Visitors and a Sparring Match

Since that day when he first grasped the illusory "Zi", Moyu's life has focused entirely on further refinement and practice. During the day, he spends most of his time in the secluded Valley behind the Butterfly Mansion, repeatedly practicing the two core cultivation techniques.

The Advanced Mental Strength Meditation Method circulated continuously, and together with the remaining Mind-Cleansing Spirit-Concentrating Pills, it nourished and expanded his sea of consciousness like a gentle stream, making his Mental Energy increasingly refined and abundant.

The reversal technique has evolved from initially generating only a weak warm current to now being able to guide positive energy more smoothly to accelerate injury healing, and even slightly improve its effect on relieving mental fatigue.

As for practicing the virtual "Zi", he was even more cautious. Each attempt required adjustment to the optimal state, striving to improve the precision of control over that destructive energy singularity while minimizing energy consumption. Although progress was slow, it was steady, and his understanding of the essence of the two extreme powers, "Cang" and "He", became increasingly profound. At the same time, he did not relax his individual special training for "He", striving to make it as easy to use as "Cang".

His training in the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill had not slackened. This external martial art emphasizes gradual progress and the accumulation of strength before unleashing its power. Through persistent practice, Moyu had quietly broken through to the third level. The changes were obvious: his muscle lines were smoother and fuller, containing explosive power; his bone density increased, his fascia became stronger, and his blood and qi were as vigorous as a furnace, making him difficult to harm in the slightest by ordinary attacks. The comprehensive improvement in his overall quality also benefited his Breathing Style training and his ability to fight in prolonged battles.

As dusk falls, Moyu usually finishes his day of rigorous training and returns to the Butterfly Mansion. Nezuko's lively figure can often be seen in the courtyard. With Tanjiro away, the little girl seems to have taken Moyu and everyone at the Butterfly Mansion as her temporary refuge. She cannot be exposed to sunlight, so as the last rays of the setting sun fade and twilight descends, she wears a cute pink kimono and chases butterflies in the courtyard, or squats by the flowers, gently touching the petals with her little hands, making "mmm" sounds filled with contentment, so adorable that it melts one's heart.

After her daily training sessions, Mitsuri Kanroji would often come to the Butterfly Mansion. On one hand, she wanted to exchange training tips with Shinobu Kocho Moyu, and on the other hand, she genuinely liked Nezuko. Mitsuri was simple and enthusiastic, and she would always find ways to bring Nezuko small dolls or colorful trinkets woven from silk threads.

"Nezuko- chan~ Look! This is what I saw at the market today, doesn't it look like a little butterfly?" Mitsuri waved a slightly rough but heartfelt bow made of grass stems in her hand, her pinkish-green eyes curving into crescents.

Nezuko is always especially happy when she sees Mitsuri. She runs over with her short legs, tilts her little face up, and nods vigorously with her big, bright pink eyes, saying, "Mmm! Mmm!" She especially loves Mitsuri's two long, soft, pinkish-green braids. Sometimes she will reach out her little hand and carefully touch them, then shyly pull it back, which makes Mitsuri unable to resist picking her up and rubbing her cheek against Nezuko's soft face.

"Oh my, Mitsuri really treats Nezuko like her own little sister." Shinobu Kocho watched from the side, a gentle smile on her face, a hint of softness in her voice. Moyu usually sat quietly on the veranda, watching this scene, a faint gentleness flashing in her Azure eyes. With Mitsuri around, the evenings at the Butterfly Mansion were always much more lively and warm.

Moyu and Shinobu Kocho had relatively more conversations, mostly about how medicine could help them recover their physical strength and nourish their Mental Energy. Although their tone remained calm, it was less aloof and more subtly peaceful compared to how they treated others.

That evening, Mitsuri arrived at the Butterfly Mansion as usual, but behind her were two figures with very different auras— the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, and the Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro.

Sanemi still had that irritable and unapproachable look on his face, his scarred features and white spiky hair standing out starkly in the twilight. He immediately and nonchalantly surveyed his surroundings, his gaze quickly locking onto Moyu under the eaves. Without any politeness, he shouted, "Hey! Eye Hashira! I heard you've come up with something new lately? What's the point of staying home all day training? Come on, let's have a fight! Let me see just how good you really are!"

Obanai Iguro followed quietly behind Mitsuri, his heterochromatic eyes peering through the gaps in his bandages, mainly focused on Mitsuri, but occasionally glancing at Moyu with a clear scrutiny and... a hint of subtle hostility. His bandaged lips were slightly downturned; he didn't speak, but his entire being exuded an aura of "I'm not happy." Clearly, he had heard Mitsuri frequently mention Moyu, and seeing that Sanemi was coming for a "sparring match," he had used this as an excuse to follow along; his intentions were not hard to guess.

Mitsuri smiled somewhat shyly at Moyu: "Um... Mr. Moyu, Mr. Sanemi and Mr. Iguro... would like to spar with you..."

