Reunion with Familiar Faces

In Heaven Dou City, within Aizen's residence.

Last night, he had stayed up with Urahara Kisuke researching the immortal-grade exotic flowers, only going to sleep when the sun came up.

Past noon, he got up, casually ate something, and was just planning to see how the Central Spirit Arts Academy was progressing.

On the way, he heard two Spirit Hall Soul Masters talking.

"Did you hear? The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the White Tiger Sect are fighting!"

"What's going on? How did one of the upper three sects start fighting with one of the lower four sects?"

"Apparently, one of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's disciples was killed by someone from the White Tiger Sect!"

"No way. Are the White Tiger Sect people idiots? They actually dared to kill someone from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

"The White Tiger Sect people won't admit it, but the examiner said for certain that the wound had been caused by the White Tiger Sect's White Tiger Martial Soul."

"This is truly strange."

Not long after the two left, he ran into another group of young Soul Masters, who also seemed to be discussing something.

"My god, so many Soul Masters from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have died recently. It seems someone is secretly striking them down, trying to wipe out the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"That's not all. The Fire Leopard Sect has started fighting the Wind Sword Sect too. Even Spirit Hall's mediation hasn't done any good."

"Sigh, undercurrents are surging across the continent now. So many Soul Masters have died for no apparent reason, their bodies shriveled up as if bats had sucked them dry. Could it be the work of some Vampire Bat Martial Soul Family rising in secret?"

"No way. Such an evil Martial Soul should be eradicated if discovered."

"But everything happening now is telling us that they're still alive!"

"That's terrifying. I just hope they don't come after me."

Listening to their conversation, Aizen felt deeply puzzled.

Why has Douluo Continent descended into chaos so quickly? Spirit Hall shouldn't have made a move yet. Could Aizen Sousuke have started acting?

With that thought, Aizen checked the Soul Coins in the Summoning System. Excluding the portion from the Heaven Dou Soul Arena, the increase was negligible. It was nothing like what should have resulted from slaughtering a large number of Soul Masters and causing such a huge disturbance.

Could Aizen Sousuke have used a scheme to sow discord?

Lost in thought, he continued walking until he reached his destination.

A plaque hung above the massive, ancient gate, bearing six grand and imposing characters.

"Central Spirit Arts Academy."

At the entrance, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin were standing there. When Ning Fengzhi saw Aizen arrive, he quickly walked over.

"Aizen, my friend, you're finally here."

Aizen nodded and asked, "What happened?"

Ning Fengzhi sighed before saying, "Sigh, disciples of my sect have been repeatedly assassinated recently. The enemy forces are complex and tangled, making them difficult to deal with for the moment. I hope you can begin teaching as soon as possible, Aizen, my friend, so that my sect's disciples will have the ability to protect themselves."

Aizen nodded slightly. He had heard about the unrest on Douluo Continent along the way. The current situation was extremely dangerous, and Soul Masters were all on edge, afraid that some mysterious Soul Master might suddenly appear beside them and drain them dry.

This was especially true for support-type Soul Masters. Without companions to protect them, they were simply lambs waiting for slaughter.

Some Soul Masters even took advantage of this situation to wildly retaliate against their own enemies, hoping to pin the blame on that group whose whereabouts could not be traced at all.

Ning Fengzhi continued.

"The academy's lecture halls and Training Field have now been completed and can already be used. The other areas are still under construction, but they will not interfere with teaching. Aizen, my friend, could you begin imparting the secret arts of Kido now?"

Ning Fengzhi's words carried a trace of urgency. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was his foundation. If all its disciples died, his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would very likely fall into the second rank, with no chance of prospering again.

"No problem. When would teaching begin?" Aizen agreed to Ning Fengzhi's request with a smile.

They could handle the collection of Soul Coins. Since the Central Spirit Arts Academy was ready for use, Aizen could summon Soul Reaper characters and arrange for them to enter the academy.

The Stern Ritter and Zero Squad would soon make their appearance.

Ning Fengzhi smiled in relief and said gently,

"It can begin today. My daughter has happened to arrive in Heaven Dou City as well, so I'll have her attend your lesson today."

Aizen was slightly surprised. Shrek and the others, whom he had not seen for a year, had actually arrived in Heaven Dou City. Wasn't this a little too early?

He did not ask further. Since things had already turned out this way, he wondered how far Tang San and the others had grown.

After entering the academy, they passed through elegant, secluded winding paths and arrived at a teaching building constructed with great solemnity.

A group of Soul Masters of varying ages, both men and women, had gathered in front of the teaching building.

Among them, Aizen spotted familiar figures: Ning Rongrong and Oscar, whom he had met once before.

In that case, everyone from Shrek Academy should have arrived in Heaven Dou City.

He looked around for that figure and quickly found Kenpachi Zaraki beneath the shade of a tree.

Kenpachi was even more muscular than when Aizen had last seen him.

When Ning Fengzhi led Aizen toward the crowd, Ning Rongrong pointed at Aizen and shouted.

"You're the one who nearly beat the vice principal back then. What was your name again? Ai, Aizen!"

Ning Rongrong's voice was sweet and pleasant. Even raised so loudly, it did not diminish her charm, instead giving her a unique appeal.

"You've grown." Aizen smiled and nodded to Ning Rongrong. "To meet someone who nearly became my classmate back then truly is fate. You must be Sect Master Ning's daughter."

"Dad, who is he?" Ning Rongrong looked at Ning Fengzhi and asked curiously.

"He is your teacher, the one who will teach you Kido—the Minister of Education of the Central Spirit Arts Academy."

After Ning Fengzhi briefly introduced Aizen's identity, aside from Ning Rongrong and Oscar, the other Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples were all extremely unconvinced.

"Sect Master, he's just a child younger than us. How is he qualified to teach us?"

"Exactly, Sect Master. Have you been deceived?"

For a moment, the scene became somewhat chaotic. Aizen simply stood there quietly, watching them argue.

"You're too noisy!"

A thunderous roar rang out beside them. Everyone turned to see Kenpachi Zaraki walking over. He cast a disdainful glance at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples, then stared fixedly at Aizen and said,

"Use that so-called Kido of yours and fight me. If you win, you can be Ning Rongrong's teacher."

A simple, direct challenge.

"Beat him to death, Kenpachi-bro!"

"I support you, Kenpachi-bro!"

"Kenpachi Zaraki, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's future son-in-law, is forever the greatest!"

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples were brimming with excitement. Ning Rongrong's pretty face flushed slightly, while Oscar beat his chest in dismay.

Aizen nodded lightly. "No problem. Will you use your Martial Soul?"

Kenpachi Zaraki drew his Zanpakuto and pointed it at Aizen, turning the blade toward himself. Then he said, "We'll use the flat of the blade."

Aizen stepped forward, pinched the tip of Kenpachi Zaraki's sword, and turned it so that the Zanpakuto's edge faced himself. "It's fine. The edge is fine too. That makes it more exciting, doesn't it?"

"Heh!" Kenpachi Zaraki grinned. "Very good!"