Infinite: Start as a ghost

The two were led to the chimney, where Shiba Ganju said, "Please get ready, I'm about to launch."

The so-called preparation was actually to have the two of them inject their spiritual power into the core of the spirit pearl to activate the protective shield.

But who are these two people? Why would they need such external protection to ensure their safety?

"Just go ahead and start, don't worry about our safety," said Hyojubu with a smile. "We didn't ask any questions."

Shiba Ganju never had a good impression of the Shinigami. If it weren't for Shiba Kukaku's advice and Kurosaki Ichigo's influence on her, she wouldn't have bothered with them at all.

Hearing what the two said, he couldn't wait to send them away immediately.

"Boom boom boom..."

As the intense sound of cannon fire rang out, the two leaped upwards, soaring into the sky and flying towards the skies above Soul Society.

The soldier stretched out his palm, and protective shields automatically split open, making way for a passage.

Layer upon layer of protective shields ensured the complete protection of the Spirit King Palace.

If it weren't for the soldiers clearing the way, even Jiang Jiu wouldn't have been confident he could break through so many layers of protection.

Of course, it's hard to say what will happen after he masters his new skill.

After passing through layers of protective shields, Jiang Jiu, led by Bingzhubu, finally arrived inside the Lingwang Palace.

Jiang Jiu looked around the entire space. Although the number of people in the Spirit King Palace was small, the construction was very comprehensive.

On the ground, streets and buildings intertwine, making it no different from an ordinary town.

However, the town was deserted; there wasn't a single person in sight.

In mid-air, a prototype island-shaped building floats, not touching the ground.

Also suspended is a fan-shaped building.

“Let’s go to Omotesando,” Hyosube said. “That fan-shaped building is Omotesando; it’s a public platform.”

"To enter the inner palace of the Soul King or the Zero Division's exit hall, one must pass through the Omotesando."

Jiang Jiu nodded and followed him.

Both of them were very fast, and although Omotesando was in the center of town, they arrived in just a few minutes.

Upon entering the Omotesando, Jiang Jiu experienced a moment of dizziness.

When he came to his senses, the surrounding environment was completely different.

"Is this where the Spirit King resides?" Jiang Jiu looked at the empty space and sighed.

Six flying islands floated in the air, forming a pattern resembling a pentagram.

"The Spirit King, is he on that island in the middle?"

“That’s right,” said Bingzhubu. “Go ahead. I suppose His Majesty already knows of your arrival. I’ll wait for you here.”

Jiang Jiu stared at the Spirit King Palace, lifted one foot, and walked step by step toward the location of the Spirit King Palace.

Not far from the Lingwang Palace, Jiang Jiu stopped in her tracks.

"Why aren't you leaving?" A familiar voice came from inside the hall.

Upon hearing the voice, Jiang Jiu was somewhat surprised, for he recognized the owner of the voice.

"You possessed him?" Jiang Jiu took a few steps and finally stood at the door.

"Yes," the voice inside the hall confirmed.

"Why?" Jiang Jiu asked.

"It was not my wish." A hint of helplessness was revealed in the voice from inside the hall.

“If you’re not willing, no one in the world can force you to do it,” Jiang Jiu said. “Your unwillingness is at most 50%, and you’re probably only half willing to take over Yin Cheng’s body.”

"Perhaps," King Ling sighed. "My conviction is far from firm enough."

King Ling's move was so unexpected; Jiang Jiu could never have imagined that he would do such a thing.

After carefully recalling the various details in the plot, Jiang Jiu asked in a deep voice, "You possessed Yin Cheng's body to deal with me?"

"Yes," the Spirit King admitted readily, "because no one can control your destiny."

"So, it's better to end it now than suffer a long one? Why not just finish me off here?" Jiang Jiu teased.

“I have no such intention.” The Spirit King shook his head: “I cannot see through your destiny, so I cannot judge whether you are good or evil.”

"Whether you are good or evil has no impact on the world. What I hope is that you will not interfere excessively with the stability of the world."

"Then, whether you are good or evil, right or wrong, I will not lay a hand on you."

"But the Hyosubu clan doesn't trust you. They can't entrust their fate to the unknown, so they brought you here."

Jiang Jiu sneered: "That sounds nice. If you didn't intend to attack me, you had no reason to see me at all."

"Although it was my request to come to the Spirit King's Palace, you were already prepared to face me, weren't you?"

"If you weren't planning to take action, why did you try to possess Silver City?"

Instead of answering the question directly, the Spirit King countered with, "So, do you intend to interfere with the stability of this world?"

