“I heard that transfer student is coming today!” “Mhm.
None of you are allowed to pick on him, got it?” “Class Rep, we’re not bad people!
We took his aunt’s stuff earlier—how could we possibly bully him?” Cangnan No.
2 High School, Class 2-2, by the window near the back right corner.
Lu Ming flipped through unfamiliar textbooks with an expressionless face, his mind drifting.
He was a transmigrator, someone who didn’t belong to this world.
Before transmigrating, he was a manga artist who died suddenly from overwork.
He transmigrated to this world and became a student in this class!
When he realized he was a high school student, Lu Ming originally thought he had entered an ordinary slice-of-life parallel universe, already pondering how to make money and get rich here.
Then he found out the country was Daxia, the city was Cangnan, his school was Cangnan No.
2 High School, and his class included Jiang Qian, Li Yifei…
Instantly, Lu Ming realized the world he had transmigrated into wasn’t some peaceful daily-life world, but the world of *Zhanshen*—*Slay the Gods*.
“Talk about a rock-bottom starting hand!” In this broken world shrouded by mist, trying to honestly be an ordinary person was on hellish difficulty.
What’s more, he was in Cangnan City, and in the future, he might even be classmates with Lin Qiye?
If one were to ask what the highest-risk profession was in the early stage of the *Zhanshen* world— It wasn’t a Nightwatcher, nor a soldier fighting on the front lines, but Lin Qiye’s classmate.
Unfortunately, the moment he transmigrated, he was stuck in this exact profession.
The moment Lu Ming realized this, his first thought was to transfer schools, leave Cangnan, and move to another city—at least staying far away from the protagonist, Lin Qiye.
Lin Qiye was the protagonist, protected by all sorts of powers!
Whether it was a Seraph or the Goddess of the Night, neither was something a minor transmigrator like Lu Ming could mess with.
Unfortunately, Lu Ming was an orphan in this life.
Having grown up in an orphanage with no anyone to rely on, transferring schools on his own strength was entirely impossible.
Besides, Lu Ming realized that even if he left Cangnan City, other cities would still have mysterious creatures and present equal dangers.
Rather than fleeing Cangnan and becoming collateral damage caught in some unforeseen disaster, it was better to keep a safe distance from Lin Qiye.
At least in the early stage, Lu Ming was relatively familiar with the plot of *Zhanshen*, and could use Lin Qiye as an anchor to gauge the current situation.
*I really regret it.
I only read the early plot of Zhanshen and didn’t catch up on the rest before dying!* Lu Ming maintained a cold expression, but inwardly he was filled with frustration.
*Seriously, where’s a transmigrator’s golden finger?
It’s been three days!
Without a cheat, I’m just cannon fodder in this world.* Over the past three days, Lu Ming had pondered numerous plans for the future.
In Cangnan No.
2 High School, there were three paths he could take— Lin Qiye, An Qingyu, and Li Yifei.
All three played significant roles in the future story.
However, Lin Qiye was the protagonist, meaning high danger surrounded him.
Li Yifei was tied to the Nanda Snake Demon; if things followed their normal course, he was destined to end up locked in a mental hospital.
Only An Qingyu remained.
At least in the early stage, as an “ordinary person,” An Qingyu would gain special abilities after the Nanda Snake Demon incident, and his surroundings seemed relatively safer.
And right now, Lu Ming was just an ordinary person himself…
Lu Ming closed his book, having made up his mind!
Unless something unexpected happened, he planned to stick closely to An Qingyu’s footsteps, at least until he survived the early plot…
Right at that moment, the classroom suddenly fell silent.
Lu Ming subconsciously looked up toward the doorway, where a boy wearing a black ribbon over his eyes appeared.
The classroom immediately burst into chatter.
“You must be Lin Qiye…” “Hey, let me show you to your seat…” The sudden arrival of Lin Qiye became the center of attention for the entire classroom.
The eggs Lin Qiye’s aunt had brought to the class earlier had filled the students of Class 2 with goodwill.
Lin Qiye was equally surprised by the classroom’s warm reception.
Knowing the preparations his aunt had made for him, he felt deeply moved as he followed a classmate to his seat.
“Everyone, open your textbooks to page…” After a brief greeting to Lin Qiye, the teacher began lecturing on Daxia’s history and its dire situation.
Most of the students listened attentively, but Lu Ming’s attention was no longer on the lesson.
Lin Qiye was mysterious and strong—the Agent of the Seraph Michael.
However, right now, even this divine proxy couldn’t capture Lu Ming’s attention.
Because the moment Lin Qiye appeared, a voice resonated in Lu Ming’s mind…
A voice that completely shattered his original plans.
[Become the Soul King’s Agent and obtain the power of a Soul Reaper!
Unlocking Zero Division privileges.
Please select your initial Detached Palace.] *Soul King?
Soul Reaper?
Zero Division?
Detached Palace?* Lu Ming stared at his textbook, but his mind was entirely consumed by the voice.
He might not know other powers, but when it came to Soul Reapers, he knew them inside and out.
Before transmigrating, he was a manga artist—and drew adult doujinshi at that…
Before dying of overwork, he had been drawing a story featuring Rangiku and Orihime.
He never expected that upon transmigrating into the world of *Zhanshen*, he would directly acquire the power of the supreme existence of the *Bleach* world—the Soul King.
Even though the Soul King was reduced to a limbless pillar in the *Bleach* universe, his power was unquestionably supreme.
Whether Soul Reapers, Quincies, or Hollows, all their powers originated from the Soul King.
