Experiment

In the secret laboratory, the light from the Reishi lamps illuminated the entire space.

Wang Xun stood in front of the experimental table, holding a spell base plate in his hand, his Reiatsu etching intricate patterns on it.

His movements were steady, fast, and incredibly precise at every step.

This was a task given to him by Aizen: to optimize the Reiatsu guidance technique for the Hollowfication Experiment.

He has done it many times, and each time it is more perfect than the last.

Aizen stood behind him, hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the spell base plate in his hand.

A hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

"Not bad, the Reiatsu transition at this point is much smoother than the previous version."

Wang Xun didn't look up and continued working.

"The structure of the previous version was a bit rough, so in this version I slowed down the pace of the transitions to give the Reiatsu a buffer."

Aizen nodded.

"Your Kaidō the loop is indeed very suitable for the Hollowfication Experiment."

Wang Xun remained silent.

In the distance, inside a huge petri dish, a mass of dark red Reiatsu was slowly writhing.

Those were countless fragments of souls, condensed into a kind of embryo under the catalytic effect of the Hōgyoku.

It has just taken shape and has not yet developed consciousness.

Its Reiatsu was weak, but Wang Xun could sense that it was growing.

In his field of vision, tiny specks of light drifted from the direction of the petri dish and flowed into his body.

[Gained 30 Hollowfication Fragment, Hollowfication Experience +300]

[Gain 20 Reiryoku Fragment, +200 Spiritual Might Experience]

[Obtained Tiny Hōgyoku Fragment, Hōgyoku Awakening Level +0.1%]

Wang Xun expressionless and continued to depict the basic structure of the technique.

But he knew in his heart that these fragments were scattered from the larva during its growth.

Aizen was unaware that these fragments were the most valuable things to Wang Xun.

Aizen walked up to the petri dish and looked at the dark red Reiatsu inside.

"The power of the Hollow is more primal and pure than that of the Soul Reaper."

"The way they release Reiatsu doesn't require incantations or spells. Hierro, High-Speed Regeneration, Sonído, Cero... these are all powers different from those of the Soul Reaper."

"Soul Reaper, on the other hand, require long-term training to improve and master their abilities, which is fundamentally different from Hollows."

Wang Xun raised his head and looked at Aizen.

"So you're researching Hollowfication because you want to grant Soul Reaper the ability to become Hollows?"

Aizen gently shook his head.

"It's not just about acquiring."

"The power of Soul Reaper and the power of Hollows have never been opposed; in my view, they are two sides of the same power."

"If these two aspects can be integrated, a completely new realm can be reached."

"Your Hollowfication, based on my predictions, is incomplete."

He walked back to the lab bench and picked up a document.

"Complete Hollowfication, a higher realm of the soul, is the ultimate goal of the Hōgyoku."

Wang Xun looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

"So how long do you think it will take to achieve this goal?"

Aizen thought for a moment.

"I don't know, maybe a few years, maybe decades, maybe a century. But no matter how long it takes, it will eventually come true."

He put down the documents and looked at Wang Xun.

Do you want to come with me to see the finish line?

Wang Xun looked at him but did not answer immediately.

He knew what Aizen meant; he wasn't asking about the experiment or the mission.

Instead, they were asking about Wang Xun's stance.

Aizen wanted to subtly win him over and assimilate him.

I will do what I'm supposed to do.

Wang Xun finally spoke.

Aizen looked at him, remained silent for a moment, then smiled, and said nothing more.

"That's enough."

He walked to the window and looked out at the night.

"By the way, have you been in touch with Gin Ichimaru lately?"

Wang Xun's brow twitched slightly.

No, he's still studying at the Spiritual Arts Academy.

Aizen nodded.

"He's good; his Spiritual Might level is very high."

"You should know that the higher a soul 'Reiryoku talent, the slower its development will be."

He doesn't look very old now, but he's probably older than he is.

He paused.

"With such talent, her future achievements will be remarkable."

"If you really join us, you might become my right-hand man, just like you and Kaname Tōsen."

Wang Xun didn't say anything, but continued with his work.

"He will," Wang Xun said, "As long as he has time."

Aizen nodded, and then he suddenly spoke.

"How is that girl from the Fourth Division recovering?"

Wang Xun's fingers paused slightly.

Aizen was referring to Rangiku.

Aizen knew that Rangiku was in the Fourth Division, since he was the one who brought her back under Wang Xun's supervision.

But Wang Xun didn't expect Aizen to bring it up on his own initiative.

"The recovery is going quite well; the Reiatsu has stabilized, and the body is slowly recovering."

"Besides, she has good potential; she might even become the Soul Reaper someday."

Aizen nodded.

"That's good."

He looked at Wang Xun with a deep gaze.

"You know what I did to her. I overheard some of your conversation with Gin Ichimaru at the time."

"You might think that what I did to that girl was cruel."

"But everything I did was not out of a desire to harm anyone, but for a noble ideal."

"You don't need to think of me as so cruel. I don't indulge in killing and brutality."

Aizen's voice was calm and firm, carrying an absolute certainty about his ideals.

Sometimes, in order to achieve great goals, difficult choices must be made.

Those sacrifices were merely the necessary price to pay for reaching the new world.

He looked at Wang Xun.

"In the future, you will come across more of the truth and see the darkness behind Soul Society. At that time, you will understand me."

Wang Xun remained silent for a long time.

Then he nodded.

"I see."

Aizen didn't say anything more, but simply walked back to the lab bench, took out a document from the drawer, and unfolded it.

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. I have a new plan; would you like to hear it?"

Wang Xun put down the base plate of the technique and walked over.

Aizen the map on the document.

"Hueco Mundo."

Wang Xun's brow twitched slightly.

"The Soul Society's understanding of Hueco Mundo is currently too limited, and so is ours."

Aizen's voice was deep.

"How are the power structures divided in Hueco Mundo? What are the principles behind the Garganta? What lies deep within Hueco Mundo... these are things we still don't quite understand."

He looked up at Wang Xun.

"So, we're preparing to study Hueco Mundo. I want to go in and scout things out."

Aizen's departure for Hueco Mundo signifies that his plans have entered a new phase.

"Afterwards, if the plan goes smoothly and we obtain the complete Hōgyoku, we cannot remain in Soul Society."

Aizen's voice was calm, but every word carried weight.

"Shigekuni Yamamoto is very strong. To be honest, I'm not entirely confident I can face him head-on in Soul Society."

"Therefore, heading to Hueco Mundo is part of our plan."

Wang Xun looked at him.

"You want to establish a base in Hueco Mundo?"

Aizen smiled.

"That's right. Once we master the technology to travel to Hueco Mundo, we can buy ourselves a lot of time when the plan is launched."

Although Aizen didn't say it explicitly, Wang Xun knew it was to buy time for fusing the Hōgyoku and creating an Arrancar to counter Old Man Yamamoto.

Aizen turned around and looked at Wang Xun.

"Now, we need to begin studying the techniques for opening the Garganta."

He walked back to the lab bench and took out a document.

"The Garganta is a passage used by Hollows to travel between Soul Society and Hueco Mundo."

"Its essence is the tearing of space. If we can master this technology, we can freely open the Garganta and enter and exit the Hueco Mundo."

He paused.

"I'd like you and Kaname Tōsen be in charge of this part."

Wang Xun's brow twitched slightly.

"Me, and Kaname Tōsen?"

"Right."

Aizen looked at him.

"Moreover, you are in charge."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xun was taken aback.