Kirinji Tenjirō's Zero Squad Detached Palace was simply and aptly named the Kirinden.
He led Ling Qing to the edge of the Kirinden. The wind rushed past, blowing up the yukata robes worn by both Ling Qing and Kirinji. Thanks to their good figures, it didn't look strange. In fact, it had a certain air of freedom to it.
Ling Qing looked in the direction Kirinji was pointing and saw a saucer-like object, which was actually a massive, floating city-like basin.
The structure of the entire Soul King's Palace was simpler than imagined, yet it was enough to create a powerful first visual impact. In a word, it was—BIG!
But despite the impact, one still felt the Soul King's Palace was too simple and empty. The reason was also simple: it wasn't big enough. After all, size has always been relative.
Ling Qing gave high praise to the aesthetic design of the Soul King's Palace, because no man likes things small!
Before Kirinji mentioned the sword, Ling Qing hadn't even thought about it. After all, who brings their sword into a hot spring?
"Ōetsu?"
Another name he'd never heard. But since Kirinji mentioned him, he must also be a member of the Zero Squad.
Sure enough, Kirinji's words confirmed Ling Qing's guess. "That guy Ōetsu is the creator of all Asauchi in the Soul Society, the man who invented the very concept of the Zanpakutō. In this world, no one knows more about Zanpakutō than Ōetsu."
As he said this, Kirinji glanced at Ling Qing with a somewhat strange look in his eyes. "A Zanpakutō is not just a partner that fights alongside a Shinigami, it's also a tool. I know this is different from what you learn at the Shin'ō Academy, but..."
"Um... sorry to interrupt." Ling Qing quietly raised his hand. "I haven't studied at the Shin'ō Academy yet."
"..."
Kirinji's intended speech was abruptly cut off. He stared at Ling Qing with a "no one would think you're mute if you just kept quiet" expression. Ling Qing felt a bit embarrassed and quickly made a "please continue" gesture.
Kirinji glared at Ling Qing, as if to say, "don't interrupt me for no reason," then continued. "Anyway, a Zanpakutō is also a tool, a tool for Shinigami to slay their enemies."
As he spoke, Kirinji seemed to recall something, his eyes becoming slightly more profound, and his voice unconsciously taking on a hint of killing intent. But it was only for a moment before his voice returned to normal.
"No matter how carefully you treat it, problems like blade wear and tear or maintenance issues will arise. Some Shinigami even use their Zanpakutō incorrectly. And there are very few people in the entire Soul Society who can adjust such Zanpakutō. That guy Ōetsu, he might seem like he's always joking around and doesn't care about anything, but when it comes to Zanpakutō, he becomes overly serious."
At this point, Kirinji finally gave his actual warning to Ling Qing. "He took your Zanpakutō for adjustments, which is only good for you, so you don't need to worry. If he wants to do something, just go along with it. It will only benefit you."
"...Is that so? I'll keep that in mind."
After a moment of thought, Ling Qing nodded seriously, taking Kirinji's advice to heart. Although Kirinji was a strange person and sometimes unsettling, Ling Qing could feel that he wasn't a bad person, or at least, he bore no ill will towards him. So, Ling Qing would seriously consider what Kirinji said. As for this person named Ōetsu, Ling Qing would have to meet him personally to form his own judgment.
"Alright, I'll send you over to Ōetsu's place now. Follow me."
Kirinji led Ling Qing a short distance to the side, arriving at an open area. In the center was a circular platform, and not far from it was a cylindrical, barrel-like pillar.
Kazuo and Kazuhiro, who had helped in the red and white baths, were already waiting there.
For some reason, Ling Qing suddenly had a bad feeling. He looked around but saw no modern transport like an elevator, nor any sci-fi or fantasy-style portals. There wasn't even a Japanese-style sliding door like the Senkaimon.
Before Ling Qing could ask what was going on, Kirinji pointed directly at the circular platform. "Alright, just stand on that and you'll be set."
"...I have a feeling you're trying to trick me." Ling Qing looked suspiciously at Kirinji.
"Alright, stop overthinking it. This is the only way to get around in the Soul King's Palace. Since you're here, just do as the Romans do."
As if afraid Ling Qing would run away, Kirinji instantly disappeared from his sight. The next moment, Ling Qing noticed a slight change in the scenery.
He was already on the circular platform!
Ling Qing's eyes widened in astonishment. Not only had he not seen how Kirinji moved, but he hadn't even noticed that he himself had been moved!
