Death: This Death is a bit unorthodox.

"I'm so sorry, Miss Lisa, it seems it's my turn. I'll go take the test now, and we'll talk again next time." Zhenyue said apologetically, and then ran towards the Spirit Gate.

"Aozaki Mazuki?"

"it's me."

Shinjuku took the form; it had her name on it, but the age and spiritual pressure fields were empty.

This is his pass to enter the True Central Spiritual Arts Academy!

"Go on, it's your turn to test."

"Yes."

Shinjuku walked to the Spirit Gate and saw Rangiku and Gin on the other side, who had passed the test.

"This is a Kido test to assess your age and spiritual pressure. Relax." The examiner's eyes lit up as she placed her hand on Shinju's back and reminded her.

Shinjuku simply shrugged and winked at Rangiku, making the tense Rangiku's branches tremble.

"Aozaki Mayuki's score." The examiner swallowed hard and handed the form to the examiner beside her.

"Hey, Yui...you're not deliberately going easy on her because she's pretty, are you? That can't be more outrageous! Or is there a mistake in the test?"

The examiner next to him lowered his voice and asked quietly.

A lustful woman!

He cursed inwardly.

He saw Aozaki Mayuki's appearance firsthand—handsome, dashing, and debonair—and yet he lied about his grades like that!?

Damn it! I'm only slightly less attractive than him, so why didn't anyone help me when I took the entrance exam for the True Spirit Academy? I took the exam six times before I finally got in!

Most importantly, Lord Yadomaru over there has been keeping a close eye on this kid.

She was not only the third seat officer of the 8th Division, but also a young lady who was raised like a daughter by the captain of the Kyoraku!

This identity... just thinking about it is exciting...

Cough cough... I don't think the band leader of the Peking Opera is here.

Yui glared at him, the light in her hand shone again, then she shook her head, smiled wryly, and remained silent.

The examiner next to him gasped.

"Lingwei, sixteenth rank."

Without a doubt, the True Central Spiritual Arts Academy has struck gold this time.

This person comes from Rukongai, not from the Seireitei, where descendants of Shinigami train their spiritual pressure from a young age.

It's unimaginable what heights a twenty-year-old of the sixteenth level of spiritual power can reach after entering the academy and undergoing systematic study; upon graduation, he will at least be a high-ranking official!

"Did I hear that right? It's spiritual power? Not spiritual energy?"

"I've heard that graduates of the True Central Spiritual Arts Academy generally possess a Spiritual Might level of 20..."

"You mean this person is graduating before even enrolling?"

The test takers were discussing it animatedly, and their tone sounded somewhat sarcastic.

"Congratulations, you've passed the test. Go in now."

The examiner filled in the words "Lingwei Sixteenth Grade" in the form and handed it to Zhenyue.

Yui carefully stepped forward, glanced at Mayuki who was standing there looking at the form, a hint of shyness flashing in her charming eyes, and whispered softly:

"Um... Mazuki-san, this is my address."

The examiner next to him was stunned and speechless.

Ms. Yui, so this is what you're like. But there are other students watching.

and many more!

What are you doing? Let go of that student!

How can it be proper for a teacher and student to be pulling and tugging at each other in public?

"Well... from now on I'll be a student at the academy, and you'll be my teacher. I'm sure I'll have a lot to ask you." With a smile, Zhenyue took a slip of paper amidst the tugging and pulling.

He looked at Yui's beautiful face, casually squeezed her soft hand, and turned to indicate the direction inside the Seireitei.

Chapter 4 Entering the True Spiritual Academy

The entrance exam ended quickly, and fewer than ten students passed. It is estimated that fewer than fifty students will pass the exam across the four major districts of Rukongai (east, south, west, and north).

Led by their teachers, the students from the East District who had passed the test traversed most of Seireitei and arrived behind the White Gate in the west.

The first thing you see is a huge, ancient building, with an architectural style reminiscent of ancient private schools.

Inside the martial arts hall, a huge plaque hangs on the gray-white wall, with the character "元" (Yuan) outlined in a vigorous and elegant style.

The predecessor of the Shinigami Academy was the "Genji Juku" of the "Genryu" school. Its founder was the famous Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, who was also the first director of the Shinigami Academy.

I wonder if this dean is a big fan of Yamamoto. His shiny bald head was so bright under the lights that it made Mayu unable to open her eyes.

