There were seventy-two barriers between the Soul King Palace and the Seireitei, and only the Oken could breach them.
In other words, it was utterly impossible for ordinary Soul Reapers to reach the Soul King Palace by using freely flying equipment like Shihoin Yoruichi had in the original work, by flying there under their own power, or by creating footholds through Spirit Particle Condensation or manipulation like Quincy and Fullbring users, then climbing up bit by bit.
Even Aizen, whose intellect bordered on that of a god, or Yhwach, who was himself the son of a god, could not bypass those seventy-two barriers! In other words, the Oken was indispensable for entering the Soul King Palace. The so-called Oken was the bones of Division 0 members, reforged by the Soul King's power after they had been selected.
"Boom!"
With a thunderous roar, the Tenchuren that had been blasted upward by the Shiba Cannon finally landed on the Omotesando of the Soul King Palace.
"We're here!"
As the doors of the Tenchuren opened, the Monk stepped out first, leaving Araki with a seemingly dashing back.
"..."
Araki's brows furrowed slightly as he looked at the Division 0 insignia on the back of the Monk's haori. He had not paid much attention before, but now that he was seeing it up close, he realized that the arrangement of the four daphne flowers in Division 0's insignia was exactly like the four pupils in the Soul King's eyes. Araki said nothing and closely followed behind the Monk...
The instant Araki stepped onto the Omotesando of the Soul King Palace, he felt an invisible Spiritual Pressure settle upon him. The density of spirit particles in the Soul King Palace far exceeded that of the Soul Society, even the Seireitei! People with weaker Spiritual Bodies or Spiritual Pressure would probably find it impossible to take even a single step here.
"Celebrate! This isn't somewhere ordinary Soul Reapers get to visit!"
As he walked ahead, the Monk gave Araki a look that seemed to say, You've hit the jackpot just by getting here.
"Then I'm truly honored."
As Araki adjusted to the spirit particle density of the Soul King Palace, he gave the Monk a perfunctory reply.
"This is the Omotesando. You can think of it as a transit station. Now look up... Those two things that resemble pot lids in the sky are the detached palaces of Oetsu Nimaiya and me. The tower-like structure at the very top is called the Soul King's Great Inner Palace. That is where the Soul King rests. Strictly speaking, that is the true Soul King Palace."
The Monk seemed not to notice the difference in spirit particle density, or perhaps he had simply grown accustomed to the density within the Soul King Palace. As he strode forward, he introduced its layout to Araki behind him.
"Mm..."
Following behind the Monk, Araki looked up as he spoke and indeed saw two pot-lid-like objects and a palace that resembled a tower.
Araki had already been mentally prepared for the sight before him. At the same time, from the mere two pot lids in the sky—the detached palaces of Division 0 members—he could confirm that Division 0 truly had only two members at present.
"The hearts of Division 0 members?"
Araki narrowed his eyes as he looked at those detached palaces. He knew they were far from simple. The detached palaces of Division 0 were not merely places where their members rested, lived, and worked; they were also the foundations of their lives. So long as a Division 0 member's detached palace was not destroyed, they were practically immortal. Even if they were killed, there was a way to resurrect them...
In other words, the bodies of Division 0 members were not important. Their detached palaces were what truly mattered. So if one were ever to become enemies with Division 0, after defeating its members, one must never forget to destroy their detached palaces and prevent those bastards from resurrecting after death—especially the Monk's detached palace.
"I have the feeling that you're thinking about something extremely dangerous right now, little brother Araki."
While introducing the components of the Soul King Palace to Araki, the Monk suddenly shivered when Araki stared blankly at the detached palaces overhead. Turning around, he saw Araki narrowing his eyes at the palaces in the sky...
Several beads of cold sweat immediately appeared on the Monk's forehead. He felt as if the secrets between himself and Oetsu Nimaiya had already been completely seen through by Araki.
"Come to think of it, where did the Sword God go?!"
