Chapter 241

Yamamoto did not answer immediately.

He just stared at Wang Xun in surprise, his aged eyes churning with too many emotions.

Not long ago, this young man stood in front of him, saying he wanted to learn from him.

However, he merely used Wang Xun's request as a fabricated excuse to secure the release of Unohana.

It's laughable that a deputy captain would try to impress the Captain-Commander with such clumsy rhetoric.

But now, this young man is standing in front of him, carrying Kenpachi's haori.

Although it was hard to believe, the facts were undeniable, and the information he had received had also been confirmed.

With the entire 11th Division and several captains as witnesses, Wang Xun defeated the Tenth Kenpachi, Kiganjō, in a head-on confrontation. According to the rules, he has now become the new Kenpachi.

Moreover, the two captains Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake, were present at the scene, and the message was passed on to them by Kyōraku through a messenger.

Wang Xun completely overwhelmed Kiganjō head-on.

He didn't even use Bankai.

He defeated a Bankai opponent head-on with just his Shikai Zanpakuto, even if that opponent wasn't particularly skilled...

That's still Bankai.

Therefore, it seems that what Wang Xun said earlier about practicing swordsmanship with Unohana was true.

Yamamoto didn't believe it then, but now he does.

Retsu Unohana, the First Kenpachi, a man who hasn't drawn his sword in hundreds of years, is secretly sparring with a vice-captain.

She acknowledged this young man, and may even have regarded him as someone to whom she would pass on her skills.

Now that Wang Xun has indeed obtained the title of Kenpachi, was this also part of Unohana's calculations?

"... I didn't expect that."

Yamamoto spoke, his voice lower than usual.

"It seems you were right, and I misjudged you."

He paused, then his tone became much more serious.

"But the timing you chose was terrible. Seireitei is preparing for war against the Quincy, and half of the captains have already been lost."

"At this critical juncture, you killed the captain of the 11th Division. Kiganjō was at least a Captain-level and commanded the 11th Division. You've taken away another capable person from us."

Wang Xun raised his eyes.

"Didn't I just give you another one?"

Yamamoto raised an eyebrow.

"Moreover, those so-called Captain-level might not actually be able to play much of a role."

"If the Quincy really attack, it won't be about sheer numbers, it'll be about having people who can stand their ground."

"I'm sure the Captain-Commander would agree with that."

Sasakibe's eyelids twitched.

He glanced furtively at Yamamoto's expression, ready to smooth things over at any moment.

But Yamamoto did not get angry.

He merely twitched the corner of his mouth, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes, and when he looked at Wang Xun, there was a touch of admiration in his eyes.

"You dare to say that."

At this moment, Yamamoto stood up, twirled his cane in his hand, and slammed it heavily on the ground.

"Very well, let this old man see what makes the new Kenpachi so special."

The First Division's exclusive training ground is located behind the headquarters' conference room.

This is the only training ground in the entire Seireitei dedicated exclusively to the Captain-Commander.

The outer perimeter is protected by multiple layers of soundproofing and Reiatsu isolation barriers, and the interior walls and floor have been specially reinforced.

Even so, it was difficult to withstand Yamamoto's extreme power, so it was rarely used.

Shigekuni Yamamoto took off his Captain's Haori, folded it neatly, and placed it on a stone platform at the edge of the field.

His movements were neither hurried nor slow, and he was very careful with every step.

After folding his haori, he slightly loosened the outer collar of his shihaka to allow for movement, revealing his lean chest and arms.

Despite the aging skin, the explosive muscle definition remains clearly visible.

His cane paused, and the outer layer of the cane dissipated, transforming into the shape of a Zanpakuto.

Then, he drew his sword.

The moment the Ryūjin Jakka blade slid out of its sheath, a wave of heat washed over you.

The Reiatsu released when the sword was drawn instantly made the entire training ground feel oppressive.

