder as a monster. This has always been the truth of this world. If you want to evolve, you must abandon this weak 'human' shell."

Huang Liang's innate supernatural ability is the Void Demon Hand, which allows him to transfer any energy for his own use, including physical attacks, mana, magical robes, and even destructive power. Its flexible use in battle often unleashes tremendous power.

When the subtitles described Huang Liang's "Empty Demon Hands," the screen displayed several demonstration clips. Whether it was a rain of fire or a deadly blade, they all twisted and disappeared mysteriously the moment they touched Huang Liang's hands, then suddenly reappeared beside the enemy.

The world of A Certain Magical Index, Academy City.

Accelerator stared at the screen, letting out a disdainful sneer in the white noise-filled room, and casually tossed a half-finished can of black coffee into the trash can.

"Huh? You call this a supernatural power?" Accelerator's red eyes were full of arrogance. "Although the principle is somewhat like a low-end version of vector manipulation, you still have to use your hands to 'catch' it? That's too inefficient. Whether it's energy or matter, anything with 'direction' has to obediently turn around in front of my skin. However... the concept of 'even destructive power can be transferred' is quite interesting. Without changing the physical phenomenon, only transferring the 'result'? This kind of idealistic setting would make sense in the kind of illogical magic. Pshaw, just the tricks of a third-rate villain."

The world of "A Thought Forever", Lingxi Sect.

Bai Xiaochun was hiding in the alchemy room to avoid being chased when he saw this scene. His eyes, which had been trembling with fear, suddenly lit up like two searchlights.

"This supernatural power...it feels so reassuring!" Bai Xiaochun slapped his thigh excitedly, completely forgetting his earlier fear of death. "Whether it's hitting someone or being hit, even those deadly attacks that look like they're going to kill you, it can 'transfer' them away? This is practically a life-saving technique tailor-made for me, Bai Xiaochun! If I learn this, what am I afraid of, heavenly thunder and earthly fire? What am I afraid of, the Luo Chen family? Even if I get slashed, I can transfer the 'pain' to that damned rabbit! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! I want to learn this! I wonder if this Senior Huang Liang takes on disciples? I'm willing to refine a hundred batches of immortality pills for him...ah, no, ten batches!"

In 1911, Huang Liang, now a sorcerer, accepted Pan Nanjun's mission and formed the Seventh Division Squad with Yu Taishan and others to protect Wanye. After exhausting the three little ones and discovering the ancient tomb, Huang Liang, while playing chess with Yu Taishan, unleashed a powerful palm strike that shattered rocks and split the ground, giving the three little ones an unprecedented sense of oppression and awe.

On the light screen, the scene was incredibly intense. Silently, pieces were placed on the chessboard, but outside the chessboard, far beyond the Eighth Route Army, a palm strike exploded with deafening force, causing mountains to crumble and the earth to split, leaving only Huang Liang's calm and serene profile.

The world of Assassin Seven.

Ah Qi was squatting at the entrance of the hair salon selling beef offal when he saw this scene. With a "snip," he snipped a piece of beef lung away with his scissors. He stared with dead fish eyes and complained in standard Cantonese-accented Mandarin.

"Wow...that's so cool." Wu Liuqi picked up a cow lung, casually blew off the ash, and said, "Playing chess while fighting? Is this the legendary 'strategizing within the tent, winning a thousand miles away'? Unlike me, I always get chased all over the streets when I fight, and I have to transform to look cool. And this palm strike is so powerful it could shatter rocks and split the ground! If that palm strike landed on my offal stall, the proprietress would definitely kill me and make me pay. This kind of master must be very expensive. I wonder how much it would cost to hire him for one fight. Sigh, I'd better just stick to selling my offal."

The world of Dragon Ball, the realm of the Gods of Destruction.

Lord Beerus, who was enjoying his meal, yawned and picked up a piece of meat from an unknown planet with his fork.

"Hmph, what a boring little trick." Beerus said this, but his cat ears twitched slightly. "Although the power is so-so, only enough to destroy a piece of land, this playful fighting attitude is quite like that of a God of Destruction. That 'I can crush you even if I'm eating pudding' kind of relaxed feeling, this kid has a pretty good grasp of it. And his distance control is also decent; in the energy system of this low-level civilization, he's a respectable warrior. Whis, next time if that prophetic fish is wrong again, I'll try using this ranged palm strike to wake it up."

Whis covered his mouth and chuckled, "Oh dear, Lord Beerus, your sneezes can destroy planets; such delicate work is not suitable for you."

[During the subsequent pursuit of the three children, he fought against the powerful Wu Yuanzhen, using his Empty Demon Hand technique to fight back and forth. Ultimately, he gained a slight advantage by transferring the damage from his own severed head onto Wu Yuanzhen, but he also suffered severe injuries from the transferred damage.]

The scene turned bloody and horrifying at that moment. Huang Liang's decisive strike wasn't aimed at his enemy, but at his own neck. The instant his head flew off, a fatal gash appeared on Wu Yuanzhen's neck. This incomprehensible, life-for-life exchange sent chills down the spines of countless viewers.

The world of Hunter x Hunter.

Hisoka was building a pyramid with playing cards when he saw this. His narrow eyes narrowed into slits, and an unnatural blush rose on his cheeks. The pyramid collapsed with a crash.