Araki did not answer the Monk's question. After scanning the area, he suddenly realized that Oetsu Nimaiya, the Sword God, seemed to have disappeared, so he asked the Monk about him.
"Oetsu? I had him fetch something for me. Don't mind him. Just keep following me!"
The Monk opened his wide eyes and looked around. Only after confirming that Oetsu Nimaiya truly was not there did he explain this to Araki.
"Oh."
Araki lightly nodded, but he did not believe a single word the Monk said.
That rotten old man was bad news! He could not be trusted.
"So, are we going to the Soul King's Great Inner Palace first to pay our respects to Lord Soul King?"
Araki asked the Monk.
"Not yet! Come to my detached palace first. I have some things to give you."
The Monk lightly shook his head. He seemed to have plans of his own.
"Oh?! Aren't we supposed to test whether my ability works on Lord Soul King? If I don't meet Lord Soul King, how am I supposed to find out whether my ability can actually be used on him?!"
Araki raised a brow at the Monk. He had not relaxed his guard against him in the slightest even now.
"Your Spiritual Pressure is still too weak! With your current strength, even if your ability really can affect Lord Soul King, you still wouldn't be able to gather all the fragments Lord Soul King has lost and piece them back onto his body..."
"So, before letting you meet Lord Soul King, I believe it is necessary to raise your strength to the pinnacle of the concept of a Soul Reaper!"
The Monk explained why he wanted Araki to visit his detached palace before going to the Soul King's Great Inner Palace to meet the Soul King...
That was because Araki's Spiritual Pressure was simply too weak. Although Araki had already reached Second-Class Spiritual Might, regrettably, that was not enough to catch the Monk's eye.
"The pinnacle of the concept of a Soul Reaper... In other words, First-Class Spiritual Might?!"
After hearing the Monk's words, Araki's expression finally changed.
"Exactly!"
The Monk nodded with a simple smile as he watched Araki's surprised expression.
At present, there were very few people in the entire Gotei 13 of the Soul Society's Seireitei who possessed Spiritual Pressure at the level of First-Class Spiritual Might. Even including Division 0 in the Soul King Palace, there would absolutely not be more than five people with Spiritual Pressure of that level!
Once a Soul Reaper's Spiritual Pressure reached this level, they would not die easily. If they did die, it would directly shatter the balance of the Three Worlds and could even bring about a massive crisis that would overturn them all!
"Interesting!"
Araki's lips curved upward slightly.
Araki knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. The Monk's seemingly kind intention to help him grow stronger was surely meant to use him to accomplish some purpose. This so-called increase in strength was nothing more than a sugar-coated bullet. As far as Araki was concerned, he would eat all the sugar coating and fire every bullet right back!
"It seems you've made your decision, little brother Araki."
The Monk smiled as well when he saw Araki's smile.
"Of course."
Araki gave a slight nod. When it was time to be bold, he had to be bold.
Before a fierce tiger, there were no ravines. Before a coward, every path was full of obstacles!
(This book makes some slight adjustments to the Spiritual Might ranking system, because the original setting itself is currently incomplete. Consider it a secondary interpretation!
In this book, Soul Reapers like Old Man Yama and Sister Hana, whom Szayelaporro Granz called possessors of powerful Spiritual Pressure in Hell Verse, are classified as First-Class Spiritual Might. Of course, even though Old Man Yama and Sister Hana are both First-Class, there is still an enormous difference between them.
Then Yhwach and Aizen, whom Szayelaporro said possessed Spiritual Pressure sufficient to suppress the Gates of Hell, are placed in a new rank: Special-Class Spiritual Might, or Wedge Grade Spiritual Might. This is the level of Spiritual Pressure sufficient to replace the Soul King as the wedge that stabilizes the Three Worlds.
Otherwise, there would simply be too many people at Second-Class Spiritual Might, with far too much variation in strength. It would turn into things like half-step Second-Class, early Second-Class, mid Second-Class, peak Second-Class, half-step First-Class, and so on. That would be far too awkward...)
Thanks to reader Rock Candy Little Pear for the 100 reward~
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