Chapter 208: Exposure! Araki Recites Aizen's Dark History in Public! Aizen

"Spirit King Palace?!"

Aizen, hearing Araki's words, was instantly shocked; ignoring whether Araki stood in his way, he raised his head and stared upward...

When Aizen looked up, he saw six massive discs floating in the sky of the so‑called Spirit King Palace; each disc bore a super‑city comparable to Tokyo, and at the center of these six cities stood a treasure tower resembling the Linglong Tower, within which a terrifying spiritual pressure shocked even a transcendent like Aizen!

Aizen knew in his heart that the tower was the Spirit King's private chambers!

"If I can get inside there and completely kill that false Spirit King, I will stand above this sky!"

Aizen fixed his gaze on the Spirit King's Inner Palace in the sky and muttered to himself.

"You want to kill the Spirit King? That's impossible..."

Just as Aizen whispered, a coarse voice suddenly rang from behind him, breaking his reverie.

"Who are you?!"

Aizen, hearing that, showed a hint of caution and turned around immediately.

As Aizen turned, what came into his view was Heishubu Ichibei, the Eye Monk of the Zero Squad, clad in a feathered robe, his scalp completely bald.

"My name is Heishubu Ichibei; you may call me the True Name Calling Monk~"

Heishubu looked at Aizen and greeted him amicably.

As a face of the Zero Squad, Heishubu is one of the few in the Three Realms who knows Araki's scheme; he knows that Aizen Souyusuke is the successor Araki favors, and, unsurprisingly, will become the third‑generation commander of the Guardian Court Thirteen Squad, so he gave Aizen a rare smile.

"I see, so you are the leader of the Zero Squad?!"

Aizen heard this, his pupils narrowed slightly, then he spoke calmly.

"No, no, no! Little brother Aizen, you've got it wrong..."

"I haven't been the Zero Squad's leader for many years now~"

Heishubu, after hearing Aizen's words, immediately shook his head in denial.

"Hm?!"

When Aizen heard Heishubu's denial, a few doubts flickered in his previously calm eyes; it was the first time he felt uncertainty after stepping into the Spirit King Palace.

"Then..."

Aizen looked at Heishubu, as if wanting to ask something.

"I stepped down and yielded to the worthy long ago~"

"These days, the Zero Squad and everything inside the Spirit King Palace are overseen by Boss Araki; I only act as the Zero Squad's leader when Araki, who usually stays in the lower realms and not in the Spirit King Palace, is absent..."

Heishubu didn't give Aizen a chance to speak and explained first.

"What?!"

Aizen was stunned; he hadn't expected his teacher to control not only the Guardian Court Thirteen Squad and the Jingling Court, but also the Zero Squad and the Spirit King Palace!

Suddenly, Aizen recalled Araki's scheme in the Void Circle: before his arrival, the great voids of the Washi Tuo De rank he had recruited as Ten Blades had not engaged in fierce conflict, but had divided the Void Circle among themselves, each governing its own region...

Back then Aizen thought those Washi Tuo De great voids couldn't overcome each other, so like beasts in a forest they carved up the entire Void Circle and set up their own hunting grounds. Looking back, those hunting grounds must also be Araki's handiwork! In other words, Araki not only controls the Jingling Court and the Spirit King Palace, but also covertly manipulates the myriad Washi Voids, letting them govern the whole Void Circle...

Thinking of this, Aizen also recalled Araki's layout in the Present World; the reason the nations of the Present World have not fought for centuries is that its rulers are all Eradication Masters descending from Araki's line, who share an unspoken tacit understanding, constantly working to eradicate plague, war, famine, death, greatly extending human lifespan and thereby reducing the emergence of 'Void' and 'Whole' at the root.

In other words, Araki not only secretly controls the Void Circle, but also influences the Present World, and on top of that, the Corpse Soul Realm he himself governs...

It seems the entire Three Realms are under Araki's influence and control.

"I see now, Teacher Araki, you've been using the Spirit King to command the Three Realms all these years!"

Aizen's mind raced, and he quickly understood, then sneered at Araki behind him.

"You say I wield the Spirit King to command the Three Realms?!"

"Nonsense! Clearly the Spirit King is the one leveraging me to command the Three Realms!"

Araki, hearing his wayward disciple Aizen, let out a cold laugh and said gravely.

"Hehe..."

Aizen merely gave a cold laugh; his teacher was indeed as before, no‑face...

"If you, Aizen, wish..."

"Then the authority I possess now can also become yours!"

"Both of us are working hard for the Spirit King, sir~"

"The Spirit King eliminated the Great Void, and together with the Five Great Noble Ancestors, was a meritorious founder of this Three Realms!"

Araki, without waiting for Aizen to speak further, continued to tempt.

"Teacher Araki, I don't need to brandish anyone's banner! I only wish to raise my own banner! I only hope that the one standing in the heavens is not a puppet, but a true god..."

Aizen seemed stubborn, as if he would not shed a tear even at a coffin...

"You're so impatient! I've told you countless times, no matter what happens, you must stay calm; only calmness can solve problems..."

"Since you refuse to use the Spirit King's banner, then use my banner and go for it! You now know who stands up there, so that's enough, right?"

"Since the people of the Three Realms need a Spirit King in their hearts, let the Spirit King remain in the tower; do you think my heart can still accommodate a half‑dead cripple?"

Araki looked at the agitated Aizen and said helplessly.

Araki's words were all for Aizen, for the good of the Three Realms' people!

But however Aizen heard it, he felt Araki was considering his own interests.

"What if I say no?!"

Aizen's attitude seemed unusually resolute.

"Then I can only subdue you..."

Before Araki could speak, the monk standing on Aizen's other side spoke first. The monk's eyes, usually bright enough to pierce the Three Realms, had turned blank, and paired with his ferocious expression, he now looked unnervingly hollow.

