Kido Isn't That Hard (Third Update—Please Follow, Bookmark, and Vote)

"Lu-kun, you understood all the basic theory, right? With your Reiwei level, as long as you're not completely devoid of talent in spiritual power control, you should be able to cast Kido successfully."

Aizen led Lu Li to an open area. Unlike the other combat-oriented classes, Kido classes were held outdoors because they could cause quite a commotion, and many Kido spells also required aiming. There were rows of targets nearby for casters to practice on.

"It doesn't sound too difficult. I just don't know how it'll go in practice."

Lu Li pondered for a moment, then walked up to a target under Aizen's watchful gaze. He raised his right hand and quietly recited the incantation written in the textbook before calling out, "Hadō #4: White Lightning."

A streak of white light shot from his hand and struck a target some distance away, leaving several scorched marks on its surface.

He had successfully cast Kido on his first attempt, yet Lu Li did not feel particularly pleased. In his view, such basic Kido was nothing difficult. Once he got the hang of using soul power—or rather, Spirit Particle power—he felt he could cast most low- and mid-level Kido.

He could now see a new skill in the skill tab of his personal menu. Hadō #4: White Lightning had been registered as a skill he had learned.

Still, Lu Li felt that Hadō seemed... a little weak.

He glanced at his Soul Source value. That single White Lightning had cost him 1% of his Soul Source. According to the Space's description, Explorers would suffer extreme mental exhaustion if their Soul Source fell below 10%. If it reached zero, they would lose consciousness, and even after waking, they would remain weakened for some time.

From the standpoint of combat efficiency, Lu Li felt this method of using a "mana bar" was not very cost-effective. The physical damage from simply drawing his blade and cutting someone might be more direct.

"As expected of Lu-kun. You succeeded on your first try. Lu-kun, you seem to find the textbook material a little too simple. How about trying something slightly more difficult?"

Aizen asked with a smile. He wanted to see the limits of Lu Li's talent.

"Oh? Such as?"

Lu Li and the others were first-year students. Unlike Hakuda and swordsmanship classes, Kido instruction followed a textbook and progressed step by step. The highest-numbered Kido in a first-year textbook was only Hadō #12: Crawling Fire.

Standing beside Lu Li, Aizen raised a hand toward a target. His deep, magnetic voice began to chant, "Ruler of the skies! Mask of flesh and blood, all creation, fluttering wings, you who bear the name of Man! Scorching heat and strife, across the seas, roll southward! March forward! Hadō #31: Red Flame Cannon!"

Crimson light flickered in Aizen's hand. Standing beside him, Lu Li felt an unbearable heat. As the red radiance reached its peak, a crimson blaze sliced through the air, trailing a long ribbon behind it.

Boom—

The target was completely shattered, and flames continued to burn upon its post.

The sight stirred Lu Li's interest somewhat. Aizen had been disguised during class, so the Reiatsu level he had used just now definitely did not exceed Lu Li's own. Yet if that Red Flame Cannon struck him, he would be severely injured even if it did not kill him.

"Lu-kun, do you think you can cast this Kido?"

Aizen turned back to look at Lu Li. He had deliberately chanted slowly so Lu Li could sense the fluctuations of his Spirit Particles. It was a demonstration.

The moment he finished speaking, a huge hand landed on his shoulder. The sky seemed to darken slightly. "Student Aizen, you should give everyone a warning before casting such dangerous Kido."

Aizen remained calm and shifted slightly to the side. "My apologies, Teacher Hachigen. I only wished for Lu-kun to experience the charm of Kido."

Hachigen Ushōda did not continue reprimanding him. Instead, there was a trace of appreciation in his gaze as he looked at Aizen. Many graduates could not cast Red Flame Cannon, let alone cast it so perfectly. He wondered whether he should recruit Aizen into the Kidō Corps in the future.

Watching Hachigen Ushōda's subtle expression, Lu Li could roughly guess what the man was thinking. It felt somewhat strange. You probably have no idea that this model student standing before you will one day drive you into exile in the Living World.

"Student, I do not recommend that you try it. Kido training must proceed step by step, otherwise accidents can easily happen. You should begin with single-digit Kido and study them gradually."

Hachigen Ushōda looked at Lu Li again. No one understood the dangers of Kido better than he did. Even students of the True Spirit Arts Academy could suffer casualties during their studies.

Compared to Hakuda and swordsmanship classes, Kido classes had the highest casualty rate. Every year, there were always reckless youngsters who tried high-level Kido without knowing their limits.

If their control proved inadequate while constructing the Kido and their spiritual power went out of control, the first person to suffer would be the caster himself.

Take the Red Flame Cannon Aizen had cast, for example. If it failed, it would explode directly in his palm, blasting his own flesh apart.

"Teacher, I understand the risks. But I'd like to try it briefly. If I feel strained during the early stages of construction, I'll give up."

Lu Li said with a smile, "Besides, aren't you right here?"

Hachigen Ushōda frowned at that. With his ability, he could certainly stop Lu Li when he was about to lose control. But he did not want to indulge such dangerous behavior from a student. If Lu Li did the same thing when he was not around, he could very well die.

However, he had just seen Lu Li cast White Lightning successfully on his first attempt. For someone who had only just encountered Kido, that was undoubtedly a miracle, proof that Lu Li possessed extraordinary talent. Lu Li was currently full of enthusiasm for Kido, and Hachigen Ushōda did not want to dampen his spirit.

"Only this once. If you fail, you will study Kido properly and step by step from now on. Otherwise, I will expel you from the True Spirit Arts Academy."

Hachigen Ushōda said sternly.

Lu Li knew the man was serious—and had the authority to back it up. As the Chief of the Great Kidō Corps, getting the True Spirit Arts Academy to expel a new student would be simplicity itself.

He calmed his mind and took several steps to the left, fixing his eyes on another undamaged target.

"Ruler of the skies, mask of flesh and blood, all creation, fluttering wings, you who bear the name of Man..."

Compared to Aizen, whose chant was passionate and stirring like that of a reciter, Lu Li's chant sounded like he was reading from a script. There was no emotional investment at all, only utter flatness.

Yet as he chanted, crimson radiance truly appeared in his palm. The light illuminated Lu Li's face, as well as the eyes of Aizen and Hachigen Ushōda.

"Scorching heat and strife, across the seas, roll southward! March forward. Hadō #31: Red Flame Cannon."

As the incantation ended, a blazing beam slightly weaker than the one Aizen had cast earlier streaked across the sky and crashed into the target. Amid a thunderous blast, the target was swallowed by flames.

In the deathly silent air, only the crackling of burning flames could be heard. After a long while, a chorus of sharp breaths rang out.

"Lu Li... actually successfully cast... Red Flame Cannon!?"

"That's Hadō #31! Even graduates can't all cast it, can they?"

"The degree of completion is incredibly high. I'd say it's not much worse than the one Aizen cast just now."

"Is this guy even human? Didn't they say he was a drifter from the Rukongai District? Fine, he's strong at swordsmanship and Hakuda, but he's this monstrous at Kido too?"

"This talent is way too terrifying. Could he be an all-rounder?"

"..."

The students' discussions continued without end. In the crowd, Yoruichi watched Lu Li with slightly furrowed brows. It was not as though she had never seen geniuses before, but surely no one could be good at everything?

She had initially thought Lu Li was the sort of brute who only knew how to fight and kill, someone who would embarrass himself in Kido class. She had even been prepared to enjoy the show. Yet he had cast Kido successfully on his first attempt, then cast Red Flame Cannon on his second...

Kido was apparently out of the question, but in tomorrow's Shunpo class, she would definitely win back a round.