Lin Huang did not hesitate for even a second.
Wrapping Grimmjow tightly with his snake tail, he immediately activated Sonído and fled from the area at full speed.
If he remembered correctly, Ashido had wandered the Forest of Menos ever since becoming stranded in Hueco Mundo, continuously hunting Menos Grande until Ichigo’s group invaded Hueco Mundo hundreds of years later.
Even by then, he was still carrying out his endless hunt.
According to the original story, Ashido belonged to the same era as the Seventh Kenpachi, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.
That meant he had remained trapped inside Hueco Mundo since the age of the Seventh Kenpachi, hunting Menos Grande for nearly five centuries before the main story even began.
Ashido’s strength was undoubtedly Captain class.
Moreover, he wasn’t merely an average Captain like Kensei Muguruma during his early years.
Even among Captains, Ashido was considered exceptionally powerful.
To contend against a Captain class Shinigami, one generally needed the strength of at least a High Adjuchas after undergoing Arrancarfication.
Ashido himself was clearly far stronger than an ordinary Captain.
As for those two Lower Adjuchas…
Attempting to surround and kill Ashido with several hundred Gillians was nothing more than courting death.
“Boss…
aren’t we going to fight?” Grimmjow asked in confusion.
Lin Huang remained silent.
Without saying a single word, he continued dragging Grimmjow while repeatedly using Sonído to widen the distance between them and Ashido.
Only after nearly an hour had passed, and after confirming that Ashido hadn’t pursued them, did Lin Huang finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
“Let’s go.” “We’ll change direction and continue hunting.” Leading Grimmjow along another route, Lin Huang resumed searching for territories occupied by other Adjuchas.
Hueco Mundo possessed the largest territory among the Three Worlds.
Even the Human World and Soul Society combined couldn’t compare to its sheer size.
Naturally, the Forest of Menos was equally boundless.
At this stage…
His most important objective remained quietly increasing his strength.
When encountering an opponent he couldn’t defeat, like Ashido…
Avoiding the battle altogether was the wisest choice.
Meanwhile…
Standing atop a giant tree trunk…
Ashido slowly raised his Zanpakutō before bringing it down in a single effortless slash.
The two Lower Adjuchas were instantly cut down.
After being slain by a Zanpakutō, the bodies of the two Hollows rapidly dissolved into spirit particles, leaving behind only two bone white Hollow masks.
Ashido calmly attached the two Adjuchas Hollow masks to the fur cloak draped across his back.
Looking closely…
That cloak was already densely covered with countless Hollow masks.
Every single one represented an Adjuchas Menos Grande that had fallen beneath his blade.
After collecting his trophies…
Ashido slowly turned his gaze toward the direction where Lin Huang had fled.
A trace of doubt appeared in his eyes.
Just moments earlier…
He had vaguely sensed an unusual Spiritual Pressure.
He quietly stared into the distance for several moments before finally turning away without pursuing further.
Several days later…
Lin Huang and Grimmjow entered the territory of another Adjuchas.
This Hollow possessed the head of a wild boar while standing upright like a human.
Its entire body was covered with dense, needle-like bristles that radiated the Spiritual Pressure of a Mid Adjuchas.
Lin Huang immediately activated Stealth, concealing both his presence and Spiritual Pressure before silently approaching the Pig Hollow.
At that moment…
The Pig Hollow was greedily devouring the corpse of a Gillian, displaying thoroughly disgusting table manners.
Still hidden beneath Stealth…
Lin Huang suddenly raised the Sword Scales at the end of his tail before slashing downward with all his strength.
Clang!
The sound of metal colliding exploded across the battlefield.
Although the strike landed directly upon the Pig Hollow’s bristle covered neck…
It produced nothing more than a shower of sparks.
It failed to inflict any serious injury.
Feeling the pain…
The Pig Hollow immediately spun around in fury, scraps of Gillian flesh still hanging from the corners of its mouth.
“ROAR!” With a furious roar…
Its pair of massive crimson claws swung violently toward the now visible Lin Huang.
Lin Huang immediately used Sonído to retreat.
“So tough?” He couldn’t help feeling surprised.
He had never expected the defensive power of those dense bristles to be so formidable that even a full powered strike from Stealth couldn’t kill the opponent instantly.
“ROAR!” The enraged Pig Hollow roared again, intending to summon its Gillian subordinates.
