Both start in hell: but their talents are multiplied a hundredfold.

"Return to the Dao: The Art of Reincarnation and Heavenly Life"

Shen Jue murmured the name of the demonic technique, and a soft white light emanated from his palm, instantly disappearing into Kurosaki Ichigo's body.

Kurosaki Ichigo paused for a moment, then looked down at his own body.

The wounds he sustained during his fierce battle with Kenpachi Zaraki were completely erased, as if they had been "undone," leaving not even a scar.

Even more absurdly, the feeling of being completely drained also disappeared, as if he hadn't fought at all today, and had at most just taken a nap on the sofa.

"W-What's the principle behind this?" Ichigo's eyes widened, his face saying, "You've got to open it already."

Shen Jue casually flicked his sleeve: "It's nothing, just some insignificant ghost techniques."

Nearby, Yoruichi was still deeply shocked by the fact that "this guy has been listening to me for over a decade." She was like a cracked stone statue, her soul already packing its bags and running away overnight.

Ichigo Kurosaki muttered to himself, "Bleach has this level of power-up?"

"If you used that on yourself during a battle, wouldn't you be at full health and status forever? That's way too unfair! Where's the referee?"

Shen Jue smiled slightly and raised a finger with an air of mystery: "Young man, remember this."

"The battle between Shinigami is ultimately a battle of spiritual pressure."

He examined Zangetsu, the sword in Ichigo's hand that had been in its Shikai form for years, and his tone suddenly became more serious as he said, "Your sword looks quite intimidating now, but it has a deeper state."

"The Grim Reapers call it Bankai."

"Once Bankai is activated, spiritual pressure can increase five to ten times."

"If we want to get Rukia Kuchiki back from Soul Society, brute force alone won't be enough."

"You not only have to learn Bankai, but you also have to dig out all the hidden power within you."

Kurosaki Ichigo was taken aback when he heard this, and when he looked up, he met Shen Jue's smiling eyes.

I understand instantly.

Without a word, Ichigo immediately bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, his movements so perfect they could be pasted onto a textbook cover, and said, "To save Rukia!"

"Please guide me in my spiritual practice!"

Shen Jue nodded in satisfaction: "You're on the right track."

He casually rubbed Yoruichi's head, who was still experiencing a red-temperature malfunction, as if soothing an old computer that had broken down.

"As for the 'Transformation Body' that you originally planned to use, just leave it to gather dust for now."

"What I've prepared for you, young man, is: Shen Jue's Three Blades."

Ichigo looked up in confusion: "Shouldn't it be that kind of brutal, life-or-death training? What does 'three swords' mean?"

"Don't look at me with that suspicious look, Ichigo-kun." Shen Jue smiled gently, like a principal preparing to award a certificate.

"My method is a teaching method personally passed down by the most revered teacher, Confucius."

"After you take these three blows from me, not only will Zangetsu's Bankai be perfectly arranged, but the power that truly belongs to you within you will also awaken."

He held up two fingers, shook them as if to assure him, and his tone suddenly became like that of a top salesperson on a TV shopping channel:

"Three strikes, Bankai in hand, I'll have a beautiful, rich woman, and from now on, becoming CEO and reaching the pinnacle of life will be no problem at all."

Kurosaki Ichigo tilted his head in confusion.

Shen Jue led Kurosaki Ichigo to a secluded training ground.

This is an open, rocky area, surrounded by a barrier.

As Yoru arrived, a memory flashed through her mind: this was the special place she used to demolish houses when she was the captain of the Second Division and wanted to fight Shen Jue.

"Let's stop here." Shen Jue stopped, turned around, and casually placed his hand on the hilt of the Human Game sword.

"The training content is very simple: you attack, I slash back."

"Is it that simple?" Ichigo, carrying Zangetsu, was eager to try.

"It's that simple."

Shen Jue smiled slightly and slowly drew his Zanpakuto, Human Game, from his waist.

The moment the sword was drawn, Ichigo felt the air suddenly become viscous.

The oppressive feeling of that spiritual pressure was as if some kind of rule had been rewritten.

The blade of the knife in Shen Jue's hand gleamed with a gentle light, looking neither frightening nor intimidating; in fact, it seemed rather approachable.

