Chapter 107: Two Hundred Years in an Instant! Jingle, Floating Bamboo, Tide Night

Time flies…

Fifty years passed in a flash.

Not long after Araki subdued Liliniet, Bai Legang got in touch with Araki again; this time, unlike Liliniet, it wasn't Bai Legang seeking the other party, but the other party who approached him…

This sparked a hint of interest in the Great Void within Araki.

When Araki entered the Void Circle, he saw a humanoid Great Void, whose spiritual pressure was unmistakably of the 'Washi Tode' level…

"I have long heard that beyond the boundless Void Circle, above Lord Bai Legang, there is an even greater sovereign~"

"Seeing you today is indeed extraordinary! Respected sir, my name is Sa Er A Bo Luo·Ge Lan Zi, and I am willing to serve you~"

The Great Void did not wait for Araki to speak, and introduced itself first.

"Sa Er A Bo Luo…"

Araki looked at the humanoid Great Void before him, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Araki was, of course, extremely familiar with the name; Sa Er A Bo Luo is the eighth Ten Blade under Lanran's faction—one of the Great Voids with the most screen time among the Ten Blades, appearing prominently in the original manga, the official novel, and even the later Hell Chirp-Chirp Chapter.

From Sa Er A Bo Luo's spiritual pressure, Araki inferred that the being had not yet split; after all, the official Soul Reaper novel 'SpiritsAreForeverWithYou', the so‑called Sword Eight chapter, states that Sa Er A Bo Luo is the original Zero‑number Ten Blade under Lanran, meaning any split or demotion would occur only after Lanran's invasion of the Void Circle, which would take several hundred years…

"Interesting! Will you convert to me?!"

Araki asked Sa Er A Bo Luo softly.

"Of course~"

Sa Er A Bo Luo's reply was unequivocal; unlike other Great Voids, he cared little about having a superior, dismissed the notion of power, and was only interested in his own research!

Indeed, for Sa Er A Bo Luo, if finding a superior would help his experiments, he wouldn't mind getting one, or even several superiors~

"A correct choice!"

Araki said, drawing his Zanpakuto.

"Dong!"

For a moment, a strange bell rang at Sa Er A Bo Luo's ears.

In a brief instant, Sa Er A Bo Luo, within that crystal Pure Land, lived through a full cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter—365 days and nights—and experienced an endless reincarnation from child to elder and back again!

"Dong!"

When the bell faded, Sa Er A Bo Luo gradually regained his senses.

Regaining himself, Sa Er A Bo Luo gently touched his cheek, felt two tears stream down, and with a 'thud' knelt before Araki.

"Reincarnation! Only reincarnation is the ultimate mystery of life! All the paths I've walked were wrong! I've awakened, I finally have an epiphany…"

Sa Er A Bo Luo, like a madman, kept howling skyward.

"Fool, it's fine that you've had an epiphany!"

"From today onward, your name shall be Mi Quo Luo!"

Araki gently brushed Sa Er A Bo Luo's crown, and a golden name was instantly etched onto Sa's soul, the endless crystal‑colored radiance granting Sa Er A Bo Luo brand‑new power at that moment.

"…"

Sa Er A Bo Luo, feeling the power bestowed by Araki, kept his head down and showed no sign of standing.

Originally, Sa Er A Bo Luo sought Araki's protection merely to have a quiet place for experiments in the Void Circle, much like his approach to Bai Legang, but now, after Araki's guidance, he truly converts to Araki, and Araki seems to have become a deity leading his evolution!

"Hehe…"

Araki glanced at Sa Er A Bo Luo's reverent demeanor and smiled lightly.

To Araki, Sa Er A Bo Luo himself mattered little; what mattered were the things he had researched, and in fact Araki was still very interested in Luo Jia·Paramiya~

However, Araki was not in a hurry; after subduing Sa Er A Bo Luo, he briefly checked on Liliniet, and upon confirming she was fine, Araki once again left the Void Circle and returned to the Soul Society.

Time slips away…

Another fifty years flew by.

The Gotei 13 still looks as it did before, with hardly any personnel changes, since the Soul Society currently has no formidable enemies…

However, worth noting is that the captain of Division 10, a man Araki somewhat 'liked', who treated matters with utmost seriousness and had arranged to drink and relax with Araki, has died…

The official definition for Central 46th Room is 'cause of death unknown'!

Yet Araki knows clearly that the overly gentle man did not die at the hands of a Quincy nor a Great Void, but in the internal strife of a noble faction—in other words, he was killed by his own people.

"…"

Araki said nothing, merely attended the soul burial ceremony on schedule.

