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

This "gift," or rather "price," is perhaps the ultimate glory that most Soul Reapers in the Soul Society could only dream of.

To become the Zero Division, to receive the power of the Soul King, to coexist with the Soul King Palace, and to protect the balance of the three realms—what a mission and honor this is!

They held a natural reverence and sense of belonging to this world and to the Spirit King, binding their own destiny to a higher being, regarding it as their final destination and a means of ascension.

But Liuchuan is different.

He is not the original soul of this world; deep within his soul lies an obsession with "absolute free will."

He respects the rules of this world, studies them, utilizes them, and is even willing to fulfill his duties within a certain framework.

But this by no means means that he is willing to completely entrust everything to some huge, unknown system and share life and death with it.

He lacked the deep-seated piety and reverence for the Spirit King that the local god of death possessed.

For him, the Spirit King was not a faith to which he had to devote himself entirely.

Transforming oneself into "Wang Jian" and forcibly binding one's fate to the Spirit King Palace is tantamount to voluntarily giving up one's own "independence" and handing over the reins of fate to others.

This touched upon his most fundamental bottom line—the absolute requirement for self-control and the instinctive avoidance of unknown risks.

Even though becoming "King Key" can bring unimaginable power boosts, this power comes at the cost of losing "freedom" and "independence".

The pursuit of power itself may be extremely tempting, but for Yanagawa, it was tantamount to drinking poison to quench his thirst.

Power must be in one's own hands, and its source and destination must be determined by oneself.

Being permanently bound to a massive entity means that one's choices regarding the future path will be greatly restricted, and one may even be unable to control their own destiny at certain crucial moments.

In just a few breaths, countless thoughts flashed through Liu Chuan's mind, weighing the pros and cons and getting to the heart of the matter.

He stopped and stood on the Omotesando, which was bathed in the glow of rules. He raised his head and looked calmly but with unusual determination at Hyosube Ichibei, who had also stopped and was looking back with a hint of doubt.

“Lord Hyosube,” Yanagawa’s clear and steady voice rang out on the quiet Omotesando.

"Regarding becoming the 'King Key' and reshaping my body with the power of the Spirit King... please forgive me for finding this difficult to accept."

"..."

For the first time, the gentle smile on Hyosube Ichibei's face froze noticeably.

His wise eyes clearly reflected Liu Chuan's calm yet unquestionable expression.

The immense shock even caused his mountain-solid body to tremble almost imperceptibly.

It's hard to...accept?

Refuse to become the King's Key? Refuse to be reshaped by the power of the Soul King? Refuse to be the foundation upon which countless Shinigami look up and upon which the members of the Zero Division depend for their existence?

This is something that has never been heard of or even imagined in the long, almost eternal history of Soul Society!

Joining the Zero Division, receiving the power of the Soul King to transform oneself, and becoming the King's Key—this is an honor, a responsibility, an inevitable step towards advancement, and a manifestation of the Soul King's will.

No one has ever objected to this, let alone rejected it.

Hyosube Ichibei remained silent for several seconds, and the radiant light flowing along the Omotesando seemed to be slightly disrupted by the fluctuation of his emotions.

He slowly turned around, facing Liu Chuan directly. His massive body cast a shadow, bringing an invisible pressure.

“Yanagawa-kun,” Hyosube Ichibei’s voice was still loud, but the ease and laughter in it had vanished.

Do you know... what you're saying?

“Refusing to be reshaped by the power of the Spirit King means that you give up becoming a complete member of the Zero Division, giving up the identity of ‘King Key’, and giving up the right to freely enter and leave the Spirit King’s Palace and use some of the power of the Spirit King’s Palace rules.”

"This also means that your strength will be limited, your connection with the Spirit King Palace will always be separated by a layer, you will not be able to truly integrate into this place, and it may even affect your future performance of duties."

He paused, his gaze sharp and fixed on Liu Chuan's eyes, as if trying to pierce through the calm surface and see into the deepest thoughts of his soul:

"The power of the Spirit King is one of the fundamental powers of the world. Its reshaping is not only a blessing but also recognition, the cornerstone that allows you to better fulfill your duty of protection. Countless heroes have sought it but have not obtained it. Why... do you refuse?"

His bewilderment was so obvious that even his booming voice carried a rare hint of confusion.

Throughout his long life, he witnessed countless beings who sought power, craved recognition, and were willing to give everything to protect others.

Refusing the primordial power that was presented to him, symbolizing the pinnacle of recognition and authority? This completely contradicted his cognitive logic.

Yanagawa met Hyosugu Ichibei's oppressive and puzzled gaze, but his expression remained largely unchanged.

He knew how unorthodox his choice seemed to the world, but he had no intention of explaining the origin of his soul, as that would only bring more unpredictable risks.

"Lord Hyosubu," Yanagawa began slowly, his words cautious but his meaning clear.

"It is not that I do not agree with the duties of the Spirit King Palace, nor am I afraid to take on the responsibility of protection."

"...I simply have more faith in my own abilities, that's all!"

Liu Chuan's voice was not loud. He did not use more complicated reasons to explain, but instead attributed everything to the most essential and irrefutable reason—absolute confidence in his own strength.

Hyosube Ichibei stared into Yanagawa's eyes.

He tried to find a trace of hesitation, a trace of longing for the unknown power, and a trace of confusion or fear about the possible future of giving up this "gift".

But all he saw was a calm, deep sea.

Beneath the deep sea lies an unwavering will, a confidence stemming from a clear understanding of one's own path, and only one choice made after careful consideration.

Believe in your own strength... that's all.

So simple, yet so...arrogant.

