Death God: Starting from Refining Essence into Qi

In the afternoon, Gen led Saito and a group of rogue souls into the West 20th District and found an inn to stay in for the time being.

Xuan had been searching for land for sale in the West Thirtieth District, but had not found anything suitable. Now, having arrived in the West Twentieth District, he finally found a suitable piece of land for sale.

This plot of land stretches from the main street of the West 20th District all the way to the dense forest on the outskirts. A crooked and loose wooden fence hastily demarcates about ten acres, with a stone well standing in the center. The well rim has been worn smooth and warm by the years. The surrounding area is overgrown with weeds, but there is not a single building. It is a rare piece of land that is suitable for use.

The owner of the land appeared to be dressed as an aristocrat, wearing a crisply starched suit. His shoulders and back were ramrod straight, and his features exuded the self-restraint and dignity expected of a nobleman. Only the fabric at the cuffs was worn with fine frayed edges, and the collar had faded to a pale gray. His fingertips unconsciously rubbed the old prayer beads, and although his posture seemed composed, it concealed a subtle unease.

When Xuan announced the price, the other party agreed almost without much hesitation.

After verifying the authenticity of the ring coin, the nobleman solemnly handed over the rolled-up land deed, his knuckles slightly white from the force. He then straightened his back, deliberately raising his voice, and said with forced arrogance, "This land is only for temporary sale. Once I recoup my investment in East Rukongai, I will redeem it even for ten times the price!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he finally released the land deed, straightened the slightly wrinkled collar of his suit, and turned to leave. His back was still straight, but his hurried steps carried a hint of fleeing in panic.

Xuan lowered his eyes and carefully examined the land deed in his hand. After confirming that there were no problems, he turned around and went back to the inn.

After resting at the inn for the night, the next morning, Xuan led his group along the main street for about 15 minutes before stopping outside the fence of the wasteland they had bought the day before.

The wandering souls stood outside the fence, surveying the overgrown wasteland, their faces filled with bewilderment and helplessness.

Xuan did want to establish the Ghost Path Clan ahead of schedule, but an organization needs more than just people with spiritual aptitude. Xuan knew about the story of "a small favor is appreciated, but a large favor is resented" from his previous life, and he was not prepared to support these wandering souls for nothing.

Xuan already had a general plan: these wandering souls without spiritual aptitude might not only be able to support themselves, but also provide long-term financial support for the Ghost Path Clan.

Xuan stood facing all the wandering souls, his gaze sweeping over each numb, timid, and bewildered face, his voice clear and steady:

"From today onwards, this will be our future home."

"We will build our own houses here, one by one, and we will also build a general store near the street to take on all kinds of commissions from Rukongai and survive by our own strength."

"From now on, the operating model of this organization can be summed up in eight words: accept commissions and distribute rewards according to work. Whether it's doing odd jobs or accepting commissions in the future, all remuneration will be calculated based on labor. The more you work, the more you earn; if you don't work, you don't earn."

"I won't support you. I'll provide you with a platform and initial survival supplies, but I'll take 10% of the commissions from the Yorozuya (Odd Jobs Shop) afterward. You'll have to earn money through your own labor and live with your heads held high. It's a fair trade, and we'll settle things evenly."

The moment the words left his lips, a lazy grumble came from the fence. Saito raised an eyebrow, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips, and whispered to Gen, "All that high-sounding talk, isn't it just about making them build their own houses?"

The wandering spirits were silent. Some of them had been rescued from the Hollow Disaster and, after drinking the water, had not chosen to leave; others had left Obana Danjiro's group and eventually joined Gen's group, all hoping to survive by their own strength rather than simply relying on the charity of others.

"Everyone, step back to the fence and stand further away." Xuan raised his hand, and the wandering souls immediately obeyed, retreating and crowding around the fence, their eyes fixed on him.

Xuan's spiritual power surged from his fingertips, spreading across the entire wasteland.

【Hado #57 - The Earth Turns】

The entire ground began to shake violently. Wild grass was uprooted and ripped out of the ground, and rubble buried deep underground burst forth and rolled toward the edge of the plot.

The soil beneath our feet seemed to come alive, wriggling and squeezing, filling in the potholes and neatly cutting away the protruding slopes.

The shaking stopped, and the smoke and dust slowly dissipated.

The originally barren and messy ground was reshaped under the control of spiritual power, compacted and settled layer by layer, solidifying into a flat and solid foundation. At the edge, a simple stone shed with only four stone pillars was built.

The wandering spirits stood by the fence, so shocked they forgot to breathe, their eyes wide as they stared at the scene before them, which seemed like a miracle.

Jiro, standing in the crowd, stared intently at the flat foundation, his eyes burning with an almost scorching longing—according to this Grim Reaper, he also possessed spiritual talent, so could he also have such power?

