Earlier, some of the trees on Mount Fujikasane had been ignited by Shinjuro Rengoku's flaming slashes. With the summer night wind blowing in gusts, the fire showed no sign of stopping and gradually spread.
Now, within dozens of meters, numerous trees burned like torches, and the air was filled with scorching heat.
In such an environment, Shinjuro Rengoku's breathing grew even more powerful.
Air mixed with sparks was drawn into his lungs. Veins bulged on Shinjuro Rengoku's face, and the muscles in his arms swelled further. At this moment, Total Concentration amplified him to its peak.
Among all Breathing Technique forms, there was a strike that was the most basic, simplest, yet also the fiercest and swiftest.
Water Breathing's First Form, Surface Slash; Thunder Breathing's First Form, Thunderclap and Flash; and Flame Breathing's First Form—what Shinjuro Rengoku used now—Shiranui.
The explosively swift slash tore through streaming firelight, even leaving behind a fan-shaped afterimage.
Many of the surrounding swordsmen had not even seen Shinjuro Rengoku move before he had already lunged to Hongyue's side. Such ferocious explosive power was something only Flame Breathing and Thunder Breathing could achieve.
Hongyue did not underestimate him. Flesh and blood surged along the edge of her right forearm, condensing in the blink of an eye into a translucent, verdant Crimson Blood Blade like a ruby.
Clang! Raising her arm horizontally, Hongyue struck after him yet arrived first, blocking Shinjuro Rengoku's attack.
At the same time, she clenched her left hand. Her delicate, fair little fist blasted the air apart, compressing the airflow as it punched toward Shinjuro Rengoku's abdomen.
An immense sense of pressure came from his abdominal muscles. Shinjuro Rengoku had the feeling that if he took the blow head-on, it might punch a bloody hole straight through his body.
Shinjuro Rengoku flashed aside,