"..."

Aizen stayed silent; now Araki and the monk, one behind the other, seemed to completely surround him, two transcendent beings of equal or greater power, leaving him at an absolute disadvantage.

"Aizen, what are you worried about?"

"Are you worried that I might lay a hand on you?"

"You and I are at least master and disciple; how could I possibly lay a hand on you?"

"You should know my character; the whole Corpse Soul Realm wouldn't exist, and there's no one more upright than I am…"

Araki, seeing Lan Ran—surrounded by him and the monk, his expression tense—laughed and said.

"Lao Yinbi, I know exactly what kind of person you are, that's why I'm scared you'd stab me in the back!"

Lan Ran thought that, but of course he wouldn't say it.

"Hehe! Then I truly thank Teacher Araki for his mercy toward me…"

Lan Ran thanked Araki.

"Thousand‑mile Sky‑reaching Palm!"

The moment Lan Ran glanced at Araki, the Eye Monk behind him suddenly activated his ability! The palm of the Soldier Master division swelled to an immense size, instantly flinging the Lan Ran who was turned away from him outward…

"I…"

Lan Ran, in a moment of carelessness, immediately turned into a lingering afterimage.

"Master Lan Ran only said that I wouldn't strike, but said nothing about others!"

The instant Lan Ran approached Araki, time seemed to freeze completely. In front of Lan Ran, with his terrified expression, Araki gently turned his body and, smiling at Lan Ran, said.

"Boom!"

And at the very moment Araki's words fell, Lan Ran was already hurled backward…

Awaiting Lan Ran was a huge cage made of trees!

"What is this?!"

Lan Ran looked at the massive cage before him, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Oh! You must be Lan Ran Souyusuke, right?!"

"I've heard you mentioned many times by Ping Zi Mako…"

"By the way, we once met at Captain Araki's head meeting; speaking of that, do you still remember me?!"

Just as Lan Ran was puzzled, behind the trees a cute, chubby‑headed, big‑eared head appeared! Yes, the one hiding behind the trees was none other than Yi Zhou Tongshou, who had regained the figure she was proud of.

"Who are you?!"

Lan Ran stared at the newcomer, his pupils narrowing slightly; in a brief instant he searched his mind repeatedly and concluded he had never seen this plump woman before, so he retorted.

"How rude~ I am Yi Zhou Tongshou~"

"You even used to call me 'Sister Tongshou'~"

Yi Zhou Tongshou, after hearing Lan Ran's words, her plump face instantly puffed up; she huffed at Lan Ran and said.

"Are you Yi Zhou Tongshou?"

Lan Ran was shocked by Yi Zhou's words; setting aside her appearance, she differed from the beauty who once outshone the Jingling Court in his memory, even her spiritual pressure was far off; the person before him now seemed to bear the name Yi Zhou yet be another person altogether.

"So that's it, this is Wang Jian's power?"

"It can not only alter a person's appearance, but also change the nature of their spiritual pressure!"

Lan Ran seemed to understand something and muttered to himself.

"Ah! This guy is Lan Ran Souyusuke, right?!"

"He doesn't seem to have any special traits, huh~"

"Nie Jianli and Pu Yuan Xishu, those two, were toyed with by such an ordinary guy for centuries; truly useless~"

And just as Lan Ran spoke, a dazzling figure standing on something like a hoverboard slowly approached Lan Ran's side.

"Are you… Senior Xiu Duo Luo Qianshouwan?"

Lan Ran glanced at the woman beside him; seeing the six golden arms behind her, his eyes flickered as he asked.

"Oh? It seems you're not clueless, planning to invade the Spirit King Palace; before that, did you do any homework~"

The woman, bearing an elegant beauty, was Xiu Duo Luo Qianshouwan herself; she looked at Lan Ran and spoke softly.

Hehe! You are indeed a big shot who invented the Death Tyrant Armor!

"Even though, in my eyes, the Death Overlord Garb's design is excessively ugly! Yet, as death gods, having worn it for millennia does have some merit…"

Lan Ran sneered at Qianshouwan and said softly.

"Hehe! The sharp‑toothed little brat~"

Qianshouwan, after hearing Lan Ran's words, let out a self‑satisfied sneer.

She recorded this grudge…

Sooner or later, she'll make Lan Ran pay the price~

"Hey hey hey! This guy is the one who tried to use the Corpse Soul Realm's secret technique passed down for ten thousand years to forge our bodies, the great sinner of Wang Jian…"

At the moment Lan Ran and Qianshouwan's gazes locked, each refusing to yield…

A man with a bamboo skewer in his mouth, a plane‑cut hairstyle, wearing a bathhouse worker's uniform, a naginata slung over his shoulder, swaggered over, speaking nonchalantly.

"Are you Qilin Si Tianshilang?"

Lan Ran turned his head at the words, and upon seeing the conspicuous plane‑cut, instantly recognized the newcomer and asked softly.

"Oh! You do have some taste~"

Qilin Si's mouth twitched upward slightly.

"I've long heard of your great name!"

"Teacher Araki and Maozhihua Lie Shimu always tell me that among the Zero Squad there's a loud‑voiced, noisy fellow, which must be you…"

Lan Ran gave Qilin Si a quick once‑over and laughed.

"Ha?!"

Qilin Si seemed so incensed by Lan Ran's words that he was fuming.

"So the one who should appear last must be the forger of Zanpakuto, the 'Sword God' Ermeiwu Wang Yue, right?!"

Aizen said, his gaze turning to the space behind him…

Sure enough, the man with an afro, dressed in a stylish feather‑coat‑style air vest, Ermeiwu Wang Yue strode purposefully toward Aizen.