"Its name is 'Human Game.' It's the ability after its initial release." Shen Jue tilted his head, as if considering how to phrase it politely.

"Never mind, you'll experience it for yourself later."

Ichigo gripped Zangetsu tightly, assuming a fighting stance.

Although the man in front of him always spoke in a light and airy manner, Ichigo knew very well that Shen Jue, as the captain of the Gotei 13, had been briefly described by Yoruichi in terms of strength.

Even if all the captains from the Spirit Purification Tower that day were to fight Shen Jue together, Shen Jue would have a very high chance of winning.

But Ichigo Kurosaki came here to train, and Rukia is still waiting for him!

"Ichigo!" A consciousness resembling a young Ayurbach, now named Zangetsu by Ichigo, appeared behind Kurosaki Ichigo.

"This is not an opponent you can handle right now!"

"There's still hope if we escape with Yoruichi immediately!"

This was the first time Ichigo Kurosaki had heard Zangetsu describe a Shinigami in this way.

Shen Jue glanced at Zangetsu next to Kurosaki Ichigo with a smile.

"No matter who the opponent is, I will fight with everything I have to save Rukia!" Kurosaki Ichigo spoke to Zangetsu telepathically.

"I'm going!"

Ichigo suddenly pushed off the ground, his figure transforming into a black shadow as he charged straight at Shen Jue.

The massive Zanpakuto trailed behind it, swinging down in an arc from above, carrying spiritual pressure with it!

He didn't hold back in this attack; against a captain-level opponent, ordinary probing would be suicidal.

Shen Jue did not move.

He didn't even raise his sword to block; he just tilted his head slightly, as if checking whether Ichigo's sword-wielding posture was up to standard.

Then he spoke, his tone as gentle as if he were correcting a student's pen-holding posture in class.

"The first cut."

Human games are lifted lightly.

Ichigo didn't even see how the sword moved.

He only saw a very thin silver streak flash before his eyes. The next moment, an incredible pain shot from his left shoulder down to his right waist, as if he had been struck by lightning from head to toe.

Blood spurted out.

Ichigo was sent flying backward, rolling around on the rocky ground more than a dozen times before coming to a stop.

A horrifying wound was cut open from his chest to his abdomen, and blood was practically gushing out.

The Moon Slash was released from his hand and crashed with a loud thud onto a rock some distance away.

"Cough!"

Ichigo choked on a mouthful of blood, and his vision blurred instantly.

He tried to prop himself up, but his arms wouldn't obey him at all; every muscle fiber was screaming.

This is unlike any injury he has ever suffered.

Kenpachi Zaraki's slashes are violent and overwhelming, but this one was precise, calm, and efficient; the opponent wasn't even taking it seriously.

Shen Jue stood in the same spot, still in the same posture as when he drew his sword, not even the hem of his clothes fluttering.

He glanced down at the tiny bit of blood on the tip of his blade, flicked it away, and sheathed the sword.

"Hmm, not bad. It can still maintain consciousness, it's more resilient than I thought." Shen Jue nodded approvingly, then squatted down, and white light emanated from his palms again.

"Don't panic, let me give you some healing first—this is just the first step."

"The first cut..." Ichigo gritted his teeth, his face covered in blood and sweat.

"Is this spiritual practice?"

"Yes, three cuts, as we agreed earlier." Shen Jue smiled and held up three fingers.

"Take a hit, heal once, take another hit, heal again. You can think of it as a rather high-intensity homework grading process."

The warm current of healing spread throughout his body, and the horrific wound healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

A few seconds later, Ichigo's body was restored to normal, with only a strange chill remaining at the spot where he had been slashed.

Ichigo pushed himself up from the ground and retrieved Zangetsu.

The way he looked at Shen Jue was completely different now.

There was no fear in it, but rather a burning fighting spirit.

Shen Jue pulled out the Human World Game again, still with that leisurely and relaxed demeanor, his tone as casual as if he were inviting a friend for tea.

"Are you ready? The second cut will be a little more detailed than the first."

He pointed the tip of his knife diagonally at the ground, and a playful smile suddenly appeared on his face.

"The first cut is the appetizer; now we're moving on to the main course."