Bleach: Getting Stronger Starting from Teaching at the Spiritual Arts Academy.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Captain Unohana, but my strength is not yet sufficient to serve as the vice-captain. Besides, I really enjoy teaching at the Spirit Arts Academy. The students of the Spirit Arts Academy are the future of Soul Society. It is very fulfilling to be able to impart knowledge and skills to them here. I really enjoy this teaching job," July replied.

Although the position of vice-captain was very tempting, July was not willing to give up the opportunity to teach at the Spirit Arts Academy for the sake of a vice-captain position, which was the key to his continued growth.

Unohana was slightly taken aback; she sensed sincerity from Nanatsu.

The students and teachers present were also moved by July. He actually gave up the opportunity to be the vice-captain of the Fourth Division for the sake of teaching. How much he loves his job!

"That's such a shame..." Unohana gave up for the time being, planning to find another opportunity to poach her later.

“However… I feel that the toxins in my body have been completely eliminated. When do you plan to let go of my hand, Shikato-kun?” Unohana said with a smile.

Under normal circumstances, holding the hand of the first Kenpachi like this would be tantamount to suicide.

"Ah... I just forgot while we were chatting..." July felt a chill and could only reluctantly let go of the beauty's hand.

"Shikatori-sensei, I never expected your kaku skills to be so amazing. I was blind and offended you before. Please, you must transfer to the kaku club! I will be taking a break from the team in a few years. If Shikatori-sensei were in the kaku club, I believe you would soon become the club president!" President Yamada knew that he could not take advantage of such a genius. In order to make up for his previous mistake, he even used polite language, disregarding that he was much older than Shichigatsuki.

"Yes, Mr. Shikatori's skill level is so high, it's a waste of his talent to be in the swordsmanship club," Mr. Kobayashi remarked.

"You flatter me. I think the swordsmanship club is quite suitable for me." July is currently teaching the advanced swordsmanship class and the sixth-year students' class. Before taking Yoruichi Shihouin as his apprentice, he doesn't want to give up the teaching opportunity for this class.

"This...it's such a waste of your talent to stay in the swordsmanship club!" said President Yamada.

"Captain Yamada, Shikatori-kun's swordsmanship is also quite good. It's not a waste of his talent to be in the swordsmanship club," Unohana said.

"The swordsmanship club is really lucky to have recruited a teacher like Mr. Shikatori." Upon hearing this, Captain Yamada did not insist.

"That concludes today's lecture," Unohana said.

She needs to go back and investigate this matter; the "Vastod" level ethereal poison wasn't the teaching aid she had prepared.

She had prepared the poison herself last week, yet this unexpected situation occurred today.

Moreover, this bottle of illusory poison is stored in the Fourth Division's storage room, and no outsiders are allowed to enter except for members of the Fourth Division.

She needs to go back and investigate thoroughly; perhaps there's a traitor in the Fourth Division.

After the lecture, July also left.

Before leaving, Unohana said to Nanatsu again, "Shikatori-kun, until a more suitable candidate is found, the position of vice-captain of the Fourth Division will be reserved for you. If you ever decide you don't want to teach anymore, the Fourth Division will welcome you."

Department Head Yamada also said, "The same goes for the Return Club. If Mr. Shikatori is willing to transfer to the Return Club, I will definitely recommend you as the next head of the Return Club!"

July said, "Thank you for your kind words, but I don't want to leave the kendo club for the time being."

After thinking for a moment, Department Head Yamada said, "I wonder if Professor Shikatori has the time? I would like to invite Professor Shikatori to give a lecture at the Path of Return Training Class. Our Path of Return Department occasionally invites Path of Return experts from the Fourth Division to give lectures to the students. Professor Shikatori's Path of Return is so high, I really hope to invite you to give a lecture on Path of Return!"

In July, a thought struck him: giving a lecture to the Return to the Path training class might trigger the class's first-teaching reward. He had already gained a considerable reward from the first-teaching reward in the swordsmanship training class, and giving a lecture to the Return to the Path training class might also trigger the first-teaching reward, making it worth a try.

