Daily Training (II)

In the following days, the Visored's base was plunged into an unprecedented atmosphere of tension.

Aside from short periods of Blade Zen and Reiatsu control training each day, Liu Ziyun spent most of his time "resting"—but in reality, everyone was secretly observing him and discovered that even when he was resting, the pair of phoenix and Golden Dragon Wristguards on his wrists always emitted faint Reiatsu fluctuations.

He was practicing Reiatsu control. It wasn't simply about gathering and releasing, but about the subtle manipulation of every strand of Reiatsu —the skill of allowing that power, which had already "transcended dimensions," to exist freely in this "low-dimensional" world.

Meanwhile, the members of the Visored engaged in heated discussions and experiments surrounding Mashiro Kuna's training.

A few days later, everyone gathered again to exchange information about their cultivation progress.

Liu Ziyun sat in the corner, the Wristguards on his wrist shimmering faintly under the light. He "looked" in Mashiro Kuna's direction, his tone carrying a hint of approval. "Now you're the only one who has started cultivating and communicating with the void within your body. How does it feel?"

Mashiro Kuna pouted, her face full of grievance. "I entered my Inner World as you said and saw my Zanpakuto. But it didn't want to communicate with me at all and kept trying to drive me away... I hadn't even said a few words before I was pushed out."

Her voice was tinged with obvious frustration. "This is so troublesome, ugh..."

A smile played at the corners of Liu Ziyun's lips, a smile devoid of mockery, only gentle understanding. "Then you must fight it. Let it see your resolve, let it acknowledge you—not as a master, but as a partner."

His voice turned serious. "Zanpakuto is a mirror image of the soul. Your attitude towards power, your determination in battle, your self-awareness... it sees it all and feels it all. If you only want to 'use' it, it will resist you. If you want to 'understand' it, it will respond to you."

He paused, then continued, "There's no other way; to gain power, you need to work constantly. And this power is inherent within you—it's not external, it's not imposed, it's your own."

His tone softened but remained firm. "To master these powers, you need to open your heart to them, while also maintaining a steadfast will, not being misled by the power, and guarding your true self."

Mashiro Kuna nodded thoughtfully.

Liu Ziyun to the others, her tone becoming more serious. "For you, it might be more difficult. My guess is that Mashiro Kuna didn't undergo Hollowfication extension training because the Hollow within her might have been more accepting of her—willing to cooperate with her from the beginning, which is why she didn't stop her from using her power."

He paused, then continued, "But even so, you must maintain a firm will during cultivation, not be misled by power, and guard your true self. Alright, you can continue your cultivation."

He stood up, the Wristguards on his wrist glowing faintly. "I need to continue my conversation with my Zanpakuto. I have no idea how to use my Bankai right now; I'll have to go ask how."

After saying that, he walked to a more secluded corner, sat down cross-legged, and took the Wristguards off his wrists. The moment the Wristguards landed in his palm, they emitted a soft light, and then slowly transformed—in the crimson-gold light, the two exquisite Wristguards gradually lengthened and flattened, transforming back into that transparent Zanpakuto containing three-colored light.

Liu Ziyun placed the knife horizontally on his lap and closed his eyes.

The Blade Zen begins.

The Inner World.

When Liu Ziyun's consciousness stepped into this familiar void again, he was no longer greeted by the previous indifference and vigilance. Life-Taker sat in the void, holding a transparent blade that was exactly the same as the Zanpakuto at his waist, and was wiping the blade with his head down. Tulu leaned against her, still looking like he didn't want to talk to anyone.

But Liu Ziyun could sense that this time, the atmosphere had clearly eased considerably.

He walked up with a smile, his tone as relaxed as if visiting an old friend. "Life-Taker, Tulu, how are you?"

Tulu turned his head to one side and snorted coldly, clearly still angry about what had happened earlier. But Life-Taker raised his head, a gentle smile on his face, "Ziyun, you're here again."

There was no blame or weariness in her tone, only a mother's understanding and patience. "Want to know how to use Bankai?"

