Chapter 129: Shaking the Three Realms! The Strongest Shinigami Araki
Thump! Thump! Thump…
As the ancient bell rang on and on, a Wheel Holy King radiating endless rosy light and made entirely of pure crystal silently appeared above the sky, overlooking everything below.
The magnitude of that Holy King was incalculable, seeming to occupy the entire sky of the Void Circle.
As long as one is within the Void Circle, no matter where they stand, they can see that noble and magnificent Holy King in the sky, and from any angle the King's brilliance seems to bathe every person's body…
Even more astonishing, they discovered that no matter how they hide, when they look up they always see that lofty Holy King; even using objects to block the view cannot evade the King's all‑seeing eyes…
Bankai…
Medicine Master Glass Light King Buddha—Eastern Pure Glass World!
At the moment Yuan Liuzhai was stunned by the massive form of the Wheel Holy King, Araki's voice suddenly rang, drifting lightly into Yuan Liuzhai's ears.
Araki, is this the true form of your Bankai?
Yuan Liuzhai heard this, gently lowered his raised head, gazed level at the distant Araki, and murmured.
In Yuan Liuzhai's recollection, his first suspected sight of Araki's Bankai occurred when Araki, after a hundred years of cultivation at the Yuanzi Academy, first challenged him…
At that time Araki's Zanpakutō suddenly elongated, catching him off guard and cleaving the entire Yuanzi Academy in two, while leaving a deep scar on his forehead.
Yuan Liuzhai's second encounter with Araki's Bankai was centuries ago, when Araki flamboyantly returned to the Jingling Court and clashed with the first‑generation Sword Hachiman Flower Eight Thousand Flow!
The Bankai Araki displayed then was completely different from the one Yuan Liuzhai remembered; at the time Yuan Liuzhai didn't overthink, merely felt that after a huge quarrel with Araki, Araki had lain low in Wandering Soul Street for centuries, perhaps having built a brand‑new ability upon his original Bankai.
Yuan Liuzhai's third sight of Araki's Bankai occurred centuries ago, when Youhabah led the Empire of Light's Eradicators to invade the Soul Realm; unknown what ability Youhabah used to block Araki, a spectacular battle ensued, during which Araki again employed a brand‑new Bankai, displaying astonishing power and even Youhabah suffered a heavy loss.
Heh…
Thinking of that, Yuan Liuzhai chuckled lightly; he realized he could never fully read that kid Araki.
Over these centuries, each of Araki's Bankai abilities seemed different.
All the power I used after previous Bankais came from the Eastern Pure Glass World; this time I will show you the power of the Medicine Master Glass Light King Buddha…
Araki smiled lightly after hearing Yuan Liuzhai's words, and explained the power of the Zanpakutō in his hand.
After Araki described his Zanpakutō's current form, both Araki and Yuan Liuzhai simultaneously activated their Bankai…
For a moment, the two Bankais that covered the entire Void Circle—one occupying the sky, the other attached to the earth—stood faintly opposed, echoing each other.
However, Yuan Liuzhai frowned at the Holy King in the sky; he seemed slightly dissatisfied with Araki. Even though the King's power now surpassed his own Flowing Blade Like Fire, Yuan Liuzhai sensed Araki still held back.
Araki, you're still hiding something, aren't you?
With that, Yuan Liuzhai looked at Araki and asked.
Um…
Master Yuan Liuzhai, what do you mean?
Araki, who was about to attack Yuan Liuzhai, froze at the words, his brows slightly furrowing as he asked Yuan Liuzhai.
If I'm not guessing, the power you displayed should happen to be on par with mine…
Though a thrilling battle ending in a narrow loss, then saying 'Araki, you've grown, you're already stronger than your master,' would be fine! But, Araki! You know, that's not what I want to see…
Araki, what I seek isn't a dignified defeat; I want to see your true power, the power that surpasses the limits of a Shinigami.
Yuan Liuzhai did not launch a direct attack on Araki; instead he stared earnestly at him, loudly voicing his thoughts.
True power?
