As soon as Sora jumped into the white hot spring, he felt something was wrong.
His Spiritual Pressure was draining.
"You feel it, right?"
Tenjirō Kirinji leaned against the edge of the spring. A small table with snacks was floating in front of him.
"Yes. My Spiritual Pressure is draining. More accurately, my cells are being affected," Sora nodded.
"You're right. The water in 'White Bone Hell' breaks down weaker cells in the body. If you soak too long, it will even corrode normal cells."
Tenjirō Kirinji poured a cup of spirit wine and downed it. "Not bad! The ingredients for this antler wine have changed, right? It's much more fragrant and rich than what I've had before!"
"The ingredients are different. Batsu'unsai picked some deer with better Spiritual Pressure talent and raised them on the back mountain," Sora explained.
"When you feel like you can't take 'White Bone Hell' anymore, go soak in the 'Blood Pond Hell' over there."
"The water in 'Blood Pond Hell' replenishes Spiritual Pressure and promotes the growth of spiritual body cells, increasing their vitality."
"Although these two springs are mainly for healing, if you soak for a few hours, your spiritual body will be much more vigorous than before!"
"So, dive in!"
"Submerge your whole body and let every cell be baptized by 'White Bone Hell'!"
"Huh?" Tenjirō Kirinji was explaining the springs when he saw the faint glow of Kaidō on Sora's body and paused. "That flow of Spiritual Pressure... Has Kaidō become a physical instinct for you? Is that your 'talent'?"
"Yes. I call it 'Kaidō Self-Healing'," Sora nodded.
Now that he could use Hollowfication, Sora gained high-speed regeneration in that state, so he didn't rely on 'Kaidō Self-Healing' as much.
But in the past, this ability was what allowed him to use techniques that put a heavy burden on his body.
"Interesting. It seems you're a Kaidō genius who got sidetracked by swordsmanship!" Tenjirō Kirinji grinned.
"You can suppress that instinct, right? Otherwise, the effect of 'Blood Pond Hell' will be weakened."
'Blood Pond Hell' worked by increasing cell vitality. If Kaidō healed the cell damage first, the spring couldn't promote cell growth.
"I can." Sora suppressed his 'Kaidō Self-Healing' ability and sank into the 'White Bone Hell' spring.
...
Several hours later.
"My Spiritual Pressure didn't increase much, but my body feels much lighter."
Sora moved his body, feeling the change.
He felt an unprecedented lightness, almost like being reborn.
All the impurities and weaker cells in his body had been flushed out by the 'White Bone Hell', making him feel brand new.
"This change is permanent. The 'lifespan' of your spiritual body has increased," Kirinji explained. "Spiritual bodies also age."
"Even a strong Shinigami like Yamamoto can't escape the wear and tear of time. His immense Spiritual Pressure just makes the process much slower."
"After soaking in both springs, your spiritual body is now at its youngest possible state."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Kirinji-senpai," Sora said gratefully.
"Don't thank me. You were summoned by Lord Soul King himself. The Zero Squad must treat you well!" Kirinji laughed. "I'll send you to the next palace!"
Leaving the Kirinden was the same as arriving—by being launched from the catapult.
The next destination was Kirio Hikifune's Gatonden (Sleeping Boar Palace).
"Katori-kun, you're finally here! Welcome to my Gatonden!"
"You know, you're the first guest the Gatonden has ever had!"
"I mean, the first guest from outside the Zero Squad!"
"I've prepared some new dishes. You have to try them!"
Kirio Hikifune was happy to see Sora. Back in Squad 12, she and Sora had a good relationship. They would often spar in cooking and exchange new recipes.
"Then I'm in your care, Kirio-san!"
Sora was pulled into the dining room by Kirio Hikifune.
The dining room was connected to the kitchen. In the middle was a giant, rotating round table.
Kirio clearly planned to cook and have Sora taste the food at the same time.
Her cooking speed was fast. In just a few minutes, the first dish was served.
And, Kirio Hikifune had injected the Spiritual Pressure she stored in her temporary souls into the food!
This was food that increased Spiritual Pressure just by eating it!
However, the first dish she served looked a bit strange.
"Kirio-san, is this a lemon?"
Sora saw a lemon on the plate and looked troubled.
Even for the sake of the temporary soul inside, he would eat it. But a dish that was only a lemon was a bit too abstract.
"It's a dessert. I've been trying Quincy cuisine lately. This is a 'Ryūgin Lemon', modified from a Quincy recipe."
Kirio Hikifune introduced her dish.
Sora looked closely and saw the lemon wasn't real. The outer peel was actually a layer of colored sugar.
He took a bite. The inside was complex, with different ingredients in each layer.
"Mm... the texture is very rich. The collision of candied lemon and citrus 'pearls' is amazing."
"You can't even feel them before you bite down. The moment the juice explodes, it's like a firework in your mouth."
Sora said, impressed.
Although the dessert looked just like a lemon, its complex and rich flavor was a new experience.
"Hahaha, Quincy recipes have their merits, too!" Kirio was pleased. "There's more, wait a moment."
Kirio went back to the kitchen.
But all the dishes she brought out were desserts that simulated the flavor and texture of fruit, but with a different experience.
"Ryūgin Strawberry, Ryūgin Apple, Ryūgin Banana... Is the recipe book written by someone named Ryūgin?"
"You guessed it. The author is Kurosaki Ryūgin."
"The Kurosaki family really is full of talent..."
After Kirio finished cooking, she had slimmed down, returning to the appearance Sora was familiar with.
Besides the 'Ryūgin' dishes, Kirio made many normal dishes. It took Sora several hours to eat everything.
If his spiritual body wasn't so strong, and if he didn't digest the 'temporary soul' Spiritual Pressure so fast, he might have burst.
After eating Kirio Hikifune's cooking, Sora's Spiritual Pressure rose rapidly.
-----------------
On Patreon—the complete version is available.
My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/LEYI396Mira
Also, check my profile to read the other Bleach novels I've started publishing—go give them a read!