Death God: Starting from Refining Essence into Qi

Seongyeongjeon, the central grand hall.

A single slab of bluish-green jade paved the floor, polished to a mirror-like finish, reflecting the solemn figures inside the hall. Dark solid wood beams and pillars spanned the hall, and ancient patterns were carved into the walls. In the windless hall, the air was heavy, almost stagnant.

Today is the ceremony for the formal recruitment of the private organization "Seireitei Strategic Defense Attack and Security Team".

Of course, although everyone knew what was going on, the matter of being recruited into the army would not be made public; it would only be announced to the outside world as a ceremony to name and establish this armed force.

Xuan, dressed in a neat dark-colored casual robe, stood in the audience seat to the side. As the Grand Master of the Ghost Path, an independent organization, he had the authority to observe the entire ceremony.

In other words, this was both to allow Gen, as a leader of an organization of equal rank, to get to know the captains of the Death God Armed Forces led by Yamamoto, and to entrust him with the responsibility of supervision.

However, the Forty-Sixth Chamber clearly overestimated Xuan's cultivation potential. Xuan's current strength was only at the fourth level of spiritual power, which was far below the level of the others.

Perhaps knowing that Gen had survived Unohana's attack after only a few years of training, they assumed that Gen possessed at least a third-level spiritual power; or perhaps knowing that Saito, who possessed a third-level spiritual power, was willing to serve as Gen's deputy, they subconsciously assumed that Gen was stronger than a third-level spiritual power.

Gen also considered whether there would be any danger in attending the ceremony. The answer was no—Yamamoto Genryusai might not make a move, and even if Unohana did decide to attack him again on a whim, Senhi and Saito would not stand idly by.

The others have no connection to him and won't target him; they'll mostly stand by or try to break up the fight. Even if it escalates into a chaotic brawl, Xuan is confident he can escape the battlefield using the speed boost from Instantaneous Strike.

Xuan's gaze swept over the people in the hall. Thirteen powerful spiritual pressures of varying depths and styles intertwined, forming a naturally intimidating sense of oppression without any deliberate clash.

This group of people are ruthless characters who have risen to prominence in the chaotic world of Soul Society. Even Gen, back in Genji Academy, had already executed criminals who committed capital crimes according to the curriculum—in Yamamoto's view, how could a Shinigami not need to kill? Gen is not averse to killing criminals, but so far, the killing intent that Gen unconsciously releases is out of place among these people.

A white-haired figure walked slowly towards him, pulling Xuan back to his senses. Shihōin Chinatsu pushed through the crowd and stopped beside Xuan.

Chin-ri shed his usual casual laziness, donning a black uniform in the Execution Army's standard attire, the hem embroidered with a simple Shihōin clan crest. His muscular, bronze skin gleamed with a cold, hard sheen in the dimly lit hall, his short, silver-white hair was neat and crisp, and an orange-red silk scarf was wrapped around his neck, exuding a naturally solemn aura.

"Oh, isn't this the great demon master who is on par with our Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai?" Chihiro said casually with a slight smile when he saw Gen arrive, then nodded slightly to Saito, who was waiting beside Gen.

"Stop teasing me. Who told the 46th Chamber to intentionally keep your organization in check?" Xuan looked ahead, his gaze falling on the captains of the original 13th Gotei 13 around him. His eyes were calm. "Besides, it's quite rare to have all 13 captains gathered here today."

Xuan looked at Qianri's white haori. This haori was different from the one Xuan remembered; there was an opening at the back, like a tailcoat, as if it had been cut open with a knife.

Xuan, confused, immediately asked Qianri, "What's the purpose of the opening cut out at the back of your haori?"

Chihiro looked back and chuckled in realization: "Oh, you mean that? Things are a bit chaotic now, everyone carries a sword. I'm used to keeping my sword close to my body, but most people hang their swords on their waists, which would cause the scabbard to lift up the haori. So I specially reserved a place for the sword on the haori, so it looks elegant normally, and the haori won't affect the drawing of the sword when bending over."

After a thousand days of detailed explanation, Genbu finally understood why the captain's haori at this time was different from that of a thousand years later: the time after the millennium was relatively peaceful, and carrying a sword was generally not allowed in the Seireitei. At this time, it was the norm to always have a sword on one's person, so the haori would naturally have undergone targeted modifications.

Qianri chuckled softly and then whispered about the recent developments within the court: "You should have noticed the frequent security mobilizations within the court recently. The Forty-Sixth Bureau is wary of the original, scattered security force, fearing that the mixed personnel and weak control would make it difficult to suppress the chaos."

He raised his eyes to look at Yamamoto Genryusai, who was sitting at the front, and continued, "The Shihōin family has been ordered to send the Execution Army to be stationed here, firstly to assist in monitoring the defenses of various parts of the Seireitei, and secondly to place a group of reliable people to stabilize order. Now that I am concurrently serving as the commander of the Execution Army, I have naturally joined the ranks and taken a seat in the Second Division."

