Who Could Have Done It?

The next morning, it was broad daylight.

The joint team has packed up and continues its journey into the distance.

The wasteland of the District 60 Rukongai was gradually left behind, and the surrounding scenery became increasingly desolate.

There were hardly any intact buildings to be seen on either side of the road, only scattered ruins among the withered grass.

Occasionally, one can see a few ragged souls wandering in the distance.

But as soon as they saw this team of Soul Reaper, they immediately hid deep in the ruins and disappeared without a trace.

Wang Xun walked in the middle of the group, his eyes sweeping over the fleeting figures.

The look in those people's eyes was devoid of the awe and curiosity seen in the spirits of the previous areas.

Instead, they were filled with vigilance and hostility.

There was even a kind of inexplicable greed.

"You noticed?"

Aizen's voice came from beside him, carrying a hint of barely perceptible solemnity.

Wang Xun nodded.

"They're looking at our Zanpakuto."

Aizen nodded slightly.

"Outside the 70th ward lies the most chaotic area of Rukongai."

"The vast majority of the souls here are villains who have been exiled. They are brave and ruthless, and will stop at nothing to survive."

He paused, his gaze falling on the faintly visible figures in the distance.

"Soul Reaper strikes here every year. Not by Hollows, but by these spirits."

Aizen's tone was calm; he was simply stating a perfectly ordinary fact.

"They covet the Soul Reaper's Zanpakuto, covet the Shinigami Armor, covet anything that can make them stronger."

Wang Xun silent for a moment, then turned his head to look at the burly figure at the very front of the group.

Kenpachi Kiganjō strode ahead, his broad Zanpakuto slung over his shoulder, muttering curses under his breath.

His arrogant stride and flamboyant posture made him quite intimidating in the area.

"Generally speaking, having the 11th Division around is enough to deter those thugs."

Aizen said.

He then paused, a subtle change in his tone.

"But..."

He didn't finish speaking.

But Wang Xun understood.

Aizen also felt that Kiganjō was somewhat unreliable.

A team leader who almost put the entire team in danger last night because he was drinking and caused trouble.

A brute who relies solely on Reiatsu and brute force to overwhelm others, lacking any combat skills.

Wang Xun did not respond.

He simply continued walking forward, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings.

Aizen didn't say anything more.

The two walked side by side as the group continued north.

The surrounding environment is becoming increasingly desolate and dilapidated.

The road has long since disappeared, replaced by a rugged, gravelly surface and waist-high weeds.

Occasionally, you can see a few unidentified skeletons scattered in the grass, gleaming pale in the sunlight.

Kiganjō's irritated curses grew louder and louder.

"Damn it, what a lousy place this is!"

He kicked away the stone blocking his way.

"Where's the ghost? There's not even a ghost in sight. What did they send me here for?"

The members of the 11th Division behind him echoed his sentiments.

"That's right!"

"The captain is right!"

Wang Xun frowned slightly as he listened to these words.

Do these people really know what they're doing?

Just then, a commotion suddenly arose ahead.

"Lieutenant Aizen!"

A member of the Fifth Division ran back quickly, his face serious.

"There's been a discovery ahead!"

Aizen's gaze sharpened slightly.

"Lead the way."

The team quickened their pace.

After passing through a dense thicket of bushes, the view suddenly opened up before us.

It was a ruin.

To be precise, it was a place where people used to gather.

But now, only ruins remain.

The house collapsed, the walls crumbled, and the ground was covered with charred marks and deep cracks.

Wang Xun's gaze swept across his surroundings, his expression gradually becoming serious.

These are clearly signs of a battle.

And it was a rather intense battle.

He crouched down, his fingertips lightly touching the ground.

The charred marks still retained faint Reiatsu fluctuations, carrying a violent aura.

Cero.

A Hollow capable of unleashing Cero is at least a Gillian- level being.

Wang Xun's gaze swept across the entire ruins.

Those cracks, those scorch marks, those scattered pebbles—they were clearly not caused by a single object.

Wang Xun then stood up, scanning his surroundings for more clues.

But there was nothing there.

Then, Wang Xun's gaze froze as he saw the Reiryoku Fragment scattered across the ground in the distance.

Wang Xun stepped forward and absorbed the fragments.

[Gained 35 Reiryoku Fragment, +350 Spiritual Might Experience]

[Gained 6 High-Level Reiryoku Fragment, +600 Spiritual Might Experience]

[Spiritual Might: Rank 6 (Experience: 16420/17000)]

[Gain 15 Reiryoku Fragment, +1500 Hollowfication Experience]

[Hollowfication level increased ↑]

[Hollowfication: Iv5 (Experience: 880/8000)]

This is...

"Lieutenant Aizen."

A member of the Fifth Division ran over to report.

"We've searched the surrounding area, but found no trace of the fake."

Aizen pondered, his gaze sweeping across the entire ruins.

One of the 11th Division members scratched his head.

"Could it have left after consuming the soul?"

Aizen shook his head.

"The phantoms attacking Rukongai aren't just for filling their stomachs. They devour souls to gain more Reishi, for the sake of evolution."

He pointed to the traces of the battle.

"Judging from these tracks, the Void Horde has been here for quite some time. They come here to hunt, and they won't leave so easily unless there's a threat."

He paused, his gaze becoming deep.

"These traces do suggest one possibility..."

Aizen didn't finish speaking.

But Wang Xun knew what he wanted to say.

The fragments he collected confirmed this.

Those illusions are already dead.

He was killed by someone.

Wang Xun's gaze swept across the entire ruins once more.

They all point to the same answer.

A major battle took place here.

The victors wiped out the Void completely, leaving not a single trace behind.

But who could it be...?

As he was pondering this, suddenly, an unusual Reiatsu fluctuation emanated from afar.

The Reiatsu was violent and chaotic, like a wild beast ready to devour its prey at any moment.

It carries a pure, naked wildness.

Wang Xun placed his hand on his Zanpakuto, turned his head, and looked in the direction from which the Reiatsu was coming.

Out of sight, several figures were slowly walking towards them.

Leading the way was a tall man.

He wore a tattered garment, his chest was bare, and his hair was disheveled and rather unrestrained.

His eyes gleamed with a beastly light.

He carried a sword on his shoulder, a Zanpakuto with a blade covered in serrated edges.

The knife has a bizarre and ferocious shape, with dried bloodstains still remaining on the blade, which gleams with a dark red luster in the sunlight.

He carried the knife and walked over step by step.

His steps were slow and steady, carrying an unusual sense of pressure.

And strangely, a little girl was sitting on his other shoulder.

Pink hair, petite figure, also wearing a worn-out outfit.

She sat on the man's shoulders, her small hands clutching his hair, her big, round eyes curiously observing the people in front of her.

There were two other people following behind the man.

A Zanpakuto hanging at his waist, his expression cold.

One had long hair and delicate features, yet exuded an indescribable feminine aura, and also wore a sword at her waist.

The four people walked over slowly.

They stopped only when they got close to the line.

The tall man lowered his head, revealing a face with a hideous scar.

His gaze then swept over the tense and vigilant team members, his voice low and hoarse.

"... Soul Reaper?"