Chapter 66: The Path to Evolution

This kind of thinking cannot be changed simply through words, even if Ye Xuan knows that this thought is not correct.

Only by feeling the fear of death, with the desire to survive in his heart reaching its limit at that moment, can the Hogyoku guide him to break through to a new realm.

When a person is not yet dead, they have many thoughts; but when they are close to death, they have only one thought—to live!

In the past, Ye Xuan believed that with the Hogyoku in his possession, experiencing a true life-and-death struggle would allow him to evolve, but in reality, this thinking was wrong.

Because at that time, Ye Xuan still knew that he would not die, and his desire to survive would not change in the slightest;

So what he needed was an opponent capable of stripping away his Hogyoku, an enemy that would make Ye Xuan think he would truly die.

And Aizen, as it happens, is exactly that kind of person.

Ye Xuan does not trust Aizen, or rather, anyone who has read Bleach would not trust the man before him named Aizen Sosuke.

He is a king approaching the pinnacle of heaven, one who destroys order to rebuild the rules; he is a traitor to the Soul Society, a patient conspirator, and also a leader who gives light to the Arrancar, a man who fears nothing.

Because he knows Aizen's true nature, Ye Xuan will not grant Aizen any trust, even though he has absolute control over the characters manifested by the Rat Shu Shu Fu Zhou.

And it is precisely because of this that Aizen is the person most suited to help Ye Xuan evolve.

The current Aizen possesses the Hogyoku, and because he was manifested by the Rat Shu Shu Fu Zhou, Ye Xuan has absolute control over the Hogyoku on Aizen and even his Zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu.

So, while manifesting Aizen, Ye Xuan also manifested the Hogyoku.

Aizen was the one who told him this; otherwise, Ye Xuan would not have realized so quickly that he also has absolute control over the items belonging to the characters manifested by the Rat Shu Shu Fu Zhou.

After all, the Rat Shu Shu Fu Zhou did not reveal this point in its original world.

Ye Xuan does not trust Aizen, but he acknowledges Aizen's ability. Therefore, with Aizen as the one acting, Ye Xuan feels that the possibility of his death truly exists, leading him to feel fear of death and a desire to survive;

And only at that moment will the Hogyoku guide Ye Xuan to break through to a new realm.

"Let's start directly."

Ye Xuan had no intention of exchanging pleasantries with Aizen and said so straightforwardly.

Aizen's lips curled into a meaningful, faint smile.

"How direct you are, Ye Xuan-kun."

"However, I still thank you for acknowledging my ability, even though I have not broken through the limitations of the item you call the Rat Shu Shu Fu Zhou."

"Even if I could, I would not do so."

"The Creator's world, an unknown power system—for me, it truly possesses too great a temptation."

"I, for one, would very much like to be trusted by you, so that I might see more of this world."

As he spoke, he slowly drew Kyoka Suigetsu, his tone still gentle yet carrying an inexplicable sense of oppression.

"Therefore, after Ye Xuan-kun evolves, please grant me a little more trust."

The moment his words fell, Aizen's figure had already appeared behind Ye Xuan, Kyoka Suigetsu slashing down silently.

"Clang—!!!"

The longsword in Ye Xuan's hand blocked Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu, sparks flying; borrowing the force transmitted through the blade, Ye Xuan retreated several steps, his sword tip pointing obliquely at the ground, golden sword intent flowing along the blade, and he said faintly:

"I never thought about being killed by you without doing anything."

Aizen's blade paused slightly, then he withdrew his stance and stood still. He gazed at Ye Xuan, the smile on his lips deepening, his tone gentle yet permeated with condescending arrogance:

"Oh?"

"That is truly surprising."

"I had assumed that Ye Xuan-kun, knowing the power I possess, would understand the gap in strength between us even better."

"Meaningless resistance has no significance other than wasting time."

"Who told you that you lost to Ichigo Kurosaki, Aizen."

Ye Xuan laughed, looked at Aizen, and continued to speak.

"At that time, you seemed to have said similar things."

Hearing Ye Xuan's words, the smile on Aizen's face did not change in the slightest.

"It was merely that some unexpected changes occurred."

"But it also made me realize my own true heart even more."

"And Ye Xuan-kun should understand that you and Ichigo Kurosaki are different."

"You do not have his kind of special potential; at least, the current you does not."

Aizen's voice was like stating a fact that could not be simpler.

"Just as humans cannot understand the realm of gods, the sword in your hand cannot reach my essence."

"Your sword, your power, in my eyes—"

"Are nothing more than a fledgling bird that has yet to evolve, flapping its wings inside a cage."

In Ye Xuan's vision, Aizen's body gradually vanished. His pupils constricted slightly, and the longsword in his hand instinctively attacked a certain position, but—

"Puchi."

The blade of Kyoka Suigetsu cut through Ye Xuan's body from top to bottom without any resistance, slashing obliquely from his right shoulder to his left abdomen, the blade's light flashing and vanishing like a cold moon.

Ye Xuan did not have time to react in any way; fresh blood bloomed in the air like splashed ink, the scarlet blood flowers appearing exceptionally glaring on the snow-white mountain peak; his body slowly shifted, the severed cut smooth as a mirror, even allowing one to see the cross-section of bone and internal organs.

His upper body slid off obliquely, crashing heavily onto the frozen earth, fresh blood rapidly staining the surrounding snow, steaming with a faint blood mist.

Aizen stood where he was, the tip of Kyoka Suigetsu drooping, a drop of blood slowly sliding down the edge of the blade and falling into the snow. He looked down at Ye Xuan's remains, a gentle smile still hanging on the corners of his mouth.

"Clearly chasing after stronger power, yet your heart is not impatient."

"It is as if you have already determined that you are destined to become the strongest."

The Hogyoku embedded in his chest automatically detached, slowly floating above Ye Xuan's remains and merging into Ye Xuan's body.

"What kind of existence could give you such confidence?"

"This composure, this self-confidence."

Azure light bloomed in the air. In an instant, the blood flowing from the severed parts of Ye Xuan's body suddenly stilled. At the edges of the severed torso, flesh and blood writhed crazily like living things, and countless golden threads erupted from the cross-section, weaving into a cocoon in the air.

Aizen's lips curled into an arc, watching Ye Xuan's body as it reorganized, his voice as light as a sigh:

"Truly, it makes one curious."

The spiritual energy at the peak of Mount Kunlun began to riot.

The wind and snow that had been raging suddenly stopped, and the energy of the entire world seemed to be summoned by some force, turning into a pale cyan torrent visible to the naked eye, crazily pouring into Ye Xuan's broken body.

His flesh and blood reorganized rapidly, and the sound of jade colliding rang out as his bones grew.

(End of chapter)