Arrival at the Soul King Palace

The moment the heavy black gate of the Tenchūren slowly closed, the last ray of sunlight from the Soul Society was blocked out, and Liu Hao and the others were enveloped in a dark and tranquil space.

The interior of the Tenchūren was far more spacious than it appeared from the outside. The walls were inlaid with unknown luminous crystals that emitted a soft, cool, pale blue light, making the entire space resemble a palace in the deep sea.

A peculiar aura permeated the air, the unique concentration of Reishi belonging to the Soul King Palace —several times higher than in the Soul Society and dozens of times higher than in the World of the Living. With each breath, one could feel a continuous flow of Reiryoku surging into the body, as if soaking in a hot spring of Reiryoku, with every pore greedily absorbing the surrounding power.

Liu Hao stood in the center of the Tenchūren, his gaze calmly sweeping over the surroundings. Rukia Kuchiki stood to his right. Renji Abarai stood beside Rukia, his red hair standing out sharply in the pale blue light. Ichigo Kurosaki stood at the very back, his Zangetsu slung over his back, the bandages on the hilt swaying slightly.

The five members of Zero Division stood on the other side of the Tenchūren, facing Liu Hao and the others.

Ichibē Hyōsube stood at the front, arms crossed, the string of fist-sized Buddhist prayer beads swaying slightly in front of his chest, emitting a faint glow.

Kirio Hikifune stood behind him, her plump figure appearing exceptionally soft in the dim light. Her eyes were narrowed to slits, and a warm smile played on her lips.

Ōetsu Nimaiya, leaned against the wall, his hands in his pockets, a sly glint in his eyes behind his glasses.

Tenjirō Kirinji leaned the Zero Division flag against the corner of the wall, the toothpick dangling from his mouth.

Senjumaru Shutara stood quietly at the very back, the eight wooden arms on her back already retracted, her expression indifferent and calm.

After a short while, the vibrations gradually subsided, replaced by a smooth and rapid upward sensation.

Liu Hao looked out through the small round window inside the Tenchūren and saw a blurry scene of light and shadow outside—a visual effect created by the elongated light rays as the Tenchūren ascended at high speed.

Suddenly, everyone felt a violent jolt, more intense than any before, as if the Tenchūren had collided with something, or as if something was striking the Tenchūren from the outside.

Rukia Kuchiki swayed slightly, Renji Abarai quickly reached out to support her. Ichigo Kurosaki slipped on the ground, but he quickly regained his balance and gripped the hilt of Zangetsu.

Then, everything returned to calm.

The Tenchūren ceased its movement, no longer rising, no longer vibrating, and no longer making a sound. That stillness was absolute, complete, and unquestionable, as if time had stopped flowing at that moment, as if space had solidified into a solid.

Ichibē Hyōsube's voice broke the silence, deep and resonant, like the tolling of a temple bell, echoing in the enclosed space with a solemn and composed announcement: "We've arrived."

"Arrived" means they have left the Soul Society and arrived at the Soul King Palace; it means they have crossed the 72 barriers and entered a realm inaccessible to mortals.

Ichibē Hyōsube extended his hand, the movement casual yet elegant, like a conductor waving a baton, a painter wielding a brush, or a magician casting a spell. With a light flick of his finger in the air, the heavy black gate of the Tenchūren opened silently.

The group disembarked from the Tenchūren one by one. Liu Hao walked at the very front, his steps firm and composed. The moment he stepped onto the land of the Soul King Palace, he felt the ground beneath his feet was both soft and solid, as if he were walking on clouds, or as if he were standing on solid ground.

Rukia Kuchiki followed behind him, her steps hesitant, her purple eyes flashing with curiosity and wariness as she looked around, trying to take in everything around her.

Renji Abarai walked beside Rukia, his body still slightly tense, but the wariness in his eyes had lessened, replaced by an undisguised amazement.

Ichigo Kurosaki walked at the very back, his Zangetsu slung over his shoulder. His orange hair shone like a burning flame in the holy light. His expression was serious and focused, but a childlike curiosity flickered in his brown eyes.

When Ichigo Kurosaki looked up and saw the sight in the sky, he abruptly stopped. His lips trembled slightly, and a voice welled up from deep within his throat, carrying a heartfelt emotion. "This is the Soul King Palace!!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present clearly. It carried the devotion of a pilgrim finally reaching their holy site, the excitement of a traveler finally seeing their destination, and the awe of a warrior finally facing the legendary battlefield.

Ichibē Hyōsube stood to the side, watching Ichigo Kurosaki's amazed expression, his smile deepening. A hint of satisfaction and pride flashed in his eyes, like a host showing off his home to a guest, like an elder watching a junior's curiosity about something new.

His voice rang out, deep and resonant, carrying the tolerance and affection of an elder towards a younger generation. "That's right. You should be proud to have been able to step into this place as ordinary Soul Reapers; others don't have this opportunity."

This statement was made so casually, as if it were merely stating a simple fact.

But everyone could hear the weight and pride behind those words. The Soul King Palace —this was a place not just anyone could come to.

Even Captain-level Soul Reaper cannot cross those 72 barriers without the permission of the Zero Division; even the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 cannot set foot on this sacred land without the Soul King's summons.

And Liu Hao, Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, and Renji Abarai —these four, as ordinary Soul Reaper, stood here. What an honor, what glory, what a rare privilege this was.

