Chapter 197: Aizen Is About to Lose His Guard! Araki: Rest Easy, Three

Hehe…

Yu Long heard Long Xian's admission and gave a noncommittal smile.

"The Shinigami's commander, the captain of the Gotei 13, Araki—what connection does he have with us Quellers?!"

"Why, as the Shinigami commander, can he wield the Holy Annihilation Arrow and Spirit Child Affiliation that only we Quellers can use? And why does he give me an odd sense of affection?"

Yu Long continued to ask Long Xian.

"It seems you've already met Lord Araki! As you suspect, Lord Araki is another progenitor of our Queller power, and our pure‑blood Shi Tian lineage descends from Araki's Queller blood…"

Long Xian told Yu Long truthfully.

"So, Araki is the ancestor of our Shi Tian family?"

Yu Long's brows knit tightly at the words, and he asked Long Xian.

"Yes, and no…"

"Strictly speaking, Lord Araki is not the bloodline ancestor of our Shi Tian family! He is the common progenitor of our Shi Tian family and many pure‑blood Quellers residing in the Living World, regarding Queller power. ~"

Long Xian sat in his seat and spoke calmly to Yu Long.

"A progenitor of Queller power?"

Yu Long was momentarily stunned, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"Yes, Lord Araki is our progenitor of power…"

"This matter goes back a thousand years to the Queller king Youhabah, who seized the entire Living World and founded the Empire of Light! A thousand years ago, after Youhabah became the absolute ruler of the Living World, his ambition only grew; unsatisfied with unifying a single realm, he set his sights on the distant Soul Society!"

"Thus, this king, revered by all Quellers as unparalleled, ultimately led his knights and countless soldiers to invade the Soul Society where the Shinigami reside. Youhabah sought not only to be king of the living but also of the dead, aiming to unify the three realms and become ruler of all worlds."

Long Xian calmly recounted that history to Yu Long.

"You mean it was us Quellers who were the invaders?"

Yu Long was taken aback; he had always thought the Quellers were the side suppressed by the Shinigami, otherwise there wouldn't have been the Queller extermination war launched by the Shinigami two hundred years ago.

"If the Quellers had done nothing, why would the Shinigami risk upsetting the balance of the three realms, bear enormous pressure, and two hundred years ago organize that slaughter of every active Queller in the three realms? Strictly speaking, the Shinigami were only seeking revenge…"

Long Xian glanced at Yu Long and retorted.

"This…"

Yu Long fell silent at the words.

Emotionally, Yu Long didn't fully agree with what his biological father Long Xian said, but rationally he told himself that everything Long Xian had just spoken was correct…

"When the Quellers invaded the Soul Society, they did not display the endless, overwhelming combat power they showed while sweeping the Living World. The Shinigami's resistance was fiercer than expected, especially when facing the former Shinigami commander, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, leading the First Generation Gotei 13; both Youhabah and ordinary Quellers encountered massive resistance! During this time, our Queller king Youhabah, in his clash with Lord Araki, recognized Araki's abilities and tried to convert Araki into a Queller for his own use. ~"

Long Xian continued, reaching the crucial point.

"What was the final outcome? Did Youhabah succeed?"

Yu Long's pupils narrowed slightly as he asked Long Xian excitedly.

"The final result is that Youhabah succeeded, but also failed…"

Long Xian answered truthfully.

"Succeeded, yet failed?"

Yu Long seemed not to grasp Long Xian's meaning.

"Youhabah indeed, as he planned, turned Lord Araki from a Shinigami into a powerful Queller!"

"But at the same time, Youhabah was astonished to discover he could not control Araki's life or death! Yes, the moment Araki gained Queller power, the Queller power within him autonomously evolved and surpassed Youhabah…"

"From then on, Araki's Queller bloodline became independent of Youhabah's lineage and control! Araki became the first Queller in history to break free from Youhabah's grasp, and a major thorn in Youhabah's side!"

Long Xian continued to explain to Yu Long.

"Surpassing the King of Quellers' Queller power?"

Yu Long was clearly shocked by Long Xian's words.

"But what does this have to do with us?"

Yu Long looked at Long Xian and asked further.

"After the final showdown between the Empire of Light and the Gotei 13, the Empire of Light, having underestimated the Gotei 13's combat strength and being ill‑prepared, collapsed like a mountain after King Youhabah's defeat and planned to withdraw all forces from the Soul Society…"

"The vast majority of Quellers who followed Youhabah were unwilling to accept the defeat, so they, together with the sealed King of Quellers, ventured into the eternally dark shadows. From then on, the Queller empire was renamed from the Empire of Light to the Formless Empire. Guided by the Hymn of the Holy Emperor prophecy, these war criminals actively prepared for a second great expedition against the Soul Society, convinced that their king would bring them victory…"

Long Xian seemed to lay all the world's sins on King Youhabah and the Quellers who, after the war, still chose to follow Youhabah and actively prepared for battle within the Formless Empire.

"However, some Quellers, after enduring the brutal war, have awakened! They began to question their king and feel despair toward Youhabah. They no longer believe Youhabah can rise again; some even wish to abandon the Queller identity and live as ordinary people in the Living World!"

"These former followers of Youhabah have grown weary of war and bloodshed. Yet, regrettably, even if they wish to shed the Queller identity, their lineage cannot be severed; as long as one day they are a Queller, they remain a Queller for life, and even their descendants will inevitably be Quellers."

