Chapter 128: Araki: Teacher Yuan Liuzhai, I Have Said I

Yuan Liuzhai and Araki stood under the pitch‑black night sky of the 'Void Circle', faintly confronting each other.

Although the two said nothing, in fact their clash had already begun.

In a place where ordinary 'Death Gods' cannot see or sense, two massive 'spiritual pressures' and 'aura' were continuously expanding, dividing the night sky evenly into two colors.

At the moment Yuan Liuzhai and Araki faced each other, a careless 'Great Void' spotted their trail, sneering as it approached them.

Hahaha......

What luck! To actually find delicious Death Gods here...

It was a creature that refused to submit to the 'Void King' Bailerang, and also refused to follow the already‑decayed … behind its own teeth wisdom of Ayuchukas, so it could only retreat from the core of the Void Circle, fleeing to this barren wasteland where even birds don't defecate to scrape a living, and today its luck was evidently good, stumbling upon two tasty Death Gods.

Roar!!

Ayuchukas charged straight at Yuan Liuzhai and Araki. When he reached them, he did not immediately strike, but let out a series of roars while releasing his cold, evil spiritual pressure, trying to frighten the two. He loved seeing Death Gods' faces turn desperate and pained at his sight.

Unfortunately, the scene Ayuchukas imagined did not occur; Araki and Yuan Liuzhai still stood silently, confronting each other.

Did the two of you actually see me?

They're just two insignificant Death Gods, yet they dare look down on me?

Why? What exactly why! Why do you all ignore me!!

Ayuchukas instantly felt a surge of anger; this being ignored reminded him of the scene decades ago when he and his partners jointly challenged the 'Void Circle' king Bailerang. At that time the opponent also sat silently on the throne, not even glancing at them, and any creature within five zhang of Bailerang—whether Kylian or Ayuchukas—would instantly age and turn into swirling sand.

Since then, Ayuchukas was terrified and fled, escaping the core of the Void Circle, crossing the 'Great Void Forest' until he reached this safe zone! At this moment he no longer had the will to evolve, only thinking that before he regresses back to Kylian and completely loses his sanity, he could find more fun...

However, he was ignored again; this time it wasn't the lofty, invincible Bailerang, but two clueless Death Gods who hadn't exerted any strong spiritual pressure.

Die!

Thinking this, Ayuchukas's face turned icy; he glared at Araki and Yuan Liuzhai, swung his massive arm, then slammed down at them.

Noisy…

Just as Ayuchukas's arm was about to swing down, endless flames surged up, igniting his entire body; there was no scream, no wail, no kneeling for mercy…

Because it was only a glimpse, everything about Ayuchukas was burned away! In the instant his consciousness faded, he seemed to recall the past, the story of him and those he met, sharing the same goal, also planning to overthrow Bailerang's oppression, the Ayuchukas who together challenged the 'Void Circle King'.

Back then, just as today, it was only a glimpse; he never saw how Bailerang acted, his companions died without a burial, and as his companions rushed forward recklessly, he retreated…

He was frightened by the scene, and after his companions perished, he fled like a stray dog; the Bailerang seated on the throne didn't even glance at the fleeing him, nor did he pursue, because as a king Bailerang would not bother a stray dog that had lost everything.

Since then, he has lived in a haze…

And now, he finally is liberated, finally able to seek his companions…

With the Great Void's death, inside the Void Circle, in the basement at the core of the Thus line: Xu ye gong, the experimentalist Sal Apollo suddenly paused, looking thoughtfully at the disappearing signal on his creature radar.

"Probe No. 3 was killed?!"

"Before his death, the returned spiritual pressure signal contained a segment of unknown Death God pressure, and another segment from Lord Araki! It seems Lord Araki has returned to the Void Circle?!"

Sal Apollo swung the instrument before him and quickly reached a conclusion.

Indeed, that escaped Great Void was deliberately released by Sal Apollo, because that Great Void was his experimental subject; not only the Great Void killed by Yuan Liuzhai was his subject, but also those Great Voids that died at Bailerang's hands, the companions they thought they met by chance, were all his experimental subjects.

Sal Apollo gave these Great Voids simulated personalities and implanted human hearts, aiming to see whether Probe No. 3, with a simulated personality and a human heart, would develop depression from betraying its companions…

Although Sal Apollo did not obtain the experimental result he wanted, he did gain something else: at least he now knows of Araki's return.

