Another dozen days passed.
Everything moved forward steadily within the calm of daily life.
In the underground space, the rhythm of life and cultivation had long since formed a unique tempo. Matsumoto Rangiku's arrival merely added a slightly different hue to that rhythm. She had her own small room now, though her style differed greatly from the goal-oriented, strictly disciplined cultivation of Suō Tsukasa and Toshiro.
She seemed more attracted to the novelty and interest of life here itself. Regarding high-intensity, repetitive cultivation, she showed little interest, often merely observing and only occasionally bracing herself to participate. However, when it came to helping out, she was unexpectedly diligent. Not only did she help process medicinal ingredients, but she also started a flower field next to the bamboo forest using various seeds she had scavenged from across the Seireitei. She even followed Suō Tsukasa's example by placing wooden plaques by the field, earnestly labeling each flower's name and planting date.
Inside the Tenth Division office.
At this moment, the long table usually used for entertaining guests was occupied by dense rows of porcelain bottles.
"Whoa, that's a lot!"
Isshin Shiba stood by the table, hands on his hips, looking at the spectacular sight with a face full of surprise and praise. He picked up a bottle at random, pulled the cork, and leaned in to sniff; the fresh, slightly sweet medicinal scent made his spirit rouse. Turning to Suō Tsukasa standing nearby, his eyes were filled with appreciation.
"Tsukasa, your efficiency is incredible. How many days has it been?"
"As long as you are satisfied, Uncle," Suō Tsukasa replied with a smile.
"Satisfied? I'm beyond satisfied!" Isshin Shiba laughed heartily, clapping Suō Tsukasa warmly on the shoulder. "The quality of this batch of Qi-Supplementing Pills is even better than the samples you gave last time. Those boys in the squad are in luck."
He turned to Toshiro and said, "Toshiro, store the medicine away. Later, draw up a distribution plan. Prioritize the vanguard units and the members stationed in the Living World; the rest can be used as rewards for those with excellent evaluations."
"Yes, Captain," Toshiro nodded in agreement. He began organizing the porcelain bottles into groups of six, neatly lining them up in a specially added medicine cabinet.
Matsumoto Rangiku helped from the side. The two of them, one tall and one short, coordinated with great fluidity. Isshin Shiba watched them work together, arms crossed, feeling moved.
Ever since Suō Tsukasa's relationship with the Tenth Division grew closer, changes had been occurring quietly. Toshiro went without saying; under Tsukasa's influence, not only had his strength grown at an alarming rate, but his conduct had become increasingly steady and reliable. No matter how tedious the paperwork, he could complete it methodically, and his suggestions often hit the mark.
What comforted Isshin most was that Matsumoto Rangiku—though still somewhat lazy—had changed as well. She still slacked off occasionally or secretly pushed a bit of paperwork onto him and Toshiro, but compared to the past, her attitude had become a few degrees more earnest.
Isshin Shiba saw all these changes clearly. He took a sip of tea from the cup on the captain's desk, his gaze falling back on Suō Tsukasa. Meticulous in thought, thorough in his methods, and sincere in his interactions—he was the kind of person who naturally drew people's favor. Isshin felt fortunate that this talent had been picked up by Kaien for the Thirteenth Division and happened to get along so well with him.
"Tsukasa, come here," Isshin suddenly spoke, beckoning him over.
"What is it?" Suō Tsukasa turned and walked closer.
"The payment for this batch of pills will be prepared by the division's finance department. Additionally, besides the agreed-upon amount, I've prepared something extra for you." Isshin Shiba took an item out of a drawer and handed it over. "Take a look."
Suō Tsukasa took it. It was a thread-bound book that looked quite old. The cover was deep brown leather, worn at the edges, with no text on the front—only simple cloud patterns. It felt warm to the touch, and the ancient, specialized paper carried a heavy scent of history.
Opening the first page, he was met with dense handwritten text and exquisite diagrams. The ink varied in shade, clearly added by different hands across different eras. It was a secret technique regarding the enhancement of Reishi density. The diagrams featured human figures marked with complex spiritual networks and Reiryoku flow paths. The text detailed how to maximize one's own spiritual pressure density at a certain cost. It wasn't ordinary spiritual pressure accumulation, but rather the compression and explosion of spiritual pressure—a technique to break through the limits of one's strength in a short time.
Suō Tsukasa flipped through the pages, his eyes growing increasingly surprised. With his current vision and understanding of spiritual pressure, he could grasp the profound principles contained within.
He closed the book. "This gift is too heavy, Uncle," he said solemnly.
He recognized the core nature of this secret technique at a glance. It was a family technique of the Shiba Clan. As one of the Five Noble Families, the Shiba Clan's ability to send people to the Soul King Palace—where Reishi concentration was extremely high—relied on more than just bloodline. This mastery of significantly increasing spiritual pressure density was their true foundation. What this book recorded was the core heritage of an ancient noble family. Even if it wasn't the most central part, it was incredibly precious.
"Heavy? Not at all," Isshin Shiba waved his hand dismissively. "It's just some slightly special techniques."
Isshin himself didn't know most of the Shiba family's ancestral spells, as he was the head of a branch family; he only possessed scattered bits of the heritage. The secret technique he gave Suō Tsukasa was far from the most central skills of the branch family. Moreover, many secret techniques were tied to bloodlines, and he had specifically sought this one out.
"Don't blame Kaien for holding back; the main house has its rules and an ordered heritage. My branch, however, has a thin lineage; I'm the only one left in my generation, so there aren't that many rules. You are my nephew, so there's no problem with me passing it to you. Once Toshiro meets the requirements, I'll pass it to him as well." He paused, his gaze becoming serious as he looked at Suō Tsukasa.
"With your current spiritual pressure level and soul strength, it's still difficult for you to withstand the excess spiritual pressure density brought by the technique's burst. So, do not use it unless it is absolutely necessary. However, merely studying the theories within and understanding the principles of spiritual pressure compression and purification can benefit your current self and be of great help to your daily cultivation. That's why I'm giving it to you—to contemplate, not to practice immediately. If there's anything you don't understand, come ask me anytime."
"Thank you for your kindness, Uncle. I will," Suō Tsukasa tucked the book inside his clothes, expressing his gratitude. This was not just the gift of a secret technique; it was an acknowledgment based on trust and emotional bonds, second only to blood relations.
"That's more like it." Isshin Shiba smiled with satisfaction, then suddenly remembered something and added casually, "Remember to return it when you're done. I only have this one copy."
"What's more like it? Return what?" Having finished the small task at hand, Matsumoto Rangiku saw the two men with their strange expressions and odd conversation and couldn't help but run over to join the fun. A curious smile was on her face as her gaze darted back and forth between them.
Isshin Shiba laughed heartily. "Nothing much. I just gave Tsukasa a small gift for him to take back and study. It'll help with his cultivation." He looked at Matsumoto Rangiku and teased, "Why, are you jealous? If you cultivated seriously and diligently, I could give it to you eventually as well."
"Huh? Then forget it—" Matsumoto Rangiku blinked, her hands forming a gesture of refusal in front of her chest as she resolutely declined. Just the thought of undergoing bitter cultivation like Suō Tsukasa made her whole body feel uncomfortable.
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