Who are you calling a stable boy?!

Zheng Jing said to Ishida Koma with a grin, "However, let's get this straight: if you don't even have one person who can hold your own against me, then don't be so ambitious and talk about empty talk anymore."

"Following the method you previously proposed, working diligently in the present world to provide assistance and maintain order would also be a meritorious deed."

"It's not your place, Death, to teach us how to do things!"

Ishida Seishō pointed at Zheng Jing and shouted, "You can say those things after you win!"

"No problem, no problem."

Zheng Jing wasn't annoyed. He still waved to the Quincy with a grin and said, "Since that's the case, why don't you hurry up and find some good fighters? Hurry up!"

"Looking for someone? With me here, why would I need to look?"

Ishida Seishun took a step forward.

"Qingxiang!"

Komagaru Ishida grabbed his arm.

"Don't get in my way, Komagaru! You're a coward, but I'm not afraid!"

Ishida Seisho forcefully shook off Komagaru's hand.

"You? Oh, haha! Hahaha!"

Zheng Jing looked Ishida Seishun up and down and burst out laughing.

"Alright, alright, oh well, who told me, Old Zheng, to accept everything?"

He shook his head.

"You're the one who sticks out? Okay, you're the one."

Zheng Jing, carrying the golden cudgel, turned around and shouted to Chunshui and the others, "Brother Chunshui, could you please move your butts a bit so that I, Old Zheng, can also show off my skills?"

"okay!"

Chunshui responded with a drawn-out "yes," then sat up with a "hey!" and put his arm around Ishida Komagami's shoulder: "Komagami, you heard that too, let's find a place with a better view and take our time looking at it, okay?"

"......well."

Knowing he couldn't stop Qingxiang, Koma sighed and had no choice but to lead the Quincy attendees into action together with Shunsui.

As the Quincy moved, the Shinigami attending the meeting naturally had to leave as well.

The Instant Step and Flying Scythe Kick allowed both sides to quickly move to a suitable vantage point for watching the battle.

"Captain Ukitake, is this... really okay?"

Following behind Ukitake, Yadomaru Lisa first glanced at her captain, who was pulling Ishida Komagane along to light incense ahead, then took half a step forward and whispered to Ukitake, "I know Captain Zheng Jing's combat abilities are extremely strong, but after one incense stick..."

If the condition for the duel was to eliminate Shi Churen and surpass Zheng Jing, she wouldn't have asked this question.

Although she had never witnessed Zheng Jing's full power firsthand, she had heard rumors about him from other captains and vice-captains more than once.

Without exception, any discussion about Zheng Jing's strength comes down to only one assessment.

Strong.

But this alone is enough to demonstrate how outstanding Zheng Jing's practical combat skills were.

Moreover, Zheng Jingzhen has several remarkable achievements.

But the condition of surviving for the duration of an incense stick is really a bit...

It's important to understand that the current environment is not suitable for Shinigami to wreak havoc, and pure-blooded Quincy are by no means to be trifled with.

“I understand your concerns, Lisa, but this is the Captain’s decision.”

Upon hearing this, Lisa was taken aback, and then subconsciously asked, "Did the Captain-Commander approve Captain Jung Kyung's use of Bankai in the human world?"

"No."

Ukitake shook his head.

Seeing this, Lisa was even more puzzled.

Turning his head to look at her confused and worried expression, Fuzhu smiled and said, "It seems that Chunshui didn't tell you."

"......terribly sorry."

"There's no need for that, and it's not something that can't be said."

Ukitake reassured Lisa, who was getting a little nervous, and then continued, "Generally speaking, one of the basic requirements for becoming a captain is to master Bankai. You should know that, Lisa."

Although she didn't understand why Ukitake suddenly brought this up, Lisa nodded intently.

"Captain Zheng Jing has not actually mastered Bankai yet."

"......What?"

"Hehe, I knew this would be the reaction."

Seeing Lisa's reaction, Ukitake chuckled.

"You might be thinking now, is it because the Special Investigation Team is different from Team Thirteen, and was specially established by Room Forty-Six, so the requirements are different?"

"In a sense, that's true. But you don't need to worry about it."

"Captain Zheng Jing is really strong."

"To be precise, among the current captains, including the Captain-Commander, there are only three who, after using their Bankai and giving it their all, can hold their own against Captain Zheng Jing."

Just then, a strong surge of spiritual energy caused Lisa to look up.

"—Bang!!"

It wasn't until Ishida Seisho's body shattered the mountain rocks that the thunderous roar reached the ears of every witness.

At the same time, Jushiro Ukitake's last words echoed in Lisa's mind with a sound louder than thunder.

"This was said by the teacher—the captain himself."

Chapter 19: If I can't defeat you in four moves, I, Old Zheng, will commit suicide on the spot!

When Ishida Komaga rushed over and saw that his half-brother was still alive, the panic on his face subsided slightly.

"Lord Qingsheng!"

A few moments later, several pro-war Quincy who followed Ishida Seishan arrived.

They walked straight past Ishida Komagaru and went to help Ishida Seisho, who was lying on the ground.

