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

"I originally thought you were like the old Barragan, an empty shell without any ideals, who only built the so-called empire to satisfy his personal vanity... But I was wrong. Your wisdom, strength and virtue far surpass that skeleton. Under your rule, Hueco Mundo has the most stable order, and even the weak can live a peaceful life."

This is something only you could do; I've dreamed of it but never had the power to achieve it… Now, if I could participate in your great undertaking, that would be the greatest solace for me.”

The blonde beauty with dark skin was much more polite than before, and her attitude was completely different, which made Iori very satisfied.

Another Vastod acquired!

Previously, the focus was on researching "the Hollowfication of Shinigami". From now on, should we focus on "the Shinigami transformation of Hollows" and create a stable Arrancar as soon as possible?

Putting everything else aside, Arrancar transformation allows Hollows to shed their beast form and transform into human form—which is much more pleasing to the eye than their current state.

Oh right! I almost forgot the most important thing!

Iori recalled something, and her gaze towards Halibel deepened:

He was very curious about one thing: where is Hollow Hollow, one of the ten unsolved mysteries of Bleach?

All voids have voids, which are empty parts of the body, without exception.

The shark-swordswoman's body surface shows absolutely no trace of voids, except in certain unseen areas...

If I have the chance, I should definitely take a look at this. I don't mean anything by it; it's just a scientist's thirst for knowledge!

~~~~~

Chapter 313 If you're not a buddy, who are you? (4.5K views)

The passage of time is unstoppable. While Iori was waging war across Hueco Mundo, Soul Society was not static either.

While repairing the damage caused by the massive explosion, the Gotei 13 reorganized the 12th Division into the "Technology Development Bureau," and also had to provide relief to the families of the fallen members of the 10th Division. Their workload was no less than that of the expeditionary force.

During this period, several major events occurred, dispelling the dark clouds hanging over Seireitei.

First, the Eleventh Division has a new captain:

The savage who stood Iori up finally found the Seireitei, and his actions were completely as expected. He immediately challenged the Eleventh Division Captain, who was known as "Kenpachi"... The result was a foregone conclusion.

The current tenth Kenpachi, Oni Ichiro, only managed to rise to power during a period of transition. His strength is only barely passable, and he lacks self-awareness. It would be one thing if he competed for other positions, but he insisted on stealing the title of "Kenpachi"—and now he has met his end at the hands of the wild man, Zaraki.

In the original timeline, Zaraki should have arrived in Seireitei more than a hundred years later. Now, under Iori's indirect influence, he has taken over the position ahead of time, bringing a veritable "Kenpachi" to the Gotei 13, which desperately needs combat power!

...It sounds cruel, but apart from his trusted subordinates, almost no one among his colleagues was saddened by Gui Yancheng's death.

First of all, this guy isn't very popular; he's known for being all brawn and no brains. Secondly, as Kenpachi, he's not strong enough, and he hasn't achieved any outstanding results in his various battles.

The Gotei 13 is, in essence, a military organization, and the 11th Division is the sharpest of the sharp, requiring the sharpest blade to shoulder great responsibilities!

The existence of Oni-no-Kage has dulled this sword!

His Eleventh Division is not only invincible on the battlefield, but sometimes it even drags other divisions down. Who can stand that?

In these major events, Kenpachi and the 11th Division were practically invisible, and the most eye-catching one was actually Aizen Iori, who returned from the Hueco Mundo expeditionary force... In a sense, this also exposed the current weakness of Seireitei.

In this situation, many people secretly hoped that a ruthless person could replace Gui Yancheng.

"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown," after all, this is the Eleventh Division! It's Kenpachi!

This position is based solely on ability, and anyone who wants to compete for it must be prepared to do so!

As long as someone is strong enough, even if a savage like Zaraki, who has no foundation, rises to power, no one will dare to utter a single word of dissent.

Incidentally, Zaraki didn't come alone; he brought several followers from Rukongai who idolized him, all of whom possessed the strength of a seated officer. Add to that the unassuming Yachiru, and this group actually looked quite formidable...

Besides the personnel changes in the Eleventh Division, the second event was purely joyous, yet it still caused quite a stir:

Yoruichi Shihōin has successfully achieved Bankai!

Although the young lady claims that fists are better than swords, regardless of her opinion, this means her spiritual pressure has reached the captain level. Considering the talents of the five noble families, as long as she stabilizes her cultivation level, she can become above the mid-level!

According to tradition, it was practically a foregone conclusion that she would succeed her ancestors as head of the Second Division, but this was the first time that the Shihouin family name had been inherited by a woman... and it probably wouldn't be a smooth ride.