Xuan turned to look at the wandering souls who were still standing there in a daze:

"You will rest in this stone shed for the next few days until you move into the house you built with your own hands."

Xuan didn't elaborate on the deeper meaning behind these words. Having them build their homes with their own hands served two purposes: first, to cultivate a sense of belonging to this land—only a house built by their own hands can truly be considered a "home"; second, to ensure that from the very first day they set foot on this land, they were accustomed to the rule that "work brings reward, and labor brings reward." Once they moved into the wooden houses they helped build and used the points earned from their labor to buy clean drinking water, this fair system would naturally be ingrained in their very being.

And now, this simple stone shed is the starting point. When they rely on their own hands to own independent houses and stable beds, that earth-shattering change is itself the most direct and profound positive feedback.

Xuan took out a piece of densely written draft paper and looked up at everyone.

"This is the first version of the points redemption table. All future labor, remuneration, and redemption will be implemented according to this standard for the time being."

The wandering spirits looked at each other in bewilderment. Some of them mustered their courage and said, "Sir, we are illiterate and cannot understand."

In the crowd, the thin, dark-skinned girl volunteered, "I can read, I can read it to everyone."

Xuan glanced at her and added, "Whether through knowledge or strength, I personally encourage acts of actively helping others. However, conversely, if someone harms the interests of others, there will be corresponding punishment."

Xuan handed her the scrap paper, "After you make sure everyone understands, you'll get a point as a reward."

The thin, dark-skinned girl took the toilet paper with both hands, her fingertips trembling slightly, and cleared her throat:

"One thousand rings equal ten points. Two-way exchange is supported; points can also be exchanged for loop coins. A jar of purified water is worth five points..."

She read it aloud one by one. When someone didn't understand, she stopped and explained it in simpler terms.

The wandering souls gathered around her intently. Some counted on their fingers, calculating how many points they could earn each day and how much water they could exchange for; some whispered each standard, afraid of making a mistake; some moved their lips, silently memorizing every number. For the first time, their eyes, which had been numb for so long, showed clear hope and a real sense of being alive.

Saito leaned against the railing, watching this scene, the nonchalance at the corner of her mouth fading slightly. She looked at the group of wandering spirits who had previously been like walking corpses, now huddled around a piece of straw paper, their eyes shining. Suddenly, she felt that Gen's seemingly troublesome set of rules might actually be a little different.

After reading the points table, it was already midday. Xuan led the wandering souls to visit the carpenter in Rukongai.

Carpenter Shigesaburo was sitting in front of his house, planing wood with several newly made wooden buckets in front of him. Upon seeing Gen's Zanpakuto at his waist, he quickly put down his plane and stood up.

Xuan cut to the chase and asked, "Can you build wooden houses?"

Carpenter Shigesaburo paused for a moment, then nodded with some excitement. He had a premonition that it would be a major project.

"We plan to build a dozen or so simple wooden houses on the wasteland. You will be in charge of the entire process and direct the work. These people can all do some manual labor within their capabilities."

Carpenter Shigesaburo said, "No problem, but the specific payment will depend on the situation."

Xuan nodded in agreement and then said, "Make a list of tools, including axes, saws, chisels, etc. Don't forget anything."

Carpenter Shigesaburo immediately agreed: "Sato Blacksmith Shop at the east end of the street is the most reliable. The axes and saws he makes have sharp blades that are not easy to chip, and the prices are reasonable. I'll lead the way and tell him directly what tools you need."

Soon, Gen bought all the necessary tools, and the carpenter, Mosaburo, and the group of wandering spirits returned to the wasteland.

Carpenter Shigesaburo stepped forward, picked out a suitable axe from among the gathered spirits, and brandished it at them: "To build a house, you need to prepare the materials first. The first step is to cut down trees. You need to choose straight pine trees with few knots. They'll be useful for beams and wall panels. I'll demonstrate first, so watch carefully."

As he spoke, carpenter Shigesaburo turned and walked towards the edge of the forest. He selected a straight pine tree about the size of a bowl, stood still, adjusted his breathing, and with a powerful swing of his arm, the axe blade slashed down with a sharp, whistling sound. With a crisp "crack," the axe blade embedded itself deeply into the trunk, sending wood chips flying.

He flicked his wrist and precisely followed the wood grain with several more axe strokes, each landing on the same cut surface. Soon, he had carved a slanted notch on one side of the trunk's base. He then moved to the other side of the trunk and made a shallow cut at the corresponding spot, saying:

"This notch is the cut for downward movement. Once the direction is determined, mark it on the opposite side so it won't fall over randomly when you're sawing later."