*I shouldn’t complain!
Thank you, Soul King!
Thank you, golden finger!
Thank you, Lin Qiye!* Lu Ming realized that it was precisely the appearance of Lin Qiye—a Divine Agent—that had activated his cheat.
*What does choosing an initial Detached Palace mean?
The Detached Palaces are aerial cities bestowed by the Soul King upon the members of the Zero Division.
Is it letting me pick one as my base?* As Lu Ming mused, his mind grew hazy.
He slumped onto his desk, his consciousness drifting away as he sank into a dream.
…
When he opened his eyes again, Lu Ming found he was no longer in the classroom, but in a world of pure white.
He was standing on a long, white street.
At the end of the street, a four-tiered, spindle-shaped structure floated in the sky.
Surrounding this spindle-shaped structure were five floating circular islands.
Familiar with *Bleach* lore, Lu Ming instantly recognized where he was.
*The Soul King Palace!?* Lu Ming knew he was dreaming, and he knew he was inside the Soul King Palace.
*Lin Qiye has a Asylum of the Gods in his dreams.
Do I have a Soul King Palace in mine?* Lu Ming stomped on the stone paving beneath his feet.
It felt solid.
Though he was in a dream, the sensation was indistinguishable from reality.
“I’m currently on the Main Omotesando of the Soul King Palace.
That spindle structure in the sky should be the Great Inner Palace where the Soul King is sealed, and those five floating islands are the Detached Palaces of the Zero Division.” “How do I get to the Detached Palaces?
Can I go inside the Great Inner Palace to take a look?” Although Lin Qiye was blind due to the Seraph Michael, he had at least seen a god with his own eyes.
Lu Ming had transmigrated here out of nowhere and become the Soul King’s Agent—wouldn’t it be rude if he didn’t pay his respects to the Soul King?
Unfortunately, just like the gate of the mental hospital that blocked Lin Qiye for years, there was no path leading to the Soul King Great Inner Palace.
[Please select your initial Detached Palace!] As Lu Ming contemplated his next move, the voice sounded in his mind once more.
“I have to pick an initial Detached Palace before taking the next step, huh?
That’s pretty similar to Lin Qiye.
He has six mental asylum wards, and I have five Detached Palaces.
Talk about strong déjà vu!” Lu Ming gave a wry smile.
He knew that the choice of Detached Palace would likely dictate his future growth.
“Which Detached Palaces can I choose from?” The Zero Division had five members, each possessing a Detached Palace with different functions.
In this dream version of the Soul King Palace, no one else seemed to exist.
There was no sign of the five Zero Division members.
He was the only living person here, meaning no one would influence his choice.
Still, he had no intention of picking blindly.
Information was paramount.
Lu Ming didn’t know where this voice came from, but he believed it understood this dream Soul King Palace far better than he did.
[Please select your initial Detached Palace from among Kirin Palace, Tonden Palace, Phoenix Palace, and Shura Palace!] The voice provided more detailed options, and Lu Ming understood immediately.
“As expected, the palace of the Zero Division Leader, Ichibei Hyosube, isn’t available.
So Senjumaru Shutara’s palace is called Shura Palace?
I thought it’d be called Shutara Palace.” Lu Ming nodded slightly.
Selecting a Detached Palace was clearly choosing his corresponding specialization.
*Kirin Palace belongs to Tenjiro Kirinji, the Hot Spring Demon.
It focuses on healing injuries.* *Tonden Palace belongs to Kirio Hikifune, the Grain King.
It focuses on Reiatsu recovery and creating Mod Souls.* *Shura Palace belongs to Senjumaru Shutara, the Great Weaver.
She created the Shihakusho, so it should be related to defense and protection.* Information regarding the three palaces flashed through Lu Ming’s mind before settling on the Phoenix Palace.
Phoenix Palace belonged to the God of the Sword, Oetsu Nimaiya—the very creator of the Zanpakuto in the *Bleach* world!
In the world of *Bleach*, the Zanpakuto was the most iconic feature.
One could even say that the majority of a Soul Reaper’s power stemmed from the Zanpakuto in their hands.
As a transmigrator well-versed in *Bleach* lore, Lu Ming didn’t hesitate for a second.
Phoenix Palace was the most suitable for him.
What he needed right now was raw, unadorned power.
Healing, recovery, and defense were all great, but they didn’t suit his current situation.
Since he had become the Soul King’s Agent, shouldn’t he at least possess a Zanpakuto?
And only Phoenix Palace contained Zanpakuto.
“I choose…
Phoenix Palace!” As soon as Lu Ming spoke, he felt his body warp.
When he regained his senses, he was no longer on the Omotesando, but standing on a floating island high in the sky.
At the same time, his body was rendered immobile, pinned down so heavily he could barely breathe.
Lu Ming didn’t panic.
Remaining standing, he adjusted his breathing and slowly adapted to the environment of the Soul King Palace.
The spirit particle concentration in the Soul King Palace’s atmosphere was extremely high.
In *Bleach*, even lieutenant-level Soul Reapers would be crushed and unable to breathe upon entering, let alone an ordinary person like him.
He knew that only now had he truly stepped into the Soul King Palace.
Lu Ming closed his eyes.
After an unknown period, his body adapted to the density of Reishi, and his freedom of movement returned.
Slowly opening his eyes, he surveyed the surrounding cliffs encircled by seawater before turning around.
Behind him stood a quiet, thatched wooden hut.
A square plaque hung above it, inscribed with three Chinese characters— Phoenix Palace!