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

At first, Liu Chuan remained restrained, carefully analyzing the situation.

But soon, under the dual temptation of the ultimate deliciousness and the nourishment of spiritual energy, he couldn't care less about anything else, and his chopsticks moved faster and faster.

Kiryuki stood by with a smile, adding food and soup to his plate from time to time. Watching him eat heartily, his face was full of satisfaction and contentment, as if the chef's greatest joy was seeing his customers enjoy their meal.

Before anyone knew it, Liu Chuan had devoured almost all of the food on the table by himself.

When he reluctantly put down his utensils and exhaled a breath of white air filled with the aroma of food and pure spiritual energy, he was surprised to find that he had eaten so much.

His spiritual energy surged and boiled, far more abundant and solid than before! His spirit was also full and excited, and his condition was better than ever before.

"Are you full? There's more if you're still hungry!" Kiryu asked with concern.

"That's enough, thank you for the treat, it was very...delicious." Liu Chuan sincerely praised, the experience of this meal far exceeded his expectations.

"That's good! Please have a seat for a while, I'll tidy up." Kiryuki smiled and began to quickly clear away the dishes, carrying the empty plates back to the kitchen area.

Liu Chuan leaned back in the comfortable chair, feeling the power flowing through his body.

After a while, the sounds from the kitchen area stopped. Then, footsteps came again.

"All packed up! How do you feel, more refreshed?" A familiar voice rang out, still the gentle and magnetic voice of Hikifune Kiryu.

Liu Chuan turned his head to look, and then... froze.

The woman who emerged from the kitchen was indeed Kiryu Hikifune. But... she was completely different from the voluptuous, voluptuous woman from before!

Before me, Kiryuki Hikifune had become extremely slender and tall. Her previously loose clothing now looked somewhat loose, further highlighting her near-perfect sexy curves.

Her facial features seemed more refined and three-dimensional, and her skin was fair and delicate, glowing with a healthy rosy hue under the warm light of the Wotun Palace.

Although the gentleness and vitality in her eyes and brows remained unchanged, her overall temperament instantly transformed from the previous "plump and loving mother" type to the "sexy and mature woman" type!

The only things that remained unchanged were her bright, expressive, and smiling eyes, and her distinctive hairstyle.

"Who are you?" Liu Chuan blurted out instinctively. The change was too drastic! Was the previous Hikifune Kiryu and this person really the same person?!

"Pfft!" Seeing Yanagawa's unusually stunned expression, Kiryu Hikifune couldn't help but laugh out loud, his voice as melodious as a silver bell.

She walked to the chair opposite Liuchuan and sat down. Her movements were still elegant, but her slender figure made her look much lighter.

"Of course it's me, Hikifune Kiryu."

She blinked and explained, her tone light, as if she were talking about something very ordinary.

"The reason for this is that every time I put all my effort into making this kind of 'Spirit King-level dish' that contains a high concentration and high purity of spiritual energy, like just now, I consume a lot of spiritual pressure."

"And the consumption of this spiritual pressure will be directly reflected in my physique, which can be considered a characteristic of my special cooking method."

She pointed to the empty plates on the table: "The table I prepared for you today was prepared to 'Spirit King level' standards, using top-quality ingredients that are special to the Spirit King Palace. It required a lot of spiritual pressure."

"So, this is how I ended up. After resting for a while and restoring my spiritual pressure, I'll slowly 'gain' my weight again."

"I see!" Liu Chuan suddenly realized. This was a phenomenon where one's spiritual pressure was highly transformed and infused into food through a special cooking method.

The greater the energy expenditure, the more noticeable the changes in her physique. No wonder her previous code name was "Sleeping Pig"; it's probably related to her voluptuous figure when her spiritual pressure is abundant.

"These dishes, and my 'hospitality,' are not just for welcoming you."

Kiryuu's smile faded, his expression becoming more serious, though still gentle.

"This is also to prepare you for the 'trials' that are coming up next."

Liu Chuan nodded.

