You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

"This weapon is practically the embodiment of a demon."

"Fortunately, it was discovered early and did not cause a major disaster. Thinking about it this way, it can be said that fortune and misfortune are intertwined."

"This is all thanks to you. Such a formidable enemy would be difficult for any of the Thirteen Teams to defeat quickly. Apart from the Captain, only you could quell the situation so easily."

Kuchiki Ginrei sighed from the bottom of his heart, "And the Shihōin family... Every time I see such outstanding talents as you, this old man always feels inexplicably sad."

"I think Captain Kuchiki is in his prime and can work for at least a few hundred more years."

"Hehe... It's a pity you're not my descendant, otherwise someone could take on this responsibility, and why would I, at my advanced age, still occupy this position?"

Kuchiki Ginryo walked over and patted Iori on the shoulder with a smile: "In another two hundred years... no, in another hundred years, Lord Genryuzai will probably feel the same sadness as me."

He was much luckier than me—he had a reliable disciple to whom I could entrust my future.

"You flatter me."

...After the Sumari Mansion was completely suppressed, all related data and samples were destroyed. The elderly, women, children, and those who did not participate in the battle were placed in a small courtyard and guarded by a covert mobile unit, awaiting judgment from the 46th Chamber.

On the other hand, the operation in Rukongai went very smoothly. After increasing the number of troops deployed, the thugs who were temporarily strengthened by the inferior Bakuya sword were mercilessly annihilated by the Gotei 13, which were in a state of war, without exception.

Fengqiao, Tianbei, and others made significant contributions in the battle and were praised by the other captains. In addition, Iori's eye for selecting subordinates was also highly praised.

By the time everything had calmed down, it was already late at night. Iori walked out of the Sumari mansion alone, took one last look at the mansion before returning to the Third Division barracks, paused for a couple of seconds, and then turned and left, the figure of the Shinigami disappearing into the darkness.

"A flawed power... but not without merit."

Walking along the moonlit path, Iori recalled the details of the battle. At the same time, she reached to her waist and activated the [Dimensional Array] personal space. A scarlet orb, seemingly mixed with black energy, fell from the void into Iori's hand.

—The core of the Tapir Blade!

Moreover, it's the highest-grade one, the one that can prevent others from using Bankai!

It turns out that Iori didn't destroy everything, but instead kept the most important red gem. No one knows how she did it, but Kuchiki Ginrei and Shihouin Yoruichi didn't notice.

Is it "Fei Yan"?

No, it should be earlier. Perhaps the moment Iori defeated the swordsman, he had already given the red gem to... The subsequent fire was just a distraction.

To be honest, the power of the Baku Yao Dao (a type of sword) wasn't very tempting to Iori. If it were just for absorbing spiritual pressure, that would be one thing, but fusing with it would damage the integrity of her soul, which would be tantamount to slow suicide for a Shinigami (death god).

Iori's third method is unlikely to be affected by such negative effects, but the Baku sword still has a subtle erosion effect on the mind. Iori has always been very careful in this regard, especially after seeing Sumari's obsessive and demonic appearance.

Even if I am very confident in my willpower, I would not want to install such a time bomb in myself unless absolutely necessary.

In addition, there was another reason that he found most unacceptable—

too ugly!

Throughout history, bosses who have tried to enhance themselves by becoming monsters, ugly, or gigantic have invariably fallen at the feet of the protagonist. What appears to be strengthening is actually a causal weakening.

Even the once-cool Aizen Sousuke ultimately died from the "monsterization" debuff. Learning from this example, Iori naturally had no interest in the Baku sword!

"However, it still has collectible value."

This is probably the "core" with the highest growth rate in Seireitei right now, right? In terms of strength, it should be second only to the one that Tenbei Shusuke cultivated with countless efforts later on.

Iori had other plans in mind. She crossed her hands and made several hand seals. Pure and high-density spiritual pressure formed a semi-transparent shell around the orb, temporarily sealing it.

Ultimately, it is a special ability that can "seal Bankai". Although it has only been used on Kuchiki Ginrei, it is still unknown whether it can be effective on higher-ranking captains like Kyoraku and Unohana. However, it is good to have a backup plan in case.

