Shunpo (Third Update: Please Follow, Favorite, and Vote)

Lu Li looked awkward for a moment. "Shikai takes a lot of effort, right? Then don't trouble yourself, Sōsuke. Tell me more about your experience with increasing Reiatsu instead."

What the hell? Aizen actually admitted that he'd learned Shikai, and he even wanted to show me his big treasure.

Lu Li was willing to believe that, given End Space's wonders, Kyōka Suigetsu's effect would definitely be lifted once he completed the mission and returned. Aizen also wouldn't cause trouble at the academy, but Lu Li absolutely did not want to be "Completely Hypnotized" by his roommate.

He was here to play "Speedrun Academy," not "Hypnosis Academy."

Aizen was somewhat surprised by the refusal. "Oh, then forget it. I thought Lu-kun would be very interested. If you have any problems resonating with your Zanpakuto later, I can use Shikai for you as a reference."

It happened to be lights-out. Once the dormitory went dark, Aizen sat cross-legged and began grinding away. Lu Li followed suit and sat down cross-legged as well, but rather than trying to absorb Spirit Particles, he was sensing his Asauchi.

According to Aizen, resonance was a difficult concept to understand. What Lu Li actually needed to do was not resonate with the Asauchi, because there was nothing inside the Asauchi itself. What he needed to resonate with was the deepest part of his heart, with his own soul.

After accomplishing that, the next step would be to pour his soul into the Zanpakuto. Only then could he learn its true name and master Shikai.

In the pitch-black room, Aizen opened his eyes and watched Lu Li across from him, who was studying Shikai. There was a trace of puzzlement in his gaze.

Such a studious Lu-kun had actually refused his offer to demonstrate Shikai for him. Could he have learned his Zanpakuto's true ability?

That was impossible...

Facing the morning sun, Lu Li rubbed his brow.

He had not slept at all the previous night. He had meditated with intense concentration, trying to sense the rhythm of his soul, but the result was... nothing.

He had thought that with his talent, he would not encounter much difficulty with Zanpakuto resonance. He had not expected it to be this hard.

Just as Aizen had said, did Shikai truly demand a high Reiwei level?

In theory, seventeen Reiwei was not incapable of achieving Shikai, but it was difficult. Lu Li simply could not reach the deepest part of his soul. The feeling was hard to describe. He did not know what Aizen saw when he examined his own soul.

But when Lu Li used that Shinigami-exclusive "Zanpakuto Resonance Method," all he could see in the depths of his soul was... an endless expanse of darkness.

The night had drained a considerable amount of his mental strength. Lu Li was normally the sort of person who could go days and nights without sleeping while training martial arts, but he had consumed quite a bit of Soul Source in Kido class yesterday. His Soul Source was now down to only 30%.

"Lu-kun, you've only just started practicing. It's best if you sleep for a while at night."

Aizen seemed to have noticed that Lu Li was not in good condition and reminded him.

Lu Li stretched, trying to perk himself up. "Sōsuke is quite energetic, though. You don't sleep at night either."

"I only got used to it after proceeding step by step. Besides, if you meditate properly, it can be considered a form of rest."

Aizen said, "There are a few tricks to it as well. I'll teach you when we return tonight."

The two chatted as they walked and soon arrived at the classroom for their first lesson that morning. The class was on Shunpo.

Lu Li had also heard Aizen give a rough explanation of Shunpo yesterday.

A Shinigami's Shunpo differed from a Hollow's Sonido. It mainly relied on physical strength, using refined exertion and leverage points to achieve rapid movement.

In the manga, every Shinigami using Shunpo had looked unbelievably cool, like they were teleporting. Yet only through Aizen's description did Lu Li learn that Shunpo was not really like that at all.

For the vast majority of Shinigami, the result they could achieve after learning Shunpo was merely... running a little faster.

Lu Li currently understood Shunpo as an advanced footwork technique. Only when a Shinigami possessed extremely powerful Reiatsu, or had exceptionally high "attributes," could it produce an effect resembling teleportation.

