Chapter 203: Ichigo Breaks Defense! Aizen: Even Heizi Ichigo's

"What joke are you making?!"

"Aizen, do you think you're the only one in this world who has such speed?! Let me show you my full power..."

Gengmu Jianba heard Aizen's slightly mocking voice at his ear, and his complexion instantly turned crimson, like a roaring demon!

"Huh!"

At that moment, Gengmu Jianba swung his Zanpakuto, unleashing countless afterimages!

Matching Gengmu's steps, it was as if dozens of Gengmu Jianbas appeared within the Thus line: Xu ye gong, slashing toward Aizen in all directions...

However, this was not because Gengmu Jianba had mastered a duplication technique; it was simply that his excessive speed and overwhelming spiritual pressure compressed and fricted the surrounding void circle's space and time, causing dozens of Gengmu Jianbas to appear to attack simultaneously...

"No matter how many afterimages, they're still just afterimages!"

"No matter how exquisite the illusion, it can never become reality~"

"Gengmu, what's the point of creating so many useless phantoms?"

Aizen watched the sky filled with phantoms, sighed helplessly, and effortlessly evaded all the attacks from those dozens of Gengmu.

"What?!"

Gengmu was astonished that Aizen could so easily counter the invincible technique he had racked his brain to devise; just as he was about to speak, he found Aizen's figure vanish once more from his visual perception.

"What are you looking at?"

Before Gengmu could think, a slightly flippant voice suddenly rang in his left ear! His ear twitched; he could not possibly mistake that instinctively loathsome voice—the owner of which was Aizen Sougo~

"Found you!"

Gengmu shouted, gripping a massive axe and swinging it to his left.

"Boom!"

Another booming roar...

Half of Aizen's palace was reduced to ruins by that single swing of Gengmu!

This time, Gengmu had learned his lesson; he wouldn't give Aizen a chance to breathe, and he struck the dust‑raising ruins dozens more times...

Only after Gengmu hammered the ruins before him, along with the swirling dust, into the most primal spirit particles did he finally stop.

"None?!"

Gengmu's eyes trembled; still, Aizen's figure was absent before him.

"Gengmu, it seems you didn't actually find me just now..."

Just as Gengmu was puzzled, Aizen's voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"..."

Gengmu's body shifted the instant he heard Aizen's words...

At that moment, Gengmu, aided by his powerful combat instinct, completely surpassed his own reflexes~

It's as if Aizen treats Gengmu as a stepping stone for his own evolution! Gengmu likewise treats Aizen as his stepping stone! While Aizen evolves, Gengmu continuously evolves too...

"Ding~"

This time, Gengmu's blade finally made contact with Aizen.

At that instant, Gengmu finally surpassed himself; he grew stronger!

Unfortunately, Aizen's rate of growth seemed even faster...

Aizen, transformed into a cocoon, blocked Gengmu's newly unleashed, violently radiating blade with a single finger, effortlessly.

"Accuracy is sufficient, but the force fell short."

Aizen watched Gengmu and sighed.

It seemed Aizen truly felt sorry for Gengmu; had Gengmu's force been a bit greater, he might have actually defeated him...

"Let me try this move on you!"

Gengmu stared at Aizen's finger, feeling a massive humiliation.

He grasped his Zanpakuto with both hands, swinging the blade in a full arc!

Using his waist, legs, arms, and the strength of his entire body, he slashed toward Aizen.

"Boom!!"

Another booming roar; under Gengmu's full‑force blade, the remaining half of Aizen's palace vanished without a trace the instant Gengmu swung.

For a moment, Aizen's entire palace, symbol of his authority, turned under Gengmu's blade into a field of ruins and endless gray dust drifting into the sky!

"If that slash had hit me just now, I'd have been seriously injured, right?"

"Unfortunately, the power was indeed enough, but the speed fell a bit short~"

This time, without waiting for Gengmu to probe Aizen's fate, Aizen's voice slowly rose behind him, laced with mockery~

"Aizen!!"

For a moment, Gengmu seemed to lose his composure, letting out a long howl toward the sky.

