Chapter 154: with translation of chapter title

After Zhicheng Shuangye became a disciple of Huangmu, ……

Time flew by incessantly; in the blink of an eye, a hundred years passed swiftly.

The captain's quarters of the First Division.

"Little Shuangye, you've passed~"

Maozhahua Lie sheathed his Zanpakuto and, smiling warmly, spoke to Zhicheng Shuangye before her.

"I passed?!"

Upon hearing Maozhahua Lie's words, Zhicheng Shuangye showed no joy, merely looking somewhat bewildered at Maozhahua Lie before him; even now he could not believe what he had just heard……

Yes, in the over a hundred years since Zhicheng Shuangye became Huangmu's disciple, he had long since forgotten just how many times that utterly ordinary-looking Zanpakuto in Maozhahua Lie Shibo's hand had cut him down.

He felt only that his spirit had become utterly numb! His flesh could no longer sense even a hint of pain or fatigue, as if he were a tireless machine, constantly being slain and revived, then slain again and revived, endlessly cycling between life and death……

"A hundred years! Do you know how I've spent these hundred years?!"

Unbeknownst to him, Zhicheng Shuangye's face grew wet with tears; he clenched his fists and knelt on the wooden floor of the First Division captain's quarters, head tilted back to stare at the ceiling, letting out a hoarse wail and a sigh.

Of course, although Maozhahua Lie Shibo's training was brutally harsh, its effects were nevertheless quite remarkable!

Zhicheng Shuangye still recalled that when he first came to the First Division captain's quarters to seek training from Huangmu, merely catching a glimpse of Maozhahua Lie Shibo was enough—he couldn't even see her blade clearly before being instantly slain!

This state persisted for a full five years! During those five years, he continually strained his spirit, employing all four basic Shinigami arts he had learned at the Spiritual Arts Academy—swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, footwork, and Kidō—until he could finally use Shunpo and Kidō to buy himself a brief respite from Maozhahua Lie's hand, only to be instantly cut down by her next strike.

After another roughly ten years, he found that the time he could withstand Maozhahua Lie's attacks grew longer and longer, and occasionally he could even use Kidō to launch a slight, symbolic counterattack when she least expected it.

To ask why it was merely symbolic—because with his spiritual pressure, an unchanted Kidō could inflict not even a scratch on Maozhahua Lie Shibo.

This state continued for another thirty years, marking the first time Zhicheng Shuangye inflicted effective damage on Maozhahua Lie; he adopted a near-suicidal tactic, sacrificing his entire arm to unleash a point-blank Hadō #96, Ittō Kasai!!

The sheer power of Ittō Kasai was immense, burning a hole clean through the ceiling of the First Division captain's quarters and also destroying the white haori of the Fourth Division that Maozhahua Lie wore over her shoulders; aside from that, her body suffered only minor burns, clearly showing that Zhicheng Shuangye's Ittō Kasai had not inflicted significant harm on her……

Even now, Zhicheng Shuangye still recalls Maozhahua Lie's words to him: "Ara, little ones shouldn't play with fire~ Watch out, you might wet the bed at midnight~"

Immediately, without waiting for Zhicheng Shuangye to answer, Maozhahua Lie's blade pierced his heart. From that day on, Zhicheng Shuangye never again used fire against Maozhahua Lie, for he had clearly realized that fire was not her weakness.

In fact, for the archvillain Maozhahua Lie, who had crossed blades with Yamamoto Genryūsai nearly a thousand years ago, Zhicheng Shuangye's Ittō Kasai was nothing more than a mere lighter compared to the old man's Ryūjin Jakka……

After experiencing that battle, Zhicheng Shuangye thereafter focused his fights with Maozhahua Lie on combining swordsmanship with Shunpo, striking while fleeing; thus another fifty-five years passed, bringing him to today, when he finally managed to endure a full two hours in her hands.

According to Maozhahua Lie's words, Zhicheng Shuangye had finally passed……

"Maozhahua Lie Shibo, thank you for your guidance of the Zhicheng clan over the past hundred-plus years!"

Zhicheng Shuangye first knelt on the floor, recalling the bits and pieces of the past hundred years, then rose and bowed deeply to Maozhahua Lie before him.

"Hn! I've seen all your efforts over the past hundred years……"

"You've also had it rough! You haven't even gone home properly in a full hundred years!"

"Now that the training is over, hurry back home to take a look~"

Maozhahua Lie listened to Zhicheng Shuangye's words, then spoke with a kind smile..