Araki heard this, his expression briefly halted.
Exactly, what I want to see is your true power.
Yuan Liuzhai, upon hearing that, nodded toward Araki.
Although Araki's current power is formidable, even surpassing his Remnant Fire Greatsword, it still does not exceed a Shinigami's limits, which is not what Yuan Liuzhai desires; he now wishes, as he retires, to glimpse a realm beyond the Shinigami.
If that's the case…
Then, Master Yuan Liuzhai, my true Bankai is about to appear~
Araki, after hearing Yuan Liuzhai's words, smiled helplessly.
Yuan Liuzhai, worthy of being Araki's master, saw through him at once, knowing Araki's habit of always holding a card back; originally Araki had indeed planned as Yuan Liuzhai just described…
In Araki's original plan, he would first engage Yuan Liuzhai in an evenly matched fierce battle, then win by a slight edge, giving the 'strongest' Shinigami a dignified ending; but now that Yuan Liuzhai has seen through him, there's no need to continue the act.
Come on!
Yuan Liuzhai heard this, his eyes narrowing slightly; he was now prepared to meet the true Bankai of the Zanpakutō in Araki's hand, possibly the strongest ever in the Soul Realm.
Buzz!!
As Yuan Liuzhai's words fell, Araki finally became serious.
This time, the Zanpakutō in Araki's hand radiated endless brilliance!
The brilliance instantly enveloped the entire Void Circle, adding a cool freshness to its ground…
The Wheel Holy King hanging above everyone's heads also dimmed at this moment, its form half‑real, half‑ethereal.
Boom…
When the Holy King finally vanished…
The entire Void Circle suddenly shuddered violently.
For an instant, all the strong ones within the Void Circle's pupils flickered.
Great Void Forest.
In the pitch‑black forest, swarms of Kilian suddenly trembled uncontrollably, lifting their heads toward the moon's direction, rising and falling as if instinctively worshipping something.
The higher‑ranked Mid‑level Great Void Yaqiukas, though not affected by the moonlight, also instinctively concealed themselves while continuously bowing to the moon; they sensed the moonlight filled with an ominous 'uncertainty', something even more forbidden than they, the Void, are.
Only those at the pinnacle of Great Void evolution, the Top‑level Great Void Vashitode class, noticed the Void Circle's change…
The moon has vanished.
Lilinette, who had been covertly watching the Void Circle's movements, now looked up at the sky; in her eyes, the Void Circle's moon had long disappeared, replaced by a Wheel Holy King radiating infinite auspicious light.
Welcome the Holy King's true form to descend…
Sa Er A Bo Luo, who had been standing by Li Li Ni Te, guarding Li Li Ni Te and preventing Li Li Ni Te from sabotaging Huang Mu's plan, now kneels on one knee toward the direction of the moon, his face intoxicated as he gazes at the moon in the sky, murmuring to himself.
At the same time, Bai Le Gang, also named by Huang Mu, likewise, like Sa Er A Bo Luo, kneels on one knee toward the Saint King; a few minutes later, Li Li Ni Te also shows respect to the Saint King.
However, Huang Mu's Bankai does not end here.
Meanwhile…
Between the Void Circle and the Present World lies a distant boundary, almost parallel to the world.
A massive Wheel Saint King suddenly appears in the sky of the Present World; ordinary mortals cannot look at the Saint King with the naked eye, but those blessed by the Buddha…
Some humans with higher spiritual inspiration now all display astonished expressions toward the sky…
As the Saint King utters a six‑word mantra, those humans with strong spiritual inspiration immediately kneel sincerely toward the Saint King's direction, repeatedly performing the rites of devotion.
Moreover, all evil spirits in the Present World now lie prostrate on the ground, daring not to move; the wandering souls that have died yet still linger in the world, drawn by the crystal light, transform one by one into butterflies, fluttering toward the Corpse Soul Realm.
The entire Present World at this moment is suffused with auspicious peace; nothing but peace, and more peace…
"What a powerful being…"
"How could something like this suddenly appear in the Present World? What on earth is happening in the Three Realms?!"