As Gengmu howled, his internal spiritual pressure seemed infinite, continuously spilling out! It formed a towering golden pressure column that pierced the sky of Thus line: Xu ye gong, soaring toward the boundless golden moon hanging on the horizon.

"Is that... Jianba?!"

"Damn! That guy Jianba, what kind of enemy did he meet that forced him to unleash such massive spiritual pressure? Could it be that he encountered..."

The ceiling of Thus line: Xu ye gong...

Heizi Ichigo, who had been frolicking with a group of girls, saw the soaring pressure column, his pupils flickered! He immediately decided to abandon his skirmish with the broken‑face girl troupe and head downstairs to support Gengmu Jianba~

Unfortunately, before Heizi Ichigo could rush to the stairwell...

Lili Nite instantly stepped in front of Heizi Ichigo.

"Xiao Yi, you can't just leave like that~"

As Lili Nite's words faded, countless void flashes surged toward Heizi Ichigo! These void flashes were not ordinary void flashes...

Each void flash released by Lili Nite could only be controlled by a Ten‑Blade candidate or a Ten‑Blade‑ranked Great Void; Aizen called them the King‑Void flashes!

「Moon Fang Heaven Rush! 」

Heiqi Yihu faced this endless hollow flash, merely lightly waving his Soul-Cutting Sword, drawing a golden moon ring, and thus blocked all those hollow flashes……

「Lili Nite, I don't have time to play with you right now! 」

「I also don't want to hurt you, so please quickly move out of my way……」

After blocking Lili Nite's hollow flash, Heiqi Yihu looked at Lili Nite with an extremely solemn gaze and spoke in a low voice.

Perhaps it's because Heiqi Yihu himself is someone who never lays a hand on women, always protecting the weak as a hero~

Or perhaps it's because, when the founder of the Shiba clan chose to betray and seal the 'Soul King,' he made a grand vow related to hollows……

Heiqi Yihu did not want to hurt Lili Nite, Halibel, and Neliel, the female members among the Ten Blades~

「Sorry, I cannot obey! 」

At the moment Lili Nite's words fell, she lightly nodded to Rojuro·Pa La Mi Ya, who had been constantly observing and scanning Heiqi Yihu's spiritual pressure……

「Sorry, Heiqi Yihu, I don't intend to take your sword! 」

「But according to Lord Aizen's plan, we need you to stay a while longer on the vaulted ceiling of this Xu ye gong's heavens! So please lend me your sword for a moment……」

Rojuro·Pa La Mi Ya said, having already used her ability to reverse membrane threads, she duplicated Heiqi Yihu's two Soul-Cutting Swords in his hands right before his eyes.

「Hey hey hey? What on earth is going on? 」

After Heiqi Yihu watched Rojuro's actions, he was completely dumbfounded……

Look at what he saw?! A huge hollow capable of copying others' Soul-Cutting Sword abilities!!

You sure this isn't cheating? Well, as everyone knows, no gap means it's cheated……

「Don't worry! My ability cannot perfectly replicate the enemy's power……」

「Even with that adult's help, with my current ability I can only replicate about eighty percent of the copied person's ability, and that's all! 」

Rojuro·Pa La Mi Ya looked at Heiqi Yihu and comforted him softly.

「Eighty percent is already a lot! 」

「That Aizen bastard, just what monster has he created……」

「I mean, that Aizen bastard really created an inconceivable existence~」

Heiqi Yihu's eye twitched slightly; look at what the other side just said—is that even human talk? Well, the other side just now wasn't human, it was a hollow……

But even if it's a hollow, shouldn't it follow logic? Copying eighty percent of someone else's ability—isn't that already a lot?! That Aizen bastard really knows how to cause trouble!

Yes, Heiqi Yihu was indeed misled by Rojuro's words; he completely thought that the adult Rojuro spoke of was Aizen Sosuke—actually, the adult Rojuro referred to can only be one person—and that is Huang Mu!

Huang Mu: "Heiqi Yihu, you didn't expect that, did you? The person who cultivated Rojuro to such excellence is not Aizen Sosuke, but me, Huang Mu Nie~"

That's right, the adult Rojuro spoke of is indeed Huang Mu Nie~

Aizen: "Hmm! Today is another day of taking the blame for Teacher Huang Mu!"