"Yo! Little Aizen, today you'll be defeated right here, because this is a destiny you cannot escape! SKR~SKR~"

Wang Yue said, striking a very trendy pose—poss~

Those who know will say Wang Yue is the legendary forger of all Zanpakuto, a man bearing the title 'Sword God'! He has come this time surely to subdue the traitor Aizen Souyusuke! Those who don't know might think Wang Yue is here to join the Soul Society's hip‑hop scene~

"'Sword God' Wang Yue, 'Thunder' Tian Shi Lang, 'Great Weaver Guard' Qianshou Wan, and senior Ye Zhou Tongsheng—do you really think the four of you can defeat me, who has already surpassed every Shinigami?!"

Aizen's gaze swept over Wang Yue, Qilin Si, Xiu Duo Luo and Ye Zhou, his eyes tinged with disdain! Though Wang Yue and the others are strong, they do not give him the crushing pressure that Araki and the monk do.

Members of the Zero Division also have strengths and weaknesses…

"Hey hey hey! Aizen Souyusuke~"

"Don't get too cocky!"

"Let me show you my power! Amaterasu Flash, Kinpika!!"

Qilin Si spat the wooden skewer he was holding onto the ground, then brandished his Zanpakuto and slashed at Aizen.

"Qilin Si, you're too inexperienced…"

Aizen looked at the dazzling blade flash, a hint of contempt in his eyes, sidestepped the attack and kicked Qilin Si away with a single foot.

Boom!

Just as Aizen sent Qilin Si flying, the wooden cage at his side suddenly contracted, turning into countless tentacles that lunged to bind Aizen.

"Binding Path of Eighty‑one Broken Void!"

Aizen, without turning his head, extended a finger.

Boom!

A transparent barrier instantly appeared before Aizen, blocking the ever‑growing trees that Ye Zhou Tongsheng called 'chanchu'.

"So that's it, you used a temporary soul technique?"

"If that's the case, these trees can keep proliferating…"

Aizen snatched a small segment of the chanchu, gently kneaded it in his hand, and seemed to understand something, breaking into a faint smile.

Ding~

At the same time, Xiu Duo Luo stepped in front of Aizen; her snow‑white, slender hands remained flat before her, while one of the six golden prosthetic arms behind her clenched a thin silver needle.

"Aizen, you just said my clothing is ugly…"

"Then why do you wear the garments I personally sewed?"

Xiu Duo Luo looked at Aizen and said cheerfully.

"Your hand‑sewn clothes? Don't joke—what I'm wearing now is a design I created myself…"

Aizen said this, then suddenly realized something and closed his mouth.

"Hey! Aizen, why did you stop speaking?"

Xiu Duo Luo looked at Aizen and asked with a smile.

"I see! In an instant you finished sewing the clothes? No wonder you're called the Great Weaver Guard…"

Aizen stared at Xiu Duo Luo, a faint glint in his eyes.

Yes, while Aizen was unaware, a trench coat bearing the Zero Division insignia had already appeared on his body…

"By the way, Aizen! There's something I forgot to tell you…"

"I just used a huge amount of material to sew your coat~"

"And by accident I dropped the needle into your garment~"

"The number lost isn't many, about a thousand or so~"

Qianshou Wan looked at Aizen, smiling, and said.

Swish!

The very next second after Qianshou Wan's words…

Aizen's body was instantly pierced by countless silver needles! His flesh was riddled with wounds, and streams of bright red fluid poured out from the holes.

"It's over!"

Qianshou Wan, unfazed, turned his body.

"It's over? Senior Qianshou Wan, how did you know our battle had already ended…"

At the moment Qianshou Wan turned, the collapsed Aizen suddenly stood up before everyone, ripped off the coat riddled with his silver needles, and calmly looked at the crowd.

"Healed? Hyper regeneration?"

Qilin Si, seeing Aizen's body fully healed, exclaimed in shock.

"No! This isn't hyper regeneration…"

"It's beyond hyper regeneration—limitless regeneration!"

"As long as a single cell of mine lives, I will never die!"

"Exactly, I have already achieved true immortality!"

Aizen slipped his hands into his pockets, looked at everyone, and said with utter calm.

"Just because you think you can't defeat me…"

"Even I can't even use Mirror Flower Water Moon~"

Aizen, still calm, whispered to the crowd.

"Is that so? You really don't need Mirror Flower Water Moon?"

"You should have said so! To counter you, I brought a Zanpakuto specifically designed to dispel illusion!"

Who would have thought that after Lan Ran's words fell, the Sword God Ermeiwu Wang Yue, who confidently gripped his own Soul-Cutting Sword, was the first to become displeased~

As the creator of the Soul-Cutting Sword, Wang Yue naturally knew what ability Lan Ran's Soul-Cutting Sword possessed, so he first prepared one specifically to dispel illusions.

"Hmm?"

After hearing Wang Yue's words, Lan Ran's mind went blank for a moment.

"The name of this sword is 'Discard Falsehood, Preserve Truth'!"

"It's that, after discovering your Mirror Flower Water Moon was too unsolvable, I specially made it for you! Indeed, this sword has no other use besides dispelling illusions, but it's enough to thrash your Mirror Flower Water Moon……"

Wang Yue seemed to notice Lan Ran's confusion, immediately raising his Soul-Cutting Sword in hand to explain its ability.

""

After listening to Wang Yue's words, Lan Ran only felt his heart a bit uneasy.

At this moment, Lan Ran really wanted to grab Wang Yue's collar and angrily ask: "Are you sick? How few are the Bug-capable Soul-Cutting Swords of the Soul Society? Where does my Mirror Flower Water Moon's ability compare to the freakish ability of the Demonic Sword Muramasa from the Decaying Wood Hibiki River? Rather than targeting me, you should target, target Hibiki River instead……"

"Hehe! I've said before, even without Mirror Flower Water Moon, I can still win!"