"I understand."

Upon hearing that, Zhicheng Shuangye first dropped to both knees, kowtowing several times to Maozhahua Lie; then, heart stirred, he left the First Division barracks and ran for home. In fact, in Zhicheng Shuangye's eyes, Maozhahua Lie was both his shibo and his swordsmanship teacher.

"How is this Zhicheng kid?!"

After Zhicheng departed, Huangmu's figure suddenly appeared in the First Division captain's quarters, and he inquired of Maozhahua Lie at his side.

"That kid's got talent and is pretty strong-willed~ Originally, in our plan, we meant for him to successfully learn to wield his Zanpakuto's power in battle with me, right?!"

"As it turned out, that kid discovered that when I attacked him I used no ability beyond swordsmanship, so he began to imitate me, abandoning his Zanpakuto power and facing me with swordsmanship alone……"

"If that kid weren't so stubborn, perhaps he could have passed my assessment without spending a hundred years; but maybe it's precisely this stubbornness that has shaped him?"

"Even judging swordsmanship alone, that kid could rank among the top ten of Seireitei~"

Maozhahua Lie gave Zhicheng Shuangye an extremely high evaluation.

"Top ten, huh?! Interesting……"

Huangmu chuckled lightly upon hearing Maozhahua Lie's words. As you know from the original story, Zhicheng Shuangye never possessed such formidable swordsmanship when not using his Zanpakuto power.

"Lie, the time's about right; it's time for you to sample my 'swordsmanship'~"

However, the solemn expression on Huangmu's face flickered and vanished, and as he spoke he appeared behind Maozhahua Lie.

"Heh heh, your swordsmanship? Let me have a good look—I want to see just how powerful your swordsmanship is!"

Maozhahua Lie feigned anger as he spoke to Huangmu; yet his words instead deeply stimulated Huangmu, causing his thirst for battle at that moment to peak outright!

Not long after, the captain's quarters echoed with the clashing of Zanpakuto as Huangmu and Maozhahua Lie launched into today's showdown~

Perhaps because they saw Zhicheng Shuangye's growth today, both felt immensely gratified, so their enthusiasm ran high; this time their warm-up exercises were thorough.

"Ka—ka—ka……" At that moment, if anyone stood outside the rear hall of the captain's quarters, they could hear the fiercely clashing battle sounds of Huangmu and Maozhahua Lie; whoever heard these sounds could not help but exclaim loudly: "Captain Huangmu truly lives up to being our model—clearly already this strong, yet he still relentlessly trains himself, allowing not the slightest laxity! How could such a disciplined person not be invincible in the world?"

"Damn it, you two won't let me play again! Add me in!!"

Well then, there really was someone waiting outside the rear hall of the captain's quarters……

Only to see Zhaiteng Bu Laobu Si, swearing profanely, burst into the battle between Maozhahua Lie and Huangmu; in an instant the spiritual pressures of these three high-ranking Shinigami collided and erupted—their fight was about to ignite!

Elsewhere……

Zhicheng Shuangye returned to his family and, gazing at the splendid manor, stood dumbfounded, again and again.

During the hundred years that Zhicheng Shuangye trained under Huangmu in the First Division, his sister was not idle either; leveraging her formidable business acumen and the connections left by the Zhicheng ancestors, she managed to thrust their two-person Zhicheng clan once more into the ranks of Seireitei's wealthy noble families~

But this time is different from before: now, within the vast Soul Society, no one dares to covet the Zhicheng clan's wealth, for the present Zhicheng clan is utterly unlike its counterpart of two hundred years ago—they now possess both riches and sufficient martial strength to safeguard their wealth, and with Shuangye's apprenticeship under the Captain-Commander, the clan has also gained countless powerful connections~

"Little Shuangye, you're back!"

Just as Zhicheng Shuangye was about to doubt whether that splendid gate before him was indeed his home, the doors swung open; first emerged a few attendants in white half-haori, the classic attire of Seireitei's noble servants, followed by a figure clad in a rare sky‑blue kimono of Seireitei, her face bearing delicate makeup, her head adorned with sparkling jewels, presenting a picture of graceful elegance that made Zhicheng Shuangye hardly dare to recognize her as his sister—she stepped out from the gate and spoke to him with a warm smile.

"Sister?"

Upon seeing his sister, Zhicheng Shuangye stood stunned, again and again, before striding over to greet her.

