Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero.

This completely inappropriate greeting left Toshiro Hitsugaya somewhat bewildered, but a faint warmth seemed to seep into the frozen corner of his heart by this rude concern.

He shook his head and whispered, "No...it's just..."

"But what?! Cheer up!"

Shiba slapped him hard on the back.

"I have good news for you. I've prepared your application to join the team!"

"I'm waiting for you to graduate. I've saved the third seat in the Tenth Division for you! Don't stand here looking so dejected!"

"Alright, Captain Isshin, don't scare him." Yanagawa spoke up at the right moment, interrupting Isshin Shiba's overly "enthusiastic" encouragement.

He walked to the small table, leaned back gently, and calmly looked at Hitsugaya Toshiro.

"Hitsugaya-kun, we can talk about this later. We've come here to investigate the 'Twin Hyōrinmaru' matter. There are some questions we need you to answer truthfully."

His tone was calm yet carried a convincing power, causing Hitsugaya Toshiro to involuntarily sit up straight and nod.

“First,” Yanagawa looked him in the eye, “what is the relationship between you two, Kusakabe Sojiro?”

Upon hearing this name, Toshiro Hitsugaya's body trembled almost imperceptibly, and the pain and confusion in his eyes deepened.

He paused for a moment before speaking slowly in a somewhat hoarse voice:

"Kusaka is my best friend at the Shinigami Academy."

He paused, as if recalling something, or perhaps calming himself, before continuing, speaking slowly, but each word carrying a clear weight:

“We’ve known each other since we started school. Unlike many others, he didn’t distance himself from me or deliberately get close to me because of my hair color or talent.”

"We naturally came together, attending classes together, training together, and discussing Kido and Slayer Techniques..."

"Training?" Shiba Ichishin interjected, his tone more serious. "Do you guys spar together often?"

“Yes.” Toshiro Hitsugaya nodded. “We spar often. He’s the person I trust most at the Shinigami Academy.”

"So, before your Zanpakuto first awakened and you received Hyōrinmaru's call, did you sense any special connection or anomaly between yourselves or with your Zanpakuto?"

Liu Chuan pressed further, delving deeper into the issues.

Hitsugaya Toshiro frowned, recalling carefully.

"Speaking of connection, we awakened our Zanpakuto at the same time."

Yanagawa listened quietly, his mind rapidly analyzing the information Hitsugaya had provided: a close friend, long-term training together, and Zanpakuto awakened at the same time...

These factors, perhaps under some extremely rare conditions, have unexpectedly combined with the deep rules governing the awakening of Zanpakuto?

“Next, go see Kusakabe Sojiro,” Yanagawa said to the sage waiting outside.

He was a tall young man with long black hair neatly tied into a bun at the back of his head, and a few long strands of bangs falling unruly down his right cheek.

He was wearing the white academic gown of the True Central Academy of Spiritual Arts, which was slightly wrinkled at the moment, but his posture was still deliberately upright.

Under the dim light of the spiritual light, it displayed complex and difficult-to-understand emotions: vigilance, confusion, and a hint of barely perceptible stubbornness.

There was even a faint trace of resentment or grievance.

Yanagawa and Shiba Isshin asked similar questions, but the answers they received were basically the same as those from Hitsugaya.

At this moment, Liu Chuan already had a vague guess in his mind, but he needed more information to support it.

Chapter 17 The Great Spirit Book Corridor

"The statements of the two parties involved alone are insufficient to determine the root cause of the phenomenon."

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

"We need more information."

He paused, then looked at Isshin Shiba beside him: "Captain Isshin, I remember there is a place in Seireitei that contains almost all the history and events of Soul Society since its birth."

Upon hearing this, Shiba Isshin slowed his pace slightly, a knowing look of "I knew it" appearing on his face, which then turned serious. He lowered his voice and confirmed:

"You mean the Great Spiritual Library?"

“Exactly.” Liu Chuan nodded.

"That's quite a place..."

Shiba clicked his tongue and began to explain to Yanagawa in detail.

"The Great Spirit Book Corridor is located at the deepest part of the underground council chamber in the Central Forty-Sixth Room. It can be said to be the final gathering place and repository of information in the entire Soul Society."

"It is managed by the Tsunayo family, one of the five noble families. That family is notorious for being old-fashioned and control freaks, with an alarmingly strong desire to monopolize knowledge and secrets."

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

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

"The use of spiritual power is strictly prohibited inside. Anyone who enters must hand over their Zanpakuto, which will be kept by a special guard."

"Even a captain-level Grim Reaper cannot break in without official permission."

He glanced at the white haori Liu Chuan was wearing, his tone becoming more relaxed, tinged with anticipation and a hint of mockery:

"However, Brother Yanagawa, you are now a member of the Zero Division. Although you are only a reserve member, the three words 'Zero Division' are one of the highest-level passes in Soul Society."

"In theory, under the pretext of investigating the incident involving the 'abnormality of the fundamental rules of Zanpakuto,' you have every right to request access to the Great Spirit Book Corridor to examine relevant information."

"No matter how old-fashioned the Tsunayo family is, or how unhappy those stubborn old men in the 46 Chambers are, they'll have to think twice before the will of the Soul King Palace. That's much more effective than my reputation as the captain of the 10th Division!"

Liuchuan listened quietly to Shiba Isshin's introduction, gaining a clearer understanding of the Great Spiritual Book Corridor.

This is undoubtedly a treasure trove full of taboos and opportunities. His purpose in going there is not merely to find clues about the "Twin Hyōrinmaru".

