In Hueco Mundo, within Las Noches.
Seated upon his throne, Qin Yi narrowed his eyes as he watched the projected image before him, equally shaken by what he saw.
The leaders of the various legions gathered around him also showed changes in expression, subconsciously clenching their fists.
"So this is the strongest power in the Soul Society of this world?" Eren of the Giant Legion said.
"This is truly terrifying. With my current strength, I'm no match for him."
Within Qin's Legion, the young swordsman carrying a sword at his waist, Ge Nie, said solemnly.
"He wields the same type of flame power as I do, but the temperature of that old man's flames has already far surpassed mine just from observation alone," Ace remarked.
Everyone on Qin Nation's side expressed sincere admiration and shock at Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni's power.
"I've heard that among your armies, quite a few have already entered the Underworld Realm and completed Hollowfication." Qin Yi slightly raised his head and asked calmly.
"How much of an increase in power does Hollowfication provide?"
Compared to Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, there was simply no comparison. The old man was one of the absolute peak powerhouses of this world. Although Qin Nation's experts had been growing rapidly, with their average strength now stabilized around Starlight Level 5, they still had no way of dealing with a Captain-Commander who had reached Starlight Level 7 or perhaps even surpassed it.
"My King, I've just reached Starlight Level 5. After modifying my ninjutsu into senjutsu, Hollowfication allows me to break through to Level 6." Namikaze Minato said with a smile.
He was currently leading the legion from the Naruto World.
"According to the National Statistics Bureau's recent monitoring and investigations, experts who enter the Underworld Realm and complete Hollowfication generally gain the ability to cross one major level."
"If they attempt to go any higher, their consciousness becomes unstable and they are affected by negative emotions. However, there are also individuals capable of crossing two entire levels and achieving an explosive increase in power."
Zhang Liang said with a smile.
"Two levels? Do we know who?" Qin Yi asked, somewhat surprised.
Hollowfication was already a powerful method for temporarily boosting one's strength. A one-level increase was considered ideal and highly satisfactory. A two-level leap could only be described as astonishing.
Someone capable of that would undoubtedly possess extraordinary willpower and be a true talent.
"Ouma Shuu. Well... Master, you could also call him your brother-in-law." Li Xiaoyao burst into laughter.
Qin Yi was briefly stunned before laughing as well.
"You've got some nerve, talking to your master like that. No sense of propriety at all."
Li Xiaoyao stuck out his tongue and chuckled.
"Anyone else?" Qin Yi asked again.
"None discovered so far. In fact, many experts who ventured into other worlds still haven't returned home."
"Chief Gandalf has already instructed the National Summoning Bureau to send personnel to deliver summons. They should be back soon. People like Madara, Whitebeard, Sengoku, Enel, and others will all return to the nation, enter the Underworld Realm, and undergo Hollowfication." Zhang Liang replied.
"Mhm." Qin Yi nodded.
He had always paid close attention to the people Zhang Liang mentioned and knew exactly how rapidly they grew. In their original worlds, they had already been exceptional figures among exceptional figures. Once they stepped beyond their own worlds and witnessed the vastness outside, their talents naturally expanded even further.
It could be said that with every leap in civilization, the protagonist-level and major supporting characters of each world were always the fastest to improve.
Backed by the nation's abundant resources and scientific research achievements, these individuals closely followed the pace of civilization's development.
At this point, the number of experts within Qin Nation had already reached an impressive scale.
"Tell the nation to speed things up…. A great war could break out at any moment. Those experts are extremely important."
Zhang Liang nodded.
At that moment, Urahara Kisuke suddenly fixed his gaze on a figure that had appeared in the projection.
"Kenpachi has arrived!"
Instantly, everyone present turned their attention toward the image.
This projection technique, created through a combination of Qin Nation's technology and Hueco Mundo's techniques, could clearly and comprehensively display the situation within the Soul Society. It was currently one of their most effective methods for gathering intelligence on the enemy.
However, it had its limitations. If the target possessed powerful sensory abilities, the projection could easily be detected.