"Go tell Bailerang them~"

Sal Apollo said, and left his laboratory.

Thus line: Xu ye gong.

After Bailerang spent centuries renovating this place, it had become far stronger than before; at least it now had a roof and lighting, though Bailerang's taste was a bit poor, so the renovated Thus line: Xu ye gong didn't look like a king's palace, but more like a nightclub.

"Your Majesty Bailerang, Lord Araki seems to have returned from the Corpse Soul Realm…"

"At the same time, besides Lord Araki, there appears to be a Death God accompanying him…"

"Unfortunately, I don't know the relationship between this Death God and Lord Araki, but from the images transmitted by my experimental subjects, the two seem to be engaged in some duel? Should we help Lord Araki?"

Sal Apollo looked at Bailerang seated on the throne and spoke respectfully.

"Understood."

Bailerang, hearing this, lightly nodded.

"This matter is currently the most important issue in our Void Circle! Sal Apollo, go issue my command: tell all the Great Voids in the Void Circle that without my order they must not interfere with Lord Araki's duel; violators will be exterminated by the entire Great Void population of Thus line: Xu ye gong."

Bailerang seemed to have known about Araki's return before Sal Apollo spoke, and he coldly ordered Sal Apollo.

"As you command."

Sal Apollo, hearing this, bowed respectfully to Bailerang and accepted the order.

"Hmm, step back!"

Bailerang, seeing Sal Apollo's respectful attitude, satisfiedly waved his hand, indicating Sal could withdraw.

"Very well, Your Majesty."

Sal Apollo said, turned and walked out of the Thus line: Xu ye gong.

Although Bailerang's recent order instructed him to personally deliver the command that the Great Voids of the Void Circle must not disturb Lord Araki's battle, in reality such a task could be handled by some Ayuchukas.

And Bailerang still insisted he handle it because there was a huge trouble that needed his attention.

"What? Lord Araki actually returned! I must go see Araki…"

Lilinette, who usually spent her days alone playing with building blocks, upon hearing the news of Araki's return, immediately hopped out of her palace, bored of playing alone, intending to go find Araki…

"My apologies, Lady Lilinette…"

"According to the order I just received from Your Majesty Bailerang, in order not to let you disturb Lord Araki's battle, I must intercept you here…"

Just as Lilinette was excitedly about to go find Araki, Sal Apollo with his long pink hair stepped onto her path.

"Huh?"

Lilinette stared at the Sal Apollo blocking her way, her brows tightly furrowed.

"Do you want to die?"

Li Li Ni Te asked A Bo Luo.

"Of course not! As an alchemist and the most renowned scholar of the Void Circle, I'm the most afraid of death~"

Sa Er A Bo Luo smiled lightly after hearing Li Li Ni Te's words.

"Then get out of my way…"

Li Li Ni Te looked at Sa Er A Bo Luo with utter disdain and said.

"My apologies, Lady Li Li Ni Te; perhaps you've mistaken something."

"According to my calculations, if I block you here, I won't die! If I can't block you, then I'll risk being slain by Lord Huangmu…"

Sa Er A Bo Luo spoke, unleashing a surge of He's spiritual pressure, then rushed to intercept Li Li Ni Te.

"Looking for death!"

Li Li Ni Te, hearing that, also unleashed astonishing spiritual pressure.

In an instant, the two Great Voids at the apex of the Void Circle immediately launched an astonishing duel.

Void flashes filled the sky, one after another, like brilliant fireworks exploding across the black heavens, bewildering countless Great Voids' eyes…

"How noisy!"

"I said let's stay away from battle and quietly have something to eat—doesn't that sound good?!"

In the eastern part of the Void Circle, Yi Ji Si Yi Ba held two large Yaqiukas, gnawing while shaking his head helplessly at Li Li Ni Te and Sa Er A Bo Luo fighting in the sky.

On the other side…

Compared with the noisy interior of the Void Circle, the place where Yuan Liu Zhai and Huangmu stood was naturally quiet.

With Bai Le Gang's order issued, no more sightless fellows dared to disturb Huangmu and Yuan Liu Zhai.