"Shuangye, you've grown taller and become much sturdier……"

Zhicheng Shuangye's sister, beholding her brother after a century apart, felt a surge of emotion; in her memory, Shuangye had been delicate as a girl from childhood~ yet that very slender brother, after a hundred years of training under the Captain‑Commander, had shed all his childishness, leaving only healthy, sun‑kissed wheat‑colored skin and remarkably robust muscle……

Although Zhicheng's muscles aren't as strong as Ku Wushi and Geng Mu's, nor is his stature as tall as theirs! Although he lacks the bear-like sturdy build of the Eleventh Division, he also possesses streamlined sinews all over his body; there's no doubt that right now, every muscle of Zhicheng Shuangye is filled with explosive power~

Zhicheng Shuangye's sister saw two words on her younger brother—growth!!

"Sister~"

As Zhicheng Shuangye's sister strained to tiptoe, she then, just like when he was a child, lightly patted the back of his head; Zhicheng could no longer suppress his longing for his sister deep in his heart, and he flung his arms around her, lifting her up from the ground as if she were a child……

Well, a hundred years have passed, and Zhicheng has already become taller than his sister~

"Shuangye, there are still others here—why are you still acting like a child?"

For a moment, Zhicheng Shuangye's sister suddenly realized her younger brother seemed to have returned to his childhood self; she looked at him helplessly and kept lecturing.

"I'm just missing you, aren't I?"

Zhicheng Shuangye chattered on to his sister.

"I've prepared food for you—hurry back and eat~"

Shuangye's sister said helplessly to her brother.

"Eh? Sis, did you know I was coming back?"

Shuangye heard this, looked at his sister doubtfully and asked.

"The Head Captain previously sent someone to notify us."

"When you go back, be sure to thank your Head Captain~"

Shuangye's sister replied.

"Oh, I got it."

"I'll thank my master when I return~"

Shuangye said, setting his sister down, then ran toward the house, muttering as he went: "Smells great! I wonder if there's any tempura I like?"

"The food I prepared are all what you love to eat……"

Shuangye's sister looked at Zhicheng Shuangye, who was over 1.8 meters tall yet still acted like a child, and said helplessly.

At the dinner table.

Zhicheng Shuangye ate heartily; his sister watched silently, while the attendants nearby waited.

From time to time, Shuangye's sister would smile and tell Zhicheng: "Eat slowly, no one's competing with you—eat as much as you want; our family isn't short on that money now, and we won't be in the future……"

"Mm, mm……"

After hearing his sister's words, Shuangye would occasionally nod, but his actions never slowed down.

"Hah……"

After a while, Shuangye devoured the tableful of food like a sweeping gust clearing away clouds, then he comfortably exhaled a turbid breath, revealing an expression of supreme bliss, murmuring: "I'm full! Finally I'm full~"

"Hehe, Shuangye, how has your training been these years under the Head Captain?"

After seeing Shuangye finish eating, his sister then inquired about his training under Huangmu.

"Sis, don't look at me like this—my Spiritual Pressure has already reached second grade!" Shuangye said proudly after hearing his sister's words, but he hadn't been proud long before he modestly added: "Although I've just entered the second-grade Spiritual Pressure realm, it hasn't been long……"

"Second grade? Which second grade?!"

Shuangye's sister's expression froze slightly upon hearing Zhicheng Shuangye's words.

"What else could it be but the second grade?"

"It's the second grade in the nobility's ranking table for Soul Reaper Spiritual Pressure~"

Zhicheng Shuangye replied, sounding slightly doubtful after hearing his sister's words.

"Hiss……"

Shuangye's sister sucked in a breath of cold air upon hearing that.

Because the Zhicheng family is itself a member of the Seireitei noble collective, and she understands clearly the nobility's grading of Soul Reaper Spiritual Pressure—namely the Spiritual Pressure system—

Take herself as an example: she can currently unleash Binding Spell number seventy at full power, her Spiritual Pressure is around sixth to seventh grade; placed in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, she could already serve as a high-ranking officer of the fourth seat, even up to third seat, and even in some weak divisions, under special circumstances, she could possibly serve as vice captain~

Judging by her current strength alone, she wouldn't be considered weak among the heads of the Zhicheng family throughout history! Yet even so powerful as she is, her Spiritual Pressure compared to Shuangye's is simply incomparable!

You should know that according to the nobles' judgment, a Soul Reaper whose Spiritual Pressure reaches third grade is sufficient to serve as captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, while her brother has surpassed third grade with second-grade Spiritual Pressure……

The founder of the Zhicheng family, also their strongest head of household, that man renowned in Soul Society for his formidable martial prowess, had barely reached third-grade Spiritual Pressure!

