Chapter 239: Goodbye Lan Ran! Bankai!

The Yellow Spring of the gloomy underworld was cold enough to freeze souls; Bai Legang was trapped within it, finding even walking difficult, and his consciousness began to blur.

The Yellow Spring's lethal effect on spirits was extraordinary.

He felt his body and soul growing heavier, and the only thing his eyes could see was the all‑covering Yellow Spring.

Ah!!!

After all, as the former King of the Void Circle, at the brink of death Bai Legang unleashed an astonishing spiritual pressure.

The death aura pushed the surrounding Yellow Spring back, clearing a vacuum zone about ten meters in radius.

The next moment.

A sword light came from afar, splitting into myriad strands, turning into a rain of swords that poured onto Bai Legang.

Each sword ray carried a substantial spiritual pressure, piling up like sand into a tower, the flood of pressure smashing the death aura.

Bai Legang hadn't even caught his breath when the rolling Yellow Spring engulfed him again.

This time, Bai Legang could not emerge from the Yellow Spring; his breath vanished completely.

The Skeleton Emperor, second of the Ten Blades, was the first Ten Blade to fall in battle during this operation.

After dealing with Bai Legang, Chu Yang turned around and found Ge Li Mu Qiao no longer at the spot, unsure whether he had been rescued or had escaped on his own.

Never mind, he's just a small fry, and he's badly wounded, lacking the strength to keep fighting.

Two of the Ten Blades are already eliminated, the most troublesome Bai Legang is dead, the rest are negligible; next we should focus on Lan Ran.

We must obtain the Crumbling Jade.

Chu Yang looked toward the fiercest flames; by now Old Yamamoto should have forced Lan Ran into a death sentence.

Lan Ran, merged with the Crumbling Jade, possessed the ability to evolve at the brink of death; Old Yamamoto, unaware of this, would likely suffer a huge loss.

Others taking a loss might make Chu Yang worry, but when Old Yamamoto suffers a loss, he would only clap and cheer.

The fire grew fiercer; this was the Flowing Blade Like Fire technique "City Wall Flame", whose blaze sealed off the surroundings, cutting off Lan Ran's retreat.

Yamamoto and Lan Ran, like gladiators in an ancient Roman arena, engaged in a deadly duel at the heart of the flames.

Yamamoto knew Mirror Flower Water Moon would affect him, so he launched an indiscriminate attack, directly using Bankai, turning Flowing Blade Like Fire into a Charred Fire Greatsword.

The higher‑temperature flames filled the air with a charred scent, burning everything they touched.

The Charred Fire Greatsword's attack power was almost the strongest ever recorded in the Soul Society, and Lan Ran was naturally suppressed.

However, Lan Ran had long anticipated this situation; beforehand, he had created a Rift in the Void Circle capable of sealing Flowing Blade Like Fire.

Wang Da Huaisi.

From the start of the battle, Wang Da Huaisi hid in the shadows of a building, waiting for Yamamoto to show a flaw.

Just as Yamamoto was about to deal a heavy blow to Lan Ran, Wang Da Huaisi, in a returning‑blade state, seized the moment and sealed the Soul‑Cutting Blade.

Having absorbed all the flames of Flowing Blade Like Fire, Wang Da Huaisi began to self‑detonate; Yamamoto, to stop him, suffered a grievous injury.

Lan Ran slipped away quietly; his target was the Crumbling Jade in Chu Yang's hand, not a desperate fight with Yamamoto here.

He hadn't expected Chu Yang to be rushing this way.

The two met at the crossroads.

Lan Ran smiled.

Chu Yang also smiled.

In each other's eyes, the other was prey.

Every day in the Void Circle I have regretted, regretted that day I couldn't kill you outright.

Back then I valued your talent, but now I won't hold back; give me the Crumbling Jade.

Lan Ran's expression remained calm, yet murderous intent surged wildly in his eyes.

The only response was the cold Yellow Spring.

The Mirror Flower Water Moon ability was virtually unbeatable; Chu Yang's solution was to use Yellow Spring water—whether it stained Lan Ran or enveloped himself, it could effectively weaken the power.

Having never seen Mirror Flower Water Moon's first release, Chu Yang closed his eyes and fought using Observation Haki in place of his sight.

The Yellow Spring can diminish spiritual pressure; as the target's pressure lessens, its effect on Haki also wanes.

Seeing Chu Yang close his eyes, Lan Ran felt a pang; only then did he recall that his opponent had never witnessed Mirror Flower Water Moon's ability.

Do you think closing your eyes lets you defeat me?

My greatness isn't solely because of Mirror Flower Water Moon!

The Soul‑Cutting Blade in Lan Ran's hand became an endless blade of light, forcibly carving a passage through the Yellow Spring, racing toward Chu Yang.

The spiritual pressure and murderous intent both pointed the way for Chu Yang, and through Observation Haki his view of Lan Ran was crystal clear.

