Chapter 66: The King Near the Apex of Heaven, Who Destroys Order and Rebuilds It

This kind of thinking cannot be changed merely through words, even if Ye Xuan knew it was incorrect.

Only when he felt the fear of death, when his survival instinct drove his desire to grow stronger to its limit, could the Hōgyoku guide him to break through to a new realm.

When a person is alive, they have many thoughts; but when they are about to die, their only thought is—survive!

In the past, Ye Xuan believed that experiencing a true life-or-death battle while possessing the Hōgyoku would allow him to evolve, but this belief was wrong.

Because at that time, Ye Xuan still knew he would not die; his survival instinct remained unchanged.

So he needed an opponent capable of stripping him of the Hōgyoku—an enemy who would make Ye Xuan truly believe he could die.

And Aizen was precisely such a person.

Ye Xuan did not trust Aizen—or rather, anyone who had seen Shinigami would not trust the man named Aizen Sōjirō before them.

He was a king nearing the pinnacle of heaven, one who destroyed order and rebuilt the rules; a traitor to the Soul Society, a patient schemer, and also the leader who granted Arrancar light, a man without fear.

Because he understood Aizen’s nature, Ye Xuan would grant Aizen no trust, even though he held absolute control over the figures manifested by the Rat Talisman.

And precisely because of this, Aizen was the most suitable person to help Ye Xuan evolve.

Currently, Aizen possessed the Hōgyoku, and since he was manifested by the Rat Talisman, Ye Xuan held absolute control over both the Hōgyoku on Aizen’s person and his zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu.

So when Ye Xuan manifested Aizen, he also manifested the Hōgyoku.

It was Aizen who informed him of this; otherwise, Ye Xuan would not have realized so quickly that he held absolute control over the items belonging to the characters manifested by the Rat Talisman.

After all, the Rat Talisman had never revealed this in its original world.

Ye Xuan did not trust Aizen, but he acknowledged Aizen’s abilities; therefore, when Aizen was the one attacking, Ye Xuan felt he truly might die—and thus generated fear of death and a survival instinct;

Only in that moment would the Hōgyoku guide Ye Xuan to break through to a new realm.

“Let’s begin.”

Ye Xuan had no intention of pleasantries with Aizen; he spoke bluntly.

Aizen’s lips curled into a subtle, meaningful smile.

“How direct of you, Ye Xuan.”

“Still, thank you for recognizing my abilities—even though I have not broken the limitations of the Rat Talisman in your hands.”

“Even if I could, I would not do so.”

“The world of the creator, the unknown power system—it holds immense allure for me.”

“I very much wish to earn your trust, to see more of this world.”

As he spoke, he slowly drew Kyōka Suigetsu, his tone still gentle yet carrying an inexplicable pressure.

“So, after you evolve, please trust me a little more.”

The instant his words ended, Aizen’s figure appeared behind Ye Xuan; Kyōka Suigetsu descended silently.

“Clang—!!!”

Ye Xuan’s long sword blocked Kyōka Suigetsu, sparks flying; using the force transmitted through the blade, he retreated several steps, his sword tip angled toward the ground, golden sword intent swirling along its edge as he said calmly:

“I never thought I’d let you kill me without lifting a finger.”

Aizen’s blade paused slightly, then he settled into a stance, gazing at Ye Xuan, his smile deepening, his voice gentle yet dripping with condescension:

“Oh?”

“That’s surprising.”

“I assumed Ye Xuan, aware of the power I wield, would understand the gap in strength between us.”

“Resistance without meaning only wastes time.”

“But didn’t you lose to Kurosaki Ichigo?”

Ye Xuan laughed, looking at Aizen as he continued.

“You said something very similar back then.”

Upon hearing Ye Xuan’s words, Aizen’s smile did not change at all.

“Only unexpected changes occurred.”

“But they made me understand my true heart better.”

“And Ye Xuan, you should know—you are different from Kurosaki Ichigo.”

“You do not possess his unique potential; at least, not yet.”

Aizen’s voice stated this as if it were the simplest fact imaginable.

“Just as humans cannot comprehend the realm of gods, your sword cannot reach my essence.”

“Your sword, your power—in my eyes—”

“Are nothing but an unevolved fledgling flapping its wings in a cage.”

In Ye Xuan’s gaze, Aizen’s body gradually vanished; his pupils contracted, and his sword instinctively struck toward a certain spot—but—

“Pthsh.”

Kyōka Suigetsu’s blade sliced cleanly from above downward, cutting through Ye Xuan’s body from right shoulder to left abdomen, the light of the cut flashing like cold moonlight before vanishing.

Ye Xuan had no time to react; blood erupted like ink spilled in midair, crimson blossoms stark against the snowy peak; his body slowly split apart, the severed edges smooth as a mirror, revealing the fractured bones and organs within.

His upper torso slid sideways and crashed heavily onto the frozen ground, blood swiftly soaking the surrounding snow, rising into faint crimson mist.

Aizen stood where he was, Kyōka Suigetsu’s tip hanging downward, a single drop of blood sliding slowly along the blade before falling into the snow; he gazed down at Ye Xuan’s remains, his lips still curved in that gentle smile.

“You chase greater power, yet your heart is not urgent.”

“As if you were already certain you were destined to become the strongest.”

The Hōgyoku embedded in his chest detached automatically, hovering slowly above Ye Xuan’s remains before merging into his body.

“What kind of being could grant you such confidence?”

“This calmness, this certainty—”

Azure light burst into the air; in an instant, the blood flowing from Ye Xuan’s severed body froze, and the edges of his torn flesh writhed like living things, countless golden threads erupting from the wounds to weave into a cocoon in midair.

Aizen’s lips curved slightly as he watched Ye Xuan’s body reassemble, his voice soft as a sigh:

“Truly… fascinating.”

The spiritual energy atop Mount Kunlun began to rage.

The howling blizzard halted abruptly; the energy of the entire world seemed summoned by some force, transforming into visible pale green torrents that surged wildly into Ye Xuan’s mangled body.

His flesh and blood reformed rapidly, bones growing with the crisp chime of jade striking jade.

(End of Chapter)