Monk's Sugar-Coated Cannonball

The Soul King Palace is protected by 72 barriers, and an Oken is required to pass through them.

In other words, it's utterly impossible for an ordinary Soul Reaper to reach the Soul King Palace by using something similar to the "freely flying gear" that Shihoin Yoruichi used in the original story, or by flying there solely on their own power, or by gathering or manipulating reishi to create footholds and climb up little by little, like a Quincy or a Fullbringer.

Even Aizen, whose strategic brilliance is close to that of a god, or Yhwach, who is literally a son of god, couldn't bypass those 72 barriers! This means that an Oken is indispensable for entering the Soul King Palace. The so-called Oken is actually the reconstructed bones of Division 0 members, reforged by the Soul King's power after their selection.

Boom!

With a rumble, the Tenchuren, which had been blasted upwards by the Shiba Cannon, finally landed on the Omotesando of the Soul King Palace.

"We're here!"

As the Tenchuren's door opened, the Monk was the first to step out, leaving Araki with a seemingly stylish back.

"..."

Araki frowned slightly as he looked at the Division 0 insignia on the back of the Monk's Haori. He hadn't paid much attention before, but now, seeing it up close, he noticed that the arrangement of the four Daphne flowers in the Division 0 insignia was identical to the four pupils in the Soul King's eyes. Araki didn't say much about it, simply following closely behind the Monk...

The moment Araki's feet touched the Omotesando of the Soul King Palace, he felt an invisible Spiritual Pressure settle upon him. The reishi concentration in the Soul King Palace was far greater than in Soul Society or even the Seireitei! Perhaps some people with weaker Spiritual Bodies or Spiritual Pressure would find it impossible to move here.

"Celebrate! This isn't a place just any Soul Reaper can come to!"

The Monk walked forward, a look on his face that clearly said, you're incredibly lucky to be here, as he spoke to Araki.

"Well, I'm truly honored."

Araki replied perfunctorily to the Monk, while simultaneously adjusting to the reishi concentration in the Soul King Palace.

"This is the Omotesando. You can think of it as a transfer station. Now, look up... those two things in the sky that look like pot lids are my Detached Palace and Oetsu Nimaiya's. The one at the very top that looks like a tower is called the Soul King's Great Inner Palace. That's where the Soul King rests. Strictly speaking, that is the true Soul King Palace."

The Monk seemed oblivious to the difference in reishi density in the air, or perhaps he was already accustomed to the Soul King Palace's reishi density. He strode forward, introducing the place to Araki behind him.

"Mm..."

Araki followed behind the Monk, looking up as the Monk spoke. Sure enough, he saw two things that looked like pot lids, and a palace that resembled a tower.

Araki was already prepared for the sight before him. At the same time, based on the only two "pot lids" (the Detached Palaces of Division 0 members) in the sky, Araki could confirm that there were indeed only two members in Division 0 at the moment.

'The hearts of Division 0 members?'

Araki gazed at the Detached Palaces, his eyes slightly narrowed. He knew those Detached Palaces weren't simple. Division 0's Detached Palaces weren't just places for Division 0 members to rest, live, and work; they were also the very foundation of their lives. As long as a Division 0 member's Detached Palace wasn't destroyed, that Division 0 Division Member would be like an immortal. Even if killed, there would be a way to revive them...

In other words, the physical bodies of Division 0 members aren't important; the Detached Palaces are. So, if one truly has to fight Division 0, after defeating its members, one must never forget to destroy their Detached Palaces to prevent them from reviving after death, especially the Monk's Detached Palace.

"I have a feeling, little Araki, that you're thinking some extremely dangerous thoughts right now."

The Monk, who was explaining the composition of the Soul King Palace to Araki, suddenly shivered when Araki was staring blankly at the Detached Palaces in the sky. He turned his head and saw Araki's eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at the Detached Palaces above...

For a moment, beads of cold sweat involuntarily broke out on the Monk's forehead. He felt that his and Oetsu Nimaiya's secret seemed to have been completely seen through by Araki.

"Speaking of which, where did the 'Sword God' go?!"