Moyu put down his teacup, his gaze calmly sweeping over Sanemi's face, which was burning with fighting spirit, and Obanai's eyes, which held a hint of provocation. He understood. He also wanted to see the progress of the other Pillars in cultivating the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, and to verify the results of his own recent cultivation.

"Okay." Moyu stood up. "Let's go to the training ground."

The training ground dedicated to the Butterfly Mansion was very spacious, with fine sand covering the ground and wooden stakes and targets standing around it. As dusk fell, members of the hidden unit quickly lit the surrounding lanterns, illuminating the area as bright as day.

Moyu stood in the center of the arena, not removing his Haori, but simply placing his hand on the hilt of the sword "Azure Star." Azure Star gleamed with a cold, flowing light under the lantern glow. He looked at the two opposite him. "Come at me together."

"Huh? Arrogant!" Sanemi Shinazugawa grinned, revealing sharp fangs, but his eyes burned with an even fiercer flame. "Perfect! Saves me trouble! Iguro, don't you dare drag me down!" As he spoke, he drew his Nichirin Blade, the blade instantly covered in a pale blue whirlwind. At the same time, a metallic black light faintly emanated from his arm and the blade, indicating that he had covered it with Armament Haki, clearly getting a little serious.

Obanai Iguro snorted coldly, offering no rebuttal to Sanemi, but silently drew his strangely shaped sword, twisted like a snake's belly. Purple light flowed across the blade, carrying a venomous aura. He, too, concentrated Armament Haki in his arm and on the blade, his body slightly lowered, like a venomous snake poised to strike, his presence chilling and dangerous. Mitsuri, along with Shinobu Kocho, stood at the edge of the training ground, watching the battle with a mixture of worry and interest.

"Come on," Moyu said calmly.

Almost the instant he finished speaking, Sanemi Shinazugawa pounced like a whirlwind! His speed was noticeably faster than before, and his footsteps landed silently, clearly due to the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill enhancing his basic physical abilities!

"Wind Breathing - First Form - Dust Whirlwind - Slash!"

A violent wind blade tore through the air, accompanied by a piercing shriek, and swept towards Moyu from the front! At the same time, Sanemi stance changed, and the subsequent slashes were like a storm, continuous and relentless, blocking Moyu's space to dodge left and right.

Almost simultaneously, from the shadows beside Moyu, Obanai Iguro appeared silently like a ghost! He didn't use a wide-ranging Breathing Style technique, but instead compressed his power to the extreme. His alien blade, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, stabbed straight at Moyu's ribs at an extremely strange and tricky angle! The speed was as fast as lightning!

The Wind Breathing technique combines a ferocious frontal assault with the Serpent Breathing's insidious and deadly sneak attacks, working in perfect harmony and with timing that is absolutely perfect!

However, in Moyu's six eyes, the two people's movements, breathing, muscle exertion, energy flow, and even the trajectory and subsequent changes of their attacks were as clear as the lines on his palm.

He neither dodged nor evaded, and only slightly shifted his footwork at the last moment before the attack was about to strike.

"Azure Flow Breathing - First Form - Vortex Slash"

"Azure Star" was drawn, its blade not striking head-on, but rather tracing exquisite spiral paths, like whirlpools in water, precisely cutting into the nodes where the power of the Sanemi blades flowed! The cutting and pulling force of the spirals erupted instantly, causing the raging wind blades to be slightly deflected and collide with another wind blade, canceling each other out by more than half! And Moyu's figure, using this force, glided away like Flowing Cloud through the gaps in the wind pressure, just barely avoiding Obanai's fatal stab!

The tip of the blade almost grazed the Moyu, and the sharp sword energy cut a small slit in the Haori.

"Tsk!" Obanai's pupils contracted. Missing her attack, she immediately retreated, her figure disappearing back into the shadows.

"Don't even think about escaping!" Sanemi roared, his attacks becoming even more frantic. He unleashed the Fourth Form Fifth Form of Wind Breathing in succession, with massive wind blades and tornadoes attempting to trap Moyu.

Moyu's gaze remained unchanged, his Azure pupils shimmering with light.

"Azure Flow Breathing - Second Form - Mirror Dissection."

Faced with Sanemi's wide-ranging attacks, his swordsmanship suddenly changed, becoming extremely precise. Every parry and every slash from "Azure Star" seemed to be calculated with the utmost precision, always striking the weakest point with minimal force, either deflecting the wind blades or quietly disintegrating the energy structure of the tornado. Sanemi felt as if his attacks were hitting an incredibly smooth mirror, or sinking into a sticky swamp; he could only exert six or seven tenths of his full power, feeling so uncomfortable that he wanted to vomit blood.

"Damn it! Your Breathing Style is too weird!" Sanemi couldn't help but curse, but his hands kept moving, bringing the ferocity of the Wind Breathing to the extreme. Combined with the enhanced slashing power of Armament Haki, the sword wind howled, stirring up the sand and stones on the ground.

