Chapter 148: Eight Swords of All Eras Gather, the Soul Society's Mightiest

Boom!!

Ku Wushik gripped his Zanpakuto tightly and kept swinging it forward, putting full force into almost every slash, each swing making his arm swing in a full arc! Ku Wushik's sword style is a wide‑open, sweeping type, fully exploiting his stature and reach while also maintaining speed; for a moment even Gengmu could barely keep up, at least in the eyes of the onlookers, it seemed Ku Wushik was suppressing Gengmu.

Incredible, that invincible Captain Gengmu was actually being suppressed...

He can't even counterattack, forced to defend passively? That's absurd!

The Eleven Squad soldiers watching Ku Wushik and Gengmu's battle saw Ku Wushik unleash terrifying spiritual pressure and astonishing power, gradually suppressing Gengmu, and they instantly wore shocked expressions...

It was the first time they had ever seen their own captain being suppressed! According to their impression of Captain Gengmu, whenever he chose to fight, the outcome would be decided in an instant.

Indeed, Gengmu defeats opponents in a split second...

However, the soldiers present didn't know that Ku Wushik, who seemed to hold absolute advantage, was not as relaxed as he appeared! Sweat beads formed on his forehead, and his current situation was far more dangerous than it looked to outsiders.

Ha ha, this guy is truly a monster!

Since the moment he started fighting me until now, he hasn't used a single technique; he's relying purely on his body's instincts to battle me. Yet even so, despite having unleashed all the swordsmanship I've accumulated over centuries, I still can't defeat him!

When Gengmu lowered his swinging Zanpakuto, the surrounding Eleven Squad soldiers were shocked again. These soldiers, who had been recruited by Gengmu from the Spiritual Arts Institute after Huangmu transferred the entire Eleven Squad, still have limited experience. Seeing their Captain Gengmu eliminate so many foes that could match the Great Void in a single strike still astonished them; after a few hundred years, when their horizons broaden, they will no longer be surprised.

Huangmu said, snapped his fingers lightly before the crowd, and in an instant a door radiating endless light appeared before everyone's eyes.

Honestly... this is so boring!

When Ku Wushik completed his Shikai, the enthusiastic Eleven Squad soldiers who had been surrounding him and Gengmu to watch silently were all dumbfounded; honestly, they'd never seen a Zanpakuto like Ku Wushik's that, after Shikai, summons a horde of creatures to attack the enemy.

But now that we're in the Void Circle, I can finally let loose.

The crowd, shocked by his words, then questioned the speaker.

As for the brown‑haired youth who also passed through the Super Realm Gate, he now showed a hint of something profound.

I borrowed the Super Realm Gate from Wang Yue! I'll take you to a place where you can fight to your heart's content...

If we don't follow, how can we watch the battle?!

Fine!

Gengmu, after hearing Ku Wushik's words, also burst into laughter.

Because Ku Wushik knew that if he dragged it out, he would inevitably lose!

Heh...

At this moment, after Gengmu's Shikai, he easily broke through Ku Wushik's Shikai with a single slash, hoisting his massive axe forged in his Shikai, and asked Ku Wushik.

Heh...

Heh, didn't expect we'd end up in the Void Circle; we've really gone far.

Captain Gengmu!

Ku Wushik nodded at the words, intending to concede; after all, his Shikai had been broken by Gengmu, and he no longer had the ability to continue fighting Gengmu.

What are you doing?!

On Huangmu's special skyborne sword viewing platform, an old man with hair turning gray and almost bald, stroking his increasingly long beard, quietly watched Ku Wushik and Gengmu facing off below.

Hearing that, the man immediately roared at the crowd.

Without waiting for the crowd's chatter, Huangmu stepped directly to Ku Wushik and Gengmu's side and asked them.

Why?!

Because soon these soldiers will understand Huangmu's intentions!

Ah! This guy actually turned my entire Shikai into spirit fragments?!

It is also because, from the start of the battle, Gengmu never actively attacked Ku Wushik; he only responded with instinctive blocks after Ku Wushik made a move. This gave the onlookers the impression that Gengmu, under Ku Wushik's assault, could only defend passively, leading them to mistakenly think Gengmu was being suppressed, when in fact the one being forced into passivity was Ku Wushik.

