Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero

The speed of the Heavenly Pillar Chariot began to slow down significantly. The gates of the Spirit King Palace opened silently, and the Heavenly Pillar Chariot glided lightly into the gate like a fish returning to its nest.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

Below was no longer emptiness, but rather the ground that seemed to be formed from some kind of pure energy, extending forward to form a wide and magnificent avenue.

This is the entrance and main passage of the Spirit King Palace—the Omotesando.

After entering, the Heavenly Pillar Carriage quietly came to a stop. Hyosugi Ichibei was the first to stand up and gestured "please" to Yanagawa.

"We've arrived, Yanagawa boy, welcome to the Spirit King Palace."

Yanagawa followed Hyosube Ichibei out of the Tenshu-ryu carriage. Hyosube Ichibei strolled ahead, his massive body appearing quite proportionate against the grand Omotesando.

He did not urge him, seemingly giving Liuchuan time to adapt and observe.

As Liu Chuan walked, a question that had been lingering in his mind finally surfaced clearly in this atmosphere so close to the core of the Spirit King Palace.

He quickened his pace to walk alongside Hyōjube Ichibei, and turned to ask, "Lord Hyōjube, I have a question."

"Oh? Please speak freely." Hyosube Ichibei continued walking, his tone casual.

"I once read some scattered records about entering the Soul King's Palace in the Great Spirit Book Corridor of Soul Society."

Liu Chuan organized his thoughts, his gaze sweeping over the flowing patterns of light on both sides. "It is mentioned that to enter the Spirit King's Palace, one seems to need a crucial 'key,' or rather a medium, known as the 'King's Key.'"

"However, from the time we arrived in the Heavenly Pillar to the moment we stepped onto this approach, it seems we did not see you use any special 'key' or perform any specific 'ritual'..."

He paused, then looked at Hyōjutsu Ichibei: "May I ask, sir, what exactly is this 'Royal Key'? And where does it exist?"

This was a question that arose instinctively in his mind: the Spirit King Palace was so detached from the world and isolated from the Three Realms, how could its detachment and security be ensured without an absolutely reliable "lock" and "key"?

While the Tianzhu Carriage was indeed a means of transportation, the "gate" itself always required a key to open.

Upon hearing this, Hyosube Ichibei paused slightly, then let out a low, pleasant laugh, as if he had heard an interesting question.

He didn't answer directly, but stopped, turned around to face Liu Chuan, and then slowly raised his left hand.

It was a huge hand, marked by the passage of time and the strength of its power.

Bathed in the pale golden light flowing through Omotesando, the texture of the skin on the palms seemed to contain some ancient rhythm.

"Yanagawa boy, look at this hand. How is it different from that of an ordinary person?" Hyosube Ichibei asked with a smile.

Liu Chuan stared intently. With his keen senses and deep understanding of spiritual particles and rules, he quickly noticed the anomaly.

Hyosube Ichibei's hand, and indeed his entire body, are quite different from those of a typical Grim Reaper.

"Your body... doesn't seem to be the body of an ordinary Grim Reaper." A glimmer of understanding flashed in Yanagawa's eyes.

"Impressive observation skills." Hyosube Ichibei nodded approvingly, lowered his hand, and a deeper meaning appeared in his smile.

"The record you saw in the Great Spirit Book Corridor is correct; entering the Spirit King's Palace does indeed require the 'King's Key.' But what the record doesn't mention is..."

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes, which seemed to reflect nebulae, staring directly at Liu Chuan, and said clearly, word by word:

"The so-called 'King Key' is neither a specific object nor a fixed incantation. It refers to the complete reshaping and sublimation of one's body, centered on the power of the Soul King, after becoming a formal member of the Zero Division."

"The power of the Spirit King is one of the fundamental forces that constructs and maintains the balance of the Three Realms. The existence of a body reshaped by this power gains the 'recognition' and 'mark' of the Spirit King's Palace. From then on, our bodies are the 'proof' for walking."

He pointed to himself, then to Liuchuan.

"Therefore, it is not that I used the 'King Key', but that I and every member of the Zero Squad are the 'King Key' ourselves."

"Our own existence is the 'key' to opening the gates of the Spirit King's Palace."

"This is the fundamental reason why only members of the Zero Division, and those we have brought with us and acknowledge, are allowed to set foot here."