Long Xian spoke with lingering regret.

It was as if Long Xian placed himself in the shoes of those peace‑loving Quellers, sighing at their tumultuous fates.

"Is there something wrong with Queller blood?"

Yu Long's mind was still sharp; he immediately identified the issue.

"Yes, the reason Youhabah is the King of Quellers is that he wields an ability called Sacred Severance! He can at any time reclaim the lives of Quellers who possess their own power and bloodline within them. In other words, as long as Queller blood still flows in our veins, our life and death remain forever under Youhabah's control…"

"In an instant, the Quellers fell into despair! They never imagined that the Queller blood they once prized would become a shackles to their freedom. Yet, just as they contemplated giving up, someone recalled the only Queller who had broken free from Youhabah's control—Araki. ~"

Long Xian finally mentioned Araki again. At that moment, his expression grew solemn, a hint of reverence for Araki in his eyes.

"Consequently, these Quellers privately met Araki, who was regarded by all Quellers as a savior, and struck a bargain with Lord Araki. They pledged loyalty to him, and Araki granted them power to oppose Youhabah! With Araki's strength at the time, he could have slain every Queller present—or ignored them and watched them perish on their own!"

"But Lord Araki, born with a saint's heart, did not ignore these Quellers in need of rescue. He resolutely set aside his own position and extended a helping hand to every Queller unwilling to be bound by fate or toyed with by Youhab. Araki is literally the savior of all Quellers worldwide. So Yu Long, do you understand now? This is the origin of our pure‑blood Queller lineage, the Shi Tian family…"

Thus, Long Xian recounted the entire history of the Shi Tian family to Shi Tian Yu Long, portraying Araki as a saint‑like savior for all Quellers unwilling to be ruled by Youhab.

Indeed, this history was altered by Araki. In truth, the Quellers became Araki's followers because they happened upon him and were forced by Araki to surrender their hearts! Yet those who truly knew that history have been wiped out by Araki; once they all perished, Araki's words became history itself.

This explains why the pure‑blood Queller families living in the Living World are so loyal to Araki. First, while their compatriots who still believed in Youhab were chanting praises in the barren Formless Empire, they were already enjoying life in the Living World, which unlike the Formless Empire's perpetual gloom, has flowers, grass, autumn breezes, and falling leaves.

Second, Araki's fabricated history glorifies him, painting Youhab as a selfish tyrant. Of course, Araki didn't lie about that…

"So my power originates from Araki?"

Shi Tian Yulong fell silent for a while, then asked Long Xian.

"My power comes from Araki, and Yulong, your power is not pure!"

Long Xian shook his head at Yulong.

"What does that mean?"

Yulong was startled for a moment.

"Your emergence originates from an experiment your grandfather conducted…"

Long Xian's voice grew cruel.

"Experiment?"

Yulong only felt a tightness in his chest.

"It was only after nine years of giving birth to you, and after being with your mother, that I learned Ye Hui is different from the members of our Shi Tian family; she is not a mixed‑blood Extinction Master of the Araki line, but a mixed‑blood Extinction Master of the Youhabah line…"

"In other words, Yulong, your Extinction Master lineage is not as simple as you imagined; you are one of the few in this world who inherit the Extinction Master power of both Lord Araki and the Youhabah clan."

Long Xian laid out Yulong's identity completely.

"So, you and my mother…"

Yulong looked at Long Xian, his voice trembling slightly.

"My love for your mother is beyond doubt!"

"However, if I had known that Ye Hui's bloodline came not from Araki but was inherited from Youhabah, then Yulong, you would never have been born…"

"I do not want my father to impose his wishes on my child; my child should be free, he need not bear any destiny!"

Long Xian looked at Yulong solemnly, a hint of fatigue in his expression.

"…"

As for Shi Tian Yulong, his mood at that moment was like a roller coaster.

When Yulong heard that his father deeply loved his mother, a spark of joy rose in his heart; he thought, "Father truly loves mother!"

Then, when he heard Long Xian say that had he known his mother's bloodline was inherited from Youhabah, he would not have been born, his heart throbbed as if squeezed to bursting; he felt unbearably tragic and, almost breaking, exclaimed, "So the parents' love was true, and I am just an accident?!"

Later, when he heard Long Xian say that his child need not bear any destiny, Yulong again felt a deep paternal love. In short, Long Xian's words tugged at him, easily manipulating Yulong's emotions.

"I understand." Yulong first gave Long Xian a slight nod, then, recalling something, asked, "By the way, how did you discover that Lady Mother's Extinction Master blood was inherited from Youhabah rather than Lord Araki?!"

"Seven years ago, Youhabah, like in the hymn of the Holy Emperor, emerged after a 990‑year slumber, revived, and initiated the Sacred Severance, stripping all mixed‑blood Extinction Masters of the Youhabah line across the Three Realms of their internal power! Among them was your mother Ye Hui. I also had a fierce argument with your grandfather that day, and after Youhabah's Sacred Severance, your mother's body began to weaken…"

Long Xian honestly told Yulong everything he knew.

"Youhabah?"

Yulong said, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"You said all mixed‑bloods of the Youhabah line were subjected to the Sacred Severance; what about me?"

Then, Yulong thought of something and asked Long Xian.