The hidden Eradicators feel the tremor spreading through the world; the Saint King hovering above their heads makes them all feel timid, and at this moment they recall the fear once wielded by Huang Mu.
The Corpse Soul Realm.
The common folk of Wandering Soul Street continue living as they please, while the nobles of the Serene Spirit Court have, since dawn, begun their decadent lives of indulgence.
Room 46 remains corrupt, and the high‑ranking nobles remain arrogant…
Only the group of Spiritual Prestige who have reached the third tier and entered the Captain‑level Reapers notice something amiss in the sky; at this moment, whether familiar with Huang Mu or not, they all wear shocked expressions.
Among them is the head of a high‑ranking noble family, who, after accidentally falling to the ground, murmurs to the sky, "Is this a joke? The sky is completely covered…"
Although this high‑ranking noble head does not know what has happened in the Three Realms, it does not stop him; watching a Saint King block the sky over the Serene Spirit Court, the phrase "blocking heaven and eclipsing the sun" must refer to this very sight.
The Jing Le residence.
"Hey hey hey…"
"Master Huang Mu, this is getting serious; it looks like the battle over there has also reached a fever pitch."
"I just hope Master Huang Mu's contest with Master Yuan Liu Zhai can be a bit more peaceful, holding back a little; otherwise, before they decide a winner, the Three Realms will be destroyed first."
Jing Le Chunshui looks up at the massive Buddha that blocks the sun, his brows furrowed. Having trained for years in the Spirit King Palace, Jing Le naturally understands the cause of the Three Realms' tremor before his eyes…
According to an unnamed source—'Wang Yue the Big‑Mouth'—the royal agents of Zero Squad, after retrieving their true Zanpakuto and performing a Bankai, will cause the tremor seen across the Three Realms!
Any strong individual who reaches the level of a Zero Squad member can, with a slight exertion, completely disrupt the world's balance; therefore, the royal agents of Zero Squad, to preserve that balance, habitually use oaths to seal their Zanpakuto's Bankai!
However, among these royal agents, two are special: one is an original Zero Squad member, known as True Name Hu the Monk, Bi Zhubei of the First Division, whose abilities are extraordinary and require no oath restriction.
The other is his teacher, Huang Mu…
The reason Huang Mu's Zanpakuto is also exempt from Zero Squad's blood‑oath restriction is not that his blade is harmless to the world, but because its power is so great that the Zero Squad's oath cannot contain it.
Before witnessing the current scene, Jing Le had no concept of the Zero Squad's uncontainable limit; only now does he truly understand that Huang Mu's Zanpakuto is even larger than this world itself!
"Jing Le, did something happen?"
Unlike Jing Le, his elder sister‑in‑law looks rather bewildered; with her spiritual pressure she cannot see the massive Wheel Saint King in the sky.
"It's fine, it's fine…"
"Just go back and rest."
Hearing his sister‑in‑law's words, Jing Le instantly smiled.
Besides Jing Le, Ye Yi, Fu Zhu, and Shi Tan also looked up; facing the Saint King radiating endless sunrise light, everyone wore a contemplative expression.
"Ah…"
"When will I finally be able to strike down that thing in the sky?!"
In the sea of blood, Geng Mu looks up at the sky, gazing at the radiant Saint King with a hint of obsession.
"Stop zoning out; there are still missions unfinished."
Before Geng Mu can speak further, Zhai Tao, notebook in hand, yanks him away.
"Aunt Zhai Tao, these minnows are far too weak! Give me stronger opponents…"
Ordered by Zhai Tao, Geng Mu complains discontentedly.
"It's so noisy! Do you think I'm willing to deal with this trash?!"
"Also, don't call me aunt; call me Sister‑Lord."
Hearing this, Zhai Tao, angry, warns Geng Mu.
"Alright, aunt! Got it, aunt!"
Geng Mu, after hearing Zhai Tao, pouts.
After Huang Mu and Yuan Liu Zhai both depart, Geng Mu and Zhai Tao switch to cleanup mode; every aristocrat listed in their notebooks is swept up in one net…
"The killers who privately raise voids, the killers who run arenas, the killers who traffic people!"
