Death God: Starting from Refining Essence into Qi

The wooden targets at the forest training ground have been replaced three times.

The previous batch of targets failed to withstand the training of the Ghost Path students; the broken edges were jagged and charred.

Several students from the Ise family were working together to load the discarded target onto a cart.

They were dressed in matching dark blue training uniforms, the cuffs tightened, their posture upright and efficient, no longer showing the nervousness and inferiority they had when they first arrived. After moving the timber, the group bowed in unison to A-Yuan, who was supervising and instructing them, before leaving in formation, concluding their Ghost Path class for the day.

Xuan stood at the edge of the training ground, quietly watching them leave. When there was no one else in the training ground, he slowly walked to the center.

Xuan was practicing his Ghost Path in the training grounds prepared for ordinary Ghost Path practitioners, so naturally he wouldn't unleash his full Ghost Path power, as that would destroy the training grounds.

Xuan's goal was simple: to control the power of the ghost path and make it as accurate as possible.

He raised his hands, palms facing forward, and pure spiritual energy surged through his meridians.

【Hado #73: Twin Lotus Azure Flame Fall】

Without needing to chant, intense spiritual power erupted from his palm. Two blue-white flames intertwined and swirled, carrying a scorching aura as they hurtled towards the wooden target.

The three wooden targets instantly melted away, turning into dust.

The characteristic of [Hado No. 73 - Twin Lotus Azure Fire Drop] is its wide-range bombardment. Even if Xuan reduces the output of spiritual power, it is inevitable that multiple wooden targets will be hit at the same time.

This move is indeed unsuitable for use in chaotic battles, as it could easily injure nearby teammates. Xuan thought to himself.

In contrast, the large-scale destructive bombardment, combined with Zhenyuan's inherent spiritual energy compression properties, is enough to tear apart the enemy's lines on the front lines.

Xuan turned his head to look at the wooden target area on the other side, his right hand with five fingers together, palm upright like a knife. Spiritual energy surged rapidly along the three Yang meridians of his hand, condensing into a thin, transparent blade of light at his fingertips, the edge of the blade trembling slightly, emitting an almost inaudible hum.

【Hado Chapter 78: Slaying the Flower Wheel】

The sound of something cutting through the air broke the silence of the training ground, and a halo rapidly expanded outward from Xuan as the center.

A few breaths later, the upper half of the wooden target slowly slid off the cut, the break smooth as a mirror, without a single speck of wood remaining.

Xuan stepped forward slowly, his fingertips lightly touching the cool, smooth broken edge. Zhenyuan manipulated spiritual particles and the illusion of all phenomena to confuse perception, so neither of the two Zanpakuto possessed any means of direct offense or defense. However, Zanpakuto Zanka-rin filled this gap perfectly—it unleashed a halo of light outwards from itself, combining offense and defense.

Having finished reviewing the two advanced ghost techniques, Xuan did not stop.

For the past month, he has devoted all his time studying the Ghost Path to the same Ghost Path—[Binding Path Seventy-Seven: Heavenly Void].

It is completely different from ordinary ghost paths. 【Tian Ting Kong Luo】 is not used for combat, so Xuan does not need to master it to the point of abandoning incantation.

Using spiritual power to capture the spiritual pressure fluctuations of distant beings, one can sense their location and establish an invisible spiritual network to transmit their messages, simultaneously locating and connecting to multiple targets. Generally speaking, a complete incantation combined with drawing a talisman on the palm is a prerequisite for casting the spell.

To be honest, Xuan strongly suspects that, besides himself, other members of the Daoist sect have traveled to the world of the Grim Reaper and adapted Daoist practices into the Ghost Dao.

Whether in official guidebooks or the original story, it can be seen that the caster and recipient of [Ten-Ting Kong-Luo] can reliably transmit messages even when they are in different spirit worlds (such as Hueco Mundo to the human world, or Soul Society to Hueco Mundo).

Moreover, when casting a spell, spiritual energy spreads out in the shape of lightning, transmitting the sound to the target's ear.

Everything became clear when Xuan saw the lyrics.

This is not 【天挺空罗】, this is 【玉枢通闻】.

During the Song and Yuan dynasties, the master of thunder magic of the Shenxiao School systematically and magically transformed the core functions of the "Jade Pivot Treasure Scripture of the Heavenly Venerable of Universal Transformation of Thunder Sound in the Nine Heavens" into a system called "Jade Pivot Tongwen", which was written into the "Daoist Compendium".

