Shi Hanfeng flipped his palm, and the bottle of Dream Essence emitting a faint glow appeared in his hand.
The dust swirled under the illusory sunlight, with countless fragmented dream fragments seemingly sealed inside, refracting a mesmerizing luster.
The Sword Spirit’s azure eyes were immediately drawn over, like a cat discovering a new toy.
She leaned in curiously, almost pressing her face to the bottle.
“So this is what dropped from killing that pervert? It does look pretty, though…”
She reached out, a faint Lingzi halo circling her fingertip, wanting to poke the shimmering glow out of curiosity.
Just as her finger was about to touch the bottle, Shi Hanfeng twisted his wrist and gripped the small bottle firmly in his palm.
He looked at the Sword Spirit, a mischievous smile on his face.
“Reciprocity is basic etiquette. I’ve shown my spoils—what about you? My partner, I don’t even know your name. That’s not very appropriate, is it?”
The Sword Spirit immediately put her hands on her hips and glared at him, cheeks puffed slightly.
“Asking such a private thing right away—no girl would like that, you know.”
She said this, but her gaze unconsciously drifted to the side, her slender fingers twirling her hair, clearly caught off guard and a little guilty from the sudden question.
Shi Hanfeng sighed, showing a lonely expression.
“That’s harsh. I thought we were brothers-in-arms, connected in spirit.”
The Sword Spirit looked down at herself instinctively, further confirming an indisputable fact.
Her view was undeniably blocked by a towering curve, unable to see her sandal-clad toes.
You know, by certain unwritten yet widely accepted aesthetic standards, that’s the ultimate proof.
Moreover, in this form, whether in looks or figure, she’d been strictly certified by countless gentlemen of a certain world.
“Brother? You call this a brother?”
She gestured at her own curves.
No matter how you looked at it, her figure had nothing to do with the word “brother.”
If it were the short, undeveloped sprout-like initial form of that plank duck, she might barely accept such a ridiculous title by pinching her nose.
But now, this guy was definitely doing it on purpose!
“Not a brother, huh? What a shame, then it’s—”
“Stop, stop, stop! You win!”
As an extension of the other’s soul essence, the Sword Spirit instantly caught the fleeting, wicked thought that flashed through Shi Hanfeng’s mind.
She shivered, rubbing at the sudden goosebumps, admitting that in terms of thick skin and twisted humor, she was still a notch below.
Compared to this sometimes mischievous main body, she felt as pure as a blank sheet.
She sighed helplessly, the lazy, playful expression fading from her face.
A name…
She stared at Shi Hanfeng for a few seconds, a sly glint flickering in her lively blue eyes.
Suddenly, a gentle yet strange light enveloped her body. Under Shi Hanfeng’s gaze, her form began to ripple and restructure.
When the light faded, the figure standing there had completely changed.
Gone were the iconic silver-gray long hair and slender figure, replaced by a petite form with lively twin tails.
The conservative swimsuit had become a mischievous short kimono, and a distinctive fox mask covered her face, revealing only a graceful jawline and lips forever curled in a playful smirk.
The whole person exuded a mischievous, riotous energy.
Shi Hanfeng’s eye twitched slightly.
This sudden transformation into the vanguard troublemaker under the Star God of Joy was a bit alarming.
He didn’t want his life turning into a grand Truman Show, where all his careful plans ended up being just entertainment for some god of amusement.
Nor did he wish to sit at the same table discussing life’s meaning with that fire-spirited brother who daily fought with hallucinations.
Still, the Sword Spirit was not the complete form of Fireworks.
The transformed Sword Spirit rose on her tiptoes like a butterfly, grinning mischievously, her voice carrying Fireworks’ signature playful lilt.
“I’ll say it only once, so don’t blame me if you don’t catch it~ My name is—”
Her voice rang out clearly, but as it reached Shi Hanfeng’s ears, it became two forcibly distorted, indistinct syllables.
But from her mouth movements and tone, Shi Hanfeng easily judged it was two syllables.
The hint was so obvious it was as if the answer was pasted next to the riddle.
Shi Hanfeng stroked his chin, pretending to ponder as he looked at the expectant eyes of the “Messenger of Joy” before him.
“Hmm…”
He drew out the sound, then smiled as the other was about to impatiently urge him.
“Though your new form makes me want to blurt out ‘Fireworks’…”
“But since you’ve given such an obvious hint, if I act clueless, I’ll look like an incompetent Master.”
He restrained the teasing, his tone turning formal and gentle. He bent slightly, offering his left hand, palm up, in an inviting gesture.
