The Battle Begins

The two swords were merged into a single, ordinary-looking longsword.

But this time, there was no towering pillar of Reiatsu, no dazzling light, and not even the slightest leakage of Reishi.

Musashi gripped the ordinary single-edged sword with both hands, his entire being seemingly becoming one with the surrounding space.

She casually swung her knife with an unremarkable motion.

This single strike, simple and unadorned, seemed to contain an absolute concept powerful enough to cleave the entire world in two!

With this simple swing.

In the void, a thin white line, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, flashed silently.

"Pfft--!"

Xuanxin didn't even see the trajectory of the slash before the massive dharma image of the Bright King behind him collapsed and disintegrated in an instant. Immediately afterward, an irresistible and terrifying force poured down on him.

Xuanxin flew backward like a cannonball and crashed heavily into the wall at the edge of the training ground.

"Cough..."

Xuanxin spat out a mouthful of blood; a deep, narrow knife wound, revealing bone, had appeared on his chest! The blood instantly stained the white Captain's Haori.

"Xuanxin!"

Seeing this, Yoruichi, who was standing on the sidelines, could no longer remain calm. She exclaimed, activated her full-power Shunpo, and rushed into the arena, anxiously supporting Xuanxin who had slipped and fallen to the ground.

"Don't worry, little girl."

Musashi split his longsword back into two swords, tucked them back into his waistband, and slowly walked over, saying casually, "Just some superficial wounds. I knew what I was doing and avoided all the vital points."

Soon, Retsu Unohana also appeared beside Xuanxin. She didn't say a word, but skillfully pressed her hand on Xuanxin's deep, bone-revealing wound.

Under Retsu Unohana's superb medical skills, the horrific wound began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Musashi then walked up to Xuanxin, looking down at his Master who was receiving treatment, his eyes filled with relief.

"Young man, I am very satisfied with your efforts over this period of time. However, the path of the sword has no end. You need to learn to compress that immense power into the ultimate 'one'."

Despite the pain, Xuanxin nodded thoughtfully.

The image of Musashi compressing the Myō-ō and that final, stunning strike had already shown him the way.

"As for that insurmountable bottleneck you mentioned..."

Musashi his arms and suddenly revealed a mysterious smile.

She slowly turned her head and cast a meaningful glance at Retsu Unohana, who was bowing her head and concentrating on treating Xuanxin.

"I have an excellent suggestion."

Chapter 67 The Beginning of the Battle

At this moment, the empty underground secret training ground was filled with a strong smell of blood and the lingering sword intent.

Upon hearing Musashi's words, Xuanxin, who was lying on the ground receiving treatment, suddenly had a terrifying glint in his eyes, which had been dull from exhaustion!

He didn't even care about the deep, bone-revealing knife wound in his chest. He tried to sit up abruptly, but Retsu Unohana pressed him back down with one hand.

"What suggestion? Tell me!!" Xuanxin endured the tearing pain and stared intently at the sword spirit standing to the side, pressing for an answer.

Seeing Xuanxin's gaze, Musashi crossed his arms, a wild and confident smile curving his lips, and said matter-of-factly:

"Isn't that simple? Since there's a hard shell called a 'bottleneck' blocking your way, why not just break it completely with a knife?"

Upon hearing this, Xuanxin rolled his eyes in annoyance and couldn't help but complain:

"Nonsense! Don't I know I need to break it? The key question is, how exactly do I break it now?!"

Hearing Xuanxin's complaint, Musashi shook his head helplessly and said, "What a dullard, kid."

After saying that, a deep meaning flashed in Musashi's eyes, and he guided her by asking, "Think back carefully to the first bottleneck in your Shinigami career. How did you break through it back then? You haven't forgotten, have you?"

Upon hearing this, Xuanxin's mind raced, and suddenly, as if remembering something, he muttered to himself, "How could I forget..."

But before he could finish speaking, Xuanxin seemed to realize something, and his pupils suddenly contracted:

"Wait! You mean... I still need a real life-or-death battle?!"

Musashi snapped his fingers and said without hesitation, "Yes, that's right! Only the purest threat of death can force out your full potential. Besides, I've already found someone to help you break through. Isn't that thoughtful?"

"Who is it?" Xuanxin asked instinctively.

"It's so far away, yet so close at hand."

Musashi's mischievous gaze slowly fell on Retsu Unohana, who was squatting beside Xuanxin, his tone tinged with amusement and anticipation:

"And I think this lady would be more than happy to help you with this small favor, wouldn't she?"

Upon hearing this, the air in the entire training ground seemed to freeze for a moment.

Retsu Unohana's hands, which had been steadily outputting Kaidō Reishi, paused slightly.

Then, she slowly raised her head.

On that eternally gentle and dignified face, all the softness vanished in that instant, replaced by a radiant smile that chilled everyone to the bone!

In the depths of her dark eyes, it seemed as if mountains of corpses and seas of blood were churning.

Although Retsu Unohana's voice was still as gentle as a lover's whisper, it was filled with an endless thirst for killing.

"Of course. And thank you for your hospitality."

Upon hearing those last four words, Yoruichi Shihōin, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn't sit still any longer. She immediately turned her gaze to the two of them, glaring at Musashi with a displeased expression, and loudly protested:

"Why does it have to be her! Can't I do it too? Our Stealth Force assassination techniques can just as effectively corner someone!"

Upon hearing this, Musashi smiled gently.

She walked calmly to Yoruichi, her worldly-wise eyes meeting Yoruichi's jealous golden eyes, and pointed out the crux of the problem:

"Of course you can't. Little girl, ask yourself honestly, in a real battle, would you be willing to beat Xuanxin to death?"

