Death God: Starting from Refining Essence into Qi

The central underground council chamber is a regular octagonal shape, with thick walls made of killing stones separating the spiritual energy inside and outside.

In the center of the hall was a vast, flat area, its surface smooth and cold, large enough to accommodate only a few people. A circular staircase rose from the ground, with two concentric circles of dark-colored benches surrounding the center, upon which forty sages sat.

Six deep niches were carved into the stone wall at a higher position in the hall, where six judges sat leaning against high-backed wooden chairs, their positions above the forty sages.

In front of everyone was a numbered screen made of rough, dark brown wood, which could completely cover their faces and upper bodies.

The identities of the members of the Central 46 are one of the top secrets of Soul Society. In theory, even captain-level Shinigami do not know the real names or appearances of any of the members.

The members of the 46 Chambers who participate in the council are all selected from the entire Soul Society. The old nobles of the Seireitei occupy the vast majority of seats, and only a very small number of members come from Rukongai.

All eyes fell, looking down at Xuan, who stood at the very bottom of the hall.

The entire central underground council chamber was completely dark, with only a beam of strong light shining on Xuan.

High up, behind a numbered screen bearing the character "一" (one), an elderly judge slowly spoke.

"The Kido Clan has been an independent organization for several years, under your leadership and management. We have summoned you here today to finalize the future regulations for the Kido Clan and establish universal Kido regulations for the Soul Society."

Xuan nodded slightly, not interrupting, and waited for the other party to explain the terms in detail.

The judge raised his hand, his withered fingers tapping lightly on the stone handrail, and was the first to present the draft agreement.

"I propose that low-level Kido be opened up completely. Regardless of identity or strength, all Shinigami in Soul Society can learn it free of charge."

The wind was still, and in the cold stone hall, only the lingering voice of the judge slowly dissipated.

Xuan raised his eyes, his dark gaze calmly fixed on the layers of screens high above, and said in a neither humble nor arrogant tone, "Your Excellency Judge, this method is inappropriate."

A harsh rebuke suddenly rang out from the bench on the left. The rough wood grain of the screen concealed the speaker's expression, and only a sharp, stiff male voice could be heard.

"How dare you! Who gave you permission to speak?"

"Why should Sage Number Twenty-Four be angry?" A calm and gentle voice rang out from behind a nearby screen. "Continue."

Xuan remained unmoved by this, for he had come to understand the temperament of the Soul Society's nobles over the years. He continued, "Low-level Kido has always been a resource exchanged and practiced within the Kido Clan. In the past few years, all early members had to spend points to exchange for the right to practice. Now that it is suddenly open to everyone free of charge, it is hardly fair to the older members who have diligently accumulated points and followed the rules."

"The Great Ghost Daoist's consideration is reasonable. It's just a matter of compensating for the difference. Giving the Ghost Daoists a sum of Ring Coins as a subsidy can smooth out the previous exchange difference and ensure fairness."

"Sage number thirty-three is right."

The second judge slowly began to speak, "Gentlemen, please begin your discussion."

The sounds of debate rose from the high places as the noble elders weighed the pros and cons, considering the impact of the widespread adoption of the Ghost Path and the expenditure of subsidies. Some worried about the financial losses, some valued the improvement of the lower-level combat power, and some feared the expansion of the Ghost Path's influence; their opinions were locked in a protracted struggle.

Xuan stood silently under the bright light. He listened attentively to the repeated arguments of the powerful figures above who were unaware of the power of the ghostly path, patiently awaiting the final outcome.

The first clause of the agreement was finally reached.

"And the second proposal..."

……

After standing for three hours, this long and tedious meeting finally came to an end.

The judge's voice echoed once more in the central underground council chamber: "Today's vote is finalized, five new rules:"

Firstly, the low-level Kido is permanently open, with no entry requirements or points needed. Any Shinigami who wishes to learn can go to the official training center to study.

Secondly, the intermediate level of Kido is open to students of the Genji Academy, Shinigami of the Gotei 13, and Kido members.

Thirdly, high-level demonic arts are strictly controlled, and only officers of the 13th Division of the Gotei 13 and above, as well as members of the high-level demonic arts, are permitted to study them. Anyone who teaches or copies high-level demonic arts techniques without permission will be punished as a serious crime and imprisoned for three hundred years; if serious consequences result, the sentence will be extended depending on the severity of the circumstances.

Fourth, the Seireitei allocates a fixed amount of special funds annually specifically for the operation of the Kido sect, the procurement of supplies, and the research and teaching of Kido. These funds are not subject to quarterly fiscal allocations and cannot be deducted without cause.

Fifth, the Ghost Path members must obey the orders of the Central Forty-Six Chambers and unconditionally cooperate with the Thirteen Guardian Squads to complete various tasks such as conquest, encirclement, and garrisoning. Apart from official orders from the Forty-Six Chambers, the Ghost Path members are not subject to the command of any other person or organization; their personnel, training, and regulations are entirely under the command of the Grand Ghost Master.

The rules were clearly implemented, which not only satisfied the noble class's desire to popularize low-level demonic arts and strengthen the Seireitei's combat power, but also gave Gen enough autonomy and preserved the relative autonomy of the demonic arts followers.

In this negotiation, the 46th Division maintained its bottom line on power control, while he gained autonomy, subsidies, and broader conditions for talent recruitment. Both sides made trade-offs and achieved a delicate balance.

"Any further objections?" Judge Number One asked.

"No objection." Xuan's tone was calm, without any unnecessary rebuttal or deliberate flattery, giving a straightforward answer.

