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

Alright, now we're entering a steady ascent phase. Soon we'll be able to pass through the outer layer of the Soul Society's spiritual particles and enter the 'intermediate path' leading to the Soul King's Palace.

“Then, while we have some free time,” Hyosube Ichibei’s booming voice echoed in the stable cabin, carrying a hint of casual conversation as he looked gently at Yanagawa.

"Let me tell you about the Spirit King Palace you are about to enter, and... our Zero Squad."

Liu Chuan straightened his expression and adopted a posture of attentive listening, as this was undoubtedly the information he needed most at the moment.

"The Spirit King's Palace," Hyōjube Ichibei began slowly, his tone carrying the distant, ancient feel of recounting a legend.

"It is not simply a palace suspended high in the sky. It is an independent 'realm' that was created by the will and power of the Spirit King in the gap between the three realms and the source of the rules."

"Its very existence is the 'wedge' that maintains the balance between Soul Society, the Human World, and even Hueco Mundo."

"Due to its special location, the environment inside the Spirit King Palace is completely different from that in the lower realm."

"The concentration and purity of spiritual particles here far exceed those of the Seireitei. If an ordinary Shinigami were to enter without permission or special protection, at best their spirit would be assimilated and dissolved, and at worst, they would trigger a backlash from the rules, resulting in the annihilation of both body and soul."

"Therefore, those who can reside in the Spirit King's Palace for a long time, apart from the Spirit King himself, are only the members of the Zero Division who have been recognized and granted duties by him, and a few special cases."

"The Lingwang Palace is mainly composed of several interconnected yet relatively independent 'halls' and 'areas'."

Hyosube Ichibei continued his introduction.

"The central core is where Lord Spirit King rests. You will know the details when you meet Lord Spirit King."

"Surrounding it are the palaces where the members of the Zero Division live respectively."

He recounted the story in great detail, as if reciting a familiar tale:

"The Phoenix Palace is the residence of the sword god Nimaiya Oetsu. The earliest form of all Zanpakuto in Soul Society, Asauchi, was forged there."

Yanagawa subconsciously glanced at the Zanpakuto at his waist. As the most important fighting tool of a Shinigami, this sword god was indeed extraordinary.

"Kirin-den, the residence of Kirin-ji Tenjiro, our 'hot spring doctor,' he has a 'White Bone Hell Hot Spring' that is said to be able to bring the dead back to life and heal the flesh and bones. The name is scary, but the effect is really good. You can try it when the time comes."

"Lord Daiori, whose master is Shutara Senjumaru, is the creator of the Shinigami's Shihaka armor in Soul Society. The haori you are wearing is also made by her."

"Wotun Palace, Valley Prince Yizhou Tongsheng, is also the most recently promoted person besides you, and he is good at cooking."

Yanagawa looked at Hyosube Ichibei with a surprised expression. The former captain of the 12th Division and Mayuri Kurotsuchi's superior had become a cook after joining the Zero Division.

Hyosube Ichibei explained, "The food she makes is extraordinary; you should try it sometime."

"Alright, now that we've finished talking about our group, it's time for me to formally introduce myself. After all, we'll be seeing each other often in the future, and I'll be your boss from now on."

Hyosube Ichibei sat up a little straighter. Although he still wore that gentle smile that seemed to see through everything yet didn't care much, his tone naturally carried a certain indescribable weight that belonged to the "leader of the Zero Division".

He pointed to his signature bald head.

"I am I, the First Guard of the Ministry of War. Lord Lingwang has bestowed upon me the title 'Eye Monk,' which is also known as 'True Name Monk.'"

He paused, his eyes, with a profound light that seemed to see through everything, fixed on Liu Chuan, and slowly said:

"As for my duties... I mentioned it earlier, I am the one who first named everything in Soul Society."

"The one who named it?" Liu Chuan appropriately showed a hint of curiosity.

“That’s right.” Hyosube Ichibei nodded.

His gaze shifted slightly, seemingly piercing through the walls of the Heavenly Pillar Chariot, landing on the long-disappeared Seireitei below, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of remoteness:

"Therefore, I know a little about many beings who have gained 'fame' through my own efforts. Especially..."