Wang Xun felt the stray hairs on his forehead being blown about by the wave of Reiatsu.

At the same time, the long-absent system notification reappeared.

[Gained 2 High-Level Reiryoku Fragment, +200 Spiritual Might Experience]

Yamamoto gripped the hilt with both hands, the tip of the sword pointing diagonally to the ground, his feet parallel and shoulder-width apart.

He didn't use any fancy starting stance; his mere posture alone created an oppressive aura.

Wang Xun felt immense pressure.

"I won't overuse my power, but you should be prepared to take a beating. I won't hold back just because you're the new Kenpachi."

Wang Xun drew his Zanpakuto and gave Yamamoto a slight nod.

"Captain-Commander, I'd like to learn from you."

Yamamoto's sword moved.

He took a single step and simultaneously brought the knife down.

The simplest mid-section chop, the most basic swinging motion.

But when the blade struck Shigekuni Yamamoto, the air was cleaved by the edge, producing a hoarse tearing sound. Reiatsu condensed into a shockwave that enveloped both sides of the blade and descended from the sky.

Wang Xun dared not be careless in the slightest, raising his sword horizontally with both hands to block.

The blades clashed.

A deafening clang of metal clashing echoed across the training ground, the shockwave radiating outwards from beneath the two men's feet.

Wang Xun's feet were slashed backward by the blade, causing him to slide half a step, his shoes leaving two marks on the ground.

[Gain 5 Advanced Kendō Techniques, +500 Kendō Experience]

His arm was numb, but his eyes were bright.

So many fragments appeared from just one slash.

This is the true value of the strongest Soul Reaper in a millennium.

Yamamoto gave him no time to catch his breath, his blade falling relentlessly.

Wang Xun parried and retreated continuously amidst the flashing blades.

[Gain 3 Advanced Kendō Techniques and 300 Kendō Experience Points]

[Gained 5 High-Level Reiryoku Fragment, +500 Spiritual Might Experience]

His Kendō experience and Reiatsu experience rapidly increased during this exchange, and his Kendō level became...

Even more exquisite.

Yamamoto's brow twitched slightly.

He could naturally sense that Wang Xun was getting stronger.

This young man is learning through practice, and his learning speed is unbelievable.

That's interesting.

At the same time, Yamamoto thought of someone.

That was the person who made Unohana put down her knife. He had no name; all that was known was that he came from Zaraki District.

Is Wang Xun's ability to grow through battle the reason why Unohana is willing to draw her sword again...?

Since that's the case, then I'll teach you something and see how much of the profound meaning of my Genryū can you grasp.

Yamamoto gradually increased the output of his Reiatsu and the force in his hands.

[Gained 8 High-Level Reiryoku Fragment, +800 Spiritual Might Experience]

[Gain 10 Advanced Kendō Techniques, Kendō Experience Points +1000]

Wang Xun's breathing began to quicken, but his grip on the knife became increasingly steady.

He could feel Yamamoto's sword growing heavier and his technique becoming more refined. He vaguely sensed that Yamamoto was intentionally guiding him.

From being forced back with every strike at the beginning to now being able to counterattack by inserting his sword during the gaps in the parry, his Kendō has gradually been tempered and shaped in the endless torrent of Yamamoto's sword momentum.

Until, a crisp system notification sound rang out deep within my mind.

[Spiritual Might Level Increased↑]

[Spiritual Might: Level 3 (Experience: 50/50000)]

Wang Xun felt his Reiatsu exploding within his body.

The difference between fourth and third rank in Spiritual Might is the watershed between Captain-level and lower ranks.

Wang Xun's Reiatsu surged in that instant, allowing him to withstand Yamamoto's downward slash head-on.

Yamamoto sheathed his sword and took a step back.

He scrutinized Wang Xun, and for the first time, undisguised surprise appeared in his aged eyes.

Wang Xun's breathing was still heavy, but his Reiatsu and power...

Yamamoto stared at him for a long time.