In other words, her brother has already become the strongest existence in the Zhicheng family's history……

"Shuangye, you really aren't lying to your sister, are you?"

Shuangye's sister, looking at her younger brother, inquired.

"Probably not? My Spiritual Pressure level was told to me directly by my master; I myself am not clear on the details."

Shuangye heard this, was momentarily stunned, then replied.

"Since Head Captain Huangmu said so, it's definitely correct……"

"If that's the case, doesn't my Shuangye qualify to become captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads right away?"

Shuangye's sister spoke excitedly.

"Eh……"

"I think it's unlikely; in fact, my training isn't complete yet……"

After hearing his sister's words, Shuangye showed a hesitant expression.

"Huh?! Isn't your Spiritual Pressure already at captain level?"

"Why can't you become captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads?"

Shuangye's sister, looking at him doubtfully, inquired.

"Sis, it's not that my Spiritual Pressure is insufficient; it's whether there's a position for me!"

"Currently, the captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are at full strength; aside from the few divisions controlled by the Five Great Noble Families, the other division captains are my fellow disciples. With my current strength, I lack confidence to defeat them, and I suspect their Spiritual Pressure has already approached first-grade……"

Zhicheng said, showing a look of lingering fear; when he had been under Head Captain Huangmu's tutelage for about fifty years, Huangmu summoned Zhicheng's fellow disciples, who took turns beating him……

Zhicheng recalled the scene where he was teased by his fellow senior brothers back then, and he immediately showed a wry smile; the gap between those of second-tier spiritual pressure is not just a little big~

"Your several senior brothers' spiritual pressure can get close to first-tier? If that's the case, your master..."

Shuangye's sister was stunned; in the Tranquil Spirit Court for hundreds of years, she had never heard of any noble house head outside the Five Great Noble Families possessing second-tier or higher spiritual pressure, let alone the legendary first-tier.

"As far as I know, among the Soul Reapers, if nothing unexpected happens, my master's wife, Squad Leader Kurouyashiki, and Senior Brother Gengmu should all be first-tier spiritual pressure! Vice Captain Saito should also be first-tier, though the gap between first-tiers is also quite big..."

Shuangye stroked his chin, recalling the people he knew whose spiritual pressure was at the first-tier level.

"As for my master, he's probably already surpassed first-tier, right?"

Next, Shuangye brought up his master Huangmu again, and when speaking of Huangmu, Shuangye couldn't help but show a wry smile; he no longer knew how to describe his master's strength like his sister did—have you seen a monster that, without using a Soul-Cutting Sword, relies solely on flesh to instantly take down the current Sword Eight? That's his master……

"I always feel that my master has become so strong he doesn't even seem like a Soul Reaper anymore……"

In Shuangye's eyes, Huangmu's strength is no longer something the noble families of the Tranquil Spirit Court can merely speculate about.

"Strong to the point of not being a Soul Reaper?"

Shuangye's sister, upon hearing this, instinctively opened her small mouth, which was as cherry-like and pink as a cherry.

"Hmm! Simply put, I think my master has already surpassed Soul Reapers and become an entirely new form of life!"

"Saying something outrageous, I think my master may have already reached the realm where the Spirit King resides~"

Shuangye lowered his head and spoke solemnly.

"Smack!"

The moment Shuangye finished speaking, his sister, who had been quietly listening, could no longer bear to listen……

She slammed her hands on the table, producing a crisp sound, then suddenly rose from her seat, stood upright, and with a solemn face told those around her: "I don't want the words Shuangye spoke here today to be spread by you!"

"We understand!"

Upon hearing the sister's words, the servants immediately fell to their knees in fear, trembling as they spoke.

"Haha, sister, you're overreacting……"

"What I just said isn't any secret, you know~"

"Any Soul Reaper whose spiritual pressure reaches captain level probably knows about this, right?!"

"After all, anyone who senses Captain Huangmu's unfathomable spiritual pressure will think of the legendary Spirit King……"

"You all get up too! Since sister doesn't want you to discuss it, just don't say anything."

Shuangye looked at his hot-tempered sister, chuckling, and gave those servants nearby a glance, prompting them all to rise and then he spoke to soothe them.

"Shuangye has really grown……"

Seeing this, Shuangye's sister was instantly overwhelmed with emotion; her previously anxious heart gradually relaxed as she listened to his words.

"The next day……"

After Zhicheng Shuangye bade farewell to his sister, he once again embarked on his cultivation journey.