But Heiqi Yihu didn't know, and even if he did he wouldn't believe it! Right now he was angrily scolding Aizen for being immoral, but the words he had just started to complain about Aizen, after saying only half, he voluntarily stopped; Heiqi Yihu seemed to have noticed something off, as if he had misspoken……

Yes, Heiqi Yihu originally wanted to call Rojuro a monster~ but when Heiqi Yihu thought of Rojuro's gentle demeanor and polite tone, he couldn't bring himself to say it~ in the end, Heiqi Yihu's complaint died out, and then he stumbled, adding other words afterward to make himself seem more polite~

「If you want to call me a monster, then go ahead and call me! 」

「Anyway, I'm already used to it……」

Who would have thought that before Heiqi Yihu could speak, Rojuro had already seen through it first.

Rojuro's move this time was a direct self-destruct~

「No! You know, I didn't mean that……」

Upon hearing that, Heiqi Yihu immediately shouted his explanation.

「No need for many words, your eyes have already betrayed you! 」

「Hmph! I never thought Heiqi Yihu you were this kind of person……」

Rojuro went first, using moral blackmail.

「Um, let me apologize to you, okay?! 」

「I really didn't mean to say that just now, you know……」

「Ah! Damn, what the hell am I saying?! 」

「Hey hey hey! This is really troublesome! Please spare me quickly~」

Obviously, Rojuro's moral blackmail was extremely effective, instantly putting Heiqi Yihu in a dilemma! For a moment, facing Rojuro's attacks, Heiqi Yihu could only keep retreating~

Although Heiqi Yihu and Rojuro have a huge disparity in stats, yet with Heiqi Yihu unconsciously yielding and Rojuro going all out with a heavy punch, they strangely ended up tied in a short time~ it seems hard to decide a winner in the short term……

「Hah……」

For a moment, the other members of the Arrancar female group standing around Heiqi Yihu and Rojuro, after seeing this, could finally relax and breathe easy.

No matter what, they finally managed to hold down Heiqi Yihu, the true monster!

Yes, in the eyes of the numerous Adjuchas and Vasto Lorde-level hollow Arrancar!

He, Heiqi Yihu, is the true monster!

One who, without drawing his Soul-Cutting Sword, can press down numerous Vasto Lorde and Adjuchas-level hollows with just his bare fists, a thorough-and-through monster……

「Now it's up to Lord Aizen……」

For a moment, the other members of the Arrancar female group……

They directly turned into a sightseeing tour for the battle between Rojuro and Heiqi Yihu! After all, their fight now is no longer something they can casually jump into.

As for Heiqi Yihu, just now he was still thinking of Geng Mu Jian Ba because of that soaring immense spiritual pressure; he could only first apologize to him!

Heiqi Yihu: "Sorry, Jian Ba! My enemies here are tough to deal with; just make do and rely on yourself to turn the crisis around!"

As for that, initially it was because hearing that Heiqi Yihu would go to the Hollow Circle to rescue Shang Zhi Ji, they decided to come to the Hollow Circle to help Heiqi Yihu, Geng Mu Jian Ba; upon discovering he had been 'abandoned' by Heiqi Yihu, he calmly said: "Heiqi Yihu, I last year……"

In the sky, atop the dome of this Xu ye gong! The transcendent Heiqi Yihu is locked in fierce battle with the near-transcendent Rojuro·Pa La Mi Ya……

On the ground, amidst the palace ruins, the ever-advancing Aizen Sosuke, transcendent, continues to battle with one of the strongest beings beneath transcendence, Geng Mu Jian Ba~

"Lánrǎn Zǒngyòujiè! Let's see how you dodge this move!"

After Gèngmù Jiànbā roared a round, venting his inner anger, his mind seemed to become quite bright! In the blink of an eye, he thought of a way to catch Lánrǎn Zǒngyòujiè……

Only hearing Gèngmù Jiànbā let out a roar from his mouth, his two veins-bulging hands tightly gripped his own Soul-Cutting Sword, the long hilt immediately using his feet as a fulcrum, his waist driving both hands, with just this light exertion……

The Gèngmù Jiànbā gripping the hilt of his Soul-Cutting Sword instantly turned into a constantly spinning top, with a three-hundred-sixty-degree, all-around posture, slashing outward in all directions!

