As night fell, Aozaki Reiji slowly opened his eyes.
He stretched, sat up from the ground, and then stepped on a shadow in the corner.
The next moment, The dark shadow seemed to come alive, growing rapidly like a tentacle and wrapping around Aozaki Reiji's ankle, then pulling him into it.
Aozaki Reiji's body gradually sank until it completely disappeared.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw a massive palace covered in ice.
The front entrance featured two broken archways resembling ivory towers.
Behind the pillars was a magnificent building adorned with a cross pattern.
Below the palace lay a vast complex of buildings and towering clock towers, all encased in ice.
"This place is truly boring!"
Aozaki Reiji couldn't help but frown slightly as he surveyed the surroundings.
Although there were many buildings here, their colors were monotonous.
The construction, primarily of ice and rock, filled the entire space with a sense of desolation.
Living in such an isolated environment, it would be easy for a person to go insane.
It was no wonder that the Quincy in the Wandenreich were all so eccentric; it probably had something to do with the environment.
Take Aozaki Reiji's current location, for example...
To the front were sparsely populated residential buildings, while behind him were desolate rocks and barren mountains, with nothing else in sight.
It was the environment he disliked the most.
"Who are you?"
A sharp shout rang out, full of hostility and wariness.
"Looking at that attire, is it a Shinigami? Damn it, how dare they come again?!"
Another voice followed closely, its tone angry and provocative.
"Last time that bastard got away, I didn't expect us to run into another one this time, what luck!"
The last voice carried a clear tone of mockery and disdain.
Three voices came from different directions, accompanied by bursts of mocking laughter.
They were three men dressed in white robes.
Their eyes gleamed with amusement and contempt, as if mocking the Shinigami before them who didn't know his place.
However, deep within their eyes, an undisguised killing intent was revealed.
It was cold, ruthless, and devoid of mercy.
"Shouting 'kill' as soon as we meet, it seems you truly hate Shinigami."
Aozaki Reiji shook his head helplessly, gently spreading his hands.
His voice was calm and composed, seemingly unconcerned by the three men in front of him.
"Well... but that's right, after all, your Emperor was cut down by the Old Man, so it's understandable."
Aozaki Reiji continued, a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips.
His words were light and casual, as if discussing a trivial matter.
But the profound meaning within them made the faces of the three men opposite him turn incredibly grim.
Upon hearing this, the faces of the three Quincy instantly became ferocious and distorted.
Their eyes filled with rage and hatred, and their previously hidden killing intent completely erupted.
"You foolish Shinigami, how dare you insult His Majesty the Emperor! Don't worry, we will immediately atone to His Majesty with your life."
The leading Quincy said through gritted teeth.
His voice was cold and grating, revealing endless fury.
Immediately after, he sharply raised his hand, and a glowing spirit particle bow and arrow materialized in his grasp, aimed at Aozaki Reiji's heart.
At the same time, the other two Quincy also made their moves.
One raised a spirit particle longsword, while the other prepared to draw a longbow.
Several silver-white cylindrical spirit tools were thrown by them, flying towards Aozaki Reiji and causing an explosion.
Immediately after, they leaped into the air.
They continuously drew their longbows, brandished their longswords, and unleashed a large number of spirit particle arrows.
Boom! !
Dust billowed, and smoke rolled.
The explosion generated by the Reiatsu stirred up nearly a hundred meters of dust.
"It's over, how boring, are all Shinigami such trash?"
"A fool whose Reiatsu is too weak to even sense, yet dares to enter our domain, he deserved to die."
"Our opponents are this kind of trash? I really don't understand why we still have to hide here! !"
The three Quincy wore mocking expressions, casually clapped their hands, but their expressions suddenly stiffened as they turned around.
Behind them, the Shinigami stood there, having appeared at some unknown time.
Then, their powerful attacks just now, were they completely useless?
"It seems he has some tricks."
"Is he intentionally hiding his Reiatsu? Shinigami are truly despicable!"
"Holy Destruction Arrow!"
The three let out low roars.
But then they lowered their heads in horror, their eyes wide as they stared at the large bloodlines suddenly appearing on their bodies.
What's going on?
They had already been cut?
When did this happen?
Why couldn't they see any sign of it!?
Blood gushed out like a fountain, splashing onto the ground.
Three bodies fell weakly, their life extinguished.
Aozaki Reiji glanced at them indifferently, and the blade in his hand swiftly reversed.
A scorching flame slash instantly erupted, completely engulfing their bodies and reducing them to ashes.
"Should I go deeper?"
Aozaki Reiji murmured in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the massive building before him.
He keenly sensed a threat and couldn't help but frown.
The distant palace was grand and imposing, undoubtedly the main city of the Wandenreich, emitting a terrifying Reiatsu.
The Quincy King, Yhwach, might be lying within.
The sealed Quincy King, after nine hundred years, regained his heartbeat; after ninety years, he regained consciousness; after nine years, he regained his power; and finally, in nine days, he would reclaim the entire world.
This was the prophecy belonging to the Wandenreich Emperor—Yhwach.
According to the timeline, this Quincy King should currently be in the stage of regaining consciousness.
However, this did not mean he lacked power.
This Quincy King, in his infancy, was blind, deaf, mute, and even unable to move.
But he was born with the ability to distribute Souls, and it was this ability that allowed him to survive.
When others touched him, he could share a portion of his Souls, filling the gaps in the toucher's Souls.
The reason those Quincy possessed extraordinary power was precisely because they accepted the Souls given by Yhwach.
However, this was not a selfless gift, but a high-interest loan that needed to be repaid with interest.
After a Quincy died, their Souls would return to the King.
This was the price for obtaining power.
And during the period of his revival, the return of Souls continued ceaselessly.
For over nine hundred years, the Souls of deceased Quincy have been returning to this Quincy King!
Even if this Quincy King cannot act personally.
As the main base of the Quincy, there are numerous pure-blood Quincy here.
In this place, there are also powerful Sternritter members with Schrift abilities.
If an ordinary captain were to break in here, it would almost certainly be a death sentence.
However, Aozaki Reiji was no ordinary captain!
At this moment, he mused to himself:
"The Soul King's Left Arm and heart are here. Since I've already arrived, why not give it a try?"
Although the power Yhwach displayed exceeded expectations, he was unwilling to give up easily.
Cannot retreat!
Go and see the Soul King's Left Arm and the Soul King's heart.
Even if it's just to see them.
Haven't I waited for Kurotsuchi Mayuri all these years, just for today?
What's there to be afraid of!
At worst, I'll evolve through fear like Aizen!
When Aozaki Reiji understood all this.
His figure instantly vanished from his original spot, then he used Shunpo to weave through the buildings.