"You are special! The Extinction Master power in you that comes from Youhabah actively refused the Sacred Severance! What has happened to you reminds us of Lord Araki a thousand years ago; Yulong, you are the third Extinction Master in this world to voluntarily refuse Youhabah's Sacred Severance…"

Long Xian spoke honestly to Yulong.

"One is me, another is Lord Araki, who is the third?"

Yulong furrowed his brows and asked Long Xian.

"The third person is Kurosaki Ichigo!"

Long Xian paused, then coldly uttered the name.

"Kurosaki Ichigo?!"

Yulong's eyes flashed with immediate astonishment upon hearing the name.

"Yes…"

Long Xian lightly nodded.

"I see, that makes sense…"

Yulong wore a thoughtful expression.

Yulong recalled that when Kurosaki Ichigo used his Transcendent Body to summon the spirit of his Zanpakuto, he had seen the physical manifestation of Extinction Master power disguised as Ichigo's Zanpakuto!

If that is so, since Ichigo still harbors Extinction Master power, it means Ichigo also escaped Youhabah's Sacred Severance…

"However, Kurosaki Ichigo's situation differs from yours! Yulong, do you remember the lesson Zong Xian gave you, where he explained what 'Void' means to us Extinction Masters? Indeed, 'Void' is like poison to us…"

"We Extinction Masters have no means to resist Void! Yet Ichigo's body is permeated with this poison; perhaps it wasn't Ichigo who actively refused Youhabah's Sacred Severance, but Youhabah who actively refused and targeted Ichigo. No one would, after seeing the poison, voluntarily drink it, even though such poison is not unacceptable to Youhabah, he would not be foolish enough to do such a pointless act…"

Long Xian looked at Yulong and continued.

"Is that so?"

Yulong gave a slight nod and then said no more.

"In any case, thank you, Father! That's all I wanted to know…"

Yulong said, turned around, and walked straight out of the study.

"Yulong! Travel safely…"

Long Xian watched his child's silhouette, his lips moving slightly.

At this moment, Long Xian wanted to persuade Yulong to give up moving forward…

Finally, Long Xian did not intervene to stop Yulong. He knew this was Yulong's chosen path, and before Yulong left, Long Xian left a parting admonition.

"Don't worry~"

Yulong paused slightly upon hearing his father's words. He turned his body, gave Long Xian a gentle nod, and then left without looking back.

After that, Yulong went to see his grandfather. When he saw the aged Zong Xian, he left only this sentence: "Becoming an Extinction Master is the path I chose myself, it has nothing to do with you! And I do not regret it." He then walked out of the Shi Tian family's luxurious mansion.

"Yulong…"

After Yulong left, Zong Xian's eyes turned red with tears.

"Youhabah?"

Yu Long walked down the street, his mind occupied by only one thing.

That was that his enemy was the Quincy King, Youhabah!

On the other side, Kurosaki Zhai.

"As you know, your mother is a pure‑blood Quincy! And your father was originally a Soul Reaper of the Gotei 13, said to be of captain rank. He voluntarily infused his Soul Reaper power into me to suppress the Hollow within me. Yet after I gave birth to you, the Hollow power in my body, together with my Quincy power and your father's Soul Reaper power, all flowed into your body…"

Masaki, just as she did when Ichigo was a child, gently patted Kurosaki Ichigo's head, then told him the truth from back then.

"Then why did the Gotei 13 captain Araki tell me that, according to Quincy lineage, I am also his child? I just don't get it…"

Ichigo looked at Masaki with a headache. In short, he now understood one thing: that he was indeed born of Kurosaki Masaki and Kurosaki Ichin, and that was indisputable.

"That statement wasn't wrong either. In fact, I heard from your father Ichin and Mr. Urahara that on the night I got into trouble, Captain Araki suddenly vanished from the Current World due to Ichin's spiritual pressure, mistakenly thinking the Current World had appeared. A captain‑rank Soul Reaper still could not contend with a powerful enemy, and to prevent the Three Realms from collapsing, he immediately used an Interdimensional Gate to reach the place where Ichin's spiritual pressure had been lost…"

"Then Captain Araki saw me collapsed on the bed, beginning to turn Hollow involuntarily, and Ichin, who had lost his Soul Reaper power and spiritual pressure. After Araki discovered that my Quincy power had become turbid and unstable because of the Hollow's influence, he intervened with his own Quincy power to stabilize me. It was then that I received Captain Araki's Quincy power, and he likewise passed that power on to you…"

Masaki, at this point, scratched her cheek awkwardly.

"Is this Quincy some kind of vampire?"

Kurosaki Ichigo finally understood everything, and said a bit speechlessly.

"Let me say the next part!"

Just as Ichigo was about to ask something, a voice rich with magnetism and weariness interrupted their conversation.

Startled, Ichigo turned his head and saw a man dressed in black Deathlord armor, a red‑hilted Zanpakuto with a black‑gold sheath at his waist, and a white feathered mantle on his right shoulder, standing directly before him.

"Father?!"

Ichigo looked at the newcomer, his eyelids twitching slightly.

"Darling, have you regained your Soul Reaper power?"

Compared to the slightly embarrassed Ichigo, Masaki was extremely excited.

"Hmm! The moment I regained my Soul Reaper power, it meant that the Hollow power inside Ichigo had already exceeded the limit I could suppress, and was no longer controllable by me. In other words, it's time to tell Ichigo some things!"

Ichin looked at Masaki solemnly and said gravely.

