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

This ability, combined with his accumulated experience and wisdom over millions of years, makes it impossible for any change in things to escape his control.

Even Yhwach was manipulated by him a thousand years ago, ensnared in a trap, and had his future vision sealed, indirectly causing Yhwach to "die" at Yamamoto's hands.

In the original story, the Wandenreich will also fail this time when it makes a comeback. Although Ichibei Hyosube is outwardly killed by Yhwach, from a God's-eye view, it is clear that he suffered no loss and seemed to have deliberately withdrawn to watch the protagonist (Ichigo Kurosaki) and Yhwach compete for the final victory.

Even the death of the Spirit King was within his expectations.

Judging by combat ability alone, he may be below Yhwach, but even Iori, who has read the original manga, doesn't know what he's hiding... He can be considered the most mysterious being in the three realms.

Fortunately, Iori was even better at hiding his true intentions than he was.

“BOSS? Interesting. I know it’s a Western term, but the usage and actual meaning seem to be quite different… You always have some behaviors that don’t fit the times and your own experiences, it’s almost like you’re possessed by a ghost.”

The senior monk flashed a bright smile, revealing two rows of white teeth: "But to say that Death can be possessed by a ghost is too far-fetched~ Hahaha!"

"You were indeed spying on me."

Instead of getting angry, Iori laughed, "When did it start?"

"It probably started before you became 'Captain Aizen'."

Hyosube Ichibei's large, clear eyes reflected Iori's figure: "Whenever a Shinigami obtains an Asauchi, I will know the true name of its Zanpakuto. This is the 'law' that has been engraved in the principles of the world. Even I cannot actively control it, but rather passively receive the information."

From the very beginning, you refused to accept ordinary asuna and instead forged your own Zanpakuto using some unknown method. While this prevented me from 'seeing' it immediately, it also made you more conspicuous.

Hmm~

To me, you, who possess a Zanpakuto but have never used Asauchi, are as glaring as an ink blot on rice paper.

"I see……"

Iori nodded as expected: "Is this how you started targeting me?"

"This was the initial opportunity, but the Three Realms are vast and full of wonders. Even the Spirit King has things he cannot predict. I was ordered by His Majesty the Spirit King to oversee the Three Realms, but I do not believe that I can control all things in the universe."

Therefore, even if there were unusual things, I did not immediately try to remove them.

The problem is that all your actions have been unexpected. Perhaps to outsiders you're just a once-in-a-millennium genius, but in reality, your power hasn't grown at all, and I can't see any trace of it left from the past… It's a sudden, sudden 'power,' already formed when it was observed.”

The senior monk's tone turned serious: "This makes me realize that you are an even more troublesome being than Yhwach."

Even Yhwach's process of becoming stronger was clearly visible to Hyosube Ichibei—he simply let him be and did not interfere.

"Then why didn't you attack me when I was weak?"

Iori asked calmly, "Is it because you can't leave the Spirit King's Palace?"

"...You actually knew that?"

The confident smile that had been on his face gradually faded, replaced by a serious expression.

"The Zero Squad's affairs are not recorded in any ancient books, and the relationship between our 'flesh and blood' and the Spirit King Palace is even more secret, passed down orally only by the five noble families."

So it seems... indeed, you possess some means to escape my sight, thus gaining power and wisdom beyond common sense.

How scary!

Compared to you, Yhwach is nothing but a greenhorn.

As for why I let you grow up to this point... because the 'ending' won't change.

"You are very confident."

Iori smiled happily, naturally understanding what the head monk was talking about.

No matter how powerful Iori becomes or what secrets he hides, he is undoubtedly still a spirit. Hyosube Ichibei uses the power of "black" to alter Iori's true name in his Bankai.

This is not just about sealing Bankai; more importantly, it means isolating the deepest "essence of the soul," which is equivalent to locking down Iori's upper limit.

In the context of cultivation novels, a ghost cultivator who has had one of his souls and one of his spirits taken away, being born with incomplete constitution, will still have a fatal weakness no matter how powerful he is.

With this backup plan in place, the head monk actually hoped that Iori could grow up even faster.

Because the more "candidates for the Spirit King", the better.