"Since I can't figure it out, just which side of me will you appear on then!"

"Then I'll just destroy you and everything around you completely!"

Gèngmù Jiànbā grinned widely, seeming to have already mastered the method to defeat Lánrǎn Zǒngyòujiè.

Since Gèngmù Jiànbā's reflexes can't keep up with Lánrǎn Zǒngyòujiè's speed, but as long as he strikes in all directions, there will surely be a position where Lánrǎn Zǒngyòujiè stands~

Hmm, he Gèngmù Jiànbā is indeed a genius!

"Gèngmù you bastard, is your brain broken?!"

"No! To be precise, Gèngmù you have finally abandoned your brain, becoming a true beast! As for this, I should congratulate you……"

On the other hand, Lánrǎn Zǒngyòujiè, upon seeing Gèngmù Jiànbā spinning like a top, sighed helplessly, stepping on the spiritual particles in the 【Hollow's circle】 atmosphere, he thus stood in the sky.

Still continuously accelerating its spin, in an inadvertent glance upward, he discovered in the sky that, despite wearing a mask, Gèngmù Jiànbā could still feel that Lánrǎn Zǒngyòujiè was looking at him with a mocking gaze, and he expressed: 'Lánrǎn Zǒngyòujiè, you lack martial virtue……'

"Damn……"

"Either I can't hit! Or the force isn't enough!"

"How can I possibly defeat Aizen?!"

At this moment, when Gèngmù's heart clearly knew that relying solely on his brute strength, he absolutely could not defeat an opponent like Lánrǎn Zǒngyòujiè, who was equally strong in intellect and physique, he finally stopped his movements and began to quietly ponder~

"As expected, I can't figure it out……"

Unfortunately, the invincible Gèngmù Jiànbā soon gave up thinking.

Thinking about this sort of thing simply isn't suited for him……

"You can't figure it out? Well then……"

"Gèngmù Jiànbā, since you can't figure it out, let me tell you the answer!"

Just at the moment when Gèngmù couldn't figure it out, Aizen spoke.

"Huh?!"

Gèngmù looked at Aizen with doubt in his eyes, seemingly not understanding why Aizen would personally help the enemy, defeating himself?!

If in battle with an enemy, one finds oneself completely lacking advantage in strength and speed, how can one turn defeat into victory? This answer is actually quite simple; my reply is——Complete Release!

Gèngmù Jiànbā, hurry up and undergo Complete Release! Facing the four basics of a Soul Reaper, which we commonly call swordsmanship, hand-to-hand, footwork, and spellcraft, I completely outclass you in every aspect! Aside from undergoing Complete Release, you have no chance of defeating me!

Not giving Gèngmù a chance to think further, Aizen's voice had already reached his ears.

"If my Initial Release cannot defeat your Initial Release……"

"Then even if I undergo Complete Release, I still couldn't defeat you, right?!"

After all, when you find yourself at a disadvantage, you too could just like me undergo Complete Release against the enemy!

In that case, the advantage I just established through Complete Release wouldn't be easily and completely reversed by you, would it?!

In that case, everything would become meaningless! Therefore, before I find a way to defeat you using Initial Release, I will absolutely not undergo Complete Release……

Gèngmù Jiànbā seemed to have had a flash of insight, he looked at Lánrǎn Zǒngyòujiè and spoke in a low voice.

"No! Gèngmù, you got that wrong again!"

"I will not undergo Complete Release, even if that means I will be defeated by your Complete Release~"

"I also absolutely will not perform the Complete Release of my Soul-Cutting Sword……"

After listening to Gèngmù's words, Aizen lightly shook his head, sincerely looking at Gèngmù, and spoke softly.

"Oh?! Why?"

After hearing Aizen's words, Gèngmù Jiànbā seemed to freeze for a moment, seemingly not quite understanding what Aizen meant, so he looked at Aizen and asked softly.

