Great Spirit Library

"Statements from the two parties alone aren't enough to uncover the root of this phenomenon."

Liu Chuan spoke slowly, his voice especially clear in the silence.

"We need more information."

He paused and looked at Isshin Shiba beside him. "Captain Isshin, I remember there's a place within the Seireitei that contains nearly all the history and events of Soul Society since its birth."

Hearing that, Isshin Shiba's steps slowed slightly. An expression of just as I thought appeared on his face, followed by a trace of gravity. He lowered his voice and confirmed,

"You're talking about the Great Spirit Library?"

"Precisely." Liu Chuan nodded.

"That's no ordinary place..."

Isshin Shiba clicked his tongue and began explaining it to Liu Chuan in detail, his tone carrying reverence for that mysterious place along with complicated emotions.

"The Great Spirit Library lies at the deepest point beneath Central 46 Chambers' underground assembly hall. You could call it the final gathering place and repository of information for all Soul Society."

"It's controlled by the Tsunayashiro Clan, one of the Five Great Noble Clans. That family's infamous for being stubborn old fogeys and control freaks. Their desire to monopolize knowledge and secrets is terrifying."

As he walked, he recited the details with familiarity. "That place records all of Soul Society's history, secrets, and major events from ancient times to the present."

"The entry requirements are extremely strict." Isshin Shiba continued, his expression serious.

"Spiritual Power is completely forbidden inside. Anyone entering must surrender their Zanpakuto to specialized guards for safekeeping."

"Outside, there are supposedly thirteen layers of composite defensive walls and warning barriers. The entire defense system was jointly established and maintained by Head Captain Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the Kido Corps, and the Stealth Force under the Second Division."

"They say that even a captain-level Soul Reaper can't force their way in without official permission."

He glanced at the white haori on Liu Chuan and relaxed slightly, his tone turning teasing and expectant.

"But, Liu Chuan, you're a member of Zero Division now. Even if you're only a reserve member, the words 'Zero Division' are one of the highest-level passes in Soul Society."

"In theory, you have every right to demand access to the Great Spirit Library under the pretext of investigating an incident involving an abnormality in the fundamental rules of Zanpakuto."

"No matter how stubborn those Tsunayashiro people are, or how unhappy those old fossils in Central 46 may be, they still have to think twice before defying the will of the Soul King Palace. That's far more useful than the face of a Tenth Division captain like me!"

Liu Chuan listened quietly to Isshin Shiba's introduction, gaining a clearer understanding of the Great Spirit Library.

It was undoubtedly a treasure trove full of taboos and opportunities. His purpose in going there was far more than merely searching for clues about Twin Hyorinmaru.

The Great Spirit Library's collection of "all of Soul Society's history, secrets, and major event records from ancient times to the present" was itself an irresistible temptation to him.

Since investigating the Twin Hyorinmaru incident had given him a legitimate reason that would be difficult to refuse, allowing him access to that forbidden place few could enter, he naturally wouldn't let the opportunity pass.

He wouldn't just search for records directly related to the current incident. He would broaden his horizons as much as possible, learn of the past buried beneath the dust, the truths concealed from view, and the core rules that formed the foundation of this world.

That was crucial to his future path.

"In that case," Liu Chuan said, stopping and turning back the way they had come. His gaze seemed to pierce through the heavy stone walls toward the deeper place beneath Central 46 Chambers.

"Captain Isshin, I'll have to trouble you to come with me."

"Haha! I'd love to!" Isshin Shiba slapped Liu Chuan's shoulder hard, his face full of eager excitement.

"I've been curious about that damn place for ages! Too bad I never had the chance to get in before. This time, thanks to you, I can finally broaden my horizons! Let's see just how many shameful secrets the Tsunayashiro Clan is hiding! Let's go!"

The two no longer hesitated. They retraced their steps toward the core area of Central 46 Chambers.

This time, their destination was no longer the cells holding the parties involved, but Soul Society's true memory center, hidden beneath all power and secrets.

The interior of the Great Spirit Library wasn't an ordinary library packed with bookshelves as one might imagine.

Before them stretched a broad passageway that seemed endless, sloping gently downward. On either side stood walls reaching all the way to the ceiling, as though built from some kind of luminous jade.

Rather than simple bookshelves, the walls were filled with square compartments of varying sizes. Within each compartment floated scrolls or jade slips that emitted a faint glow, their contents carried by special Spirit Particle materials.

The air was stagnant, permeated by the scent of dust and ancient information settling over time.

"Whoa..." Isshin Shiba couldn't help muttering in amazement. Though he tried hard to keep his voice down, it still sounded abrupt in the absolute silence.

He looked around at the endless glowing shelves stretching up, down, left, and right, clicking his tongue.

"This place is even bigger than I imagined."

Liu Chuan didn't respond immediately. He was observing as well.