It was at this delicate moment that the balance of souls in the three realms was restored, and news also came from Hueco Mundo that the expeditionary force had completed its assigned mission. In order to reduce logistical pressure, it was preparing to send the soldiers back to Soul Society, leaving only half of the personnel to maintain daily operations.

The news spread rapidly throughout Seireitei...

……

"Captain Kuchiki, you seem worried. Can you tell me why?"

Standing before the massive interdimensional gate, the Ghost Path members responsible for managing affairs between the two realms stood in neat rows, monitoring the stability of the spatial passage and casting special spells to put "Kutu" into a dormant period so that the expeditionary force could return at their leisure.

This is a long-awaited and celebratory event for Soul Society. Under the leadership of the Third Division Captain Aizen Iori, not only did they complete the task of reducing the number of Menos Grande ahead of schedule, but the casualty rate was also lower than expected. From any perspective, this is a completely victorious expedition!

Therefore, meritorious soldiers should naturally receive appropriate praise.

As the head of the noble family and a veteran of the Thirteenth Division, Kuchiki Ginrei led a group of Shinigami to welcome him. Almost everyone who was not on a mission was present, and even more than half of the "busy" captains came to wait for the hero's triumphant return.

To demonstrate the importance attached to this matter, they even assigned the head of the Great Demon Path, Tetsuzai Kōrō, to take charge and prevent any possible accidents.

But even in such a solemn occasion, amidst the excited crowd, Kuchiki Ginrei, who should have been secretly delighted at the impending reunion of father and son, sighed softly.

This immediately caught the attention of Senko Kyouka behind him: "Ever since the news of the end of the Hueco Mundo campaign came, you've been in a bad mood, except for the initial pleasant mood... Is there some unsettling hidden danger here?"

The two were of different statuses, and such words were already somewhat inappropriate, but Yinling did not take offense and simply glanced at him before nodding slightly.

At this time, Qianzi Xianghe had been assigned to Yinling's command and became his deputy after Cang Chun left. Yinling usually took good care of Xianghe and valued this young man highly, and was not afraid of him because of his background or Zanpakuto.

Xianghe himself is a very emotional person, and he is naturally grateful for Xiumu Yinling's care. He automatically stands in the shoes of a junior and worries about Yinling, without realizing that this is actually a kind of "climbing the social ladder" for him.

Of course, the two parties involved don't care about such a trivial matter, but others might have some complaints...

"It is certainly gratifying that the expeditionary force returned victorious and Cang Chun was safe and sound, but things in this world are often two-sided. Who can see the shadow behind this?"

Yinling strolled along seemingly casually, but unknowingly led Xianghe to a place far away from the crowd.

"Xianghe, what do you ordinary team members like to discuss the most when you chat?"

"This……"

Qian Zixianghe frowned slightly, but decided to tell the truth in front of his most respected elder.

"Captain Aizen has done another great service... Despite being of commoner origin, he is far more powerful than a noble Shinigami."

"Ah."

"Also..."

Xianghe glanced at Yinling's reaction. Although the old man usually kept his emotions hidden, those who knew him well could still sense his mood after spending time with him. Seeing that he didn't seem angry, Xianghe continued:

"Well... after the expeditionary force returns, the 10th Division will definitely be reorganized. I wonder who will be appointed as the captain and vice-captain."

"Any more?"

Yinling pressed for an answer.

Xianghe's heart tightened, and he hesitated, while Yinling shook his head.

"I know without you saying it, there must be a dispute over the selection of personnel."

"Yes……"

Xianghe's expression shifted slightly, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

"Captain Kuchiki, could it be... that the rumors are true? The new Tenth Division is going to be handed over to..."

"Yeah, that's right."

Yinling's expression was solemn: "Although it's just a suggestion, it's almost certain... The new candidate is Cang Chun. He has already activated his Bankai and has received recommendations from several captains!"

hiss!

Xianghe took a deep breath, clearly shocked by the news.

Of course, he did not object to this. Although he had only met Cang Chun a few times, he knew that Cang Chun was an outstanding person in all aspects. As the eldest son of Kuchiki, he was of noble status. If he had already learned Bankai, then few people would be qualified to interfere with his personnel appointments.

His shock stemmed from two things: firstly, Cang Chun's health, as it was common knowledge that this young nobleman had always been in poor health.

Secondly, there are political issues... This is quite sensitive, but it's almost always out in the open.

The highest authority in Seireitei is the Forty-Six Chambers, but in reality, the five noble families are the most influential. They not only hold a majority of seats in the Forty-Six Chambers, but also firmly occupy the second and sixth squads in the Gotei 13.

Although the Shiba clan does not have a fixed lineage, almost every generation has produced geniuses, and most of the time they hold a captain's position.

Tsunayoshi was not very willing to put outstanding members of his family into the Thirteenth Division, but in terms of power, they were definitely not weaker than the other families, and might even be the most powerful.