Lan Ran gave a cold snort, his expression turning somewhat gloomy.

"Looks like Little Brother Lan Ran is indeed quite confident~"

"Since that's the case, let this old man also join your battle~"

At the moment Lan Ran gave a cold snort, the 'Eye Monk' Military Department Yibingwei swaggered in from the postpartum prison built by Yeizhoutongsheng, speaking to Lan Ran.

"Military Department Yibingwei……"

Lan Ran looked at the person, his eyes slightly narrowing, his gaze carrying a hint of wariness toward Military Department Yibingwei.

"All right! Lan Ran……"

"Come, let me test your skills to see if you truly have the qualifications to be the next commander of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads~"

The Military Department said, suddenly pulling out a huge brush.

"Hehe! No need for your probing, because I never thought of succeeding Teacher Araki's position as the third-generation commander guarding the Tranquil Spirit Court~"

Lan Ran gave a cold snort, speaking contemptuously to the Military Department.

Merely, Lan Ran's deadpan stare exposed the Military Department's inner thoughts, not as relaxed as his words suggested……

"Lan Ran, you still haven't figured it out!"

"Whether you can be the third-generation commander has never been up to you to decide! As for your thoughts, they simply don't matter……"

As the Military Department spoke, the smile on his face grew increasingly ferocious.

Indeed, back then the Military Department also said he would absolutely not submit to Teacher Araki's command and become his subordinate! Yet in the end, wasn't it just 'true fragrance'?!

From then on, the Military Department saw through it: in this world, only the 'true fragrance' law is eternal; in these Three Realms, whether mortal or transcendent, even the majestic Spirit King's Majesty ultimately cannot escape a single 'true fragrance'~

"Huh?!"

As for Lan Ran at this moment, upon seeing the Military Department wave the brush, his pupils suddenly trembled; all he saw in his vision was the Military Department's brush beginning to flicker, its tip alternating between blade and ordinary brush, leaving Lan Ran unable to tell what exactly the Military Department held in his hand……

"What's wrong, Lan Ran? Why aren't you as invincible as before? Have you started to confuse whether what I hold is a sword or a brush?!"

The Military Department looked at Lan Ran's constantly trembling pupils and chuckled as he spoke.

"Damn it!"

Upon hearing that, Lan Ran cursed angrily and simultaneously erupted with tremendous spiritual pressure.

"Binding Way 995 Five Dragons Revolving Annihilation!"

Lan Ran hesitated not at all, directly using the strongest Demon Way he possessed!

"Boom!"

As Lan Ran's words fell, accompanied by a terrifying roar!

"Roar!!"

Five bluish-purple giant dragons thus appeared around Lan Ran, letting out a roar toward Military Department Yibingwei before lunging to tear and bite!

"Inner Binding Way·Third Path·'Iron Wind Slay'!"

At the moment Lan Ran used Five Dragons Revolving Annihilation, the Military Department hesitated not, directly activating the 'Inner Binding Way' that lies above Binding Way!

Just as the Military Department's words fell, a lustrous green giant dragon appeared before Lan Ran and others, letting out a roar and charging to collide with Lan Ran's Five Dragons Revolving Annihilation……

"Boom!!"

In the end, the Military Department's Iron Wind Slay and Lan Ran's Five Dragons Revolving Annihilation collided in the postpartum prison built by Yeizhoutongsheng, simultaneously turning into the purest spiritual particles!

At the instant both great Demon Ways vanished simultaneously, endless gales blew the Zero Division members inside the cage straight into the air; had they not been in the postpartum prison, they would likely have been flung away by the aftermath of the Military Department's and Lan Ran's Demon Way collision!

"Ah, ah, ah!"

"We're really weak in this sealed state!"

In response, the Kirin Temple sighed helplessly.

"There's no way, who made the current Three Realms unable to bear the spiritual pressure of all us Zero Division members?!"

"Once the Three Realms are fully perfected according to Teacher Araki's plan, there will no longer be any restrictions limiting us!"

After hearing the Kirin Temple's sigh, Wang Yue comforted them.

"I know! I know……"

The Kirin Temple heard and lightly nodded.

"Oh! Roar!"

On another note, the Military Department standing still on the spot, seeing Lan Ran use Five Dragons Revolving Annihilation to completely shatter his Inner Demon Way, let out a cry of unclear meaning.

"Lan Ran, your Demon Way power is truly terrifying!"

"It's incredible that you can destroy my proud Inner Demon Way with merely ordinary Demon Way! It's hard to imagine how strong you'd be if you learned Inner Demon Way……"

The Military Department scratched his cheek, his words seemingly carrying a hint of admiration for Lan Ran.

"Anyway, I'm stronger than you!"

After Lan Ran glanced at the Soldier Chief, he spoke calmly.

"That's right~"

Soldier Chief lightly nodded at Lan Ran, then raised the brush in his hand, which was also his Soul-Cutting Sword, and softly said: "It's time to wake up, One Character~"

"Boom!!"

As the Soldier Chief's voice fell, the world's "black" seemed to, at this moment, become the weapon in the Soldier Chief's hand, under his grasp.

"Huh?!"

Lan Ran looked at the Soldier Chief manipulating all the world's "black", his eyebrows slightly twitching.

"As you see! Now all the black in this world..."

"Whether it's the shade of trees, or black whiskers, or anything else, black things! All are under my control."

"Lan Ran, do you think you can defeat me, who has lived for over a million years, who controls and manipulates the concept of utter darkness?"

The Soldier Chief's eyes turned deathly pale again; he looked at Lan Ran and spoke angrily.

"Soldier Chief, haven't you realized yet?"

"Precisely because I know I must face you, my clothes are pure white~"

Lan Ran said while lightly shaking his Arrancar coat.

"Haha! White? Lan Ran, take a good look under your snow-white coat to see if it's actually black."