"A black and white net, twenty-two bridges, sixty-six crowns, footprints, distant thunder, sharp peaks, returning to the earth, night lurking, sea of ​​clouds, and azure procession, will fill the Taiyuan Garden and soar straight to the sky."

Thunder is born from the interaction of Yin and Yang, and "black and white" correspond to the Yin and Yang energies in thunder magic; in thunder magic, "heavenly net and earthly net" is the basic form of thunder, which can both bind evil spirits and serve as a medium network for sound transmission.

The Divine Firmament Thunder Method states, "Twenty-two heavenly bridges connect heaven and man"; the "High Supreme Divine Firmament Jade Purity True King Purple Book Great Method" says, "Build twenty-two rainbow bridges to guide the celestial energy downwards." In the Thunder Method, "bridges" are channels connecting humans and gods, heaven and earth.

In the *Yu Shu Bao Jing*, the Heavenly Venerable Puhua wears a crown and robe adorned with nine phoenixes and crimson clouds; the thirty-six Thunder Generals plus the thirty Thunder Gods make a total of sixty-six Thunder Department officials. In Taoism, the "crown and robe" symbolizes "deification," signifying the summoning of the Thunder Department officials to wear their crowns and robes and take their places. The number sixty-six corresponds precisely to the sixty-six Thunder Department officials, messengers, and attendants responsible for transmitting sound in thunder magic.

Next are the seven basic movements of the famous Shenxiao Thunder Technique:

The steps are: first, stepping on the Big Dipper to define the area; then, summoning thunder energy; then, connecting with the heavens and earth; storing the spirit and distributing the Qi; and finally, having the thunder gods line up in formation to broadcast the message.

This is "Footprints, Distant Thunder, Peak, Return to Earth, Nighttime Hibernation, Sea of ​​Clouds, Azure Column".

The Jade Pivot Treasure Scripture mentions that "the Jade Pivot is the circular pivot of heaven and earth, which rotates throughout the heavens"; the Daoist Compendium also says that "the thunderous energy fills the vast void and soars straight to the nine heavens".

The [Tian Ting Kong Luo] or [Yu Shu Tong Wen] is now complete.

However, it must be mentioned that [Tian Ting Kong Luo] has indeed simplified [Yu Shu Tong Wen] to a considerable extent.

He closed his eyes, drawing spiritual energy from his lower body, which flowed upwards along the Du meridian, finally condensing into a tiny yet refined spiritual particle at the center of his brow. His fingertips slowly traced lines across his palm, the spiritual threads intertwining and weaving to outline intricate and obscure runes. The instant the runes took shape, a warm sensation spread through his palm, and spiritual energy circulated autonomously within the lines.

As the last syllable fell, the runes in his palm suddenly shone with a brilliant golden light, accompanied by lightning-like spiritual energy that spread outwards.

The field of vision instantly turned gray and white, and the spiritual pressure patterns were clearly revealed. In the direction of the Yorozuya, dozens of faint spiritual pressure clusters gathered together; at the edge of the training ground, Jiro's spiritual pressure was calm and bright, leading the team to hone their basic Kido; deep in the dense forest, scattered animal spiritual pressures appeared and disappeared, weak and docile.

Xuan's consciousness penetrated through layers of spiritual pressure, extending its exploration to a wider area.

Found it. A highly recognizable spiritual pressure, seemingly sharp and flamboyant, but actually subtle within.

Xuan locked onto the wisp of spiritual pressure and whispered quietly, "Can you hear me?"

The ball of lightning and spiritual pressure suddenly trembled violently, becoming chaotic and disorderly, before rapidly advancing towards the training ground.

"This is also the path of ghosts? You scared me."

In just a few breaths, a purple-haired figure deftly leaped over the training ground fence using a simple Instant Step, landing directly beside Xuan. Saito's voice rang out, hoarse and languid from just waking up.

"The latest functional binding spell can transmit sound and locate objects over long distances, and others cannot eavesdrop, but it is limited to one-way communication." Xuan's tone was calm as he truthfully told the truth, completely unlike the frank expression he had just displayed after playing a trick on the other party.

"What's with this one-way communication? It's not fair at all." She turned her head to glance at Xuan, her tone carrying the unique arrogance of a young man, openly throwing a tantrum, "I don't know any ghost arts. Unless it's an emergency, you're not allowed to use this method to call me."

She tapped her blindfold lightly with her fingertip, her tone firm but without malice: "If you want to see me, come and talk to me in person, understand?"

Xuan remained noncommittal.

