Death God: Starting from Refining Essence into Qi

Xuan stepped forward.

He placed his palm on the crystal ball; it felt cool to the touch.

Because of concerns about whether the pure energy could be detected, they simply mobilized the original spiritual energy and injected it into the crystal ball.

"Lingwei, Rank 23"

Xuan's expression remained unchanged as he retreated back into the crowd.

After everyone finished testing, Shihōin Muneyoshi waved his sleeve, and the crystal ball slowly sank into the stone platform, which then descended as well.

"The ranks of spiritual prowess are not permanent; diligent practice leads to advancement, while laziness leads to regression. I hope you will all begin today with determination and strive forward." He concluded, "For the remainder of today, you may converse freely or leave as you see fit. Tomorrow at precisely 5:00 AM, we will gather here for the formal instruction. Dismissed."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the passageway on one side of the training ground.

As the chief instructor disappeared, the atmosphere in the training ground became complex and lively. Quiet conversations quickly broke out, naturally revolving around the recent spiritual power test, their respective families, and speculations about future courses. Though there were clearly fewer than thirty people, they quickly formed several tighter circles.

Xuan showed no intention of joining the conversation, but he noticed that there were many students with the surname Bee. Perhaps the Bee family had only recently become affiliated with the Shihouin family, and they were showing their sincerity by having all their juniors join the academy.

Just as Xuan was about to leave, a voice called out to him.

"Shihōin Gen, right? I am Shihōin Shūzaburō. By seniority, I am your cousin."

His tone was gentle, yet it naturally carried the superiority of the main family over the branch family. "The test results are good, twenty-third grade, which is quite rare for a branch family. As members of the Shihouin family, you should get along well and look after each other at the academy. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

The surrounding conversations quieted down, and many eyes turned to them.

Xuan looked up at Shihouin Shuzaburo, his face expressionless, and simply nodded in response, "Alright."

"I'll take my leave now." After saying that, he turned around and walked quickly towards the passage where Shihouin Muneyoshi had left, leaving the small social gathering behind.

A few suppressed snickers and whispers rose from the edge of the training ground.

"Tsk, leaving already? Brother Zhou Sanlang was so kind to take care of you, he's too..."

"After all, they came from a branch family and are still young, so they probably don't understand aristocratic etiquette yet."

Shihouin Hiruzaburo's smile froze slightly, but he quickly recovered. He raised his hand to stop his companions' chatter, his voice not loud but loud enough for those nearby to hear:

"It's alright. My brother Xuan is still young and has just entered the clan school. It's normal for him to be a little shy or eager to learn. He will naturally learn the proper etiquette and manners of a nobleman in the future."

His words were quite magnanimous, which immediately earned him nods of approval from those around him.

"As expected of the main family of Shihouin, their magnanimity is extraordinary," someone whispered in praise.

Shihouin Shuzaburo smiled slightly, said nothing more, and began talking to the others who had gathered around. However, out of the corner of his eye, he still glanced almost imperceptibly at the passage where Xuan had disappeared.

The passageway connects to a corridor, on both sides of which are several quiet rooms and teacher training rooms.

Xuan quickly spotted Shihouin Muneyoshi's back. He quickened his pace and called out just before the man turned into another fork in the road, "Master, please wait."

Shihōin Muneyoshi stopped and turned around: "What is it?"

Xuan bowed and said, "I am a new student here and have heard that the clan school's library has a rich collection, which I greatly admire. May I ask where the library is located?"

Shihōin Sōgen scrutinized the humble yet confident young member of the branch family before him, whose demeanor exuded a composure beyond his years.

"The library is located at the end of the corridor, and ordinary students can borrow books on the first floor. Silence must be maintained inside the library, and the books must not be damaged."

"Thank you, Master." Xuan bowed again.

Shihōin Muneyoshi nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Having learned the location of the library, Xuan did not delay and walked straight along the corridor into the depths.

He hadn't gone far when he heard footsteps behind him.

Kiyoko Ise.

She seemed to be heading in the same direction as well, but always kept a distance of about ten steps, neither getting closer nor falling further behind, like a silent shadow.

The two walked one after the other in the empty corridor, the only sound being the faint rustling of their shoes against the stone slabs.

At the end of the corridor, a simple wooden building stands quietly. The three characters "Zangjingge" (Scripture Repository) on the plaque are simple yet powerful.

Light streamed through the high windows, bright yet soft. The air was cool and dry, filled with the complex scents of old paper, spirit ink, and insect repellent.

Xuan's gaze briefly swept over Kiyoko Ise, catching her heading straight for the section labeled "Curse, Purification, and Sealing Techniques," her figure quickly disappearing behind the layers of bookshelves.

With a clear goal in mind, Xuan walked to the other side, where signs for "Historical Records, Geography, and Genealogy" were hanging.