As for Yamamoto... to be honest, Iori doesn't have much confidence.

In the original work, Yamamoto was confident that Yhwach would not take the Zanka no Tachi, but it was later proven that this was not the case. The Quincy King's power was far above the "Shinigami" system, and even someone as powerful as Yamamoto could still fall victim to it.

But that's Yhwach! He's second only to the Soul King in the entire worldview!

Just because Yhwach could do it doesn't mean others can easily outmaneuver Yamamoto...

Neither Aizen's Fire Extinguishing Prince nor Amagai's Baku-yōtō truly countered Ryūjin Jakka.

When dealing with Aizen, Yamamoto's problem wasn't that he couldn't beat him, but that he couldn't hit him. As long as he could make contact with Aizen's body, it didn't matter whether it was Shikai or Bankai. But if he couldn't find the enemy, activating Bankai would just be a simple "world destruction," which would be meaningless.

To deal with Amagasaki... frankly speaking, why would you need to activate Bankai?

If the old man had the will to kill, a simple chop would have been enough!

Ultimately, Aizen's "spiritual pressure theory" makes a lot of sense. When the difference in spiritual pressure becomes too great, a situation similar to "mystery being nullified in front of an even more ancient mystery" can indeed occur, similar to the situation in Type-Moon where "mystery is nullified in front of an even more ancient mystery".

Yamamoto's spiritual pressure is overwhelmingly powerful; simply releasing it is enough to form a physical domain, making it ignoring most fancy abilities.

If you want to use a "mechanism" to trick him, then you have to be related to the Spirit King, and be a being of a higher level in terms of essence!

A tapir-shaped dagger? It doesn't even qualify!

Of course, this can be a backup plan. As Iori's strength increases, the enemies he encounters will become more and more troublesome, and no amount of similar methods will be enough.

-

"Crimson Slayer," the heart of the empire, the Holy King's court, the audience hall:

In this royal hall, which is rarely used and only opened on major holidays and special occasions, and can accommodate all civil and military officials of the capital, sits the highest point the Holy Grail Throne, a magnificent design that surpasses all others and is cast entirely in gold, symbolizing ultimate power!

It is said that the intricate patterns carved on it are the unique flora and fauna, natural landscapes and dangerous species of various regions of the empire, symbolizing the borders ruled by the king, while the beautiful statues that are faintly visible in the holy light that never goes out are the goddesses in mythology who control fate, meaning that the king is favored by fate.

In addition, there is a crown personally crafted by the Holy King, symbolizing the legitimacy of the new empire... but it is usually kept by a special female official, and ordinary ministers have no chance to see it.

—The above is the imagination of the people of the world regarding the "Holy Grail" and the "Crown," which have been given too many symbolic meanings, to the point that Iori was both amused and exasperated.

For him, pomp and circumstance were naturally important, but these two items were not merely ceremonial objects; their practical value far exceeded their glamorous appearance.

Today, he returned to "Red Slayer" as scheduled. He first went to Chelsea to hand over his work, reviewed all the major and minor events that had accumulated while he was away, quickly listed the rules, and then came to the hall that was actually managed by Sera.

The carefully selected staff had already left, leaving the vast, empty hall to the Holy King and his advisors.

When the ruler and his subject met, they exchanged kisses in a very polite manner, following the etiquette of nobles on Earth... only a little more enthusiastically.

After that, Sera told Izhi some good news:

Thanks to her tireless efforts and with the aid of the "Crown's" supercomputing power, Iori's grand plan is finally about to take its first step—

The first ley line is about to be born!

This involves constructing water conservancy projects, opening up mountains and paving roads, setting up large magic arrays in various places, and using transfer magic that is good at reversing the flow of force to gather weak air currents into rivers, and then bringing together the invisible "ocean currents" that originally flowed separately in the north and south of the empire, so that quantitative change leads to qualitative change, making it a "dragon vein" that can truly connect the north and south!

Although it is still very simple and does not have the momentum to radiate the world and rule the infinite, it is only the most basic north-south cycle, and it is limited to a thousand miles around the capital city... But it is undoubtedly the first ley line to appear in this world, a breakthrough from zero!

To change the world with one's own will—this is something that Iori feels proud and honored about even now.

