The Division Funeral Ceremony (continued)

"Shut up!" The chilling words struck Sora Inoue, causing his eyes to roll back and foam at the mouth.

Tokoyo Misao turned his gaze back to his disciple, Orihime, and asked, "Is that what you think too? Because you're a girl, you don't need to go to school; you can just stay home and take care of the family, and nothing else matters."

Orihime bit her lip, and after a moment, she squeezed out a sentence from her throat. "No, Master, I still want to go to university."

"But judging from your grades, you don't seem to have any desire to go to university," Misao said. "Society is changing rapidly these days. In just a few short years, look at how advanced computers and mobile phones have become."

Yes, you can indeed work at the Chamber of Commerce. You don't need to worry about finding a job, nor do you need to think too much about whether your family will go bankrupt and you'll end up homeless in the future.

But one thing is one thing, and I believe that it is very necessary to learn knowledge and enrich oneself in university, regardless of gender.

"And since you are my disciple, you should get into the best university. That would be a way to repay my teachings over the years, wouldn't it?"

Pitter-patter, tears streamed down Orihime's cheeks and dripped onto the ground.

She had never been reprimanded so harshly by her master before.

No matter how naughty I was as a child, my master would always pat me on the head with a gentle expression.

Even if he caused a huge mess, even breaking the Soul King's seal, his master would just smile and say, "Leave it to him."

But everything changed when I entered my senior year of high school; my mentor became very concerned about my grades.

Misao sighed again, "I'll ask you one more time, Orihime, what are your plans for the future?"

Orihime, fighting back tears, raised her head. "Master, I want to go to university too."

"Alright, since you've put it that way, starting today, go to the secret base and study with me 24/7. I'll arrange the best teachers for you."

As long as you've tried your best, it doesn't matter whether you get into the best university or not, but you have to try, understand?

Tokoyo Misao stood up, walked around the table, gently placed his hand on Orihime's head, patted it, and spoke in a gentle tone.

"Don't make such a life-long decision too early. Take it slow. Right now you're a student, so focus on doing your job well. You can think about the future after you enter the workforce."

I felt a warm and familiar large hand.

Orihime finally stopped crying, raised her head, and replied, "Yes, Master."

Let's go now.

Orihime nodded, glanced at Ichigo Kurosaki was still kneeling on the ground, and wanted to reach out to help him up, but after thinking about it, she withdrew her hand and went upstairs to the secret base to begin her seclusion.

Tokoyo Misao sat back down on the sofa, glaring coldly at Ichigo Kurosaki. After a long while, he turned his head and said, "Come in."

The doorbell rang, and the Kurosaki family, who had been hiding by the door for a long time, finally opened it and came in.

Isshin Kurosaki quickly stepped forward, chuckling, and said, "Boss Misao, the weather is really nice today."

Karin and Yuzu both looked at their older brother with some worry.

But when they were at the door, they understood what had happened.

My brother's relationship with Orihime caused her grades to plummet, so he was definitely at fault and should apologize.

Masaki Kurosaki reached out and pulled Isshin back from his rambling, then bowed respectfully to Tokoyo Misao.

The other party was not only Orihime's teacher, but also her savior, and her entire family had been taken care of for a long time. It was only natural to pay respects to them.

She bent over and said, "Little Ichigo has indeed neglected this aspect, but please Boss Misao, I believe Little Ichigo will do everything in his power to protect Orihime."

"I know, but as I said before, one thing at a time." Tokoyo Misao waved his hand, signaling them to stand up.

At this moment, Ichigo Kurosaki finally stood up.

"Ichigo, you should be well aware of how fast the world changes, whether in Soul Society or the World of the Living."

"You know better than anyone that choosing to stay home after understanding everything is completely different from passively staying home knowing nothing," Misao said. "I will respect Orihime's choice, but only if she has enough knowledge and experience to make a judgment. Do you understand what I mean?"

Ichigo nodded earnestly in response, "I understand, Boss Misao. I will also continue to study hard and strive to get into the best university."

"Alright, everyone, sit down and rest. Hiyori, Sora Inoue, make some tea to serve our guests."