"The answer is simple, because I cannot undergo Complete Release……"

After hearing Gèngmù Jiànbā's words, Aizen laughed.

"Cannot undergo Complete Release? Could it be that you don't know how to undergo Complete Release?"

Gèngmù froze for a moment, seemingly not understanding Aizen's meaning.

"Hehe……"

After hearing Gèngmù's words, Aizen merely gave a light chuckle, his voice filled with endless contempt; only seeing Aizen lightly shake his head at Gèngmù, he then said lightly: 'It's not that I cannot undergo Complete Release! Rather, I have personally abandoned Complete Release~'

"Abandoned Complete Release?"

Aizen's words indeed left Gèngmù stunned for a moment.

"Gèngmù, if you can undergo Complete Release, that shows that even you should have conversed with your own Soul-Cutting Sword, right?"

Aizen looked at Gèngmù and asked.

"Exactly……"

Upon hearing that, Gèngmù lightly nodded.

Of course I'm not saying just looking, like our Initial Release, when your Spiritual Pressure reaches a certain standard, it's as natural as water flowing to know your sword's name! Rather, it's entering your inner world and directly conversing with the soul of your Soul-Cutting Sword! At that time, the Soul-Cutting Sword will give us different trials to determine whether we possess the qualification to wield them! In other words, each person's Soul-Cutting Sword in our hands possesses its own consciousness……

Without waiting for Gèngmù to finish speaking, Aizen continued.

"Yeah! What's up?"

Gèngmù was doubtful of Aizen's sudden startle.

Since each person's Soul-Cutting Sword in hand possesses its own consciousness, how can you possibly ensure they truly won't betray us?! And how can you ensure they will never be plundered by our enemies?!

Aizen looked at Gèngmù and posed a deadly double question.

Gèngmù, as a disciple of Teacher Huāngmù, you surely should also know about one named Xiǔmù Xiǎnghé under his tutelage, right? Then you should also clearly know just how incredible the abilities of the Soul-Cutting Sword named Yāodāo Cūnzhèng that Xiǔmù Xiǎnghé wields are!

The emergence of the sword Yāodāo Cūnzhèng itself serves as proof of the uncertainty of the Soul-Cutting Sword's Complete Release, and as strong evidence that it will become a weakness of the Soul Reapers! Complete Release will not only become a weapon of a Soul Reaper, but will also become the weakness of each and every Soul Reaper~ The more one relies on Complete Release, the more likely one is to die by one's own Complete Release!

"Therefore, I, in order to prevent a future confrontation with my own Soul-Cutting Sword, personally destroyed the consciousness of Mirror Flower Water Moon; after the consciousness of Mirror Flower Water Moon dissipated, I naturally could no longer use the Complete Release of my Soul-Cutting Sword~ Of course, I believe it was all worth it—sacrificing the Complete Release, my Soul-Cutting Sword Mirror Flower Water Moon henceforth has no weakness whatsoever~"

Lánrǎn looking at Gēngmù, he explained word by word why he couldn't use Complete Release! Others don't use Complete Release because their talent is insufficient! He, Lánrǎn Zǒngyòujiè, does not use Complete Release because he personally discarded it, that Complete Release which is a time bomb full of uncertainty~

「……」

Lánrǎn's words directly left Gēngmù speechless.

Gēngmù never imagined that his Complete Release could be taken away by someone, or be bewitched by another, leading to his betrayal!

Gēngmù believed that not only he, but the vast majority of Soul Reapers who successfully mastered Complete Release would not have such a thought! And Aizen is not an ordinary person, nor is he the vast majority of people……

Aizen bears astonishing talent! Choosing to ascend to godhood with a mortal body!

Since one wishes to become the true god standing above the heavens, there absolutely cannot be any weakness, nor the slightest uncertainty……

It's a pity, in Aizen's view the soul of the Soul-Cutting Sword is an uncertainty! Clearly it is his own power, why should it be subject to the will of other souls? Don't joke……

「Lánrǎn, I don't agree with your words! 」

「However I have decided to indulge you; I will fight you with Complete Release! 」

Gēngmù Bā looked at Lánrǎn with determined gaze, speaking in a low voice.

