Entrance Exam (Please Bookmark and Vote)

In the world of Shinigami, Reiatsu, or Reiwei, could simply be understood as the "density of the soul."

Generally speaking, the higher one's Reiatsu, the more spiritual power they could wield, while the degree of control depended on individual ability.

This basically applied to both Shinigami and Hollows. Take the protagonist, Ichigo Kurosaki—his Reiatsu was extremely high, but his control was weak, so in the early stages he could not freely control his Reiatsu and had poor command over his spiritual power as well. (See the spiritual-power passage Ichigo Kurosaki formed when he went to Hueco Mundo.)

Quincies, however, were rather special. They did not necessarily possess powerful Reiatsu, but because they fought by manipulating Spirit Particles, the amount of spiritual power they could use was not necessarily small.

By Lu Li's understanding, Shinigami condensed the power of Spirit Particles within their own bodies and fought with their own strength, while Quincies could borrow the power of nature to fight.

Thus, the level of Reiatsu was certainly not equivalent to the "mana" he had known from games, nor was it entirely equivalent to his current mental attribute. It was a more comprehensive standard of evaluation.

For example, his current "physical body" was very powerful. If he truly were a soul in the world of Shinigami, then his soul density would clearly be high, and his Reiatsu would not be low either.

Of course, since the Shinigami fighting style often relied on releasing Reiatsu, he concluded that the mental attribute probably accounted for a considerable portion of one's Reiatsu rating.

"Unbelievable..."

Teacher Fujimoto, who was conducting the test, stared at the screen in surprise, while the surrounding students broke into all kinds of discussion.

As purple-black light flickered, the gauge on the screen rapidly climbed. The moment Lu Li placed his hand on it, it almost instantly broke through all ten intervals.

"Twenty-rank Reiwei!"

Someone cried out in alarm.

Yet quite a few students remained calm. Since the founding of the True Spirit Arts Academy, many geniuses had appeared, and there had even been monsters in history who possessed seven-rank Reiwei upon enrollment.

But as the value on the screen continued to change, some people's expressions grew solemn.

Twenty-rank... nineteen-rank... eighteen-rank... seventeen-rank Reiwei!

"Is that enough?"

When the number on the screen stopped fluctuating, Lu Li turned to ask Teacher Fujimoto.

Unlike the astonished students, he did not think his Reiwei rank was particularly high, because he knew that the geniuses from the original story had all possessed single-digit Reiwei ranks when they enrolled.

For instance, Kaien Shiba, who would appear two hundred years later, then Gin Ichimaru and Toshiro Hitsugaya after him—their Reiwei ranks upon enrollment would surely crush his current one.

Still, Lu Li had nothing to be disappointed about. He was not from this world, nor was he a true aggregate of Spirit Particles. His strengths lay in his high potential for growth, as well as his exceptional combat skills and instincts.

"No wonder Captain Unohana brought you here. You truly are an outstanding talent. Let's proceed to the next test."

Teacher Fujimoto put away his surprised expression, walked to the side, and picked up two bamboo swords.

In truth, Lu Li's seventeen-rank Reiwei was not particularly outstanding among this year's new students. It did not even rank in the top ten. What surprised him was that he knew Lu Li had originally been nothing more than a vagrant from the Rukongai District.

Those geniuses who entered with single-digit Reiwei ranks might not necessarily have been much more talented than Lu Li, because most of them were children of nobles or great clans within the Soul Society and had received training from a young age.

Before entering the True Spirit Arts Academy, they had already cultivated within their clans for many years, so naturally they possessed impressive Reiwei ranks.

But Fujimoto Hashira knew that Lu Li had never received any training. This child did not even know how to condense Spirit Particles. His seventeen-rank Reiwei was entirely inborn talent!

If he studied diligently at the academy for six years, Lu Li's Reiwei rank might very well reach eighth-rank, or even sixth-rank Reiwei—the level of a Seated Officer.

In Fujimoto Hashira's eyes, Lu Li was already an uncut jade. The only question was whether he possessed talent in combat.

With that thought, he tossed one of the bamboo swords to Lu Li. "Try attacking me."

Lu Li caught the bamboo sword and weighed it in his hand. He seemed to understand now. This so-called second test was not part of the entrance examination at all. Fujimoto Hashira merely wanted to see his swordsmanship.

That was why the man had said that passing the first test would make him an official student. Now, as the teacher of this swordsmanship class, he simply wanted to assess him.

Seeing Lu Li remain where he stood instead of attacking after taking the bamboo sword, Fujimoto Hashira assumed he had reservations. "Don't worry. I'll suppress my Reiwei to your level, and I'll stop before causing harm. Attack me with everything you have."

At those words, the corners of Lu Li's mouth rose despite himself as he looked at Fujimoto Hashira. "Teacher, are you sure?"

Fujimoto Hashira frowned. He felt that this young man before him seemed to be looking down on him.

"You needn't think about anything else. Just attack. Strike with the resolve to kill me. Let me see what you can do, so I can make a training plan for you and help you keep up with the other students."

Before retiring to become a swordsmanship teacher at the True Spirit Arts Academy, Fujimoto Hashira had been a Seated Officer. He considered himself fairly accomplished in the art of the sword.

In his view, Lu Li had some talent and had likely experienced plenty of brawls while growing up in the chaotic Street of Vagrants. He had probably never lost thanks to his natural gifts, which was why he was so arrogant.

Today, he would teach this arrogant young man a lesson and show him that the crude tricks of Street of Vagrants brawls were utterly worthless before true swordsmanship!

"With the resolve to kill you..."

Lu Li repeated the words. His bamboo sword rested at his side as he lowered his body slightly.

In that instant, Fujimoto Hashira suddenly felt that the young man who had been standing there so loosely had changed. It was in his eyes, and in that invisible aura.

Like a tiger crouching before the hunt. Like a famous blade gathering force within its sheath.

Beneath those lowered brows lay a hidden excitement, like a volcano on the verge of erupting—the madness of a warrior, the fervor of a brute!

The next instant, the wooden floor beneath Lu Li's feet buckled backward. He shot out like a cannonball, yet after launching himself, he appeared impossibly light.

The distance of more than ten meters vanished in a flash. The bamboo sword traced an elegant arc through the air, like a master sweeping ink across rice paper. It was clearly only a bamboo sword, yet it carried the bloody gleam of a blade.

Bang—

At the last possible moment, Fujimoto Hashira's bamboo sword blocked the strike. The shockwave sent Fujimoto Hashira's long hair and the young man's fringe fluttering.

In their locked gazes, Fujimoto Hashira saw that Lu Li's eyes were filled with longing... and exhilaration.

This is bad!

Fujimoto Hashira cried out inwardly, because his first move had already been three beats too slow, while the young man's assault would not stop.

He felt as if his opponent were a swordsmanship master who had fought through countless battles, or perhaps someone with innate combat instincts who missed none of an opponent's openings.

Sure enough, as his sword momentum turned back, Lu Li's next strike had already pierced through his defensive circle like a snake thrusting out its head, stabbing straight for his throat!

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