Chapter 149 : The surging undercurrent, wait for me, Ade!
Li Yu raised his hand, and a translucent barrier of pale golden Cosmo condensed around him, completely isolating him and Ichibei from the outside world.
The once naive young man could now see through the future with his eyes, and the power of laws swirling around him made even Reishi tremble.
This conversation absolutely couldn't be heard by Ade; he knew Ade's personality too well. Once Ade learned of the possibility of that step, he would surely take it prematurely, urged by the World Consciousness and the expectations of the masses.
However, due to the inherent flaws of the Bleach World itself, Ade's merging with the world would result in him becoming a Spirit King, stripped of his humanity, neither living nor dying, nailed to the world's core like an artifact, a puppet of its rules.
"What else do you know?"
Li Yu's voice was as cold as an ancient, unmelting iceberg, each word carrying a bone-chilling frost.
His gaze fell on Ichibei's trembling shoulders, and a cloud of suspicion rose in his heart.
Could it be that this bald old man was behind Ade's fate of becoming the Spirit King, pushing him towards it?
Li Yu never denied his own ruthlessness; he would stop at nothing to break free from Athena's true spirit imprint. However, using a disciple's fate as a stepping stone was a line he would never cross.
Large beads of cold sweat seeped from Ichibei's forehead, rolling down his cheeks and splashing with faint sounds on the cold white jade floor.
He kept his head bowed, not even daring to breathe too heavily.
"Lord God, Lord Ade has rarely taken action recently, but those of us Shinigami whose strength has reached a certain level can feel every day that Reishi and laws are swirling around him, and the entire world is waiting for him to take that step."
He paused, his voice growing more fearful.
"It's not just me; Shiba, Kuchiki, and the others... they all have the same feeling."
At this point, he secretly raised his eyes, quickly glanced at Li Yu, then hastily lowered his head again, his voice even softer.
"We've even been guessing privately that your arrival this time is precisely to help Lord Ade... accomplish this matter."
Li Yu's brows furrowed slightly, and his aura deepened, pressing Ichibei to the ground.
Ichibei was not lying; ever since Li Yu arrived in the Bleach World, the expectation from the World Consciousness had enveloped him like a tide, even carrying a hint of impatient urgency.
Was Ade's fate of becoming the Spirit King truly an unchangeable certainty?
He recalled the proposals made by the Shinigami earlier in the day—those ideas about sealing, transferring, and refining did indeed show unique wisdom, but their spiritual pressure was ultimately no match for a Saint's Eighth Sense Cosmo, which made them seem helpless.
But if it were the power of a Spirit King level... those methods might truly be able to unlock the imprint deep within his soul.
Yet, on second thought, if he couldn't even save his own disciple, what meaning would it have to remove the imprint?
"This matter is not to be mentioned again."
Li Yu's cold snort echoed within the barrier, carrying an undeniable authority.
"Otherwise, you should know the consequences."
Ichibei's body stiffened abruptly, his back instantly drenched in cold sweat. He knew too well the power of this God; all the combat strength of the Bleach World combined couldn't harm him in the slightest.
Defying such an existence would only result in his soul being crushed.
"Yes! This one would never dare to mention it again!"
His voice trembled until Li Yu dispersed the barrier, only then did he slowly dare to raise his head, watching the white figure disappear at the entrance of the grand hall.
As Li Yu walked out of the council hall, the night sky over Seireitei was filled with scattered specks of Reishi, like stardust blown by the wind. He gazed towards the faintly glowing courtyard in the city center.
That was Ade's residence. Ade's figure pacing back and forth was visible through the windowpanes, appearing particularly fragile in the dark night.
Presumably, at this moment, his disciple was still racking his brain to find a way to break the true spirit imprint.
Although the soul techniques of the Bleach World were exquisite, the chasm in power levels was ultimately difficult to bridge. However, it wasn't entirely without gain.
Those ideas about containers, seals, and refining had planted new clues in his heart.
He needed to go to a world with a sufficiently high power level that could touch the origin of the soul. If he wasn't mistaken, the Marvel Universe would be his next destination.