Araki didn't answer the Monk's question. After surveying their surroundings, he suddenly realized that the "Sword God" Oetsu Nimaiya seemed to be gone. He then asked the Monk.

"Oh, Wang Yue? I sent him to fetch something for me. You don't need to worry about him, just keep following me!"

Hearing this, the Monk opened his large eyes and looked around. After confirming that Oetsu Nimaiya wasn't there, he explained to Araki.

"Oh."

Araki nodded slightly at the reply, though he didn't believe a single word the Monk said.

That old rascal of a Monk is terribly cunning! Can't trust him easily.

"So, are we going to the Soul King's Great Inner Palace to pay our respects to the Soul King first?"

Araki asked the Monk.

"Not yet! You'll come with me to my Detached Palace first. I have something to give you."

The Monk shook his head gently. He seemed to have his own plan.

"Oh?! Aren't you supposed to test if my abilities are effective on the Soul King? If I don't meet the Soul King, how will I know if my abilities can even be used on him?!"

Araki raised an eyebrow at the Monk. His guard against the Monk hadn't let up at all.

"Your Spiritual Pressure is too weak right now! With your current strength, even if your abilities truly could affect the Soul King, you wouldn't be able to gather all of the Soul King's lost fragments and reassemble them onto his body..."

"So, before I let you meet the Soul King, I believe it's necessary to first elevate your strength to the pinnacle of a 'Soul Reaper'!"

The Monk explained to Araki the fundamental reason why Araki had to go to his Detached Palace first before going to the Soul King's Great Inner Palace to meet the Soul King...

That was, Araki's Spiritual Pressure was simply too weak. Although Araki had reached the level of Second Grade Spiritual Power, unfortunately, that simply wasn't enough to impress the Monk.

"The pinnacle of a 'Soul Reaper,' in other words, First Grade Spiritual Power?!"

After hearing the Monk's words, Araki's expression finally shifted.

"Precisely!"

The Monk looked at Araki's surprised expression and nodded with a simple smile.

First Grade Spiritual Power. Currently, throughout the entire Soul Society, Seireitei, and Gotei 13, there are very few people with this level of Spiritual Pressure. Even including Division 0 in the Soul King Palace, the number of people with this level of Spiritual Pressure would certainly not exceed a single hand!

When a Soul Reaper's Spiritual Pressure reaches this level, they won't easily die. Once they do die, it would directly shatter the balance of the Three Worlds, and could even cause a massive crisis that overturns the Three Worlds!

"Interesting!"

Araki's lips curved slightly upwards at the remark.

Araki knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. The Monk seemed kind, offering to help him improve his strength, but Araki suspected he also intended to use him for some purpose. This so-called improvement was nothing more than a sugar-coated bullet. For Araki, his attitude towards the Monk was simple: eat all the candy, and send the bullets right back!

"It seems you've made up your mind, young Araki."

The Monk smiled, mirroring Araki's own grin.

"Of course."

Araki nodded slightly. When it was time to be brave, he would be brave.

There are no obstacles before a brave tiger, but cowards find hurdles everywhere!

(The Spiritual Power level system in this book has been slightly modified because the original Spiritual Power system is incomplete. Consider this a fan-made setting!

This book defines Soul Reapers like Old Man Yama and Sister Hana, who were described by Szayelaporro Granz in Hell Verse as possessing immense Spiritual Pressure, as "First-Grade Spiritual Power." Of course, even within the First Grade, there's a significant difference between Old Man Yama and Sister Hana.

Then there's Yhwach and Aizen, who Szayelaporro Granz mentioned could suppress the Gates of Hell. They open a new level called "Special Grade Spiritual Power," or "Wedge Grade." This is the level of Spiritual Pressure that would allow them to replace the Soul King and stabilize the Three Worlds as a "wedge."

Otherwise, there would be too many people with Second-Grade Spiritual Power, and the power fluctuations within that grade would be too wide. It would become awkward with terms like "half-step Second-Grade," "early Second-Grade," "mid-Second-Grade," "peak Second-Grade," "half-step First-Grade," and so on.)

Thanks to reader "Bing Tang Xiao Xiao Li" for the 100 reward~