Upon hearing that, the Soldier Chief gave Lan Ran a creepy smile.

"Huh?!"

Lan Ran instantly felt uneasy.

"Evening darkness, constant darkness, come here. Meet everyone and drink it. After drinking it, life will fade away. The road to the underworld is likewise, with a hundred flowers blooming. Wherever the food and drink are, they are dyed pitch black, split into eight parts, roasted with pitch-black flames until pitch black. Consume it swiftly; what remains are pure white bones—erect a monument for him, mourn him, to prevent his rebirth, to prevent him from becoming our sacrifice again."

Before Lan Ran could think further, the Soldier Chief began chanting on his own.

"It's over! Non-rotating Great Killing Mausoleum..."

The Soldier Chief inserted his brush before him, palms together in constant prayer; the string of prayer beads on his neck floated like drifting light beside his neck.

As the Soldier Chief's chant ended, a completely pitch-black mausoleum instantly floated behind him, before it a sea of pitch-black tombstones.

At this moment, endless grave qi and mourning qi burst from the Soldier Chief's body; this terrifying grave qi made Lan Ran continually retreat.

At the same time Lan Ran retreated, he instinctively used his Soul-Cutting Sword's ability: "Shatter! Mirror Flower, Water Moon!"

Only hearing Lan Ran silently utter the release command of Mirror Flower, Water Moon, at this moment all present Zero Division members were pulled into the world of the five senses manipulated by Lan Ran.

"How could I let you succeed!"

The ever-inactive Dao Shen Wang Yue, his pupils after a brief moment of confusion became completely clear; only see him raising his Soul-Cutting Sword high, shouting: "Penetrate! Strip away all falsehood in this world, leaving only the world's original truth!"

"Hum!"

As Wang Yue's words fell, the eyes of all present Zero Division members instantly recovered.

"Wang Yue!!"

Lan Ran looked at Wang Yue in the sky and let out a roar filled with resentment.

"It's over! Lan Ran..."

As the monk's words fell, the black on Lan Ran's body was instantly absorbed by the monk, buried in this pitch-black mausoleum.

"Damn it..."

In just an instant, Lan Ran's body completely collapsed.

However, Lan Ran did not die just then! After fully merging with the Collapsed Jade, his advantage finally manifested: his near-immortal body, surpassing even ultimate regeneration, began to wear down the monk's Non-rotating Great Killing Mausoleum on its own; their powers seemed to reach a balance, neither able to completely destroy the other.

"That shouldn't be!"

In this scene, the monk's eyes were full of doubt. In his view, relying solely on Lan Ran's ability could absolutely not withstand his Non-rotating Great Killing Mausoleum! That is to say, besides the Collapsed Jade, Lan Ran must have fused other powers within him~

"Let me take a good look!"

The monk said, his pupils once again turning deathly pale, as he looked into Lan Ran's interior! Inside Lan Ran, there seemed to be a mass of liuli-colored flame, constantly burning! The monk merely glanced at that flame, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"As I suspected, this is also Huang Mu's doing!"

At this moment, the monk seemed to understand, he let out a cold laugh and stopped his Non-rotating Great Killing Mausoleum.

"Haha! Hahaha..."

At the moment the monk stopped moving, Lan Ran, who thought he had already won, suddenly burst into loud laughter, his gaze at the monk carrying a hint of madness.

"Soldier Chief, why don't you continue using your ability to suck me?"

"Could it be that your ability has already reached its limit?"

Lan Ran looked at Soldier Chief Yībīngwèi, coldly asking.

"No no no! Lan Ran, you misunderstand me again~"

"I just discovered some interesting things, so I plan to share them with you~"

The monk shook his head at Lan Ran and laughed.

"Huh?!"

After hearing the monk's words, Lan Ran's heart suddenly felt a shock for no reason.

In short, the monk's words, in Lan Ran's view, are absolutely nothing good~

"Soldier Chief, what did you discover?"

However, Lan Ran still asked the monk a question.

"Lan Ran, you say that everyone around you was arranged in advance by Huang Mu! Then is it possible that even the Collapsed Jade you created was also arranged in advance by Huang Mu?!"

The monk stroked the beard on his chin, chuckling as he looked at Lan Ran and inquired.

"What?!"

Upon hearing the monk's words, Lan Ran was obviously startled; he instinctively looked at his chest, only then realizing he had fully merged with the Collapsed Jade.

Hehe! Bingzhubu, stop alarmist talk here!

You say Bengyu was also arranged by Teacher Araki? Unfortunately, Bengyu has now merged with me as one! Even if Bengyu once belonged to someone else, it is now entirely my exclusive creation…

Lanzhan looked at Bingzhubu and said coldly.

"Is that so? If Bengyu truly merged with you as one, then perhaps it is indeed as you claim! But, Lanzhan, how can you be sure that you truly merged with Bengyu, rather than Bengyu merging with you? How can you be certain that the consciousness now governing your body is your own, not Bengyu's?!"

Bingzhubu looked at Lanzhan and asked with a smile.

"Ridiculous! As if I don't already know my own condition?"

Lanzhan let out a cold sneer, disdainful of Bingzhubu's words.

"Don't speak so definitively!"

"Lanzhan, look up and then tell me exactly what you see…"

Bingzhubu chuckled at Lanzhan and pointed at the heads of the crowd.

"What else could Sky Mountain have?!"

Lanzhan said, tilting his head slightly upward; to him, Bingzhubu was merely being alarmist! Still, he was willing to play along with Bingzhubu, as if to give the other some hope of victory~

Yet, just after Lanzhan looked up, he fell silent…

Suddenly, Lanzhan noticed that in the sky, a massive Heavenly Saint King had appeared out of nowhere! That Saint King even towered over the Spirit King's inner palace, displaying a bearing that surpassed the Three Realms and even transcended everything…

"What… is that?!"

