Training the Soul Reapers Stationed in the World of the Living (1)

Meanwhile, at the Martial Arts Hall, Liu Ziyun's attitude towards Ikkaku Madarame was somewhat perplexing.

Starting the next day, Liu Ziyun began practicing sparring with Ikkaku Madarame. At first, Ikkaku Madarame thought it was just a normal sparring match, so he readily agreed. As the Third Seat of the 11th Division, he was known for his fighting spirit and never backed down when facing an opponent.

However, he soon discovered that the battle was far more difficult than he had imagined.

Liu Ziyun's fighting style was unpredictable and varied, with sharp and precise moves. Every strike perfectly suppressed Ikkaku Madarame's counterattacks. What frustrated Ikkaku Madarame even more was that Liu Ziyun seemed to know his strength inside and out, always finding a weakness in his most proficient moves.

"What's wrong, Ikkaku? Is this all you've got?" Liu Ziyun said in a slightly provocative tone while easily parrying Ikkaku Madarame's attacks.

Ikkaku Madarame gritted his teeth, swinging his Zanpakuto even more fiercely. His Zanpakuto, "Hōzukimaru," displayed a variety of forms in the battle, sometimes as a three-section staff, sometimes as a spear, each move sharp and fierce, yet it could never break through Liu Ziyun's defense.

"Not enough!" Liu Ziyun's voice rang out again, "If this is all you've got, then I'm truly disappointed."

A flash of anger crossed Ikkaku Madarame's eyes. He took a deep breath, his Reiatsu surging, and his swordplay becoming even more ferocious. However, even so, he still couldn't gain the slightest advantage over Liu Ziyun.

While parrying his attacks, Liu Ziyun thoughtfully observed his fighting style. Gradually, he realized a problem— Ikkaku Madarame had not used Bankai.

As a veteran combatant of the 11th Division, Ikkaku Madarame's strength far exceeds what he displays on the surface. Liu Ziyun had heard that Ikkaku Madarame had actually mastered Bankai long ago, but for certain reasons, he never easily showed it to others. This was an open secret in Soul Society, but few people knew the specific reasons.

Liu Ziyun decided to test him. He suddenly exerted his strength, sending Ikkaku Madarame staggering back several steps with a single strike, then said calmly, "Ikkaku, use your Bankai. Otherwise, you are no match for me."

Ikkaku Madarame paused for a moment, then shook his head. "No, I can't use Bankai here."

Liu Ziyun frowned slightly. "Why? There's no one else here. What are you afraid of?"

Ikkaku Madarame was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "This is my rule. Bankai can only be used when truly necessary."

Liu Ziyun stared at him for a moment, then suddenly sneered, "When is it truly necessary? When is it truly necessary? When your opponent wants to kill you? When your partner is in danger? Or are you just making excuses for your cowardice?"

Ikkaku Madarame's expression changed. He Zanpakuto tightly and said in a deep voice, "I don't need you to tell me what to do."

"Very well." Liu Ziyun's smile vanished, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Then I'll show you with my strength just how ridiculous your persistence is."

Before he finished speaking, his figure vanished from the spot. The next instant, he appeared beside Ikkaku Madarame, his sword slashing down with a sharp whooshing sound.

Ikkaku Madarame was shocked and hurriedly raised his sword to block. However, the power of Liu Ziyun's sword strike far exceeded his expectations, making his hand go numb and causing him to stagger backward. Before he could regain his footing, Liu Ziyun's second sword strike came down.

The ensuing battle turned into a one-sided crushing defeat. Liu Ziyun displayed overwhelming strength, each strike precise and ruthless, forcing Ikkaku Madarame to retreat step by step. Ikkaku Madarame attempted to counterattack, but each of his attacks was easily neutralized by Liu Ziyun, while each of Liu Ziyun's counterattacks left new wounds on him.

"Use Bankai!" Liu Ziyun's voice, like a death knell, rang repeatedly in Ikkaku Madarame's ears.

But Ikkaku Madarame gritted his teeth and refused to use his Bankai. His body was covered in wounds, and blood dripped down his clothes, pooling on the ground in a shocking red stain, but his eyes still burned with an indomitable flame.

A flicker of approval crossed Liu Ziyun's mind, but his offensive didn't falter in the slightest. He knew that to change this stubborn bald warrior's mind, words alone wouldn't suffice; he needed to use harsher realities to make him understand that while adhering to principles is admirable, blind adherence only leads to pointless sacrifices.

Finally, after a heavy blow, Ikkaku Madarame could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness. His body was covered in wounds, and his breath was weak, clearly indicating that he had suffered serious injuries.

Liu Ziyun his sword, knelt down to examine Ikkaku Madarame's injuries, and after confirming that he was only unconscious and not in mortal danger, he stood up and said to Yumichika Ayasegawa, who was watching the battle from the sidelines, "Carry him back to his room to rest."

Yumichika Ayasegawa nodded silently and stepped forward to help the unconscious Ikkaku Madarame. His gaze lingered on Liu Ziyun for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—admiration, doubt, and a hint of wariness.

Liu Ziyun seemed to sense his gaze and turned to look at him. They stared at each other for a moment, then Liu Ziyun suddenly smiled slightly, "That stubborn mule refused to use Bankai, and I almost killed him. Now, do you want to learn from him? Fight me without using your Zanpakuto's true power?"

He looked at the serious-looking man in front of him, his tone clearly puzzled. "What are you talking about? I don't quite understand."

Liu Ziyun didn't offer much explanation, simply uttering a few words: "Now it's up to you to see how you perform."

Before he could finish speaking, his figure had already vanished from the spot. The next instant, a sharp gust of wind came from the side, aiming straight for Yumichika Ayasegawa's vitals.

Yumichika Ayasegawa was shocked and hurriedly drew his sword to block. The two Zanpakuto clashed, sparking dazzling sparks. The enormous impact made Yumichika Ayasegawa's arm go numb, and he staggered back several steps.

However, Liu Ziyun's offensive did not stop there. As soon as the first strike landed, the second strike followed immediately. His swordsmanship was sharp and precise, forcing Yumichika Ayasegawa to deal with each strike with all his might. In just a few rounds, Yumichika Ayasegawa was already flustered and sweat was beading on his forehead.

"What... what are you doing?!" Yumichika Ayasegawa parried the attack.

Liu Ziyun did not answer, but his attacks became even more ferocious. His eyes were calm and sharp, as if he were scrutinizing something, or as if he were waiting for something.

Yumichika Ayasegawa gritted his teeth, knowing that defeat was inevitable if things continued this way. He took a deep breath, his Reiatsu surging, and his Zanpakuto transformed. "Bloom, Fuji Kujaku!"