Yoruichi was stunned. She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Musashi's words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the flame in Yoruichi's Isshin. Yoruichi knew she couldn't refute Musashi's words, so she reluctantly bit her lip, finally averting her gaze and sighing in resignation.

"Okay then. We'll do it your way."

After dealing with Yoruichi, Musashi turned his attention back to Xuanxin.

Xuanxin glanced at Retsu Unohana, whose cheeks were flushed with an eerie blush of excitement, and then at Yoruichi, whose face was etched with worry. He took a deep breath, banishing all his distracting thoughts, and nodded solemnly.

"I understand. Thank you then."

Seeing that Xuanxin had finally made up his mind, Musashi clapped his hands in satisfaction, then turned and walked towards the gate of the training ground.

Just as he reached the door, Musashi suddenly stopped, as if remembering something important, and abruptly turned around to Xuanxin, saying:

"Oh right, I almost forgot the important thing. I used up a lot of my spiritual energy just to be your sparring partner. You don't need it now anyway, so lend me some of your Reiatsu. I finally got out of the city, I need to take a good stroll around Seireitei!"

"Ha?!"

Before Xuanxin could react to this outrageous request, he was horrified to feel that the Reiatsu within his body, which was already nearly depleted from continuous battles, was being frantically drawn towards Musashi's body as if it had encountered a black hole!

"Wait... wait! Leave me some..."

Xuanxin watched helplessly as his Reiatsu plummeted to almost nothing. He was about to call for a halt when darkness descended first. He fainted before he could even finish speaking.

"Xuanxin?!"

Seeing this, Yoruichi gasped in alarm and rushed forward to check his breathing.

"Don't worry, Captain Shihoin."

Retsu Unohana's previous fervent demeanor vanished, replaced by a gentle smile. The light from the Kaidō in her hand shone once more, steadily covering Xuanxin's wound:

"Captain Xuanxin's temporary unconsciousness is due to a slight depletion of Reiatsu; he will fully recover after a couple more days of rest."

Under Retsu Unohana's treatment, Xuanxin's terrifying knife wound on his chest was quickly healed completely, leaving not even a scar.

After the treatment, Retsu Unohana stood up gracefully and straightened her black shihaka uniform.

She looked at Yoruichi, her voice filled with undisguised anticipation, and said softly:

"Captain Shihoin, please convey this message to him after he wakes up: I... am ready to face Captain Xuanxin's challenge at any time."

After saying that, Retsu Unohana nodded slightly, turned around, and left the underground training ground with light steps.

In the empty basement, only the unconscious Xuanxin and the helpless Yoruichi remained.

Yoruichi sighed, and could only carry Xuanxin on her shoulder like a sandbag, then leaped away from the training ground and took him back to his bedroom in the main house.

After settling Xuanxin, Yoruichi pushed open the door, waved to the shadows outside, and called over her adjutant Soi Fon.

"Soi Fon, go to the First Division again. Tell the Captain-Commander that Captain Xuanxin had a minor accident during training and needs to rest due to overexertion of his Reiatsu. Also, ask for a few days off for myself; I need to stay home and take care of this idiot."

Yoruichi rubbed her temples and gave the order, looking somewhat tired.

Upon hearing this, Soi Fon stood still, her gaze passing over Yoruichi's shoulder, and secretly glancing at Xuanxin, who was lying unconscious and pale on the bed in the room. Her expression became somewhat hesitant.

"What's wrong? Is there something else?" Yoruichi asked, puzzled.

Soi Fon took a deep breath, her pretty face flushed red, as if she had mustered all the courage she had in her life, and said loudly with her eyes closed:

"Lady Yoruichi! Although I shouldn't interfere in your private affairs, but... but Seigen said... there are some things you should... restrain yourself from a little!"

After saying this, Soi Fon didn't dare to look at Yoruichi's expression. She immediately activated Shunpo and disappeared from the spot in a gust of wind, running towards the First Division as if her life depended on it.

And in the corridor.

Yoruichi Shihōin remained in the same posture as when she gave the instructions, completely petrified as if struck by lightning.

A gentle breeze blew by, swirling up a few fallen leaves, creating an atmosphere of exceptional desolation and awkwardness.

"What the hell is this?! Who needs to restrain themselves?!"

Above the main residence of the Shihoin Clan, Yoruichi's frantic and inexplicable roar echoed.

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

Under the combined nourishment of the Fourth Division's special medicinal soup and the Shihoin Clan's abundant tonics, Xuanxin has fully recovered to his peak condition.

Meanwhile, Musashi, who had been "wandering" for several days, returned to Xuanxin's side as Reishi, completely satisfied.

One morning, Xuanxin and Retsu Unohana walked side by side into Captain-Commander Yamamoto's study and formally submitted their application to go to the desolate area of Rukongai for a "breakthrough battle".

After hearing their requests, a long silence fell over the study.

Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, leaning on his cane, opened his eyes, his gaze shifting between Xuanxin and Retsu Unohana several times before he silently sighed inwardly.

As the founder of the entire Gotei 13, he was well aware of Retsu Unohana's true nature, so Captain-Commander Yamamoto also understood how fierce and dangerous this so-called "battle" would be once it began.

One is a young Kenpachi representing the strongest potential of the new era; the other is a villain buried deep in the past, an unprecedented and unparalleled villain in history!

Captain-Commander Yamamoto then remained silent for a long time.

He could sense Xuanxin's strong determination to break through the boundaries, and he could also see Retsu Unohana's longing that had been suppressed for a thousand years.

"North of Rukongai in the District 80 Zaraki District lies a desolate desert stretching for hundreds of miles, where not a single blade of grass grows."