In the current Serene Spirit Court, these three are often linked together…
Since their paths have been on a winning streak, countless nobles have perished beneath Geng Mu's blade.
Just now, Geng Mu and Zhai Tao cleared an arena set up by high‑ranking nobles; although those nobles call it an arena, the performances inside have little to do with duels.
In this so‑called arena, the high‑ranking nobles breed some voids that aid their evil, using them to devour the 'minor nobles' whose estates they have seized!
This not only lets them use the voids to eliminate troublesome opponents— even Room 46 would have excuses during an investigation— but also lets them watch those foes struggle and beg as the voids consume them, satisfying their vile tastes; it's a win‑win.
In response, Huang Mu, disgusted, kept sending Zhai Tao and others to investigate, and taking advantage of the current chaos in the Serene Spirit Court, assigned the ageless Geng Mu and Zhai Tao as scavengers to clear the trash attached to the Court.
The slaughter continued until Geng Mu once again razed an arena and rescued a pair of seemingly frail youths, after which he sensed something amiss.
"The one we just destroyed seemed to be an official execution ground, right?!"
Geng Mu, brandishing his blood‑dripping blade, fell into doubt.
When he killed the last person, the victim seemed to claim to be from Room 46…
Yes, the current Tranquil Spirit Court still upholds an ancient custom: it imposes the Void Devour Punishment on nobles who err, which means tying those errant nobles together with the Void Gates kept by the enforcement agency, then watching the Void devour and kill them…
Just now, the lost Gengmu accidentally stumbled into the official execution chamber, killed with gusto, and after cleaning out everyone who needed to die, he only then realized he had killed the wrong person, so he asked the nearby Saito Immortal, but when Gengmu turned around, he found Saito Immortal had already vanished…
Never mind.
Seeing that the main target was gone, Gengmu no longer worried about whether the place he had just slaughtered was part of the plan.
Anyway, the "Void", the "spectators", the "nobles", and the "poor souls framed" are all the same; whether official or private makes no difference.
My name is Zhi Cheng Shuangye…
Although I condemn your reckless, indiscriminate killing in the execution ground just because we disagreed a moment ago, I sincerely thank you for saving me and my sister!
Also, our whole Zhi Cheng family has been wronged; please believe we are all good people…
Please believe I will repay you! I will, for sure…
When Gengmu, bearing his half‑sized Zanpo Blade, walked toward the distance, the child he had rescued shouted at his departing back.
None of my business…
Gengmu heard that, paused briefly, muttered something casually, and left the execution ground.
Ah! You bastard, I wasn't watching you for a moment and you ran off to slack off, right?!
Not long after Gengmu left the execution ground and reached the street, Saito Immortal seized him again and forced him into labor.
In the shadow of the Tranquil Spirit Court.
Within the empire that shifts from "Light" to "Dark", from "Form" to "Formlessness".
Your Majesty, the man who once defeated you seems to have become stronger.
A man with golden long hair and a handsome face rare in the Three Realms stood quietly before the crystal sarcophagus bearing the Eradication Cross, murmuring to the sleeping man inside.
The long‑haired man lying in that cross‑shaped coffin is Youhabah, who centuries ago first had his eyes sealed by the monk, then was slain jointly by Araki, Yuan Liuzhai, and Quebu.
Spirit King Palace.
The detached halls of the Zero Squad members trembled like an earthquake; Araki's detached hall at that moment radiated endless glassy‑colored brilliance…
What a hassle!
The troop commander stared at the massive Rotating Wheel Holy King in the sky, wiping sweat from his forehead; had he not written a "Barrier" for the Soul Society at the crucial moment of Araki's Bankai, the Soul Society would probably be in chaos because of the Holy King's appearance!
Indeed, it's not that ordinary people in the Soul Society can't see the Holy King; the troop commander simply doesn't want them to. As for the Shinigami whose Spiritual Authority reaches Grade 3 or higher on the screen, the commander could do it, but the spiritual pressure cost is too high to be worthwhile, so he's too lazy to bother…
Araki Boss, Araki Ancestor! Please settle the outcome with Yuan Liuzhai quickly!