After all, though the man was not fond of fighting, he was a genuine Third‑Class Spiritual Power!

A Soul Reaper of Third‑Class Spiritual Power has spirit particles distinct from those in the atmosphere and cannot enter the Great Cycle of Spirit Particles; aside from using a 'ritual' to send them to Hell, the Gotei 13 and the entire Quiet Spirit Court have no other means…

When Araki arrived at the dojo, Yamamoto Genryusai, the captain of the Gotei 13, and his deputy, Que Buzhang Jiro, were already in place…

Perhaps it was Araki's illusion, but he felt Yamamoto had aged considerably at that moment; his once jet‑black beard now bore specks of white, looking mottled…

As one of the insiders, Genryusai felt a mix of emotions about the Division 10 captain's death in internal conflict; sometimes he grew bewildered about everything he protects, but whenever he gazed at the student‑filled Central Spiritual Arts Academy, his heart found some solace.

"Araki…"

Genryusai looked at the arriving Araki, gave a slight nod, a greeting of sorts.

Genryusai had intended to advise Araki a few words, but some words got stuck in his throat and he couldn't utter them.

"Teacher, rest assured! I won't act impulsively."

Araki watched Genryusai's pre‑emptive assurance. In fact, Araki had little rapport with the Division 10 captain—at most a 'one‑drink' acquaintance—so he wouldn't do anything unnecessary for him…

"Hmm!"

Genryusai, after hearing Araki, forced a faint smile, which was quickly replaced by seriousness and sorrow.

"Report, Captain Yamamoto!"

Just as Genryusai and Araki were conversing, the captain of Division 1's Special Unit suddenly appeared before Genryusai, seeming to have something to say but hesitating because Araki was present.

"Speak…"

Yuan Liuzhai looked at the squad leader before him, furrowed his brow slightly, and said plainly.

"The heads of the three noble families—Xiangma, Santian, and Rixiab—have all died in their own bedrooms…"

The special‑forces squad leader reported to Yuan Liuzhai solemnly.

"Understood, you may go down first!"

Hearing this, Yuan Liuzhai nodded toward the squad leader.

"As you command!"

The squad leader, hearing this, vanished from the spot.

"……"

After the squad leader left, Yuan Liuzhai glanced at Huangmu beside him, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.

"I killed them."

Feeling Yuan Liuzhai's gaze, Huangmu replied calmly.

"Didn't you say you wouldn't act impulsively?"

Yuan Liuzhai heard this, his expression showing a touch of helplessness.

"Before killing them, I thought it through carefully…"

Huangmu explained.

"That's good."

After hearing Huangmu's explanation, Yuan Liuzhai's eyes narrowed slightly, then he said no more.

Since Huangmu had already thought it through, there was no need for further words; if they were to be killed, they would be killed.

"……"

In response, Huangmu simply stared silently at the corpse before him, its smile still frozen after death, and said nothing.

Huangmu is a nostalgic type; even a cup of wine's friendship is enough for him to slay all the masterminds who harmed others. As for the entrenched interests of the entire noble faction, Huangmu has plenty of time to deal with them slowly! No need to rush, because a single person cannot escape…

"Ignite!"

When all participants of the Soul Burial Ceremony had gathered, Yuan Liuzhai looked at the former leader of the Tenth Squad lying on the wooden stake and said lightly.

"At your service!"

As soon as Yuan Liuzhai finished speaking, a member of the First Squad grasped a torch and walked toward the stake.

"Boom!!"

In an instant, endless flames surged upward, instantly devouring the corpse of the Tenth Squad's leader.

"Recite the script…"

Accompanying the rising flames, the crowd of Ghost Dao practitioners continuously chanted the Soul Burial Hymn.

According to the Central 46th Office, any death god who can take part in the Soul Burial Ceremony after death is honored! They are heroes of the Corpse Soul Realm…

"……"

Huangmu watched the scene before him in silence.

Perhaps this is the price one must pay to pursue greatness…

From the perspective of the Corpse Soul Realm's higher‑ups, sending souls that have lost their place of return due to the pursuit of personal strength into Hell grants them redemption…

But in Huangmu's view, this is not a lasting solution; Hell also has limits. Continuously sending powerful souls into Hell will eventually overload it, causing it to backfire on the Three Realms.

"Even the Spirit King couldn't solve this problem?!"

Huangmu muttered to himself as he watched the Soul Burial Ceremony.