Huh?!

Hey hey hey! What the heck are these things?!

Have some shame, old man...

So my cuts just aren't fragmented enough?!

Indeed, this battle between Ku Wushik and Gengmu has drawn all the top forces of the Soul Society.

As the massive door opened, Huangmu entered first.

You should know, even the Void Flash and claws of the Great Void find it hard to tear him apart...

Is this your Shikai?!

Just as Ku Wushik was about to concede, a flat voice suddenly sounded beside everyone's ears.

However, Huangmu had no intention of explaining the soldiers' confusion...

'Void Circle'! We've actually arrived in the Void Circle?!

I admit...

The Eleven Squad soldiers who heard Huangmu were all bewildered.

Ku Wushik looked at Gengmu's unrivaled demeanor and couldn't help but give a wry smile.

Chief Captain Huangmu...

Even a Zanpakuto that can, to some extent, boost its user's abilities? This guy is really lucky!

When everyone saw the speaker was Asido, they fell silent.

Ku Wushik, naturally very familiar with this place, smiled brightly after confirming he had returned to the Void Circle.

So this is the Void Circle~

Hmm...

Maozhihua, standing beside Huangmu, gave the crowd a gentle smile.

The spiritual pressure emanating from each of these white spheres—how immense it is!

Ku Wushik's Bankai cannot be used in the Pure Spirit Court! Its power is too great, and he can't control it; if he were to unleash it, the entire Pure Spirit Court, along with the Guard Corps Thirteen Squad, would be completely destroyed.

The old man then asked Huangmu.

Sorry! Gengmu...

Ding!

How interesting! It's really interesting!

Huangmu just chuckled.

Don't underestimate me! How could a Great Hollow's claws and Hollow Flash compare to my Soul-Cutting Sword, forged through countless trials?

Is this the power of the Hollow Circle's Expeditionary Army Commander? It's incredibly strong! And this sword is perfect for group battles. I say, Chief Captain Huangmu, why would you, over a hundred years ago, appoint someone as obscure as Kuwashiki as the Expeditionary Army Commander-in-Chief? Indeed, there must be a reason for all this; Chief Captain Huangmu's far-sighted vision is beyond our comprehension.

Moreover, the soldiers of the Eleventh Division discovered an astonishing fact: the spiritual pressure of each white Pac-Man summoned by Kuwashiki surrounding them exceeds even the lowest-level Great Hollow they've encountered—the Gillian level! In other words, Kuwashiki could summon just a few of these Pac-Men and wipe out the entire division.

Just how powerful is the ability of Kuwashiki's Soul-Cutting Sword in its initial release? He knows best. He vaguely recalls that, using his initial release, Kuwashiki once forced back a being that seemed to be of the highest rank—a Vasto Lorde-level humanoid Hollow.

Terrifying spiritual pressure shot straight up to the heavens, forming a massive pillar that blew all the white Pac-Men on him into the sky, and at that moment Gengmu completed his own initial release.

Kuwashiki watched as the white Pac-Men he had summoned engulfed Gengmu, and spoke with a smile.

Huangmu, are these two guys the most outstanding newcomers the Soul Society has seen in recent years?

Hey hey hey! You were fighting me just fine—why are you summoning all these weaklings?

Even after just a glance at those Pac-Men, Gengmu's expression turned listless; in his view, Kuwashiki's Soul-Cutting Sword ability was utterly boring.

I won!

A more experienced soldier instantly recognized where they were.

Don't even think about running!

Let's go~

Any other tricks?

After hearing Gengmu's words, Kuwashiki gave a wry, helpless smile.

The repeated laughter caused Kuwashiki's expression to shift slightly.

They knew Axiduo's identity, and that he had just returned from the Hollow Circle to the Soul Society.

After everyone passed through the gate, they were stunned by the sight before them: they had already left the Soul Society and arrived in a world shrouded in pitch-black night, where the spiritual power surpassed that of the Soul Society and the laws of survival were far harsher! This place is……

Indeed, this knowledgeable person is none other than Axiduo, the Expeditionary Army Deputy Commander who had just left the Hollow Circle and returned to the Soul Society.