Silence…

Yuan Liu Zhai and Huangmu stood there for an indeterminate time, seeming to merge with the world, like two statues standing motionless on the earth…

Even the ultra‑tiny Voids that resemble lizards, which usually cling to the dunes of the Void Circle, are extremely alert—at the slightest breeze they hide in the desert, surviving by preying on insects and plankton—treated these two world‑destroying beings as statues, freely playing, running, and hunting in the white sand beneath their feet.

At that moment, among the two subtly opposing figures, one moved first…

"Huangmu…"

"Only the one who wields the world's strongest Soul‑Cutting Blade can bear the title of Guardian of the Pure Spirit Court!"

"Let me show you properly—my Flowing Blade Like Fire, forged for centuries, what power it truly holds!"

The one who moved first was naturally Yuan Liu Zhai Chong Guo; he first gently removed his white feathered robe, then drew his Soul‑Cutting Blade from his waist.

"Boom!"

Yuan Liu Zhai, having drawn his Soul‑Cutting Blade, did not release it, yet flames shot skyward; the tiny Voids that had been playing in the sand had no time to react before being incinerated.

"Spiritual pressure, huh?!"

Huangmu, standing before Yuan Liu Zhai and subtly opposing him, felt the endless heat wave surging from Yuan Liu Zhai's body and squinted slightly.

Huangmu knew that the scorching flame hitting him was not the Soul‑Cutting Blade's ability, but the spiritual pressure Yuan Liu Zhai had condensed over millennia of forging; after countless years of tempering, his spiritual pressure had become solid enough to affect reality, demonstrating its immense power.

"All creation turns to ash! Flowing Blade Like Fire!!"

When the spiritual pressure‑turned heat wave reached its peak, Yuan Liu Zhai softly uttered the release incantation for his Soul‑Cutting Blade; myriad flames formed naturally, coiling around his side, and the terrifying heat set the Void Circle's night sky ablaze!

Huangmu was unsurprised; after the surging spiritual pressure turbulence, as Yuan Liu Zhai's opponent, he naturally had to face this blazing sword that emitted endless fire.

The same Soul‑Cutting Blade yields vastly different power in different hands; the Flowing Blade Like Fire wielded by Yuan Liu Zhai seemed capable of burning the entire Void Circle's sky, while the Gang Mi Dai household's trump card—using the imitation Flowing Blade Like Fire from the Yanluo Mirror—appeared rather insignificant, like a minor sorcerer before a great one…

"Let it shine! Medicine Master's Luminous Glass Light…"

In front of Huangmu, Yuan Liu Zhai Chong Guo, his eyes showing seriousness, naturally did not hesitate; he calmly drew his Soul‑Cutting Blade from his waist and released it, and the sky instantly lit up with multicolored Luminous Glass radiance.

"Boom!!"

Seeing Huangmu release his Soul‑Cutting Blade, Yuan Liu Zhai did not hesitate and swung his own Blade straight at Huangmu.

"Well timed!"

Huangmu, seeing Yuan Liu Zhai charge at him, immediately raised his blade with a slight smile and swung to block the Flowing Blade Like Fire.

"Ding~"

With a crisp metallic clang, Huangmu and Yuan Liu Zhai instantly entered a grappling mode in the Void Circle.

In an instant, two specter‑like figures clashed fiercely across the white desert…

From afar, it resembled two dancing light spheres in the desert—one constantly spewing scorching flames, the other enveloped in eerie Luminous Glass glow…

"Boom!!"

As flames and endless Luminous Glass light collided…

A colossal mushroom cloud rose slowly, its booming roars echoing throughout the Void Circle!

Yet, behind the collision that even the highest Great Voids had to shake their heads to avoid, was the prelude to the battle between Huangmu and Yuan Liu Zhai.

After Huangmu and Yuan Liu Zhai tested each other's spiritual pressure, exploding a massive mushroom cloud, they probed one another.

Both Yuan Liu Zhai and Huangmu reined in their burgeoning internal power, wrapping their potent spiritual pressure around their bodies and Soul‑Cutting Blades, while closing the distance.

At this moment, Yuan Liu Zhai and Huangmu silently understood each other and employed their respective Blade Arts.

"Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding…"

"Stab, thrust, swing, strike, clash…"

The Soul‑Cutting Blades in Huangmu's and Yuan Liu Zhai's hands continuously clashed, sending strings of sparks dancing on their blade tips.

At this moment, the battle between Huangmu and Yuan Liu Zhai seemed to return to the most fundamental 'Slash' of the Reaper, the very basics of the Reaper's fundamentals…

Before the second‑house king Yue could forge a Soul‑Cutting Blade, in the Soul Society, it was the key metric for measuring a strong one, and also the foundation Huangmu learned from Yuan Liu Zhai—the root of the Prime Flow!

"Technique, speed, strength, all qualified…"

"Huangmu, you have grown to the point where you can clash with me using Blade Arts."

Yuan Liuzhai, upon discovering that his horizontal slash, vertical slash, thrust, and stab were all blocked by Araki, instantly saw admiration flash in his sharp eyes; even now, as he faced Araki, Yuan Liuzhai still bore the demeanor of a teacher.

"Resistance? Teacher Yuan Liuzhai, when did you develop the illusion that I've already used up all my strength?"

Araki, after hearing Yuan Liuzhai's words, gave a faint smile.

"Hm?!"

Yuan Liuzhai's expression wavered slightly at the words.

"Boom…"

Before Yuan Liuzhai could think further, Araki turned into a jet of black shadow, lunged toward Yuan Liuzhai's front, and swung his Soul‑cutting Blade horizontally at him.

"Ding…"

Facing Araki, who suddenly erupted with astonishing speed, Yuan Liuzhai, after a brief lapse, immediately swung his blade to block. Centuries of training had fused combat into Yuan Liuzhai's very bones and blood; even Araki's sudden, ambush‑like surge was helpless against him, as the swordsmanship engraved in Yuan Liuzhai's heart remained unshaken.

However, the moment Yuan Liuzhai's blade collided with Araki's, Yuan Liuzhai realized he was wrong—gravely wrong…

"Boom!"

At the sound of a boom, Yuan Liuzhai, whose Soul‑cutting Blade had met Araki's, along with the blade in his hand and his own body tightly gripping it, were all blasted away by Araki's strike.

Yuan Liuzhai glided through the sky for several hundred meters, then unleashed a burst of fierce flame that shed Araki's terrifying force, turning into a dreadful meteor that fell again before Araki.

"Boom!"

After Yuan Liuzhai's blast created a massive crater in front of Araki, the Yuan Liuzhai who had been slashed away finally landed steadily on the ground.

"Teacher Yuan Liuzhai, how was that strike?"

When Araki and Yuan Liuzhai's sword techniques were evenly matched, the contest boiled down to whose strength was greater.

"…"

Yuan Liuzhai, upon hearing that, did not answer Araki's question; he merely lowered his head, gazing at Araki's right hand, which now clutched the Soul‑cutting Blade and trembled, lost in thought.

After a long while, once Yuan Liuzhai forced his trembling right hand under control, he looked at Araki and suddenly spoke.

"Do you remember long ago, when you, Araki, were still very young, just a little over a hundred years since you first became my disciple? Back then, neither your 'spiritual pressure' nor your swordsmanship stood out among your peers…"

"Yet you, suddenly one day, decided to challenge me; that not only gave me a huge shock but also stunned the entire Yuan Academy, and everyone thought you were insane…"

"At the same time, you naturally attracted countless mockery from fellow disciples; you neither bragged nor grew impatient, quietly preparing, until in the duel with me you displayed astonishing power, and then everyone realized you had been hiding your skill all along."

"Through that battle, you not only passed my assessment but also left an indelible scar on my forehead; since then your name spread throughout the Yuan Flow, making a remarkable impact in the Yuan Academy!"

"From then on, those who mocked you fell silent, countless fellow disciples looked at you with only admiration, yet you still seemed indifferent to all worldly matters, just as before!"

"Since then I've known: perhaps only you can remain unchanged within the Pure Spirit Court, and only you can alter the Pure Spirit Court without colluding with the nobles…"

Yuan Liuzhai, while assessing Araki, gently stroked the beard on his chin; the seed he sowed years ago has finally borne fruit—Araki has wholly surpassed him in sword technique…

"Who can know what the future holds?!"

