Death God: Starting from Refining Essence into Qi

Xuan followed the chief instructor, Shifengyuan Zongyan, away from the training ground, through several solemn corridors, and finally stopped in front of an ancient pavilion deep in the clan's territory.

There was no plaque on the pavilion, and various weapons were carved on the dark gold metal doors. Shihōin Muneyoshi stepped forward, and the heavy doors opened silently.

"Do you know what this place is?" Shihouin Muneyoshi suddenly asked as they entered the attic.

Upon hearing this, Xuan immediately replied, "It was covered in our cultural studies class. The Shihōin family is known as the 'Heavenly Armory Company,' and the Heavenly Armory is where weapons and spiritual tools are stored."

Shihōin Muneyoshi nodded and walked down a staircase leading deeper into the attic. "You're right. However, this isn't the main vault, but rather one of the branch vaults of the Heavenly Martial Vault, specifically for storing unclaimed Zanpakutō."

At the end of the steps was a spacious underground space. The walls were made of bluish-white killing stone. This kind of stone could completely block spiritual particles and spiritual pressure, and it was hard to imagine how it formed into a wall.

There were no oil lamps or torches inside, but the spiritual light from the killing stone alone was enough to illuminate the room.

On the huge stone platform at the very center, hundreds of knife racks were neatly arranged, with sheathed katana placed on them.

"Sit down, Gen." Shihōin Muneyoshi took out two futons. Perhaps because of the killing intent stone, there wasn't a speck of dust on the futons.

Shihouin Muneyoshi's voice echoed in the room, "You're only six years old, aren't you? I didn't want you to be exposed to Zanpakuto so early. But everything is done according to the rules, and winning the championship proves your ability."

Xuan sat upright, feeling that there was a "but" coming next.

"But before the official conferment, there are some things that must be thoroughly understood." Shihouin Muneyoshi's gaze was fixed on Gen's eyes. "What is a Zanpakuto?"

Gen naturally knew that a Zanpakuto was a sword, and that its forger was Nimaiya Oetsu of the Zero Division. No, at this point, the concept of the Zero Division didn't exist; it should be the royal agent Nimaiya Oetsu.

Before Xuan could answer, Shihōin Muneyoshi continued, "It's not just a weapon."

"A Zanpakuto is a 'mirror' that reflects the essence of your soul, a 'vessel' that contains the landscape of your mind, and a 'furnace' that forges your intangible soul into tangible power."

"A Zanpakuto that has not yet received its true name and revealed its form is called 'Asauchi'," Shihouin Muneyoshi continued, his tone calm and resolute. "This is the initial state of a Zanpakuto. It is like a rough, uncarved piece of jade, waiting for its wielder to polish it."

Xuan held his breath and concentrated. Although this was exactly the same as what he knew in his previous life, he was in a real world now, and hearing it with his own ears made him feel more at ease.

"Therefore, obtaining the Asuna is by no means the end of the Shinigami journey, but rather the beginning of true training. One must guard against arrogance and impatience, and must not be complacent." Shihouin Muneaki solemnly admonished, "Even those with outstanding talent often need several years to learn the true name and master the Shikai."

"When the Grim Reaper and the Asauchi share meals and sleep together, through accumulated tempering, the essence of the Grim Reaper's soul is inscribed into the Asauchi, and thus a sword spirit is born."

"Once the sword spirit is born, you can practice Blade Zen," the head master said. "Calm your mind and enter your spiritual world through meditation. There, you will encounter the 'sword spirit' that is born from your spiritual pressure and asauchi."

"Only by gaining the approval of the sword spirit can you learn the true name of your Zanpakuto."

"After learning your real name?" Xuan asked at the opportune moment.

"By reciting the release phrase and calling out the true name, the Zanpakuto will be released, revealing the true power of the Shinigami."

"Every Shinigami's soul is unique, and their Zanpakuto after its Shikai is also one of a kind. How to develop Shikai is a question only the Zanpakuto and yourself can answer."

Meeting the Chief Instructor's gaze, Xuan nodded solemnly and said, "I will keep the Chief Instructor's teachings in mind."

"Pick one of these light-colored ones that looks good and take it with you."

Xuan casually picked up a shallow sword, unsheathed it, and examined it. The hilt was wrapped with a tight and neat black hilt roll, the guard was without any carvings or patterns, the blade was entirely silver-white with a smooth curve, and the edge gleamed with a cold, sharp light.

All unclaimed asahi are the same; there is no difference.

"From this moment on, it is yours." Shihouin Muneyoshi's deep voice echoed in the room. "It is forbidden to draw your Zanpakuto in the classroom. Remember to keep it with you at all times."

"Yes."

Xuan, with a slingback slung across his shoulder, returned to his own courtyard after parting ways with Shihōin Muneyoshi.

The courtyard remains exactly as it was when I left, only now the morning light has turned into the sunset.

Xuan entered the room. Besides the tatami mats and wardrobe, there was only a small table resembling a tea table and a few futons.

After sitting cross-legged on the futon, Gen placed Asagi on the food table in front of him. Of course, simply placing it on the table did not mean he was going to eat his own Zanpakuto.

A Zanpakuto is half of a Shinigami; a Shinigami without a Zanpakuto is incomplete. It's impossible not to feel excited after obtaining one's own Zanpakuto.

Obtaining a Zanpakuto—even for Asauchi, who hasn't yet awakened his true name—is a crucial turning point in the life and training trajectory of any Shinigami.

Xuan had no intention of denying or suppressing the excitement and anticipation surging in his chest.

Taoist practice emphasizes "following one's heart." As long as one does not let emotions cloud reason or interfere with judgment, there is no need to resist this heart-stirring feeling.

There is excitement, but excitement alone is not enough to grasp the initial understanding.

According to the Master's explanation and what I know from my past life, the prerequisite for mastering the Initial Release is the birth of a sword spirit.

The prerequisite for the birth of a Zanpakuto is that the Shinigami (death god) infuses the Zanpakuto with spiritual power, integrating core elements such as soul traits, memories, will, and emotions into the Asauchi.

Thinking of this, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Xuan. The Daoist practice of refining a "natal magic weapon" requires the cultivator to nurture and connect it with their own essence and blood over a long period, so that it can be used with perfect harmony and intuitive control. Wasn't this the Zanpakuto?

Xuan's thoughts began to wander again, extending to deeper levels.

The Grim Reaper fosters the birth of a Zanpakuto by incorporating his own soul essence, then learns its true name through "Blade Zen," and finally gains a unique form and abilities by releasing the Zanpakuto... I used to ignore a lot of the settings when watching the anime, but now I realize that this system seems strangely familiar?

If we consider nurturing a sword spirit as cultivating a natal magic weapon, then Blade Zen corresponds to enlightenment and seeing one's true nature. The power of a Zanpakuto is the manifestation of a Shinigami's inner strength and soul qualities, which is spiritual power.

The process of cultivating the initial release is clearly the same as the methods of concentrating the mind, such as the "Inner Observation Scripture of Laozi" and the "Inner Cultivation True Techniques." However, the concentrating mind refines the primordial spirit, while the sword spirit of the Zanpakuto is based on the soul of the Shinigami (death god).

So, what would happen if the pure energy refined by the orthodox Taoist Qi-refining method were combined with the mind-concentration method, and the Zanpakuto was used as a primordial spirit to forge it?

Just as he was pondering, he keenly sensed two familiar spiritual pressures approaching.

Gen placed the asparagus on the tatami mat, turned around, opened the door, and looked at the person who had come in.