It's too, too powerful!

Everyone, do not pursue them.

As for the much-watched Kuwashiki and Gengmu, after exchanging a few words they immediately ran toward the depths of the Hollow Circle.

If I could use this Soul-Cutting Sword, perhaps I wouldn't need to devise such a complicated plan.

「……」 -> none.

You have indeed chopped up all my 'treasures'! But there's one regrettable thing I must tell you: these 'treasures' I summoned are nearly impossible to kill; as long as my spiritual pressure holds, no matter how many times you chop them up, they can keep regenerating.

Gengmu did not gather forces to attack Kuwashiki; instead, he gave Kuwashiki time to recover.

Kuwashiki didn't say much; with a wave of his hand, the Pac-Men surged toward Gengmu to devour him.

Facing them, Gengmu first yawned listlessly as the Pac-Men swarmed in, then he slashed out several bright silver blades of light, instantly slicing all the Pac-Men into pieces.

Meanwhile…

At the very moment Kuwashiki and Gengmu left, the spectators suddenly heard Huangmu's 'Heaven-Standing Net' in their minds; Huangmu explicitly forbade anyone from pursuing them to watch the spectacle up close.

After seeing Kuwashiki's helpless expression, Gengmu sighed.

Indeed, the youth in the sky is none other than Chief Captain Huangmu, who has just finished and looks refreshed.

And the old man whom Huangmu calls Yuanliuzhai, a half-aged, decrepit fellow, is none other than the former Chief Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, invited from the Spiritual Arts Academy by Huangmu to watch the show—Yamamoto Yuanliuzhai Shigekuni.

Wang Yue, the fake monk, Qilinsi Temple, and the lovely Qianshouwan—several members of the Zero Division—are sitting in front of something resembling a TV, live-streaming the battle in the Hollow Circle.

However, that plain sentence drew everyone's attention.

You couldn't have made a mistake, could you?

Just after Kuwashiki explained his Soul-Cutting Sword ability to Gengmu, the Gengmu who had been swallowed by the white Pac-Men he summoned suddenly burst into a series of loud laughs.

Roar!!

No need to be polite!

Haha, Captain Gengmu, who also works part-time, is truly a monster! He's incredibly strong.

Why aren't you attacking yet?

When everyone saw that a handsome young man with a smile had suddenly appeared above their heads, they first stared in surprise, then all at once bowed respectfully and greeted him: 'We have seen you, Chief Captain Huangmu!'

Terrifying sword light directly covered the entire sky of the Tranquil Spirit Court, and the dozens of white Pac-Men that Gengmu had previously thrown into the air have now vanished without a trace! As Gengmu said, those monsters summoned by Kuwashiki have all turned to dust.

As Kuwashiki's words fell, his Soul-Cutting Sword instantly transformed into endless black light, enveloping Gengmu before him and the surrounding soldiers of the Eleventh Division.

After hearing Gengmu's words, Kuwashiki merely gave a light smile, then lightly waved his hand at the corpses of the white spheres he had summoned.

Can't we follow and take a look?

Afterward, Gengmu added three more words, explaining the outcome of the match.

In a moment of carelessness, Gengmu was directly engulfed by the white spheres that had revived and rushed toward him.

It simply far surpasses anything we've seen before. Even Gillian-level Great Hollows! Compared to Adjuchas-level Great Hollows, they are not lacking at all—in fact, they are even stronger.

Kuwashiki looked at his Soul-Cutting Sword, which had been forced into its initial release form, and for a moment was at a loss for words.

Huh…

Then let's destroy all those white creatures you summoned, leaving not even a trace of spiritual particles!

With a clang of metal, the two Soul-Cutting Swords held by Kuwashiki and Gengmu instantly burst into a shower of sparks.

What? Are you scared?

As Huangmu led Kuwashiki and Gengmu away through the Super Boundary Gate, the onlooking soldiers of the Eleventh Division also grew curious about the gate before them, and they all followed closely behind the three, entering the gate.