"That trial is called 'Not Entering the Path of Enlightenment,' and it is extremely dangerous. It is the ultimate test of strength and character."

"Ordinary Grim Reapers, even those at the captain level, would face a nine-out-of-ten chance of death if they rashly stepped in."

"Back then, all members of our Zero Squad underwent a transformation by the power of the Soul King, resulting in a qualitative change in their physique and spiritual pressure before they dared to take on the challenge."

Kiryuki spoke slowly, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes.

"If you choose not to follow the path of reshaping with the power of the Spirit King, then before embarking on the 'Path of Non-Entry into the Path of Learning,' you must hone your own foundation to the extreme and unleash your potential to the limit."

My meal today is the first step—using the finest ingredients from the Spirit King Palace, combined with my culinary skills, to provide you with the deepest 'spiritual nourishment' and unleash your potential.

She looked at Liu Chuan, her eyes filled with encouragement and expectation: "How do you feel now?"

"It's better than ever before," Liu Chuan answered truthfully.

"That's good!" Kiryuu smiled and returned to his lively self.

Kiryu's hospitality at "Wotun-dono" made him truly feel the Zero Division's depth and goodwill, and also made him even more curious about the upcoming trial called "Not Entering the Path of Learning".

Chapter 33 Hell of Bones

As the surging spiritual energy within him gradually subsided, Yanagawa leaned back in his comfortable chair, savoring this unprecedented feeling of "fullness." However, his thoughts drifted back to Seireitei, back to the Technology Development Bureau, a place filled with strange instruments and the atmosphere of dangerous experiments.

He recalled the deal he made with the mad scientist captain before his departure, and the other man's awkward yet clear instructions.

Liu Chuan put down the fragrant, sweet-smelling spirit tea, looked up at the now slender and sexy figure opposite him, and said,

"Speaking of which, before I came to the Spirit King's Palace, a captain of the Seireitei learned that I was coming and specifically asked me to give you my regards."

"Oh?" Kiryuu put down his teacup, his slender fingers tapping the table lightly, a perfectly measured look of curiosity on his face.

"The captain of Seireitei? And he specifically asked you to deliver a message to me? Who is it? I've been away from the underworld for quite some time now, and I probably don't recognize most of the current captains."

"He is the captain of the 12th Division and the director of the Technology Development Bureau," Yanagawa clearly stated the name, "Mayuri Kurotsuchi."

"Mayuri?" Kiryu's bright eyes widened instantly, and the lazy and relaxed expression on his face was replaced by a clear look of surprise and reminiscence.

She paused for a moment, then a complex and nostalgic smile slowly curved her full lips, and her voice softened considerably:

"It's him... that weird kid who's a headache, but you have to admit he's a genius."

Her gaze seemed to pierce through the warm air of the Sleeping Pig Palace, landing on a distant past filled with the clatter of test tubes and the hum of instruments.

"I still remember, back in the 12th Division, he was my subordinate."

Kiryuki said slowly, his tone filled with emotion, "He locks himself in the lab all day, tinkering with things that are incomprehensible and terrifying. Few of the other team members are not afraid of him, and few can keep up with his bizarre and unpredictable research ideas."

She shook her head, but there was little blame in her eyes; instead, there was a hint of helpless smile.

"I argued with him a lot, and even slammed my fist on the table, in order to restrain his experimental ideas that were too dangerous or contrary to common sense."

"The way he looked at me back then was like he was looking at an 'old fogey' who was hindering scientific progress. Although he didn't say it, he must have been thinking a lot about it."

“However,” Kiryuu Hikifune changed the subject, his expression becoming serious and certain.

"Undeniably, he is indeed an extraordinary genius."

"His talent is among the best I have ever seen in my long years in Soul Society."

"Many seemingly crazy or even absurd ideas are often realized by him in some unexpected way, or at least open up a completely new research direction, which sometimes amazes even me."

She picked up her teacup and took another sip, seemingly trying to calm her slightly agitated emotions.