Lanzhan looked at the Saint King, asking in confusion.

"It seems you also saw it, Lanzhan!"

The monk saw this and gave a slight smile.

"Only those bestowed with Araki's power can see the Saint King in the heavens!"

"It seems, Lanzhan, you have fully merged with Araki's power~"

The monk looked at Lanzhan and laughed.

"What kind of game…"

Upon hearing that, cold sweat formed on Lanzhan's forehead; he still seemed reluctant to believe the monk's words.

"Lanzhan, it seems it's time to tell you!"

Yet, just as Lanzhan was about to move, Araki's figure suddenly descended from the sky, landing before Lanzhan, his gaze carrying a hint of helplessness.

"Originally I didn't intend to hurt your heart…"

"But since the false monk has already discovered it, I can only reveal the whole truth to you!"

At this point, Araki's face showed a trace of distress.

"Yes, just as you thought!"

"The first person Bengyu chose was not you, Lanzhan, but me…"

Araki laid his cards before Lanzhan.

"What did you say?!"

Lanzhan's eyes held disbelief; he could not accept that Araki's words were true.

"However, at that time Bengyu no longer meant anything to me! So I voluntarily gave up Bengyu and bestowed the Bengyu that had merged with my power onto you, Lanzhan…"

Araki said, and a cluster of crystal‑blue light glimmered on his hand.

"Boom!"

It seemed to confirm Araki's words; as Araki channeled his inner power, Lanzhan's body instantly lit up with bursts of dazzling brilliance!

"Araki, what did you do to me?!"

Lanzhan panicked, for it was the first time he realized his control over his own body was not absolute.

"Lanzhan, didn't you say your regenerative ability can already match my Soul‑Cutting Blade? Have you ever considered that your regeneration uses my Soul‑Cutting Blade's power?"

Araki looked at Lanzhan and asked helplessly.

"What did you say?!"

Lanzhan's body twitched slightly, his eyes showing a hint of pain.

If even this power was given by Araki, then what do all his years of effort and schemes amount to?!

At this moment, Lanzhan's heart had reached the brink of total collapse…

Since Lanzhan displayed his innate talent, his heart had never been so fragile!

"Has Lanzhan passed the assessment?"

Araki ignored Lanzhan and instead turned first to the group of Zero Squad members beside him!

"Hmm! Lanzhan has already qualified…"

The monk heard this and immediately nodded, indicating Lanzhan had qualified.

"Is that so? That's really great…"

To this, Araki gave a slight smile.

"Yes! Yes!"

"From now on, Lanzhan can officially become the third‑generation commander~"

"Truly a cause for celebration, truly a cause for celebration!"

After Araki finished speaking, he received the approval of the Zero Squad members.

"What are you talking about?!"

"I didn't agree!"

Lanzhan looked at Araki and the others, who had begun chatting to themselves, and instantly felt a trace of dissatisfaction, speaking out in refusal.

"Is that so? Lanzhan, you disagree~"

In that case, I'll have to use some trump cards I prepared in advance...

Araki said, directly activating the trump card he had prepared in advance on Aizen.

Boom!

Only under the double glazed-colored light emitted from Araki and the detached hall behind him did Aizen's body suddenly sprout one transparent chain after another, completely pinning him in place.

What is this?!

Aizen tried to break free of the chains on his body.

However, he surprisingly discovered that no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't break free of these chains even a bit! For a moment, Aizen panicked...

Give up! Aizen~

With just your power, you absolutely cannot break free of these chains~

Araki looked at Aizen, half-kneeling on the ground, and spoke with a chuckle.

What exactly is this?

Aizen looked at Araki and asked doubtfully.

Huh? Aizen, don't you even recognize the chains on your own body? Isn't this the Collapsing Jade you've longed for?

Araki looked at Aizen, half-kneeling on the ground, and smiled.

What did you say?

Aizen never imagined that the chains on his body were actually formed from the power of the Collapsing Jade.

Yes, it's precisely your own power, Aizen. No matter how much you evolve, you cannot break free from the bonds of your own power—just as ordinary people can never lift themselves with one hand...

Araki looked at Aizen and spoke softly.

Teacher Araki, what exactly are you trying to do?!

Aizen looked at Araki and roared.

Yeah! What exactly am I trying to do?

Araki muttered to himself, lightly waved toward the sky, and immediately notebooks fell one after another from the heavens, landing around Aizen and the others.

What are these?!

Aizen looked at the notebooks surrounding Araki, his eyes showing a hint of shock.

Aizen thought he clearly recognized these notebooks as the things his teacher Araki had been recording ever since bringing him into the First Division for training...

Notebooks!

Upon hearing that, Araki smiled and answered Aizen.

I know they're notebooks, but what exactly is recorded inside?

Aizen looked at Araki and asked very cautiously.

Yeah, what exactly is recorded in these?

Upon hearing that, Araki merely gave a light smile.

Aizen, listen well~

Araki did not answer Aizen's question, because he wanted to use the contents inside to personally tell Aizen what exactly was recorded in these notebooks...

This happened not long after I had just assumed the position of Captain-Commander...

Araki first explained when the incident occurred.

Huh?!

As Araki finished speaking, Aizen's face suddenly became somewhat awkward.

If he remembered correctly, he had become Araki's disciple shortly after Araki defeated Genryūsai and assumed the position of Captain-Commander of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads~

So, Aizen had roughly guessed that the notebook Araki was holding now probably had something to do with him~

That day, Genryūsai-sensei suddenly told me~

He encountered a promising prospect at the True Central Spirit Arts Institute~

It is said that this promising prospect possesses a talent rare in a thousand years in the Soul Society, and Genryūsai-sensei also told me that he saw my former self in this prospect's body! Consequently, I developed great curiosity about this promising prospect...

