Learning Bankai (1)

The moment Liu Ziyun from his Blade Zen, the atmosphere in the entire training ground subtly changed.

That oppressive feeling, that suffocating Reiatsu fluctuation, receded rapidly like the receding tide, eventually disappearing completely from his body. The illusory wounds on his body caused by the Reiatsu also healed in an instant, and even his torn clothes were restored to their original state—not repaired, but intervened by some higher-level power.

Liu Ziyun slowly opened his eyes—although those eyes were still empty, everyone present could "feel" that he was "watching" them.

He stood up, his movements calm and graceful, as if he had simply finished a routine meditation. Then, he turned to Kisuke Urahara and the Visoreds, a genuine smile on his face.

That smile held none of his usual cynicism or deliberate mockery, only pure gratitude and joy.

"It's finally finished." Liu Ziyun's voice was soft, yet clearly reached everyone's ears. "Thank you all for your help. Without your assistance, I might have had to try countless more times in the Soul Society."

His tone carried an unusual sincerity, which made the members of the Visored, who were used to being mocked by him, feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Kisuke Urahara adjusted his hat brim, his eyes gleaming with a complex light beneath the shadows. "So... Mr. Liu, how much has your strength improved? Can you sense the specific changes?"

Liu Ziyun looked down at the Zanpakuto at his waist, which lay quietly in its sheath, like a sleeping deity.

"To be honest," Liu Ziyun looked up, "I don't know either. I just learned Bankai, so I don't think it will improve much. But once I get more familiar with it, I should see a lot of progress."

These words elicited subtle expressions from everyone present.

A person who has just mastered Bankai and can fight two Captain-level Zanpakuto to a draw, saying that his strength "hasn't improved much"—only he himself would believe such a thing.

Kisuke Urahara paused for a moment, then asked a question that piqued everyone's curiosity, "Then... would you mind demonstrating your Bankai and abilities? Let's see just how powerful the legendary 'Blade of Fate' truly is."

Liu Ziyun laughed, "Sure. I'd like to show you anyway, even if you didn't tell me, and also explore your abilities. To be honest, I've only just learned them, and the specific abilities... Life-Taker and Tulu didn't tell me."

He paused, then added, "Perhaps, I need to discover it myself."

Upon hearing this, Shinji Hirako wore his signature languid smile, but his eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Then, Ziyun, begin your performance."

"Performance?" Liu Ziyun glanced at him, his tone tinged with displeasure. "Do you think I'm a monkey in a circus?"

Despite saying that, he still walked to the center of the training field to make sure he had enough space.

Then, he gripped the hilt of the knife at his waist.

In that instant, everyone could "feel" that Liu Ziyun's entire demeanor had changed.

That wasn't an increase in Reiatsu, nor a surge in aura; it was a more fundamental and essential change. It was like a painting suddenly transforming from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, or a puppet suddenly gaining life.

Liu Ziyun slowly drew his Zanpakuto, the blade tracing a graceful arc in the air.

"Bankai-- "

His voice was calm and clear, yet it resonated like thunder in everyone's hearts.

"Fate-Deciding God-Slayer."

The moment he finished speaking, the Reiatsu Liu Ziyun erupted completely, like a volcano that had been dormant for millions of years.

That wasn't an improvement, nor an increase, but a "release"—a power that had been suppressed for a century, pouring out without reservation at this moment.

But what's even more astonishing is that this burst of Reiatsu lasted for an extremely short time.

In the perception of Kisuke Urahara and the others, Liu Ziyun's Reiatsu did indeed surge to an incredible height in an instant—a level they had never sensed, or even imagined. But just as it reached its peak, that Reiatsu suddenly...

It disappeared.

It's not a weakening, not a convergence, but a complete and utter disappearance.

At the same time, a crimson-black light burst forth from the Zanpakuto's blade, enveloping Liu Ziyun entirely. The light swirled and condensed, forming a pillar of light that reached the heavens and the earth.

The beam of light lasted for about three seconds, then exploded with a bang.

Fragments of crimson-gold light fell like a torrential rain, slowly dissipating in the air of the training ground, as beautiful as a dream.

At the center of the light, Liu Ziyun's figure slowly appeared.

Everyone gasped.

That's still Liu Ziyun, but it's not Liu Ziyun.

His Shihakusho had vanished, replaced by a magnificent and imposing black Mystic Robe. The Mystic Robe was embroidered with exquisite gold patterns, which were not decorations but rather some kind of complex, flowing Kidō Runes, shimmering with a profound light under the lamplight.

The most eye-catching feature is the embroidery on the Mystic Robe —on the left chest, a crimson-gold phoenix spreads its wings as if about to take flight, every feather meticulously detailed and lifelike; on the right chest, a five-clawed Golden Dragon coils among the clouds, its scales clearly defined, exuding majesty. These two mythical beasts are not static embroidery, but rather slowly flowing and rotating living creatures, as if they might burst out of the Mystic Robe at any moment.

The upright collar is also embroidered with dragon and phoenix patterns on both sides, echoing the embroidery on the chest. On the back of the Mystic Robe is a huge circular pattern interwoven with crimson and gold. At the center of the pattern is a deep black space, like an endless void; and surrounding this void are swirling and intertwining crimson and gold phoenixes and five-clawed Golden Dragons, chasing each other and forming an endless cycle.

Even more astonishing was the pair of enormous wings that unfurled from Liu Ziyun's back.

Those were not physical wings, but translucent Phoenix Wings made of pure Reiatsu. The wings were a noble crimson gold, and each feather was made up of countless fine Reishi, fluttering slowly in the air and scattering specks of light.

His hands also changed.

On her left Wristguards was an exquisite crimson-gold phoenix embroidered on it, and in her hand she held a Tang Dao similar to the Shikai "Life-Taker". The blade was long and elegant, with a crimson-gold phoenix with outstretched wings carved on its surface, and a peaceful, healing, and rebirth-like light flowing across its edge.

A majestic five-clawed Golden Dragon is embroidered on the right Wristguards, and in his hand he holds a Tang Dao similar to the Shikai "Tulu". The blade is thick and imposing, with a coiled five-clawed Golden Dragon carved on its surface, and the blade radiates a domineering, destructive, and judgmental light.

Liu Ziyun looked down at the changes in his body, feeling the unprecedented power fluctuations emanating from the blade. His face showed no excitement or pride, only a calm, almost contemplative expression.

Then, he sighed.

"Sigh..." Liu Ziyun looked up, "He still looks pretty cool, but my Bankai seems incomplete. Apart from the increased Reiatsu, I didn't sense any other special abilities."

His tone carried a hint of disappointment, as if he was not satisfied with the result.

These words stunned everyone present.