As a special spirit that is suspected of having "immortality" and can be compatible with different powers, Iori is far more suitable than Yhwach to replace the Soul King and become the "human pillar" of the three realms.

(Yoha was born with a defect; his soul would constantly split off. He used this to make money through loan sharking, which made him incredibly powerful, but this was essentially a flaw.)

Of course, there are also possibilities that Iori might have over his control, but it's like a gamble he's playing himself. Hyosube believes he's the dealer and can peek at the cards, so he has a better chance of winning!

—But what he didn't know was that Iori could also use her special abilities to directly change numbers.

"Aizen Iori, Third Division of the Gotei 13, are you aware that one cannot trespass into the Soul King's Palace without being summoned?"

The head monk's expression suddenly turned serious: "Have you forgotten the laws of the Seireitei?!"

"...Heh~"

Iori looked at Hyosube Ichibei with a hint of helplessness and said with a sneer, "Don't bother with these formalities. Since you've been monitoring me, you should know that I've been trying my best to avoid any contact with the Spirit King Palace from the very beginning."

I have never had any intention of harming the Spirit King or dominating the Three Realms. Everything I have done has been justified and in accordance with my own principles and bottom line. Ultimately, I simply don't want to be controlled by others...

But in the end, even such a low-key approach couldn't save me—you betrayed my goodwill.

Iori snorted coldly and casually tossed the spirit flame in her hand away as if it were trash.

The monk's expression changed slightly. He stretched his hands out of his sleeves and clapped them together in the air in front of him, as if praying to Buddha: "Inner Ghost Path!"

Immediately, a tremendous spiritual pressure erupted, and a giant human hand emerged from his body. It did not appear to be an illusory object formed from spiritual particles, but rather a real fleshy hand, which actually met Iori's compressed flames head-on.

boom!

A giant hand held up the flames, and with a slight flick of its wrist, the blue flames burst open and shot straight into the sky.

The hot wind blew up Iori's red cloak, and his appearance and attire gradually changed as the aftershocks passed, restoring his original handsome appearance.

However, this time he was not wearing a Shinigami uniform, but a trench coat similar to an Arrancar's uniform.

"I really don't understand... why do they have to turn me into an enemy?"

"Enemy? You misunderstand. I have never regarded you as an enemy. As a candidate for Spirit King full of surprises, you must be under the supervision of the Zero Division in order to get on the right track and dedicate yourself to the Three Realms."

The senior monk had his hands tucked into his sleeves, and his grin made him appear somewhat simple and honest, but his eyes were incredibly deep, revealing a hidden, astonishing wisdom.

"Captain Aizen, it's not too late... For the Gotei 13, this is just the Quincy starting the second war between good and evil under the leadership of the resurrected 'King'."

In the eyes of Death, the greatest enemy to ascend to the Soul King's palace is Yhwach, but you remain steadfast in your position, constantly bringing them victory.

You should stop now.

Accept your destiny and mission, return to Seireitei as the Third Division Captain and the next Captain-Commander, and everything will continue according to the previously established trajectory. You will gain unparalleled prestige through this war... while 'Yhwach' will remain in the Soul King Palace after failing to challenge us.

"So, if we turn this fake relationship into a real one, then there will be no conflicts between us, and we can each live our own lives?"

"exactly."

"I reject!"

"Iori said coldly."

"Really? Why?"

The senior monk wasn't surprised, but he still smiled brightly: "What's the reason? Giving up now would only benefit you, wouldn't it?"

"Reason? I don't like the way you talk."

A flash of silver light appeared beneath Iori's feet, and the surroundings were suddenly enveloped in a smooth, still "mirror." Without the slightest hesitation, without uttering a single word, he drew his sword and charged forward.

"Che!"

A flash of light appeared, and the monk in the reflection was cut in half diagonally, while Bingzhubu was still gazing at the drastically changed sea and sky in the distance, lost in thought.

When he came to his senses, his body had shattered along with the mirror field—

Do not!

Incredibly, Iori's Shikai was completely ignored for the first time!

After the domain disappeared, Hyoninbe Ichibei was completely unharmed!

"You seem to want to do something~"

The senior monk remained calm: "But I'd like to kindly remind you that if you're relying on 'reflection' to lock on, then this Zanpakuto is useless against me."

