Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero.

He remained silent for a moment, his wise eyes gleaming as if he were weighing endless possibilities.

Finally, he spoke slowly, his voice loud and steady, carrying an undeniable determination:

"In that case, let's do as he says."

“Since that kid Liuchuan firmly believes in his own power, we will respect his choice. The matter of reshaping his body with the power of the Spirit King can be cancelled. He doesn’t have to become ‘Wang Jian’.”

Upon hearing this, the members reacted with varying expressions, but none of them voiced their opposition.

Hyosube Ichibei continued, his tone becoming more forceful:

"However, Kirinji is absolutely right. The trial of 'not entering the path of enlightenment' is an ironclad rule for members of the Zero Division, and it is the final test to verify their strength, character, and qualifications."

"He must pass this hurdle, and he absolutely must succeed."

His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Kiryu Hikifune and Tenjiro Kirinji:

"Since he has given up the 'shortcut' and 'guarantee' of the power of the Spirit King and chosen to rely on himself, then before embarking on the path of non-entry into the realm of enlightenment, he needs to be in the best possible condition to face this trial."

"Yizhou, Qilin Temple." The first soldier of the military commander's department called the name.

"Yes," the two replied.

“Before Yanagawa officially challenges the ‘No-Entry Path’, the two of you will be responsible for ‘taking care of’ him.”

Hyosube Ichibei's choice of words was subtle: "Yakifune, the support work is now in your hands."

"Understood, I will do my best," Kiryuki replied solemnly.

“Kirin-ji,” Hyosube Ichibei said, looking at Tenjiro.

"With your 'Spring Demon' abilities, use your 'White Bone Hell Hot Spring' and healing methods to cleanse his spiritual channels, temper his physique, and stimulate his potential, making sure his body and spiritual pressure are at their peak."

"Since he believes in his own strength, then let him hone his strength to the fullest extent possible."

"Hmph, leave it to me. I'll make sure to 'clean' him inside and out, and squeeze out every last drop of his potential!"

Kirinji Tenjiro licked his lips, as if he couldn't wait to throw Yanagawa into his hot spring and "cook" him up.

"As for not entering the path of meditation itself..." Hyosube Ichibei's gaze deepened.

"That will be the ultimate test of his 'confidence.' If he can make it through that path on his own and break through the limits of death, then his unwillingness to become Wang Jian will no longer be a weakness."

“If he fails…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Failure means insufficient strength and mental fortitude; it may result in serious injury, irreparable damage, or even... worse.

At that time, not only will the Zero Division have no place to stand, but its "confidence" will also become a laughing stock.

"Alright, the decision has been made," Hyosube Ichibei concluded.

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.

Chapter 32 Kiryu's Warm Hospitality

Day two.

There is no day or night in the Spirit King Palace, and Liu Chuan slowly opened his eyes.

He slept in the temporary accommodation arranged for him by Hyobu Ichibei.

Liu Chuan sat up, feeling the natural flow of spiritual energy within his body.

After a night's rest, he clearly felt the benefits brought by the extremely high concentration of pure spiritual particles in the Spirit King Palace.

With each breath, it felt as if I was actively absorbing the purest energy, making my spiritual power exceptionally active and abundant, and even making my mind much clearer.

He got up, tidied his clothes, pushed open the door, and outside was a similarly simple corridor leading to the main hall.

Beyond the corridor lies a vast "courtyard"—if it can be called a courtyard.

Liuchuan stood by the corridor, his gaze sweeping over the vast and breathtaking area.

"Won't you feel stifled?"

Such a thought couldn't help but cross Liu Chuan's mind.

There is no hustle and bustle of the city, no daily greetings from colleagues, no changing seasons, and even the sense of time passing becomes blurred.

Over the years, this kind of environment puts one's character to the test, perhaps no less than any dangerous mission.

Just as he was pondering this, a vibrant voice, incongruous with the quiet surroundings, carrying a warm smile, came from the other end of the corridor:

"Oh dear, Yanagawa-kun, you're already up? Did you sleep well? Are you settling into the Spirit King Palace?"

Accompanied by light and steady footsteps, a figure turned the corner of the corridor and walked quickly towards them.

The visitor was a voluptuous, mature woman.

She had thick, dark brown hair, loosely tied in a bun at the back of her head, with a few strands falling casually, adding a touch of languid charm.

Her large eyes were bright and expressive, seemingly brimming with boundless tolerance and vitality.

It was Kiryu Hikifune, a member of Squad Zero.

With an undisguised warm smile on her face, she walked a few steps to Liu Chuan, naturally extending her hand and giving him a warm wave.

"I am Hikifune Kiryu, just call me Kiryu! Monk Hyosube told us about you yesterday!"

Her speech was slow but captivating; her voice was gentle and magnetic.

"Regarding your reluctance to use the power of the Spirit King to reshape your body, we've discussed it, and it's fine! We respect your choice!"

She blinked her big eyes, her smile widening as if announcing some incredibly good news:

"However, our Zero Squad also has its own rules. For a newcomer to gain formal recognition, there's a mandatory trial that can't be bypassed. Well, I'll tell you the details when you're ready. Until then—"

She leaned closer, and a faint, sweet aroma, reminiscent of baked goods, emanated from her.

"Today, I'll give you a proper 'welcome'! Welcome to the Spirit King's Palace!"

Kiryu's eyes gleamed with kindness, even a hint of curiosity and appreciation, clearly showing his interest in Yanagawa, this "special" newcomer.