Liu Chuan listened quietly, his heart churning with emotion. He himself was the key! He would use the power of the Spirit King to reshape his body and obtain the "identity verification" of the Spirit King Palace!

"I see... I am the King's Key myself." Liu Chuan repeated softly, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. "Then, the induction ceremony I am about to undergo..."

"That's exactly right," Hyosube Ichibei affirmed.

"An important part of the ritual is to invoke the power of the Spirit King to complete the initial construction and certification of this 'King Key Body' for you."

"From now on, you will be able to travel freely between the Soul King Palace and the Soul Society. Your spiritual pressure, your power, and even your 'name' will have a deeper connection with the Soul King Palace."

He himself is the key to the king, and he reshapes his body with the power of the spirit king, gaining the "recognition" of the spirit king's palace. From then on, his very existence is the pass, and he shares weal and woe with the spirit king's palace.

This explanation, like lightning, shattered the last vestiges of confusion in Yanagawa's mind, but it also brought a sense of alarm and...resistance.

He instantly grasped a deeper key point—once the body and soul are completely reshaped by the power of the Spirit King, they are transformed into the "King's Key".

That would mean that the "foundation" of his own existence would be completely and permanently bound to the Spirit King Palace!

He will no longer be an independent individual; his life, power, and even his very existence will become an inseparable part of the Spirit King Palace system, where one prospers and the other prospers, and one suffers and the other suffers.

To live and die with the Spirit King Palace.

This deduction caused Yanagawa's breath to catch almost imperceptibly.

If the Spirit King Palace remains safe and sound, then as the "King Key," one will naturally enjoy the convenience and power it brings.

But what will happen to "King Key," who is deeply bound to this system, if the Spirit King Palace suffers an irresistible and devastating blow?

He didn't know the exact answer, but even a fool could tell that there was no way he could escape unscathed.

This "gift," or rather "price," is perhaps the ultimate glory that most Soul Reapers in the Soul Society could only dream of.

To become the Zero Division, to receive the power of the Soul King, to coexist with the Soul King Palace, and to protect the balance of the three realms—what a mission and honor this is!

They held a natural reverence and sense of belonging to this world and to the Spirit King, binding their own destiny to a higher being, regarding it as their final destination and a means of ascension.

But Liuchuan is different.

He is not the original soul of this world; deep within his soul lies an obsession with "absolute free will."

He respects the rules of this world, studies them, utilizes them, and is even willing to fulfill his duties within a certain framework.

But this by no means means that he is willing to completely entrust everything to some huge, unknown system and share life and death with it.

He lacked the deep-seated piety and reverence for the Spirit King that the local god of death possessed.

For him, the Spirit King was not a faith to which he had to devote himself entirely.

Transforming oneself into "Wang Jian" and forcibly binding one's fate to the Spirit King Palace is tantamount to voluntarily giving up one's own "independence" and handing over the reins of fate to others.

This touched upon his most fundamental bottom line—the absolute requirement for self-control and the instinctive avoidance of unknown risks.

Even though becoming a "King Key" can bring unimaginable power enhancement, this power comes at the cost of losing "freedom" and "independence".

The pursuit of power itself may be extremely tempting, but for Yanagawa, it was tantamount to drinking poison to quench his thirst.

Power must be in one's own hands, and its source and destination must be determined by oneself.

Being permanently bound to a massive entity means that one's choices regarding the future path will be greatly restricted, and one may even be unable to control their own destiny at certain crucial moments.

In just a few breaths, countless thoughts flashed through Liu Chuan's mind, weighing the pros and cons and getting to the heart of the matter.

He stopped and stood on the Omotesando, which was bathed in the glow of rules. He raised his head and looked calmly but with unusual determination at Hyosube Ichibei, who had also stopped and was looking back with a hint of doubt.

"Lord Hyosube," Yanagawa's clear and steady voice rang out on the tranquil Omotesando.

"Regarding becoming the 'King Key' and reshaping my body with the power of the Spirit King... please forgive me for finding this difficult to accept."

"..."

For the first time, the gentle smile on Hyosube Ichibei's face froze noticeably.

His wise eyes clearly reflected Liu Chuan's calm yet unquestionable expression.

The immense shock even caused his mountain-solid body to tremble almost imperceptibly.

It's hard to...accept?