If Sojun takes over the 10th Division, the Kuchiki family, as the nominal head of the nobility, will have a significantly increased influence, potentially disrupting the existing political balance.

That's why Xianghe felt nervous: such things always end in bloodshed.

Are you worried that this matter will arouse the jealousy of others? If so, why not decline it?

"My Kuchiki family is not afraid of the slightest storm!"

Yinling rarely showed such arrogance: "They are just a bunch of scheming and despicable people. It would be truly foolish to let their gossip affect one's rationality!"

Xianghe, you must remember this too.

"Yes!"

Qian Zixianghe showed excitement, but quickly became puzzled: "Then what are you worried about?"

"...I'm worried about Cang Chun."

Yinling's eyes held a hint of melancholy and pity: "That child is too upright, and his health isn't very good. Taking over the 10th Division this time will definitely consume a lot of his energy... I don't know if he can handle it."

"Since Lord Cang Chun has chosen this path, he must have the corresponding awareness... You don't need to worry, he is not a reckless person, he must have a way to deal with it."

"I hope so."

"..."

Xianghe took a deep look at the old man's retreating figure and sighed silently in his heart:

Yinling gives the impression of being composed and dignified, rarely showing his true emotions in front of outsiders, always wearing a poker face, to the point that many team members think he is cold... but that is not the case.

He was actually one of the few mild-mannered captains, showing great patience towards both his subordinates and family, and beneath that stern expression lay a delicate tenderness.

Previously, for the greater good, he sent his son to Hueco Mundo. Given the circumstances at the time, it was questionable whether So Chun could even return alive. This act undoubtedly earned him the respect of the entire Thirteenth Squad for his noble character and selflessness.

But... no matter how much of a man he was, he was also worried about his frail son. It was all a difficult decision made out of helplessness.

Perhaps it is this straight but thin back that supports the weight of the family name "Rotten Wood"!

Clenching his fist quietly, Xianghe decided to work even harder to assist Yinling in supporting this heavy family name, in order to repay the old man's kindness in recognizing his talent.

—The rotten wood and silver ridge naturally couldn't perceive the inner thoughts of the rumbling river.

He was still thinking about the Tenth Division:

This wasn't a normal change of captain; it was a complete rebuild of the entire squad, involving extremely complex interests. Everyone had anticipated unforeseen changes, but no one expected that it would be Iori, far away in Hueco Mundo, who would take the initiative to cause trouble...

In fact, Aizen Iori didn't do much; he just made a perfectly logical suggestion:

The new 10th Division was formed from the expeditionary force, so it would be best to find a captain with prestige and the ability to keep the situation in check for these proud and fierce soldiers. As Iori's deputy, Kuchiki Sōjun, who has personally participated in battles in Hueco Mundo more than once, is undoubtedly the best candidate!

Born into a noble family with an excellent reputation, possessing both literary and martial talents, and now having mastered Bankai, he returns with a distinguished record of victories.

There's simply no reason to refuse!

This is also why many people feel helpless. Although subconsciously everyone doesn't want a certain nobleman to control two squads, they can't bring that reason to the table. And just looking at Kuchiki Sojun's resume... it's impeccable.

Even if you wanted to create a competitor to steal it, you couldn't!

Therefore, despite the undercurrents and numerous obstacles, everyone knew that it was unstoppable, and Kuchiki Soujun was destined to become the new captain of the 10th Division!

Those who are unwilling to accept it can only bite their fingers in secret.

The only potential problem is that the rotten wood has attracted a lot of jealousy, which may cause it to suffer damage in the future.

However, Kuchiki Ginrei possessed more intelligence than the average person. He maintained correspondence with Sojun and could even communicate with Iori through his son, so he wasn't too worried about it.

Iori had no intention of pushing Sojun out to take the fall. He wasn't the kind of schemer who would use his subordinates. Although this would put Kuchiki in the spotlight, he had already thought things through.

It's very simple, Cang Chun just needs to choose a vice-captain with the surname Shiba!

Yinling was already at retirement age, so Cang Chun could smoothly take over and hand over the position of the 10th Division to the Shiba family, thus maintaining the balance of power among the five noble families.

If Shiba can't find a captain-level expert by then, Iori is confident he can recommend someone else.

Iori wasn't particularly concerned about the position of captain; he simply wanted to use this opportunity to tell certain people that the Thirteenth Team should decide its own affairs—outsiders should refrain from interfering!

In addition, it allows one's own people to take command of this powerful army...

Kuchiki Ginrei also admired Iori even more because of this incident, feeling that he was not just intelligent, but could even be described as "wise," and that the ending he created was one that no one had any reason to refuse.

Just as Yinling was falling into deep thought, the white curtain covering the giant interdimensional gate slowly parted, and powerful spiritual energy fluctuations began to ripple outwards, captivating everyone's attention.