When Zhicheng Shuangye entered the First Division Captain's quarters, he saw Shuangye rolling his eyes, collapsed on the sofa, looking as if Saito the undying had lost his soul……

""

Zhicheng Shuangye instantly fell silent.

"Just pretend I didn't see it!"

A few seconds later, Zhicheng Shuangye forcibly turned his head, pretending not to have seen Saito.

"Yo, Shuangye, you're back~"

"Looking at how energetic you are, it seems everyone at home is still doing fine~"

Huangmu looked at Zhicheng Shuangye, who had returned from visiting family, and chuckled.

"Greetings, Teacher Huangmu, everything at home is fine, and my sister is very healthy."

Upon hearing this, Zhicheng Shuangye responded with a chuckle to Huangmu.

"Then that's good……"

Huangmu gently nodded upon hearing that.

"Since you have already passed your master's wife's examination……"

"Then from today onward, you will formally undergo my training."

Huangmu looked at Zhicheng Shuangye and spoke in a calm tone.

"I understand……"

Zhicheng Shuangye said, drawing his Soul-Cutting Sword.

"Initial Release!"

Huangmu looked at Shuangye and spoke in a commanding tone.

"Greetings, Teacher Huangmu, I have already released my initial form."

Upon hearing this, Zhicheng Shuangye responded seriously.

"Very good."

Huangmu said, showing a faint smile toward Zhicheng.

"Pfft!!"

The next second, a huge wound was torn open in Zhicheng's chest, with countless blood spurting out.

"Huh?"

Zhicheng, puzzled, collapsed onto the ground.

"Buzz!"

As the azure light in the sky kept flashing, Zhicheng's body gradually recovered.

"What just happened?"

Zhicheng widened his eyes in disbelief, looking at Huangmu and asking.

Xiao Shuangya, my task has only one thing: to teach you how to use your own Soul-Cutting Sword, and how to make a beautiful slash. So Xiao Shuangya, your current task has only one thing: to constantly flee from my slash! Or slash as beautifully as mine to cancel out my slash~

Huangmu looked at Zhicheng Shuangya's clueless face and chuckled.

No way?!

Zhicheng Shuangya heard this and showed a somewhat bitter smile; he had just passed his master's wife's examination, so he didn't have to be killed by his master, but now it's his turn to be killed by his master again—when will this endless days of being slain finally end?

Indeed, Zhicheng Shuangya had no time to feel proud of having just barely passed the arduous training from his master's wife, Maozhihua Lie; what awaited him next was the training from his master, Huangmu...

Swish!

Before Zhicheng could even think, several huge wounds appeared on his body.

Struggle to survive! Xiao Shuangya!

Huangmu watched Zhicheng Shuangya fall over and over, chuckling.

Ah!!

That day, Zhicheng Shuangya once again recalled the fear of being dominated by death.

Time flew by, and another hundred years passed...

In the captain's room of the First Division...

Teacher Huangmu! This is my strongest slash!!

Zhicheng Shuangya roared, swinging his Soul-Cutting Sword with all his might.

A sky‑rising slash shot straight at Huangmu; the terrifying spiritual pressure emanating from it could crush everything before him into dust...

Not bad!

Even Huangmu, upon seeing Zhicheng Shuangya's slash, showed a satisfied smile.

Boom!

Then Huangmu lightly flicked his sleeve, easily dispersing the slash.

What?

To be honest, Zhicheng Shuangya had braced himself for his slash to be smashed by Huangmu, but he never imagined it would be so easily shattered—this was his all‑out strike at the moment...

Thud!

And the unable‑to‑fight Zhicheng Shuangya simply knelt before Huangmu, staring blankly ahead.

After undergoing Huangmu's hundred‑year devilish training, Zhicheng still found his slash so fragile that he gradually fell into despair~

Congratulations, Xiao Shuangya! You've passed this stage!

From today on, you are officially graduated~

Huangmu looked at the limp Zhicheng Shuangya on the ground and chuckled.

Huh?!

The originally disheartened Zhicheng Shuangya, upon hearing this, first froze, then the corners of his mouth kept rising.

Haha, hahaha...

Zhicheng Shuangya lay laughing lightly on the floor of the First Division's captain's quarters, his eyes filled with joy at having passed Huangmu's examination.

I finally graduated!

Zhicheng really wanted to shout out loud to vent his mixed feelings.

Unfortunately, Huangmu had no intention of giving Zhicheng Shuangya any rest...

