The Soul King's Summons (1)

The news that Liu Hao had awakened from his coma was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, quickly creating ripples throughout the Soul Society. The first to receive the news was naturally the old man who commanded the First Division and oversaw the entire Gotei 13 — Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

The moment the Captain-Commander heard that Liu Hao had awakened, he immediately issued an order to summon him. The urgency and solemnity of his words made everyone in the know realize that what the Captain-Commander wanted to discuss was no ordinary matter.

After receiving the notification, Liu Hao quickly tidied his appearance and set off for the First Division Barracks. He walked through the quiet courtyard of the Fourth Division and along the familiar streets of Seireitei, encountering many colleagues along the way.

Some people cast concerned glances at him, some nodded slightly in greeting, and some stopped in their tracks as if to say something, but in the end they only opened their mouths and said nothing.

Liu Hao greeted everyone with a smile, a gentle and composed smile, as if nothing had happened, as if he were just an ordinary Soul Reaper on his way to carry out an ordinary mission.

But he knew that today's summons would be anything but ordinary.

The First Division Barracks are located in the heart of Seireitei, serving as the central hub for the entire Gotei 13. This ancient building has withstood thousands of years of trials and tribulations, witnessing countless rises and falls in the Soul Society.

Every brick, every beam, seemed to tell a story of time. Liu Hao stood in front of the team's quarters, took a deep breath, and then stepped inside.

Walking through the long corridor and pushing open the door to the Captain-Commander's office, Liu Hao saw the old man sitting in the center.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto still maintained his dignified appearance, his aged face etched with the marks of time, and his deep eyes, though obscured by his eyebrows, still radiated a light that made people afraid to look directly at him.

He sat there, dressed in his iconic Shihakushō, with Captain's Haori draped over it, and holding a cane, like an unshakeable mountain.

"Liu Hao, you've arrived." Yamamoto Genryusai's voice was deep and powerful, and although he was old, it contained an undeniable authority.

Liu Hao stepped forward and stood before the Captain-Commander. He bowed, his attitude respectful yet neither servile nor arrogant. "Captain-Commander, you wanted to see me?"

Yamamoto Genryusai nodded, his gaze sweeping over Liu Hao like an X-ray, as if trying to see right through him. After a moment, the old man spoke, his voice tinged with concern. "Liu Hao, how are you recovering?"

This question, though seemingly simple, held profound meaning. Liu Hao knew that the Captain-Commander wasn't asking about his physical condition, but rather his combat abilities. After the earth-shattering battle with Aizen, Soul Society had temporarily returned to peace, but everyone knew that the real storm was yet to come.

The threat known as the "Wandenreich," that powerful force composed of Quincy, could launch an attack at any moment. At such a time, the recovery status of every combatant is related to the survival of the entire Soul Society.

Liu Hao thought for a moment and answered truthfully, "There's nothing wrong with my physical condition. You know Captain Unohana's medical skills; she's been personally taking care of me these past two days, so both my external and internal injuries have almost healed. However..."

He paused, his expression becoming somewhat subtle.

"Bankai is temporarily unavailable."

Yamamoto Genryusai's brows furrowed slightly, and his eyes, previously hidden by his eyebrows, seemed to open a little, revealing a sharp light. "Why?"

Liu Hao gave a wry smile and explained, "Because my Bankai consumed too much energy. I believe the Captain-Commander has already received reports about this, right? When I used my Bankai, the Three Worlds trembled due to the immense power. That level of consumption cannot be recovered in a short time. Moreover..."

He took a deep breath and continued, "This time, with my Bankai, I released all the power that I've sealed within my body for so many years. That power was accumulated over many years; it's a one-time consumable. So, even if Bankai again in the future, it won't be as powerful as it was this time."

Liu Hao spoke frankly, without concealment or exaggeration. He was well aware of his situation and knew that the Captain-Commander needed to know the truth. In the impending war, any false intelligence could have fatal consequences.

Yamamoto Genryusai was silent for a moment, seemingly processing this information. His expression remained calm, but the light in his eyes deepened. He asked, "How long will it take you to recover?"

Liu Hao shook his head, his expression somewhat helpless. "I can't estimate the exact time. This kind of power can't be recovered through training alone; it requires the accumulation of time and a special opportunity. Maybe a few months, maybe a few years, maybe it will never be possible to recover to that level. So..."

He paused, then chuckled self-deprecatingly, "In the upcoming battles, I can only handle the minor characters. The truly important figures will probably have to be dealt with by the other Captains."

Upon hearing this, Yamamoto Genryusai's lips seemed to twitch slightly. The movement was so subtle as to be almost imperceptible, yet Liu Hao caught it. It wasn't a frown, nor a sigh, but rather something akin to... a smile?

"A minor character?" Yamamoto Genryusai's voice seemed to carry a hint of mockery. "That's fine then. When facing Aizen, you also said you'd rely on Ichigo Kurosaki, but in the end, wasn't it you who took care of him?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hao felt somewhat embarrassed. He scratched his head and gave an apologetic smile, "I didn't expect this either. Years of suppression allowed my power to achieve a dimensional-level enhancement. When that power erupted, even I was startled. Now that this power is used up, it naturally returns to its original form."

He sighed and continued, "Moreover, the upcoming war is urgent, and I can no longer accumulate strength as before. The strength I had before was built up little by little over a long period of time, and now I no longer have the time to build it up again."

Yamamoto Genryusai nodded, seemingly accepting the explanation. He was silent for a moment, then changed the subject. "You must have received some news since you woke up."

Liu Hao blinked, somewhat confused. "What news?"

Yamamoto Genryusai's voice deepened, carrying a hint of meaning. "Central 46."

"Oh..." Liu Hao drawled, a knowing look appearing on his face, "The ambitions of those nobles... I have indeed heard some rumors. They are wary of the power I displayed in this battle and want to restrict me and control me to serve them."

He curled his lip, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. "They're really out of their minds. Don't they know what time it is, or how big the threats are from the outside? Engaging in internal strife at this time is simply digging their own grave."

Yamamoto Genryusai asked, "So, what do you plan to do?"

Liu Hao's expression turned serious. He thought for a moment, then said, "Let's deal with them after the war ends. Dealing with these parasites now will weaken the Gotei 13's fighting strength. We need everyone who can fight, even those who just sit in their offices giving orders. It's not too late to deal with them slowly after the war is over and the external threats are eliminated."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, to put it bluntly, although these people are annoying, they do control a lot of resources and influence. If we take action against them now, it might cause even greater chaos. Rather than that, it's better to let them make a scene and wait until they reveal their true colors before taking them all down at once."