July agreed: "President Yamada, please make the arrangements. I'd be happy to share my knowledge of returning to the temple with the students."

"Then the students in the advanced training program are in luck!" Department Head Yamada said with a smile. "I will make proper arrangements to avoid any conflicts with Professor Shikatori's class schedule."

After the group left, Ms. Kobayashi looked on with admiration: "Shikatori-sensei is amazing! Captain Unohana and Captain Yamada both think highly of him!"

Chapter 32 The Fourth Disciple

Shikatori returned to the dojo in July, where his disciples were diligently practicing.

Kotetsu Isane also came to the Shikatori Dojo for training.

That July, I went to Kotetsu's residence mainly because Director Kotetsu wanted to treat me to a meal, and I tried out Director Kotetsu's cooking that evening.

After that, there was no need to personally go to Kotetsu Isane's house to teach her anymore, since the Nanatsu family had a dojo, and she could directly come to the dojo to train.

"Isane, your slashing posture was wrong just now. You need to use your wrist. If you just swing your arm, your sword will be weak and feeble." Kana Azashiro kindly corrected Isane Kotetsu's mistake.

"Yes!" Kotetsu Isane nodded seriously.

"Oh, don't be so reserved. I think you're too nervous." Kana Azashiro patted Isane Kotetsu on the shoulder.

"Yongyin, are you settling in well at the dojo? Have they been bullying you?" July asked with a smile.

"Shikatori-sensei." Kotetsu Isane quickly sheathed her wooden sword and bowed. "It's very nice here, everyone has been very kind to me!"

"Just make sure you feel at home here, Yuune." July felt that Kotetsu Yuune didn't seem to have integrated into the group yet. Remembering that Director Kotetsu had mentioned that he was often away from home, Yuune would probably cook for herself when she went back, so she said, "Stay for dinner tonight and try my cooking."

"That would be too much trouble for Shikatori-sensei," Kotetsu Isane said, feeling a little embarrassed about staying for a free meal.

"Yune must try Teacher's cooking. If the Gotei 13 were ranked according to cooking skills, Teacher would definitely be the Captain-Commander!" Kana Mochishiro arbitrarily assigned her teacher the position of Captain-Commander.

"Yune, why don't you stay for dinner? It'll be late when you get back, and little Kiyone will be hungry then~" Bayunzai was teasing a blonde girl who looked a few years old in the courtyard. That was Kotetsu Yuune's younger sister, Kotetsu Kiyone.

Dean Kotetsu is very busy with work and is often not at home. Kotetsu Isane also has to take care of her younger sister. When she came to train, she brought her sister with her.

Kotetsu Isane, thinking that his younger sister would go hungry, bowed and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Shikatori-sensei!"

"Yongyin, you don't need to be so polite. Honestly, isn't Ayane usually too strict with you?" Baiyunzhai complained.

Sweating profusely, Hirako Shinji put down his sword and exclaimed excitedly, "Master, I successfully lasted an hour today!"

At that moment, a message flashed in July's eyes.

[Disciple Hirako Shinji's daily practice has ended; rewards have been calculated.]

[Reward: 20 Swordsmanship Experience Points]

[Your disciple, Hirako Shinji, has made initial progress in spiritual pressure control techniques. You have received an additional reward.]

[Gain 1000 swordsmanship experience points]

[Disciple Mole City Coriander's daily practice has ended; rewards have been calculated.]

[Reward: 60 Swordsmanship Experience Points]

[Disciple Rokuche Kensei's daily practice has ended, and rewards have been calculated.]

[Reward: 40 Swordsmanship Experience Points]

The disciples' cultivation feedback rewards have arrived.

Moreover, in July, he discovered that as long as his disciples were carrying out the cultivation tasks he assigned, they would receive daily rewards even if he was not in their presence to provide guidance.

In July, he glanced at his stats and saw that his swordsmanship level had increased from 54 to 55.

Furthermore, Hirako Shinji's training mission has been updated. He is learning the basics of swordsmanship faster than Rokusha Kensei, and he has already completed the basics of swordsmanship training.

