Ichigo leaves and takes up residence in Soul Society!

boom!

The lightning-like strike landed on Ichigo. If it had been a real sword, it would have cut a huge gash from his shoulder to his abdomen, severing his ribs and exposing his internal organs.

So he was glad that he was facing a wooden knife.

There is still a chance to turn the tide.

"I won't be defeated by the same tricks!"

He parried the slash, steadied his steps, and seized the opening in the opponent's move to launch a quick counterattack. From this perspective, his fighting spirit and reaction were quite good, and he deserved a "superior" rating from the kendo instructor next to him.

However, the Four Palace Masters were not human at all, steadily blocking Ichigo's relentless attacks without even swaying, like a rock being pounded by waves.

Once they got used to the rhythm of the attack, they would suddenly stride forward after a block, like a policeman holding a riot shield, using his size and weapon to force the prisoner back and fall.

Then, with a sudden pull, leaving enough space to swing and strike, he knocked the opponent down from the front with a standard "Tang bamboo" strike.

However, judging from the result, it was more like using brute force to knock the opponent down.

"Damn it, your swordsmanship and fighting skills are clearly not as good as mine, but I can't beat you no matter how I fight you."

Ichigo rubbed his sore wrist, feeling both resentful and helpless.

"That's the magic of numbers."

Shinomiya-zun took the towel from Hachiyahara and said while wiping his sweat.

"But you've improved quite quickly, managing to fight me for so long. At first, you were defeated in a single move. I think it won't be long before you..."

"So you think you can beat me?"

"That way you can lose more gracefully."

Hearing this, Ichigo couldn't hold back any longer. Veins bulged on his forehead, and he said with a forced smile, "Oh, really? Want to give it a try? I feel like we can fight again. You can use the same strategy as before and see if it works."

The four princes looked back with pity.

"Don't waste your energy. Even if I don't use any strategies, I can win by sheer endurance just by fighting you. I just don't want to waste time, that's why I haven't done it."

"You bastard...! Just you wait!"

Ichigo gritted his teeth, secretly determined to find an opportunity to retaliate in the future.

"You guys are really energetic! Are all students in this world like you?"

Seeing this, Hachihara retorted.

"That depends on which country it is, but this guy is simply disgusted with his own demonic arts. He feels that with his self-destructing demonic arts, he is destined not to be able to become stronger in all aspects, so he can only desperately try to make up for it in other areas."

The Four Palace Master ruthlessly exposes Ichigo's true intentions.

Throughout the week, everyone's classroom performance fully demonstrated the importance of talent and ability.

Take their small group as an example.

Hachihachi was lively and active, with keen senses and boundless energy. He learned everything very quickly, but he was also very willful. He was only interested in basic teaching such as hand-to-hand combat and instant step, and had little interest in courses on sword techniques and demonic arts, so his grades were average.

This type of unbalanced academic performance is even more of a headache for teachers, and children are labeled as "problem children" at a young age.

Despite being deaf and mute, Rindo possesses an unimaginably powerful inner strength and an abnormally strong ability to control spiritual energy. He is practically a born master of incantations, and his mastery of demonic arts is divinely aided.

But in other aspects, there's nothing remarkable about it; it's just that it lives up to the status of a class of students.

However, compared to Hachihara, he was at least willing to study hard and practice diligently.

Ichigo is a master of swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat, his combat talent is so obvious that every teacher who sees him is amazed and praises him as a born strongman. The captains of the Gotei 13 have gained the best successor.

However, he fell silent after learning that he had almost blown the entire training ground to smithereens with his "Red Fire Cannon" during Kido class.

The evaluation of the captain's successor was not retracted; instead, a note was added in his mind: "Limited to the Eleventh Division."

Finally, there is the Fourth Prince.

His performance deserves the best entrance exam results in history.

He is the orthodox genius in people's minds.

He's skilled in everything from slashing and punching to walking and fighting.

Furthermore, due to the physical specialization and growth buffs granted by the blood of the fairy dragon, it has a great natural advantage in both sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat.

This caused Ichigo's plan to get first place in both courses, become stronger, and regain his lost face to fall apart.

"You only know how to use the Crimson Fire Cannon, yet you act like your Ghost Path is much stronger than mine. Besides, when it comes to fighting to the death, you have no right to criticize me."

Ichigo pursed his lips.

"You secretly train at night instead of sleeping; I don't know where you get the stamina."

"?"

Hachihara stared wide-eyed at Shinomiya-san with an incredulous look.

In her opinion, Ichigo had already worked very hard, spending most of his free time studying, and was surprisingly honest, unlike his rebellious appearance.

I didn't expect there to be something even more frizzy.

Studying all night? This is only the first week since we enrolled.

As for?

“I only tried it once, and you just happened to find out.”

That was an experiment on a "compound potion".

As it turns out, this stuff can only alleviate the fatigue from staying up late, but it can't replenish the energy lost throughout the day.

Therefore, the Four Palaces Lord decisively abandoned this plan.

At this moment, Luntang wrote a line of text.

There's a calligraphy class this afternoon, does anyone want to go?

"Calligraphy class...I'm not really interested in it. Although I heard the teacher is a very popular team leader, I don't want to miss out on this newly arrived 'real-world item,' so I'm passing on it~"

Ba Ba Yuan tapped his chin with his finger, pondered for a moment, and finally shook his head regretfully.

"Me too. I've already made a sparring appointment with the swordsmanship instructor, so I can't break my promise. However, I have to visit the calligraphy instructor, so I'll go there after class."

