"One Fifth Rank Spirit Power, one Sixth-Rank Spirit Power!"
The young man with middle-parted hair, known as Third Seat Kimura, fixed his gaze on the two as the black-robed elder approached with Lin Huang and Ichimaru Gin.
With his experience, he naturally saw through their current Reiatsu status at a glance.
While Third Seat Kimura was sizing them up, Lin Huang and Ichimaru Gin were also observing him.
"Peak of Fourth Seat Spiritual Power?"
Although this Third Seat Kimura maintained his Reiatsu at a level seemingly close to Ichimaru Gin's Fifth Rank Spirit Power, his disguise was laid bare under Lin Huang's extraordinary Spiritual Sense.
This man's true strength had remarkably reached the Peak of Fourth Seat Spiritual Power, just a step away from the threshold of Captain-level, Third Rank Spirit Power.
In terms of Reiatsu intensity alone, few among the active-duty lieutenants could match him.
Yet, he was content to remain in the position of the Fifth Divsion's Third Seat, clearly hiding his true capabilities intentionally.
"To be recruited by that man, he's certainly not simple..." Lin Huang thought to himself.
Faster than words can say, Kimura Keiichi, who was about to sheathe his sword, suddenly struck with a backhand slash without warning, the blade sweeping directly toward Ichimaru Gin and Lin Huang!
This sudden move startled the Black-robed Pavilion Keeper nearby, causing him to stumble and fall flat on his backside.
At the moment the blade struck, Lin Huang and Ichimaru Gin moved simultaneously!
Clang!
The Zanpakuto in Lin Huang's sleeve shot out like a swimming dragon, precisely parrying the surprise attack, his figure as steady as a rock.
After the strike, Kimura Keiichi did not retract his blade but instead lunged toward Ichimaru Gin!
Ichimaru Gin's reaction was also extremely fast; though he hadn't undergone formal training, instinct drove him to draw the short blade at his waist to block.
However, he had only just received his asauchi, and his application of Reiatsu and mastery of the weapon were not yet proficient.
With a single clash, he was sent sliding back seven or eight meters, only managing to steady himself after plunging the short blade into the ground.
"Have you studied swordsmanship?"
Kimura Keiichi's expression tightened as he looked at Lin Huang, who had easily deflected his strike, and spoke in a low voice.
The strike just now was intended to test their foundations.
For this young man with Sixth-Rank Spirit Power to be able to parry his strike so calmly, he had clearly been immersed in the way of the sword for a long time.
Kimura Keiichi was not surprised by this.
It wasn't the regular enrollment period for the Shino Academy; those who could secure an admission slot, even if not nobles themselves, were bound to be connected to nobility, so it was normal to have practiced swordsmanship beforehand.
On the other hand, the silver-haired boy, despite having a high innate Reiatsu of the Fifth Rank, seemed to have no formal combat training.
At this point, the Black-robed Pavilion Keeper, who had been frightened by the exchange, slowly stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and grumbled dissatisfiedly:
"Sigh, you youngsters always love to scare an old man! Since the people have been delivered, I'll be heading back. Don't forget my reward!"
With that, he turned and left without looking back.
Kimura Keiichi had also sheathed his sword by now, a warm smile appearing on his face, identical to Aizen Sōsuke's:
"Well then, let me introduce myself. I am Kimura Keiichi, your first-term swordsmanship instructor and your Designated Supervisor during your studies at the Shino Academy."
The so-called Designated Supervisor was similar to a homeroom teacher in his previous life; students could consult and seek help from him regarding various matters during their six years at the academy.
"The testing ends here. Next, I will take you to collect your uniforms and assign your dormitories."
He paused, his gaze lingering on Ichimaru Gin for a moment:
"Since you are transfer students, I won't repeat many basic courses in class. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me privately."
"Do you two have any other questions?"
Hearing this, Lin Huang shook his head.
Ichimaru Gin simply uttered two words:
"No."
...Not long after, Lin Huang pushed open the door to his assigned dormitory, revealing a clean and tidy small courtyard with a shallow stream, and a detached house directly ahead.
In his right hand, he held a set of uniforms, designed similarly to a kimono, with a pure white top and indigo bottoms—the standard attire of the Shino Academy.
Looking over the serene courtyard and the well-equipped house, Lin Huang nodded in satisfaction.
He hadn't expected that just being an academy student would grant such treatment within the Seireitei.
Enjoying the purest spirit particles and the most favorable environment, it was no wonder the souls of Rukongai would break their necks trying to get in here.
Entering his own small house, Lin Huang sat down on the clean, comfortable wooden bed and carefully examined the uniform in his hand.
He discovered that although the uniform was woven from spirit particles and possessed some protective capability, its feel, wearing experience, and actual defense were far inferior to a standard Shinigami's shinigami uniform, and even less comparable to the luxurious robe he wore, which was woven from half the Reiatsu of a Mid-rank Arrancar.
Tossing the uniform aside, Lin Huang took the asauchi from his sleeve and sat cross-legged on the bed.
He placed the unsheathed Zanpakuto flat across his knees and attempted to slowly infuse his own Reiatsu into it.
Currently, this blade had not yet completed the spirit particle infusion and could only be called an asauchi.
Only by completely infusing and assimilating it with his own spirit particles could it become a Zanpakuto unique to Lin Huang, thereby laying the foundation for future mastery of Shikai and even Bankai.
As Lin Huang closed his eyes, the purple Reiatsu in his palms flowed like a trickling stream into the asauchi on his lap.
At the same time, deep within his Spiritual World, atop that skyscraper, Lin Huang's Vasto Lorde True Body also assumed a cross-legged sitting posture.
The powerful Hollow Reiatsu penetrated the veil of the Spiritual World, merging with the Reiatsu of his human spiritual body in the real world to jointly infuse this asauchi!
Sensing this change, the corners of Lin Huang's mouth curled up slightly:
"It can even work like this?"
The spirit particle infusion process, which was originally expected to take several years, would now likely take only two or three months under the dual influence of his human spiritual body and Vasto Lorde True Body to completely transform this asauchi into his own Zanpakuto... The next day, on the Training Ground.
Lin Huang and Ichimaru Gin officially joined Kimura Keiichi's swordsmanship class.
The total term of study at the Shino Academy is six years, with one year per term.
Since these were only first-term students, everyone's combat techniques were still quite immature.
Kimura Keiichi's teaching philosophy was simple and direct: first, correct the mistakes of all students in gripping, swinging, and exerting force, then have students pair up for duels with restricted Reiatsu.
Lin Huang's opponent was a burly student named Kameda.
"Classmate Yue, please advise me!"
"Classmate Kameda, please."
Following the academy's regulations, both sides bowed to each other before attacking with wooden swords.
The burly Kameda let out a roar, raising his wooden sword high with both hands and slashing down at Lin Huang with great force.
This seemingly swift and powerful strike, however, was as slow as a crawling turtle in Lin Huang's eyes.
He made no unnecessary movements; just as Kameda's wooden sword was about to reach him, his own wooden sword shot out like lightning, precisely striking the other's solar plexus.
With a "thud," Kameda fell backward.
For Lin Huang, who had fought bloody battles in Hueco Mundo for years and emerged from a sea of corpses, a battle of this level was like child's play, even without using a shred of Reiatsu.