Then he raised Ryūjin Jakka again, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Interesting. Let me see just how long you can hold out."

Yamamoto's sword struck Wang Xun's blade, sending Wang Xun staggering back several steps before he could barely regain his footing.

Wang Xun's breathing became heavy, but his movements became more and more concise, his mistakes fewer and fewer, and his eyes brighter and brighter.

[Gained 6 High-Level Reiryoku Fragment, +600 Spiritual Might Experience]

[Gain 5 Advanced Kendō Techniques, +500 Kendō Experience]

The system indicated that it had been almost constantly running.

Yamamoto is like a moving collection of fragments; when he swings his sword, he drops Kendō shards; when he moves, he drops Shunpo fragments; and when he unleashes his Reiatsu, he drops High-Level Reiryoku Fragment.

These fragments crossed the air and entered Wang Xun's body, transforming into experience points and propelling his various skill levels to steadily increase.

[Spiritual Might: Level 3 (Experience: 2840/50000)]

[Kendō: 1v7 (Experience: 12800/20000)]

[Hakuda: 1v7 (Experience: 4100/20000)]

[Shunpo: 1v7 (Experience: 2800/20000)]

[Kidō: 1v7 (Experience: 7100/20000)]

Before we knew it, almost an hour had passed.

Yamamoto was surprised; he didn't know how this young man could withstand his sword for so long.

Physical strength has its limits, and so does Reiatsu, but every time Wang Xun looks like he's about to collapse, he becomes slightly more stable with each subsequent strike.

For some reason, Yamamoto felt somewhat numb.

"Alright."

Yamamoto suddenly sheathed his sword.

The blade of Ryūjin Jakka drew a clean arc in the air before disappearing back into its sheath.

Wang Xun stopped, bracing himself on his knees with both hands, and gasped for breath.

After all, physical exertion is not so easy to recover from.

"Young man, you have great stamina! I'm tired, let's come another day."

Yamamoto walked to the stone platform, picked up his haori (traditional Japanese garment), put it on, and turned to leave.

Wang Xun straightened up, sheathed his sword, and Yamamoto.

Although Yamamoto said he was tired, anyone with eyes could see who was truly exhausted.

Yamamoto glanced at him, then turned and walked out of the training ground, his pace steady and slow.

Sasakibe came up to them from a distance, offering them a water bottle and a towel. Yamamoto took the towel and wiped his face.

Yamamoto's lips twitched slightly, hidden by the towel.

Sasakibe was greatly surprised; it had been so long since he had seen Captain-Commander Yamamoto with such an expression.

It seems that Captain-Commander Yamamoto had a pretty good time fighting.

Sasakibe turned his head and looked at Wang Xun, who had collapsed on the spot, remaining silent for a long time.

When Wang Xun returned to his dormitory, it was already completely dark.

After washing up, he took off his coat, sat on the bed, closed his eyes, and activated Jinzen.

His consciousness sank into his inner world.

In that white wasteland, Shackle Lotus was lying in mid-air with her legs crossed.

She raised an eyebrow when she saw Wang Xun enter.

"Hey, isn't this the new Kenpachi? How does it feel to have been beaten up by the old man for so long?"

"I farmed so many fragments... it was so satisfying!"

"Tsk tsk tsk."

Shackle Lotus jumped down from the air, put her hands behind her back, and circled Wang Xun twice.

"A third-tier Spiritual Might, that's terrifying... It seems that old man really has some skills. It's a wonder you dared to go to him and even challenge Kenpachi."

Wang Xun watched her jump around in front of him, and only spoke after she had finished jumping.

I've come to see you today because I have something important to discuss.

Shackle Lotus suddenly stopped in her tracks, seemingly realizing what Wang Xun was about to say.

"My Reiatsu is enough, I should be able to Bankai now."

Shackle Lotus slowly turned around, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

"Sure, but you have to make me materialize in reality and then force me to submit."

