Chapter 97

……

Kuchiki Senya followed Bai Zai to a luxurious mansion. After entering the room, Bai Zai said, "Kuchiki-kun, I think our negotiations have come to an end."

"Hmm?" Kuchiki Senya looked at Bai Zai in confusion, "What negotiations?"

Bai Zai said, "You have already achieved victory. Therefore, the Great Priest has decided to allow you to continue residing in the Seireitei. Your crime of private combat will no longer be pursued. As for those who died, they will also receive punishment. In this way, you can be considered to have fulfilled your duty to the deceased."

"Oh? So that's how it is." Kuchiki Senya was lost in thought; he naturally understood what Bai Zai meant.

Bai Zai said, "Additionally, I apologize to you on behalf of the Great Priest. My previous words were quite offensive."

"It is of no concern." Kuchiki Senya waved his hand and said, "This was originally just a misunderstanding."

Bai Zai looked at Kuchiki Senya with a smile; he could feel that Kuchiki Senya did not seem as difficult to deal with as the rumors suggested.

"Then, I wish you a pleasant evening." Bai Zai said, and then he vanished into thin air.

Kuchiki Senya looked at the bright moonlight outside the window and sighed, "I hope this matter can come to a satisfactory conclusion..."

……

Meanwhile, in an ancient mansion, a male Soul Reaper sat on a chair holding a teacup. He crushed the cup with one hand and said in a low voice, "I truly did not expect such a slip-up to occur; it almost ruined the grand plan." He looked at the two subordinates beside him.

A male Soul Reaper dressed in black lowered his head and said, "Apologies, my lord. This was our negligence."

Standing beside him was a beautiful female Soul Reaper with long golden hair and sunglasses. She looked at the man and said in a soft tone, "My lord, do you need us to mobilize stronger forces?"

"Not for now," the man said. "Doing so would expose our plan. Besides, as for that brat, I want to see how long he can keep jumping around."

This Soul Reaper was the Great Priest. His strength was extremely high, not at all weaker than Kuchiki Senya's, and he even vaguely held the upper hand. Because Kuchiki Senya was not a pure spiritual pressure Soul Reaper but possessed a special spiritual pressure manipulation technique, he was able to defeat Kuchiki Senya.

However, the Great Priest was also a spiritual pressure Soul Reaper. He also possessed spiritual pressure, though it was relatively weaker. Yet, Kuchiki Senya could manipulate everything by relying on spiritual pressure. Therefore, he did not fear Kuchiki Senya. Moreover, he did not regard Kuchiki Senya as an existence of the same level, but merely as an object worthy of attention.

Kuchiki Senya's strength was very high, but he disdained dealing with Kuchiki Senya himself. Instead, he prepared to cultivate another Soul Reaper to oppose Kuchiki Senya.

Bai Zai led Kuchiki Senya to the temple. The temple was the deepest part of the divine palace. It was built on the edge of a vast, boundless lake. Inside the temple, the lights were bright, but there was not a single sound, which filled the place with a murderous atmosphere. In the center of the temple stood a huge table, and around the table stood twelve Soul Reapers, all wearing black uniforms with Wu Wu Shidao strapped to their waists. Among them, Kuchiki Senya did not recognize most of them. But he was familiar with a few.

For example, the middle-aged man standing to the left of the Great Priest, wearing a black suit, black-rimmed glasses, and a stern expression, was his former partner, Heiyu, who was also a leading figure in the Soul Reaper troops. Besides him, five of the remaining nine Soul Reapers were key members of the Soul Reaper troops.

And to the right of the Great Priest stood a young girl wearing a silver mask. This girl had a slender figure and was wearing tight red leather armor that outlined the perfect curves of her body. She exuded a dangerous aura.

122. This girl is Orochimaru!

This girl is Orochimaru!

Behind Orochimaru stood five more people, all of whom were key members of the Soul Reaper troops. Orochimaru was the vice-captain, and the five people standing behind her were the five generals.

Orochimaru looked up and swept her gaze over the many Soul Reapers, finally focusing on Kuchiki Senya, revealing a playful expression.

"Kuchiki Senya, you really came." Orochimaru spoke up.

"Hmph!" Kuchiki Senya snorted coldly and said, "That's what I should be saying. Orochimaru, you actually dared to ambush me."

Hearing this, Bai Zai frowned; this matter was indeed difficult to handle. After all, it was a conflict between Soul Reapers, and although both sides had signed an agreement, who knew what Kuchiki Senya would do? What if he became angry from embarrassment and went back on his word?