Since you've graduated, Xiao Shuangya, I'll entrust this task to you~

Huangmu said, tossing a mission slip to the Zhicheng Shuangya lying on the wooden floor.

What is this?

Zhicheng Shuangya stared at the mission slip in his hand, frozen in place.

Lately, those Quincy in the living world have gotten a bit too arrogant~

Their eradication of Hollows has surpassed our Soul Society's control...

Therefore, the Central 46 finally decided to eradicate all Quincy in the living world.

Huangmu looked at Zhicheng Shuangya and spoke icily.

Huh? Why...

Zhicheng Shuangya stared, then asked Huangmu doubtfully: 'Teacher Huangmu, wouldn't it be good to let those Quincy destroy the Hollows? If all Hollows in this world were eliminated, wouldn't we Soul Reapers no longer need to go to Hueco Mundo to hunt them? Isn't that a good thing?'

Hehe...

Huangmu couldn't help but let out a cold chuckle after hearing Zhicheng Shuangya's words.

Regarding Zhicheng's doubt, Huangmu was not surprised; over the past few centuries, newly minted Soul Reapers have already forgotten the enmity between Soul Reapers and Quincy...

Even because Soul Reapers and Quincy both see Hollows as enemies and often team up to hunt great Hollows, some Soul Reapers even bear no grudge against Quincy, instead getting along well with them~

Huangmu doesn't object to these, but sometimes he wishes these Soul Reapers could tell right from wrong.

If all Hollows were wiped out by the Quincy, what would we Soul Reapers even do?!

What awaits our Soul Society in the future is massive layoffs in the Guardian Thirteen Squads...

Of course, Huangmu was just thinking this to himself; he never said it out loud.

The Quincy's method of eradicating Hollows differs from ours, Soul Reapers! After they destroy a Hollow, the Hollow does not turn into spirit particles to enter the great cycle; instead, they outright obliterate the spirit particles that make up the Hollow...

If they only eliminated one or two Hollows now and then, it wouldn't matter! Because aside from the cycle of rebirth, spirit particles, thanks to our Soul Reapers' efforts, keep growing healthily!

But if they organize and launch a massive sweep of Hueco Mundo, the loss of spirit particles there would become severe, spirit particles could no longer complete the cycle of rebirth, and the balance of the Three Worlds might thus be broken!

When that happens, the Soul King's painstakingly stabilized Three Worlds might well head toward ruin, and everything we know—including Soul Society—would descend into nothingness. Is that the result you want to see?!

Huangmu looked at Zhicheng Shuangya and spoke calmly.

This! I understand...

Zhicheng Shuangya never imagined that such tiny Quincy could have such a huge impact on the world.

But Teacher Aramaki, if we get ahead of the Quincy and annihilate all the Hollows in the entire Hollow Circle, then wouldn't we avoid conflict with the Quincy?! In that case, wouldn't our 'Three Worlds' also become peaceful?

Not long after, Zhicheng Shuangye seemed to think of something again, he looked at Aramaki and asked.

Hahaha...

What an interesting idea~

After hearing Zhicheng's words, Aramaki couldn't help but laugh. It seems that even the Zhicheng he educated will eventually, just like in the original story, think about permanently eliminating all Hollows once and for all~

"Shuangye, have you ever wondered why, after people in the living world die, they have two choices: one is to become a Whole, and the other is to become what people call evil spirits, that is, Hollows?"

Aramaki looked at Zhicheng before him and asked.

Uh...

Zhicheng heard this, froze a moment, obviously he had never thought about this question.

"Whether Hollow or Soul Reaper, at the beginning they are both ordinary souls; essentially there isn't much difference!"

"It's just that one side releases the instinct deep within our souls, while the other chooses to continue maintaining our rationality~"

"Whether Hollow or Soul Reaper, or ordinary humans, they are all part of maintaining the balance of the Three Worlds, and part of maintaining the cycle of spirit particles! They are an extremely important component of the Three Worlds, indispensable......"

"It is the Quincy who broke this balance, so the Quincy are by nature the common enemies of Soul Reapers and Hollows."

Aramaki looked at Zhicheng Shuangye and continued speaking.

"Teacher Aramaki, I understand."

Zhicheng heard this, he nodded firmly; although he still had many uncertainties in his heart, those didn't matter—what mattered was that he needed to, as Teacher Aramaki said, do his utmost to safeguard the stability and balance of the Three Worlds.