Chu Yang stepped forward, raised his right fist, his arm muscles bulging, and smashed a punch that instantly detonated the surrounding airflow.

Fengdu, in sync with his will, caused the sword light at the moment Chu Yang punched to flash like a refined blade, slashing at Lan Ran's vital point.

A serene sword sound rang out!

The fist pressure and sword intent closed in on Lan Ran, making his expression change abruptly.

In less than a year, this guy actually…

Something's off; the Crumbling Jade that Kiyoshi Urahara possessed was also unfinished, it couldn't grant him such a transformation.

Lan Ran's mind filled with questions, yet his hands kept moving: first he employed Ghost Path to summon a circle of light that tightly enclosed him, then continuously swung the Soul‑Cutting Blade, using slashes to counter Chu Yang's fist pressure.

The fist pressure and slashes collided, emitting a fierce clang of metal and gold.

Fengdu, at a sharp angle, struck into the light circle surrounding Lan Ran, only to be rebounded, returning empty‑handed; irritated, it kept circling Lan Ran, waiting for a chance to retaliate.

Lan Ran's strength indeed went beyond Mirror Flower Water Moon; he was also a prodigy who had honed the four great Ghost arts—Slash Fist, Ghost Path, etc. —to their peak.

In this regard, no one in the Soul Society was stronger than him.

His confidence stemmed entirely from his own power.

However…

Those are all old almanacs.

When it comes to genius, no one can surpass Chu Yang, because he is backed by countless avatars from myriad worlds.

The two clashed in the Yellow Springs, with Chu Yang using myriad tactics to completely suppress Lan Ran; at that moment the opponent realized that Chu Yang did not reach his current state solely by relying on Beng Yu.

The gravely wounded Old Shanben lay amid the ruins, watching the two's battle through the raging Yellow Springs.

Regarding Chu Yang's strength, Old Shanben never formed an objective impression, because Feng Du's power is too restrained for a blade flowing like fire.

Setting aside the Zhan Po Dao, Old Shanben thought his own strength could crush Chu Yang, the rookie Death God Captain.

But at that moment, he realized he was gravely mistaken.

Zhan Quan Zou Gui—except for the last Gui Dao, which Chu Yang uses sparingly—has its other three abilities absolutely overwhelming Lan Ran, and they are far stronger than his own.

Especially the brutally inhumane close‑combat skill, whose terrifying, unparalleled force can annihilate everything; Old Shanben considered himself far inferior in this regard.

What unsettled him even more was the pair of Sun and Moon suspended above Chu Yang's head; the Sun‑Moon Light possessed a bizarre, mighty power that even he could not resist.

Amid all these disadvantages, Old Shanben suddenly realized a problem: in a death‑match with Chu Yang, he was the side with the lower chance of victory.

Time passed—no one could tell how long—when a shout startled Old Shanben awake.

"Old Shanben! Are you okay?!"

Jing Yue Chunshui, covered in scars, came walking from the street side, supporting Fu Zhu Shisilang; other Death Gods were beside them, each bearing wounds, the worst having lost mobility.

The armless Old Shanben rose slowly and said gravely, "I'm fine. What's the casualty situation?"

Jing Yue Chunshui replied, "Everyone is injured, but no one has fallen. Captain Mao Zhi Hua is treating the wounded." Old Shanben exhaled in relief, turned back to keep watching Chu Yang and Lan Ran's battlefield, and the Death Gods followed his gaze.

The fight was reaching a fever pitch; Lan Ran, harnessing Beng Yu's power, evolved several times and had already reached his final form.

At this moment, Lan Ran's forehead bore a slit resembling an eye; his face turned black as if wearing a helmet, three voids appeared on his torso, with Beng Yu embedded at the top.

Six massive butterfly wings sprouted from his back; at the wing joints grew skulls, his entire body was snow‑white, looking less like a Death God and more like a void.

From cocoon to butterfly.

Those four characters aptly describe Lan Ran's evolution.

With the final form complete, Lan Ran's spiritual pressure, strength, speed, defense, and regeneration all rose to terrifying levels.

At this very moment, he was nearly immortal.

Against other Death Gods, Lan Ran could be called truly immortal, but not before Chu Yang.

Because Feng Du's power still suppresses Lan Ran.

Even though he moves freely within the Yellow Springs, under Beng Yu's boost he gradually shows a stance that rivals Chu Yang, as if unaffected.

Only Lan Ran knows how great the Yellow Springs' influence is; the weakening has always been present. He should have become faster and stronger, but the Yellow Springs continuously sap his power, leaving him only at this level.

"Why does your Zhan Po Dao possess such power?"

"Was it granted by Beng Yu?"

"That's impossible; Beng Yu shouldn't affect a Zhan Po Dao..."

Lan Ran, his emotions suppressed to the limit, finally couldn't hold back these questions; Chu Yang's Zhan Po Dao ability is bizarrely comparable to Beng Yu, even achieving what Beng Yu cannot.