Xuan nodded slightly; this arrangement made sense. The involvement of noble forces in the imperial guards served both as a check and balance and as a sign of allegiance.

"There's another piece of news I need to inform you of in advance." Qianri lowered his voice, "The higher-ups have decided to conduct a large-scale search for wandering Shinigami in Rukongai, as well as ordinary Rukongai with spiritual power aptitude, and recruit them into the army. They will be assigned to various squads and placed under the command of the captains to expand our combat strength."

A knowing glint flashed in Xuan's eyes. Large-scale recruitment of lower-level spiritual energy personnel could quickly fill combat gaps and also lay the groundwork for dealing with future calamities and controlling the Soul Street. This force, forged in battle, would ultimately steadily transform into a regular, powerful army.

After a brief conversation, the bell in the hall rang out in a deep, resonant tone, causing the air inside to tremble slightly.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni slowly rose to his feet. He was not yet old; his black hair was uneven in thickness, his head slightly balding, and a prominent diagonal cross scar etched on his forehead. His strong facial features were cold and sharp. His dark shihaka attire was clean and sharp. He didn't release any spiritual pressure outwards, yet he possessed an imposing, overwhelming aura, an absolute authority forged in the chaos of war.

He strode to the center of the platform, his gaze sweeping over the ranks in front of him, his deep, resonant voice carrying throughout the entire hall.

"Sixth Division, Saito Immortal."

The purple-haired girl stepped forward upon hearing the sound. She was dressed as usual: a black eye patch over her left eye, and two loose black ribbons tied into neat purple pigtails on either side of her hair.

With his Zanpakuto, Shiden, slung across his waist, his back straight, his posture flamboyant and wild, he showed no trace of the restraint and humility he once displayed in front of his teachers and elders, but rather a completely unrestrained and rebellious demeanor.

There were no tedious and lengthy formalities, no fancy and polite blessings. In this era where killing was used to quell chaos, the Death Ceremony was straightforward and chilling.

Yamamoto Genryusai said, "You are now officially enlisted, and you must strictly abide by the squad rules, wield your blade to protect the court, and fight to quell chaos. From this day forward, you are the captain of the Sixth Squad."

Behind him, Chojiro Sasakibe handed Saito a white haori on a wooden tray.

The edge of the tray was engraved with the exquisite crest of the Forty-Six Chambers. Saito's fingertips touched the fine fabric of the haori, and he clicked his tongue softly.

Instead of accepting the haori with a solemn gesture, she simply picked it up with two fingers, casually tossed it over her shoulder, and left the collar askew, revealing the black shihaka underneath.

The entire process was concise and efficient, and the induction ceremony concluded in just a few dozen breaths.

Once Saito returned to his post, all thirteen captains were present. Yamamoto glanced around, his dark eyes cold and unwavering, and said in a deep voice, "The previous name of the team was too long and difficult to pronounce. It was originally an assassin organization established to stop the chaos of the Soul Society's nobles through killing. Now that we have been recruited by the 46 Chambers, we need to rename the organization."

Gen didn't expect Yamamoto to be so straightforward, not caring about the reputation of the 46th Chamber.

Yamamoto paused, then spoke with a firm, resonant voice: "This team was initially formed to protect the Seireitei and suppress heretics who intend to cause chaos. Now, with thirteen captains, we propose renaming it the Gotei 13. Does anyone have any objections?"

In a single sentence, the name of the Shinigami Armed Forces for the next thousand years was decided, and the tone of the Soul Society's reign of terror and governance was set.

A moment of silence fell over the hall, the cold atmosphere slowly dissipating, followed by a cacophony of responses, each sound perfectly tailored to its own character, revealing a myriad of emotions:

Obana Danjiro burst into hearty laughter first, slapping his thigh hard with his palm. His brown ponytail swayed with the movement, and his eyes and brows beneath his beard were frank and straightforward: "This name is good! Much better than that long, tongue-twisting string. It's straightforward and frank."

Shikatori Hakunsai pushed up his thick, round glasses, his thick braid swaying gently as he nodded. His clear eyes sparkled, and his voice was soft and innocent: "The Gotei 13...sounds wonderful!"

Hisashi Kyouichi bared two rows of gold teeth, his lips curving into a harsh grin as he let out a rough, muffled chuckle. The iron mace in his hand clinked lightly, a gesture of agreement, violent and direct, requiring no further words.

Wang Tuchuan and Yu Xuji's jaws twitched almost imperceptibly. Their wide-brimmed straw hats were pulled down very low, the shadows engulfing their entire faces, revealing only a pale jawline. They remained silent.

Yan Yuanjin crossed his arms over his chest, his shiny black hair remained perfectly still, and his thin, brown-tinted glasses concealed the coldness in his eyes. He merely tilted his head slightly and nodded, his face expressionless and silent. To him, titles were irrelevant; only assassination missions were worth his attention.