After all, destruction and transformation are very different in difficulty. The former only requires increasing output, while the latter requires considering many more factors.

With anticipation high, he surprisingly didn't shirk the task and pass it on to others. Instead, he calmed down and worked with Sera to channel magic into the Greater Grail, guiding the "flow" and giving it a final push!

"In the Eastern magical theory of alchemy, there is a saying of 'the convergence of dragon and tiger,' which is the gathering of two different types of power to achieve a harmonious and perfect unity while avoiding conflict. What we are doing now is similar to that."

Sera explained earnestly: "But be careful, although the magic power in this world is not as abundant as in my hometown, the area involved this time is much larger than a city... If the spiritual veins can be successfully born, then in terms of scale alone, they will surpass Fuyuki and Tulifas."

Before this level of fusion of vital energy can fully stabilize and form a dragon vein, a large amount of energy will inevitably dissipate. If not handled properly, this could trigger a geological disaster.

Fortunately, we have the Holy Grail. With careful guidance, we can channel this power into the Golden Cauldron and avert disaster!

Chapter 237: I'm going to train you until you scream in agony! (4K)

The immense magical power released when the dragon vein is formed should not be wasted. If we're talking about its uses, the first choice is naturally "The Third Magic: The Cup of Heaven".

Iori has personally experienced how overpowered a body formed from the materialization of a soul is. Such immense power cannot be passed on to outsiders; it can only be used on those closest to him.

He had made this promise to many people, but to be honest, there is a first-come, first-served order in everything, and he also had different priorities in his mind, so the candidate had already been decided long ago.

Pressing the yin-yang symbol on her belt, a striking Bagua array unfolds beneath her feet, and the surrounding scenery is replaced in the blink of an eye. In a daze, Iori finds herself in a border region thousands of miles away, the very place where Iori and the others ambushed Esdeath and where the two first had a fierce (physical) collision.

Previously, General Esdeath attempted to assassinate the king, but was easily subdued by the wise and mighty Holy King, who then mercilessly whipped her. Unable to endure the torture, General Esdeath had no choice but to surrender in humiliation.

After being pardoned, the strongest Imperial Arms user, who held His Majesty the Holy King in awe, found an excuse to lead her troops into battle, ostensibly to quell a rebellion, but only she knew the real reason.

Najenda's "statistics department" has been busy with things like clearing out old problems and measuring land, which are things that offend people. There have been more than one small-scale rebellion, but without exception, they have all been crushed by the Teigu users' forces.

Some old imperial nobles and revolutionary remnants, still harboring rebellious intentions, attempted to join forces in a rebellion. However, Esdeath personally intervened and resolved the situation in just three days. The military camp, completely frozen in ice, and the ice sculptures where people and animals were all frozen solid, gave this peaceful new country a small "shock of the remnants of the old era."

Perhaps Iori was too lenient when he first took power, which allowed these scoundrels to still harbor illusions. However, after this battle, Esdeath was neither questioned for excessive killing nor feared for her great achievements. Instead, she received a large number of rewards from the Holy King himself, which made many people realize that Iori was indeed a "horse-riding emperor".

From then on, no one dared to plot against them. Even if someone wanted to use power plays and tricks to deceive their superiors, there was no room for these old medieval schemes in the law enforcement system that Iori built with the "Crown" and a group of elite Imperial Arms users.

Objective and cold data do not lie. Even if the Teigu user is bribed, no one can interfere with the Crown's decision—unless you have enough influence to get Iori and Sera to grant you special favors.

Interestingly, even after making great contributions to the new empire and quelling numerous rebellions, General Esdeath did not return to the capital. Instead, she found a reason to continue leading troops abroad, specifically choosing the northern border, which she preferred.

This move sparked much discussion. Some said Esdeath harbored rebellious intentions, while others said she feared that the Holy King would strip her of the army and imprison her in the capital... But no matter how they speculated, they probably couldn't guess the real reason.

It's very simple, she's just simply afraid of being fucked and whipped.

Iori is a rather easygoing monarch. As the saying goes, "If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain." Since Esdeath is avoiding him, he will take the initiative to go to her and build a good relationship. He believes that as long as his attitude is sincere enough, he will definitely be able to move this strongest Teigu user.