"Has this day finally arrived?"

Masaki was a bit emotional, but still nodded lightly.

"Ichigo, listen carefully. In fact, on this day seven years ago, Masaki briefly lost her Quincy power. If Captain Araki's Quincy power had not activated the instant Masaki's original Quincy power vanished, Masaki might have died that afternoon seven years ago…"

Ichin's expression grew solemn at this point.

"What?"

Ichigo's pupils narrowed slightly.

"Ichigo, you should still remember that when you were a child, Masaki, right in front of you, used Quincy power to shoot a Hollow!"

"Because the scene was so dangerous, you were frightened and passed out shortly after returning home. When you woke up, we joked with you, saying you must have misremembered and that it was all an illusion, but I'm telling you now that it wasn't an illusion…"

"Your mother indeed used Quincy power to kill a Hollow! And that same day, the Quincy progenitor Youhabah launched a Holy Separation, summoning all mixed‑blood Quincies from the Three Realms, their Quincy power within!"

"Your mother had once shown symptoms of Hollowification due to Hollow power, contaminating her pure bloodline, so Youhabah classified her as mixed‑blood and withdrew the power from her body. If Captain Araki's power hadn't intervened in time, you and your mother would have been in danger…"

"Kurosaki Ichigo, as your father, I have only one thing to tell you, and you must remember it: the sealed Quincy King Youhabah is your enemy!"

Ichin looked at his son and shouted.

"Youhabah is an enemy?! I understand…"

Kurosaki Ichigo murmured Ichin's words, his eyes now serious and earnest. Anyone who dares to harm his family, or the things he swore to protect, is Ichigo's enemy, and Youhabah has already committed a grave taboo…

When Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida Yu Long stepped out of their homes, there was only one thing on their minds: Youhabah was their enemy!

Youhabah: "Araki! You not only stole my son, but also turned my children against me! You will never die a good death!"

Araki: "It's fine! Even if I do nothing, Ichigo and Yu Long will join forces against you. I just brought forward what was bound to happen…"

"Buzz!"

After Ichigo and Yu Long learned the truth, a brilliant light instantly shone behind them, the radiance of Araki's Interdimensional Gate.

"Let's go~"

Under Araki's low chant, Ichigo and Yu Long were each grasped by Araki from the Current World with one hand and pulled back.

By the time Ichigo and Yu Long recovered, they had already arrived at the Spirit King Palace.

"It seems you have already learned about your origins?!"

Araki asked Ichigo and Yu Long.

"Hmm!"

"Yes."

Yu Long and Ichigo, hearing this, lightly nodded at Araki.

"Since that's the case…"

"Then it's time to give you your final trial."

"Ichigo, Wang Yue is already waiting for you in his Phoenix Hall! There you will receive your Zanpakuto, and as for Ishida Yu Long, I have a mission for you…"

Araki said this as he prepared to teleport Ichigo to the Phoenix Hall.

"No, wait…"

Before Ichigo could finish, he was directly sent, under Araki's power, to the Phoenix Hall where the Sword God Nimaoya Wang Yue resides.

"Yo! Little Ichigo, we finally meet~"

"I've tolerated you, fake Soul Reaper, for a long time…"

"Little Ichigo, do you know? In this world, no one can awaken a Zanpakuto without using the shallow strike I forged. If anyone does, the Zanpakuto they wield must be a false Zanpakuto! The Zanpakuto you used before coming to me was a false Zanpakuto! From now on, with my help, you will become a true Soul Reaper. Are you ready?!"

Ichigo was still stunned when he found himself in an incredibly lavish palace. Before he could think further, a man with dark skin and sunglasses perched on his nose casually approached Ichigo and laughed.

"Who are you?!"

Yihu looked at the person before him, first stunned, then asked.

"The forger of all Soul-Cutting Swords in this world! 'Sword God' Er Meiwu Wang Yue!"

Wang Yue heard this and gave Yihu a light smile.

"By the way……"

"Even the sword your Captain Huangmu uses was once made by me!"

Wang Yue raised his head, puffed his chest, and spoke proudly.

"Once?"

This time Yihu wasn't deaf; he caught the point.

"Eh! Do you think I'd tell you that Captain Huangmu's Soul-Cutting Sword despised my forging craft, so he reworked it himself?"

Wang Yue, under Yihu's doubtful gaze, blurted out.

"You've already told me, right?"

Yihu weakly complained. Yihu began to doubt whether the man who called himself the Sword God was reliable at all—could he be a liar?

"Anyway, Yihu, go find your true shallow strike!"

Without letting Yihu say more, Wang Yue grabbed Yihu and left his splendid palace on his own, arriving at a desolate small hill; immediately Wang Yue threw Yihu into that hill, which looked like an underground stacked warehouse, a pitch-black space.

"What are you doing?"

After Yihu was thrown into this pitch-black space, he raised his head and roared at Wang Yue above.

"Yihu, look around you……"

Wang Yue stood above Yihu, hands on hips, speaking proudly.

"Around……"

Yihu murmured, looking around, only to see that his surroundings had somehow become filled with white humanoid dolls.

"What are these!!"

Yihu looked at these dolls, a flash of shock crossing his eyes.

"These are the strongest Soul-Cutting Swords in this world, and they are all shallow strikes!"

Wang Yue heard this and explained loudly.

"Shallow strike?"