This Spirit King Palace is about to collapse…
The troop commander looked up, pleading to Araki far away in the Void Circle.
Although the troop commander's pleas are useless, the Spirit King Palace will still shake…
Void Circle.
When Yuan Liuzhai saw Araki, after fully releasing his Bankai, cause the spiritual pressure to quake the entire Three Realms, his brows knit tightly. Araki didn't know whether Yuan Liuzhai was praising or mocking him, but Yuan Liuzhai said, "With a wave of the hand you shake the Three Realms; Araki, you truly live up to the Zero Squad name."
Teacher Yuan Liuzhai, you're joking; how could members of the Zero Squad compare with me?
Aside from the Spirit King himself, I am the strongest across the Three Realms…
After hearing Yuan Liuzhai's words, Araki gave a light smile, then spoke arrogantly.
The strongest, huh?!
Yuan Liuzhai, after hearing Araki's words, suddenly lost interest.
Once, Yuan Liuzhai also claimed to be the strongest Shinigami in the Soul Society, but each mountain has a higher one; even among the strong there are stronger, and the old wave will eventually be swallowed by the new wave…
Today, Yuan Liuzhai is the old wave being struck by the new wave!
Araki, open your eyes wide and watch, this is all my teaching!
Cinder Fire Katana·East – Rising Sun Blade…
After seeing Araki's true Bankai, Yuan Liuzhai finally stopped hesitating; he brandished the black blade fused with all flames and slashed toward Araki.
Om!
Facing Yuan Liuzhai's attack, Araki uttered a six‑character mantra; the mantra instantly formed a huge golden glyph that surged toward Yuan Liuzhai.
Boom!
The blade in Yuan Liuzhai's hand collided with Araki's spoken mantra.
Amid the explosion, Yuan Liuzhai stepped back and the glyph was cut off by his Rising Sun Blade.
Buzz!!
Before Yuan Liuzhai could act, the Holy King in the sky suddenly cast a spell.
For a moment, crystal‑clear rain poured from the heavens…
Cinder Fire Katana·West – Dying Sun Prison Garb!
Yuan Liuzhai, staring at the falling rain, dared not hesitate and immediately activated his ultimate defense after his Zanpo Blade Bankai!
As Yuan Liuzhai finished speaking, armor of about fifteen million kelvin—matching the sun's core—immediately cloaked his body; though it looked like blazing flame, its temperature far exceeded any fire.
When Yuan Liuzhai's Dying Sun Prison Garb collided with the heavenly Sweet Dew, hot steam erupted; as the Holy King's rain vanished, the garb extinguished.
Cinder Fire Katana·South – Ten‑Quadrillion Death Burial Formation!
Without hesitation, Yuan Liuzhai immediately employed his new technique; after Araki broke Cinder Fire Katana·West, Yuan Liuzhai used Cinder Fire Katana·South against Araki.
As Yuan Liuzhai drove his Zanpo Blade, heated to 1,500 °C, into the Void Circle's ground, the earth itself tore apart, the cracked Void Circle turning into endless hell, spewing scorching air and molten lava.
Ah! Ah! Ah…
The next second, endless screams flooded Araki's ears, countless skeletal corpses rose from the lava layer, becoming walking dead, attacking Araki.
The scorching flames will awaken all the dead buried beneath this blade!
Araki, faced with an enemy you cannot kill or erase, what will you do?!
While explaining his Zanpo Blade ability to Araki, Yuan Liuzhai asked.
「Naturally, it's to send them to the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli World……」
Huangmu merely gave a light smile at this, and the Holy King in the sky immediately, following Huangmu's will, pinched another hand seal.
「Hum! 」
In an instant, the bodies of the spirits awakened by Yuan Liuzai on the ground suddenly lit up with one after another of lapis-colored radiance; at this moment, these deceased spirits finally showed joyful expressions, floating up from the ground one after another toward the Holy King that had replaced the moon.