The bald-headed dean sat in the main seat, looking old-fashioned, but spoke with a strong voice:

"Welcome to the Shinigami Academy. I hope that in the next six years of your studies, you will learn how to become an excellent Shinigami."

As he spoke, he casually glanced at the three people below the stage: Mayuki, Rangiku, and Gin.

These three are all geniuses, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, they will rise to prominence in the fiercely competitive Gotei 13 in the future.

Shingetsu glanced around the stage and saw not only ragged Rukongai students but also well-off Seireitei students.

He also saw a familiar face.

Aizen Sousuke is the vice-captain of the 5th Division and also serves as a special calligraphy lecturer at the Shinigami Academy.

It is said that his classes are always overcrowded, with some students even standing in the corridor to listen to Aizen's lectures.

Her short brown hair was styled into bangs at the front, paired with a loose-fitting Shinigami uniform, over which was a white uniform from the Shinigami Academy, giving her a gentle and refined appearance.

Unlike his appearance in the anime, Aizen was still quite young at this time, looking more immature and less composed, but he already possessed the charm of a villain.

As for Kuchiki Sojun next to him... well, he has a kind of feminine gentleness.

He sat there delicately and upright, his slender body so frightening that a slight breeze could blow him over, yet his aristocratic air was still evident.

Despite being only a few hundred years old, he gave off the "frailty" of someone nearly two thousand years old, indicating that his body was somewhat weak.

They're all people I envy...

Zhenyue felt a mix of emotions.

Kuchiki Sojun is alright. Although he is the eldest son of the Kuchiki family, one of the four noble families, and possesses the innate talent of the Kuchiki family, he is physically weak and not suitable for combat.

Aizen was a true "genius," a monstrous genius.

His talent was so great that he felt lonely because no one could compare to him, and so great that deep down he longed to be an ordinary Grim Reaper.

Such talent is simply excessive.

Even Mayuki couldn't help but feel envious.

He had painstakingly cultivated himself from the very bottom to the sixteenth level of spiritual power, while Aizen was already thinking about breaking through the limits of the Shinigami, which meant that Aizen should be at the first level of spiritual power at this time.

Not to mention that he might actually break through the limits of the Grim Reaper in the future, surpass Yamamoto, the strongest Grim Reaper, and reach a higher level of life.

That's something to be envied.

However, it is clear that Aizen was still quite young at this time, possessing a unique pride and naiveté of youth.

He hid his pride and naivety very well, but they would inadvertently show themselves when he was with Zhenyue.

Sensing Shingetsu's gaze, Aizen maintained his signature gentle smile and winked playfully.

"Matsuki, we're going to live here from now on. It looks pretty good!"

Rangiku took the school uniform handed out by the teacher, spread it out, and touched it.

This is a fabric you can't find in Rukongai; even the best clothes in Rukongai don't compare to this uniform that every student has.

She laughed happily.

Why do the souls of Rukongai enter the Shinigami Academy? Is it to become Shinigami and serve the nobles?

Of course not, it's simply about seeking a better life... a better way out.

Even if they can't become nobles, being an ordinary Shinigami is still a superior position in Soul Society, with living conditions far exceeding those in Rukongai.

Putting aside everything else, the rich spiritual energy in this atmosphere is something that Rukongai simply cannot compare to.

Aside from a neurotic who is born with a love for hardship, who would complain about having a good life?

Furthermore, with a good environment and professional guidance from the True Central Spiritual Arts Academy, cultivation can be more efficient.

"Aizen wasn't lying to me after all..."

Zhenyue murmured to herself.

"Is that all you're satisfied with?"

He turned his head and laughed heartily:

"That's not enough, it needs to be even better."

His current goal is simple—participating in the Hogyoku experiment is not possible for the time being, so he will get a good ranking in the graduation exam of the Shinigami Academy, and preferably become a seated officer directly, so as to raise his rank and enjoy a good life.

I'm not going to be the boss of Rukongai anymore. I've already become a samurai, what's the point of being a thug?

With Death's word, would those thugs dare disobey?

As for the work of serving the noble ladies...

He believed that there was no need to give up.

"Next, each teacher will take their students to the classroom."

The bald-headed dean had a loud voice.

The martial arts room fell silent instantly. The teachers sitting in the front row stood up, holding lists in their hands, and led the students toward the classroom.

Upon arriving at the classroom, the teacher stood on the podium and explained the learning content for the next six years to the students.