Death God: Starting from Refining Essence into Qi

The morning light pierced through the thin mist, outlining the silhouette of Seireitei in varying shades.

Xuan stood in front of the Yuanzi Academy.

He carried a simple bag on his back, and a Zanpakuto slung at his waist. It had been two full years since he received the Zanpakuto after winning his first school tournament at the age of six.

The rugged stone pillars, weathered by time and covered with fine cracks, appear all the more solid and imposing. The three large characters on the wooden plaque, carved with the force of a knife and axe, read "Yuanzi Academy." Just looking at them, one can feel the sharp, forceful energy left by the calligrapher; the ink seems to still carry a scorching heat, burning into the eyes.

Groups of students were gathering from different directions around him. Some were dressed in luxurious clothes, with light jackets slung around their waists; others were dressed simply, carrying simple bags, their eyes filled with caution and curiosity.

"Hey, look at that guy...did he bring Qian?"

"It's the Shihouin clan crest, belonging to one of the five great noble families."

Whispers came from beside them. Several students slowed their pace, their eyes shifting back and forth between Xuan and the Zanpakuto at his waist. They lowered their voices, but the apprehension in their gazes was still palpable.

A well-dressed young man strode forward, a perfectly timed smile plastered on his face. He wore ordinary black shihachi (a type of Japanese abbot's uniform), but the hakama buttons at his waist were embroidered with patterns that indicated his status, clearly indicating he was not a commoner.

"From afar, I can see that you have an extraordinary bearing. Are you Lord Gen of the Shihōin family? I am Hisahide Kasai, the second son of the Kasai family, and I happen to be a student at the Genji Academy this year."

"In the future, as classmates, I, Jiuxiu, am willing to serve you valiantly. I also hope that Master Xuan will provide much guidance and support so that we can both make progress in the academy."

Gen had no recollection of the name Kasai family; perhaps they were lower-ranking nobles who had climbed the social ladder.

Xuan nodded slightly: "You're too kind. Since we're classmates, there's no need to address me as 'sir'."

A hint of joy flashed in the boy's eyes. He was about to say something more when he was pushed aside by a hand from behind.

"If you're going to curry favor, step aside and don't block the doorway!"

A figure passed between the two, her steps free and unrestrained. It was a purple-haired girl, her long hair styled into two pigtails that reached her waist, and an eyepatch covering her left eye.

She was dressed in a Shinigami uniform, with a pure white hakama belt around her waist, and the scabbard of her Zanpakuto was tied to the hakama belt with an exquisitely crafted silk sash.

"Another one with a Zanpakuto..."

"Who's that? The way he walks, he's obviously not from aristocratic background."

"Shh, keep your voice down." Someone whispered, but couldn't hide their excitement. "Yesterday she beat up two seniors who said she was 'blind for not learning manners.' What did she say after she beat them up—'Strength is etiquette.'"

"Really? Those two aren't..."

"It's true. Apparently, one of them was quite famous, and he was taken down before he could even draw his knife. That woman didn't care about any rules; she just started hitting him."

"So now nobody dares to mess with her. Just you wait, this year's Yuanzi Academy is going to be quite a spectacle."

The girl seemed oblivious to the whispers, walking straight past Xuan without even glancing at him. But in that fleeting moment as they passed each other, her eyes flickered slightly, her peripheral vision seemingly glancing unconsciously at the Zanpakuto at Xuan's waist before quickly withdrawing.

Xuan watched her leave, then turned his gaze away and stepped into the gate of Yuanzi Academy.

The courtyard was more spacious than I had imagined. A straight bluestone path stretched into the depths, with rows of willow trees planted on both sides. In May, the willow branches had sprouted new green leaves and swayed gently in the morning breeze.

A few birds chirped on the branches, making the school even more tranquil—if it weren't for the students gathering in twos and threes, it would resemble an elegant courtyard.

Upon entering, you are immediately confronted by a pavilion marked "New Student Registration Area." Inside sits a middle-aged man with an ordinary face but exceptionally sharp eyes.

Xuan took out the envelope with the clan crest that Shihōin Muneyoshi had given him and handed it over. The middle-aged man opened it, glanced at it, his gaze lingering briefly on the three characters "Shihōin," then nodded and put the letter of recommendation into the wooden box on the table.

"Shihōin Gen, is that right?" His voice was calm, without any unnecessary formalities. "The Genji Academy doesn't care about family background, only ability. Since you're here, put those empty titles aside for now."

This is a blunt, even somewhat impolite, statement.

Xuan's expression remained unchanged: "This student understands."

A hint of satisfaction flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes. He took out a wooden plaque and handed it over: "The dormitory is on the east side. Find a room that doesn't have a nameplate yet, and hang this nameplate up after you've chosen one."