As he spoke, he beckoned two wandering spirits beside him to bring a double-frame saw. He held one end of the saw himself and gestured for one of the wandering spirits to hold the other end. "Watch carefully. Once the axe has determined the direction of the fall and the notch, the rest can be sawed off. It saves effort and ensures that the trunk remains straight and does not split."

The two men worked together, pulling the saw. The blade slid rapidly across the tree trunk, making a "shh-shh" sound as sawdust fell continuously down the kerf. Moments later, with a muffled groan, the entire tree crashed to the ground, the shockwave causing the earth to tremble slightly. The whole process was clean and efficient, clearly the work of seasoned veterans.

Maosaburo put down the saw, pointed to the fallen tree trunk, and said to the crowd that had gathered around, "The cut should be made at an angle, following the grain of the wood. First, determine the direction of the fall, and then use the saw to cut off the remaining part. This is the most labor-saving and reliable method. Next, cutting the wood and splitting it into planks also requires skill. I will teach you step by step, so there's no need to rush."

After explaining the basic points, Shigesaburo first had two rogue spirits step forward, one with an axe and the other with a saw, and personally marked the location of the next cut on another pine tree:

"You take the axe first and cut a notch along the line I draw, then decide on the direction. He then takes the saw, aligns it with the opposite side of the notch, and cuts it off. Remember, you need to be steady when sawing, and the two of you need to be in sync."

The axe-wielding spirit took a deep breath, aimed at the marked spot, and cleaved diagonally. The axe blade embedded itself in the tree trunk with a muffled thud.

Following Shigesaburo's instructions, he used the axe to cut a neat, slanted notch along the wood grain. The man with the saw immediately stepped forward, and the two of them gripped both ends of the saw and slowly pulled it. The saw blade embedded itself firmly into the tree trunk, and the "shh-shh" sound gradually became more rapid. In just a moment, the tree trunk tilted violently and fell heavily to the ground.

"Great!" The surrounding wandering spirits cheered, filled with excitement, and stepped forward eager to try.

Under the guidance of Shigesaburo, the wandering spirits worked in pairs, one person using an axe to cut a notch and determine the direction of the fall, while the other person used a saw to cut off the remaining part, and they began to cut down the tree and prepare materials in an orderly manner.

At the edge of the forest, the dull thud of axes cutting into wood, the rustling of saw blades sliding, the rumble of tree trunks falling, and shouts echoed everywhere. For the first time, the once desolate wasteland was filled with the vibrant life of people.

While everyone was working enthusiastically, the two young men with crippled arms and the thin, dark-skinned girl stood together at the edge of the woods, watching the scene before them with expressions of bewilderment. The three of them watched as others wielded axes to chop down trees and worked together to move the thick trunks, all knowing they couldn't do such heavy physical labor.

They stood there, at a loss, glanced at each other, hesitated for a long time, and finally walked together to Xuan.

"Sir," the thin, dark-skinned girl spoke first, her voice tinged with trepidation, "the three of us are unable to do the heavy work of cutting down trees and moving timber. Is there any work we could do?"

Xuan's gaze swept over the three of them, his tone calm: "Building a house involves more than just cutting down trees. Some tasks don't require much strength, but rather patience and meticulousness. You can ask the carpenters for advice. Also, people who can read, do math, record daily work hours and points, and manage the entry and exit of tools and supplies are indispensable to the organization."

As soon as he finished speaking, the man missing his right arm immediately raised his head and hurriedly said, "Sir, I was educated in my previous life! I can write and do arithmetic! I can keep accounts! I guarantee I'll remember every single transaction clearly!"

"Okay." Xuan nodded and added, "From now on, you will be responsible for recording everyone's daily points income and expenditure. Remember, the daily accounts must be clear and posted on the wooden board outside the stone shed for everyone to see. At the end of the month, bring me the final ledger for review. There cannot be any errors or omissions."

"I promise I'll do it right!" The man nodded vigorously, his voice choked with emotion, as if he were not a cripple.

The thin, dark-skinned girl and the boy missing his left arm, standing nearby, instantly brightened up. The boy quickly said, "We can do the work of peeling, sanding, and sorting the wood! We'll definitely do it carefully and won't slack off!"

Xuan nodded and told them to go and assist Maosaburo, helping to organize the cut timber, sort and stack it, and remember the quantity of each batch of timber.

The two immediately responded and set off quickly to the timber storage area to get to work.

The first day's work didn't end until evening.

Although the wandering souls were exhausted and their bodies ached, they all enthusiastically surrounded the person keeping the accounts, counting on their fingers how much work they had done that day and how many points they could earn, their faces full of anticipation for the future.

As night fell, the wind, carrying the chill of the night, poured into the stone shed from the direction of the forest without any obstruction.

The wandering souls on the communal bed, oblivious to the smell of sweat on each other, huddled together and spent their first night.