Urahara Kisuke mused on the name, finding it foreign, and asked with a chuckle, "Mr. Li Er, are you also heading to the Soul Society? Is there anything of interest there for you?"
Li Er chuckled back, "Asking so much, aren't you, a rebel of the Soul Society, prying a bit too much? Your wanted poster is still in the Soul Society, isn't it? Former Captain of the Twelfth Division, Urahara Kisuke."
Urahara Kisuke laughed heartily, "Just asking casually. Since you're going, Mr. Li, then proceed as you wish!"
Li Er nodded and stepped into the passage.
At this moment, Kurosaki Ichigo and his companions were fleeing in disarray. There was no choice, as a large entity was pursuing them.
When they arrived at the Soul Society and attempted to enter Seireitei, they were immediately repelled by the Captain of the Third Division, Ichimaru Gin.
Watching the gates close, Kurosaki Ichigo was extremely unwilling. The group thought of using the Shiba clan's cannon to enter Seireitei, successfully causing a minor disturbance. As for the Captains, they hardly bothered, seeing some intruders as no threat.
Thus, some were captured, some were rescued. In the end, only Kurosaki Ichigo and Yoruichi went to their secret base to train their Bankai.
At this moment, Li Er had also entered Seireitei. Most Shinigami could not see him, but there were exceptions, such as the Captain of the Fifth Division, Aizen Sōsuke.
"Were you the one who descended upon Karakura Town some time ago?" Aizen Sōsuke asked with a smile, while Ichimaru Gin leaned against the wall.
It was clear that the two had discovered Li Er and had been waiting for him here.
"Indeed. I originally just wanted to observe the Soul Society, I didn't expect you to find me!" Li Er shrugged. To be honest, he hadn't planned to meet Aizen yet; he intended to seek him out after Aizen was defeated, but unexpectedly, Aizen came to him.
"Oh, it seems you know me. May I ask your name?" Aizen's interest was piqued. From Li Er's gaze and tone, he sensed that this person seemed to know him well, and Aizen was curious.
"Li Er. You haven't heard of me either!" Li Er stated directly.
Aizen nodded, indeed he had not. He smiled and asked, "Mr. Li Er, what have you come to the Soul Society for? Is there something you desire?"
As for Li Er's claim of simply observing the Soul Society, Aizen didn't believe a word of it.
Unfortunately, Li Er was indeed here to watch the show, and incidentally, to observe the Soul Society. He had no other immediate intentions, merely following the plot and reliving it.
Hearing Aizen's words, Li Er's lips curved slightly. "From what you're saying, it sounds interesting."
"Then, Mr. Aizen, could I perhaps take a look at your Kyōka Suigetsu?" Li Er smiled.
Aizen's expression changed slightly. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Are you close with Urahara Kisuke?"
Li Er shook his head and replied directly, "I just met him. I came from his place."
Aizen nodded, but still said, "The Kyōka Suigetsu is not yet complete. If you are interested, Mr. Li, you may wait a while longer. Once I perfect it, I can show it to you."
Li Er was a bit surprised. Had Aizen's ambitions grown so grand?
He then smiled and said, "This Kyōka Suigetsu is something you've researched for hundreds of years. Are you willing to let someone see it?"
Aizen laughed heartily, "The Kyōka Suigetsu is merely a tool for me to break the limits of the Shinigami. Once the limits are broken, what use would it be?"
Li Er, however, shook his head. If you truly break your limits, how could you bear to let it go? Otherwise, you wouldn't have been defeated by Kurosaki Ichigo.
Aizen looked at Li Er with confusion. What did that shake of the head mean? Still, he said, "Please, do as you wish, Mr. Li Er. Aizen takes his leave!"
It wasn't that Aizen didn't want to act, but rather that he truly dared not act at this moment. Because he recognized Li Er's power, he was no match for him. Only by obtaining the complete Kyōka Suigetsu and breaking through his limits would he perhaps have a chance.
"What, not going to fight?" Ichimaru Gin asked with a chuckle.
Aizen shook his head. There was no need to create unnecessary complications now.
Soon, news of Aizen's death spread throughout Seireitei. This was Aizen's staged death to escape. For a time, the entire Soul Society was in turmoil. After all, Aizen was a Captain-level Shinigami. To be killed so silently within Seireitei was shocking.
Old man Yamamoto was furious. How could such a thing happen under his leadership?
Listening to the Captains' accounts, Old man Yamamoto couldn't make head nor tail of it. Finally, Aizen's lieutenant burst in, sword pointed at her former childhood sweetheart, a love-struck fool. Fortunately, she was stopped, and the situation was quelled.
Captain-General Yamamoto was helpless and dismissed the meeting.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya, or Shiro-chan, found it suspicious and investigated. He indeed found something. At this point, the Fourth Division also discovered the strangeness of Aizen's corpse and publicized it using Kidō.
Those fighting at Sōkyoku paused their battle. Li Er stood in the sky, watching the fight below, feeling quite pleased, only missing some popcorn.
Just then, Aizen appeared. Captain-General Yamamoto, with a somber expression, looked at Aizen as he began his lengthy monologue. In this vacuum devoid of gods, he, Aizen, was god, standing on the throne and looking down upon all beings.
Then, the inversion membrane descended, and Aizen said with a look of calm detachment, "Goodbye, Shinigami. Next time, it will be I..."
Before Aizen could finish speaking, the inversion membrane shattered, and they fell, along with his Espada. Aizen was shocked. What was happening? The inversion membrane had broken.
However, Captain-General Yamamoto silently unleashed his ultimate technique. If not for Yammy, the Espada with the strongest spiritual pressure, blocking it, this attack might have sent them all away.
Li Er, at this moment, smiled and said, "This is much more interesting. Aizen, didn't you say you'd show me once you obtained the complete Kyōka Suigetsu?"
Seeing the person who had suddenly appeared, Captain-General Yamamoto's expression turned grave. He silently gathered his ultimate attack. Since these individuals had revealed themselves, they would all die. Especially Aizen, whose Zanpakutō's abilities were too counter-productive to Shinigami, he had to die.
Aizen looked at Li Er, who stood in the void. Thinking of the shattered inversion membrane just moments ago, he realized it must have been this person. However, he had only just obtained the Kyōka Suigetsu and hadn't studied it yet. How could he give it away? If he did, wouldn't all his efforts be in vain? At the very least, he needed to break through his limitations and reach his limit.
While Aizen was pondering, Captain-General Yamamoto made his move, dealing with one at a time. Even Old Man Yamamoto didn't shout the name of his Bankai. Ryūjin Jakka, the East - Sunrise Blade, struck directly at Aizen and the others.
The Espada in front were like clay dolls and bamboo dogs, half of them instantly annihilated by Old Man Yamamoto.
Aizen turned pale with fright. He did not have the strength to confront Old Man Yamamoto yet. After all, Yamamoto was known as the strongest Shinigami of the past millennium, and that title was not given lightly.