This should have been impossible! The Ling Qing of today was no country bumpkin. Even someone like Shihōin Sōichirō couldn't use Shunpo in front of him without him noticing, let alone move him without his awareness.
But before Ling Qing could ask any further questions, Kazuo and Kazuhiro, standing by the wooden pillar, suddenly pulled out... a giant mallet, with their usual friendly smiles.
"Here you go!"
At Kirinji's command, the giant mallet raised by Kazuo and Kazuhiro came crashing down!
The moment the pillar was struck, the platform under Ling Qing's feet shot upwards, and Ling Qing himself was launched into the sky!
"Phew. Finally sent him off," Kirinji said, raising a hand and gazing at the tiny black dot that was once Ling Qing. "Although I had already raised my standards, even I have to admit that kid is terrifyingly unimaginable."
"Terrifying?" Kazuo and Kazuhiro, having put down the mallet, approached Kirinji's side. Kazuo didn't quite understand why Kirinji would suddenly say that.
"You've gotten used to living in the Soul King's Palace, so you've probably forgotten that the concentration of atmospheric Reishi here is many times higher than in the Soul Society, right?"
Just that one sentence from Kirinji made the expressions of Kazuo and Kazuhiro change immediately. It was clear they understood what he was referring to.
The concentration of atmospheric Reishi in the Soul King's Palace was so high that a vice-captain level Shinigami would be crushed and unable to breathe upon first entry, curling up on the ground, unable to move. Even a captain-level Shinigami, without preparation and gradual adaptation, would feel immense pressure upon arriving. It was similar to altitude sickness.
But Ling Qing was different. Whether it was waking up in the baths or walking with Kirinji afterwards, he showed no signs of abnormality.
That was what was so terrifying. He hadn't noticed any change in the atmospheric concentration at all, which meant he was accustomed to such a level. But as a Shinigami who had always lived in the Seireitei, this should have been impossible.
This meant that Ling Qing's Reiatsu level was frighteningly high.
"He won't feel it while he's in the Soul King's Palace, but once he returns to the Seireitei, he'll notice it clearly. He'll feel that the Reishi concentration in the Seireitei is too thin."
Ling Qing had already been sent away by Kirinji, but Kirinji was still pondering his existence.
Ling Qing was a very interesting being. At first glance, he seemed unremarkable, or perhaps just simply strong. But his abnormalities weren't in the obvious parts; they were hidden in the things that were taken for granted, things one wouldn't notice without careful consideration.
Some might think that this one aspect isn't a big deal, or that another aspect can be achieved by others. True, that is the case. But if a person's every single aspect has to be compared with the most outstanding strengths of geniuses, doesn't that make the person himself a bit of a problem?
If you excel in one area, you can be called a genius.
If you excel in three or four areas, you're a pillar-level Shinigami.
So what does it mean to excel in everything?
Recalling the talent for Reiatsu control Ling Qing had unconsciously displayed while bathing, Kirinji even began to wonder if Ling Qing could achieve the same in terms of footwork, since he had heard from Hyōsube Ichibē that Ling Qing seemed to have created a special kind of footwork.
Of course, while he thought this, what he said was a continuation of the previous topic. "For that kid, the best place for him to be active now is the Soul King's Palace or certain areas in Hueco Mundo with extremely high Reishi concentration, not the Soul Society. Let alone the Human World. He's been to the Human World before, right? He probably didn't notice anything unusual then, but if he goes again now, he'll find that if he doesn't seal more than ninety percent of his power, he'll feel like he's suffocating from lack of oxygen."
"...Can a Zanpakutō's Shikai... really bring such a massive power increase?" Kazuhiro hesitated. If Kirinji hadn't mentioned it, they wouldn't have noticed, but now that he had, they were also shocked.
Come to think of it, because of the special nature of Kirinji's baths, one was supposed to cover their head with a towel to prevent their spiritual core from being squeezed out. But Ling Qing had gone back and forth between the two baths so many times, and at some point, he had casually tossed the towel aside. Yet, no problems arose.
Had Kirinji noticed from that moment that Ling Qing, who seemed to be on par with a normal Shinigami, was actually fundamentally different?
"It's almost as if... his very form of life has undergone a leap..."
"Well, who knows. For questions about Zanpakutō, you'll have to ask Ōetsu."
After a pause, Kirinji added the second half of his thought.
"...At least, he does not have the qualifications to become the Soul King."
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