No One Could Teach Him

On the training field, two figures flashed rapidly past, their fists and feet colliding.

The instant they clashed, one moved with light, agile grace, while the other was as violent as rushing thunder.

On the muddy field, the petite Yoruichi left no trace as she moved, while every one of Lu Li's charges whipped up fierce gusts, flying dust, and deep footprints.

The other students in the class kept far away, afraid of being caught up in the clash between these two monsters.

In their eyes, this was not Hakuda skill that first-year freshmen should possess. No, perhaps even students on the verge of graduation could not manage it.

Moreover, when everyone sparred normally, they would not engage in such reckless, unrestricted attacks. Hakuda classes were usually meant to hone their Hakuda techniques, so they did not use Shunpo. After all, the dojo's space was limited.

But today was different. The teacher had brought them outside to practice in an open area, so the Shihōin Clan's witch and the freakish rookie king went at each other.

As the students watched the battle, some were wary, some envious, and some focused intently on absorbing its essence, hoping to learn a little of the mysteries of Shunpo and Hakuda.

Besides the students watching the fight, two more people stood on a rooftop, observing the battle.

The leader was an elderly man with a composed bearing, solemn yet faintly benevolent, and a hairstyle befitting a powerful man.

Two sword wounds on the right side of his forehead formed a cross-shaped scar, lending him a touch of ferocity. He had long eyebrows and a waist-length silver-white beard bound with a purple tie.

Leaning on his cane, the old man asked the middle-aged man with short silver hair standing beside him, "Chōjirō, that girl is a child of the Shihōin Clan, isn't she? What about the other one?"

Chōjirō Sasakibe, Lieutenant of the First Division, replied respectfully, "He is a freshman who enrolled two months ago, named Lu Li. I heard Captain Unohana brought him from the Rukongai District. His talent is quite remarkable."

"Oh?"

Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai's face showed interest. "Even you think his talent is remarkable, Chōjirō?"

Chōjirō nodded. "I have kept an eye on him for some time. Whether it is swordsmanship, Hakuda, Shunpo, or Kido, he has no weaknesses. Though he was born a drifter, to be honest, his talent is already so strong that it makes us feel somewhat..."

"Somewhat what?"

the Captain-Commander asked.

Chōjirō found it difficult to choose the right words. After pondering for a moment, he said, "...Somewhat terrifying. Several teachers have already reported that they simply cannot teach Lu Li."

Seeing that the Captain-Commander remained silent, he elaborated further. "On his first day of enrollment, Lu Li defeated Instructor Fujimoto Hashira at the same Reiatsu level despite encountering swordsmanship for the first time. In Hakuda class, he defeated Yoruichi Shihouin, the Shihōin Clan's heir. The first time he encountered Kido, he successfully cast Red Flame Cannon..."

He listed Lu Li's accomplishments one by one. "As for Shunpo, he was not as fast as that child from the Shihōin Clan at first, but that was only in the beginning. He has studied for merely two months, yet he already shows signs of catching up to Yoruichi."

"Cannot teach him... What an interesting boy."

The Captain-Commander smiled as he watched Lu Li sparring below. "Have no Captains been filling in for the recent Hakuda and swordsmanship classes?"

Chōjirō shook his head. "Neither Soul Society nor the Living World has been very peaceful lately. The Gotei 13 has heavy duties, and no Captain has been able to spare time to substitute."

The Captain-Commander nodded. He was the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and also the headmaster of the True Spirit Arts Academy, but he had not visited the academy in the past two months because he had been occupied with official duties.

He had not expected that, on this visit after finally finding time, he would come across such an interesting child. It reminded him of his first batch of students.

The Captain-Commander watched Lu Li thoughtfully. "What about his Reiatsu and Zanpakuto?"

"His Zanpakuto has not awakened yet, but that is normal. After all, he was previously a drifter and had never encountered any knowledge related to Zanpakuto. When he enrolled, his Reiatsu was only at Seventeenth Grade."

If the students of the True Spirit Arts Academy had heard Chōjirō's words, many would have been shocked. The so-called "only Seventeenth Grade" was already a lifelong dream for many students, yet in Chōjirō's eyes, it was merely ordinary.

That was because he had witnessed the history of the True Spirit Arts Academy and knew well that there had been no shortage of people whose Reiwei exceeded Tenth Grade upon enrollment. Especially children from great noble families—some could even cultivate their Reiatsu to Sixth Grade before entering the academy.

Yoruichi simply had not put much effort into cultivating her Reiatsu. Reaching Captain-level Reiatsu was likely only a matter of time for her.

"Seventeenth Grade without any resources? Fairly standard."

The Captain-Commander gave his assessment. As a living fossil of Soul Society, he had seen countless geniuses. Based on initial Reiatsu alone, Lu Li did not rank particularly highly in his eyes.

He simply appreciated Lu Li's talent in Zan, Hakuda, Hoho, and Kidō. If Lu Li's Reiatsu could improve, he would become a pillar of the Gotei 13 in the future.

"Yes, among geniuses, that is indeed not particularly high. But Lu Li's Reiatsu cultivation has not been slow. Only two months have passed, and he has already reached Sixteenth Grade Reiwei."

Chōjirō explained, "And I have heard that Lu Li currently spends most of his time at the academy studying Zan, Hakuda, Hoho, and Kidō. He has not specifically focused on improving his Reiatsu."

The Captain-Commander nodded. "In other words, it is not that he lacks talent in Reiatsu. He simply has not yet exerted himself in that area."

Chōjirō said, "That is understandable. After all, the True Spirit Arts Academy only has six years of study, and raising one's Reiatsu cannot be accomplished overnight. It is a wise decision for him to learn more techniques while at the academy. Once he leaves the Spirit Arts Academy, he will not have such a good learning environment, while he can cultivate his Reiatsu on his own whenever he wishes."

"Hahaha..."

The Captain-Commander laughed heartily. "Chōjirō, it seems you quite like this boy. You even went out of your way to explain things for him."

Chōjirō humbly shook his head. "This subordinate merely appreciates his talent. I do not particularly like his personality."

"Oh? Why not?"

the Captain-Commander asked in puzzlement.

"Because Lu Li wants to graduate early. Young people are still too arrogant. He has only been enrolled for two months."

Chōjirō shook his head helplessly. This was what he had heard from other teachers at the academy.

At present, aside from the Healing Kidō class taught by Captain Unohana, the teachers of every other course could no longer teach Lu Li.

The Hadō class was somewhat different. Although the Chief of the Great Kidō Corps no longer taught classes, the new teacher could still cast Kido in the eighties and was considered an expert in the field, so teaching was not a problem.

The problem was that although Lu Li possessed exceptional talent in Kido, he did not seem particularly interested in Hadō. Every time he attended Kido class, he practiced Healing Kidō instead.

And according to the True Spirit Arts Academy's graduation requirements, Lu Li had already met the standard by being able to cast Red Flame Cannon. The teachers could not really discipline him for it, since Healing Kidō was technically also a form of Kido.

"He wants to graduate early?"

The Captain-Commander raised a hand and stroked his beard with a smile. "He truly is an arrogant boy. Does he think no one can teach him Zan, Hakuda, Hoho, and Kidō anymore?"

He struck the ground once with the staff in his hand, and dust rippled outward in a circle. His aged eyes turned toward Lu Li on the field. "Then this old man will teach him a lesson."

I'll try to post more over the next two days, brothers. Please bear with me.