[Guiding Hirako Shinji through basic swordsmanship training (completed)]

In July, focus your attention on the item that shows "completed".

[Disciple Hirako Shinji has completed his basic swordsmanship training; rewards have been distributed.]

[Reward: 1000 Universal Experience Points]

[Reward Obtained: Binding Spell 4 - This Rope (Beginner Level)]

In July, she mastered a beginner-level binding technique. The purpose of "this rope" is to use spiritual power to condense a golden rope to bind enemies.

“Very good, Mako has almost mastered the basics of swordsmanship. From now on, you will follow Kensei’s example and begin your swordsmanship training by cutting straw mats with a wooden sword,” July said.

[A new training task has been added: Guide Hirako Shinji through a sword technique training (in progress)]

Hirako Shinji's new training task has also been revealed.

"Finally, I can start practicing swordsmanship." Hirako Shinji breathed a sigh of relief. In order to learn swordsmanship as quickly as possible and not let Kana and Kensei fall too far behind him, he had been working hard on basic swordsmanship training every night.

"I bought fish today. To reward Mako for completing her basic swordsmanship training and to welcome Yuune to the team, I'm making you all a fish hot pot feast!" July clapped her hands.

"Yay!" Cilantro from Zhicheng skipped and hopped into the kitchen. "I'll help!"

“I’ll help too—” Kotetsu Isane followed him into the kitchen.

"Uh, why does this guy get this kind of treatment?" Kensei Rokugura glared at Shinji Hirako.

"I think I was just an afterthought; the teacher was probably mainly there to welcome Yuune," Hirako Shinji said, shrugging.

In the kitchen, July demonstrated some advanced uses of the "return" method to everyone.

The fish on the cutting board had been out of water for too long and were becoming less active.

In July, I used a healing technique on the fish, and it miraculously recovered. The fish regained its vitality and started thrashing and jumping on the cutting board.

"Wow—is the teacher's reply really that amazing?" Kana Mochi was a little surprised; it was the first time she had ever seen the teacher use a reply.

"Captain Unohana even wanted to invite me to be the vice-captain of the Fourth Division today," July said casually.

"Vice-captain? Didn't the teacher agree?" Kana Mochishiro's eyes widened. Her family hadn't had a vice-captain-level figure for hundreds of years.

“I prefer teaching at the Academy of Spiritual Arts,” July replied.

Kotetsu Isane's eyes lit up when he saw the fish become lively again.

"Shikatori-sensei..." Kotetsu Isane asked hesitantly, "Could you teach me how to return to the Dao?"

“Yongyin wants to learn the Dao of Return? Of course you can, but…” July chuckled, “If you want to learn the Dao of Return, you’ll have to become my disciple.”

“I am willing to become Shikatri-sensei’s apprentice.” Kotetsu Isane did not hesitate much. She felt that the atmosphere of Shikatri dojo was very good. She liked it here. Moreover, she was more interested in the Dao than swordsmanship.

[Kotetsu Isane requests to become an apprentice; will you accept him as a personal disciple?]

A prompt to become a disciple appeared before July's eyes. Without hesitation, he immediately confirmed and accepted Kotetsu Isane as his disciple.

"Alright, from now on you will be my disciple. You must be loyal to your sect and diligently cultivate. I will then teach you the Way of the Sword and the Way of Return," said July.

[Successfully recruited Kotetsu Isane as his personal disciple]

[Kotetsu Isane's reputation level has increased; current reputation level is Friendly.]

[The current training task has been added: Guide Kotetsu Isane through basic swordsmanship training (in progress)]

"Yes, teacher," Kotetsu Isane bowed.

Looking at the newly popped-up cultivation task prompt, Qi Yue had an idea and continued, "Yong Yin, I will start teaching you the basics of Dao Returning tomorrow, but your basic swordsmanship training cannot be neglected."

[Current cultivation task has been added: Guide Kotetsu Isane through the basic cultivation of returning to the Dao (in progress)]

As predicted in July, Kotetsu Isane's basic training mission for returning to the Dao was also revealed.

Chapter 33 Undercurrents

Nighttime, inside the Fourth Division barracks.

The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the courtyard.