「……」
At this moment, Yuan Liuzai fell silent watching the souls one by one being liberated by Huangmu; this was tantamount to shooting himself in the foot.
Within just five minutes, all three of Yuan Liuzai's great techniques in the east, west, and south were completely broken through!
However, Yuan Liuzai did not give up there.
「Huangmu, this is my final strike……」
「Crimson Fire Great Blade·North–Heaven and Earth Ashes to Nothing!! 」
Yuan Liuzai shouted loudly, swinging out his final blade.
As Yuan Liuzai's blade fell, heaven and earth abruptly lost color, as if at this moment the entire world had been splashed with a film, and Yuan Liuzai's blade was the locus of that unified radiance between heaven and earth……
The immensely powerful slash that gathered the terrifying temperature of fifteen million degrees together transformed into a blade of light capable of cutting all things in the world, rushing straight toward Huangmu's body, while Huangmu, facing Yuan Liuzai, unleashed his own immensely powerful strike, yet calmly extended a hand.
In the next second, Huangmu's hand turned into specks of lapis-colored starlight, rapidly expanding! In the blink of an eye it seemed to cover the celestial pole, colliding head-on with Yuan Liuzai's strongest slash that he had just unleashed!
This is wild-tree combination 'Eye Monk' Soldier Master Division One Soldier Guard's Divine Ability Thousand Miles Reaching Heaven Palm, and combined with one's own Soul-Cutting Sword's ability, created the Divine Ability unique to him, its name is: 'Divine Ability·Medicine Buddha Tathagata Palm!'
「Boom!! 」
When Huangmu's Tathagata Palm collided with Yuan Liuzai's Heaven and Earth Ashes, his palm was instantly sliced open with a huge crack, from which lapis starlight continually flowed……
「Success? 」
Seeing this, Yuan Liuzai's eyes lit up; frankly, he had never imagined his blade could wound Huangmu, and now being able to cut off Huangmu's hand with a single strike was already a pleasant surprise.
「As expected of Teacher Yuan Liuzai……」
Huangmu looked at his own strongest strike, which Yuan Liuzai had cut off, feeling no surprise at all; his own Medicine Buddha Lapis Light was never good at combat, who still remembers he was actually a 'nurse'?!
Before Yuan Liuzai could even finish rejoicing, Huangmu's severed hand had already returned to its original state……
「Hehe……」
Yuan Liuzai looked at the self‑recovering Huangmu and felt no surprise; he himself did not believe that slash could truly harm Huangmu, and fortunately, with his current sturdy body he could still unleash seven or eight Heaven‑Earth Ashes strikes, so he wanted to see whether Huangmu's recovery was faster or his own cutting speed.
「Hum!! 」
Just as Yuan Liuzai was eager to try, the light radiating from the Holy King in the sky that had replaced the moon grew ever more dazzling; immediately, centered on Huangmu, one, two, three, four, five……
In the blink of an eye, the sky was filled with gigantic palms as towering as Mount Everest; Yuan Liuzai roughly counted them and found there were over a thousand of these massive palms.
「……」
When Yuan Liuzai had clearly counted the number of palms in the sky, the hand gripping his Soul‑Cutting Blade suddenly jerked.
「Thousand‑Hand·Medicine Buddha Tathagata Palm! 」
Huangmu looked at Yuan Liuzai, whose lips had turned pale, and spoke the name of this technique.
「Huangmu……」
「I am your master after all! 」
Yuan Liuzai weighed the remaining spiritual pressure in his body; even if he risked his life, he could at most unleash seventeen or eighteen Heaven‑Earth Ashes strikes, which was the limit of his stamina and spiritual pressure. Yet seventeen or eighteen such strikes were utterly meaningless before these tens of thousands of giant palms—his cutting speed couldn't even keep up with Huangmu's recovery.