Kurosaki Ichigo came back from his surprise when he heard the words of the military commander Ichibei. He took a deep breath, calmed down his excitement, and then raised his head again, looking at the huge palace suspended in the sky. His eyes shone with a complex light, and there was emotion, thinking, and a trace of inexplicable emotions in the light.

"This is the place Aizen tried so hard to get into." Ichigo Kurosaki's voice was low and slow, each word carrying a heavy weight.

At this point, Ichigo Kurosaki suddenly remembered something. He turned to look at Ichibē Hyōsube, his expression becoming serious and earnest, his voice filled with urgent curiosity. "Ah, wait a minute. Doesn't the Soul King Palace require the Oken to enter? When did you use it just now?!"

Standing behind Ichigo Kurosaki, Liu Hao couldn't help but shake his head upon hearing the question, a helpless smile appearing on his lips. He took a step forward, raised his hand, and gently patted the back of Ichigo Kurosaki.

With a soft "smack," Ichigo Kurosaki felt a tap on the back of his head. His body stiffened slightly, and he turned around, looking at Liu Hao with a wronged and confused expression, as if asking: Why did you hit me?

Looking at Ichigo Kurosaki's innocent expression, Liu Hao's smile deepened. He withdrew his hand, cleared his throat, and then spoke slowly, his voice calm and clear, each word distinct, like a teacher lecturing a student, like a senior imparting knowledge to a junior. "The so-called Oken is the physique of a member of the Zero Division. It's a qualitative change that occurs when someone is selected to join the Zero Division, through the power of the Soul King."

The moment those words were spoken, Ichigo Kurosaki's eyes widened sharply. His mouth opened slightly, and the expression on his face changed from confusion to shock, from shock to realization, and from realization to an indescribable complexity.

He had never imagined that the Oken would be something like this—not an object created from 100,000 souls, but the very body of a member of the Zero Division. It wasn't something Aizen could create with spiritual magic, but a qualitative change that only the Soul King could bestow.

Liu Hao continued, but every word carried an undeniable weight. "Therefore, there are two ways to enter the Soul King Palace: one is to be guided in by the will of the Zero Division; the other is to enter with members of the Zero Division."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings. Then he spoke, "The Oken that Aizen wanted to create was intended to use his spiritual arts to create the body of the Zero Division, thereby entering the Soul King Palace, overthrowing the Soul King, and replacing the position of the god."

Ichibē Hyōsube stood to the side, listening to Liu Hao's explanation. He looked at Liu Hao, his smile deepening, and said in a low voice, "You really know a lot."

Upon hearing Ichibē Hyōsube's praise, Liu Hao shrugged slightly and said in a relaxed tone, "It's alright."

He paused for a moment, then continued, his tone becoming more direct, pragmatic, and more in line with his current situation and needs. "What's the arrangement next? Should I go with them to all those Zero Division Detached Palaces, or should they take me directly to see the Soul King?"

Ichibē Hyōsube narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing Liu Hao's question, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke, "Actually, your power level has already reached that of Soul King. If you were to force your way into the Soul King Palace, you could easily break through all 72 barriers. Therefore, the things from the Zero Division wouldn't really improve you at all."

The moment those words were spoken, the entire scene fell silent. Everyone was stunned— Rukia Kuchiki's eyes widened, Renji Abarai's mouth gaped open, and Ichigo Kurosaki's brows furrowed. They stared at Liu Hao, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

Liu Hao remained calm upon hearing Ichibē Hyōsube's words, as if everything was within his expectations. A faint smile appeared on his lips, a smile that conveyed a sense of "I knew it."

He nodded, but continued to ask, his tone still direct and pragmatic. "How do we get to the Soul King's inner palace? Do we just fly directly from that platform?"

His gaze drifted into the distance, landing on the main hall of the Soul King Palace's Palace. The majestic white palace hovered at the highest point in the sky, surrounded by four Riden, separated from the main hall by a great distance.

Hearing Liu Hao's question, Ichibē Hyōsube's smile deepened. His voice rang out, "That's not necessary. Their bodies can't adapt to the concentration of Reishi here in the Soul King Palace, which is why they need to use the platform. But you and I can simply step through the air to cross."

Hearing this answer, Liu Hao nodded, his expression remaining calm. He turned his head and glanced at Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, and Ichigo Kurosaki behind him, his gaze carrying a sense of reassurance and promise, as if to say: Don't worry, I'll be back soon. Then, he turned back to Ichibē Hyōsube, his voice calm yet firm. "So when are we leaving?"

Ichibē Hyōsube smiled, a smile that seemed to say, "That's exactly what I've been waiting for." His voice rang out, deep and resonant, carrying an undeniable decisiveness. "Let's go now."

After saying that, Ichibē Hyōsube turned around and took a step. His foot was on the void, but he did not fall. Instead, he stood firmly in the air, as if there was an invisible transparent glass under his feet, as if the air itself had become solid beneath his feet.

His monk's robes fluttered in the wind, and the string of prayer beads swayed slightly in front of his chest. His figure appeared exceptionally tall, majestic, and unapproachable in the sacred light.

Liu Hao watched Ichibē Hyōsube's retreating figure, took a deep breath, and then took a step forward. His foot landed in mid-air, and he felt an invisible force supporting him beneath his feet.

Two people, one in front of the other, walked through the void. Their figures grew farther and farther away, smaller and smaller, more and more blurred, until they finally turned into two tiny black dots and disappeared in the direction of the majestic white palace.