Moreover, that could only be used for "bullying the weak." In other words, in the eyes of true experts, they were still just running at high speed.

Only weaklings would be unable to see it clearly at all, making them feel as if experts were teleporting.

There was also this: if you wanted people to think you were teleporting, then the instant Shunpo stopped, you had to maintain an elegant pose. You had to look as though you were taking a leisurely stroll—calm and unhurried, without any exaggerated, large movements.

Simply put, you needed style. Yeah, being fashionable was important.

Just like Byakuya Kuchiki in the original story. After using Shunpo, his clothes would still be immaculate, only the tips of his hair gently fluttering, his posture as upright as ever. Only then could it count as a "perfect Shunpo."

Of course, Lu Li was not pursuing any perfect Shunpo. He was merely very interested in the principles behind the technique. He believed that once he mastered this footwork, his mobility in battle would improve tremendously.

The substitute teacher for this class was a noble from the Ōmaeda Clan. He currently served as Third Seat in the Stealth Force and possessed considerable attainments in Shunpo.

Likewise, this teacher was particularly "attentive" toward Lu Li, the genius Transfer Student who had already become famous throughout the True Spirit Arts Academy. Rather than personally stepping in to guide Lu Li, he chose the student with the best Shunpo performance in class to "educate" him.

"Lu Li, what kind of expression is that?"

Yoruichi Shihouin walked up to Lu Li. Though her face remained calm, the teasing in her lively eyes could no longer be hidden.

"Nothing. I just think Sōsuke could teach me too."

As he spoke, Lu Li turned to look at Aizen.

But Aizen merely raised a hand to adjust his glasses and said with a smile, "No, no. Shihouin's Shunpo can be called the strongest in the Spirit Arts Academy without exaggeration. It would be best for her to teach Lu-kun."

Fuck, Aizen, you sold me out!

How could Lu Li not know that Aizen was enjoying the show? But what he said was true. The person standing before him was Yoruichi, who would one day be known as the Flash Goddess. Even if she was only young Yoruichi, her attainments in Shunpo could not possibly be low.

Yesterday, he and Yoruichi had sparred in Hakuda. This proud girl had not used Shunpo right from the start, and afterward, he had pinned her to the floor, leaving her no opportunity to use it. That was why he had defeated Yoruichi.

But things were different now. She would definitely bring out her strongest Shunpo skills to "educate" him.

Wait, no. This was Shunpo class. No matter how much Yoruichi wanted revenge, she could not hit him, could she?

Steadying himself, Lu Li forced a smile onto his face. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Yoruichi."

"Are we that close? You should call me Shihouin."

Yoruichi rolled her eyes at Lu Li. "Or you can call me Sister Yoruichi."

Lu Li felt a little disgusted. He had overlooked that. Mainly because when he had read the manga before, the name "Yoruichi" was what had stuck in his mind, while he had not paid much attention to her surname. Or rather, he had always thought Yoruichi sounded enough like a name.

You Japanese people are such a pain.

Seeing Lu Li remain silent, Yoruichi's lips curled up. "How about this? I'll keep my Reiatsu at the same level as yours, and I'll teach you properly in this class. At the end of class, we'll race. If you're slower than me, then whenever you see me in the future, you'll have to respectfully call me Sister Yoruichi."

"I'm not racing. You're from the Shihōin Clan; you've trained Shunpo for who knows how many years."

Lu Li spread his hands. "That's unfair. I'm not stupid. Besides, you've only stated the punishment if I lose. What if I win?"

"Win?"

Yoruichi's gaze swept over Lu Li from head to toe. "You want to beat me in speed?"

"What, I can't?"

Lu Li considered footwork part of the martial arts field as well. He considered himself fairly talented at learning such things. It was not realistic for him to surpass Yoruichi in this area today, but after practicing for a while, he did not think it was impossible.

As if she had heard something amusing, Yoruichi let out a pleasant laugh. "That's impossible."