Yihu slightly opened his mouth and at the same time rose from the ground.

"Yes, you need to find your own among these shallow strikes……"

Wang Yue explained to Yihu.

However, before Wang Yue could finish speaking, the shallow strikes, one after another, as if seeing their king, all went down on one knee in the direction where Yihu was.

"This……"

Wang Yue's words paused; the scene before him clearly exceeded his understanding.

"My shallow strike is you!"

At the moment Wang Yue's voice paused, Yihu had already found his own shallow strike among the shallow strikes; when his hand lightly touched its body, that shallow strike instantly turned into a Hollow White appearance and knelt before Yihu.

"This is truly astonishing!"

Wang Yue said, and still brought Yihu to the forging chamber.

"Wang Yue's Royal Guard, start work!"

With a soft word from Wang Yue, the beautiful girl royal guard he created immediately began their respective tasks: some helped Wang Yue heat the pot, some used their abilities to help Wang Yue secure the Soul-Cutting Sword, and some pulled out their teeth to use as hammers for Wang Yue……

"Eh……"

Because Wang Yue's each royal guard's abilities were too bizarre, seeing them made Heiqi Yihu feel his head buzzing and a terrible headache……

"Ding-dang! Ding-dang! Ding-dang……"

Without letting Yihu think much, Wang Yue had already begun his own forging.

Ten or so minutes later……

"Yihu! You already know, in your inner world, who that man who has been disguising himself as a Soul-Cutting Sword is! Go! Go find your true sword……"

When Wang Yue was about finished forging Heiqi Yihu's sword, he turned his head and softly spoke to Heiqi Yihu.

"My true Soul-Cutting Sword?"

Yihu frowned slightly, his consciousness immediately sinking into the spiritual world.

"Yo! Long time no see, Heiqi Yihu~"

When Yihu entered his inner world again, what appeared before him was not the Youha Bahe-possessed form, nor the Quincy power residing within Yihu that originated from Youha Bahe, nor the violent Hollow White~

Rather, it was that person, when Yihu's abilities were stripped by Bai Zai, in order to go to the 'Soul Society' to save Lu Qi Ya, under Pu Yuan's guidance, he regained his own Shinigami power; that person stood together with Youha Bahe, asking Yihu whom he would choose. At that time, Yihu could never remember the person's appearance, but now he sees clearly that the person has exactly the same face as Huangmu……

"Captain Huangmu!!"

Yihu looked at the man before him, shocked.

"I am both Huangmu and not Huangmu~"

"I am the Quincy power residing within Huangmu's body……"

The man looked at Yihu, speaking calmly.

"Zangetsu uncle, I'm talking about Youha Baeh?"

Yihu hesitated a moment, feeling he had heard this before.

Thus, Yihu asked the person before him who looked exactly like Huangmu.

"Youha? Are you talking about him?"

Huangmu said, waving at his side, accompanied by a howling gust; dressed in a black windbreaker, with sunglasses on his nose bridge, taking the form of Youha Baeh from a thousand years ago, the Quincy power originating from Youha Baeh appeared before Yihu.

"Yihu, long time no see……"

You Ha looked at Yihu and spoke softly.

Zangetsu...

Yihu looked at You Ha and muttered to himself.

"Yihu, first of all, I am not Zangetsu!"

"Secondly, I and he are actually one entity."

You Ha gently shook his head at Yihu, then immediately looked toward Araki beside him.

"Boom!"

Immediately, You Ha and Araki, the two individuals representing their Quincy powers, merged into one before Yihu's face! After the two Quincy powers merged, what appeared before Yihu was Araki wearing a black windcoat.

Obviously, this power ultimately chose to manifest in Araki's form...

"How exactly is this..."

Yihu was stunned, he did not understand the situation before him.

"Yihu! Whether it's me or what you call Zangetsu, strictly speaking, we are nothing! We are merely part of your power, Kurosaki Ichigo!"

"You should now know everything, and it's time for you to reclaim your original power! Yes, Yihu, your original Shinigami power is merely a small part of your Shinigami power that our power and your father Kurosaki Isshin's power could not fully suppress; now you will take back all your power to fight, and our task ends here..."

At the moment the Quincy power's words fell, their bodies began to fade, replaced by a sword that fused Araki, You Ha, Hollow White, and Yihu's own Shinigami power—four powers combined—emitting a clear blue light.

"Hah..."

All the countless words in Yihu's heart, at the moment he saw that sword, ultimately turned into a sigh; he walked step by step toward the sword and softly said: "Thank you for your long companionship! Next, I will fight with my own power..."

"Boom!"

When Yihu grasped his spirit sword, he also grasped the two strikes painstakingly forged by Ou Wangyue!

"Boom!!"

Next, Yihu disregarded the surrounding people's obstruction and, amidst the blazing fire, drew his own Zanpakutō! Accompanied by seawater scorched by Yihu's blade light, what appeared in Kurosaki Ichigo's hands was a long sword plus a short sword! These two blades were engraved, respectively, with a lazuline pattern and the six-character mantra symbolizing Araki's power...

Honestly, if Yihu didn't only have two hands, he originally wanted three swords, to give each of the three powers within him its own...

"Two swords?"

"The sea has been burned dry!"

When Yihu drew the two swords, a gasp rose from the surroundings.

"I will not lose again!"

Yihu gripped the twin blades, his eyes utterly calm, he looked at the surrounding people and said calmly.