"This thing is clearly for transmitting sound, so how can it be considered a binding spell?" Saito was still struggling with the classification issue, his brows furrowed slightly.

Xuan smiled without saying a word. This made it easier to remember; what did it matter to him what others thought?

With a thought, he severed the spiritual pressure connection. The golden runes in his palm slowly dimmed, turning into tiny specks of light that dissipated in the breeze.

The two walked out of the training ground in the forest side by side. At the entrance of the Oddities Shop, the one-armed youth was already waiting. His back was slightly hunched, his posture humble, and he held a heavy ledger tightly in one hand, while his other amputated arm was pressed against his side. His fingertips unconsciously gripped the corner of the ledger. Every move he made was etched with the caution and submissiveness of a low-level wandering soul.

Several trainees doing odd jobs in the distance secretly glanced at him, their eyes filled with envy—being able to follow Xuan closely and manage the affairs of the Ghost Path Clan was already an extremely high honor in the eyes of all the lower-level members.

"Great Ghost Daoist Master." The one-armed youth bowed slightly, his tone respectful. "The points redemption list has been updated and published. The missing low-to-mid-level Ghost Dao techniques and more than ten new spells have all been marked with redemption thresholds. Recently, students' enthusiasm for redeeming has been high. Jiro and A-Yuan are both accumulating points, aiming directly at the 'Slaying the Flower Wheel' technique."

He opened the ledger, his fingertip tracing the notes on the paper: "The Ise family students are progressing extremely quickly, with several already exchanging for intermediate-level Kido. They have practiced swordsmanship since childhood, and their spiritual power manipulation skills far surpass those of ordinary students, allowing them to learn extremely quickly."

Xuan took the ledger and flipped through it page by page.

The most prominent entries in the ledger were the recent commission records. Requests for escort and mansion security had surged several times over, with most of the clients being impoverished nobles who had hastily fled Seireitei and settled in Rukongai. The handwriting silently revealed the turmoil in Soul Society.

The growth of the first batch of Ise family students is clearly visible. The focus honed through years of sword practice has given them an unparalleled talent for manipulating spiritual energy. Kido has broken the shackles of swords for them, allowing them to unleash formidable combat power from their fingertips.

During a recent escort mission, two Ise family students accompanied Jiro. Upon their return, their posture was upright, their gazes steady, and their voices clear; the timidity and restraint they displayed upon arrival had long since vanished. After completing their report, they even proactively inquired about the unlocking conditions for higher-level Kido techniques.

No further preaching is needed; power itself is the best medicine for reshaping people's hearts. When these seemingly fragile women shattered the hard wooden targets with their own hands using the Demonic Path, the awakening of self-affirmation they experienced was far more powerful than any words of comfort.

Xuan handed the account book back to the one-armed youth.

"Recently, we have received more requests from nobles. Please compile and report any information regarding deaths, injuries, or assassinations separately."

"Yes." The one-armed youth bowed again and respectfully replied.

Combining the account records and the information from the nobles of the Ise family, Gen had already pieced together the current chaos in the Soul Society.

All the conflict began with lower-ranking nobles vying for control of the Rukongai farms. As the conflict escalated, long-simmering grudges, vested interests, and family pride erupted. The covert infighting transformed into open slaughter; assassinations were no longer limited to high-ranking family heads, and massacres of entire families became commonplace. Nobles scrambled to stockpile weapons and recruit private armies, desperate for self-preservation.

The assassins sought after by the nobles of Seireitei were the killing organization under Yamamoto Shigekuni's command. After years of bloodshed and the annihilation of countless nobles, the remaining forces, fearing for their lives, eventually reached a compromise, ending the chaos by offering amnesty.

Yamamoto's assassin organization was officially incorporated into the government and renamed: Seireitei Strategic Defense Attack and Security Support Team, or Security Team for short.

In the aftermath of the war, the surviving nobles, no longer interested in fighting, sought refuge, allowing the Forty-Six Chambers to consolidate power and become more formidable than ever before. Their security team took on the tasks of protecting the nobles and escorting supplies, a scope of business that happened to overlap with the Yorozuya of the Kido Clan.

Compared to the exorbitant prices charged by security forces, the Kido-shu (Kido Clan) offered lower fees and more skilled personnel, making them capable of handling the robbers and wandering Shinigami (dead men) of Rukongai (Soul Street). Many lower and middle-ranking nobles switched their allegiance to the Yorozuya (Odd Jobs Shop), and the Kido-shu's reputation quietly spread throughout the Seireitei (Seireitei) aristocratic circles.