No one answered Lan Ran's doubts; Chu Yang's eyes held only ferocity, his fists kept striking, space trembled, and even the barrier was affected.

Seeing this, Old Shanben shouted loudly, "Everyone, reinforce the barrier; under no circumstance let it disappear!"

The Death Gods, who had just left combat and were about to rest, immediately joined Old Shanben in reinforcing the barrier.

Within the boundless Yellow Springs, Feng Du roared madly, seemingly about to break some limit.

Chu Yang sensed something, his gaze gradually cleared, standing silently without throwing punches.

On the other side, Lan Ran faced him as if confronting a great enemy.

He sensed on Chu Yang a terrifying aura—not spiritual pressure, but an older, obscure, chilling breath.

That aura burst out of the Yellow Springs, reaching the nearby Death Gods.

Many Death Gods halted, staring at Chu Yang with dread.

Soon, the entire Jiakongzuo Town was shrouded by the terrifying aura; some defeated yet unfallen broken faces knelt, trembling.

Old Shanben's face turned iron‑blue as he slowly uttered two words.

"Hell…"

That was the breath of Hell.

The Dead Soul Realm is where ordinary humans go after death, while a Death God's final destination is Hell.

The more humans fear death, the more Death Gods fear Hell.

Human death is described as ascension, whereas a Death God's death is said to fall into Hell.

"What you possess is Hell's power!"

Lan Ran let out an extremely angry, shocked roar.

At the same moment, Feng Du returned to Chu Yang's hand, man and sword seemingly merging into one.

A cool voice echoed in everyone's ears.

"Bankai."

"Feng Du."

The black ancient sword blazed, transforming into a great seal that lay quietly in Chu Yang's palm.

In Lan Ran's eyes, and in the eyes of many Death Gods, a massive ancient city materialized behind Chu Yang as if from nowhere, towering to the heavens; the huge gate bore a plaque with two bold characters written in flowing dragon‑like script.

"Feng Du!"

Even Chu Yang's death‑domination armor turned into an imperial robe embroidered with a black dragon.

He pressed backward, and Lan Ran felt a suffocating spiritual pressure slam onto him; before he could react, he was crushed to the ground.

Lan Ran looked up, seeing the great seal in Chu Yang's hand hovering above his head, its majestic power emanating from the seal.

His body was like a deflating balloon, the spiritual pressure being continuously drawn into the great seal.

The body that completed evolution kept changing, reverting to its previous states, and finally returned to its original form.

The Shattered Jade was then drawn out.

During the process, the Shattered Jade tried several times to return to Lanran's body, but each time it was suppressed by the Fengdu Great Seal, obediently delivered into Chu Yang's hands, and then vanished instantly, entering the Spirit King Palace.

Lanran's body gradually withered, and in the blink of an eye became that of a frail elderly man.

Chu Yang recalled the Fengdu Great Seal, ending the Bankai state.

"Fengdu's power far exceeds what I had previously imagined."

"The moment I grasped the Great Seal, I truly felt like becoming the lord of Fengdu."

Chu Yang gently stroked the blade of Fengdu, his excitement evident.

The barrier had long been shattered, and a group of Shinigami stood dumbfounded, their faces showing only shock.

In his final stage, Lanran seemed invincible, yet Chu Yang's Bankai easily dealt with him, overturning their expectations.

Even Old Man Yamamoto fell silent upon seeing it.

The power of Hell, even Shinigami dare not covet, is the realm of the world's end.

Yet Chu Yang can control this power, and does so with extraordinary ease.

Old Man Yamamoto finally understood what exactly suppresses the Flowing Blade Like Fire.

"This is a power capable of easily killing any Shinigami, and it might even threaten the Spirit King Palace,"

"How on earth should we deal with this kid..."

Old Man Yamamoto fell into an internal conflict; reason told him that any power capable of overturning the Spirit King Palace must be eliminated promptly.

However, this power is exceedingly rare; perhaps it will never appear again. If the Soul Society can possess it, whatever may happen in the future, the Soul Society will no longer be threatened.

Moreover...

Old Man Yamamoto looked around; injured Shinigami surrounded him, and even with himself included, they might still be unable to eliminate Chu Yang.

"A wrong decision could cause the Gotei 13 to vanish right then..."

Old Man Yamamoto took a deep breath, dispelling his unrealistic thoughts, turned to Jingle Chunsui and said, "The barrier is damaged; this place will soon revert to the Soul Society and be exchanged again with the real Kurosaki Town. Go check how many Hollows have escaped."

Jingle Chunsui understood that the division commander feared Hollows lingering in the living world and causing trouble, so he rose and left.

Chu Yang walked over, brushed past him, and Jingle Chunsui wore a complicated expression.

"Old man, your look just now was off—are you trying to kill me?"

Chu Yang stopped right in front of Old Man Yamamoto, looking at him with a half‑smile.

The atmosphere suddenly turned deathly silent.

(End of Chapter)