「Hehe, I don't need your agreement on anything……」

「Gēngmù Bā, give it your all to attack me! 」

Lánrǎn Zǒngyòujiè looked at Gēngmù and spoke softly.

「If that's the case, then let you witness my full power! 」

Gēngmù Bā said, having already raised the huge axe in his hand.

「Complete Release……」

Gēngmù had no hesitation, directly performed the Complete Release of his Soul-Cutting Sword.

As Gēngmù's words fell, his whole body suddenly swelled, his skin a mass of crimson, as if just taken from the fire, a red-hot branding iron……

White steam, like clouds and smoke, continuously issued from Gēngmù's body surface, winding around him left and right, making him appear even more extraordinary!

「Roar!! 」

The name of Gēngmù's Soul-Cutting Sword Complete Release, as always, is hard to make out!

Like a final mutter, it turned into a beast's roar, an Asura's fury!

And the huge axe originally in Gēngmù's hand also broke at this moment, with an unjust fracture surface, appearing in his hand, pointing straight at Aizen……

「Just like that~」

「Gēngmù Bā! Release your full power! 」

Aizen gazed at the beast-like Gēngmù, overjoyed! He continually urged Gēngmù's direction, seemingly eagerly hoping that after Complete Release, Gēngmù could attack him……

「Boom! 」

Without Aizen saying more, the Gēngmù that seemed to have completely transformed into an Asura demon had already arrived before Aizen; Gēngmù's speed was such that even Aizen, who had entered the pupal stage, his pupils slightly constricted.

「Although Gēngmù's sword seems to have broken……」

「But Gēngmù's power after Complete Release is worlds apart from its initial release stage! Now Gēngmù has reached the pinnacle of Soul Reapers, infinitely approaching the ranks of transcendents! Even if I, now, were to take his strike head-on, I would likely suffer great harm! However, this suits me perfectly……」

As Aizen's mouth curled into a smile, he waved his Soul-Cutting Sword in hand, battling with the post-Complete Release Gēngmù who had transformed into a demon, becoming entangled.

「Clang!! 」

On the land of Xu ye gong……

Aizen, having entered the second stage of the Collapsed Jade's pupation, and Gēngmù, whose whole body is crimson with horns growing on his forehead, as the Complete Release time lengthens, his image increasingly resembles that of a demon Asura, they fight incessantly! Their Soul-Cutting Sparks constantly strike fire……

Aizen and Gēngmù merely standing there is enough to cause massive distortion in the space of the Hollow; they need say nothing, merely standing on this ruin is enough to make the great Hollows feel awe and unable to approach.

Especially, when Aizen's and Gēngmù's Soul-Cutting Swords touch, in the world of the Hollow, their power instantly opens countless black voids, and because their swords separate, they instantly vanish……

That battle continues, and their contest keeps escalating!

It must be said, using the power of the Collapsed Jade, Aizen who has entered pupation, the power he commands is worthy of his years of relentless effort and pursuit……

With the help of the Collapsed Jade, Aizen finally gained the ability to face off against Gēngmù Bā, or Yamamoto Genryūsai, these offensive-type Soul-Cutting Sword users, in a direct confrontation!

Always lurking in dark corners, like a black-shadow power broker manipulating everything from behind the scenes, Aizen at this moment finally, as he wished, became a warrior wielding a sharp blade!

At the same time, Aizen finally proved what he had always believed: if given an offensive-type Soul-Cutting Sword, he would have no need to use those boring and tedious schemes! With just one person and one blade, he could defeat the invincible Gēngmù Bā, and even against Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, who has not yet gone to the Spirit King Palace to become the Zero Division, he could still fight!