Upon realizing this, after confirming he was inferior to Huangmu, Yuan Liuzai suddenly became a bit carried away, playing the emotional card with Huangmu; in short, he acknowledged that Huangmu had surpassed him and was the strongest death god of the Pure Spirit Court—wasn't that enough? As for sparring, it should stop at a light touch; he hoped Huangmu could understand his painstaking efforts……
「I understand……」
Upon hearing that, Huangmu firmly nodded at Yuan Liuzai.
「I am indeed gratified. 」
Yuan Liuzai, upon hearing Huangmu's words, showed a faint smile; it seemed his disciple had not been chosen in vain.
「Master, you mean I should let go of my reservations and go all out, right?! 」
「I know Teacher Yuan Liuzai, you surely want to suffer an honorable defeat at my hands. 」
「Disciple, I will now satisfy you……」
As Huangmu spoke those last few words, they almost burst out from between his teeth; it seemed those words contained his long‑standing grudge against Yuan Liuzai built up over the years—who knows what kind of monster Huangmu had been turned into by Yuan Liuzai's training back in the Yuanzi Academy? Today everything ought to be settled……
「Huh?! 」
Upon hearing Huangmu's words, Yuan Liuzai was momentarily stunned, then his face drastically changed.
「You unfilial disciple……」
Before Yuan Liuzai could even finish loudly cursing Huangmu, the countless palm shadows in the sky had already descended from heaven and slammed down.
「Boom!! 」
Immediately, mushroom cloud after mushroom cloud blossomed beautifully across the earth of the Hollow Realm.
「Boom! 」
After all things were reduced to flatness, the Ultimate Release that had affected the Three Worlds slowly faded away, leaving only the large‑character‑shaped Yuan Liuzai Chongguo lying on the ground, and Huangmu, who had sheathed his Soul‑Cutting Blade and sat beside Yuan Liuzai.
「Master, you have lost. 」
Huangmu looked at Yuan Liuzai lying on the sand, quietly gazing at the night sky, and said with a smile.
「Hmm, I have lost……」
Upon hearing that, Yuan Liuzai nodded firmly.
「From today onward, Huangmu, you are the commander‑in‑chief of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. 」
Immediately afterward, Yuan Liuzai softly informed Huangmu, announcing that Huangmu would succeed him.
「Next, Huangmu you……」
「Next, Teacher Yuan Liuzai, what do you intend to do? 」
Before Yuan Liuzai could speak, Huangmu beat him to it, posing that question to Yuan Liuzai—the very question Yuan Liuzai had wanted to ask Huangmu—leaving Yuan Liuzai momentarily feeling a lump in his throat.
"I?"
"I resigned from the position of Captain-Commander, and I no longer intend to stay in the '13th Division'; I'll probably go teach at the 'True Central Spiritual Arts Academy'? People, in this lifetime, you can't not respect your elders! I think I should step back from the front lines and train some fresh blood for the '13th Division'—after all, after fighting you today, I seem better at teaching than fighting..."
"After hearing Huāngmù's words, Yuán Liǔzhāi first thought for a moment, then spoke candidly."
"What Yuán Liǔzhāi meant by that was: don't think that just because you, Huāngmù, beat me, you need to understand one thing……"
"That is, even you, Huāngmù, are my student!"
"At the same time, Yuán Liǔzhāi viewed his loss of the strongest throne with extraordinary openness……"
"Although he is no longer the strongest Soul Reaper now, the one who succeeded him is his student; in other words, he is the one who taught the strongest Soul Reaper, aka the strongest Soul Reaper teacher?!"
"After rounding up, he's still the strongest!"
"Cough cough……"
"Makes sense!"
"After hearing Yuán Liǔzhāi's words, Huāngmù nodded vigorously, feeling that the teacher was right."
"By the way, Teacher, are you interested in joining the Zero Division?!"
"Huāngmù first agreed with Yuán Liǔzhāi, then continued to ask him."
"Go to the Zero Division?"
"Upon hearing that, Yuán Liǔzhāi furrowed his brows tightly."
"That's right……"
"With your current strength, aside from going to the Zero Division, you cannot improve your power elsewhere; it would be better to go with me to the Soul King Palace and serve the Great Soul King."