“Well then, I’ll be in your care from now on, Qianbian.”
At the sound of the name, the corners of the mouth beneath the fox mask curved upward, clearly pleased.
She placed her small hand in Shi Hanfeng’s, snapping her other fingers with a cheerful ring.
“Bingo! Let’s officially meet again. I’m your Zanpakuto, Qianbian!”
With the name confirmed, a clearer, stronger soul link was established between them, as if some invisible contract had been formed.
Almost simultaneously, detailed information about the Shikai abilities of the Zanpakuto flowed into Shi Hanfeng’s mind, like unlocked data.
He savored this information, his expression shifting from calm to surprise, then to unconcealable joy.
This Zanpakuto truly lived up to his gamer talents.
After all, what weapon in a game didn’t have a skin transformation function?
Now with the appearance, the abilities naturally followed.
Qianbian’s power was even more special and full of potential than he had imagined.
Other Soul Reapers’ Zanpakuto had fixed Shikai abilities, such as Liuzhiruo Huo controlling flames or Binglunwan manipulating ice and snow—high stats but single in nature.
His Qianbian, however, was an extremely rare, infinitely evolving Zanpakuto!
Its core ability was simple: transformation.
As long as he provided specific materials containing rules or powerful energy, Qianbian could understand and reconstruct the essence of things, transforming into the form of other Zanpakuto he knew and partially recreating their abilities.
In short, while others’ Zanpakuto came preset with exclusive skills, his was a blank universal template—a master key to countless doors.
He needed to collect “skill cards” (special materials) to unlock and switch between various powerful abilities.
This was a type with a low floor and an absurdly high ceiling.
In theory, as long as he fed it enough materials, wielding a Reshi-blade to cleave enemies one day wouldn’t be just a dream.
“No wonder your initial form leaned towards Bronea Zaychek…”
Shi Hanfeng muttered, feeling many clues connecting.
“The Law of Reason—its core is understanding the structure of all things and reproducing them…makes sense. It’s logical.”
He recalled the first template, Rochet, whose background was deeply intertwined with Aotuo Apokalisi.
Later, he obtained the one-time Void Treasury experience card—a magical item with countless faces that could simulate other Divine Keys.
Now, his Zanpakuto’s initial form pointed to the Law of Reason.
Such a mysterious connection made him feel fate could be perversely amusing.
It seemed the traits of the first chosen template truly shaped his path.
Qianbian crossed her arms, chin lifted in slight pride. Though her current petite form made the gesture especially cute.
“Now you know how amazing I am? But don’t get too cocky—the materials are key. Without suitable, attribute-matched materials, I’m just a sturdy blank blade.”
She made a gesture, hinting not to use her for direct clashes with heavy weapons.
Shi Hanfeng’s earlier move of catching a meteor hammer almost made her heart stop.
“Also, the power of transformed abilities depends on the material’s quality and your own energy output. Don’t expect to unleash a Bankai-level ability from the start. Be glad if you get basic Shikai effects.”
Shi Hanfeng nodded. As expected for a pay-to-win weapon—no pay, no power.
His gaze returned to the bottle of Dream Essence in his hand.
This material, dropped from Yan Meng, radiated intense spiritual and dream energy, perfectly suited as a catalyst for a certain ability.
“So.”
Shi Hanfeng lifted the small bottle, looking at Qianbian.
“Right now, I have a freshly acquired, high-grade material with matching attributes. With its dream and mental manipulation properties, I can guess what kind of Zanpakuto ability it’ll unlock.”
Dreams, hypnosis, mental manipulation…
These keywords instantly made him think of that invincible Zanpakuto in Sosuke Aizen’s hand—Jinghua Shuiyue.
The one that used complete hypnosis to toy with the entire upper echelon of the Soul Society.
An ability that turned illusions into reality, manipulating the five senses and even battlefield information—a true strategic weapon in the hands of a clever user.
Qianbian placed her hands behind her back, body leaning forward, fox mask tilted, her voice full of enticing temptation—like a candy-peddler luring customers.
“Why not try it? Master~ Guessing is boring; only action proves the truth! Don’t think, just do!”
Shi Hanfeng began pondering how to integrate the material into the Zanpakuto.
Was it like enchanting a weapon, directly coating it on the blade?
Or did he need a craftsman like the Soul Society’s sword god, Nimaya Oetsu, for reforging?
As he hesitated, Qianbian grew impatient—or perhaps, as the Sword Spirit, she knew best how to absorb materials.
“Enough dawdling, gimme!”