The oppressive atmosphere finally dissipated, and Hiyori breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly stepped out from behind the counter and kicked the unconscious Sora Inoue awake. "Hurry up, come and help make tea."

The Kurosaki family sat down, while Ichigo took his two younger sisters to the study materials area to choose some items.

Masaki smiled and said, "Speaking of which, Tokoyo Morikazu soon to be born?"

Isshin shook his head beside him. "It won't be that fast. The birth of a Soul Reaper child is different from that of a human in the World of the Living world. It requires too much spiritual energy to nourish it. Not to mention, Boss Misao and Unohana are two extremely powerful Captain-level figures. The child will need even longer to gestate."

As he spoke, he counted on his fingers, saying, "It's only been a little over two years, so it'll probably be a while before she's born."

His eyes lit up as he said this, "In that case, I guess I could be born at the same time as Shizuka Tokoyo."

The couple's due dates are quite close.

Rukia now also in the Fourth Division, Shizuka Tokoyo is the child in Rukia's womb.

Rukia's Rei'i Grade is weaker than Unohana's, so logically she should have given birth to the child in about a year.

However, since Tokoyo Misao had already fused with the power of Hell, his body had long since become that of Transcendent, and the two had tried for a long time without being able to have a child.

This caused Rukia to lose her appetite, become extremely haggard, and even develop depression.

Later, they found an ancient folk remedy at the Shihoin Clan. The couple tried it and finally conceived.

Unohana deliberately suppressed the baby in her womb, intending to give birth at the same time as Rukia.

Tokoyo Misao had guessed this, and was very grateful for it.

I will hold a full moon celebration then.

"Haha, I'll definitely participate!" Isshin Kurosaki exclaimed. "I have to say, the Afterlife Travel Program that Soul Society has started is really profitable... and so interesting."

Last year, the Soul Society approved a very novel project: a tour of the eighteen levels of Hell after death.

This project was proposed by Tokoyo Misao and finalized after extensive discussions.

They transformed the vacated last forty districts, creating the so-called eighteen levels of Hell.

Then, in the World of the Living, he invited the wealthiest people and members of families who control the world's resources to come to Soul Society to watch.

To this end, Kisuke Urahara developed the Soul Separation Pill, which can stabilize the Chain of Fate. Combined with the Gikongan, it forces the soul out of the body, thus enabling ordinary people in the World of the Living to walk in the Soul Society.

The effect is immediate.

Many wealthy individuals, hoping for a better afterlife, generously give back to society before they die.

Of course, Tokoyo Misao will also prevent them from going too far, as long as they give back the money they earn in a healthy proportion.

In the future, they will not have to go through the eighteen levels of Hell, but will directly arrive at the first thirty districts to await reincarnation.

In just one year, employee benefits have improved and the livelihoods of people at World of the Living grassroots level have been better secured.

Even many politicians who visited the Soul Society became more positive and benevolent upon their return.

Six months ago, two countries almost went to war.

Tokoyo Misao also invited the leaders of both sides to take a tour of Soul Society, which prevented a war from breaking out.

He exclaimed in Isshin, "If it were before, Boss Misao would have said that the World of the Living and the Soul Society are separated by life and death, and that they should never have too much contact."

Tokoyo Misao nodded, then shook his head. "I used to think that way because I didn't understand it enough."

But now, look at the situation of the Soul Reaper at the center of Seireitei. They are no longer simply the souls of the dead; they can be considered another form of life.

The same principle applies to the Arrancar of the Hueco Mundo.

In fact, the Three Worlds are currently three different worlds in which three different life forms exist.

Of course, there are many other intricate connections involved.

However, those complex things will be left to Kisuke Urahara and Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi to study slowly."

The phone rang.

Tokoyo Misao answered the phone, and Rangiku Matsumoto's voice came from the other end:

"Captain, you should be back soon. The Division Funeral Ceremony are ready."

"Okay, I understand. I'll be right back." Tokoyo Misao stood up and asked Isshin Kurosaki, "Do you want to attend the Division Funeral Ceremony?"