Before Yanagawa could fully process the massive amount of information in her words, or cope with her overly enthusiastic manner, Kiryuki had already reached out and grabbed Yanagawa's wrist quite naturally.

Her hands were warm and soft, yet exceptionally strong.

"Come on, come on, don't just stand here like an idiot! Let's go to my 'Sleeping Pig Palace' first! It's much more comfortable there, with delicious food and drinks, and you can relax and prepare for what's to come!"

Without saying a word, she pulled Liu Chuan and walked towards the other end of the corridor, her strength causing Liu Chuan to stumble slightly.

“Your Excellency, I…” Liu Chuan tried to speak. He was not used to such intimate physical contact and overwhelming enthusiasm, especially from a woman he was meeting for the first time with such a special status.

"Oh, don't be so polite! And don't call me 'Your Excellency,' it's too formal! Just call me Kiryu!"

Without turning his head, Kiryuki walked briskly, pulling Yanagawa along as if dragging a reluctant piece of luggage.

"From now on, we'll be colleagues, so it's only right that we take care of each other! Besides, you're someone personally chosen by the Spirit King, and you have such a 'personality,' so of course I need to get to know you better!"

"Don't worry, I don't have many rules there. I guarantee you'll feel right at home!"

She talked on and on, as if the two were old friends who had known each other for many years.

Yanagawa realized that the other party was simply being overly enthusiastic. He sighed and could only be half-dragged and half-pulled by Kiryuu towards a place named "Wotun Palace".

Finally, Kiryu pulled Yanagawa to a stop in front of a palace with a style quite different from the other buildings in the Spirit King Palace.

This palace lacks the imposing grandeur of other palaces that directly address the fundamental principles of rules; instead, it exudes a unique aura.

The plaque hanging above the palace gate was not a solemn inscription, but rather several characters that seemed to be formed from the aroma of food—"Wotun Palace".

Pushing open the door that exuded a faint fragrance, the scene inside made Liu Chuan pause for a moment in surprise.

This is no palace! It's clearly a massive, fully-equipped super kitchen and gourmet palace!

The rich aroma of food in the air almost materializes, warm, sweet, and abundant, brimming with a sense of creative and satisfying pleasure.

This contrasts sharply with the cold and desolate atmosphere of the rest of the Spirit King Palace.

"Welcome to my 'Sleeping Pig Palace'! Make yourself at home, please sit wherever you like!"

Kiryu finally released Yanagawa's wrist, but his enthusiasm remained undiminished.

She pointed to a long table covered with soft cushions next to the cooking area.

"Please sit here for a moment, I'll be right there!"

After saying that, she didn't even wait for Liu Chuan's response before turning around and rushing to the kitchen, where she tied on an apron embroidered with cute little pig patterns and instantly entered "battle mode".

Her hands moved so fast they almost left afterimages as she precisely retrieved various ingredients from the shelves, washing, cutting, marinating, and cooking them with fluid, effortless movements.

It is full of powerful and rhythmic beauty, as if it were not cooking, but a wonderful spiritual martial arts performance.

As the spatula flew, flames rose, the broth churned, and an even richer aroma exploded outwards, quickly filling the entire Wotun Palace.

Liu Chuan sat down at the excessively comfortable dining table as instructed, looking around with a sense of novelty.

Before long, Kiryu Hikifune came over carrying a tray that was almost as big as a tabletop.

On the tray, a dazzling array of dishes were laid out.

Each dish radiated astonishing spiritual energy fluctuations and an alluring luster, clearly indicating that it was no ordinary food.

"Here it comes! Appetizer: Linggu Hot Spring Tamagoyaki! Main course: Grilled Ice Fish! Soup: Dragon Bone and Ginseng Stew! And this, my special 'Hundred Fruit Spirit Cake'!"

As she deftly arranged the dishes—each one a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, imbued with pure spiritual energy—before Liu Chuan could see them, she introduced them with the familiarity of a connoisseur, her face radiating pride and anticipation.

"Hurry up and try it! My mission is to make sure you eat your fill here today!"

The aroma of the food permeated everything, and Liuchuan's taste buds and the spiritual energy within him resonated involuntarily.

He didn't stand on ceremony anymore, thanked them, picked up his utensils, and began to eat.

The first bite of Linggu Hot Spring Tamagoyaki is smooth and silky, with a rich egg aroma. A gentle and pure spiritual energy instantly melts in the mouth, flowing down the esophagus and into the limbs, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort.

Grilled icefish has sweet and chewy flesh, a charred and fragrant surface, and a wonderful balance between the icy spiritual energy contained inside and the residual heat of the flames, which has a significant nourishing effect on the spirit.

The soup made with dragon bone and ginseng has a clear, golden broth, but it is rich and mellow in flavor. A warm current flows straight to the depths of the soul, as if even mental fatigue has been washed away.

The Mixed Fruit Spirit Cake is refreshingly sweet without being cloying, with a rich and layered fruity aroma. Every bite offers a different spiritual flavor that unfolds on your tongue...

These dishes are not only incredibly delicious, but more importantly, they seem to be "super supplements" tailor-made for death.

With each bite, Liu Chuan could clearly feel the spiritual pressure within his body slowly and steadily increasing, the circulation of spiritual particles becoming smoother, and even his soul feeling a sense of fulfilling pleasure.

This is an effect that cannot be achieved by ordinary eating. The ingredients themselves, as well as Kirio Hikifune's cooking methods, contain a profound application of spiritual particles and rules.