Death God: Starting from Refining Essence into Qi

Class time is long and boring.

Kyusuke Shihōin, a teacher at the Civil Service Teacher Training School, paced back and forth in front of the podium, his voice rising and falling, but the content was nothing but clichés about "aristocratic glory" and "bloodline responsibility".

Sunlight streamed through the high windows, slowly moving across the classroom floor, illuminating the dust particles suspended in the air and the strained eyelids of many students.

Xuan sat by the window, his back straight, his gaze fixed on the teacher, but his thoughts had already wandered elsewhere.

He could neither get up and stretch his limbs nor secretly circulate his spiritual power—in front of so many clansmen who possessed spiritual pressure perception, any abnormal fluctuation of spiritual pressure would be tantamount to self-exposure.

"I can't afford to waste this time," Xuan thought to himself. Since he couldn't move his body, he would use his mind. His consciousness sank into the depths of his memory, and he began to systematically sort out and deduce those ideas about "the way of the ghosts".

The way the spiritual energy of the Breaking Path operates, how the Binding Path maintains the structural stability of the spiritual particles outside the body... There is no actual verification of the manipulation of spiritual particles, but we can conceive of a large number of hypotheses that can be verified in the future.

Xuan was immersed in thought, and the vexing tearing sensation deep in his soul seemed to be temporarily isolated by his highly focused thoughts.

"...Therefore, the title of 'Heaven-Sent Armored Unit' is not just a name, but a special honor earned by my ancestors through their military exploits and loyalty, and it is something we must defend with our lives..." The voice of Shihouin Kyusuke drifted into my ears.

Teacher training college.

A sudden voice interrupted Shi Fan's narration and also broke Xuan's thoughts.

Xuan looked up and saw a branch family member sitting in the front row named Shihōin Aoji.

"You just mentioned 'divinely bestowed weaponry.' Does your clan truly possess divine weapons bestowed by the Spirit King? Do we... have any chance of seeing them?"

A few soft chuckles echoed in the classroom.

Kyusuke Shihouin was not angry at being interrupted; instead, he showed a knowing look that said, "I knew it."

He cleared his throat, his tone becoming exceptionally serious, even carrying a hint of warning:

"Divine weapons and powerful artifacts do indeed exist in this world, symbolizing the essence of our race. However—"

He deliberately drew out his words, "—Only the head of the family and those who have made unparalleled contributions to the family are qualified to command the military."

Shihouin Kyusuke said in a deep voice, "As for ordinary clansmen, they should focus on their studies and improve themselves. Only when their merits are sufficient and their virtue matches their position will they be able to receive favors. They must not be ambitious and unrealistic, or yearn for empty fame and forget the solid path they are on."

Shihouin Aoji's face flushed slightly, and he lowered his head.

Xuan refocused his attention and continued to devise various principles for releasing ghostly energy.

Kyusuke Shihōin rambled on for another fifteen minutes. Finally—

"That concludes today's instruction on literature and history." Shihouin Kyusuke closed his textbook, but before he finished speaking, his tone suddenly changed, "There is something else I need to tell you."

All the trainees, whether they had been distracted before or not, raised their heads at this moment.

"To hone our will and refine our skills," Kyusuke Shihouin's gaze slowly swept across the entire room, "the 'Annual Grand Competition' will be held in a year, and no one is allowed to be absent."

"The competition will be a singles duel, held publicly in the central training ground."

"And the winner of the grand competition—" He paused deliberately, looking with satisfaction at the expectant expressions on the young faces, "will receive the honor of being granted the title of Asahi a year in advance, and will receive additional resources to support his development."

"Whoosh—"

A low gasp broke the silence.

Asauchi is the initial form of a Zanpakuto. In this era where Zanpakuto are so closely tied to Shinigami (death gods), possessing one's own Asauchi is tantamount to truly becoming a Shinigami!

In the corner, Kiyoko Ise, who had been silent all along, let out a barely audible sigh.

Shihouin Kyusuke was satisfied with everyone's reaction. He raised his hand in a gesture of restraint and continued, "As for the remaining students, they will have to wait until they pass the assessment in the second year before they can receive it. There are three reasons for this policy—"

He held up three fingers.

"Firstly, it creates pressure and stimulates a competitive spirit. One cannot become talented without hard work; only through competition can one hone one's skills."

"Secondly, set a benchmark and clarify your goals. After the competition, the champion will become your target. If anyone surpasses you in the following year's competition, they will be granted additional access to the second floor of the library."

"Thirdly, early selection and preferential resource allocation. Those who excel in talent, temperament, and practical skills should naturally receive more training."

Kyusuke Shihōin continued, "There are no rewards for other rankings, but the academy will reward you based on your performance. However, if anyone uses any despicable means unbecoming of a noble, don't say you weren't warned."

These words are like pebbles thrown into a lake, creating ripples.

Xuan could clearly sense that the atmosphere in the classroom had completely changed.