"When I left the 12th Division and entered the Spirit King Palace, the person I was most worried about was actually him."

I fear that without restraint, he might go to extremes and do something irreversible. I also fear that he might be too aloof and out of place in the Seireitei. Now it seems…”

Kiryu looked at Yanagawa, his smile softening once more:

"He not only took over as captain, but also took charge of the Technology Development Bureau."

Then, Kiryuki warmly escorted Yanagawa to the entrance of the Wabuton-don, which was filled with the aroma of food, and thoughtfully told him, "You can come anytime if you get hungry."

Faced with this overly enthusiastic colleague, Liu Chuan could only thank him again.

As soon as he stepped out the door, Liu Chuan paused slightly after taking only a few steps.

In front of the main gate of the Sleeping Pig Hall, next to a thick pillar connecting the corridor, a tall and slender figure was leaning lazily.

The person who arrived seemed to have been waiting for a long time, his posture relaxed, even with a hint of boredom.

He had a well-defined, slightly thin face with a neatly trimmed short beard on his chin.

What's most striking is his unique hairstyle—his hair is combed back, forming an exaggerated "airplane head" shape with the ends slightly upturned on top of his head.

He casually held a thin, long blade of grass, which he had picked from somewhere, in his mouth, and the grass swayed slightly with the movement of his cheek.

She was wearing a dark-colored, loose-fitting outfit similar to a yukata but more streamlined, with a belt casually tied around her waist, revealing her well-defined collarbones and part of her muscular chest, and a pair of wooden clogs on her feet.

He exudes a unique aura that blends arrogance and laziness.

It is completely different from the outward warmth and enthusiasm of Hikifune Kiryu.

It was Kirinji Tenjiro, a member of the Zero Division, known as "Izumi-yu Oni" (Spring Hot Spring Demon).

Seeing Yanagawa walk out of the Wotun Hall, Kirinji Tenjiro's half-closed, seemingly listless eyes opened a crack, and a smile or something else curved at the corner of his mouth.

"Yo, you're out? How was the food, Kiryu? Judging from your radiant spirit and vibrant energy, you must have eaten a lot."

Yanagawa stopped and faced Kirinji Tenjiro: "You are... Captain Kirinji Tenjiro?"

"Captain? That's not the proper way to address someone in the Spirit King Palace. Just call me Tenjiro, or you can follow Kiryu's example and call me Big Brother Tenjiro, I don't mind either."

Kirinji Tenjiro waved his hand, finally moving his body off the pillar and standing up straight.

He was about the same height as Liu Chuan, but his sharp and unruly aura was extremely intimidating.

He looked Liu Chuan up and down, as if assessing an item that needed to be "dealt with".

"Kiryu has probably told you everything, right? Now it's my turn to 'entertain' you."

Kirinji Tenjiro pointed to himself with his thumb, then gestured with his chin towards the end of the corridor opposite the Wabuton-dono (Reclining Pig Hall).

"Come with me, I'll take you to my territory—the Qilin Palace."

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Tian Shilang."

Liu Chuan already had a general idea of ​​what the "hot spring demon" would "treat" him to—it was probably related to treatment and stimulating potential.

Kirinji Tenjiro turned and strode away into the distance, his wooden clogs making a crisp, rhythmic "click" sound on the smooth ground, echoing in the quiet corridor.

Liu Chuan quickly followed. He could sense that the seemingly lazy and unrestrained figure in front of him had a peculiar rhythm with every step he took.

It seemed to subtly harmonize with the flow of spiritual energy in the surrounding Spirit King Palace, moving at an extremely fast speed, yet appearing unhurried.

Before long, they arrived at the Qilin Palace.

The Qilin Hall has a more rugged appearance, and is built entirely of a kind of dark blue-black boulder, with natural patterns on the surface that look like they were formed by flowing water.

As Kirinji Tenjiro walked to the front of the hall, without him making any special movements, the two heavy, warm jade doors slid open silently inward.