Chapter 4: Striking Fist, Ghostly Walk

Zhen Mao Ling Spiritual Academy, Fourth Teaching Building, Ground Floor Dojo.
"Shinigami, there are four basic combat techniques called Zan, Ken, So, and Kido, which are Swordsmanship, Hand-to-Hand Combat, Flash Steps, and Kidō respectively."
"But the foundation of everything is spiritual pressure!"
"Without enough spiritual pressure, even if it's using hakuda or kendo, it's just like a child playing with a wooden sword. No matter how powerful the battle technique is, without the support of spiritual pressure, it's like a rootless duckweed."
"You have been enrolled in the Maoling Spirit Academy for over a month, and you are already familiar with the environment and the basic principles of Ghostly Punching. You must work harder to enter the practice."
"Starting from today, I will come here every afternoon to practice kendo and free sparring, in order to strengthen my body. The time will be increased to four hours! No days off!"
"Speaking is known as Ryohei Tsukamoto, the newly appointed martial arts general instructor. In this month since Yuto Mochizuki and the others entered Maoka Spirit Arts Academy, he has been summoning everyone daily, teaching the secrets of body strengthening and explaining the essence of martial arts, urging everyone to cultivate and practice."
“你们不要曲解了＇斩＇这个字，战斗的时候全力一刀挥过去不留后路，那是白痴！挥舞刀剑的时候要留足收回来的力气，记得挥刀时脚下要随时准备后退，给自己留余地！”
"Now, pick up your shinai and practice with me. Yuto Mochizuki, come to the front and demonstrate!"
"Yes!" Yuto Mochizuki responded loudly, walked to the front, drew his shinai, took a deep breath, then separated his legs with one in front and one behind. He bent the back leg and firmly planted it on the ground, holding the sword with both hands, and forcefully slashed it forward."
"Whoosh!" The blade flashed like a white light, blowing a few strands of hair from the person's head who was standing nearby.
Tomimoto Renpei nodded approvingly at performance of Mochizuki Yuto, "Good! The movements are very precise, but remember not to grip the sword too tightly, or else you might lose it in a collision due to excessive force." After saying this, he signaled for Mochizuki Yuto to return to the team, and then continued,
"Everyone, start slicing now, without stopping in the middle, 2000 times in an hour!"
"Yes!"
The above situation has happened many times in the past month. Since Yuuto Mochizuki made that provocative statement at the beginning of the school year, all the students and teachers of the Ayami Spiritual Academy have become familiar with him. Many teachers like to call on Yuuto Mochizuki to do demonstrations during class, and he always performs well. Gradually, he became the "kid from another family" in everyone's mouths.
On the third day after the school speech, freshmen were given shallow taps and began practicing the basic combat techniques of Shinigami, especially the practice of swordsmanship. This is especially important for new students as most people at this time have low spiritual pressure levels and physical strength. However, Yuto Mochizuki discovered a problem –
He is not a genius in "zhan" (slashing) and in other words, his talent in swordsmanship is far inferior to the other three abilities of ghost path, ghost fist, and ghost step.
Yuto Mochizuki has found through over a month of training that he can easily learn the ghost path taught by his teachers, and he can also defeat his opponents in close combat, with no one able to surpass him in speed.
But he can only barely suppress most of the new students in his kendo training, some of whom have already surpassed him in kendo skill.
"There is ultimately no perfect shinigami." Yuto Mochizuki sighed on the day he realized his own innate talents.
However, Yoichi Hiragi is not disappointed because his other three fighting techniques "Kenkagui" have excellent talents. Even Ryohei Kimura privately told him that his talent is no less than the former graduates Ichigo Kurosaki and Gin Ichimaru.
Kuchiki Byakuya graduated from the Shin'ō Academy ten years ago, while Ichimaru Gin graduated early after just one year. Both of them achieved Shikai before graduating and have now made quite a name for themselves in the Gotei 13. Considering the fact that residents of the Soul Society often live for hundreds of years, both Abarai Renji and these two are considered to be of the same generation, similar in age.
"It seems like there may be hope in becoming a captain in the future. But for now, Ichimaru Gin is probably staying by Aizen's side... we shouldn't easily provoke him."
"Mochizuki Yuto comes from a commoner background, so he can't follow in the footsteps of those two. Right now, he can only study hard at Seireitei Academy and accumulate experience. Ichimaru Gin has been with Aizen for a long time, and Byakuya Kuchiki has received noble-style education since he was young. Their foundations are much stronger than Mochizuki Yuto's, so at Mochizuki Yuto's age, they could easily defeat him."