Meanwhile, Obanai was like a persistent leech, constantly seeking opportunities to ambush. His Serpent Breathing was unpredictable and his blades were cunning, sometimes thrusting swiftly like a "Venom Fangs of the Narrow Head," and sometimes meandering and coiling like a "winding serpent," targeting Moyu's blind spots and gaps in defense. His physical attributes had also improved significantly, making his movements even faster and more silent.

But Moyu's "Third Form: Myriad Forms Mimicry" was on full display at this moment. His swordsmanship was no longer confined to fixed forms. Sometimes it was as smooth as flowing water, completely neutralizing Obanai's strange attacks; sometimes it was as steady as a rock, standing firm even when it took Sanemi's heavy blows; and sometimes it was as ethereal as clouds and mist, freely weaving through the gaps between the two. In his hands, "Azure Star" sometimes had the spiraling force of "Vortex Slash", sometimes the precise analysis of "Mirror Dissection", and sometimes it was a pure burst of speed and power.

He didn't use any limitless techniques; relying solely on the Azure Flow Breathing Style, the perception of the Six Eyes, and the physical foundation provided by the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, he was able to hold his own against the two Pillar-level powerhouses. Only when a direct confrontation was necessary would he gather some Armament Haki on his sword or fists and feet to achieve the best effect with minimal consumption.

The battle lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Sword energy crisscrossed the arena, the wind howled, snake shadows danced, and the sounds of metal clashing were incessant. The light and shadow of the lanterns swayed uncertainly amidst the fierce clash.

Sanemi and Obanai grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. They could sense that Moyu wasn't using his full strength; rather, he seemed to be feeding them moves, or rather, familiarizing himself with their improved abilities. Every attack they launched felt predictable, and the frustration of throwing a full-force punch only to hit empty air was intense. The Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill had indeed significantly improved their strength, speed, and stamina, and their Armament Haki had enhanced their offense and defense, but against Moyu's all-seeing Azure eyes and unpredictable swordsmanship, they could never truly threaten him.

"Bang!"

After a fierce collision, Sanemi used the momentum to leap backward, panting heavily, his hair soaked with sweat. Obanai also silently retreated to the side, his alien sword slightly lowered, his chest rising and falling gently.

"I'm done fighting!" Sanemi sheathed his Nichirin Blade, wiping the sweat from his face with some annoyance. "This is boring! You weren't using your real skills at all! And your Breathing Style is so weird, slippery as an eel!"

Obanai silently sheathed his sword. Although he didn't speak, his tense body relaxed, showing that he shared the same attitude. He gave Moyu a deep look with his heterochromatic eyes, his expression complex. The hostility he felt because of Mitsuri had faded considerably, replaced by an acknowledgment and solemnity of his strength.

Moyu's breathing was steady, as if the intense battle just now was merely a warm-up. "You've practiced the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill quite well," he objectively commented.

Mentioning this, Sanemi's expression softened slightly, and he snorted, "Do you need to tell me! But you bastard, your training is even more monstrous, isn't it?" He could sense that the pure physical strength Moyu had just displayed was definitely above his own.

Mitsuri and Shinobu Kocho then walked over.

"That was absolutely amazing!" Mitsuri clapped her hands, her face flushed with excitement. "Mr. Moyu was incredible! Mr. Sanemi and Mr. Iguro's teamwork was fantastic too!"

Shinobu Kocho smiled and said, "Oh dear, it seems everyone has made great progress. However, it's getting late. You three will be continuing to instruct the other team members tomorrow, shouldn't you head back?" Her tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable reminder.

Sanemi glanced at the sky, clicked his tongue, and said, "Alright, alright, let's go!" He turned to Moyu and said gruffly, "Hey, Eye Hashira, I'll come back and fight you again next time I break through!"

Obanai then whispered to Mitsuri, "Mitsuri, let's go."

Mitsuri smiled and waved goodbye to Moyu and Shinobu: "Mr. Moyu, Ms. Shinobu, we'll head back now! Nezuko- chan, we'll come see you again tomorrow!" She then bent down and patted Nezuko's head as she ran over.

After the three left, the training ground returned to silence.

"It seems they've been quite provoked," Shinobu Kocho chuckled, her purple eyes glancing at Moyu. "However, with someone like Moyu- kun as a role model, everyone's motivation to cultivate will surely be even greater."

Moyu remained noncommittal, only gazing at the setting sun in the distance. Nezuko ran over, tugged at his sleeve, and looked up at him, making "woof woof" sounds, as if asking if he was hurt.

Moyu looked down into Nezuko's pure eyes and gently ruffled her hair.

"It's nothing." His tone was calm, yet carried a subtle hint of reassurance.

"It's time to go back!" Moyu turned to look at Shinobu, who had a faint smile on her face, and said. Then, he took Nezuko's hand and walked with Shinobu towards the Butterfly Mansion garden.