Mission Complete, Spiritual Pressure Increased

"Gin, don't underestimate that creation."

Under Gin Ichimaru's surprised gaze, Aizen adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and offered a gentle reminder with a smile:

"A being modified with a soul possessing the talent to become an elite Soul Reaper as its primary material, supplemented by an Adjuchas core, embodies all our efforts from this period."

"It has improved greatly compared to the creation from three years ago."

At that, Gin Ichimaru lowered his gaze, making it impossible to discern the shift in his emotions. At the mention of souls, his heart clenched sharply as well.

Though quite some time had passed, he still had not forgotten that scene in Rukongai...

"Then I'll be watching with great interest!"

Gin Ichimaru's tone was flippant, without the slightest emotional fluctuation. "A fine show is about to begin!"

Beneath the dim sky, the two figures remained concealed within the distorted air, hidden by the glow of Kido, without leaving the slightest trace.

Su Feng stood with his sword sheathed, his expression calm, without the slightest shame at having stolen the fruits of victory.

Given the peculiar nature of his opponent's power, he had shown no restraint when swinging his blade.

He began with Shikai and unleashed his full strength.

He first used the wind to strip away the remaining Soul King's Power on his opponent, then directly killed him with a forty-meter-long sword.

A literal forty-meter-long sword.

As the strongest wind-attribute Zanpakuto, it was only natural for Storm Howl to possess Celestial Phenomenon Advent.

After all.

Even Hitsugaya could do it. There was no reason Su Feng should be weaker than him.

The only imperfection was that he was still quite far from Bankai.

He had become a captain of the Gotei 13 without mastering Bankai.

Even in Soul Society's history, that was an exceedingly rare case.

But since there was a freak like Kenpachi Zaraki, who had not even mastered Shikai, Su Feng's little exception was nothing much.

After all, even Kaname Tosen, after releasing his Bankai, had been beaten down by him.

Was mastering Bankai really important when it came to becoming a captain?

"Captain Ukitake, I have fulfilled my mission."

"Your brother is dead. Not even ashes remain."

Su Feng walked over to Jushiro Ukitake, who looked half-dead. "Do you have any explanation for what he did?"

Jushiro Ukitake's face was pale. As he gasped for breath, violent coughs wracked his body, as though he might breathe his last at any moment.

"This is my fault. I was wholly immersed in the Gotei 13, to the point that I overlooked my elder brother's actions at home. By the time I discovered them, it was already too late."

Through his halting account, Su Feng and the others came to understand the general course of events.

The Ukitake Clan had always maintained rituals and offerings for Mimihagi, the indigenous god. By Jushiro Ukitake's parents' generation, this devotion had become even more fanatical and pathological.

Thus, when Jushiro Ukitake was about to die from lung disease, his parents disregarded the clan's rules and sacrificed his lungs, exchanging them for a new lease on life.

This caused Jushiro Ukitake's Elder Brother to become jealous. Seeds of resentment and malice took root in his heart and swiftly grew.

After that, through repeated attempts, he found the most suitable thing to sacrifice to Mimihagi.

The nobles of Soul Society.

It could be said that the Ryūdōji Clan's destruction was no accident, but something long premeditated.

Jushiro Ukitake's Elder Brother had begun this plan from the very start.

After layers of calculations, his plan had finally succeeded today. By sacrificing the remnants of the Ryūdōji Clan, he obtained the last remaining Soul King's Power.

Unfortunately, even though his plan had succeeded perfectly, he still failed to obtain what he wanted.

The Soul King's Power was indeed powerful, but that depended on its user and the method of use.

For someone who forcibly devoured the Soul King's Power like this, even if Jushiro Ukitake and Su Feng had not intervened, he would eventually have been gradually assimilated and transformed into a new Mimihagi.

"More than a stain." Su Feng shook his head. "He privately attacked other nobles and wiped out an entire Lower Aristocrat clan. He can be judged without going through Central 46."

"The remaining accomplices are no different."

He no longer paid attention to Jushiro Ukitake, instead turning his gaze toward the remaining dozens of people.

When Su Feng's gaze fell upon them, they instantly understood how the shadowy figure had felt. An icy, bone-piercing chill enveloped them, and their bodies stiffened.

In truth, they had already considered fleeing Nigoku District during the Ukitake Clan's internal conflict.

But that fierce mature beauty on the other side had locked onto all of them with her spiritual pressure. At the slightest unusual movement, they would have faced a devastating strike.

How could noble clan members with strength at best equal to Seated Officers dare act rashly?

"Bakudo #4: Hainawa!"

At Su Feng's signal, Rangiku Matsumoto and Nanao Ise captured them.

Rope-like bands of light flowed from their fingertips and shot forth, wrapping around every person. While restraining their movements, they also temporarily sealed their spiritual pressure.

"No need to send them to Prison. Send them straight to the Chamber of Penance."

Su Feng swept his gaze over the crowd. "When the time comes, pick an auspicious day. Either execute them or exile them to the Dangai."

At the first half of his words, the noble clan members' hearts tightened.

When they heard the latter half, their expressions eased. Fortunately, there was still room for maneuver.

As his words fell, Su Feng finally received the long-awaited mission reward.

Autonomous Daily Mission completed.

Spiritual pressure increased. Current level: Second-Class Spiritual Might!

Pop—

An almost imperceptible sound came from within Su Feng's body, like a bubble bursting.

Immediately afterward, his spiritual pressure surged and rose like a breached flood, relentlessly climbing toward greater heights.

It even altered the density of spirit particles in the surrounding atmosphere. Gentle breezes swirled around Su Feng, forming small, visible vortices that showed signs of continuously expanding.

The intense fluctuations of his aura drew a startled look from Jushiro Ukitake.

However, he said nothing.

The mess within the Ukitake Clan was already enough of a headache. How could he have the mind to concern himself with someone else's changes?

Su Feng quickly stabilized his spiritual pressure and waved away the surrounding phenomenon.

Breaking through to Second-Class Spiritual Might was within expectations.

This mission appeared simple, but it had actually been far more dangerous than the one involving Ikkaku Madarame.

After all, his opponent had possessed the Soul King's Power.

If Ikkaku Madarame had been the one to fight, his Bankai would probably have been smashed to pieces outright.

Besides, Second-Class Spiritual Might sounded intimidating, but it was actually only average.

First-Class Spiritual Power was considered the highest level under the measurement standards, but it was merely limited by the understanding of those who had established those standards.

Had the nobles of that era ever seen spiritual pressure capable of bringing down the Soul King Palace?

Su Feng shook his head and stopped dwelling on such matters.

He glanced at Jushiro Ukitake, who had recovered somewhat, and a question suddenly arose in his mind.

"Pardon me for asking."

"How many elder brothers does Captain Ukitake have in total?"

"Thirteen."

Su Feng abruptly fell silent.