Daily Training (1)

After his soul-searching conversation with Shinji Hirako and the others, Liu Ziyun did not remain in the training ground to endure the complex gazes of the crowd. He silently walked to a relatively secluded corner of the base, slowly sat down against the wall, and closed his eyes, which had long since lost all light.

For the members of the Visored, this posture was all too familiar—it was how Liu Ziyun entered a shallow meditation and Plus pressure. So, without disturbing him, they gathered on the other side of the training ground, forming a circle, and began to discuss in hushed tones.

Shinji Hirako leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his usually half-closed eyes now fully open, gleaming with deep thought. He looked around at his companions and broke the silence first. "I feel... we can try the cultivation path that Ziyun told us about."

His voice was deep and firm. "However, the key is to be careful to control the power of the Hollow and not let it consume us. I can sense that if what he said is true, we can at least reach the level of his Bankai —that's a leap in power, completely different from our current strength."

These words plunged everyone present into deep thought. Hiyori Sarugaki frowned, her face filled with conflict and doubt. After a moment's hesitation, she couldn't help but speak, "Can he... really be trusted?" Her voice held a hint of uncertainty. "He lets Aizen grow up so freely, could he have other motives? What if he's actually in Aizen..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Love Aikawa.

"He's trustworthy." Love Aikawa's voice was calm and resolute, without the slightest hesitation. "Besides, if he simply wanted to let Aizen grow stronger and profit from it, he wouldn't have risked exposing his hidden strength to save us in the first place. With his strength back then, he could have easily continued to lie low and watch us die."

Kensei Muguruma nodded vigorously, his thick eyebrows almost knitted together. "Don't worry, although Ziyun likes to hide and his words can be harsh, he's still a reliable person. Ever since our academy days, he's been like this—saying he 'doesn't care about you guys,' but every time something happens, he's the first one to rush in."

He paused, as if recalling something from the past, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips, "Remember that time we were doing our internship in Rukongai? We encountered a Gillian- level Menos Grande. Hirako wasn't very good at using Sakanade back then, and he almost got hit by Cero. It was Ziyun directly rammed him away with his body, taking Cero hit himself. At the time, he said he just 'happened out of the blue,' but after returning to the academy, he spent three days in the Medical Room."

Shinji Hirako remained silent and did not refute, but simply nodded slightly.

Lisa Yadōmaru adjusted her glasses, her expression as calm as ever. Her voice was soft, yet exceptionally clear. "When he was talking to me earlier, I could sense..." She paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully, "... that he seemed weary inside. It wasn't physical weariness, but rather the weariness of carrying a heavy burden for years. He said he wanted to go back to Soul Society to save others, and I could feel that he was sincere, not pretending for any ulterior motive."

Mashiro Kuna nodded vigorously, a naive smile on her face, "Yes, I also feel that he really cares about us. Although he always speaks sternly, his eyes... ah, even though he can't see, I can still feel that he's very gentle."

Hachigen Ushōda rarely spoke up. The burly former Assistant Kidō Chief spoke in a deep and steady voice, "Perhaps he really is doing this for us. Besides, if he had other motives, he wouldn't be giving us such detailed guidance on improving our strength. At his current level, there's absolutely no need for him to waste his time on us—just like humans wouldn't spend the effort teaching ants how to build an anthill."

Hiyori Sarugaki listened to everyone's comments, the doubt on her face gradually subsided, but she still refused to back down. "But... but his attitude was terrible! He kept calling us weaklings and trash, and his words were so awful. How could you all believe him so easily?"

Love Aikawa smiled, a smile tinged with nostalgia and relief, "Because he was our classmate. Back in the Shin'ō Academy, he was like that—tough on the outside but soft on the inside. He'd say 'Don't bother me,' but every time we encountered difficulties, he'd secretly help us."

He paused, his tone softening, "Besides, we were the ones who initially reached out to him. Back then, he was trying to avoid us, probably because he already foresaw our fate and didn't want to get involved. After all, we were deeply embroiled in this mess, and he probably found it troublesome—not that he disliked us, but he didn't want to change the future by interfering."

Shinji Hirako nodded, making his final decision. "Then let's begin our training in the direction he suggested."

He turned to Mashiro Kuna: "Mashiro Kuna, you go first. Just like he said, you didn't need to deliberately maintain the cultivation of your Hollowfication power from the beginning, which means that the ethereal within you has a higher degree of acceptance of you than we do. You should be able to reach the level he described more easily than we are."

Mashiro Kuna blinked, her face showing a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. "Okay, I'll try my best!"

However, ideals are often lofty, while reality is often harsh.

In the time that followed, the members of the Visored began to try to communicate with the Hollows within them. Following Liu Ziyun's advice, they attempted to enter their Inner World and try to feel the violent and unfamiliar power hidden deep within their souls.

But the result was disappointing.

Kensei Muguruma's eyes were tightly shut, his brow furrowed, and his expression gradually shifted from focused to pained. A few minutes later, he suddenly opened his eyes, gasping for breath, his forehead covered in cold sweat. "No... the moment I got close to that power, it became extremely violent, almost turning against me. I feel that if I force it any deeper, the Hollowfication might get out of control."

Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi wasn't in much better shape. He frowned, his voice filled with confusion. "I can feel its presence, but it completely ignores me. It's like a cold wall; no matter what I say or do, there's no response."

Love Aikawa, Lisa Yadōmaru, Hiyori Sarugaki... everyone encountered the same problem. That power belonging to the Hollow, like a wounded beast, curled up in the deepest part of the soul, wary and hostile, refusing any form of communication.

Only Mashiro Kuna successfully entered the Inner World —but it was merely "entering".

"I saw my Zanpakuto!" Mashiro Kuna opened his eyes, his face showing a complex expression of excitement and frustration. "But it wouldn't communicate with me at all, and kept trying to get rid of me... I said so many things, but it ignored me and finally just pushed me out."

The group looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.

In the end, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and approach the man who was leaning against the corner with his eyes closed, resting.

Liu Ziyun didn't open his eyes, but he clearly sensed the approach of the group. His voice was calm and languid. "Got a problem?"

Shinji Hirako sighed and briefly explained the situation. After listening, Liu Ziyun remained silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, "Blade Zen."

His voice was soft, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly. "Enter your Inner World, and ask your Zanpakuto. Your Zanpakuto is a part of your soul; it knows best the barrier between you and the Hollow."

He paused, then continued, "You can also communicate directly from within, trying to guide the power of the Hollows into your Inner World —however, I don't know if doing so might cause the Hollows to want to devour you."

He opened his eyes—though those eyes could not see any light, everyone felt that he was "watching" them.

"Gaining power is never easy. It requires opening your heart to accept it, and also overcoming it. At the same time, you must maintain your inner peace and reason, and not be misled by desires and power."

His tone was calm, yet it carried an indescribable weight. "This is the training of Zanpakuto, and also the training of Hollowfication power. The essence is the same—to converse with another 'self,' to understand it, to accept it, and then... to transcend it."

After saying that, he closed his eyes again and said nothing more.

Everyone left in silence.