By the way, Genryūsai-sensei said that this promising prospect's name is Aizen Sōsuke~

Araki began speaking, and everything was recorded from his perspective.

Obviously, the contents of these notebooks are most likely Araki's diary~

Hah! Teacher Araki, are you trying to move me with our past experiences? Teacher Araki, I advise you to give up! My decision will not waver in the slightest because of past favors...

When Aizen realized that what Araki spoke of was merely events from Araki's perspective, he suddenly showed a faint smile; although he also missed the days when, under Araki's guidance, he constantly improved himself, he absolutely would not waver in the slightest because of past events—Aizen Sōsuke, even if he loses, will lose standing tall!

Hehe~

In response, Araki ignored Aizen and merely gave a light chuckle.

Then I'll continue reading—you'd better not regret it!

Araki looked at Aizen and finally reminded him.

I absolutely won't regret it! Please, go ahead and read...

Aizen stuck out his neck and spoke firmly.

Very well! Years later, after the boy named Aizen Sōsuke graduated from the True Central Spirit Arts Institute, I finally met him, just as Genryūsai-sensei said: this boy named Aizen is a rare promising prospect, though his heart seems not as pure as Genryūsai-sensei claimed, and a slight mistake could possibly bring disaster to the entire Soul Society...

When Araki said this, his expression paused.

While Araki paused, Aizen's mind kept thinking: "Really? So Teacher Araki, on the very first day he saw me, already sensed my nature? Then why was he still willing to teach me, instead of locking me up in the Worm Nest?!!"

However, I believe Aizen will surely walk the right path under my guidance! After all, he doesn't know I possess the ability to foresee the future and read minds...

Just as Aizen was wondering, Araki suddenly spoke.

What? Precognition? Mind reading?

This time, Aizen's panic was visibly apparent.

"Isn't this cheating?"

At that moment, Lan Ran finally understood where he had lost!

Lan Ran, relying on his own computational power, could still achieve a half‑step above heaven!

But his opponent "opened"! Not only did the opponent open, but even worse, the opponent never closed at all! How is Lan Ran supposed to play now? Play a ball?!

"Below is Lan Ran Souyusuke's first inner monologue upon meeting me…"

Before Lan Ran could think further, Araki had already begun speaking.

"Truly worthy of the legend of the Royal Guard Thirteen Squads' Captain! His power is unfathomable! Unfortunately, he's also an incompetent who submits to this boring system and its rules, so he will never be my opponent~"

"Captain Araki actually wants to take me as a disciple? It seems he saw through my disguise and discovered my true talent! Heh, indeed, before my talent even a strong Captain Araki scrambles to recruit me! No choice, my talent is truly overwhelming!"

Araki mimicked the tone of young Lan Ran, speaking directly to the now‑grown Lan Ran.

"Sss~"

Lan Ran heard it and inhaled a cold gasp; his clean forehead was now dotted with pea‑sized beads of sweat…

Cold sweat dripped intermittently down Lan Ran's neck, and his eyes had lost their usual calm and confidence, filled instead with tension and disbelief.

"Hold on, Teacher Araki, may we negotiate? Could you stop here for today? There are many outsiders around, it's not appropriate to say more!"

Lan Ran looked at Araki, his gaze tinged with pleading.

"Araki taught me a lot again today; I truly feel myself getting stronger! Heh heh heh, Araki could never imagine that one day I'll use what he taught me to defeat him! And rise above the sky…"

Araki ignored Lan Ran and kept speaking.

"Let's set aside the rest; that laugh is definitely wrong!"

"I never laugh like that; it's slander! Pure, utter slander!"

Realizing he couldn't stop Araki's rambling, Lan Ran immediately explained to the people around him.

"Lan Ran, little brother, no need for more words! Got it, we all understand!"

"Whose innermost heart isn't a wild big villain?"

As Lan Ran's words fell, Wang Yue and Qilin Temple, who were surrounding him, instantly gave Lan Ran the expression 'we get it, no more words needed.'

"No! That's not it, absolutely not…"

Lan Ran panicked; he didn't expect that old Araki would dare falsify the diary!

Indeed, who among respectable people writes diaries?

Whoever writes a diary, can they be respectable?

Who writes their inner thoughts for others to see?

Oh, Araki wrote what others said in their hearts!

That horse‑riding is even worse…

At that moment Lan Ran's eyes burned red, and he roared at Araki, "Araki, you old… you ruined my lifelong reputation! You owe me brilliance, how will you repay it?"

Before Araki produced the diary, people would say about Lan Ran: "Oh! I know Lan Ran, the man who once toyed with Jingling Court for centuries, eventually stormed Spirit King Palace, and almost became a new god!"

However, after Araki produced the diary, from then on anyone mentioning Lan Ran would say: "Who are you talking about? Oh, Lan Ran? Isn't he the one who, since entering the Spiritual Arts Institute, has been overly narcissistic and arrogant, only to be toyed with by Captain Araki for centuries, yet remains oblivious—a clown? He's already been made a clown! Saying he's useless is a bit much; put him together with the even more abstract Youhabah, and you've got a perfect king‑bomb!"

"Speaking of it, Souyusuke, didn't you once ask me why my training of you was so harsh? Always beating you half to death?"

"Now let me answer you: you curse me in your heart, do you still expect this old man to show mercy? Don't be so naive, brat~"

Araki said, patting Souyusuke's slicked‑back hair.

"Teacher Araki, could you stop reciting for now?"

Lan Ran dared not say more; he only hoped Araki would show mercy.

"Today I saw Teacher Araki handling state affairs again!"

"Honestly, Teacher Araki is really not material for handling state affairs!"

"If it were me, I could, while dealing with those annoying nobles, boost Jingling Court's GDP by over twenty percent!"