The following year…

Gengmu completed the cultivation of Bankai at the Spirit King Palace! Then Wang Yue and the Qilin Temple, using the Heaven Pillar Palanquin, dropped him from the sky! Moreover, they explicitly forbade Gengmu from returning to the Spirit King Palace…

Since Gengmu learned of the Zero Squad members' strength, he has been pestering Wang Yue and the Qilin Temple for battles all day, causing them considerable trouble, for neither can exert full power in the Spirit King Palace. Yet Gengmu has no such reservations; sometimes Wang Yue thinks that "vegetables" aren't necessarily all bad…

However, although Gengmu constantly bothers Wang Yue and the Qilin Temple, he does not dare to trouble the monk, mainly because the monk's abilities are too bizarre, almost giving Gengmu a psychological shadow…

Back in the Corpse Soul Realm's Jingling Court, Gengmu's first action was to return to the Eleventh Squad to verify his cultivation results.

"Deputy Captain Gengmu, you're still alive?!"

"We were all very worried about you; we thought you had met misfortune…"

When Gengmu appeared at the gate of the Eleventh Squad's barracks, the squad members were astonished; they had thought Gengmu had been secretly eliminated by Huangmu and Saito, the adulterous pair…!

After all, Gengmu had mysteriously disappeared the day after he defeated Saito's immortality and took over the deputy captain duties! Since then, the squad members have asked Huangmu about Gengmu's whereabouts; each time Huangmu replied that Gengmu was on a mission and would be away for a long time! But honestly, where is a death god who becomes deputy captain and immediately goes on a mission?!

Yet now that Gengmu has returned, these Eleventh Squad members have begun to believe Huangmu's words; perhaps Deputy Captain Gengmu's personality is just that unique—he likes, on the very day he becomes deputy captain, to apply to Huangmu for a high‑difficulty personal mission?!

"Huangmu, I challenge you!!"

Gengmu ignored the ordinary squad members and shouted loudly toward the Eleventh Squad's barracks.

At this moment, all Gengmu could think of was to make a good impression before Huangmu…

"Stop shouting, I'm coming!"

Before Gengmu could say more, Huangmu, who had already foreseen Gengmu's return, stepped out of the Eleventh Squad's barracks.

"Rest assured, Huangmu! It won't keep you too long…"

This time Gengmu was confident; after a hundred years of cultivation in the Spirit King Palace, he had shed his old self and was no longer of the same level.

"Hehe…"

Huangmu smiled lightly after hearing Gengmu's words; the line sounded oddly familiar to him.

"Huangmu, watch closely! This is my Bankai!"

Gengmu, seeing the tardy Huangmu, wasted no words, drew his Soul‑Cutting Blade from his waist, and performed the Bankai.

"Boom!!"

As Gengmu unleashed the Soul‑Cutting Blade, a soaring spiritual pressure rose spontaneously; the massive spiritual pressure within Gengmu was fully released at that moment, converting into the power he used for battle!

"Roar!!"

Gengmu let out a guttural roar, his whole body instantly turning red, a pair of horns slowly sprouting from his forehead; at this moment Gengmu resembled a blood‑soaked demon.

As for the Zanpakuto in Gengmu's hand, it had transformed from a katana into a broken great axe; although the axe head appears fractured compared with its Shikai form, its power is incomparable!

At this moment Gengmu's strength, speed, and sheer destructive force all far exceed his Shikai; one could say he is on a completely different level…

"So strong! Overwhelming power that completely surpasses Captain Saitou's…"

The Death God squad members, after sensing Gengmu's power, were shocked and exclaimed.

"Forget the previous line—what do you mean 'power that surpasses me'? I'm still here! You bastards…"

Saitou's eyelids twitched slightly after hearing her squad's words; she was almost infuriated to death, yet she had to admit that Bankai‑enhanced Gengmu's strength truly surpassed hers! Of course, she meant direct combat strength…

"Sigh…"

On the other side, Araki looked at Bankai‑enhanced Gengmu and sighed helplessly.

"Roar!"

Without waiting for Araki's preparation, Gengmu already brandished his Zanpakuto and charged at Araki.

After a short run‑up, Gengmu leapt from the ground, swinging down from the sky toward Araki…

The power of this slash from Bankai Gengmu far exceeds that of his Shikai slash; if it lands as is, it will be more than just cutting through the Jingling Court—it could shatter the entire Jingling Court with Gengmu's violent force…

"Divine Evasion!"

Araki, watching Gengmu's relentless slash, calmly cut a black crescent.

"Boom!"

When Bankai Gengmu, wielding the broken sword, collided with Araki's crescent, a muffled thud rang out, and Gengmu was once again flung backward like a kite with its line cut, soaring toward the heavens…

In an instant, Gengmu broke through the Jingling Court's barrier again, flying toward the First District, Runlin'an, of Wandering Soul Street—though no one knows whose shop he'll smash this time?!