Hyosube Ichibei's gaze fell this time on Yanagawa's Zanpakuto "Tenjin," which he always kept hanging at his waist.

His gaze seemed to become incredibly focused, as if he could see directly through the simple silver-white scabbard the essence of the power flowing within the blade, and the "name" imprinted deep within its soul.

"...especially the Zanpakuto, which is of paramount importance in the hands of you Shinigami."

He looked at Liu Chuan again, his smile deepening, his gaze seemingly piercing through Liu Chuan's calm exterior and touching something deeper:

"For example, Yanagawa, that sword you're wearing at your waist..."

Hyobu Ichibei leaned forward slightly, his massive body exuding an invisible sense of pressure, yet his tone remained relaxed, as if discussing the weather:

Its name is "Tianzhen".

He accurately recited the true name of the Zanpakuto that Yanagawa had never formally revealed to anyone other than Shiba Isshin.

This was not entirely unexpected for Liu Chuan, after all, the other party was "Eye Monk," but he still maintained a calm demeanor, only his gaze became more focused.

"A tremor... a shock that shakes the heavens, trembles the earth, and even interferes with the very foundation of existence." Hyosube Ichibei repeated the name softly, as if savoring its profound meaning.

"It's a very domineering name. Theoretically, its potential and power 'upper limit' will be very high."

"But correspondingly, it is extremely difficult to master."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across Liu Chuan's face, seemingly observing his reaction.

Liu Chuan nodded. His Zanpakuto was indeed particularly volatile, and he hadn't spent any time communicating with it.

"Look, that's the outer barrier of the Spirit King's Palace ahead," said Ichibei of the Bingzhu Department, pointing out through the transparent window.

The Spirit King's Palace is right before our eyes.

"Hold on tight, we're about to enter," Hyosube Ichibei said calmly.

Chapter 30 Wang Jian

The speed of the Heavenly Pillar Chariot began to slow down significantly. The gates of the Spirit King Palace opened silently, and the Heavenly Pillar Chariot glided lightly into the gate like a fish returning to its nest.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

Below was no longer emptiness, but rather the ground that seemed to be formed from some kind of pure energy, extending forward to form a wide and magnificent avenue.

This is the entrance and main passage of the Spirit King Palace—the Omotesando.

After entering, the Heavenly Pillar Carriage quietly came to a stop. Hyōshūbe Ichibei was the first to rise and gestured "please" to Yanagawa.

"We've arrived, Yanagawa boy, welcome to the Spirit King Palace."

Yanagawa followed Hyosube Ichibei out of the Tenshu-ryu carriage. Hyosube Ichibei strolled ahead, his massive body appearing quite proportionate against the grand Omotesando.

He did not urge him, seemingly giving Liuchuan time to adapt and observe.

As Liu Chuan walked, a question that had been lingering in his mind finally surfaced clearly in this atmosphere so close to the core of the Spirit King Palace.

He quickened his pace to walk alongside Hyosube Ichibei, and turned to ask, "Lord Hyosube, I have a question."

"Oh? Please speak freely." Hyosube Ichibei continued walking, his tone casual.

"I once read some scattered records about entering the Soul King's Palace in the Great Spirit Book Corridor of Soul Society."

Liu Chuan organized his thoughts, his gaze sweeping over the flowing patterns of light on both sides. "It is mentioned that to enter the Spirit King's Palace, one seems to need a crucial 'key,' or rather, a medium, known as the 'King's Key.'"

"However, from the time we arrived in the Heavenly Pillar Carriage to the moment we stepped onto this approach, it seems that you did not use any special 'key' or perform any specific 'ceremony'..."

He paused, then looked at Hyōjubu Ichibei: "May I ask, sir, what exactly is this 'King's Key'? And where does it exist?"

This was a question that arose instinctively in his mind. The Spirit King Palace was so detached from the world and isolated from the Three Realms. If there was no absolutely reliable "lock" and "key", how could its detachment and security be ensured?