“I already answered this question for you some time ago, believe it or not,” Jiang Jiu said. “So, what do you plan to do now?”

"Will you continue talking to me, or try taking action?"

"To be honest, I really want to test just how strong this so-called Spirit King really is."

"I ask myself, nowadays, besides you, there is no one who can rival me."

The Spirit King was silent for a moment: "You came to see me just to fight me?"

“No,” Jiang Jiu said with a smile, “My purpose in coming here is to save myself.”

"Trading a Zanpakuto for the balance of the three realms, isn't that a good deal?"

Chapter 255 Letting Go

Upon hearing Jiang Jiu's request, King Ling fell silent once again.

After a long pause, he relented: "Okay, but I need you to swear an oath to me."

"Are you planning to bind me with oaths and vows?" Jiang Jiu laughed loudly: "Sure, but I'll decide the content of the oath, and I have other requirements as well."

“Feel free to ask,” said the Spirit King.

"My requirements are few, just the following."

"I will be occupying the Phoenix Palace for a period of time. During this period, the Seireitei is not allowed to make any moves, especially the Zero Division."

"Of course, I don't restrict your daily patrols in the real world."

"Secondly, I want Wang Jian, and I also want you to open the passage between the Spirit King Palace and Hueco Mundo."

"The requirements in this regard are not high. All I need is a temporary passage so that I can move freely between Hueco Mundo and the Spirit King's Palace without any restrictions."

"You can close the passage after I've finished using the Phoenix Palace."

"Thirdly, I want the sword-forging method of Nimaiya Oetsu."

"Alright, that's all I have to say. Now it's your turn to make your request."

"Oh, by the way, I need you to keep all of the above a secret. You're not allowed to tell the Soul Society," Jiang Jiu said with a smile. "You don't want me to have a conflict with the Soul Society, do you?"

King Ling pondered for a moment: "I do not know the sword-forging method of King Etsu of the Two Maekiya."

Jiang Jiu sneered, "Do you want me to believe you or not?"

"You, who can observe everything in the world anytime and anywhere and understand your own heart, don't tell me you can't see the forging method of the people around you."

Even if he were to conceal his methods, he wouldn't hide them from you.

"From the time Zanpakuto was created until now, he must have forged at least hundreds of thousands of them. Even if you don't know how, you've learned by watching."

"Now you're telling me you can't, do you think I'm easy to fool?"

The Spirit King hesitated for a moment: "I can only tell you what I have seen, which may not be accurate."

"That's enough." Jiang Jiu laughed loudly. "Now it's your turn to name your terms."

King Ling began to think when Jiang Jiu first mentioned "negotiating terms," ​​so this time he did not hesitate for a moment.

"I hope that after I die, you can protect the Three Realms for a thousand years."

"So you mean that while you're alive, no one can pose a threat to the Three Realms, is that right?" Jiang Jiu laughed loudly: "You want me to protect the Three Realms for a thousand years? Weren't my previous conditions too childish?"

The Spirit King nodded: "Yes, you are indeed at a disadvantage by exchanging this condition for your three conditions."

"I can promise you, you can make seven more conditions."

"As long as I am alive, as long as it does not affect the Three Realms, and as long as it is within my power, I will definitely help you achieve it."

"So it seems like I'm not at a disadvantage?" Jiang Jiu shook his head and laughed, "But there are a few hidden problems that you haven't pointed out, so your sincerity is not enough."

"Your original fate was to die completely in two years. Now that your destiny has changed, I don't know if you will still be unable to escape your fate."

"If you can't escape it, then you only have two years left. How many of the remaining seven conditions do you think you can help me resolve?"

"Secondly, you want me to protect the Three Realms for a thousand years after your death. Do you want... me to inherit your position as the Spirit King?"

"When I inherit your throne as the Spirit King, am I bound by your oath?"

"Therefore, I will not agree to your request."

King Ling sighed: "Your intelligence is indeed terrifying, but that's not what I meant."

“I do hope that you can become my successor, but I have no intention of binding you with this. Such a means alone cannot bind you.”

"I simply want you to protect all living beings in the Three Realms, that's all."

"If it's not mandatory and doesn't restrict my freedom," Jiang Jiu said, "I can agree to that."

At this point, Jiang Jiu paused for a moment before speaking, "To be honest, I have another question that I hope you can answer."

The Spirit King said softly, "Please speak..."

"Why...why did you treat your son like this?" Jiang Jiu asked. "He may have ambition, but it was for the sake of this world, and it was also to free you. Why did you let him end up like that?"

"I don't know," the Spirit King said, somewhat bewildered. "My omniscience and omnipotence are not true omnipotence."