Death God: Starting from Refining Essence into Qi

Yorozuya has been open for several months.

That afternoon, three wandering souls with spiritual potential entered the depths of the forest, searching for Xuan, who was cultivating.

"Lord Xuan, the three of us would like to exchange for the 'Spiritual Power and Cultivation Basics Course' together. Is that possible?"

Xuan didn't need to look at the points list on the bulletin board to know that the total points of the three of them had reached one hundred—the exchange price for the course on spiritual power and cultivation common sense.

Because all points are publicly recorded, every Rukongai can see their own and others' balances—when Gen initially set this rule, it was simply to make accounts transparent and reduce disputes. But the actual effect was beyond his expectations: these people who struggled up from the bottom of Rukongai not only did not feel their privacy was violated, but also regarded the points leaderboard as a kind of honor.

Every day after work, a group of people would gather in front of the bulletin board, comparing their earnings for the day. The top ten on the leaderboard would change from time to time, but these three names always remained on the list.

All three possess spiritual aptitude. Although they don't yet know how to use it, they have accumulated spiritual power within their souls through daily consumption of food rich in spiritual particles, though it has never been awakened.

The passive nourishment from spiritual energy makes their bodies far stronger than ordinary wandering souls. They complete the same tasks faster and take on more than others, ultimately accumulating significantly more points than ordinary wandering souls.

The arrangement of three people sharing a course for exchange was an oversight by Xuan when he initially created the exchange list, as the rules hadn't been clearly defined. However, considering that the time and effort required to teach three people was no different from teaching one person, Xuan agreed.

Xuan led the three to the one-armed ryuhun, who was in charge of the accounts. Xuan watched as he deducted thirty-four points from each of their balances—a total of one hundred and two. The extra two points were considered a handling fee for the three of them exchanging the points together; this was a rule Xuan had set on the spot. The one-armed youth wrote the entry in the ledger with lightning speed, then looked up at Jiro with a hint of envy in his eyes.

After leaving the tent, Xuan led the three towards the training ground.

The training ground was located at the edge of the forest, a clearing that had been leveled using [Hado #57 - Earth Dance]. At this moment, only one figure stood there—Saito, the immortal being. She was in her Shikai state, purple lightning covering her Zanpakuto, the blade wreathed in flickering purple lightning.

She charged and slashed, her steps and strikes perfectly synchronized, her entire being becoming a constantly shifting purple afterimage. The sound of the blade cutting through the air was short and sharp, the lightning crackling around the blade was terrifying.

When the house was first built, there were still wandering spirits watching Saito practice his Shikai; but they soon discovered that they could only see afterimages streaked with electricity, and couldn't even catch a glimpse of Saito. Over time, the wandering spirits gave up the idea of ​​learning from him or observing him, and no one gathered around the training ground anymore.

Xuan led the three to the edge of the training ground and stopped. Saito sprinted back and forth twice before noticing the newcomers. She paused, her figure solidifying from the afterimage. She canceled her Shikai, the purple lightning on her Zanpakuto dissipated, leaving only a slightly warm lingering heat on the blade. A thin layer of sweat beaded on her forehead, but her breathing was steady, clearly far from her limit.

"Why are you here now?" Saito slung his Zanpakuto over his shoulder, tilting his head to look at Gen. "Aren't you usually hiding in the woods studying Kido?"

"You've taken on the teaching duties." Xuan stepped aside, gesturing to the three people behind him. "Now's the time."

Saito blinked, as if only now remembering that. "Oh." She beckoned to the three of them, "Come on, let's start the lesson right here in the training field."

The three quickly stepped forward and stood before Saito. Jiro straightened his back, the girl clutched the hem of her clothes, and the young man, who had also been startled by the flash of the sword, finally came to his senses and swallowed hard.

Xuan stood still.

Saito looked at him, raising an eyebrow: "What, aren't you going to train? If you want to attend the class too, I won't charge you points, but you have to call me 'Saito-sensei,' okay?"

She deliberately emphasized the word "teacher," her tongue habitually darting out from the corner of her mouth, her face clearly displaying the words "taking advantage."

Xuan remained expressionless: "I'm afraid you'll teach incorrectly, so I'll sit in for a while. You didn't pay much attention in class at Yuanzi Academy before, so I want to hear how you plan to teach, lest you mislead the students."

Saito snorted, too lazy to argue with him. She sat cross-legged on the ground, gesturing for the three of them to sit down as well. Xuan retreated to the edge of the training ground, leaning against a wooden stake with his arms crossed.