"Rules are rules, and even you can't skip this step."

Wang Xun looked into her eyes, which were gleaming with a cunning light.

"You mean, all I have to do is beat you up in real life?"

"Hit me? What a big mouth! I'm... Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing?!"

Wang Xun stepped forward, grabbed her calf, and lifted her upside down.

Shackle Lotus hung upside down in mid-air, her skirt turned upside down, covering her entire face, and her two arms waved wildly in the air.

"Put me down! You're cheating! You attacked me while I was talking, are you even a man?!"

"Sure, but do we really want to do that in real life?"

Wang Xun mimicked Shackle Lotus's tone.

Shackle Lotus's body froze in mid-air for a moment, then she cried out even louder.

"You actually mimicked my voice! Master is a scoundrel, bullying his Zanpakuto by relying on the system! I'm going to complain to the Soul Reaper Guild, ah!"

Before she could finish speaking, her words turned into a short scream.

Wang Xun turned her small body over, grabbed her leg with one hand, and slapped her bottom hard with the other.

"Do you accept it or not?"

"No way! I, your humble servant, will never bow down to evil forces! Ah!"

Another one.

"Do you accept it or not?"

"You've obtained this confession through torture! It's illegal... Ah!"

Snap!

"Do you accept it or not?"

Shackle Lotus's face turned bright red to her ears. She kicked her other leg twice in the air, but finding she couldn't break free, she buried her face in her arms and whispered, "I give up, brother."

Wang Xun put her down.

Shackle Lotus stood with her back to him for a long time, rubbing her buttocks with her hands, looking emo for a long time.

Then she finally came to her senses, turned around abruptly, and pointed at Wang Xun's nose.

"Just you wait, when you're old and in a wheelchair, I'll unplug your ventilator and run away."

"Whatever you want, but that will take a long time. So, what's your name?"

Shackle Lotus glared at Wang Xun for a long while, her face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and anger, before the blush slowly faded.

Finally, seeing Wang Xun's serious expression, she sighed helplessly and revealed a subtle, sullen expression.

She lowered her head, clasped her hands in front of her, and closed her eyes.

A soft light emanated from her body.

"It's just Bankai, I'll just give it to you."

"You know my name is Shackle Lotus; now, by this name, I bestow upon you Bankai."

"My true name is that Renge of All Kalpas Returning to Nothingness."

A burst of light exploded in Wang Xun's world of consciousness.

Countless tiny petals drifted down from the void, each petal inscribed with intricate spiritual patterns, layer upon layer upon layer, against the white sky.

It spread out across the colorful wasteland.

Where the petals covered, the flow of Reishi was rewoven, and the composition of the Zanpakuto was analyzed, peeled away, and reassembled layer by layer.

The power of Bankai unfolded fully in his mind.

The effect after unfolding is like a slap in the face to all enemies who rely on special abilities to fight.

Within the area covered by his Reiatsu domain, all the special abilities of his Zanpakuto will be forcibly stripped away, returning to their sealed state before Shikai.

The special amplification of those swords will disappear, the overpowered effects will be removed, and all tactics relying on Zanpakuto will collapse.

Not only Zanpakuto, but all abilities analyzed by Shackle Lotus will be suppressed and sealed.

Similarly, he himself would also be suppressed by the domain.

However, unlike others, Shackle Lotus can maintain her Shikai state and has another amplification effect: the removal of Reiatsu output restrictions.

There were no fancy increases, no tricky tactics.

It's a real, head-on clash, a test of who has a stronger foundation and who can survive on muscle memory and fighting instincts even after all abilities have been stripped away.

All that's left is the most basic Zankensōki techniques, allowing him to overwhelm his enemies with maximum output.

Wang Xun opened his eyes.

He felt a slight weight in his palm, as if the Zanpakuto itself had become much heavier.

"From now on, I only need to be careful of Zaraki and Ichigo."