"This 'Corpse Soul Realm' has really flourished under my teaching!"

At the same time, Gengmu expressed his dissatisfaction with Ku Wūshī before him; he had been fighting Ku Wūshī just fine, but Ku Wūshī insisted on summoning a bunch of Adjuchas-level fodder—this trash, which is nothing more than something he could kill one by one with a single slash, the sort of junk he uses to sharpen his blade when bored, and nothing else.

"Eh……"

After the squad members greeted Huangmu and Mao Zhi Hua, Jing Le and the others immediately bowed toward Huangmu and Mao Zhi Hua.

This time, Huangmu actually said a few more words.

In response to the squad members' greetings, Huangmu merely gave a faint nod.

After Ku Wūshī released his initial release, Gengmu did not rush to attack right away; instead, with a calm expression, he glanced at the white Pac-Man-like beings that Ku Wūshī had summoned around him…

However, before he could say more, Gengmu explained the current situation with just three short words.

"Ara, everyone's here~"

After Gengmu released his initial release, he couldn't be bothered to reseal it; if Ku Wūshī had no other tricks, then he intended to end the fight quickly…

"Here you can't fight to your heart's content!"

"Huh?!"

"Ah……"

"Heh……"

"Take this!"

"Devour, Yasai!!"

"Turn everything to dust for me!"

"I see, your Soul-Cutter Sword is of the biological type, huh?"

Unfortunately, Gengmu gave Ku Wūshī no chance to create distance; just as Ku Wūshī stepped back, Gengmu took a small step, appeared before Ku Wūshī, and actively swung his Soul-Cutter Sword at him.

Ku Wūshī naturally understood Gengmu's intention—that he wanted him to activate his final release, since under normal circumstances, final release is the ultimate technique a Shinigami can achieve with his Soul-Cutter Sword! But the problem is…

Upon hearing that, Huangmu immediately responded respectfully to that old geezer.

"Fight to your heart's content?!"

"Finished!"

"What tremendous destructive power! This blade is not merely a simple direct-attack type…"

Among them, the impatient Qilin Temple couldn't help but complain.

Gengmu shouted, gripping the huge long axe, and then fiercely swung this blade toward the sky.

"Hey! Do you have any other tricks?"

Compared to the members of the Eleventh Division, Axī was no better off; he easily sliced through Gengmu like cutting vegetables, instantly deciphering that point of Ku Wūshī's Soul-Cutter Sword ability, and widened his eyes in shock.

"Heh, my initial releases aren't that easy to kill."

Before Huangmu could say more, the squad members again greeted the beautiful woman with lustrous black hair standing beside him: 'Nice to meet you, Captain Mao Zhi Hua!'

"Alright, your initial releases are all slain by me; keep fighting me!"

"I never imagined my initial releases would be so easily chopped to pieces by you."

Accompanied by a roar, the white Pac-Man-like beings that Gengmu had previously chopped up instantly recovered their forms in midair and once again bared their gaping maws at Gengmu.

"Teacher Yuánliǔzhāi, I'm not exactly the best, but I'm fairly good~"

Meanwhile, Mao Zhi Hua beside Huangmu was glowing with a ruddy complexion, like a beautiful peony that had just absorbed enough nutrients, exuding an air of dignified grace while smiling kindly at everyone present.

"None left?"

Gengmu suppressed Ku Wūshī with one hand, wearing a cold smile, and coldly questioned the fleeing Ku Wūshī, as he perceived it.

As Gengmu's words fell, his Soul-Cutter Sword vanished without a trace, replaced by a strange Soul-Cutter Sword with a long handle, shaped like an axe, and a blade as large as a door panel.

Indeed, from the start of the battle between Ku Wūshī and Gengmu, Gengmu never used any sword techniques given to him by Huangmu against the enemy, choosing instead to rely on his own bodily instincts to fight Ku Wūshī! As Ku Wūshī attacked, Gengmu instinctively swung his blade to block, thereby training his body's reaction speed…

Even the advantage I gained through superb swordsmanship is dwindling over time; he's treating me as a whetstone to hone his Soul-Cutter Sword! If this continues, I fear I won't last until that monster uses its Soul-Cutter Sword ability before I am defeated…

As Gengmu spoke, his body suddenly erupted with a Hito's spiritual pressure.