Yes, Yihu has become stronger, he regained confidence, and began to float again~

On the other side, Araki approached Ishida Uryu, embedding the holy Quincy arrow symbolizing his own Quincy power into Uryu's body...

"Boom!"

In the next second, Uryu's body surface instantly lit up with a blood-red, bewitching pattern.

At this moment, Uryu felt unprecedented strength; his basic Quincy ability, boosted severalfold by Araki's aid, now left him not inferior even to Kurosaki Masaki or his father Ishida Ryuuken...

However, these are not important; what truly shocked Uryu was the sword he held, which was not a Shinigami's Zanpakutō but a Quincy's sword, forged by Araki using his Holy Scripture ability, specially developed to match Uryu's ability.

"Sword of the Victorious! Anyone cut by this sword suffers damage that cannot be shared, cannot be healed, cannot be blocked! Yet this sword's sole weakness is that, limited by its length, it cannot achieve a hundred percent hit..."

Araki introduced to Uryu the abilities of this sword.

Having said that, Araki paused; normally speaking, his sword indeed possesses various weaknesses...

However, if the awakened Holy Scripture-wielding Uryu uses it, as long as Uryu employs his Holy Scripture to completely reverse, reversing between two points, the result of his sword not being struck by the enemy, then in Uryu's hands this sword becomes a hundred percent hit sword.

Most importantly, this ability, developed using irresistible force, completely counters Haschwalth's Schuld shield! Yes, the sword Araki gave Uryu is meant to shatter Haschwalth's shield...

"Is this sword for me?"

Uryu looked at Araki's eyes with a hint of disbelief.

"Naturally! This sword suits you perfectly..."

"Remember what I'm about to say! Ishida Uryu, go to the Formless Empire, find Yhwach! Absorb his blood, then awaken your Holy Scripture ability; the moment you awaken, Yhwach will surely name you crown prince..."

"Then, in the two years remaining before the final showdown, replace Ludger Haschwalth as captain of the Star Cross Knights; I command you to wholeheartedly assist Yhwach, earning his full trust~"

Araki naturally wouldn't give Uryu a weapon for nothing; he lightly patted Uryu's shoulder, spoke in an extremely gentle tone, and said calmly.

"What?!"

Uryu was stunned.

Uryu never imagined that Araki would actually want him to seek Yhwach?! And make him captain of some knight order—this isn't pure treason, is it?

"Once you have completely earned Yhwach's trust, use the sword I gave you to stab fiercely into his heart from behind! Keep this to yourself; don't tell anyone, for if others find out, Yhwach will discover it."

As Uryu stood dazed, Araki's words continued to echo.

"Hah..."

Upon hearing this, Uryu actually relaxed a little.

It turned out Araki was sending him undercover; Uryu considered himself good at undercover work~

The Holy Scripture records: what has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; under the sun there is nothing new—let Yhwach himself feel the fear dictated by his own sayings! A thousand years ago he tore out your heart from behind; a thousand years later he still does...

Meanwhile, the Hollow Circle.

"Crack, crack..."

Accompanied by the sound of shattering glass, Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen burst out of the glass container filled with green nutrient solution.

"Gin, Tōsen, do you see? As long as we have the Hogyoku, I can use technology to produce something that rivals even Araki-sensei's ability..."

Having fully recovered from Araki's blow, Aizen first stretched his stiff body, then looked at Gin and Tōsen beside him and smiled.

"How truly surprising, Lord Aizen~"

Gin immediately echoed Aizen's words.

"Next, I will use the Hogyoku's power to completely remake the Hollow Circle!"

As for the 'Sereitei' or the 'Gotei 13', they will eventually be reduced to ruins before our eighty Arrancar brethren!

Aizen, after putting on a white windcoat, casually crushed the glasses on his nose bridge, then, before everyone, swept his brown short hair back into a ponytail and spoke confidently.

Boom!!

As Aizen's words fell…

The palace's all directions seemed to praise Aizen, sending endless spiritual pressure full of joy toward him~

"Summon the Espada, I will fuse the Hogyoku before everyone's eyes and grant them the power they've dreamed of……"

Aizen said this, without turning back, walking deep into the palace.

"Yes, sir~"

The servants who received Aizen's order, without any hesitation, immediately headed to the room where the Espada were……

Moments later.

When Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Tōsen Kaname entered the conference room, the Espada had already been sitting impatiently in their respective seats.

"Aizen, you're so slow! If next time, after I call you to come here for a meeting, I don't see you in the conference room, be careful I'll personally kill you~"

The first Espada, Arturo, sat in his seat, listlessly gazing at Aizen, and spoke coldly.

"Arturo, watch your tone! How dare you speak to Lord Aizen like that?"

Before Aizen could speak, Halibel and Nelliel, sitting across from Arturo, had already rebuked him ahead of him.

"Huh? The seventh and eighth, you have no right to speak to me like that……"

Upon hearing that, Arturo glared at Halibel and Nelliel, then spoke coldly.

"Arturo, you've overstepped~"

Before Arturo could say more, the ever-silent Loly suddenly lifted her small head and glared at Arturo, the Immortal King.

"Tsk~"

Arturo, feeling Loly's hostile gaze, clicked his tongue and said nothing more.

Obviously, deep down Arturo still fears Loly.

"Swish!"

