Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero

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, and pushed open the door. 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 breathtakingly open area.

Apart from him, there was no one else around. The entire area of ​​the Spirit King Palace, as far as the eye could see, was filled with an almost absolute emptiness and silence.

The Zero Squad consists of only five people, who have lived in this palace for hundreds of years, or even longer.

"Won't you feel oppressed?"

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, Yanagawa-kun, you're up already? 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'm 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 Spirit King's power 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 necessary 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 really relax and prepare for what's to come!"

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

"Lady Hikifune, 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 look after 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 that 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!"

Kiryuu finally loosened his grip on 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 out, 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: Seared Ice Fish! Soup: Dragon Bone and Ginseng Stew! And this, my special 'Assorted Fruit Spirit Cake'!"

As she deftly placed each delicious and visually appealing dish, imbued with pure spiritual energy, before Liu Chuan, she introduced them with great familiarity, 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.

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 most 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's 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 appeared somewhat loose, further highlighting her almost perfect sexy curves.

Her facial features seemed more refined and three-dimensional, her skin was fair and delicate, and she had a healthy blush 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 relaxed, 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: "This table that I prepared for you today was prepared to the standards of a 'Spirit King', using top-quality ingredients that are special to the Spirit King Palace. It required a lot of spiritual pressure."

"So, that's 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 obvious 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 preparation for your upcoming 'trial'."

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."

"Even a captain-level ordinary Grim Reaper would face a near-certain death if they recklessly ventured in."

"Our Zero Squad members were all reshaped by the power of the Soul King back then, and only after their physiques and spiritual pressures underwent a qualitative change did they dare 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 "The Path of No Journey".