Araki, after hearing Yuan Liuzhai's words, simply gave a light smile.

When he first joined the Yuan Academy, he was unfamiliar with everything; his mind was occupied only with system point allocation, so he naturally avoided interacting with those around him. Early on, he kept a low profile to avoid standing out, but later he challenged Yuan Liuzhai because he felt his 'Kou' was off and he could start showing some strength.

As for those who mocked him after hearing of his challenge to Yuan Liuzhai, or those who, when he used the power of Fruit and Haki to catch the 'Tuo Da' Yuan Liuzhai off guard—nearly causing him to fall—flattered him, he ignored them all.

After all, he didn't need to argue with a bunch of dead men nor enjoy their flattery. Yet Araki hadn't expected that his actions that day meant something else in Yuan Liuzhai's eyes…

"Hehe, indeed…"

"People, once they age, tend to feel more sentimentally."

"You've passed the sword technique test; next is fist! Let me see your White Strike skill properly."

Yuan Liuzhai said, then gently removed the Death‑Dominion armor from his coat, revealing his incredibly robust, scar‑covered physique.

Just by looking at Yuan Liuzhai's torso, Araki seemed to see Yuan Liuzhai in his youth, wielding the Soul‑cutting Blade in the Soul Realm, fighting battle after battle between life and death; compared to Yuan Liuzhai's era, those living in modern times are undoubtedly happier.

"Teacher Yuan Liuzhai, I'm not saying you…"

"If it's White Strike, then you are even less of an opponent for me."

Araki said, sheathing his Soul‑cutting Blade back at his waist, and suddenly a gale rose around him.

"Wind? No, this is Ghost Path!"

"A technique that combines Ghost Path with White Strike? Interesting…"

Yuan Liuzhai watched the gale swirling around Araki's body, squinting slightly; with just a glance, he completely saw through Araki's technique.

"As expected of Teacher Yuan Liuzhai, you saw through my technique in an instant."

Araki, hearing this, smiled and nodded.

"This is 'Instant Roar'! I combined the White Strike of 'Hidden Mobility' with the Ghost Path of the 'Ghost Path Sect', developing the technique with the help of Xiao Ye and others…"

"Teacher Yuan Liuzhai, what do you think of my technique? Would you like to learn it? If you wish to, just tell me, your student, and I will gladly impart all my knowledge to you~"

Araki, pleased, looked at Yuan Liuzhai and said with a smile.

"I see your technique is just flashy…"

"Ghost Path is Ghost Path, White Strike is White Strike! These two abilities are treasures honed over a million years in the Soul Realm by countless Death Gods. If you combine them, don't let it become mere showy moves."

Originally Yuan Liuzhai was somewhat curious about Araki's technique, but after Araki's words, his old face drooped, feeling that discussing techniques with his student was utterly embarrassing.

"If it's flashy, why not try it yourself and find out?"

Araki said, curling his finger toward Yuan Liuzhai.

"Hmph…"

Yuan Liuzhai, hearing this, let out a cold snort, then lunged like a fierce tiger, swinging a fist toward Araki's abdomen.

"Wind!"

Araki whispered, first employing a wind‑type Ghost Path transformation.

Araki's speed instantly surged severalfold; though he was not adept at Instant Step, at that moment his speed even slightly surpassed Yuan Liuzhai's.

"So fast…"

Yuan Liuzhai watched Araki dodge his punch, his pupils trembling slightly.

Thunder!

Then, Araki continued to remind Yuan Liuzai.

As Araki finished speaking, endless bolts of electricity erupted from his body; while his speed increased further, he surged forward like a bolt of lightning toward Yuan Liuzai.

One bone!

Yuan Liuzai stared at the charging Araki, calmly assumed a stance, and suddenly punched forward; the blow made the heavens and earth change color, and even a Yaqiukas‑level Great Void would be instantly shattered by Yuan Liuzai's punch.

However, after the brief clash between Yuan Liuzai and Araki, it was Yuan Liuzai who stepped back, not Araki.

Missed…

Yuan Liuzai shuffled small steps beneath his feet, his expression a bit embarrassed; the punch he had focused on and thrown at Araki had surprisingly failed to hit Araki, while Araki's fist landed solidly on his body.

Instant roar?

At this moment, Yuan Liuzai finally activated the so‑called instant roar.

