The BOSS Got a Promotion (Part Two)

In the Real World, Underground Training Ground.

Liu Ziyun suddenly opened his eyes, the intense pain almost making him faint. He looked down at his abdomen—although there was no actual wound, a tearing pain shot through it, as if the knife that Tulu had truly pierced his body.

Worse still, he discovered that his body was covered in "spiritual wounds"—not physical injuries, but traumas on the level of the soul. Crimson-black pattern appeared on the surface of his skin, writhing like living things, each writhing bringing excruciating pain. His Reiatsu was almost exhausted, and he couldn't even cast the simplest Kaidō.

"What... what happened?" Liu Ziyun struggled to sit up, leaning against the cold wall, panting. "Why did Life-Taker and Tulu suddenly attack me? And they kicked me out without saying a word..."

He tried to mobilize the Reiatsu within his body, but found himself completely drained, with his Reiatsu circuits empty. The feeling of weakness was ten times worse than that of over-cultivation.

Left with no other choice, he could only find a relatively comfortable position to lie down and begin to slowly, little by little, gather Reishi. This process was so slow it was almost despairing, like a dried-up pond waiting for rain, but the rain was only a light drizzle.

Time passed quietly in the Underground Training Ground. After an unknown amount of time, Liu Ziyun finally recovered a trace of Reiatsu. He immediately used his Kaidō, and a green healing light enveloped his entire body.

But this time, the effect of Kaidō was negligible. Those wounds at the soul level could not be repaired by simple healing spells. He could feel that his spiritual structure had suffered some kind of deep damage, which would require time to slowly heal itself.

"I have to... get out of here..." Liu Ziyun gritted his teeth and struggled to his feet. Every movement sent a tearing pain through his body. He leaned against the wall and slowly made his way to the exit.

The journey back to the surface from the Underground Training Ground usually only takes a few minutes. This time, however, it took him a full two hours.

When he finally pushed open the door to the Underground Space and returned to the Fourth Division Barracks, it was already dawn. Several early-rising guards were startled to see him covered in spiritual wounds and walking with difficulty.

"Liu Ziyun? What happened to you?" A team member rushed forward to help him up.

"No... it's nothing..." Liu Ziyun forced a smile, "I ran into a little trouble with my cultivation... help me... help me arrange a hospital room..."

Before he could finish speaking, he could no longer hold on, his vision went black, and he fell forward.

When Liu Ziyun woke up again, he found himself lying in the Fourth Division's medical ward. The clean white sheets, the smell of disinfectant, and the soft sunlight streaming through the window—all of this told him that he was safe.

But he could sense that his physical condition was still terrible. The trauma to his soul made his Reiatsu recover extremely slowly, and every breath and every heartbeat brought a dull pain.

The door was gently pushed open, Retsu Unohana walked in.

She walked to the bedside and carefully examined Liu Ziyun. A hint of surprise flashed in his usually calm eyes.

"How did you train to get yourself into this state?" Unohana sat down on the chair beside the bed. "Is it Bankai?"

Liu Ziyun his head with a wry smile, trying to sit up, but the pain stopped him. "I haven't even figured out how to use Bankai yet... I just fought my Zanpakuto in my Inner World, and I got beaten up like this. Sigh... I'm still too weak, I can't even materialize my Zanpakuto."

Unohana was taken aback. "Is your Zanpakuto that strong? It could injure you like this in the Inner World. I thought that with your current strength, you shouldn't be in such a sorry state."

"That's why I said I'm weak," Liu Ziyun said honestly. "I haven't fully mastered my Shikai yet, which is why I fought my Zanpakuto in my Inner World, all to continuously familiarize myself with and master the power of my Shikai. Although I was seriously injured this time, the gains were plentiful."

Unohana asked thoughtfully, "So, have you completely taken control?"

"No," Liu Ziyun head. "It's just usable for now, but I'm far from having complete mastery of it. There are many abilities I need to figure out on my own. Life-Taker said she can't teach me. She said those abilities are unique to me and I need to understand and develop them myself."

Unohana looked at Liu Ziyun, a complex expression flashing in her eyes. She could sense that a profound change had occurred in Liu Ziyun. The restless, almost bursting dangerous aura he had exuded before had vanished, replaced by a deep, restrained peace. It wasn't weakness, but rather a higher state—like a raging sea returning to calm, but beneath that calm lay a more profound power.

"Well, looks like I can't count on you in the future either, you're so weak." Unohana said deliberately in a disdainful tone, but there was no real contempt in her eyes.

She paused, her tone turning serious. "Oh, by the way, I have some news for you. Captain Hirako has promoted Sōsuke Aizen to Lieutenant."