Although the academy director opened the door to convenience, "cultural literacy" is Ichigo's fatal flaw.

This is also reflected in daily learning.

Sometimes I simply can't understand the grammar in the textbook, and it's very difficult to comprehend. I often have to ask Shinomiya-sama for help.

Ichigo has never liked to bother others.

Fortunately, the dean had the foresight to find tutors in advance.

He was a calligraphy instructor.

Because I don't come to class often, we only had the chance to meet today.

"Then I'll go take a look with Luntang."

After thinking it over, the Four Palaces Lord decided that he could choose to attend ordinary calligraphy classes or not, but he had to go and learn from "that person's" calligraphy class.

"Oh! See you after class."

Ichigo's spirits lifted, realizing that while the other person was taking a cultural class, he had caught up a little bit in his own training.

Little did they know that the Four Palace Master also had a "physical growth potential +1000" buff, meaning that, at least in terms of basic training in swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat, there was probably little hope of catching up through normal means.

Chapter Six: Aizen-sensei, how do you think of my writing of the character "崩" (collapse)?

From my first impression, the calligraphy class felt more like a club gathering than an elective course.

Because there were just too many people coming.

The lecture hall was packed, and those who couldn't get a seat had to leave disappointed.

Shigu-zun and Rindo arrived early since they had no classes in the afternoon, and unceremoniously occupied the middle seat in the first row.

"Most of the people who came were upperclassmen."

It seems that the longer one stays at the Academy of Spiritual Arts, the more one can appreciate the charm of this course.

The special lecturer, wearing a captain's haori, appeared on the stage early and immediately made everyone feel warm and welcoming.

Good afternoon, everyone.

"As is customary, let the new students introduce themselves."

"I am Aizen, Aizen Sousuke, the captain of the 5th Division of the Gotei 13, but today I stand here only as your teacher."

"I feel very honored and gratified to be able to share my understanding of calligraphy with you all."

"The fact that more and more people are joining me is a great encouragement to me, proving that I am on the right path with you all."

"Enough with the small talk, let's get down to business—"

The Four Palaces Master watched as he pulled a roll of white paper from his sleeve, laid it flat, and hung it on the blackboard. The visual impact of the two extremely contrasting colors, white paper and black ink, was far less striking than the words themselves.

"..."

As a young master who was familiar with both Japanese calligraphy and Tokyo University calligraphy, Shinomiya Zun felt what it meant to reach a higher level.

Aizen took out a piece of white paper with only one word written on it—"mountain".

But at first glance, no one can tell that it is the character for "mountain". Instead, it looks like a landscape painting, with the dark mountain leaping off the paper, creating an extraordinary visual experience.

Then the brain can process it and realize that this is actually the Chinese character for "mountain"!

“In my past classes, I have said many times that calligraphy is an art, not a technique, because it focuses more on spiritual cultivation.”

"I didn't use any special techniques for this character. I just wrote down my understanding of the mountain on paper, that's all."

Aizen, without any airs, joked, "That's why we don't have a textbook for this course. As long as you come, that's all that matters. Newcomers don't need to worry about falling behind."

Whether these words dispelled the concerns of the other newcomers, Shinomiya-zun did not know, but he certainly felt the charm of this course.

Aizen was really just sharing his calligraphy experience.

Even if Ichigo came, he wouldn't be unable to understand.

...No, we still can't say that absolutely.

But at least the Four Palace Master understood.

Japanese calligraphy originated from the calligraphy of the University of Tokyo, but later it gradually turned to the art track. It cannot be said that the calligraphy of the University of Tokyo is not art, but can fine art and performance art be compared?

Japanese calligraphy is a performance art of writing.

By boldly transforming and reshaping traditional characters, it breaks through the constraints of traditional writing, expressing more diverse emotions and pushing innovation to its extreme.

For example, it might be full of imagination like a child's random doodles, or full of a twisted feeling that makes people feel uncomfortable, or it might be something like splitting words in half.

There are many things that are even more abstract than abstract paintings.

It's no wonder that Aizen didn't use a proper teaching method; anything slightly more serious would easily make people's writing too "ordinary" and lacking in merit.

"Luntang, do you think the Spirit Arts Academy invited people to teach calligraphy so that people could release their stress?"

The Fourth Palace Master leaned back and spoke in a low voice.

Luntang thought for a moment and then responded.

I find it very interesting.

"Okay, that's one reason."

In the Spiritual Arts Academy, where there are no club activities, it's not easy to find something interesting to do.

At this moment, Aizen suddenly said from the podium: "...Regarding the importance of calligraphy to spiritual cultivation, I would like to ask a student to help write a character. I wonder which student would like to cooperate?"

As soon as the words were spoken, almost all the students stood up excitedly, afraid that Aizen wouldn't see their raised hands. Some even shouted impulsively, making a mess of the classroom.

Aizen smiled without any sign of unease, like a gentle, kind old man, and after looking around, finally chose Shinomiya-no-Tsurugi in the first row.

"Then let's go with this student."

The others glanced over instinctively and nearly burst out laughing.

The Four Palace Masters sat there silently, expressionless, with one hand raised high, looking just like everyone else. But in his hand, he was holding a piece of white paper with writing on it, facing Aizen openly. How could anyone not notice it, just like the production team putting up a cue card for the host?

This is not finished.

Before Aizen could even ask, Shinomiya-no-Tsurugi calmly stood up and casually showed everyone the words he had written.