However, as the initiator and director of this event, Bai Zai could not stop Kuchiki Senya.

Just as Bai Zai was considering whether to let Kuchiki Senya leave, a melodious sound of a zither suddenly rang out.

Everyone present was stunned, and then they looked in astonishment toward the source of the sound. The zither music coming from there was crisp and pleasant, like heavenly music. However, this zither music cast a shadow over the hearts of everyone present.

"Not good! Run!" Bai Zai suddenly became panicked; he hurriedly jumped up from his seat and rushed out.

At this moment, his body suddenly underwent an abnormal change. His chest split open, and several thick tentacles extended out. The ends of the tentacles were covered with barbs, and the sharp spikes looked hideous and terrifying. These barbs lunged fiercely at Kuchiki Senya.

But just at this moment, a cold glint flashed, directly severing the tentacles and simultaneously slicing off half of Bai Zai's head. Bai Zai let out a miserable scream and fell to the ground.

Bai Zai stared angrily at Kuchiki Senya, gritting his teeth and saying, "Do you want to die!"

Kuchiki Senya said indifferently, "Don't provoke me, or I will kill you."

Bai Zai covered his wound and retreated behind the Great Priest, saying viciously, "Good, very good. Kuchiki Senya, remember this. I will never forget today's humiliation. One day, I will get it back with interest!"

Kuchiki Senya leaned lazily against the seat, a mocking smile hanging on the corner of his mouth: "Suit yourself, I'll accompany you to the end."

As he spoke, ice spikes shot toward the Great Priest and the other Soul Reapers. The speed of these ice spikes was swift, and they instantly closed in on the Great Priest and the others. But just at this moment, the Great Priest extended his palm, grabbed forward with force, and then suddenly clenched his fist.

Rumble—the floor under the Great Priest's feet cracked, a gust of wind blew out, and then it swept up the Great Priest and the other Soul Reapers, flying toward the door. They had just opened the door when they crashed through the wall and flew out, landing in the hall.

Outside the hall, a group of high-level Soul Reapers wearing pitch-black armor, with wings on their backs and masks on their faces, appeared in their field of vision.

The Great Priest's expression changed suddenly, and he shouted, "Everyone, be on alert! Enemy attack!"

Orochimaru snorted coldly, "Great Priest, you truly have a short memory. Last time you sent one hundred and eight divine ninjas to hunt us down, causing me to lose two teammates. Do you intend to just let this account be settled like this?"

"You..." The Great Priest gritted his teeth; they naturally remembered this grudge. But the Great Priest also knew that Orochimaru and these people would definitely not give up. That was why the Great Priest had summoned the Soul Reapers to discuss this mission. He didn't expect Orochimaru to come directly to their doorstep this time.

At this moment, steady and powerful footsteps came from behind the Great Priest. The Great Priest turned his head to look and saw a young boy wearing white clothes and a golden mask.

"Kuchiki Senya, what is the meaning of this?" the Great Priest asked. He could see that this boy seemed to be Kuchiki Senya's companion.

Kuchiki Senya shrugged and said, "I don't know what it means either. However, since so many compatriots are trapped here, I naturally have to rescue them."

"Then what do you intend to do?" the Great Priest asked.

Kuchiki Senya said coldly, "I'll wipe you all out first."

Hearing this, the Great Priest was suddenly furious: "You're crazy! Do you think where this is? This is the Seireitei! This is our territory! I advise you not to be too arrogant!"

"Oh?" Kuchiki Senya snorted coldly, "Do you think I'm afraid of you bunch of Soul Reapers?"

Hearing Kuchiki Senya's words, the Great Priest's face suddenly turned livid. He naturally knew Kuchiki Senya's strength. Because they had personally experienced Kuchiki Senya's invincible swordsmanship and bizarre moves.

This is a freak. A powerful freak who possesses an immortal body and can also control chakra, using various bizarre attack methods. This kind of person is simply like a bug; no matter what, he is invincible.

At this moment, Kuchiki Senya's gaze crossed over the Great Priest and the other Soul Reapers, looking at the crystal coffin in the center of the hall, his pupils slightly contracting.

"It's you, Chizuru!" Kuchiki Senya muttered to himself. He felt the familiar fluctuation emanating from the crystal coffin; this was Chizuru's aura.