"Since there are no objections, the regulations agreed upon today shall be immediately entered into the Great Spiritual Book Gallery and posted throughout the territory tomorrow. You may now leave, abide by the rules, and perform your duties dutifully."

Xuan turned around and walked down the stone steps out of the oppressive underground council hall. The heavy stone door slowly closed behind him, blocking all view.

Back on the surface, the outside world was bright and clear, and a gentle breeze dispelled the oppressive feeling from underground.

Gen went straight back to the Kido Clan's headquarters in the western 20th ward of Rukongai.

The courtyard, built of gray and white stone, was orderly and solemn. The cultivation area, library, and magic practice platform were arranged in an orderly manner. When the ghost path members saw him return, they all bowed their heads in respect.

Xuan stepped into the main hall, copied all the terms agreed upon by the forty-six rooms, affixed the seal of the Ghost Path Clan, and filed them for record.

Low-level openness, mid-level general learning, high-level control, dedicated financial funds, and independent governance—all regulations were finalized and formalized.

As the document was being written and sealed, the soft sound of wheels rolling over the bluestone pavement came from outside the courtyard, and the sound of horses' hooves was gentle and restrained.

A simply decorated black carriage stopped at the entrance of the Kidōshū's residence. The carriage was embroidered with the crest representing the Ise family, and tassels hung down, swaying gently in the wind. The coachman stood solemnly to one side, lifted the curtain, and a slender young girl stepped slowly down from the carriage.

The girl wore a light purple kimono with flowing sleeves. The fabric was thin and smooth, embroidered with faint white divine patterns, the design simple and elegant.

She was slender, her black hair was neatly combed, her face was beautiful and aloof, and there was a faint sense of detachment between her brows and eyes. Her back was straight, and her manners were impeccable. Every move she made exuded the dignity and restraint of an ancient priestly family.

Because of the long-term cooperation between the Kidoshu and the Ise family over the years, the others did not step forward to stop them, but only went inside to report first.

The young woman stopped five steps away from Xuan, bowed slightly, and solemnly nodded in greeting. Her voice was clear and gentle, and her pronunciation was precise and measured.

"Kiyoko Ise greets the Great Demon Master."

Xuan looked up at the girl in front of him, and a faint sense of familiarity inexplicably arose in his heart.

He frowned slightly and asked in a flat tone, "Do we know each other?"

Kiyoko Ise paused slightly upon hearing this, but quickly composed herself and answered softly.

"In my early years, at the Shihōin Family School, you and I were classmates."

A single sentence can evoke long-forgotten memories.

Xuan's eyes flickered slightly as fragmented images of his time at the family academy flashed through his mind. Back then, he spent his days and nights in a monotonous routine, diligently cultivating his physical body and refining his spiritual power, leaving no time to pay attention to his classmates. Moreover, with the passage of time, many years had passed, and he could no longer remember the appearances and names of his fellow students.

Xuan simply nodded: "Oh. What brings you here, sir?"

The response was cold, devoid of pleasantries, distant and blunt.

Kiyomi Ise didn't mind. Her aristocratic upbringing was ingrained in her bones, and she maintained a respectful demeanor throughout, getting straight to the point and stating the purpose of her visit:

"I have come to inquire about the cooperation: You recently visited the Central Forty-Six Chambers. Did you finalize the new regulations regarding the Kido Clan? The Ise Clan previously entered into a long-term cooperation agreement with the Kido Clan, sending a large number of their members to study Kido. I wonder if the original agreement still stands?"

The Ise clan lacks talent in swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat, and has always relied on Kido (demon arts) to enhance its fighting strength. Their early initiative to forge a treaty was precisely to use Kido to improve their power.

Now that the new regulations have been implemented, it's understandable that people are feeling uneasy. Kiyoko Ise's visit was to confirm whether the cooperation would continue.

Without hesitation, Xuan replied, "It's getting late today. The specific new regulations will be announced tomorrow. The Ise family will give a response within three days. If there are no objections, the cooperation will continue as before."

The Ise family has generally demonstrated talent in demonic arts, so Gen has no reason to terminate the cooperation. Maintaining the contract would both attract top students and preserve noble connections—a win-win situation. Long-term cooperation is mutually beneficial.

"Thank you, Great Demon Master." Ise Kiyomi bowed again, her manners impeccable. "If there are no further instructions, I will take my leave and return to my residence to report."

"Um."

Xuan nodded casually, not seeing the guest off, but instead heading towards the training ground. He had been delayed too much by the Forty-Sixth Chamber today, and hadn't even been able to entertain the collaborator who came to visit, telling him to check the new rules himself the next day. He needed to make the most of his time to cultivate.

Kiyoko Ise bowed again, left the room, and turned to walk towards the carriage parked outside the Yorozuya.

The carriage curtains fell, blocking out the outside sunlight and isolating the interior from the outside world.

The wheels rolled over the cobblestone road, making a dull, pattering sound. Inside the carriage, Kiyoko Ise raised her hand to gently rub her temples, a hint of melancholy creeping into her delicate eyes.

We were classmates in school, sitting in the same classroom. Back then, we were both quiet and reserved, not particularly close, but we still sat side by side.

Now, as time has passed, their statuses are worlds apart. One holds a high position, leading the Ghost Path and wielding power over a newly emerging force; the other, for the sake of his family's future, visits and, even when snubbed, can only maintain proper courtesy.

In just a few decades, a tragic and insurmountable barrier has long since formed between the two.