"Hehehe~" Hisoka let out his signature grotesque laugh, licking his lips. "This is amazing~! This insane fighting style is absolutely thrilling! To be willing to cut off one's own head for victory, that's what a true 'duelist' is. Even though his body was badly injured, that look in his eyes when he was risking everything was absolutely delicious. That Huang Liang... hmm~ if I ever get the chance to meet him, I really want to see if I could stick his hands behind his back and still cut off his head and transfer it to me? Ah~ just thinking about it makes me want to 'go crazy'~"

In the world of Chainsaw Man, the Public Security Bureau's Special Exorcism Section 4.

Denji, holding Pochita (the doll), shrank back behind Machima in fright, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.

"Hey! That guy's gone mad! He's really gone mad!" Denji yelled. "Who cuts off their own head first in a fight?! I get hacked to pieces all the time, but this is outrageous! Even if the damage can be transferred, it'll still hurt a lot! And what if it's not transferred completely? Can you put your head back on? Miss Machima, this guy's brain is definitely not normal, he's more suicidal than me! Never be my teammate if he's a lunatic like this, I'm afraid he might transfer my kidneys to someone else one day!"

Makima maintained that unsettlingly gentle smile, her hands clasped together: "A brilliant tactic, Denji-kun. Only those who don't value their own lives can unleash the full potential of 'death' as ​​a weapon. This extreme rationality in using 'self-sacrifice' as a 'means of attack' truly makes you a loyal yet ferocious hound."

[Despite being severely injured, he pursued Hao Guang and his two companions, only to be defeated by a palm strike imbued with Jiang Mingzi's will. That same year, Pan Nanjun received a telepathic message from Baili Yuan and, with a death wish, went to kill Hao Guang. Before dying, he left his mask and will to Huang Liang, whom he considered a close friend.]

The world of Demon Slayer.

Tanjiro Kamado watched the figure on the screen, still chasing after the enemy even with his head reattached and covered in blood, and the final blow that ended in defeat, along with the lonely mask left behind. His eyes filled with tears, and his unique sense of smell made him feel as if he could smell the scent coming from the other side of the screen.

"This is... a very sad smell." Tanjiro wiped away his tears, his voice choked with emotion. "Even though they were villains, even though they did many bad things, the bond between these two... before Pan Nan went to his death, the only thing he couldn't let go of was Huang Liang. That 'last note' smell is a mixture of despair for the world and a final bit of tenderness for his friend. Huang Liang always wanted the 'feeling of being alive,' and what kept him going in the end was his friend's belongings. This twisted warmth is truly heartbreaking."

Huang Liang is a sentimental person. After becoming a monk, he always kept childhood items with him. These items held the happy sounds of his early years, representing some of Huang Liang's few joyful times.

The world of "Spare Me, Great Lord," Los Angeles Foreign Language School.

Lu Shu was counting the negative emotion points he had just earned when he saw this and stopped what he was doing. He thought of the days when he and Lu Xiaoyu depended on each other for survival, and of that small house that was warm and cozy even though it was poor.

"Sigh, being a villain is pretty boring." Lu Shu was unusually serious for once, toying with a coin in his hand. "Carrying all the things from childhood with you means that this person has never really grown up, still stuck in the moment they were kidnapped. That 'Sound of Happiness' thing, it's probably just a broken rattle or a wind chime, right? For people like us who live ordinary lives, old things are a kind of sentiment; for someone with such power, it's their only 'root.' Once a person loses their roots, no matter how high they fly, they're still just floating. Like me, I like money, but I like eating tomato and egg noodles with Xiaoyu even more. In that respect, I'm much luckier than this Huang Liang."

After the events at Dongting Lake, Huang Liang gifted his collection to Qian Qiu. Later accounts suggest that Huang Liang, seven years after his battle with the leader of the Immortal Inquiry Society, died at the hands of three supreme beings from the Nine Realms Gate. Other accounts claim he was already critically injured and had been dead for many years when the Nine Realms Gate found him, with legends saying he was accompanied by Pan Nanjun's mask and a suicide note.

The ending is always shrouded in mystery and legend. The final scene freezes on a desolate landscape: in the wilderness, perhaps there is a skeleton, next to which lies an ancient mask and a yellowed letter.

The world of "The Burial of Frilian".

Frillie was walking through a sea of ​​flowers, carrying a small suitcase. She stopped, her pale green eyes fixed silently on the legendary ending displayed on the screen.

"A few decades is but a blink of an eye for elves," Frilian said softly, her tone calm yet carrying a profound sense of time. "But for humans, it's a lifetime. That mask and the suicide note—were they ultimately what accompanied him? Whether he died in battle or succumbed to illness alone, the outcome was essentially the same. He was always searching for the feeling of being alive. Perhaps he found it the moment he gave his collection to Chiaki, or perhaps... he gave up. Human emotions always cling to objects, passing down through time. Like the wreath on the statue of Simmel, that mask was also proof that he once existed."

The Yorozuya in the world of Gintama.

Sakata Gintoki was lying on the sofa with a deadpan expression, picking his nose. When he saw the last few lines of text, he flicked the booger off his finger, sat up, and scratched his naturally curly hair.

"Ah~ what an idiot man." Gintoki's voice was lazy, yet carried a unique sense of vicissitude. "Since you've already given away your collection, why not just find a place to sunbathe and drink strawberry milk? Why insist on dying in the middle of nowhere while wearing a mask? What kind of romance is that? Hey, Kagura, Shinpachi, if I ever pass away, remember not to leave me any will, just leave me this week's JUMP. But... that guy Huang Liang, when he died, he probably didn't stare blankly at his withered fellow disciples anymore, right? Having friends' things with you is a little bit better than facing that empty world alone. Really, just a little bit."