Kuchiki Senya's breathing suddenly became rapid. His eyes erupted with brilliant light, and then his entire person instantly vanished from the spot. Only a cold glint crisscrossed in the hall, flashing incessantly.

..... . 0

Kuchiki Senya made his move, but his target was not the Great Priest or Kuchiki Byakuya and the other Soul Reapers.

"Brat, you're courting death." The Great Priest roared, the scythe in his hand blooming with blinding radiance, and then he slashed out. At the same time, a Soul Reaper beside him also brandished a kunai in his hand and stabbed at Kuchiki Senya. The remaining Soul Reapers cast various ninjutsu, preparing to surround and kill Kuchiki Senya.

"Stupid!" Kuchiki Senya said coldly. The next second, he had already arrived in front of the crystal coffin, his finger pointing directly at the lid of the crystal coffin.

With a bang, the lid of this crystal coffin was flicked into pieces by Kuchiki Senya. A thick fragrance permeated the entire hall.

"So fragrant." Kuchiki Senya praised, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes in intoxication.

And at this moment, the fragrance became even richer. A phantom slowly emerged, and the figure gradually condensed into shape; it was a beautiful woman. She had a hot and enchanting figure, and her skin was as white as snow, as if she were a work of art meticulously carved by God. And around her neck, a ruby necklace shone brilliantly.

This was none other than the matriarch of the Otsutsuki clan, the head of the sun, moon, and stars, the daughter of Hiruzen and his wife, Otsutsuki Yuhi.

But at this moment, the Great Priest's expression had changed. This was the sacred artifact of the Otsutsuki clan—the crystal coffin.

The Great Priest's face suddenly became very ugly.

123. Kuchiki Senya's trap

"This is impossible!" the Great Priest shouted in shock. The crystal coffin was the most precious treasure of the Otsutsuki clan. Except for the matriarch, the elders, and a few heirs, even other members of the Otsutsuki clan were not qualified to see this treasure. The Great Priest had also exhausted his efforts to obtain it and then gave it to Hiruzen.

Although the Great Priest did not understand why the crystal coffin suddenly appeared here, this definitely meant that the Great Priest had lost contact with the crystal coffin!

"Damn it! What the hell is going on!" The Great Priest was extremely anxious in his heart.

But just at this moment, the Great Priest suddenly froze. Because inside the crystal coffin lay a corpse.

The Great Priest recognized this corpse; it was the Great Priest's younger sister, Hiruzen's only beloved wife—Chizuru.

At this moment, the Great Priest finally reacted.

"So that's it!" The Great Priest gritted his teeth. He finally knew why Orochimaru dared to bring Kuchiki Senya to break in here.

It turned out that all of this was Kuchiki Senya's trap.

He had long since set the trap, luring them into the hook. And they had foolishly jumped down.

After figuring this out, the Great Priest was suddenly furious. His arms transformed into giant gloves, and he rushed toward Kuchiki Senya.

And on the other side, the Soul Reaper holding the bone staff also roared: "Get out of the way!"

Immediately, the bone staff in his hand smashed fiercely toward Kuchiki Senya's chest, wanting to stop Kuchiki Senya from approaching the crystal coffin. But Kuchiki Senya did not dodge or avoid it at all, taking the blow head-on.

"Boom!" With the violent collision, Kuchiki Senya flew backward, landing on the ground and sliding several meters away.

At this moment, the other Soul Reapers also hurriedly surrounded him. The strength of these Soul Reapers was still a cut below the Great Priest's, because they were only low-level Soul Reapers.

But after all, they were several Soul Reapers, and they cooperated tacitly, and several Soul Reapers even used some forbidden techniques to boost their combat power.

But even so, these Soul Reapers still couldn't do anything to them.

But the Great Priest was not so relaxed, because Kuchiki Senya had been harassing him. The Great Priest could only fight desperately to resist, unable to spare a hand to help the other Soul Reapers for a moment.

"Hehe. This crystal coffin cannot be destroyed, right?" Kuchiki Senya sneered.

"Correct." The Great Priest said coldly.

"Very good. Then I'll destroy it." Kuchiki Senya said indifferently. Subsequently, he looked up at the ceiling.

The Great Priest followed his gaze and looked over. He saw a pitch-black crack. This crack extended from the wall all the way to the roof.

"Oh no!" The Great Priest's eyes widened suddenly, because Kuchiki Senya was standing at the crack.

— Author's Notes —

· ··Seeking flowers·· ·