Death God: Starting from Refining Essence into Qi

Seongryeongjeon South Training Center, Martial Arts Grounds.

The vast obsidian-paved area gleamed with a cold light in the morning sun. More than twenty figures stood scattered around, ranging in age from six or seven to over ten.

"quiet."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, instantly silencing all the whispers.

A middle-aged man dressed in a navy blue teacher's uniform stood in front of the training ground, his face solemn and his eyes sharp as an eagle.

He wasn't wearing a Zanpakuto, but the heavy, imposing spiritual pressure silently proclaimed his strength.

"I am the Chief Instructor, Shihōin Sōyō." His gaze was sharp as he slowly swept over each face, which was still somewhat immature but already bore the marks of the family.

"The first lesson of the day is not to practice cutting, running, or striking." He paused, his voice echoing clearly in the open space, "You must first understand the fundamentals: what is nobility, and what is death."

Shihōin Muneyoshi stood with his hands behind his back, his posture as straight as a pine tree. His voice was deep and resonant, carrying a sense of solemnity.

"In Soul Society there is the Seireitei, and within the Seireitei are nobles. What makes a noble noble? It is not because of their bloodline, but because of their achievements and responsibilities."

"In the primordial era, when heaven and earth were in chaos and undifferentiated, souls and spirits wandered aimlessly, causing rampant spiritual diseases and sluggish spiritual energy circulation, bringing the world to the brink of stagnation and collapse."

He described a dark and dangerous scene, then suddenly changed the subject: "At this critical juncture, the Spirit King sought to restore order and restart the cycle. However, this great undertaking could not be accomplished by one person alone. Thus, five heroes were summoned to serve under the Spirit King, using their unparalleled wisdom, loyalty, and courage to wholeheartedly assist him in the monumental task of separating chaos and defining boundaries—the mortal realm accepts the vessel children, the Soul Society accommodates the spirit children, the Hueco Mundo restrains the illusory troubles, and the three realms thus maintain their order, restarting the cycle! After their success, they built the Seireitei as the heart of the Soul Society, enacting laws to establish rules and etiquette to resolve conflicts, thus creating this foundation that will last for ten thousand generations! These five families who assisted the Spirit King and established order are the source of our bloodline, the beginning of order, and the five noble families that have been passed down to this day!"

Shihōin Sōyō paused slightly, his gaze slowly moving as he examined each of the heirs of noble bloodlines before him, giving them time to process this heavy honor.

"The Kuchiki family," he said clearly, each word ringing out, "is the cornerstone of the Seireitei's rituals and laws, the embodiment of elegance and discipline, upholding etiquette and law."

"The Gangya family, responsible for historical records, preserves a vast amount of knowledge in the Great Spiritual Library, serving as the guardian of civilization's memory and a bridge between the past and the present."

"The Shiba family, communicating with the natural spiritual principles, travels between the Spirit King Palace and the Seireitei, harmonizing the upper and lower classes. Their status is transcendent, making them an indispensable lineage."

Then, his tone became almost imperceptibly more forceful, and his back seemed to straighten slightly, revealing a natural sense of pride and self-respect emanating from the depths of his blood: "The Shihōin family upholds military law and justice, protects the court and its borders, and pacifies both inside and outside the court. Furthermore, due to the outstanding achievements of our ancestors, we were generously bestowed with many divine weapons by the Spirit King, which have been guarded and passed down through generations, hence the reputation of 'the Heavenly-Given Armored Army'!"

Shihōin Muneaki's gaze swept over Gen and the other members of the main clan, who were dressed in Shihōin robes. "All talented individuals in the clan who diligently cultivate and achieve merit will have the opportunity to be granted the weapon of the Spirit King, to wield divine weapons to slay evil spirits, safeguard the righteous path, and promote the prestige of our clan!" These words were like a stone thrown into still water, causing the backs of several members of the main clan to straighten even more unconsciously.

Finally, his voice noticeably lowered, his pace slowed, and a profound, enigmatic expression appeared on his face, his gaze becoming deep and unfathomable: "As for the last one..."

Shihōin Sōyō paused, his gaze sweeping over the heads of the crowd as if he were staring at some ethereal yet crucial entity, carefully choosing his words. "The key to balance and survival has always been hidden behind the scenes, elusive and unseen by the world. The details are not for you to delve into now. You only need to remember: the five noble families are of one blood, share a common destiny, each fulfilling their duties and sharing the fate of heaven. None of them can be missing."

Shihouin Sō's stern voice startled the drowsy noble youths: "We, the Grim Reapers, are the ones who uphold this bloodline's glory and duty to protect! The Grim Reaper's duty lies first and foremost in 'balance'!"

His voice suddenly rose: "To guide the soul in its entirety, to perform the soul burial ceremony with the Zanpakuto, and to guide it to peace in the Rukongai, awaiting reincarnation; to purify the afflicted soul, to sever its fallen and corrupted spirit, and to allow the twisted soul to return to the cycle of heaven and earth. These two are the fundamental principles that sustain the continuous flow of spiritual beings in the three realms, the cornerstone of our existence!"

His gaze swept across the crowd like lightning: "You were born into noble families, your innate spiritual power surpasses that of ordinary people, and your resources far exceed those of wandering souls. This is not a blessing bestowed upon you for enjoyment, but a heavy responsibility bestowed upon you by heaven to protect!"

His gaze turned incredibly stern, pressing down on the crowd as if it were a physical force: "What you have learned here today should first and foremost be for the glory and continuation of your family, and for the order that the five noble families uphold together! When the family prospers, the Soul Realm is at peace; when the family order is in chaos, the world is in turmoil! This is an immutable principle! I hope you will always keep this in mind, and never betray your noble bloodline, never fail the cultivation your family has given you!"

This lengthy speech, which combined education on honor, instilled responsibility, and admonitions of loyalty, echoed throughout the training ground, lingering for a long time. Many young men and women wore complex expressions, a mixture of excitement, solemnity, and confusion.

"Glory and responsibility must be based on strength." Shihōin Muneyoshi changed the subject, and with a wave of his hand, a stone platform rose from the ground in the center of the training ground.

On the stage sits a crystal ball about the size of a human head, its surface adorned with the Shihōin clan crest.

"Now, let's test your spiritual power. Please step forward one by one and infuse your spiritual energy."

Lingwei measures the spiritual pressure concentration of nearby spiritual particles.

Shihōin Sōgyō took out a roster: "Those whose names are called, come forward."

The first one called was a boy named Hiruzaburo from the main family of the Shihōin clan. He took a deep breath and stepped forward, placing his palm on the crystal ball. Light gradually emanated from within the crystal ball, changing from transparent to pale blue. The light intensified, and the color deepened, eventually stabilizing into a bright and rich azure blue.

"Lingwei, sixteenth rank," Shifengyuan Zongyan announced calmly.

A few whispers arose in the room.

Genji remembered that the ordinary soldiers of the Gotei 13 were around level 20. Level 16 spiritual power—this spiritual pressure was already close to that of a seated officer.

This person looked to be around ten years old, clearly not here to solidify their foundation at the academy. It seems Qianri was right; they're here at the family academy to socialize. In other words, to form cliques.

Shihōin Shūzaburō withdrew his hand, a hint of smugness flashing across his face, and stepped back with his back ramrod straight.

……

"Omaeda Yusuke, 20th grade."

……

"Bee Feather Arrow, Grade 24"

……

Most students' spiritual power level is between 20 and 25.

Xuan observed silently.

As expected of noble children, their spiritual pressure is comparable to that of ordinary members of the Gotei 13 in later generations, yet most of them are just children who haven't trained.

Finally, "Gen Shihōin".