"I'm just checking your body."
Ethan's serious expression made Yoruichi roll her eyes, but when he channeled his spiritual power, she did feel a slight change.
"This is..."
She could not clearly describe the feeling. She discovered that there was a strange sphere of spiritual power inside her body. As long as she focused her mind on it, certain images would appear in her mind.
"Is this the Soul King Palace?"
"Yes."
She saw herself and the others standing in the palace, and she had the strange feeling that she could clearly perceive everything within the palace.
"Although I made you the core of this world, I made some adjustments compared to the Soul King."
With Yoruichi's current strength, bearing the weight of the entire world would be too much. Even with the Hōgyoku acting as a buffer, it would still be difficult. Therefore, Ethan only connected the Soul King Palace to Yoruichi.
Then the Soul King Palace, this small world, became the foundation. Outside of it were the Soul Society, the Human World, Hueco Mundo, and the Dangai between the worlds. These together formed the entire world surrounding the Soul King Palace.
"So your control over the world is not as direct as the Soul King's, but the pressure on you is also much smaller."
After hearing Ethan's explanation, Yoruichi finally understood why she did not feel anything particularly special.
Next, Ethan gave her some guidance so she could understand how to use this unique advantage to improve her strength.
As for the entire world eventually becoming Yoruichi's Divine Realm, Ethan did not mention it specifically. If she reached a sufficient level, she would understand it herself. If she could not reach that level, telling her would only affect her mindset.
At this moment, Shunsui had also processed everything Ethan had said and understood the significance of the Soul King Palace and the Soul King to the entire Soul Society.
Yoruichi becoming the core of the Soul King Palace meant she had become the new core of the world. This also meant she needed to be carefully protected.
"What are you worried about? There is no one in this world who can threaten me anymore."
Under Ethan's influence, Yoruichi had already broken through the limits of a Shinigami. She also understood that all spiritual particles were essentially the same and could be utilized.
However, as a Shinigami, her control over spiritual particles outside the Shinigami system still needed improvement. But after replacing the Soul King and becoming the world's new core, her acceptance of non Shinigami spiritual attributes increased significantly. In other words, her capacity as a vessel for spiritual power had greatly improved.
Even without training, her strength would continue to grow rapidly for quite a long time.
"That is true."
Shunsui was still thinking about how he would report everything after returning. Logically, he should have reported to Yamamoto Genryusai and the Central 46 as soon as he returned to the Soul Society.
However, he knew that if he had done so and revealed Ethan's true objective, a conflict between the Gotei 13 and Ethan would definitely have erupted.
With Ethan's strength, he did not know how many people might end up injured.
He believed Ethan would not kill them, but there was one person whose situation was uncertain, his teacher Yamamoto Genryusai.
If Ethan truly became angry, could Yamamoto survive against him?
Even without considering Ethan's reaction, if Yamamoto lost control and used his Bankai, it would endanger the entire Soul Society. The old man's Bankai was simply too terrifying. It was better not to use it unless absolutely necessary.
If they injured Ethan but ended up leaving the Soul Society full of damage, the cost would be too high.
Especially now that Ethan had proven that his words were not empty boasts. He truly had the ability to eliminate the Soul King, who had been dead for who knows how long, without damaging the world.
"Sigh."
"What are you sighing about?"
"I am thinking about how to report all this to the Central 46."
"Report?" Ethan curled his lip. "What is there to report to those idiots?"
"The Central 46 is the highest authority in the Seireitei. How can we ignore them?" Shunsui sighed again. Ethan had the power to ignore them, but he still had to live in the Seireitei. "I am not you."
"Have you forgotten Yoruichi's current status?"
"You mean..."
Shunsui suddenly thought of something, but he wondered if it was really possible.
"Those useless people in the Central 46 do nothing except cause trouble. Is there any reason for them to continue existing?"
Rather than calling the Central 46 the highest authority managing the Seireitei, it would be more accurate to say it was created to restrict Yamamoto, preventing him from holding too much power and balancing the forces within the Seireitei. This could be seen from the fact that no Shinigami from the Gotei 13 had ever been promoted to the Central 46.
"Just issue an order in the Soul King's name and disband the Central 46."
Shunsui fell silent.