「Gēngmù, did you see that? 」

「My illusion-type Soul-Cutting Sword's contained power is no longer beneath your blade! If it were me now, I would be more fitting for the title of Kenpachi! 」

Aizen single-handedly waved his thin blade, easily blocking all of the Complete Release Gēngmù Bā's attacks; he combined his honed swordsmanship with the bodily strength that the Collapsed Jade had pushed beyond its limits, together displaying overwhelming close-combat power; even after Complete Release, the Gēngmù Bā possessing absolute power could not gain any advantage from Aizen's hands……

「Whether it's Captain Unohana or Master Yamamoto! 」

「They all say that among Master Araki's disciples, only I am most like him in character, talent, and ability! Unfortunately, having inherited all of Master Araki's techniques, I have no fate to attain the Kenpachi position……」

「Simply because I clearly know that I, wielding an illusion-type Soul-Cutting Sword, cannot in a one-on-one frontal battle, using pure close-quarters combat, defeat you, Gēngmù Bā, whose power after Complete Release is greatly increased! 」

「Thus, among Master Araki's disciples, the most outstanding and the one most like him, yet cannot inherit the Kenpachi position from Master Araki's hands! 」

「But now, having broken through my own limits, surpassed my past limits, even without using any ability of my Soul-Cutting Sword, I can suppress the Kenpachi known as the strongest Soul Reaper aside from the current Captain-Commander! 」

「Our battle truly should be performed before all members of the Eleventh Division! If so, after I win this Kenpachi challenge, I will rightfully become the new generation's Kenpachi~」

Aizen, while suppressing Gēngmù Bā, continually taunted him, as if in his eyes Gēngmù Bā's combat power was insignificant.

「Getting a bit tiresome……」

「Come on! Gēngmù Bā! Use your strongest strike to cut me! ~」

Aizen, using his swordsmanship, continually pressed Gēngmù Bā into the corner, to the point that after Complete Release, Gēngmù Bā even didn't know how to attack; Aizen suddenly stopped his motion, he opened his arms, without any precaution exposed his embrace, coldly gazing at Gēngmù, speaking softly.

「Roar!! 」

On his forehead grew a one-meter-long scarlet horn; at this moment, Gēngmù Bā, already resembling a hell demon, seemed to have clearly heard Aizen's words; hearing him suddenly roar, he tightly gripped his Soul-Cutting Sword, approached Aizen, and then with all his might swung down to chop……

「Swish!! 」

Accompanied by an endless roar!

A huge mushroom cloud suddenly rose from the ground, then kept extending upward, directly breaking through the dome that Lanran had built for the Xu ye gong, and rushed toward the star‑filled sky, emitting one howl after another…

As for Lanran Zongyoujie, who was struck directly by Gengmu Jianba's sword, countless drops of blood now pour out, his body split in two and collapsed on the ground, apparently completely losing consciousness! Even someone as strong as Lanran Zongyoujie seems to have utterly fallen under the supreme power of the slash that Gengmu Jianba unleashed, burning his essence and soul.

"Is it over?! Did I really defeat Lanran?"

Gengmu Jianba looked at the blood spattered on the ground, withdrew from his Bankai state on his own, half‑kneeling on the beach, and quietly stared at the corpse before him.

"It seems, Gengmu Jianba, you yourself are amazed that you could defeat me~ In that case, Gengmu Jianba, you do have some wisdom; I have indeed been underestimating you all this time…"

Just as Gengmu Jianba was convinced of his victory, the voice of Lanran Zongyoujie—whom Gengmu Jianba despises immensely—came...

Lanran's voice, deep and resonant, slowly rose beside Gengmu Jianba's ear, like a three‑dimensional sound, constantly tormenting his consciousness…

"Gengmu Jianba, I must sincerely express my gratitude to you here!"

"It was that slash you just delivered that stimulated my body, igniting an infinite yearning for life and evolution; at the critical moment, the shattered jade successfully propelled me forward a step~"

"As for the corpse on the ground, it is merely the husk I have shed! Like a molted cicada, or a moth breaking out of its cocoon!"

"Nevertheless, I must thank you, Gengmu Jianba! Without that final slash, relying solely on my own strength to emerge from this cocoon would have been very arduous! Thank you for using your Bankai's power to lend me this helping hand…"

Lanran gazed at Gengmu Jianba, repeatedly expressing his thanks.

"You bastard…"

Gengmu Jianba's spiritual pressure at this moment seemed nearly exhausted; he glared at Lanran, apparently intending to use his remaining strength to deliver one more slash to Lanran.