In Hyosube Ichibei's perception, Yanagawa's spiritual pressure intensity was only at the captain level.

Hyosube Ichibei fell into an even deeper silence than before.

Having lived for countless years and witnessed the rise of numerous geniuses, the fall of heroes, and the changing of eras, Hyosube Ichibei believed he had seen all sorts of souls.

Some seek power, some crave glory, some bear a mission, and some wander aimlessly in search of answers.

But this young man before us is the first to so calmly and resolutely choose to "believe in himself" in the face of supreme power that is within easy reach, and to use that as a reason to reject that power...

Could this be the real reason why Lord Spirit King chose him and granted him the qualification of Zero Squad?

The will of the Spirit King is indeed vast and unfathomable.

"This matter... I need to consider it carefully and also seek instructions."

“Since the founding of the Spirit King Palace, there has never been such a precedent. Your idea... is quite unique.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping once more over Liu Chuan's calm, expressionless face.

"It's so special that even I don't know how to respond for a moment. I'll arrange accommodation for you first, and I'll let you know the details tomorrow."

Liu Chuan nodded, his demeanor remaining composed: "Yes, thank you for your trouble."

Chapter 31 Not Entering the Path of Enlightenment

Deep within the Spirit King's Palace, in a special meeting space.

There are no fixed tables and chairs here, only a few floating platforms made of pure energy.

The five members of Squad Zero are gathered here at this moment.

Hyosube Ichibei sat cross-legged on the main platform and told the other four people in detail about Yanagawa's refusal to use the power of the Spirit King to reshape his body and his unwillingness to become the "King Key".

The atmosphere became somewhat stagnant for a moment, with only the faint humming sound emanating from the surrounding fragments of rules flowing around.

"Hahaha!" The first to break the silence was Nimaiya Wang Yue. He was still wearing that uniquely styled short jacket, and his eyes behind his sunglasses seemed to light up for a moment. He slapped his thigh hard, letting out a loud laugh.

"As expected! No wonder he thought of using his Transcendental Body to directly 'chat' with Hyōrinmaru! His thinking is just different from ordinary people! Refusing the power of the Spirit King? The person the Spirit King chose this time is indeed extraordinary!"

He showed no dissatisfaction with Yanagawa's "unorthodox" ways; on the contrary, he showed great interest and appreciation.

"Indeed...unexpected."

Shutara Senjumaru's cool voice rang out. She sat on the other side of the platform, her body shrouded in a pale halo that seemed to be woven from bones and threads. Her voice carried a rational detachment.

"However, from a rational perspective, his choice not to become the 'King Key' may not be a bad thing, especially considering that his main area of ​​activity in the future will be the Soul Society, rather than the Soul King Palace."

Her slender, pale fingers gently brushed over a drooping strand of silk, continuing her calm analysis:

“The fact that ‘Wang Jian’s’ body is deeply bound to the Spirit King Palace certainly brings convenience and power, but it also means that he himself has become a clear ‘coordinate’ and ‘channel’ connected to the Spirit King Palace.”

"If he stays in the Spirit King Palace, there will be no problem. But if he stays in the Soul Society for a long time... there is a chance that some villains might use special means to try to locate, interfere with, or even infiltrate the Spirit King Palace through him."

"Although the possibility is extremely low, we must still take precautions."

Her analysis, based purely on pros and cons and risks, without personal feelings, hits the nail on the head.

Liu Chuan's unusual location amplified the potential security risks posed by "Wang Jian's" identity.

"Hmph, whether he becomes Wang Jian or not is his own choice."

Kirinji Tenjiro stood on his platform, arms crossed. He was tall, with an impatient expression but sharp eyes.

"But he will eventually have to walk that path. That's right, what Lao Tzu meant by 'not entering the path of enlightenment'!"

He looked at Hyosube Ichibei, his tone resolute:

“Every member of the Zero Division, regardless of their previous status or power, must complete the ‘Path of No Entry’ alone before they are officially recognized and can fulfill their duties.”

"Break through your own limits on that path, truly touch and adapt to the rules and pressures of the Spirit King Palace. This is an ironclad rule, a trial, and also... a baptism."

"Without walking the Path of No Entry, even if Lord Spirit King personally appoints him, he cannot be considered a true Zero Squad! His strength and character must be proven on that path!"

"Not Entering the Path of Ascension"... The final trial that all members of the Zero Squad must undergo. Its dangers and difficulties far exceed ordinary people's imagination, and it is the key to selection and sublimation.

Upon hearing this, Kiryuki's face showed obvious worry.

"Tenjiro is right, not entering the path of asceticism is an inevitable path."

"But... back then, we all barely withstood the pressure on that path and finally broke through after our bodies were reshaped by the power of the Spirit King and we received a fundamental improvement."

"Yanagawa... he refused the power of the Soul King, relying solely on his existing Shinigami body and his own strength... can he really complete that path?"

"What if you can't hold on halfway, get torn apart by the turbulent currents of rules there, or your soul collapses under the pressure..."

She didn't finish her sentence. In her view, the reshaping by the power of the Spirit King was an important guarantee for safely passing through the Path of Non-Entry.

By abandoning his insurance, Liu Chuan is essentially putting himself at great and unnecessary risk.

Hyobu Ichibei listened quietly to the opinions of his four colleagues.

Nimaiya Oetsu's appreciation and interest, Shutara Senjumaru's rational risk analysis, Kirinji Tenjiro's adherence to principles, and Hikifune Kiryu's concerns about safety.

Each viewpoint has its own merits, and they all analyze the potential impact and problems of the "special case" of Yanagawa from different angles.