Refuse to become the King's Key? Refuse to be reshaped by the power of the Soul King? Refuse to be the foundation upon which countless Shinigami look up and upon which the members of the Zero Division depend for their existence?

This is something unheard of and unimaginable in the long, almost eternal history of Soul Society!

Joining the Zero Division, receiving the power of the Soul King to transform oneself, and becoming the King's Key—this is an honor, a responsibility, an inevitable step towards advancement, and a manifestation of the Soul King's will.

No one has ever objected to this, let alone rejected it.

Hyosube Ichibei remained silent for several seconds, and the radiant light flowing along the Omotesando seemed to be slightly disrupted by the fluctuation of his emotions.

He slowly turned around, facing Liu Chuan directly. His massive body cast a shadow, bringing an invisible pressure.

"Yanagawa-kun," Hyosube Ichibei's voice was still loud, but the ease and laughter in it had vanished.

Do you know... what you're saying?

"Refusing the power of the Spirit King to reshape you means that you give up becoming a complete member of the Zero Division, giving up your identity as the 'King Key,' and giving up your right to freely enter and leave the Spirit King's Palace and use some of the power of the Spirit King's Palace rules."

"This also means that your strength will be limited, your connection with the Spirit King Palace will always be separated by a layer, you will not be able to truly integrate into this place, and it may even affect your future performance of duties."

He paused, his gaze sharp and fixed on Liu Chuan's eyes, as if trying to pierce through the calm surface and see into the deepest thoughts of his soul:

"The power of the Spirit King is one of the fundamental powers of the world. Its reshaping is not only a blessing but also recognition, the cornerstone upon which you can better fulfill your duty of protection. Countless heroes have sought it but have not obtained it. Why... do you refuse?"

His bewilderment was so obvious that even his booming voice carried a rare hint of confusion.

Throughout his long life, he witnessed countless beings who sought power, craved recognition, and were willing to give everything to protect others.

Refusing the primordial power that is presented to him, symbolizing supreme recognition and authority? This completely contradicts his cognitive logic.

Yanagawa met Hyosugu Ichibei's oppressive and puzzled gaze, but his expression remained largely unchanged.

He knew how unorthodox his choice seemed to the world, but he had no intention of explaining the origin of his soul, as that would only bring more unpredictable risks.

"Lord Hyosubu," Yanagawa began slowly, his words careful but his meaning clear.

"It is not that I do not agree with the duties of the Spirit King Palace, nor am I afraid to take on the responsibility of protection."

"...I simply have more faith in my own abilities, that's all!"

Liu Chuan's voice was not loud. He did not use more complicated reasons to explain, but reduced everything to the most essential and irrefutable reason - absolute confidence in his own strength.

Hyosube Ichibei stared into Yanagawa's eyes.

He tried to find a trace of hesitation, a longing for the unknown power, and a sense of confusion or fear about the future that might result from giving up this "gift".

But all he saw was a calm, deep sea.

Beneath the deep sea lies an unwavering will, a confidence stemming from a clear understanding of one's own path, and only one choice made after careful consideration.

Believe in your own strength... that's all.

So simple, yet so...arrogant.

In Hyosube Ichibei's perception, Yanagawa's spiritual pressure intensity was only at the captain level.

Hyosube Ichibei fell into an even deeper silence than before.

Having lived for countless years and witnessed the rise of numerous geniuses, the fall of heroes, and the changing of eras, Hyosube Ichibei believed he had seen all sorts of souls.

Some seek power, some crave glory, some bear a mission, and some wander aimlessly in search of answers.

But this young man before us is the first to so calmly and resolutely choose to "believe in himself" in the face of supreme power that is within easy reach, and to use that as a reason to reject that power...

Could this be the real reason why Lord Spirit King chose him and granted him the qualification of Zero Squad?

The will of the Spirit King is indeed vast and unfathomable.

"This matter... I need to consider it carefully and also seek instructions."

"Since the founding of the Spirit King Palace, there has never been such a precedent. Your idea... is quite unique."

He paused, his gaze sweeping once more over Liu Chuan's calm, expressionless face.

"It's so special that I don't even know how to respond for a moment. I'll arrange accommodation for you first, and I'll let you know the details tomorrow."

Liu Chuan nodded, his demeanor remaining composed: "Yes, thank you for your trouble."