"What a pity, who made the current Jingling Court a bunch of mediocrities? Compared to me, they're worlds apart, like a group of waste and idiots~"

"Oh! Strange, Teacher Araki just glared at me! Could he have heard my inner thoughts? Hahaha, what exactly is going on in my brain?"

"If Teacher Araki truly can hear what I say in my heart, then he isn't a death god, but a truly omniscient, omnipotent deity!"

"Really odd, Teacher Araki seemed to glare at me again…"

Araki kept pressing his face close, opening wide.

"Shut up! Quickly, shut up!"

"Consider this my plea, stop talking! Look at what you've just said?!"

At that moment Lan Ran's face reddened like a ripe apple, or a rotting tomato; he strained with all his might, constantly trying to stop Araki from continuing.

Yes, at this instant, Lan Ran's previously dead memories suddenly revived and launched a full assault on him! Lan Ran now desperately rolled on the ground, releasing Five Dragon Rotation Annihilation on himself, hoping to vanish completely…

"Lan Ran, give up~"

"Even if you unleash Five Dragon Rotation Annihilation on yourself, you won't die~"

"Don't forget, under Cracked Jade and my power, you've already attained the immortal body you've dreamed of! No matter what you do, you won't die~"

Araki leaned toward Lan Ran, gently lowering his body. He whispered by Lan Ran's ear, lips moving, in an exuberantly cheerful tone, speaking to Lan Ran.

"Ah!!"

"Stop it! This is literally a horror story…"

Lan Ran's eyes burned red, veined with blood; he let out a roar and clapped his hands over his ears.

"Senju Maru~"

Araki saw this and looked toward Senju Maru standing nearby.

"Leave it to me~"

Senju Maru said, moved behind Lan Ran, and with her golden prosthetic arm forcibly pulled Lan Ran's hands away from his ears.

We just started talking about the blue‑dyed youth, how can it end so quickly~

After all, Araki has been writing feverishly for the blue‑dyed youth for nearly five hundred years, recording what's in his heart~

"No! Stop talking…"

"Araki‑sensei, I'm wrong! Didn't you want me to take over your position?!"

"I agreed! I really agreed…"

"It doesn't matter if the heavens stand or not! As long as you shut up now, everything can be negotiated!"

The blue‑dyed youth looked at Araki seriously as he spoke.

"No! That won't do…"

"Whether you become squad leader or not doesn't matter!"

"You should know, I've spent countless effort recording my heartfelt words for you over these years; if it stops here and I don't continue reading, wouldn't that be a loss…"

Araki patted the blue‑dyed youth's shoulder, saying that this dark history still had to be read on; as for whether the blue‑dyed youth becomes squad leader, that was beyond his control.

"Let me see what's written inside this?!"

Araki said, picking up a diary on the ground.

"Oh! What's written inside is interesting…"

"This records, about a hundred years ago, what the blue‑dyed youth thought when he acted against Hirako Mako and Urahara Kisu…"

Araki's eyes lit up the moment he read the diary's contents.

"No! That really can't be read…"

"Araki‑sensei, please hear my advice!"

"We've been master and disciple for five hundred years; don't be so extreme!"

The blue‑dyed youth looked at Araki, his expression panicked as he spoke.

"Hehe, 'Room 46' really are a bunch of fools; once I guided them a little, they thought Hirako and the others were the hidden masterminds! Little did they know the true mastermind couldn't possibly leave such a huge flaw! Hirako Mako and the others are also fools! After I used them up, they still have to take the blame! They're just tools I toyed with!"

"Urahara Kisu is also a fool; although he invented the Crumbling Jade, he clearly can't read people's hearts! A person who can't read hearts deserves to be used; what's the use of being smart? Araki‑sensei is also a fool…"

"Although he seems to have discovered something, Araki‑sensei has no evidence to prove this matter is unrelated to Urahara! Without evidence, he can't act on this! Araki‑sensei is still too tangled in the rules of the Jingling Court…"

"Alas! This 'Jingling Court' truly has no match! This feeling of emptiness and loneliness, perhaps no one in this world can understand me! The saying 'the heights are cold' must refer to this feeling! This sense of standing at the pinnacle and overlooking everything isn't bad either~ Indeed I still wish to stand above the sky…"

Araki loudly recited the blue‑dyed youth's dark history.

"Yo! Blue‑dyed youth, I heard you're cold at the heights?"

"Blue‑dyed youth, they say Araki is a fool who doesn't understand your plan!"

"Blue‑dyed youth, they say you toyed with the entire Jingling Court between your hands!"

As Araki's words fell, the members of 'Zero Squad' immediately gathered beside the blue‑dyed youth, smiling as they watched him speak.

"……"

The blue‑dyed youth heard the noisy chatter around him and suddenly felt a bit tired, a bit exhausted~

Since he obtained the Crumbling Jade, this was his first time feeling so fatigued!

Who among the family understands? I now feel like committing suicide on a horse!

Oh! I forgot, I'm an immortal body, I can't commit suicide at all…

This is the true immortal body I have plotted for over a hundred years to obtain!

Even if I'm shattered into spirit particles, I can reassemble!

Even if I descend into hell, I can return on my own!

Oh, that's really wonderful~

"Blue‑dyed youth, why aren't you laughing? Look how happily others are laughing!"

"Are you born without a smile?!"

After Araki finished, the entire 'Zero Squad' around him burst into laughter, while the blue‑dyed youth sat there bitterly, as if everyone around owed him five million!

"Hehe…"

"Araki‑sensei, you really deserve to die!"

After hearing Araki's words, the blue‑dyed youth finally laughed.

Hmm, the blue‑dyed youth showed a completely broken smile!

Fifteen thousand! Big chapter! Blue‑dyed youth's dark history exposed!

(End of chapter)