"So I have to continue exercising!" Yuuto Mochizuki thought to himself, gathering his increasingly scattered thoughts and continuously stretching and moving in the training ground bathed in the evening sunset. Gradually, there were fewer and fewer people around, and when the moon hung high in the sky, there was only Yuuto Mochizuki's elegant figure remaining. It was only then that he returned to his residence.
Like this, day after day, Yuto Mochizuki immersed himself in his practice and studies...
Three years later...
In the combat arena of the Maoh Spiritual Academy, the final exams of the year were underway.
A crowd of students formed a circle, with two boys and one referee in the center.
The young man on the left has a calm expression, waist-length black hair, and a tall and handsome figure, especially with a pair of bright black eyes that are full of vitality - he is none other than Yuto Mochizuki.
The boy on the right has a light purple short hair and a quaint appearance. Embroidered on the cuff of his right hand is a badger pattern, indicating that he is a student from a lower noble family. His name is Yuuta Ikeda.
"You all understand the rules of the exam, but I will emphasize it again here. Except for causing disability or death to your opponent, everything else is allowed!"
After the referee loudly finished explaining the rules, he pulled his hands together in the middle:
"Let the sparring begin!"
As the voice fell, the two boys pounced on each other at the same time, almost simultaneously drawing their swords and slashing towards each other. The blades crossed, creating a scene of evenly matched skills within the glimmering light and sword shadows.
Yuto Mochizuki rapidly executed a technique, swiftly throwing Asai into the air, and unbelievably "drilled" into Yuta Ikeda's embrace. With both hands grasping Ikeda's arms, he forcefully pulled downwards, resulting in a resounding "snap" as both of Ikeda's arms instantly dislocated!
Before Kitada Yuta could react, Wanzuki Yuto grabbed his neck with one hand and kicked his leg. Kitada Yuta instantly turned upside down and hung in the air. Wanzuki Yuto quickly pointed his right hand at the opponent and muttered lowly:
"Hado Number Four - Hakurai!"
Just as the words fell, a slender but swift lightning struck the opponent directly, causing a scream and pushing them back several meters.
The referee quickly teleported between the two, shouting loudly, "The sparring is over, the winner is Yuto Mochizuki!"
After hearing these words, Yuto Mochizuki stopped his actions and ran over to help Yuta Ikeda up. Seeing Yuto Mochizuki approaching, Yuta quickly stood up and lowered his arms which had been abused by Yuto Mochizuki, and smiled bitterly, saying:
"I have nothing going on. You, Mizuki, are becoming more and more formidable. I know you didn't give it your all, otherwise I wouldn't have lasted this long with the little time I had."
As the two spoke, the students and teachers around them started discussing:
"Yuto Mochizuki is much stronger than the past two years. Nagamasa Ikeda comes from a lower noble background and is definitely not weak, but he couldn't even last a minute against him!"
"Yes, Nagamasa Ikeda is ranked 32nd among third graders, but he is completely powerless against Yuto Mochizuki."
"Actually, their swordsmanship is more or less the same, but Yuto Mochizuki's ability in white strikes and ghost paths is unparalleled. I feel like he's even more impressive than the teacher..."
In the span of two years, Yuto Mochizuki continuously trained and perfected his skills. Apart from "Slash," he is indisputably the best in his grade in terms of "Fist Walks with Ghosts." In fact, compared to white strikes and ghost paths, no student at the Mahou Spiritual Academy can match him.
Yuto Mochizuki sees that Yuta Ikeda is not seriously injured and breathes a sigh of relief. He pats him on the shoulder and says:
"Ikeda, how about calling a few people to go drinking tonight? Hahaha, you're a grown-up now, right?"
Ikeda Yuta laughed and lightly tapped Motozuki Yuto, then went to the medical room with him.
The referee watched them from behind and wrote in his notebook:
Yuto Mochizuki, Soul Age: 20
Spiritual Pressure Level: 3 (Approaching Fourth Level of Spiritual Pressure)
Spiritual Body Level: Intermediate (Approaching Advanced Level)
Swordsmanship: 80
Boxing: 100
Mobility: 100
Ghost: 100
Ranking: 1
Evaluation: Excellent, with potential to become a captain-level, calm temperament (?), emphasizes emotions, suggest focusing on cultivation.
Soon, this booklet appeared on the desk of the Captain of the One-Fan Team.
Yuto Mochizuki appeared for the first time in the sight of the big shots in the Soul Society.