The Great Spiritual Library's collection of "a series of historical records, secrets, and major events in the Soul Society from ancient times to the present" was an irresistible temptation for him.

Since this investigation into the "Twin Hyōrinmaru" incident has given him a legitimate and irresistible reason to enter that forbidden area that ordinary people cannot set foot in, he will naturally not let this opportunity pass him by.

"In that case, Captain Yixin, I'll have to trouble you to come with me."

"Haha! I couldn't be happier!" Shiba Isshin slapped Yanagawa's shoulder hard, his face full of eager smiles.

"I've been incredibly curious about that awful place for ages! It's a shame I never had the chance to go in before. Thanks to you, I'll finally get to see for myself! Let's see just how many unspeakable secrets the Tsunayo family is hiding! Let's go!"

Without further hesitation, the two retraced their steps and headed back towards the core area of ​​Central Room 46.

This time, their target was no longer the cell where the person in question was being held, but the true memory center of Soul Society hidden beneath all power and secrets.

The interior of the Great Spiritual Library is not the ordinary library filled with bookshelves that one might imagine.

Before you is a wide, slightly sloping passageway that seems to have no end, flanked by towering walls that appear to be made of some kind of luminous jade.

The walls were not simply bookshelves, but rather square compartments of varying sizes, each containing a scroll or jade slip that emitted a faint glow.

The air was still, filled with the scent of dust and ancient information.

"Wow..." Shiba Isshin couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice. Although he tried his best to suppress the volume, it still sounded abrupt in the absolutely quiet environment.

He looked around at the endless, glowing bookshelves that stretched upwards, downwards, left, and right, and clicked his tongue in amazement:

"This place is bigger than I imagined."

Liu Chuan did not respond immediately; he was also observing.

He began to move purposefully, his gaze sweeping over the information labels written in ancient spiritual script on the outside of the cubicles.

"A General History of the Soul Society", "Tracing the Origins of Zanpakuto Lineages", "An Examination of the Evolution of Spiritual Power", "A Summary of Major Events"... all are categorized in detail.

He first went to the area marked as the general history of Soul Society and began to quickly filter and browse.

A thousand years ago, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni defeated Yhwach, the founder of the Quincy, and subsequently established the Gotei 13, defining the basic structure and responsibilities of the Shinigami organization...

He had heard of the framework of these grand narratives before, but what he saw here was even more concrete in the details.

It even includes some descriptions of the horrors of that war, the chaos when the Thirteen Divisions were first established, and Captain-Commander Yamamoto's iron-fisted methods of uniting various forces with absolute force and will.

Suddenly, a familiar name popped up, causing him to pause slightly while browsing.

"When the Gotei 13 was first established, the first captain of the 11th Division was Retsu Unohana."

Retsu Unohana? The Fourth Division Captain who always has a gentle smile and a calm, serene demeanor?

She was actually the first captain of the 11th Division? The founder of that division that reveled in battle and slaughter?

The image of Captain Unohana, who was all smiles, instantly flashed through Liu Chuan's mind at the previous captain's meeting.

It's really hard to associate such a healer with the name of the first Kenpachi, which is full of bloodshed and battle.

The contrast is just too great.

"Really... I couldn't tell."

A hint of surprise crossed Liu Chuan's mind, but he wasn't too shocked.

In the long history of Soul Society, changes in identity and duties are not uncommon, but the contrast between Captain Unohana before and after is indeed peculiar. He noted this information down and continued browsing.

The historical records about the Eleventh Division seem particularly "colorful," or rather, full of bizarre occurrences. His attention was drawn to the records concerning the "Seventh Kenpachi."

"Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, the seventh Kenpachi, achievements: single-handedly killed a Vasto Lorde-class Hollow, Zanpakuto 'Grataku Corridor', a biological type, capable of materializing and summoning giant creatures to devour the domain. He once refused an invitation from the Zero Division."

Refusing the Zero Division's invitation? The Zero Division's invitation is almost a symbol of the highest honor and recognition in Soul Society, how could someone refuse it?

Then Liu Chuan thought about himself and realized that if he were asked to live in the Spirit King Palace forever, he would probably refuse.

Moreover, this person is clearly extremely powerful, capable of single-handedly defeating a Vasto Lorde of the highest level, and his Zanpakuto's ability is also exceptionally unique. Such a character…

The record continues: "Later, during the captain's succession challenge, he was defeated by the eighth Kenpachi, Souya Azashiro, and died in battle."

Defeated? Yanagawa immediately searched for records about "Eighth Generation Kenpachi Souya".

Sōya Azashiro, the eighth Kenpachi. His Zanpakutō, 'Ame-dō-zōri', has the ability to fuse and manipulate his own spiritual particles with all matter containing spiritual particles in the outside world.

They secretly carried out the 'Rukousai Spirit Modification Project', intending to transform ordinary souls into weapons of war for use in conquering Hueco Mundo.

After the plan was exposed, he surrendered to the Central 46th Chamber and was sentenced to permanent imprisonment in the lowest level of the underground prison, the Avici Hell.

"..." Liu Chuan remained silent for a moment. To merge and control one's own spiritual energy with all things?

This capability is practically made for large-scale warfare and infiltration.

What's even more astonishing is that he secretly conducted such a horrifying modification experiment, with the goal of destroying Hueco Mundo.

However, his eventual surrender was inexplicable, suggesting there must be some hidden story behind this matter.