"do not move!"

Ishida Seishun let out a hoarse howl, which frightened the Quincy into withdrawing their hands.

"It's broken..."

That howl seemed to have exhausted his last bit of strength; all that remained in Ishida Seishō's throat was a weak, muffled murmur: "Call for help...call for help..."

"Yes, yes! Quick, call for help!"

Zheng Jing's words made these bewildered Quincy tremble.

Ishida Seisho, who was lying on the ground, also shuddered. His originally pure white trousers were now covered in dust and bloodstains, and also had some foul-smelling filth.

"Captain Zheng Jing, you..."

"Hey, old man, there's no need to be so polite. It's supposed to be a contest, but I, Old Zheng, will know my limits and won't take his life."

Zheng Jing smiled and waved his hand.

Ishida Komaga took a deep breath.

The reason he was willing to back down and let Ishida Seisho be the vanguard in the arena was partly because he believed that since the Grim Reaper also intended to avoid a major battle, they wouldn't go all out against them in this so-called duel.

Moreover, Koma could see that without resorting to force, he couldn't stop Aoshiro from pursuing the title of "hero"...

The old Quincy never expected that Ishida Seishun would be defeated so quickly and so miserably.

Thus, they were powerless to fight back.

Although he always had to worry about his younger brother, troubled by his reckless and greedy mind, Komagaru Ishida acknowledged Ishida Seishun's strength as a Quincy.

There is a high wall between Quincy hybrids and purebloods.

Even a hybrid Quincy, despite a lifetime of training, often cannot match the innate power of a pure-blooded Quincy.

Among the pure-blooded Quincy of the Ishida family, Ishida Seishun's strength ranks among the top.

His ability to lead the pro-war faction was not solely due to his being Ishida Komagaru's half-brother.

If it really came down to a fight, Ishida Komagaru wasn't entirely confident that he could defeat his ambitious younger brother, Ishida Seishun, without killing him.

Not to mention, with just one strike, he shattered Ishida Seishun's lumbar spine, leaving him paralyzed...

In other words, even if he had been the one to fight Zheng Jing at that time, he probably wouldn't have been a match for Zheng Jing.

It was only at this moment that Komagaru Ishida truly realized how harsh the promise of that one incense stick's time was.

"Thank you... Captain Zheng Jing..."

But at this moment, he could only lower his head and sincerely thank Zheng Jing.

After all, Zheng Jing did indeed spare his younger brother's life.

As for the injury...

If he receives timely treatment, Ishida Seisho may be able to stand up on his own again.

And just like that, the first match was decided in the blink of an eye.

Ishida Komagaru did not linger. He left the island with his paralyzed and comatose younger brother and a group of Quincy, saying that he would find skilled fighters to come and challenge him as soon as possible.

He did intend to stop there, after all, during their first meeting he had advocated for an unconditional partnership with Death.

But now that things have come to this, with Qingxiang injured, Juxian knows that the matter of setting up a duel can no longer be kept secret from his clansmen and compatriots.

Therefore, this betting battle can only continue.

He beat his own people and compatriots so badly that no one dared to step up to the ring anymore.

Seeing his younger brother beaten like this, it's impossible for Komagaru to feel no resentment.

However, having served as the head of the family for so many years, Komagaru is well aware that his decisions cannot be easily swayed by emotions at this age.

More importantly, Zheng Jing's blow made him realize that the fighting power of the Grim Reaper's side was beyond his imagination.

If it really escalates into another great war between the Shinigami and the Quincy...

Ishida Komagami was determined not to let things escalate to this point.

For several days after that, Quincy would come to the island to fight in the arena every day.

When facing these challengers, Zheng Jing's decisions regarding the use of his staff depended entirely on his mood.

If someone looks pleasing to the eye, I'll let them have a few moves, stopping short of defeat so they can leave unscathed and concede defeat.

If you don't like someone, you can just raise your hand and strike them with a stick, breaking their bones and tendons, leaving them barely clinging to life, before having them carried off the stage.

So from the second day onwards, all the Quincy who went up to the arena learned to first bow to Zheng Jing and say a few kind words.

The number of those who have to be carried off the stage is becoming increasingly smaller.

At the same time, fewer and fewer people dare to step into the ring.

This continued for seven days, and on the seventh day, only one person stepped onto the platform.

It was none other than Ishida Komagaru.

Zheng Jing was certainly careful in his dealings with this old man.

And Ishida Komagaru finally experienced firsthand how his compatriots felt when facing Zheng Jing.

If someone tries to use the Bloodstained Armor to defend against an attack, Zheng Jing can easily make the armor disappear with a casual flick of his staff, leaving only a red mark.

He tried to launch an attack using the Bloodstained Armor, but no matter what he tried, all he got in return was a few unrestrained laughs, as if his all-out offensive had only scratched Zheng Jing's soft flesh.

Neither offense nor defense works.

He intended to use the flying scythe kick to maneuver around, and in the blink of an eye, that cynical smile would be right in front of him.

Confuse?

anxious!

have no choice......