Self-Discipline Made Me Bald—No, Strong!

Soul Society.

Seireitei.

Three years had passed since the Hollowfication incident.

In the long lives of Shinigami, this was undoubtedly insignificant.

However,

many major events had taken place over those two years.

Because several Captains and Lieutenants had been Hollowfied and exiled, vacancies had opened up among the Gotei 13's Captain positions.

Under the guidance of Captain-Commander Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto,

the position of Captain of Squad 2 was taken over by Soi Fon, the ninth-generation heir of the Lower Aristocrat House of Feng.

Aizen Sosuke, formerly the Lieutenant, became Captain of the Fifth Division, while Gin Ichimaru took over as Lieutenant.

As a loyal supporter of Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai, Sajin Komamura successfully rose to become Captain of Squad 7.

As for the Captain position of Squad 3, since no suitable replacement could be found for the time being, the former Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba served as acting Captain.

The same went for Squad 12. Due to his excessive danger, Mayuri Kurotsuchi remained under observation.

Only the Ninth Division...

In a corner of the barracks, a figure was methodically carrying out his daily training.

His body was held straight in a line, rising and falling steadily in a distinctive rhythm.

The Ninth Division's Third Seat, a strong contender for the Captain position, the chief heir of the Tsunayashiro Family—the foremost of the Five Great Noble Clans—and one of the greatest sources of income in the red-light district.

Tsunayashiro Su Feng.

The host has completed daily training and maintained self-discipline for one thousand days.

Spiritual pressure has increased. Current level: Third-Class Spiritual Might!

Kendo has increased. Current level: 10th Dan!

Hakuda has increased. Current level: Ninth Dan!

Binding Kido comprehension has increased. You have mastered Binding Spell No. 75: Gochu Tekkan!

The moment the man finished his training, a familiar notification sounded by his ear.

"After a thousand days of disciplined training, this is all the improvement I get?"

Su Feng secured his loose black hair with a Kenseikan, revealing a face of peerless beauty.

His face was as fair as jade, his manner gentle and refined.

"What a disappointment..."

"In this dangerous world, this level of strength is still far from enough."

As a qualified transmigrator, he understood full well how dangerous his current identity was.

Especially after witnessing Yamamoto Genryusai's resolve and the terror of the Hollowfication incident, Su Feng had placed self-preservation above all his plans.

Besides that,

the schemers were still stirring in the dark.

The Wandenreich lurked in the shadows, awaiting the return of their king.

Crises were everywhere.

Although Su Feng had already formulated a training plan in his youth, after graduating from the Shinigami Academy, the Self-Discipline System for the Strong bound itself to him and prompted him to overturn the entire plan.

All he had to do was maintain self-discipline to improve his spiritual pressure and Zankensoki.

It was simple and brutal to the extreme.

Even now, Su Feng's status panel only barely gave him a measure of self-preservation in this dangerous world.

Host: Tsunayashiro Su Feng

Kendo: 10th Dan

Hakuda: Ninth Dan

Shunpo: Eighth Dan

Kido: Seventh Dan

Spiritual Pressure: Third-Class Spiritual Might

Zanpakuto: True Name mastered, Shikai mastered

(10th Dan is based on Retsu Unohana's 10th Dan in Kendo. Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kido are measured by the same standard. Third-Class Spiritual Might is equivalent to Captain-level spiritual pressure, based on the Jigoku-hen setting.)

With a status panel like this, even among the many Captains, he would rank in the upper-middle tier.

But for Su Feng, it was still far from enough.

Not to mention the monster-filled Sternritter, even the Espada of Hueco Mundo alone could make him capsize.

And that was without mentioning beings like Aizen Sosuke, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, and Yhwach.

This also made his sense of crisis exceptionally strong.

Ever since graduating from the Shinigami Academy, he had maintained strict discipline: one hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups, one hundred squats, and a ten-kilometer run every day.

Rain or shine.

Of course, this level of training intensity existed only to perfectly fit his cheat.

His formidable strength and noble status allowed Su Feng to rise through the Gotei 13 at rocket-like speed.

In just two years, he had advanced from an ordinary Shinigami Soldier to Third Seat.

Now,

that Captain who served as a unit of combat strength had been Hollowfied and exiled, with no trace of him remaining.

The contest for the position of Captain of the Ninth Division had thus fallen to Su Feng and Kaname Tosen.

Although Su Feng had little interest in the position,

he did not want to become a pawn on someone else's chessboard, to be moved about at will.

After all,

within the Gotei 13, the gap in authority between a Captain and a Lieutenant was considerable.

Moreover, the Tsunayashiro Family had also placed certain hopes upon Su Feng.

Therefore, the Captain position was still worth fighting for.

Just as he was considering this, a figure appeared not far from Su Feng.

An armband engraved with the character "Nine" hung from his right arm, revealing the newcomer's identity.

"Lord Su Feng, the Captain-Commander and the others have been waiting for quite some time."

Faced with the urging, Su Feng remained calm and unhurried, without the slightest sign of panic.

Even though those waiting for him were Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto and the Captains of every Division.

"Mm, I understand."

Su Feng wore a Shinigami Uniform beneath noble attire belonging to the Tsunayashiro Family. The pale blue haori draped over him further accentuated his otherworldly air.

When it came to charm, he considered himself inferior to no one.

Whether it was the Hair Gel User, Little White, or some slovenly middle-aged man, the Sickly Captain...

With his natural charm and uninhibited conduct,

Su Feng had been listed as the number one dangerous individual by the Women's Shinigami Association.

His danger level even far surpassed Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who repeatedly entered the Maggot's Nest.

After straightening his appearance, Su Feng nodded. "Let's go."

The Shinigami Soldier did not dare delay. He quickly moved ahead to lead the way toward the largest dojo in the Ninth Division barracks.

Meanwhile,

inside the dojo, several figures draped in white haori stood in place. Their imposing presence filled the air. Even without releasing the slightest bit of spiritual pressure, the vast grounds remained deathly silent.

Yamamoto Genryusai's aged face had darkened. Veins bulged faintly on his smooth scalp, making his scars stand out even more.

Both hands tightly gripped his spiral-patterned cane, which occasionally burst with tiny sparks.

The Captains noticed this sight and instinctively moved away from this unstable bomb.

Clearly,

with someone having been late for so long, the elderly man who was usually so composed was already nearing the brink of eruption.

"Oh my, has that brat finally arrived?"

A frivolous, lazy voice emerged from beneath a straw hat, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

At the dojo entrance,

a pale blue haori drifted in.

Su Feng walked calmly into the dojo, completely ignoring certain hostile gazes.

He strode directly before the Captains and smiled slightly. His gentle presence immediately eased the tense atmosphere in the room.

"Captain-Commander, the Assessment Battle may begin."