"Enough, Gengmu Jianba!"

"Your mission ends here…"

"You may now rest properly~"

"Breaking Path of the Ninety Black Coffin!!"

The instant Lanran's words fell, the pitch‑black coffin instantly enveloped Gengmu's entire body, sealing him inside, locked within endless darkness.

"Boom!"

When the black coffin's wall shattered…

It was Gengmu Jianba, hair disheveled, his whole body riddled with wounds, each wound continuously bleeding outward.

"Bastard! Lanran…"

At this moment, Gengmu Jianba, having lost too much blood, began to feel dizzy and blurry.

Nevertheless, Gengmu Jianba still stood firm, as if on an untoppleable platform; with the last fragment of his consciousness, he firmly etched Lanran Zongyoujie's visage into his mind.

"Even after being defeated, you still refuse to fall down?!"

"That's truly your style, Gengmu Jianba…"

"I must say, Gengmu, you truly live up to the name Jianba!"

"I acknowledge your identity here…"

The newly evolved Lanran, watching Gengmu Jianba standing amid the ruins, his body continuously bleeding down, a figure like a blood‑stained tower, chuckled and said.

"Boom!!"

It was also at the instant Lanran's words fell…

The sky above Lanran suddenly cracked open amid a series of booming roars; from the breach descended Heizi Yigu, clad in black death‑lord armor, wielding two Zanpakuto, like a savior descending from heaven, landing before the crowd.

"Lanran, what have you done to Gengmu?!?"

After Heizi Yigu successfully descended from the sky of the Xu ye gong…

He stared at Lanran with a steel‑blue complexion, angrily questioning him.

"What do you say I did to him?!"

Lanran, upon hearing Heizi Yigu's words, seemed as if about to laugh.

"What exactly did I do to Gengmu, can't you see it?! Yigu~"

Lanran softly asked Yigu.

"Swish!"

Yigu ignored Lanran, suddenly using a burst of Qi to step; a fleeting afterimage flashed, and Heizi Yigu's figure instantly appeared behind Lanran…

Yigu first carefully helped Gengmu Jianba lie flat on the ground, then turned his head toward Lanran Zongyoujie, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Lanran!"

Yigu's hoarse voice, sharp and raw, shouted Lanran's name.

"Heizi Yigu, long time no see…"

"As a human, reaching this point is no small feat!"

Lanran said softly to Heizi Yigu.

"Shut up, Lanran! Don't act as if you know me!"

Heizi Yigu, after hearing Lanran's words, growled angrily at Lanran.

"Of course I know you, Heizi Yigu…"

"Ever since the day you were born, I have been watching you."

Lanran smiled at Heizi Yigu.

"What are you talking about?!"

Yigu was momentarily stunned, then questioned Lanran.

"I mean, about twenty years ago, from the moment your father, the Soul Reaper Zhiba Yixin, and your mother, the pure‑blood Quincy Heizi Zhensuo, met in Kongzuo Town, I have been anticipating your birth, Heizi Yigu! After all, you are my greatest test subject…"

Lanran looked at Heizi Yigu, his expression tinged with seriousness, and smiled.

"What are you saying?!"

"How could I be your test subject? Stop joking…"

This time, Heizi Yigu repeated the same words, only his tone was even more confused!

「You must be wondering, right! Heiqi Yihu...... 」

「After all, if your entire life is within my calculations, and everything you do is within my control! This really sounds hard to accept! But this is the fact, although it's cruel...... 」

「Speaking of which, I have something I want to ask you~ Heiqi Yihu, your Soul-Cutting Sword's Hollow White power is quite useful, right? After all, that is exactly the power I bestowed upon you! 」

Lanran gazed at Yihu, speaking softly.

「What are you saying? ！」

Unfortunately, Heiqi Yihu keeps repeating that sentence over and over, but his expression grows increasingly solemn, with a hint of disbelief in his eyes!

Stayed up all night, ten-thousand-word big chapter! This chapter was written a bit late, my mind isn't very clear; if there are any issues, I'll revise them as soon as I'm sober~ Thanks for everyone's support~

(End of chapter)