Shijima Chigiri's thin shoulders slumped, her gray hair clung messily to her cheeks, and freckles on her face were faintly visible in the dim light. Her gloomy eyes were lowered, and her lips moved slightly as she muttered in a very soft voice, "It's fine."

The executioner, Wu Gang, wrapped a heavy fur scarf tightly around his neck. His face was deathly pale, and his hands, blackened by the cold, were always tucked into his sleeves. He exhaled a wisp of bluish-white breath and gave a muffled groan as a sign of agreement. A bone-chilling cold emanated from him.

Unohana Retsu had a gentle smile on her lips, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyes gentle and harmless, and she nodded slightly in response.

The burly, obese concubine of Shanding Temple remained motionless. The bright red aristocratic patterns on her face gleamed eerily in the firelight. Two thin braids hung down in front of her chest, and her eyes were wide open like copper bells: "No objection."

Nigu Cai Cang, his body hunched over, his chest heaving, suppressed coughs coming out in a thin, hoarse voice. His withered fingers clenched his sleeves as he struggled to squeeze out a few words: "Cough...okay."

Chihiro Shihouin crossed her arms, her eyebrows slightly raised beneath her short, silver-white hair, and said casually, "I have no objection."

Yamamoto swept his gaze across the crowd expressionlessly. Seeing no one object, his cold, hard brows remained unyielding. He raised his hand to signal, "From now on, the name is set. Now, everyone, please introduce yourselves in turn to build consensus. I'll start."

"The First Division Captain is Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni. He oversees the general affairs of all thirteen divisions, decides on rewards and punishments, and maintains discipline. Anyone who disrupts the Seireitei, regardless of rank, will be killed without exception."

As his deep, resolute voice fell, the air in the hall grew even more stagnant. The Ryujin Jakka, concealed in its sheath at his waist, exuded a scorching aura capable of incinerating everything even before it was unleashed, causing everyone present to instinctively suppress their spiritual pressure,不敢妄动 (不敢妄动 - a phrase implying they dared not move rashly). At this moment, he was a ruthless sword demon, determined to stop the chaos with killing.

The second to step forward was Shihouin Senhi. He had a tall and strong figure, with well-defined bronze skin, neat and clean short silver hair, and an orange-red sash hidden under his shihaka uniform. The silk scarf around his neck fluttered slightly in the wind: "Second Division Captain, Shihouin Senhi. In charge of the Execution Army, specializing in hand-to-hand combat and Shunpo."

The third man who stepped forward was tall and thin, with a sharp, cold chin, slicked-back black hair, and thin, pale yellow glasses that concealed the coldness in his eyes.

He maintained his crossed arms, his thin-bladed Zanpakuto, resembling a Tang-style horizontal sword, tucked at his waist. He remained motionless, seemingly lifeless: "Third Division Captain, Yan Yuan Jinle. Specializes in assassination."

His tone was flat and emotionless.

The fourth woman to step forward, a thin, gray-haired woman, had a habitually slumped shoulder, a haggard and pale face with scattered freckles, and gloomy eyes shrouded in an unyielding loneliness: "Fourth Division Captain, Shishima Chigiri. My Zanpakuto has a certain regenerative ability. If you only have a severed arm or leg, you can come to me for treatment; if you are seriously injured, you can also come to me, and I guarantee the final strike will not hurt."

His voice was soft and low, carrying a lingering sadness. In this era where there was no way back, a Zanpakuto with healing abilities was the only hope for the wounded.

Danjiro Obana from the Fifth Division stepped forward, his brown ponytail casually falling down, his beard outlining his rugged features, and the lining of his shihachi uniform shimmering blue.

He stood tall and upright, his eyes bright and sharp, his hand lightly resting on the blue hilt of his Zanpakuto at his waist: "Fifth Division Captain, Obana Danjiro, specializes in guerrilla warfare and long-range support. He likes the color blue, which represents the sky, the sea, and romance."

His words were forceful and his sincerity and candor set him apart from others with his sunny disposition.

When it was Saito's turn, she placed one hand on her hip, raised her chin high, and even when facing a group of captain-level powerhouses, her arrogant tone remained unyielding: "Then I am the captain of the Sixth Division, Saito, who is immortal and hates red tape the most."

As a rebel of the Kuchiki clan, she deliberately changed her name to rebel against the shackles of the nobility, outwardly appearing unrestrained, yet inwardly rational and clear-headed. As her blunt and arrogant words fell, Gen almost laughed. The Kuchiki family and the Forty-Six Chambers really know how to pick people; they chose Saito as the captain of the Sixth Division.

The 7th Division's executor, Takeshi, moved slowly. His long, narrow face was adorned with exaggeratedly drooping eye bags, his white hair was sparse, and a tuft of white beard on his chin trembled slightly.

His heavy fur scarf almost completely covered his face, which was deathly pale and bloodless. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, revealing a hint of frostbite: "Seventh Division Captain, Enforcer Nobukatsu. Ice-type Zanpakuto, skilled in solo combat."

The voice of the executive member was hoarse and deep, accompanied by a chill, and fine white frost condensed around him.