The previous oppressive atmosphere vanished, replaced by a silent tension and intense scrutiny. The whispers ceased, replaced by burning gazes silently clashing, exchanging, and scrutinizing glances in the air.

Shihouin Shuzaburo's lips curled into a confident smile; the eyes of the young men and women of the Hachi family grew sharper, like unsheathed daggers; the chubby boy from the Ōmaeda family also sat up straight, his round face no longer showing any nonchalance.

The competitive atmosphere instantly became palpable.

They won first place.

This thought arose in Xuan's heart, clear, resolute, and beyond question.

The form, abilities, and attributes of a Zanpakuto are entirely determined by the Shinigami's own soul characteristics, making each one unique.

There is no concept of spiritual cultivation in Bleach, but Gen speculates that being able to have a deep dialogue with one's Zanpakuto is equivalent to enlightenment, which is a manifestation of the growth of one's "spirit".

In fact, it is not far-fetched to say that the Shikai of a Zanpakuto corresponds to the Golden Core stage of the Spirit Refining realm, and the Nascent Soul is born from the Golden Core, which is just like the Bankai based on the Shikai.

The methods for cultivating qi and concentrating the mind recorded in the Daoist canon have not been verified as feasible, because no one has successfully cultivated qi in the past.

However, in the world of Bleach, strengthening one's soul through Zanpakuto is definitely a straightforward path.

Obtaining the initial stage of enlightenment a year in advance means starting the process of spiritual liberation a year earlier, which in turn allows for spiritual refinement a year earlier, resolving potential spiritual problems.

It seemed like Shihouin Kyusuke said something encouraging at the end, but Gen didn't hear it clearly. His brain was racing, weighing the pros and cons.

Advantages? He has them.

Having immersed himself in Taoist martial arts in his previous life, he is proficient in various fist techniques, sword techniques, and movement techniques. In terms of pure combat skills, he is confident that he can crush his peers and even surpass many older ones.

The refined spiritual energy is purer and easier to control. Judging from the current progress, it's quite possible to complete the refinement within a year.

However, potential risks also exist.

The constant pain and tearing sensation in one's soul is like the Sword of Damocles hanging over one's head. It may be negligible during normal training, but in actual combat, it could easily create an opening and lead to defeat.

Moreover, the body is currently too young. Even with the foundation of the Yi Jin Jing, a five-year-old spirit's total spiritual power and physical fitness are objectively inferior to those of the older students.

Moreover, if an injury occurs and a doctor discovers any abnormality in the soul, the consequences would be unacceptable. Even if the possibility is extremely small, it still cannot be ignored.

Fortunately, there is still a year left. As long as the gap in physical fitness and total spiritual power can be narrowed within this year, Xuan is confident that he can win quickly and without injury.

Back in the courtyard, Xuan quickly finished his dinner and then locked himself inside.

The oil lamp was lit, its dim yellow light spreading out in a small patch of illumination. Xuan did not immediately begin his cultivation, but instead set out his training plan for the next year.

First, continue to solidify the foundation. The nightly practice of the *Yi Jin Jing* and Qi cultivation cannot be neglected. One must be strong to succeed; martial arts alone are insufficient to overwhelm; the gap in raw power must be narrowed.

Secondly, retrain your combat instincts. If your body can't readily apply the martial arts skills from your past life, you'll end up being all talk and no action, and you might be the one who gets instantly killed.

Third, delve deep into the library. Among the numerous ancient texts, search for knowledge related to the enhancement and manipulation of spiritual power, the exploration of the essence of the soul, or combat experience.

Finally, because the martial arts knowledge I learned in my previous life was too extensive and complex, I needed to organize it.

Baguazhang requires a strong sense of balance, Bajiquan is powerful but requires extensive physical training before it can be used in actual combat, and Capoeira is physically demanding and difficult to perform well due to the limitations of the costume...

After much deliberation, Xuan finally selected two martial arts styles that fit the current situation: Tai Chi and Wing Chun.

Tai Chi is adept at using an opponent's force against them, which goes without saying; Wing Chun was originally created for children and women who are weaker. By seizing the center line, one can strike first and intercept the opponent's attack halfway through the move and before the opponent can exert their force. Close-range, fast attacks make it more difficult for taller people to exert their power.

Combining the two, we can learn the martial arts techniques that the body needs to adapt to over the next year.

Having decided on his future cultivation path, Xuan blew out the oil lamp and walked into the courtyard, bathed in the cool moonlight. A slight night breeze blew.

In addition to the Yi Jin Jing and Qi cultivation, the daily routine has been expanded to include Tai Chi and Wing Chun wooden dummy exercises.

It's getting late today. Tomorrow I need to ask Zongzhu to order a wooden dummy. Xuan thought to himself.

When Xuan finished his cultivation, it was already very late at night.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze serene, reflecting the bright stars outside the window.

Starlight shone on his youthful yet expressionless face, the interplay of light and shadow revealing a coldness and hardness completely out of character for his age.

Like a blade being quietly honed in the night, silent yet already pointing at its predetermined target.