Gen took the wooden plaque; it felt cool to the touch, and the edges were polished smooth. The front was engraved with "Shifuin Gen," and the back was engraved with "1034"—the 1034th student of Genji Academy.

"There are no classes for the next few days, so you can wander around and familiarize yourself with the environment," the middle-aged man added. "Tomorrow at 5:00 AM, gather in the main lecture hall. The head teacher will personally preside over the opening ceremony. Anyone who is late, regardless of their status, will be expelled from Yuanzi Academy."

"Yes."

Xuan carefully put away the wooden plaque and turned to leave the registration area.

Walking a few steps east along the stone-paved road and passing through the moon gate, a wide-open space suddenly appears before you—a martial arts training ground stretches out in front of you.

Several rows of sword racks stood on the sidelines, neatly displaying wooden swords. Several figures were practicing on the field, their shouts mingling with the crisp clash of the wooden swords.

Outside the training ground, a figure stood out.

The purple-haired girl was half-squatting at the edge of the field, one hand supporting her Zanpakuto, the other resting on her knee, her eyes surging with madness.

Standing opposite her was a tall student, holding a knife in both hands, his face flushed, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.

"...It's her again..."

"Who have we messed with this time?"

"The Kitashirakawa family's daughter, I heard, has been enrolled for a year. She just stood up after I said, 'Even disabled people deserve to attend the Genji Academy.'"

"The Kitashirakawa family...that's not..."

Shh, let's watch the show.

Xuan slowed his pace and watched from a distance.

The girl remained in that languid posture, not even drawing her knife. The tall young man opposite her held his knife in both hands, striking a standard frontal stance, but beads of sweat were already forming on his forehead.

"You...you shouldn't be so arrogant!" His voice trembled slightly.

The girl yawned and picked at her ear with her little finger: "If you want to fight, then fight; if not, then get lost. What are you trembling about? I'm not going to eat you."

A few suppressed laughs rang out from the surrounding area.

The tall young man roared and charged forward, his wooden sword whistling as it slashed down—a standard Tang bamboo strike, full of power, clearly the result of hard work.

The girl moved.

Her movements were so fast they were almost invisible—not a flash, just pure physical speed. Sidestep, step, and strike—all in one fluid motion.

"Snapped!"

The blade struck the tall young man's wrist with pinpoint accuracy. He cried out in pain as the wooden sword flew from his hand. Before he could react, the girl's back of the blade was already pressing down on his shoulder.

The entire room fell silent.

The girl sheathed her knife, didn't even glance at the young man, and turned to leave. After taking two steps, she stopped, turned back, and glanced at the crowd of onlookers.

"What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a fight before?"

The crowd scattered with a roar.

The girl scoffed, slung the knife over her shoulder, and strode away. She paused as she passed Xuan.

The exposed eye turned and stared directly at Xuan.

"You brought your Zanpakuto too?" she asked, her tone as casual as if she were asking what to eat today.

Xuan met her gaze and nodded noncommittally.

The girl looked him up and down, then suddenly grinned, sticking her tongue out to the left and lightly biting it with her teeth.

"Great." She announced her name, completely ignoring the furrowed brows around her. "Want to fight?"

Xuan waved his hand and said, "Let's do it another day." He had just used Shunpo to travel here today, and his stamina was quite depleted. Besides, he didn't want to use his ultimate skill for no reason; he wasn't Kenpachi.

The girl pursed her lips but didn't insist. She strode away, her back view exuding a carefree air.

The surrounding students began to murmur again, even more enthusiastically than before. Some shook their heads and sighed, some cursed under their breath, and others looked at her with admiration in the direction she had left.

Xuan didn't stop, but walked through the crowd and found the dormitory area on the east side.

Rows of houses stand neatly arranged, with white walls and black tiles, simple yet not shabby. Some have nameplates hanging on their doors, while others are empty.

Xuan hung the nameplate on an empty door, then opened the door.

The room wasn't large, but it was enough for one person. Light streamed in through the window, casting soft shadows on the tatami mats.

Xuan put down his luggage, sat on the tatami mat, and reviewed the people he had met that day in his mind.

It seems someone named Jiuxiu has taken the initiative to attach themselves to him. I've forgotten his surname, but that doesn't matter. Because today, Xuan met an extraordinary person—that purple-haired girl with twin ponytails.

Although the other person's hakama buttons did not have any family crests or emblems that could indicate noble status, the distinctive hairstyle, flamboyant personality, and black eye patch over the left eye had already confirmed the other person's identity to Xuan.

Saito, the future captain of the 6th Division of the Gotei 13, is immortal.