However, just when everyone thought the matter was over, accompanied by a fierce blade flash, defenseless Arturo had his arm instantly cut off.

"Huh?!"

Arturo, who possesses limitless regenerative ability, naturally doesn't care about losing a mere arm; what he cares about is his pride, being struck……

"Gin Ichimaru!"

Arturo didn't think twice, immediately rose from his seat, his eyes blood-red, gazing at Gin Ichimaru who had sneak-attacked him with his Zanpakutō.

"Eh~ This is the price for your insolence, Arturo~"

Gin Ichimaru, upon hearing that, smirked coldly at Arturo.

"You bastard……"

Arturo didn't think twice; at the moment Gin's words ended, a cero had already fully charged! However, just as Arturo was about to act, nine Zanpakutō belonging to the Arrancar were already positioned around him, such that if Arturo dared to move further, those blades would fall upon him……

Yes, the Espada who were still seated have now drawn their Zanpakutō from their waists and placed them at Arturo's throat……

"Hmph, boring~"

Arturo looked at the surrounding Menos Grande, finally retracting the cero he had just gathered. The invincible Immortal King retreated once more……

"Alright, let's end this little drama for livening up the atmosphere! Let's begin today's meeting—today we summoned everyone not only to display the power of the fully evolved Hogyoku, but also to introduce our new member……"

Aizen said this, his gaze turning directly to the conference room door.

"Click~"

At the moment Aizen's gaze fell, the conference room door was instantly opened.

A group of, wearing the same white Arrancar uniform as the Espada, the new Arrancar swaggered into the conference room……

"These are the Espada candidates I've selected~"

Aizen introduced the newcomers to the Espada present.

"Espada candidates?!" Upon hearing Aizen's introduction, the Espada first blinked, then burst into loud laughter: "Puhahaha……"

"Lord Aizen, this joke isn't funny at all; if we haven't misunderstood, the so-called Espada candidates should refer to substitutes for active Espada who, for various reasons, can no longer serve as Espada, right?"

"If that's the case, then there's no need to look for candidates at all, because even if all these candidates died, we wouldn't lose a single one~"

The active Espada, rarely in agreement, said that if these people were to serve as their subordinates, doing odd jobs, giving massages, they'd be fine with that, but making them candidates? No way~

"Huh? What are you bastards saying?"

"Just a bunch of old-timers, really thinking highly of themselves?"

"I, Yammy, alone can take you all out!"

Just as the Espada were looking at these so-called candidates and laughing, among the candidates Aizen had brought, a tall, muscular man suddenly let out a wild howl, roaring at the present active Espada.

"Swish!"

However, before the self-proclaimed Yammy could say more, a silver flash flared, and before the Espada candidates could react, Yammy's arm had already vanished.

"Huh?!"

Yammy blinked slightly; upon seeing his empty left side, obviously missing an arm, he let out a roar: "Pain! So painful! Damn! Damn……"

"Lord Aizen, are you sure letting them be our candidates? They're too weak, right?"

The ninth Espada, Aaroniero, having cleaned and even bled out Yammy's arm, leaving no bloodstain, placed it quietly before Aizen; this ever-weakest Espada who always gets stuck smelling everyone's feet, asked Aizen in disbelief.

"I'll kill you, I'll kill you!"

At that moment, the self-proclaimed Yammy, clutching his severed arm, walked step by step toward Aaroniero, his eyes filled with rage, seemingly intending to crush Aaroniero here completely.

"Just you?!"

At this moment, Aaroniero's eyes flashed with killing intent. Yes, Aaroniero has decided to kill; he both wants to establish authority, intimidate these candidates, telling them the absolute gap between Espada and candidates, and truly wants to slay Yammy……

The opponent is merely an Aqiu Kas‑level Great Void; even if it's a bit special, what right does it have to dare provoke a senior Great Void? Who gave it that courage?

Bang!

However, just as Dihe Yela was about to act, a dark‑green figure, a step ahead of Dihe Yela, reached Ya Mi and smashed a fist into Ya Mi's stomach…

Ugh~

Ya Mi, struck by the punch, bent his waist and began dry‑heaving.

"Kneel! Who gave you the audacity to act in front of Lord Lan Ran?"

Before Ya Mi could think further, the person kicked his bent knee.

With a "thud~" sound, Ya Mi immediately dropped to his knees before the group of Ten Blades, in front of Shi Maru Gin and Dong Xian Yao, and of course his primary kneel was to Lan Ran…

"Apologies, Lord Lan Ran, it's my fault for not properly training them!"

Compared with Ya Mi, who stands over two meters tall—taller than Yao Ming—the short black‑haired youth, with dark‑green eyes, glared at the Ya Mi he had knocked down with two moves, then apologized to Lan Ran seated at the main seat.

"Let me introduce everyone: this is Wu Erqi Aola Xifa! A Wastituode‑level Broken Face, and also originally the first candidate for the Ten Blades…"

"But today I decide to promote him to the last seat of the Ten Blades; from today onward, Wu Erqi Aola, you are the tenth member of the Ten Blades!"

Lan Ran looked at the black‑haired youth, a faint smile curving his lips, then spoke softly. Yes, although Lan Ran claimed to be gathering the Ten Blades for a conference, he had no intention of consulting them; he simply issued a clear directive.

"In that case, doesn't the Ten Blades now have eleven members?"