He can transform himself into "pure black" that devours light at any time, and even the reflection in the mirror will disappear. Even if Iori activates his Shikai, it will not affect him.

Seeing Iori's cold expression as she remained silent, the great monk smiled with pleasure and said very kindly, "You must be feeling bad that your invincible special ability has been suppressed, right?"

However, choosing to break through by force would be the most foolish thing to do.

It should be understood that every member of the Zero Division dedicated their soul to His Majesty the Soul King. In order to gain the power to protect him, we sacrificed everything, thus becoming one with this world.

The senior monk continued with a cheerful expression: "In this Spirit King's Palace, no matter how strong your spiritual pressure is, it's useless, because all the favors come from the Spirit King, and you can never surpass His Majesty."

“How terrifying~”

Iori curled her lip: All the power comes from the Spirit King? That's a frog in a well. Even the Spirit King himself wouldn't dare say that, would he?

Rather, it is because the Spirit King discovered a power beyond his comprehension that he placed high hopes on Iori and forcibly brought forward the prophecy in the Holy Emperor's Hymn by 150 years!

"You may have the potential to become a Spirit King, but it's far too early for you. Go back and reflect for a thousand years before you come back!"

Hyosube grinned, and his enormous hands reappeared, stirring up a storm of spiritual pressure to suppress Iori.

—After seeing Iori in person, he was convinced that the person before him possessed the qualities to replace the Spirit King, so he would never kill him under any circumstances.

Well, imprison them, or to be on the safe side, simply "freeze" them.

In the highest order of Kido (Demon Path), there exists a technique that can freeze time. It has always been classified as a forbidden technique, and there isn't even a way to cultivate it, but for the big shots of the Zero Division, nothing is truly secret.

At the same time, ripples appeared in the surrounding void, and several figures flew out from the spatial interlayer, surrounding Iori in a certain spatial order.

"Eastern/Western Divine Generals of the Spirit King Palace—"

If I had to introduce them one by one, all of them who appeared at this moment possessed combat power surpassing that of the Gotei 13:

The hot spring demon who created the return path system, Kirinji Tenjiro!

The Great Origami of the Death God's Armor, Shutara Senjumaru!

And the sword god who created the prototype of all Zanpakuto, Nimaiya Oetsu!

Including the "Eye Monk," Hyoninchi Ichibei, who lived around the same time as King Rei.

Faced with such a formidable lineup, Iori—

"boring."

Iori merely glanced around indifferently, not even getting a clear look at the three people's faces, and immediately dismissed everything.

"You should have said there was a 'mechanism' here earlier... I have no choice but to rely on this slightly higher value."

The so-called divine generals naturally prepared to give them a hard time as soon as they appeared, but all their methods were ineffective at this moment!

—Because an unprecedentedly powerful spiritual pressure blotted out the sky!

It was as if gravity had been increased a million times. Even the strong Zero Squad members turned pale and felt an urge to submit deep in their hearts!

"This, this is impossible!"

"What immense spiritual pressure!"

"..."

Hyosubu narrowed his eyes, his smile vanished, but he was the only one who stood still without wavering.

With a flick of his sleeve, a black shadow was revealed. When it fell, it was like the slash of a famous sword, "severing" the pressure that permeated the space—conceptually altering reality.

However, he had barely given his comrades in the Zero Division a moment to catch their breath when they were quickly overwhelmed by his terrifying aura again:

Iori sheathed his weapon, his trench coat transformed into a sleeveless outfit, and numerous magical runes began to spread from his back, eventually converging on his chest.

"Don't worry, I can't use any superpowers anymore. The only thing I can use is these fists."

By the way, are you all integrated with the Spirit King Palace? That's truly a double... regrettable situation.

Since that's the case, then I have no choice but to destroy the entire Spirit King Palace—

"Hado Zero Style Activated!"

Chapter 501: Solo Speedrun of Squad Zero.

"Looks like I don't need to introduce myself!"

A member of Squad Zero, a stunningly beautiful and aloof woman with a hairstyle as glamorous as a courtesan, stepped forward to face Iori, showing no fear on her face. However, her slightly trembling eyelashes and the stiff muscles beneath her skin betrayed her inner tension.