Liu Ziyun nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes! Just like when I was training my Shikai, I want to train my Bankai with you all here, and you can teach me how to use it. Right now, I have the power, but I don't know how to use it. It's like holding a peerless sword but only knowing how to use it as a fire poker..."

Life-Taker softly and stood up. "Alright then, let's begin."

She raised her hand, and the transparent blade in her hand began to glow—not with the violent, uncontrolled light of Liu Ziyun, but with a gentle, steady, and natural rhythm, like breathing.

"Bankai-- "

The Life-Taker voice was calm and elegant, like the chanting of an ancient poem.

"Fate-Deciding God-Slayer."

A radiant light shone forth.

When the light subsided, its Life-Taker nature had completely changed.

She wore a long Jet-Black Robe embroidered with exquisite gold patterns. On her left chest, a crimson-gold phoenix spread its wings as if about to take flight; on her right chest, a five-clawed Golden Dragon coiled among the clouds. The collar was also embroidered with dragon and phoenix patterns, and on her back was a huge circular pattern interwoven with crimson and gold—the center of the pattern was a deep black void, surrounded by swirling and chasing dragons and phoenixes.

Behind her unfolded a pair of enormous Phoenix Wings made of Reiatsu, their plumage full and magnificent, each feather shimmering with a noble crimson-gold light.

She held a knife in each hand.

In his left hand was a long, elegant Tang Dao, its blade carved with a crimson-gold phoenix spreading its wings, its edge radiating a peaceful, healing, and rebirth-like light—that was "Decide Fate."

In his right hand was a heavy and imposing Tang Dao, its blade engraved with a coiled five-clawed Golden Dragon, its edge radiating a domineering, destructive, and judgmental light—that was "Slay God."

Life-Taker looked down at the twin swords in his hands and explained softly, "The left hand is 'Decide Fate,' meaning—my fate is in my own hands."

She raised her head and looked at Liu Ziyun, her eyes flashing with a gentle yet firm light. "The right hand is 'Slay God,' meaning—even gods can only be Tulu."

She paused, then smiled and said, "Alright, you can begin now."

Liu Ziyun a deep breath and stretched out his hands.

The Wristguards on his wrists—the crimson-gold phoenix and the five-clawed Golden Dragon —simultaneously emitted a dazzling light. Within the light, the Wristguards stretched out as if alive, gradually elongating and deforming, transforming into two Zanpakuto identical to those in the Life-Taker hand.

But that was the unreleased form—just ordinary, Shikai "Asauchi).

Liu Ziyun gripped his twin swords tightly, feeling the familiar yet unfamiliar pulse emanating from their blades. He closed his eyes and channeled his Reiatsu into the swords.

His voice was deep and focused.

" To Existence Is to Change Fate, to Life-Taker."

"Killing is just an impromptu game, Tulu."

Both swords were unleashed simultaneously. A holy, platinum-gold light intertwined with a destructive, dark red light, flowing and swirling around the blades.

Then, Liu Ziyun crossed his twin swords in front of his chest and unleashed his Reiatsu without reservation.

"Bankai-- "

His voice echoed in the void of his Inner World.

"Fate-Deciding God-Slayer!"

The light shone once more.

As the light subsided, Liu Ziyun's posture became perfectly symmetrical to that of the Life-Taker — Jet-Black Robe Dragon and Phoenix Embroidery, Phoenix Wings, and the swords "Death Decide Fate" and "Slay God" held in each hand.

Life-Taker looked at him, then nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. Well then... let's begin."

The moment she finished speaking, she moved.

It wasn't the previous barrage of deadly attacks, but rather restrained and precise swordplay, like a teacher instructing a student. Every strike was just right, putting pressure on Liu Ziyun without actually harming him; each attack clearly demonstrated the application of skill and power, allowing Liu Ziyun to learn and imitate intuitively.

Liu Ziyun immediately understood her intention. Without further hesitation, he swung his sword to meet her attack.

Twin swords clashed in the void. Platinum and dark red light intertwined, and crimson Phoenix Wings overlapped with crimson Phoenix Wings of the same color.

This is not a life-or-death struggle, but teaching, inheritance, and the passing on of knowledge.