Saito's lesson began. She started with the basic structure of spirits—the location of the locks, the function of the soul sleep, and how spiritual power flows between the two—her tone was casual, but the content was accurate. Occasionally, she would draw a simple diagram on the ground with her scabbard; although the drawing was crooked, the general meaning was still clear. The three wandering spirits listened attentively, with Jiro nodding frequently.

Having confirmed that Saito's explanation of the basic knowledge of spirits, spiritual power, and spiritual pressure was accurate and complete, Gen left with peace of mind.

He has other things to do.

Back in his cabin, Xuan took out a blank sheet of paper and spread it on the table. He first added a parenthesis after the "Spiritual Power and Cultivation Common Sense Course" section and neatly wrote: "Can be exchanged by multiple people."

This addresses a previous oversight. From now on, if someone wants to share a class, the rules are clear, and they won't need to ask him anymore.

He then flipped to the end of the redemption list and added new restrictions and required points for redeeming the Ghost Path:

【Hado I - Oki】Exchange Price: 20 Points (Exchange Restriction: Spiritual Power and Cultivation Common Sense Courses have already been exchanged).

The exchange prices and restrictions for each of the other levels of Ghost Path are also indicated.

After writing down the exchange rates for each Kido, he turned to a new page. The Yorozuya only needed a group of working, money-making Rukun, but the Kido were different. They needed a system, a hierarchy, a visible path to advancement—and the motivation to encourage talented individuals to invest time in research and creation.

His pen strokes were neat and powerful.

[Rules for Advancement in the Ghost Path]

I. The highest-ranking administrator of the Ghost Path is the Ghost Path Master, who is Xuan, and has the final decision-making power over the Ghost Path's recruitment, qualification review, and rule revision.

Second, those who have mastered at least one of the Ghost Paths will be officially granted the title of "Ghost Path Master";

3. Those who have mastered all the first thirty types of demonic arts and can release them stably without chanting will be promoted to "Intermediate Demonic Arts Master" and can serve as teachers of low-level demonic arts courses.

IV. Members of the Ghost Path may research and develop Ghost Path on their own. The organization will not be responsible for any personal injury that occurs during the development process.

V. Those who develop a new Ghost Path and gain the approval of the Ghost Path Master can have their Ghost Path added to the exchange list. After it is exchanged by others, the developer will permanently receive 50% of the exchange points for that Ghost Path as a share. After the developer's death, any subsequent profits will go to the Ghost Path treasury.

After writing the last word, Xuan put down his pencil.

Fifty percent—this figure was tempting enough, yet not so much that the organization couldn't afford it. He knew very well that one person alone could never build a complete Ghost Path system; only by ensuring that every talented person could gain tangible and lasting benefits from research and development could the Ghost Path continue to thrive.

This five-part division reflects respect for the developers' hard work and also uses incentives to drive innovation. The title and teaching qualification of the intermediate-level Ghost Path disciple represent a visible path to advancement—not based on Xuan's personal favor, but solely on the actual number of Ghost Path techniques mastered.

Once the rules are set, all that's left is for people to follow them.

He had just finished putting away the toilet paper when he heard hurried footsteps outside the door. Then, the door was suddenly pushed open.

Saito strode into the house, his purple twin ponytails swaying violently with each step, and a few stray hairs and ends sticking up in a mess from his repeated scratching.

She plopped down on the kang (heated brick bed) specially made for her by Xuan, gritting her teeth:

"Those three blockheads are so stupid!"

Xuan pointed to the corner of the house: "Come down, there's a stool over there."

"I've explained all the common sense—where the lock is and where the soul sleeps—they remember it perfectly." Saito stood up, seemingly getting angrier as he spoke, gesturing wildly in the air with his fingers. "But when it comes to mobilizing spiritual power and cultivation, they just can't teach me! I say, 'It's like using strength,' and they ask me what using strength means—what does using strength mean?! I almost want to draw my sword!"

She took a deep breath and exhaled heavily, as if trying to expel all the pent-up frustration from her chest.

"I'm never teaching general knowledge classes again. I'll try teaching combat-related skills like kendo or Shunpo again."

After saying that, he leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and looked furious.

Xuan sighed: "Go and clear your head, I'll go see what's going on."

Inside the training ground, the three wandering souls remained in the same spot.

Jiro squatted on the ground with his head down, his fingers unconsciously digging into the dirt; the girl's eyes were slightly red; the young man repeated the motion of throwing a punch, his gaze following the movement of his fist. Seeing Xuan approaching, the three of them quickly stood up straight.

