After picking up fragments for a while, Hasumi Ren had successfully broken through to Class 6 Spiritual Pressure, and his Kido level had also reached Lv6.
Ren opened his status panel to check his current attributes.
Spiritual Pressure: Class 6 (Experience: 350/17000)
Kendo: Lv4 (Experience: 4560/5000)
Hakuda: Lv5 (Experience: 7350/8000)
Shunpo: Lv5 (Experience: 2210/8000)
Kido: Lv6 (Experience: 210/12000)
Zanpakuto: Garenge (Shikai)
Hollowfication: Lv1 (Experience: 780/1000)
Shunko: Locked
Double Incantation: Beginner (78%)
Hogyoku (Awakening Rate: 0.05%)
Once Hakuda upgraded to Lv6, Shunko would be unlocked.
Filled with anticipation for his new ability, Ren stepped into the Kido Corps barracks.
The morning dew still clung to the corridors of the Kido Corps, but the moment Ren stepped through the door, he noticed something was off.
Although he had occasionally encountered malicious glares in the past, they had never been this concentrated and sharp. They felt like tiny shards of ice piercing him from all directions.
"That's him, right? I heard he used his connections in the Second Division to sneak in. A guy from the Rukongai actually thinks he's worthy of joining the Kido Corps..."
"The Grand Kido Chief definitely only made an exception for him out of respect for the Shihoin clan. Otherwise, how could he possibly study here?"
"Letting an outsider like him in is a deliberate slap in the face. It's a complete humiliation for us nobles."
As the gossip and rumors spread through the crowd, Ren slightly raised an eyebrow, his footsteps never faltering.
He swept his gaze over the masked members of the Kido Corps, taking in their various malicious glares.
Ren paid them no mind. He headed straight into the training grounds, preparing to practice the Double Incantation to increase his proficiency.
However, the training target he had just selected was immediately snatched away by someone else.
Ren frowned and moved in another direction.
There seemed to be an unusually large number of people today; every single training spot was occupied.
Even when he tried to find a quiet corner to recite his incantations, people would deliberately crowd around him and speak loudly to disrupt his rhythm.
Ren's expression remained as calm as a deep pool of water. He simply withdrew his gaze, moved to another spot, and watched quietly.
*'It seems someone is out to get me,'* he thought.
*'Rumors and ostracization... what cheap tricks.'*
Even with his steady temperament, Ren found himself growing irritated.
It felt like a toad crawling across his foot—harmless, but utterly disgusting, making even breathing feel stifling.
Although Tsukabishi Tessai had noticed the situation, he didn't know where it originated. He couldn't easily step in to suppress the rumors either, as doing so might only make things worse and seem like a cover-up.
The petty scheming of these noble scions truly exhausted him.
He could also sense that these guys were indirectly pressuring him, expressing their dissatisfaction.
While Tessai wasn't afraid of them, he couldn't just leave Ren to deal with it alone.
Therefore, the only solution he could think of was to have Ren take a break for a while, allowing this toxic atmosphere to dissipate.
Fortunately, Ren's Kido and Spiritual Pressure levels had already increased, so he didn't need to visit the Kido Corps as frequently for the time being.
The night was deep, the moonlight obscured by thick clouds.
Ren finished his training for the day and stepped out of the Kido Corps gates into the dark night.
Just as he turned into the alleyway he always took, several figures emerged from the shadows.
Ren looked up and saw Ayakawa Hiko leaning against a nearby wall, a provocative smirk playing on his lips.
The lackeys behind him also struck aggressive poses, glaring daggers at Ren as if eager to vent all their pent-up frustration from the past few days.
"Some people sneak in through connections, yet they don't even dare to utter a single word of protest. How pathetic."
Ren paused his steps. His face remained expressionless, save for a flash of poorly concealed impatience in his eyes.
"What do you want?"
Ayakawa Hiko took a step forward with a vicious glare, his chest nearly bumping into Ren's.
"Hasumi Ren, we've been sick of the sight of you for a long time."
"Did you think playing dead and keeping quiet would let you off the hook? That you could just keep disgusting us in the Kido Corps?"
Ren looked at the man in front of him, a chilling glint flashing through his eyes.
Ayakawa Hiko sneered and waved his hand. The lackeys behind him immediately stepped forward, looking ready for a fight.
"We've been wanting to teach you a lesson for ages. It just so happens our big brother is here today, so don't even think about running."
"Let's get one thing straight—don't go crying to the Grand Kido Chief for help so he can play favorites again."
"How about we find a spot outside the Seireitei? Do you have the guts to come?"
At this, he deliberately lowered his voice, his tone laced with cunning and provocation.
Seeing his confident demeanor, Ren's impatience nearly boiled over. A faint, mocking smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he spoke flatly.
"Are you crazy? Why would I agree to that?"
"Have you even figured out the Double Incantation yet, or are you just here to bark like dogs?"
His words were like needles, precisely piercing Ayakawa Hiko and the others right in their sore spot.
They had been practicing the Double Incantation for over two months and hadn't even grasped the basics.
The group instantly flew into a rage, their faces flushing bright red.
But then, the person standing behind them took a few steps forward.
"Cut the crap. Just tell us if you have the guts to go or not."
"If you don't, then take the initiative and get the hell out of the Kido Corps. Don't ever come back."
"If you can actually defeat me, I'll keep my word. No one in the Kido Corps will ever speak ill of you again."
Ren raised his eyes to look at the man. His Spiritual Pressure wasn't low; he looked like he had some real strength and was likely ranked fairly high within the Kido Corps.
But at that moment, a strange feeling flickered in his heart.
While it made logical sense for these guys to come picking a fight today, something still felt slightly off.
However, this suspicion was quickly overshadowed by his underlying impatience.
He looked up, giving the man a dismissive glance.
"Remember what you said. Let's go."
"Hmph, I'd like to see how tough you talk later!"
Seeing him agree, a flash of pleasant surprise crossed Ayakawa Hiko's eyes.
*'The first step of today's plan is complete,'* he thought.
Nagano Masayasu had told them earlier that he would find an expert to back them up outside. If the man in front of them couldn't beat Ren, they still had a backup plan.
*'To hell with fairness. Today, we're going to beat this guy to a pulp to vent our anger—for Lord Tokinada, and for ourselves.'*
*'As long as Ren agreed to follow us, everything will be easy once we get there.'*
He was the first to turn around, heading toward the outskirts of the Seireitei.
The lackeys behind him hurriedly surrounded Ren, seemingly afraid he might run away.
At this moment, Ren was actually somewhat curious about what kind of setup these people had prepared.
With Ren's current abilities, it would be difficult for anyone below the rank of Lieutenant to even stand a chance against him.
That was the source of his confidence.
The group walked all the way to the outskirts of the Seireitei, arriving at the Rukongai.
The surrounding buildings became sparser, and the sounds of people faded away, gradually replaced by a dense forest.
Ancient trees towered into the sky, allowing only sparse moonlight to filter through. The dead branches and fallen leaves crunched under their feet.
In the distant, silent mountains, the occasional howl of an unknown beast could be heard.
Ren surveyed his surroundings and frowned slightly.
"The place you chose is a bit too far, isn't it?"
"Cut the crap. If we don't go far enough, we'll get caught, and then what's the point of fighting?"
After walking for about another half an incense stick's time, Ayakawa Hiko finally stopped and pointed to a desolate ruin ahead.
"Alright, this is the place."
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