Aramaki looked at Zhicheng, who was frowning and thinking deeply, and didn't say anything; some things Zhicheng Shuangye needs to slowly seek out for himself, and some matters also need him to figure out on his own.

As for the relationship between Soul Reapers and Hollows, these two forces are inherently understandable, just like Aizen's experiment using the Collapsed Jade: he can let Soul Reapers gain Hollow power to obtain False Mask abilities, let Hollows undergo Soul Reaperification to gain Broken Mask power, and even use a large number of Soul Reaper souls to pile up into a 'Great Hollow' such as the Grand Hollow~

The Sword God Er Mai Ou Wang Yue self-proclaimed, all of his Soul-Cutting Swords (light strike) are forged using the souls of Soul Reapers, but they can also forge the Grand Hollow 'Yi Ji Si Ji Ba' into a sword, and even give them to Soul Reapers to use......

Although 'Ji Ba' would devour its wielder's soul, causing this sword to, before Aramaki took it, continually be thrown by Wang Yue into the pool used for forging Soul-Cutting Swords, the bottom of which, responsible for cooling, could be called a sea.

On the side of the Xishao Bureau, they even utilized the power of the Hollow (dragon) in daily life, just as the ancestors of the Shiba family had envisioned, creating a world where Soul Reapers (witches) and ordinary Hollows coexist peacefully, akin to a utopia......

Hollows have never been the poison of Soul Reapers; Hollows are merely the poison of the Quincy, and that's all......

"Then I'll leave this matter to you to handle."

Aramaki said, lightly patting Zhicheng on the shoulder.

Hmm......

Zhicheng's gaze became extremely firm upon hearing that.

Thus, with Aramaki's tacit approval, Zhicheng established the First Division's anti-Quincy special assault team.

This was after the Kurou Residence established the First Division's anti-Hollow Circle special assault team; it is another squad under the First Division. As for the organization of Zhicheng Shuangye's squad, Aramaki and the Kurou Residence receive the same treatment, and he ordered Zhicheng Shuangye to recruit members according to the normal establishment of the Thirteen Divisions.

Currently, excluding the Demon Arts Corps, this is the third subsidiary unit under Aramaki's First Division.

Yes, after Aramaki became the commander-in-chief of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, he incorporated the Demon Arts Corps into the First Division; currently, the three major institutions parallel under the Forty-Six Chambers have become nominal only.

The Covert Mobilization unit was merged into the Second Division, the Demon Arts Corps into the First Division; both are now subordinate institutions of the Thirteen Divisions, and the Forty-Six Chambers can hardly be mobilized at all......

After Zhicheng Shuangye received Aramaki's order, the first thing he did was go to the Shin'ou Spiritual Arts Academy to promote the Quincy special assault team he had established.

"Haven't the Quincy already been eliminated by Commander Aramaki?"

"Yeah! Yeah! I've never heard of such a special assault team; it's certainly not a part of the Thirteen Divisions, right?"

"It couldn't be some swindler from somewhere, could it?!"

Then, Zhicheng Shuangye's posters were questioned by countless students of the Spiritual Arts Academy.

"Listen to me, everyone! Our Quincy special assault team is not a fake division."

"Although we are indeed not a part of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, we are, like the Demon Arts Corps and the Hollow Circle Expeditionary Force, subordinate to the First Division and directly under Commander Aramaki's command!"

"Our treatment is the same as that of official members of the Thirteen Divisions, and because we are a brand-new unit, there is great room for advancement! I hope everyone can give it serious consideration......"

Finally, after a week of gaining nothing, Zhicheng Shuangye could only personally go to the Spiritual Arts Academy, holding a loudspeaker to promote.

Hehe~

In response, Yuan Liuzhai smiled as he watched this disciple-grandson of his laboring.

Give him a hand~

After a while, upon discovering that Zhicheng had been promoting for half a day with no students submitting resumes, Yuan Liuzhai finally spoke softly to the person beside him, Deputy Chief Que Bu Jiro.

Yes, sir!

Que Bu heard this, and lightly nodded at Yuan Liuzhai.

Several months later, with the help of a mysterious force, Zhicheng Shuangye managed, before the end of the Shin'ou Spiritual Arts Academy's graduation season, to successfully gather his fellow squad members; although they were few, only one hundred fifty, it was enough for Zhicheng Shuangye to lead them in attacking the Quincy.

On the day when Zhicheng Shuangye led his squad members, preparing to set out......

As the commander-in-chief of the Thirteen Divisions, Aramaki specially came to show his support for Zhicheng.