As his reputation grew, official letters arrived as scheduled.

A Shinigami dressed in a Shinigami uniform delivered the letter, which was sealed with the official crest of the 46 Chambers. The envelope was signed in a simple and solemn manner: "To the Great Head of the Kidō Sect."

This reminded Xuan of the imperial edict bestowing titles upon the Great Sage Equaling Heaven. It was just a pity that the messenger wasn't Venus, and he himself wasn't Sun Wukong.

Xuan opened the letter and read it quickly, skimming through it. The content was straightforward and blunt: the Forty-Sixth Chamber intended to incorporate the Ghost Path followers into the security team, taking over all their combat power and Ghost Path techniques. As for the Odd Jobs Shop, with its diverse revenue and mixed personnel, the letter made no mention of it.

Xuan laid the letter flat on the table, tapped the paper lightly with his fingertips, and remained calm.

The intention is obvious: the official only wants the Kido technology and usable combat power, to consolidate the power of the Kido sect, completely ignoring the Yorozuya.

Xuan felt a sense of resistance. The security team originated from Yamamoto's assassin organization, stained with countless bloody battles; while the Ghost Path started with small tasks, such as finding lost items, mediating disputes, and escorting goods, earning their rewards cleanly.

He silently repeated the long and awkward official name in his mind, then lowered his eyes slightly to suppress the discomfort in his heart.

He knew that the security team was the prototype of the future Gotei 13, and that being incorporated into the official system was the inevitable fate of the Kido Clan. If he refused, the recipient of the letter would not be the Great Kido Master, but a criminal plotting rebellion.

However, the timing is not right, and the method of merger is unacceptable. A hasty merger would only result in becoming a vassal of Yamamoto.

After weighing the pros and cons, Xuan spread out clean paper and dipped it in ink. His words were neither humble nor arrogant, subtly refusing a forced merger while simultaneously expressing his sincerity in cooperation, firmly upholding the independence of the Ghost Path Sect.

He put pen to paper, his handwriting neat and sharp:

"The entire Ghost Path Clan is willing to accept the leadership of the Forty-Sixth Chamber. However, since its inception, the Ghost Path Clan has had clear promotion rules and an independent management system, which are the foundation for maintaining the organization's operation. If the Security Team is merged into the Security Team, it may disrupt the points system and teaching order, thereby weakening the Ghost Path Clan's combat power."

He paused for a moment, then continued writing, his words and phrases precise and nuanced.

"Therefore, please allow the Ghost Path Clan to maintain its independent organizational structure and self-management. The Ghost Path Clan is willing to be on equal footing with the Security Force and will only accept direct orders from the 46th Chamber."

Not affiliated with the security force, not under Yamamoto's jurisdiction, clearly drawing a clear line between them.

"In exchange, the Kido Clan is willing to open Kido instruction within the Seireitei, and anyone with spiritual aptitude can apply to learn. When necessary, the Kido Clan is also willing to assist the security forces in maintaining the safety of the Seireitei and the Soul Society."

On the surface, it appears to be a compromise and concession, but in reality, it conceals a deeper meaning. Opening up teaching to the public, seemingly a selfless act, is actually a way to use the official platform to attract talented individuals from across the Soul Society, select promising talents, quietly accumulate the foundation of the Kido sect, establish a foothold in the Seireitei, and silently expand its own power.

Xuan put down his pen and picked up the letter, reviewing it repeatedly. He agreed to accept jurisdiction but not subservience, to offer open teaching while maintaining staffing, to cooperate with checks and balances, and to act with measured steps.

He folded the letter neatly and placed it in an envelope. Hot wax dripped onto the seal, making a soft sound. A seal he had personally carved was slowly pressed down, a circular ring enclosing the ancient character "鬼" (ghost), its lines simple and strong. The seal rose and fell, the wax lines clear and deep.

Xuan's fingertips caressed the cool, moist wax seal, his gaze calm and clear.

He saw through the 46th Chamber's calculating mindset. Yamamoto Shigekuni was ruthless and domineering, and his security force was formidable, already making the higher-ups wary. The 46th Chamber would never allow a single force to dominate, and urgently needed a force of equal strength to check and balance the security force.

The Ghost Path Clan, with its unique Ghost Path system, pure members, and no bloody scandals, is the best pawn.

This letter, seemingly a gesture of submission, was in reality a bargaining chip he offered to maintain a balance of power.

The evening breeze swept through the woods, dispelling the lingering heat of the training ground. The boy's eyes remained calm as he awaited a reply.