The Central 46 had existed for a long time and involved the power struggles between the major noble families of the Soul Society and Yamamoto. Could it really be disbanded so easily?
"What is difficult about it? Kill anyone who refuses."
Shunsui wiped nonexistent sweat from his forehead.
"Is that not a bit too simple and crude?"
"Is that not exactly how the Central 46 usually handles things? Now that it happens to them, it suddenly becomes unpleasant."
Shunsui understood. Ethan was taking this opportunity to retaliate against the nobles.
After thinking carefully, the resistance to disbanding the Central 46 was actually not as strong as he initially thought.
Yamamoto would definitely not oppose it. The Central 46 mainly represented the major noble families of the Soul Society, but Ethan could directly influence the Kuchiki family and the Shihoin family, preventing the Central 46 from uniting against the order.
More importantly, the overwhelming difference in strength made any opposition meaningless.
No matter how he looked at it, the Central 46 would inevitably be disbanded.
"If you have anything else to ask, ask quickly. I might not stay much longer."
Yoruichi, who had been studying her newly obtained power, immediately turned her attention back.
"You are leaving?"
"Yes. My mission was to destroy the core of this world. Now that the mission is complete, of course I must leave."
Hearing that Ethan was leaving, Shunsui actually felt relieved.
Someone as powerful and unpredictable as Ethan, who could do whatever he wanted, was truly troublesome.
Of course, if Ethan had simply stayed in the Human World or settled in the Soul King Palace, it would not have been so bad.
He had not expected there to be an even better outcome. Ethan was planning to leave this world entirely.
"Would you like to have one last drink?"
Ethan stared at him.
Are you really that happy? Could you not hide it a little better?
While they were speaking, a light suddenly flashed in the dark space above them where there seemed to be no ceiling. Then a staircase abruptly appeared before them.
"It is here."
Shunsui looked around and then looked at Ethan with confusion. Ethan immediately realized that Shunsui could not see the staircase at all.
That was not surprising. What surprised him was that Yoruichi could see it.
"Is this the path to other worlds?"
Walking around the staircase, Yoruichi studied it for a long time but could not see anything special. Looking upward, it seemed endless.
"Yes."
"What are other worlds like?"
Ethan hesitated.
"I am not very sure either, because I do not know what kind of world I will go to next."
"I see. That sounds quite interesting."
Standing in front of the staircase, Yoruichi looked back once, then lifted her foot and stepped directly onto the stairs.
Ethan covered his face.
He had expected this to happen. With his restored strength, he knew that once Yoruichi stepped onto the stairs, she had already entered another space and could no longer return.
However, time on the staircase did not synchronize with the time in this world, so he still had enough time to finish arranging things.
"It seems your world's core will be taking a walk with me for a while."
Shunsui felt uneasy hearing that.
If they entered a dangerous world, would their world be at risk of destruction at any moment?
"It will probably not be that bad."
"That does not sound reassuring at all."
"There is nothing we can do about it now."
Gin and Kaien would remain in the Soul King Palace. They would become the new members of the Royal Guard.
As for who would lead the Royal Guard, Ethan did not give clear instructions. Their current duty was simply to guard the Soul King Palace. They did not need to worry about other matters.
If enemies appeared, they would just fight them. Having a leader did not make much difference.
As for communication with the Soul Society, Shunsui knew how to handle it. Disbanding the Central 46 would probably be postponed until Yoruichi, the new Soul King, returned.
"Oh, one last piece of information."
"The Quincy were not eliminated. They are hiding within the Seireitei."
Shunsui was shocked. His first reaction was disbelief, but he quickly realized Ethan would not fabricate such a rumor for amusement.
"If you dare let Unohana sharpen Zaraki's sword, then I will use you to sharpen mine."
This strange remark caused Shunsui's cold sweat to increase.
He realized that if the war with the Quincy reached a desperate point, he might actually consider doing such a thing. However, he now knew Ethan valued Unohana very highly.
He could also deduce that people like Byakuya, Ichigo, and Kisuke, who had good relationships with Ethan, were all individuals that needed protection.
"What are you worried about? Before the Quincy react, just eliminate them all."
"As for Yhwach..."
Ethan thought for a moment, reached out and pulled out a thread, then snapped his fingers while holding it.
"Alright. He is dead."
(To be continued.)