"You should know that the opportunity to go to the Zero Division is extremely rare; ordinary people who want to go can't, and even though you, as the Founder of the Guard Court, have made outstanding contributions to the Court of Pure Souls, it's still hard to join us without my recommendation."
"Of course, even if you later truly become a member of the Zero Division, you can freely travel between the Soul King Palace and the Court of Pure Souls, so it won't interfere with your teaching career; I can guarantee this for you, and I will help you apply for the same privileges as mine."
"Huāngmù coaxed Yuán Liǔzhāi."
"This……"
"Yuán Liǔzhāi was half-believing, half-doubting."
"You see! Although your Soul-Cutting Sword has developed the four major formations of the southeast, northwest, southwest, and northeast, but it's clearly lacking power in the southeast, northeast, southwest, and northwest directions!"
"Besides these eight directions, you can also develop toward the heavens, the earth, and so on……"
"Huāngmù gave his opinion on Yuán Liǔzhāi's Soul-Cutting Sword development."
"Immediately after, Huāngmù seemed to think of something and added to Yuán Liǔzhāi: 'Oh, right, I must remind you: never say things like "I am supreme above heaven and below earth," because people who say such things are easily cut at the waist……'"
"After all, Yuán Liǔzhāi himself is prone to being cut at the waist; after setting a flag, he might die an untimely death……"
"Go go go……"
"Get out of my way!"
"Upon hearing Huāngmù's words, Yuán Liǔzhāi felt speechless; this disciple of his is fine in every way, except he loves to hold grudges and lacks proper conduct."
"But what you said is indeed reasonable……"
"Immediately after, Yuán Liǔzhāi nodded at Huāngmù, seemingly approving of what Huāngmù had said earlier."
"Do you also think you're prone to being cut at the waist?"
"Upon hearing that, Huāngmù asked Yuán Liǔzhāi."
"I mean, letting me develop skills in other directions sounds reasonable!"
"Yuán Liǔzhāi shouted angrily at Huāngmù."
"What about the Zero Division?"
"Huāngmù asked Yuán Liǔzhāi again."
"Still considering……"
"Yuán Liǔzhāi's brows were tightly locked; he seemed unable to give an answer in a short time."
"You see! If you join the Zero Division, you can disregard the laws of the Court of Pure Souls; if you want to run a school properly, you'll find the Zero Division's privileges useful, right?!"
"Huāngmù continued to tempt Yuán Liǔzhāi."
"Huh?!"
"Upon hearing that, Yuán Liǔzhāi's eyes lit up with a gleam. As Huāngmù said, if he wants to run a school properly at the True Central Spiritual Arts Academy, the Zero Division's privileges are indeed useful."
"Don't hesitate, disciple—this is for your own good."
"Seeing this, Huāngmù struck while the iron was hot."
"Fine, fine, fine, I agree! I'll go to that Zero Division."
"Yuán Liǔzhāi couldn't withstand Huāngmù's relentless mental pressure and ultimately agreed to his request."
"No delay, let's head back now~"
"In response, Huāngmù smiled faintly and waved his hand, opening a black cavity leading to the Soul Society."
"What's the rush?!"
"Yuán Liǔzhāi looked at the somewhat anxious Huāngmù before him and always felt that Huāngmù was secretly plotting something."
"Hehe."
"In response, Huāngmù merely smiled without speaking; he was indeed secretly plotting something, but he simply didn't want to tell Yuán Liǔzhāi."
"So then……"
"After convincing Yuán Liǔzhāi, defeating him, and becoming the new Captain-Commander of the Guard Court Thirteen Divisions, it was also time for Huāngmù to start his next plan."
"Dear Soul Society, you damned nobles, and you clueless commoners, are you ready to welcome your brand-new Guard Court Captain-Commander?!"
"Huāngmù's gaze became extraordinarily deep, while he murmured softly in his heart."
"Another ten thousand characters! Long-overdue request for wave tickets~"
"Then I need to go sleep a bit; my mind is starting to get confused."
End of Chapter