"Brave squad members, the responsibility of defending the peace of the Three Worlds rests upon your shoulders."

Aramaki stood on the podium and lightly addressed the students who had just graduated from the Spiritual Arts Academy below.

Oh!!

As Aramaki's words fell, Zhicheng Shuangye's entire division let out an excited roar.

During the several hundred years that Aramaki has led the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, he has gradually become a mythic figure in the hearts of the common folk and Soul Reaper soldiers of the Soul Society, both above and below.

Kill! Kill! Kill!!

Aramaki's mere words stirred the whole division's atmosphere; the squad members, as if injected with chicken blood, continuously waved their Soul-Cutting Swords, and they now wished to immediately rush into the living world and the Hollow Circle to annihilate those Quincy who had provoked the commander-in-chief without cause.

Depart!

Zhicheng Shuangye also seemed to be infected by the squad members; he took a deep breath and then shouted loudly.

Buzz!

As the "Portal Gate" slowly opened, Zhi Cheng Shuangye led the troops behind him and rushed in; their destination this time was — the Void Circle!

But this time they went to the Void Circle not to exterminate the void, but to confront the Eradicator who has disrupted the balance of the Three Realms.

Heh…

Huangmu watched Zhi Cheng Shuangye depart, and calmly employed the Heavenly Straight Sky Net.

"Present World" and "Void Circle", in these two worlds, all the descendants of the Eradicators whose hearts were taken by Huangmu about eight hundred years ago during the Empire of Light's invasion of the Corpse Soul Realm, received Huangmu's transmission at this moment; information from Huangmu continuously echoed in their minds.

Yes, Huangmu does not intend to eliminate all Eradicators; he aims to destroy only those Eradicators who do not submit to him. The unsubmitted Eradicators are the damned Eradicators~

"Void Circle".

Countless Eradicators clad in white continuously draw their bows made from surrounding spirit particles, targeting one void after another in a campaign of extermination…

Suddenly, a special spirit pressure pierced the world and entered the Void Circle…

This caused about one‑tenth of all Eradicators who had come to the Void Circle to eliminate the void—roughly the size of two squads—to halt their bow‑drawing, their brows furrowed as they digested Huangmu's message.

"The Ancestors have sent word: our rampant extermination of the void by us Eradicators has disturbed the world's balance! It has utterly angered the Corpse Soul Realm, and now the Corpse Soul Realm has dispatched a powerful Captain, leading a squad specialized in eradicating Eradicators, to the Void Circle. It is time for us to return to the Present World and hide."

One Eradicator who looked like a squad leader, his face exceedingly aged, spoke calmly to the surrounding Eradicators who, like him, had ceased their actions.

"Let's go."

As his words fell, a special door used by Eradicators instantly split open before them.

Immediately thereafter, this squad of about twenty people vanished from the Void Circle without a trace.

Compared with the more than 180 Eradicators still firing, this twenty‑person squad was utterly insignificant.

Buzz!

Just a short while after that twenty‑person squad left the Void Circle…

A Portal Gate suddenly opened within the Void Circle, and a host of Reapers wearing Death Overlord Armor surged out, charging at the Eradicators.

"Spare no Eradicator who disturbs the balance of the Three Realms!"

Accompanied by the Reapers' roaring shouts, the slaughter began.

"Everyone run! These Reapers aren't here to help us?!"

"Why? Why attack us? What have we done wrong?!"

"Is it wrong for us to even eradicate the void?!"

As the Reapers drew their Soul‑cutting Blades and swung at the Eradicators, the Eradicators shouted in bewilderment.

"Your wanton slaughter of the void within the Void Circle, thereby upsetting the balance of the Three Realms' spirit particles, is the greatest mistake of you Eradicators!"

Zhi Cheng Shuangye stood at the forefront of the Eradicator expeditionary force, his gaze unwavering as he addressed the fleeing Eradicators. After several months, Zhi Cheng Shuangye remained convinced; after all, whatever Huangmu said was absolutely correct~

"I will use this Soul‑cutting Blade in my hand to thoroughly correct your mistakes…"

Zhi Cheng Shuangye said, drawing the Soul‑cutting Blade at his waist.

"Should we Eradicators be doomed to die?"

A desperate Eradicator shouted.

"If you don't die, must I die?"

Zhi Cheng Shuangye said, freeing the Soul‑cutting Blade.

In an instant, a massive slash surged toward the heavens.

Ten thousand one! It started moving forward rapidly; soon our dear Comrade Lan Ran will begin his personal showcase~