"How did Saito teach her?" Gen asked.

The three looked at each other, bewildered. Jiro mustered his courage: "Lord Saito said, 'Use spiritual power like you would physical strength,' but we're too stupid; we still can't do it."

To avoid discouraging them, Xuan reassured them, "Don't worry, it's normal that you can't do what she does."

Xuan roughly understood why Saito couldn't control other people's spiritual power:

Saito's spiritual talent is too high. For her, using spiritual power is as natural as breathing; it's instinctive, requiring no thought or method.

Just as a bird cannot explain to a fish how to fly—not that she doesn't want to teach, but that she can't understand where people who "can't do it" are stuck.

Xuan sat down cross-legged opposite the three of them.

"Do you remember where Saito mentioned the 'locked knot' and 'soul sleep'?"

The three nodded in unison: "The soul resides three inches below the navel, and its lock is located in the center of the chest."

"I remember it very well." Xuan nodded slightly. "Close your eyes. Calm your mind and carefully feel your body."

The three of them closed their eyes as instructed.

"First, imagine a warm current flowing through the area around the Soul Sleep point," Xuan's voice softened. "Relax, don't strain."

The training ground fell silent. The wind rustled through the edge of the forest.

"...I can feel it." Jiro's voice carried a hint of uncertainty. "There's a little warmth below my navel."

"I also……"

"Very good. Remember this location, remember this feeling. This is the spiritual energy sleeping within your Soul Sleep." Xuan continued, "Next, imagine this warmth starting from the Soul Sleep, slowly rising along the center of your body. Passing through your navel, passing through your chest—passing through the knot. As this warm current passes through your chest, imagine there is a door there. Gently push it open."

Jiro's eyelashes trembled.

"...A warm current...flowed to my shoulders, flowed to my arms..."

The girl next to him suddenly opened her eyes: "I felt it too! My arm... my arm feels warm, and it feels full of power!"

The young man followed closely behind, looking down at his hands with disbelief: "This is...spiritual power?"

"Maintain this state." Xuan stood up. "Let the spiritual energy flow naturally within your body. Don't deliberately guide it, and don't forcibly suppress it. Come find me again when you've gotten used to this feeling and can maintain the flow of spiritual energy without consciously sensing it."

The three nodded in unison. Jiro wanted to get up to thank him, but Xuan pressed him back down with a gesture—the first experience of the flow of spiritual energy was fleeting, and if he was interrupted now, he would have to start all over again to get into the state next time.

Xuan turned and left the training ground.

After walking a few steps, he looked back again: everyone was sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed, looking absorbed and focused.

Months ago, they were survivors cowering in the cellar during the catastrophic disaster. Now, with their eyes closed, they sensed for the first time the power flowing within them—a power that had always belonged to them, but had never been awakened.

Previously, they had long lacked the nourishment of spiritual food, and the spiritual power in their souls was like a deeply buried seed, always in a dormant state; it was not until they met Xuan and received a sufficient supply of spiritual food that this seed finally sprouted.

From a cultivation perspective, this is called Foundation Establishment. Once enough spiritual energy has accumulated during the Soul Sleep phase, one's mind can perceive its presence.

When Xuan completed this step in the courtyard of the Shihōin family, the tearing sensation in his soul almost made him faint. In contrast, the induction of energy into the bodies of these three wandering souls was as smooth as a still pond. They did not experience the conflict between their two souls, nor the rejection from the world; they only needed to quietly perceive the power that was rightfully theirs.

Xuan withdrew his gaze and continued walking back. He didn't plan to teach them Qi Refining for the time being. Qi Refining required purifying and eliminating impurities, and required precise control and purification of spiritual energy—these were too advanced topics and deviated from his purpose.

What Gen needs are not disciples, but a group of people who can study and develop the Demonic Path. Their ultimate purpose is to stand on the battlefield, form ranks, and use a unified barrage of Demonic Path attacks to tear apart the Quincy's lines.

This stage is sufficient for their cultivation enlightenment. Allowing them to sense and mobilize spiritual energy, and then focusing on the release and development of the Ghost Path, will be more beneficial to Xuan. Therefore, their cultivation should end here.

Thinking of these few wandering souls who had just sensed spiritual power, another image flashed in Xuan's mind:

Hundreds of Kido followers stood in neat square formations at the rear of the Soul Society's battlefield. When Yhwach led the Quincy army to invade, a unified chant resounded from the square formations, and the high-ranking Kido followers unleashed a barrage of attacks like a torrential downpour, engulfing the Quincy army.