Ice!

But it wasn't over; Araki once again altered the attribute of his instant roar, and endless cold in that brief instant coated Yuan Liuzai's beard with a layer of frost.

Hm?

Yuan Liuzai merely snorted coldly at this; Araki had used an ice‑attribute technique against him, who wields a scorching Soul‑Cutting Blade—how could such trivial cold affect his body? Yet just as Yuan Liuzai intended to create distance and, after gaining control of the rhythm, launch an attack, he found his feet no longer obeyed him…

What is this?

Only then did Yuan Liuzai realize his feet had, at some point, been frozen by Araki.

Blazing Flame Explosion!!

Before Yuan Liuzai could think further, Araki once again altered the Ghost Path nature of his instant roar, this time choosing fire! A torrent of raging flames surged from Araki's body in an instant, unexpectedly scorching Yuan Liuzai's face.

Boom!

After Araki flashed away to create distance, a small mushroom cloud slowly rose from Yuan Liuzai's location.

Teacher Yuan Liuzai, what do you think?

Araki dispersed his instant roar, gazing at the dust‑shrouded Yuan Liuzai, and asked softly.

Ha ha, hahahaha…

At this moment, Yuan Liuzai, whose face had been scorched by Araki's flame‑attribute Ghost Path instant roar, looked utterly disheveled; his Dead Overlord Armor had been charred by Araki's Blazing Flame Explosion, and his robust body was now filthy.

But Araki knew that Yuan Liuzai could not have been truly injured by this blow; if the wielder of the world's strongest flame‑attribute Soul‑Cutting Blade were harmed by fire, it would be laughable…

As Araki had thought, Yuan Liuzai only appeared extremely disheveled but suffered no real damage; however, as the ancestor of flame, having his face burned by Araki's fire was a severe insult despite the minor injury.

In response, Yuan Liuzai's laughter grew in waves, his mental state gradually turning frantic, his blood pressure rising.

The game ends here!

Yuan Liuzai said, drawing his Soul‑Cutting Blade from his waist once more. This time, unlike before, his gaze held unprecedented seriousness.

Araki, I must thank you; because I have a diligent disciple like you urging me, I have been able to continuously improve over the centuries since defeating Youhabah. Araki, I have never relaxed in all these years…

As Yuan Liuzai spoke, the ground beneath his feet burned to a glowing red; the white sand turned into churning lava, exhaling wave after wave of scorching heat.

Arala…

Araki watched Yuan Liuzai's internal spiritual pressure climbing, knowing something hard was coming, and twitched the corner of his mouth.

Teacher Yuan Liuzai, the "walk" inside Slash Fist Ghost, that is Instant Step, you still haven't tested me on it, have you?

Araki, seeing this, reminded Yuan Liuzai.

Centuries had passed; through Araki's daily training and the system's boost, even the "Instant Step" he once claimed to be weak at had reached LV9, just shy of max level. Now Araki was unquestionably a hexagonal warrior like Yuan Liuzai.

Moreover, the Feilian Foot granted by the "Annihilator" power within Araki, and the Resonance derived from merging the Great Void powers such as "Ji Ba", had also reached LV9. If one were to compare speed alone, few in the vast Jing Ling Court could outpace the current Araki.

No need to test your basics any longer…

And the warm‑up between you and me ends here; now it's time to show real skill!

Araki, as I said before, only the one with the strongest Soul‑Cutting Blade can protect this vast Jing Ling Court; the blades we wield are the core that decides victory…

Let us give it our all, Araki!

Clearly, after Araki's flame instant roar scorched his face, Yuan Liuzai could no longer hear anything; his mind was consumed with finding his disciple and reclaiming this lost arena!

There's really no way~

Araki sighed helplessly at those words; he had originally intended to continue tormenting his master with Instant Step and Ghost Path, to show Yuan Liuzai that as a disciple his strength now surpassed his teacher in every way, allowing Yuan Liuzai to retire peacefully. Unfortunately, Yuan Liuzai's fiery temper was even more explosive than Araki had imagined.

Then let's go!

At this point, Araki was not afraid at all.

Bankai!

The next second, Yuan Liuzai and Araki simultaneously raised their Soul‑Cutting Blades and shouted loudly.