Only then did it discover…
Every nearby Gillian had already been lured away by Grimmjow.
After devouring countless Gillian Hollow masks…
Grimmjow’s Spiritual Pressure had increased tremendously.
Combined with his naturally agile physique…
His speed had reached an astonishing level.
Using countless feints and sudden turns…
He continuously toyed with the pursuing Gillians.
No matter how enraged they became…
Not a single one could even touch him.
Meanwhile…
Only Lin Huang and the Pig Hollow remained facing one another.
Covering the bleeding wound on its neck with one hand…
The Pig Hollow suddenly caused the countless green bristles covering its body to erupt outward.
Thousands of razor sharp needles filled the sky like an endless rainstorm before shooting toward Lin Huang.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
The dense barrage of needles seemed endless.
They sealed off every possible direction of escape.
“Troublesome…” Lin Huang twisted his massive serpent body while pushing Sonído to its absolute limit, narrowly avoiding the relentless bombardment.
“Damn…” “Just how much hair does this guy have?” Even after fighting for quite some time…
Lin Huang noticed that the Pig Hollow still retained well over half of its bristles.
He couldn’t help feeling speechless.
Facing such a wide area indiscriminate attack…
Lin Huang continued refining his Sonído through constant movement.
His speed became faster.
His movements became increasingly fluid.
Clearly…
None of these Mid Adjuchas were weak opponents.
Fortunately…
Neither was Lin Huang.
Each life and death battle continuously refined his combat experience.
The awkwardness he displayed during his earliest battles had long since disappeared.
“If you’re fast…” “I’ll simply become even faster.” Faced with the endless storm of steel needles…
Lin Huang’s Sonído improved once again.
While continuously weaving through the barrage…
He suddenly noticed something.
Within approximately five zhang directly in front of the Pig Hollow…
There existed a complete blind spot.
Not a single steel needle was fired into that area.
Clearly…
The Pig Hollow feared injuring itself.
Without any hesitation…
Lin Huang activated Sonído once more and instantly charged straight into that opening.
The Sword Scales wrapped in dense purple Spiritual Pressure once again thrust directly toward the Pig Hollow’s head.
Watching the Sword Scales pierce through the defensive barrage…
The confidence on the Pig Hollow’s face instantly transformed into panic.
To maintain that overwhelming barrage…
It had already fired away an enormous number of its defensive bristles.
Naturally…
Its own defensive capability had declined significantly.
The Pig Hollow hurriedly ceased firing needles before activating Sonído in an attempt to retreat.
Unfortunately…
Its bloated body greatly reduced the speed of its Sonído.
Compared to Lin Huang…
The difference was obvious.
Within moments…
Lin Huang had already closed the distance.
Seeing the Sword Scales rapidly approaching…
The Pig Hollow’s face became filled with terror.
At the critical moment…
It opened its mouth and fired dozens of Bala simultaneously in an attempt to intercept the incoming strike.
Lin Huang reacted instantly.
The Sword Scales at the end of his tail flickered repeatedly.
Dozens of Bala burst forth as well, accurately intercepting every incoming projectile.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The colliding Bala produced violent explosions, filling the battlefield with dust.
Whoosh!
A blade of purple light suddenly tore through the smoke without warning.
Wrapped in overwhelming Spiritual Pressure…
The Sword Scales once again struck precisely toward the already bleeding wound on the Pig Hollow’s neck.
“No!” “You can’t kill me!” Facing certain death…
The Pig Hollow screamed in absolute terror.
“I serve Lord Derek Leck!” “If you kill me…” “Lord Derek will never forgive you!” Lin Huang completely ignored the desperate threat.
The Sword Scales swept cleanly across the previous wound.
A massive pig head flew into the sky.
“Derek Leck…” After removing the Pig Hollow’s Hollow mask and beginning to chew…
Lin Huang quietly pondered the name shouted just before its death.
To be respectfully addressed as “Lord” by a Mid Adjuchas…
Even a High Adjuchas…
Or perhaps even a Peak Adjuchas…
Would rarely receive such reverence.
This Derek Leck…
Was very likely a Vasto Lorde.
Searching through every memory from his previous life…
Lin Huang discovered that this was the first time he had ever heard that name.
“A Vasto Lorde who never appeared in the original story…” “Interesting.”