Ku Wūshī suddenly said to Gengmu: 'This far is enough!'

Then let's end it! This battle that gave me slight pleasure…

"No need for formalities!"

Ku Wūshī seemed about to say something.

Only saw Ku Wūshī and Gengmu use instant step to leave those squad members behind, and after about hundreds of li…

Even while fighting Gengmu, he had already imagined that, given Gengmu's pure pursuit of strength and combat, his Soul-Cutter Sword's power might be outrageously strong—who knows?! Yet Ku Wūshī never imagined that Gengmu's Soul-Cutter Sword could be this powerful!

Is this even an initial release?! Even among the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, some Shinigami's bankai don't have this kind of power?! Although saying this from him might seem a bit inappropriate, after all, the power of his Soul-Cutter Sword's initial release is already outrageous in the eyes of some captains of the Thirteen Squads—it's just that Gengmu is even more outrageous.

I just came back from there; how could I possibly be mistaken!

"Hahaha……"

"Running away? You're overthinking it! Our battle has only just begun…" Ku Wūshī merely smirked after hearing Gengmu's words, then directly chanted his Soul-Cutter Sword's release phrase: "Born to bring omens of slaughter, respecting darkness and aging in eternal farewell, the hungry music corridor!"

After hearing Huangmu's words, Ku Wūshī and Gengmu were first stunned, then followed Huangmu's figure into the Super Boundary Gate.

At the same time, the Soul King Palace.

The brown-haired youth murmured softly in his heart.

Seeing what unfolded before them, the members of the Eleventh Division immediately showed worried looks and loudly shouted Gengmu's name.

Yuánliǔzhāi instantly showed a satisfied smile upon hearing Huangmu's words.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

"No way? So many Hollow‑level creatures were just wiped out like that?!"

"Heh, wanna let loose? Interesting!"

Besides, Huangmu still had half a sentence left unsaid: 'That the most outstanding one in our Soul Society in recent years is currently down there, beady‑eyed and sneaky, observing the structure of the Hollow realm… Yeah, it's that brown‑haired, rebellious little brat!'

Ku Wūshī looked at Gengmu's overhead slash. Instinctively he raised his blade to block, but at this moment he had no time to think—he too left the fight to his bodily instincts.

Huh?!

What? We actually arrived at the Hollow Circle in an instant? What a joke……

At this moment, Gengmu felt a little disappointed; since Kurouyashiki was already dead, it was also time to end this battle.

Eh? The captains have left?

At the same time, a teenager with brown short hair looked at Gengmu's Soul-Cutter Sword and silently showed an envious look.

After hearing Kurouyashiki's words, Gengmu shouldered his Soul-Cutter Sword and spoke coldly.

I've seen Teacher Huangmu, I've seen Master's Wife Maohua!

At the moment the pitch-black light disappeared, more than forty unknown creatures, resembling Pac-Men from a game, each with a huge mouth, entirely milky-white, about the size of a brown bear, simply floated there in midair!

Those milky-white creatures had no eyes, no ears or nose, not even limbs; they seemed to rely entirely on Kurouyashiki's thoughts to maneuver—when Kurouyashiki ordered them to attack someone, they would rudely float over, open their blood-disc mouths, and tear at the enemy.

Thinking this, Kurouyashiki directly retreated backward, trying to distance himself from Gengmu.

Kurouyashiki thought helplessly, knowing he could not continue to wear down Gengmu; he had to find a way to break the current stalemate, otherwise letting Gengmu adapt further would surely mean his defeat.

Although the Soul-Cutter Sword's shape was extraordinarily peculiar, nobody present underestimated its power, for the spiritual pressure bursting from Gengmu at this moment could not be faked.

Upon hearing that, Gengmu immediately stopped.

Kurouyashiki and Gengmu faced off in perfect mutual understanding.

Immediately afterward, both simultaneously gripped their Soul-Cutter Swords and shouted, 'Complete Release!'