He began moving with purpose, his gaze sweeping over information labels written in ancient spirit script outside the compartments.

"General History of Soul Society," "Tracing the Lineage of Zanpakuto," "A Study of Spiritual Power Evolution," "Chronicle of Major Events"... The categories were exhaustive.

He first walked toward the section labeled General History of Soul Society and began rapidly filtering through the records.

A thousand years ago, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto defeated Yhwach, progenitor of the Quincy, then established the Gotei 13, defining the basic structure and duties of the Soul Reaper organization...

He had already heard the framework of these grand narratives, but the details recorded here were much more concrete.

They even included descriptions of the brutality of that war, the chaos during the Gotei 13's early founding, and the iron-blooded methods by which Captain Commander Yamamoto consolidated the various factions through absolute strength and will.

Suddenly, a familiar name appeared, making him pause slightly.

"During the Gotei 13's founding, first captain of the Eleventh Division: Retsu Unohana."

Retsu Unohana? The 4th Division captain who always wore a gentle smile and possessed a tranquil, waterlike demeanor?

She had actually been the first captain of the Eleventh Division? The founder of that division, which delighted in battle and slaughter?

The image of Captain Unohana, smiling gently during the previous captains' meeting, immediately surfaced in Liu Chuan's mind.

It was truly difficult to connect such a healer with the title of the first Kenpachi, a name steeped in bloodshed and battle.

The contrast was a little too great.

"She really doesn't look it."

A trace of surprise passed through Liu Chuan's heart, though he wasn't overly shocked.

Over Soul Society's long history, changes in identity and duty weren't uncommon. Still, the contrast between Captain Unohana's past and present was indeed unusual. He memorized the information and continued reading.

The records concerning the Eleventh Division seemed especially "colorful." Or rather, they were full of oddballs. His attention was caught by a record concerning the Seventh Kenpachi.

"Kuruya Shiki Kenpachi, Seventh Kenpachi. Record: independently killed a Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande. Zanpakuto: Starved Pleasure Corridor. Biological type. Materializes and summons a gigantic creature to devour its domain. Once refused recruitment by Zero Division."

He refused recruitment by Zero Division? Liu Chuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

An invitation from Zero Division was nearly the symbol of the highest honor and recognition in Soul Society. Someone had actually refused it?

Then Liu Chuan thought about himself. If he had to live in the Soul King Palace forever in the future, he would probably refuse too.

Moreover, this man's strength was clearly extraordinary. He could handle the highest-level Vasto Lorde alone, and his Zanpakuto ability was quite unusual as well. Such a figure...

The record continued: "Later, during a captain succession challenge, he was defeated and killed by the Eighth Kenpachi, Azashiro Sōya."

Defeated? Liu Chuan immediately searched for records concerning the Eighth Kenpachi, Azashiro Sōya.

Azashiro Sōya, Eighth Kenpachi. Zanpakuto: Urozakuro. Its ability allowed him to merge his own Spirit Particles with all external matter containing Spirit Particles and control them.

He had once secretly carried out the Rukongai Spirit Body Modification Project, intending to transform ordinary souls into weapons of war for an expedition against Hueco Mundo.

After the plan was exposed, he surrendered himself to Central 46 Chambers. Sentence: permanent imprisonment in Muken, the lowest level of the underground prison.

"..." Liu Chuan fell silent for a moment. Merging his own Spirit Particles with all things and controlling them?

That ability was practically made for large-scale warfare and infiltration.

Even more striking was that he had secretly conducted such horrifying modification experiments, with the target being an expedition against Hueco Mundo. Yet his eventual surrender was inexplicable. There was probably some hidden truth behind it.

"The captains of the Eleventh Division," Liu Chuan couldn't help quietly remarking to Isshin Shiba beside him, who was also browsing and now wore a thoroughly vivid expression.

"They all seem rather unusual."

From the first-generation Retsu Unohana, to Kuruya Shiki Kenpachi who refused Zero Division, to Azashiro Sōya who attempted to modify Rukongai residents, the Eleventh Division's line of captains was practically an illustrated catalog of abnormal powerhouses.

"More than unusual!" Isshin Shiba lowered his voice as well, his expression strange.

"It's practically a gathering place for lunatics! At least the current Kenpachi Zaraki, while also a battle maniac, is... uh, at least he's relatively simple?"

By the end, even he sounded uncertain.

Liu Chuan shook his head and temporarily set aside the shocking information about the previous Kenpachis.

He continued turning his attention toward other historical records, especially those related to Zero Division and technological development.

Soon, another familiar name entered his sight.

"Captain of Squad 12, Kirio Hikifune. Achievement: pioneered the foundational theory of Mod Souls and, based on it, initially established the conceptual framework of Gigai. Due to her groundbreaking contributions, she was promoted to Zero Division."

This senior might be someone he would meet in the Soul King Palace before long. Liu Chuan silently memorized it.

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