Isshin Kurosaki's expression turned silent. After thinking for a while, he shook his head. "I won't go."

"Alright, you guys keep playing."

In Soul Society, at Sōkyoku Hill, the captains stood silently in two rows.

Lying in the middle is none other than Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, the former Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.

Former Captain of the Thirteenth Division Gotei 13 Jūshirō Ukitake.

And Gin Ichimaru, the Third Division Captain.

Gin Ichimaru did indeed do many bad things in order to get close to Aizen, killing many people for him.

He even made significant contributions during the early stages of Aizen's plans.

But in the end, his stunning strike saved the lives of several captains present.

In addition, thanks to Tokoyo Misao's intercession, he was able to receive a funeral befitting Captain-level.

As for the traitor Kaname Tōsen and the corpses of those Arrancars, there won't be as many captains and people seeing them off; a few people will be arranged to attend afterward.

The preparation time for this was very long; just sending off the first three captains would take at least ten days.

Adding the two captains, the traitor, and the Arrancar, this Division Funeral Ceremony will take at least a month or two.

Tokoyo Misao looked with some curiosity at the various prayer flags and strange props stuck in the center.

There was also a group of people dressed like Onmyoji and Shrine Maidens, muttering something incoherently.

Standing beside him, Shunsui Kyōraku noticed the look of confusion in Misao's eyes and explained in a low voice:

"This is a ritual passed down through generations in the Ukitake Family, called the Divine Divination Funeral '."

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Ukitake's corpse, and his expression dimmed.

"This kid used to spend a lot of time practicing how to quickly and quietly eliminate Captain-level Soul Reapers. But I didn't expect him to never be able to use it even once."

"No wonder those chanting sutras at the front look so old." Tokoyo Misao nodded.

As the ceremony progressed, the corpse of Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai on the central platform gradually emitted a red and black light, which continuously gathered towards the sky, a hundred meters away.

A moment later, a small, round hole formed at that spot, as if something had been opened.

Tokoyo Misao's eyes narrowed.

That must be the gate to Hell.

Although only a tiny, rice-grain-sized hole has been opened so far, the aura emanating from it is very familiar to Misao.

"Captain Kyōraku, does that mean the Division Funeral Ceremony is just throwing the body into Hell?"

Shunsui Kyōraku's fingers trembled twice, and he sighed, saying:

"I thought you knew that. That's right, because the souls of Captain-level Soul Reapers are too powerful, their bodies simply cannot return to the earth naturally. Therefore, they must undergo Division Funeral Ceremony to be sent to Hell, in order to maintain the balance of the Three Worlds."

Tokoyo Misao frowned, somewhat puzzled.

"Captain Tokoyo, you don't seem to pay much attention to reincarnation, because these powerful souls will crowd out the channels of reincarnation, but their bodies can't pass through."

If they remain in the Soul Society for too long, it will naturally block the cycle of reincarnation, causing the collapse of the Three Worlds. Therefore, the Division Funeral Ceremony came into being.

"Does it have anything to do with reincarnation?" Tokoyo Misao indeed didn't know much about the cycle of reincarnation in the Three Worlds, both in the past and now.

But he does have some authority to speak about Hell.

After all, he had indeed opened the gates of Hell, albeit only for a fleeting glimpse. It was no pleasant place; the atmosphere inside was terrifying.

"Logically speaking, only those who have committed heinous crimes would attract the Gates of Hell to their deaths?"

Faced with the question of Tokoyo Misao, Shunsui Kyōraku shook his head with a wry smile:

"No, there's no definitive answer as to why the Gates of Hell appear in the World of the Living and Soul Society from time to time."

The corrupt souls of the most heinous criminals are only one commonality; many other heinous individuals have not been taken by the Gates of Hell.

Tokoyo Misao nodded. There are quite a few serial killers in the World of the Living, but the Gates of Hell only appear a handful of times.

And from Hell's perspective, are the people it takes truly the most heinous criminals?

That's not necessarily true.

Soon, three days and three nights passed, and the hole in the sky, which was originally the size of a grain of rice, expanded to the size of a watermelon.