While the Tianzhu Carriage was indeed a means of transportation, the "gate" itself always required a key to open.

Upon hearing this, Hyosube Ichibei paused slightly, then let out a low, pleasant laugh, as if he had heard an interesting question.

He didn't answer directly, but stopped, turned around to face Liu Chuan, and then slowly raised his left hand.

It was a huge hand, marked by the passage of time and the strength of its power.

Bathed in the pale golden light flowing through Omotesando, the texture of the skin on the palms seemed to contain some ancient rhythm.

"Young Yanagawa, look at this hand. How is it different from that of an ordinary person?" Hyosube Ichibei asked with a smile.

Liu Chuan stared intently. With his keen senses and deep understanding of spiritual particles and rules, he quickly noticed the anomaly.

Hyosube Ichibei's hand, and indeed his entire body, are quite different from those of a typical Grim Reaper.

“Your body… does not seem to be that of an ordinary Grim Reaper.” A glimmer of understanding flashed in Liu Chuan’s eyes.

"Impressive observation skills." Hyosube Ichibei nodded approvingly, lowered his hand, and a deeper meaning appeared in his smile.

"The record you saw in the Great Spirit Book Corridor is correct; entering the Spirit King's Palace does indeed require the 'King's Key.' But what the record doesn't mention is..."

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes, which seemed to reflect nebulae, staring directly at Liu Chuan, and said clearly, word by word:

"The so-called 'King Key' is neither a specific object nor a fixed incantation. It refers to the complete reshaping and sublimation of one's body, centered on the power of the Soul King, after becoming a formal member of the Zero Division."

"The power of the Spirit King is one of the fundamental forces that constructs and maintains the balance of the Three Realms. The body reshaped by this power gains the 'recognition' and 'mark' of the Spirit King's Palace. From then on, our bodies are the 'proof' for walking."

He pointed to himself, then to Liuchuan.

"Therefore, it is not that I used the 'King Key', but that I and every member of the Zero Squad are the 'King Key' ourselves."

"Our own existence is the 'key' to opening the gates of the Spirit King's Palace."

"This is the fundamental reason why only members of the Zero Division, and those we have brought and acknowledged, are allowed to set foot here."

Liu Chuan listened quietly, his heart churning with emotion. He himself was the key! He would use the power of the Spirit King to reshape his body and obtain the "identity verification" of the Spirit King Palace!

“I see… I am the King’s Key myself.” Liu Chuan repeated softly, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. “Then, the induction ceremony I am about to undergo…”

“That’s exactly right,” Hyosube Ichibei affirmed.

“An important part of the ritual is to invoke the power of the Spirit King to complete the initial construction and certification of this ‘King Key Body’ for you.”

"From now on, you will be able to travel freely between the Spirit King Palace and the Soul Society. Your spiritual pressure, your power, and even your 'name' will have a deeper connection with the Spirit King Palace."

He himself is the key to the king, and he reshapes his body with the power of the spirit king, gaining the "recognition" of the spirit king's palace. From then on, his very existence is the pass, and he shares weal and woe with the spirit king's palace.

This explanation, like lightning, shattered the last vestiges of confusion in Yanagawa's mind, but it also brought a sense of alarm and...resistance.

He instantly grasped a deeper key point—once the body and soul are completely reshaped by the power of the Spirit King, they are transformed into the "King's Key".

That would mean that the "foundation" of his own existence would be completely and permanently bound to the Spirit King Palace!

He will no longer be an independent individual; his life, power, and even his very existence will become an inseparable part of the Spirit King Palace system, where one prospers and the other prospers, and one suffers and the other suffers.

To live and die with the Spirit King Palace.

This deduction caused Yanagawa's breath to catch almost imperceptibly.

If the Spirit King Palace remains safe and sound, then as the "King Key," one will naturally enjoy the convenience and power it brings.

But what will happen to "Wang Jian," who is deeply bound to this system, if the Spirit King Palace suffers an irresistible and devastating blow?

He didn't know the exact answer, but even a fool could tell that there was no way he could escape unscathed.