"Indeed, it didn't take long at all!"

Araki watched Gengmu being slashed into the air and said calmly.

"Instant kill?"

"The invincible Gengmu got slashed into the air again?!"

The members of Eleven Squad, watching Gengmu fly backward, widened their eyes; first they admired Araki's strength, then they were speechless at Gengmu…

Logically, Gengmu's strength isn't lacking, and Araki's slash wasn't particularly fast—couldn't he dodge? Insisting on a head‑on clash with Captain Araki, and now look—he's been instantly killed again!

"Hehe, see? Gengmu is only strong in direct combat~"

Saitou, watching Gengmu being instantly cut down again by Araki, smiled faintly.

Saitou, who has never sparred with Bankai Gengmu, still doesn't know how much Gengmu has been strengthened after Bankai.

"Looks like Vice‑Captain Gengmu caused a ruckus again after returning!"

The squad members now seem to imagine what changes the entire Eleven Squad will undergo once Gengmu returns.

Anyway, with iron‑headed Gengmu around, they'll probably see the scene of Gengmu challenging Araki and being instantly killed every month~

In fact, Gengmu himself isn't sure—having become so powerful, how does he retain his sanity after Bankai? Using his almost exaggerated physique to perform baffling techniques, even when Zero Squad members Wang Yue and Qilin Si confront him, they dare not rely solely on sword pressure; yet why does Araki still cut him down with a single slash?!

Araki could only say to Gengmu, "You don't understand the power of the Holy Script~"

Just as the members of Eleven Squad thought!

Since Gengmu returned to Eleven Squad in the evening, limping with a body full of scars, Eleven Squad has become a complete bustle…

Gengmu's daily life consists either of heading out to fight others or challenging Araki, making it incredibly fulfilling while also entertaining the squad members~

Now the biggest topic inside Eleven Squad is when Gengmu will finally learn to dodge Araki's slash. No one knows the answer… not for any other reason, but because Gengmu's head is truly iron; he insists on confronting Araki head‑on.

And then…

A hundred years passed just like that.

During those hundred years, Gengmu challenged Araki countless times, but each challenge ended with him being slashed into the air by Araki…

Consequently, when Eleven Squad members now hear that Gengmu is challenging Captain Araki again, they're no longer shocked; they feel only helplessness!

Even the spectators are getting tired of it, yet Gengmu himself remains relentless…

As for Araki, it doesn't matter; after all, it's just a slash, it won't delay him for long…

So now he's gradually gotten used to it; if he doesn't deliver that slash each day, it feels like something's missing.

One day…

"Araki, again! Watch my Bankai!"

"Divine Evasion!!"

"Vice‑Captain Gengmu flew again~"

After Gengmu once more challenged Araki and was again slashed into the air before countless squad members, Araki didn't return to the headquarters to rest as before; instead, he headed toward the Zhi Bo family's estate…

"Captain Araki, are you going out?!"

The members of Eleven Squad, seeing the rarely out‑and‑about Araki, greeted him.

"Hmm! I have something to attend to…"

Araki said, and his figure vanished on the spot.

"Boom!"

When Araki arrived at the Zhi Bo family estate, a huge crash accompanied the landing of the Heaven Pillar Carriage on the ground.

"Captain Araki, you're here?!"

The current head of the Zhi Bo family, about to approach the descending Heaven Pillar Carriage, saw that Araki was already a step ahead, walking toward the carriage.

"Hmm, since it's the day the disciples descend from the heavens, I definitely have to be here!"

Araki, hearing the head's words, nodded lightly.

"Boom!"

Just then, the gate of the Heavenly Pillar Palanquin opened softly, and the figures of Ye Yi, Jing Le, Fu Zhu, and Shi Tan gradually appeared before Huang Mu's eyes.

Master! We're back, beloved Corpse Soul Realm!

Ye Yi burst out from inside the moment the Heavenly Pillar Palanquin's gate opened; her heart was filled with uncontrollable excitement, clearly she had been holding it in, and she had long awaited returning to this homeland.

How many years have passed? Who knows how many years I've spent to get back here! Today I've finally returned, and I will make the sun and moon of the Pure Spirit Court change to a new heaven!

Ye Yi shouted loudly, her golden eyes revealing a longing for unrestrained freedom and ease.

Smack~

Then, her familiar scabbard struck Ye Yi's head hard.

Long time no see, Little Ye Yi! You're looking well~

Huang Mu looked at Ye Yi and spoke with a cheerful laugh.

Ouch~

In response, Ye Yi looked at the smiling Huang Mu before her and gradually restrained her arrogant aura.

Two more chapters, 12000~ By the way, asking for wave tickets~