"Never mind, as long as I'm not pushed out, it's none of my business~"

Dihe Yela apparently froze when he heard Wu Erqi Aola was promoted to the tenth Ten Blade; counting the Zero Blade, their Ten Blades have become eleven.

However, Dihe Yela was too lazy to care, as long as his interests weren't infringed.

If Huang Mu were present now, he would tell Dihe Yela: "Stupid, it's common sense that the Ten Blades can have eleven members, just as the Twelve Divine Generals number more than twelve, and Youhabah's Star Cross Knights exceed twenty‑six members."

"A Wastituode‑level Great Void~"

"Take some time to inform Boss Huang Mu! By then, our compatriots will likely gain another member; how exciting~"

Luo Jia Paramiya casually glanced at Wu Erqi Aola—i. e., Little Wu—and felt pleased inside.

"I, Wu Erqi Aola, thank Lord Lan Ran for the reward!"

Little Wu said this while already seated beside the long conference table.

After Little Wu's promotion to the Ten Blades, he gained the right to sit and listen.

As for the rest, those selected by Lan Ran among the Broken Faces as candidate Ten Blades—Ya Mi, Nuo Yitera, Ge Limu Qiao, Zuo Ma Li, Lu Bi, Duo Lu Duo Ni, Ya Luo Ni Luo, Ti Lu Di, Gang Teng Bai En, Lu Nu Gang Ka, and the representatives of the Pi Ka Luo—

These candidates could only stand in the open area of the meeting room, listening to Lan Ran's conference; they had no right or authority to sit or interject.

"Now then, let us begin the pre‑victory meeting!"

Lan Ran sat on his main seat, giving a slight smile to the gathered Broken Faces.

Meanwhile, in the Great Void Forest.

"No way, captain! This place is really too far from Xu ye gong; our eavesdropping device can't pick up what Lan Ran and the others are saying~"

The four‑person undercover squad, hand‑picked by Huang Mu, led by A Xi Duo with Zhu Si Bo Zheng Yuan as deputy, and the genius sibling duo Gong Neng Teng Wan and Gong Neng Song Li as members, had now entered the interior of the Great Void Forest, continuously eavesdropping on Lan Ran's meeting, though regrettably they could not hear it clearly.

Ahahaha…

"Then just wait for Shi Maru Gin or Dong Xian Yao to send the intel!"

In response, squad leader A Xi Duo thought for a moment, then laughed loudly.

"So what's the point of us coming here?"

"Is it really okay to continue like this?!"

As A Xi Duo finished speaking, the three present were instantly at a loss for words.

Meanwhile, inside the Ling Wang Gong.

……

Huang Mu sat in his detached palace, in some cinema, watching Lan Ran's pretentiousness from the Ten Blades' perspective.

"Little Wu and A Bao can be brought into the Twelve Divine Generals; Nuo Yitera's potential is also decent, so he can be taken as a watchdog! His crazy habit of biting anyone is quite like a mad dog, perfect for my use, and serves to cleanse the Void Circle…"

"Ya Mi, Ya Luo Ni Luo, and Lu Nu Gang Ka can be fed to 'Ji Ba'; after Ji Ba absorbs the three, its power should advance further. As for the others, give them to Nie Jianli to craft zombies, boosting combat strength."

Huang Mu quickly finished allocating Lan Ran's Ten Blade candidates.

All of Lan Ran's efforts will ultimately become nourishment for Huang Mu.

Meanwhile, Lan Ran's speech concluded, just as Huang Mu expected; Lan Ran ended with "There is no opponent ahead of us!" thereby pre‑announcing their victory, his actions akin to popping champagne midway through a match.

Hehe~

In response, Huang Mu merely chuckled; their preparations were also nearly complete.

The next one to have his defense broken is you, Lan Ran Souyusuke~

Crunch~

Huang Mu thought this, gently moving his neck.

Then he looked at the special report sent by Jing Le Springwater, detailing Lan Ran's defection from the Shinigami Realm: he had killed over eighty nobles, seized their wealth, and before leaving set fire to more than three hundred warehouses throughout the Shinigami Realm, causing incalculable loss, forcing benevolent nobles to raise funds.

Sigh…

Huang Mu, reading the report, thought he wished Lan Ran would defect a few more times.

That's why Huang Mu never mentioned Lan Ran's defection at the meeting; this isn't defection! It's clearly the Shinigami Realm's top accountant!

The previous one, such an accountant, was a monkey that sprang out of a stone~

"Lan Ran, ah! Lan Ran! You've balanced so many accounts for me; now I'm a bit… reluctant to bully you~"

"If I were to come up and deliver the twin swords and twin guards before you, …"

"You've painstakingly plotted power for hundreds of years, yet Ichigo trained only a month and a half and easily surpassed you! And that doesn't even count my daughters…"

Huang Mu sat in the palace, watching Ichigo, who had already obtained a Zanpakutō, being led by a monk to the inner path, just as he once did, to undergo the Ling Wang candidate trial; he sighed helplessly.

Ichigo's greatness is destiny; when all these apparent coincidences stack together, it's no longer chance but the act of some higher being pulling the strings behind the scenes. When Lan Ran finally meets Ichigo, he may finally understand everything.

Just this time, Huangmu won't let Lanran slack off like in the original; when Lanran breaks his guard, that'll be the day Lanran keeps working for Huangmu! This third-generation squad captain can only be Lanran!

15,000, a big chapter!