Boom!!

The moment Yuan Liuzai finished speaking, the Void Circle wrapped by Eternal Night brightened!

Yuan Liuzai's Bankai was like a ray dispelling darkness, like a star illuminating the world, instantly turning the entire Void Circle from night to day…

What happened, what is going on?

For a moment, throughout the Void Circle, both Great Voids and ordinary Voids fell silent…

The legion of evil spirits looked up bewildered at the bright sky, at a loss; in their memories, this bright sky had only appeared in fragmented recollections of their lives.

This sky does not belong to the Void Circle.

This is…

At this moment, even Lilinit and Sar Apollo, who were locked in fierce battle, halted, their eyes widened at the bright sky above.

What a powerful force this is!

Lilinit muttered to herself, having always believed her strength was already great, but when faced with this brilliance that illuminated the whole world, she realized just how weak she truly was.

Lilinit, now you understand why I stopped you, right?

"The battle over there isn't something beings like you and I can just meddle in…."

Sal Apollo was likewise astonished by Yuan Liuzhai's strength; he wiped the beads of sweat constantly beading on his forehead from the heat, and softly said to Lilinit at his side.

"I… am still not strong enough."

Lilinit, hearing that, clenched her fists tightly.

"So hot, so hot!"

"Damn! The moisture in the world's air is about to be evaporated by this suddenly appearing heat…"

"Is this the bald little devil's Zanpakuto Bankai? Could it really be this powerful?"

"This is far stronger than the fire rod he used to scorch my buttocks thousands of years ago…"

Yiji Si Ji Ba likewise marveled at Yuan Liuzhai's might; as someone who had previously engaged Yuan Liuzhai in a clear duel, he was familiar with Yuan Liuzhai's spiritual pressure, and now, feeling Yuan Liuzhai's Zanpakuto Bankai again, he exclaimed that he was no longer the opponent.

"Is this the power of the Shinigami leader? Damn…"

Similarly, when Bai Legang, seated on the throne, saw Yuan Liuzhai's Bankai that illuminated the whole world, he too was surprised; he had assumed that as the captain of the Jingling Court, i. e., a leader of the Shinigami, Yuan Liuzhai's strength should be comparable to his own as the Great Void leader…

However, after Yuan Liuzhai's Bankai, he was astonished to find that the gap in strength between the two leaders of the great factions was like that between clouds and mud.

"If the Shinigami wanted to annihilate the Void Realm, we might have already perished, right?"

Bai Legang murmured, while clenching his fist in resentment.

At the same time…

"Alright, Araki…"

"You should also show your Bankai, right?"

Yuan Liuzhai, holding a Zanpakuto burned to crimson, its blade black as coal and appearing no longer as sharp as before, looked calmly at Araki and asked softly.

At this moment Yuan Liuzhai had still fully unleashed his Zanpakuto; after bidding farewell to the endless flames, he obtained a blade that is unbreakable and can cut through everything in the world.

And this is not yet the terrifying aspect of Yuan Liuzhai's Bankai; as his internal spiritual pressure continues to rise, the entire Void Realm faces the risk of being completely destroyed by his Bankai…

One slash erases a realm; that is the might of Yuan Liuzhai's Bankai.

"A Bankai that burns the world?!"

Araki stared at Yuan Liuzhai's Zanpakuto, murmuring to himself.

"Truly worthy of Master Yuan Liuzhai, the treasured blade never ages~"

Then Araki gave Yuan Liuzhai a thumbs‑up and softly praised.

"Araki, where is your Bankai?"

"Araki, don't wait until after you've lost to me to tell me, because you have no Bankai, so you won't acknowledge the outcome of this battle."

Yuan Liuzhai ignored Araki's flattery and continued to ask Araki.

"Master Yuan Liuzhai, hasn't the disciple's Bankai already been released?"

Araki, after hearing Yuan Liuzhai's words, merely smiled faintly, then raised his hand and pointed at the sky illuminated by Yuan Liuzhai.

"Hm?!"

Yuan Liuzhai, after hearing Araki, naturally followed the indicated direction, looked up, and his pupils suddenly flickered.

Above the Void Realm's sky, a Saint King with both hands clasped appeared, quietly watching the whole world.

A massive ten‑thousand‑character chapter!