His fingertips traced rows of books, some new and some old, before finally stopping on a heavy scroll bound in dark blue brocade—"A Brief History of Soul Society: The Nobles."

He took down the scroll and sat down at a large table by the window. The courtyard outside was lush and green, and the occasional chirping of birds made the room even more tranquil.

Unrolling the scroll, the ink remains clear despite the passage of time. The opening is a narrative imbued with mythological elements:

"In the beginning of chaos, before the Three Realms were divided, souls wandered aimlessly. Then the Spirit King and the Five Sages emerged, quelled the chaos, established order, created the Pure Spirit Court, and thus the nobility came into being..."

The writing is ornate and full of praise, transforming a history filled with bloodshed and betrayal into a magnificent epic of heroes ushering in a new era.

Xuan quickly browsed through the text, his eyes like a sieve, filtering out the words of praise.

His memories of his past life were almost entirely blank regarding the historical details a thousand years before the start of the story. Now, flipping through history books can at least help him quickly grasp the current era and understand the surface power structure.

The scroll is quite long, and in addition to repeating the origins and duties of the five noble families as discussed in class, it also includes many chronological accounts.

Suddenly, a passage of text caught his attention:

"...A Void Devourer appeared in the world, seemingly born from the primordial chaos, possessing the power to devour all things. Upon its arrival, spiritual pressure surged forth, shattering the fortresses of nobles, crushing the masses of rogue cultivators, and nearly causing the collapse of the Soul Realm. However, it was ultimately suppressed by the royal guards, who subdued its ferocious power. This has been 1,700 years ago."

Xuan's gaze lingered on this record for a moment, and he quickly made calculations in his mind.

Around 800 BC, a Hollow that could devour everything invaded the Soul Society, intending to devour the Soul King. It was defeated by Ichibei Hyosube and Oetsu Nimaiya of the Soul King Palace and reforged into the Zanpakuto "Otoko-Tomo". The time and characteristics of the event roughly match.

"The background color of the phrase '1700 years ago' is clearly different from the surrounding color, so it must have been changed recently. If that's the case, it's probably around 900 AD now."

The Gotei 13 was founded around 1000 AD, about a century before it was fully formed. Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni should have already gathered the violent group that would later be incorporated into the Gotei 13, and the first bloody war between Soul Society and the Quincy was not far off.

Xuan snapped out of his reverie and continued flipping through the scroll.

The remainder of the scroll is mostly dedicated to recording the "glorious deeds of nobles," with one sentence structure appearing very frequently: "A rebellion broke out in a certain Rukongai, which was quickly quelled by a noble who led his people, demonstrating his majesty and restoring order."

However, the reasons for these rebellions and the number of innocent souls lost remain unclear. Only the outcome is vividly portrayed: the nobles were wise and powerful, order was maintained, and glory returned to the Seireitei.

"There's nothing more useful in this set of official histories." Xuan closed the scroll, understanding dawning on him.

He rolled up the scroll, put it back in its place, and began searching for books that might involve theories of the soul, the nature of the spirit particle, or ancient cultivation methods.

At the other end of the library, Kiyoko Ise stood in front of a bookshelf that almost touched the ceiling, gazing up at the ancient scrolls on the top shelf, covered in thick dust and sealed with special runes.

Her slender fingers unconsciously caressed the warm, smooth prayer beads at her waist. Sunlight streamed through the high window, casting interplay of light and shadow on her plain white robe, making her silent figure appear even more solitary, like a ghost trying to find answers to her destiny from ancient taboos.

Time seemed to pass exceptionally slowly inside the pavilion, with only the sound of turning scrolls.

Xuan walked around, stopping frequently, flipping through the pages of "Introduction to Spiritual Particle Structures", "Basic Spiritual Pressure Measurement and Control Principles", and "Spiritual Pressure Training: From Beginner to End".

He wasn't in a hurry to search for anything related to the soul. Firstly, being too targeted would be too abrupt, and secondly, he might not find the relevant knowledge. Kurosaki Masaki was only saved by Urahara Kisuke's method before her spiritual power was corrupted by Hollow White and her soul was not yet devoured. Even Urahara Kisuke, the smartest man in Soul Society, might not be able to solve his own soul problem.

On the contrary, understanding the Soul Society's knowledge of spiritual power and its basic theories allows one to compare and learn from the knowledge of the Daoist sect, laying a foundation for cultivation.

Although some of his simplistic arguments were riddled with flaws, he also offered some unique perspectives and practical techniques that are worth noting.

The early spring sunset fades quickly, and the twilight spreads rapidly, like ink soaked in water.

Xuan retraced his steps and returned to the familiar courtyard before nightfall.

From today onward, I must attend the family academy every day; the Yi Jin Jing and Qi Refining can only be done in the evenings. My immediate priority is to seize every opportunity to strengthen myself, strive to stabilize my soul as soon as possible, and then find a way to survive the bloody battle instigated by Yhwach.