After all, even the coldest, most aloof woman has a warm heart inside.

Iori quickly found Esdeath's location. Although she held a high position, she was not used to enjoying luxury and chose to live in a military fortress. Her residence was not particularly luxurious; it was more like a converted command post that she used directly.

Without disturbing anyone, Iori easily slipped into Esdeath's mansion and avoided all the maids. As he leisurely opened the door to the bedroom and saw the vague outline of Sleeping Beauty, he walked to the bedside and reached out to pull back the bed curtains—

cold!

The chilling air exploded, the figure on the bed shattered, and the expanding ice spikes shot towards Iori with a deafening roar!

Iori slightly opened his eyes, and small spiritual energy shields appeared all around him, blocking the ice spikes at the perfect moment. After a series of crisp collision sounds, a white mist composed of shattered ice crystals enveloped him.

"To come alone to assassinate someone, what audacity!"

The dark ice, almost blending seamlessly with the darkness, shattered, revealing a tall, aloof, and domineering figure. A simple, single thrust easily pierced the sound barrier, penetrating the figure within the icy mist before the sword even rang out—

"Um?!"

The feeling from the sword was so ethereal that Esdeath was startled and almost immediately recalled a scene that had happened before.

Oops!

The thought had barely crossed her mind when a violent gust of wind dispersed the mist, and an ordinary-looking right hand reached out to grab Esdeath.

Immediately! Without hesitation!

"Freeze, Mahapadma!"

Esdeath decisively used the ultimate move she had invested a great deal of effort in developing. In an instant, everything in the room froze, and the world seemed to be coated with an ice-blue layer. Whether it was the flying ice shards, the trembling ripples, or the enemy's outstretched hand, everything was frozen at the same moment!

With the ability to freeze space with her own will, Esdeath has clearly developed the Imperial Arm "Demon Manifestation" to its extreme, even surpassing the original Dangerous Species, demonstrating unparalleled talent.

However, this powerful woman's first reaction after unleashing her ultimate move was not to attack the enemy. Instead, the moment she saw the other person's figure reflected in her eyes, she leaped backward to create distance between them.

really!

Almost at the same time Esdeath retreated, a black mass rose from where she had been standing, ignoring the effects of "Mahavamsa," moving freely, forming a cube the size of a person, and then quickly dissipating.

That is a high-level ghost path called [Black Coffin]. Its mechanism is to create an independent space and use the spatial blade inside to attack the enemy... It is itself a half-space ghost path.

Clearly, Esdeath's Imperial Arms can only freeze space to a minimum, not even truly freeze space. Instead, it uses absolute low temperature, infinitely close to absolute zero, to block the movement of all basic particles, including enemies.

Once you encounter a skill with time-space attributes, your weakness will be exposed—you have no concept or special attribute enhancements, it's just a pure physical means, and you can't even freeze the enemy's mind.

As that instant passed, the icy blue faded from the space, and everything began to flow again. Only then did the surging wind pressure release, scattering the furniture in the room.

"Aizen Iori... Ugh!"

“Call me by my name directly? Even if you don’t say ‘husband,’ you should at least call me ‘Your Majesty,’ or at the very least, ‘Iori.’”

The Grim Reaper, who appeared to be only seventeen years old, smirked slightly: "Given our relationship, there's no need to be so formal, is there?"

"...I don't remember having any special relationship with you." Esdeath's expression was serious, as if she had eaten something bitter. She was uneasy, annoyed, and secretly pleased. In short, she glared at Iori with great hostility.

"We've only slept together, don't act like you've got me figured out!"

"That's not what I came to talk about this time..."

Just then, a commotion arose outside the room, the sound of clashing metal mixed with suppressed breathing—it seemed the guards had heard the noise and rushed over.

"General!"

"Don't come in!"

Esdeath's stern rebuke, as authoritative as the winter wind, silenced all the guards outside.

"It was just a nightmare, and I broke some things. You may all leave."

"Oh...yes, I understand."

Although they had some doubts, Esdeath's prestige was so great that the guards did not dare to act on their own and gradually withdrew.

After everyone left, Iori smiled and said, "It's rare to see you so nervous just now. Do you really not want anyone to see me with you?"