Within the image, the crowd saw a wild-eyed man with a crazed expression leading a large group of Shinigami as he strode toward the rear ranks of the Soul Society forces.
"Captain Chengdui, you're late." Captain Kuchiki Byakuya of the Sixth Division said calmly.
"There have been quite a few matters within my division recently. They delayed me for a while."
As he spoke, Kenpachi Chengdui's robes fluttered as he walked past Matsumoto Rangiku and took his place beside the other Captains, gazing toward the battlefield ahead.
The moment he clearly saw the scene before him, his pupils contracted sharply. Then the corners of his mouth curled upward into a strange smile.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto is truly vigorous despite his age. He's absurdly strong."
"This is your first time seeing the old man fight, isn't it? No wonder you're surprised." Kyōraku Shunsui said with a grin.
On the battlefield, Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni had already charged alone into the ranks of the Nie Kingdom's Shinigami. As his blade swung, vast seas of flame surged forth, transforming into fire dragons that incinerated everything in their path.
Whether Captain-class combatants or ordinary Shinigami, none could offer even the slightest resistance beneath Captain-Commander Yamamoto's sword.
"Anyone who dares invade the Soul Society must pay the price." Second Division Captain Soi Fon said coldly.
Kenpachi Chengdui raised an eyebrow, glanced at her, and sneered.
"Indeed. Those who refuse to obey orders and recklessly launch attacks must bear the consequences themselves."
The sudden remark instantly made the atmosphere strange.
A smile curved across Captain Ichimaru Gin's lips.
"Captain Chengdui, you seem rather impatient. Are you really going to expose yourself so soon?"
Kenpachi Chengdui kept both hands tucked into his sleeves, his face bearing a wild and crazed smile.
"I am a straightforward man. I disdain petty tricks such as ambushes, schemes, and conspiracies. Since a battle is inevitable sooner or later… Then let it begin!"
Those two sentences caused everyone's expressions to change.
They suddenly realized something.
Quietly, their right hands moved to the hilts of their Zanpakutō.
"Attack!"
Sure enough, in the very next second, Kenpachi Chengdui shouted coldly.
Instantly, chaos erupted throughout the Soul Society's formation.
Dozens of figures launched themselves forward in a single moment, directly entangling all eleven Captains present.
Kenpachi Chengdui calmly observed the battlefield descending into confusion and roars of combat before letting out a cold laugh and turning his gaze back toward the main battlefield.
Like a tiger among sheep, Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni was slaughtering the Nie Kingdom's Shinigami without restraint.
The scene was so tragic it defied description.
"Since they refused to obey my orders… The Azure Flow Army being wiped out… is only natural."
Those indifferent words signified that he had already abandoned the legion as worthless.
He was a madman.
And a cold-blooded king.
To him, human lives held no meaning whatsoever, whether they belonged to his own people or his enemies.
He treated them all the same.
As he slowly walked forward, the smile on Kenpachi Chengdui's face gradually twisted into a savage grin.
A violent aura rose from his body, spiraling upward and transforming in the blink of an eye into a ferocious black dragon with blood-red eyes.
"I have long heard of the Captain-Commander's great reputation."
"Today… let me test it for himself!"
Within Las Noches, everyone was stunned.
"Has he gone mad?!"
"He's actually going to challenge the Captain-Commander face-to-face in a duel!"
"Where does he get the confidence to confront the Captain-Commander alone?!"
Qin Yi narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the powerful and frenzied figure within the projection.
Spiritual pressure erupted outward, twisting into visible lines that caused ripples to spread through space itself.
Standing within that distorted field, Kenpachi Chengdui advanced step by step, displaying an incomparably overwhelming presence.
At this moment, the King of the Nie Kingdom was even stronger than Qin Yi had ever seen before. At the same time, Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, who had just incinerated thousands of Shinigami with a single strike, turned around.
Flames burned within his eyes.
"I've always suspected there was something wrong with you. Now that you've finally revealed yourself today… Then I'll deal with you."
(End of Chapter)
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