Li Yu was about to summon the Reincarnation Space to head to the Marvel Universe in search of the Soul Stone, when countless fragmented voices suddenly surged into his ears like a tide.
Inadvertently, his Kryptonian Bloodline's super hearing was activated.
"Haven't you noticed? Lord Ade has become increasingly unfathomable lately... I heard from Tsunayashiro Kyogen's attendant that Lord God came this time specifically to help him take that step."
Two patrolling Shinigami leaned against a wall, their voices extremely low, yet they couldn't escape Li Yu's hearing.
Immediately after, arguments erupted from a tavern.
"Hollows should be completely purified! They devour souls; keeping them is a disaster!"
"What do you know! Lord Ade said that Hollows are also part of the world. Now that they have consciousness, they are a link in the cycle of soul reincarnation!"
"Heh, so we Shinigami deserve to die then?"
Lei Yu's angry voice then rang out, mixed with Zhi Tong'sPersuasion.
"Sister, I'm arguing with the Shinigami patrol again! Father always tells us to be patient, but how long do we have to endure?"
"Brother, don't be angry. Father is in that position; he can't help many things."
"Can't help? If I were the progenitor, all disobedient Shinigami and Hollows should be eliminated!"
"Don't say that, brother... Father would be sad to hear it."
The most secret voice came from Tsunayashiro Kyogen's study, vaguely transmitting through three layers of barriers, carrying a heavy sense of helplessness.
"The conflict will only deepen unless Lord Ade is willing to take that step and redefine the rules of heaven and earth... Otherwise, this world will sooner or later be destroyed in a three-way war, returning to its initial chaos."
These voices pieced together like fragments in Li Yu's mind, gradually revealing a complete picture.
The conflicts between Shinigami, Hollows, and Quincy were already deeply ingrained. The high-ranking officials of Seireitei, while worried about the world's collapse, were also secretly hoping for Ade to become the Spirit King. Even Lei Yu and Zhi Tong had been drawn into this vortex of fate.
The daytime gathering was merely a thin paper, temporarily concealing the turbulent undercurrents beneath.
And his arrival had only brought these conflicts to the surface.
Just then, a weary sigh sounded in his ear, Ade's voice as light as a feather.
"Master, you've seen it all, haven't you... I apologize for making you witness such a sight."
As Li Yu turned, he and Ade met each other's gaze from a great distance.
Unbeknownst to him, Ade was already standing under the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard, his white robe with gold trim gently swaying in the night wind.
He gazed up at the undivided night sky, his silhouette as lonely as an isolated island, his four eyes reflecting countless fragmented future images—images filled with slaughter, destruction, and full of confusion and struggle.
"Master..."
Li Yu's figure flickered and appeared behind Ade, patting his shoulder.
"There's no need to blame yourself. You've already done very well!"
Ade felt the warmth on his shoulder, turned abruptly, his eyes slightly red.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, it only turned into a sigh, swallowing all his words.
Li Yu's palm gently pressed on Ade's shoulder, clearly feeling the power within his disciple, a power that originated from the world itself.
It pulsed violently, like a giant beast eager to break free from its restraints, wanting to burst through Ade's body and merge with the laws of heaven and earth.
"Ade,"
Li Yu's voice was deep and firm, carrying a calming power.
"I've heard their discussions, heard the world's urging, and heard the weight in your heart. But you must remember, any seemingly destined path is not the only choice."
Ade's body trembled slightly, and the chaotic light and shadows swirling in his eyes gradually calmed. He looked at Li Yu, a glimmer of light rekindling in his gaze.
"The problem with your world stems from the inherent flaws of the world itself; it has never been your fault."
Li Yu's gaze pierced through the night sky, as if he could see the distant Marvel Universe.
"There is no single solution to anything. Give me some time; I will go to another world. There, there are higher-dimensional powers that might be able to find a solution to everything."
"Whether it's the order of your world or the imprint in my soul, both will be resolved then. Wait for my return."