Tsugikuni Yoriichi's lifelong swordsmanship and Breathing Techniques had all been condensed into this booklet.
This was a book that could drive both humans and demons mad.
Have you finished reading?
Yoriichi's voice rang out again, calm and plain as ever, as he spoke unhurriedly.
If you've finished, I'll show you the Twelve Forms of swordsmanship within!
Sun Breathing, personally demonstrated by Tsugikuni Yoriichi!
His breathing quickened, and even his blood seemed to flow faster. Scribe nodded.
The next second, Tsugikuni Yoriichi drew his sword.
The sharp blade reflected the sunlight, giving off a cold, murderous air.
The black-and-red Sun Flame Blade had a single character engraved at its base: Exterminate.
The very heavens and earth seemed to lose their color as an indescribable presence erupted from Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
Ignoring the sweat forming on his brow, Scribe stared fixedly at Yoriichi, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.
Sun Breathing, First Form: Dance
Sun Breathing, Second Form: Azure Sky
Sun Breathing, Eleventh Form: Halo Dragon Dance
Sun Breathing, Twelfth Form: Flame Dance
Other than the unfinished Thirteenth Form, Tsugikuni Yoriichi perfectly displayed every form of Sun Breathing.
Again and again, he performed Sun Breathing without the slightest sign of fatigue.
From the sun rising high overhead to the setting evening sun, from morning dew to the lingering glow of sunset.
By the time Scribe came back to his senses, Tsugikuni Yoriichi had already vanished.
Only the marks scattered across the ground proved that Yoriichi had once been there.
Sun Breathing truly was no technique for ordinary people.
The Divine Sword Skill replayed over and over in his mind. Filled with admiration, Scribe left.
After dinner, illuminated by lamplight, he opened the booklet.
Though he had already memorized Yoriichi's sword techniques, he still could not use them perfectly without learning the Breathing Technique.
If he wanted to become stronger, the Breathing Technique was the best shortcut!
On the first page, the principles of the Breathing Technique were written clearly.
The so-called Breathing Technique involved expanding the lungs as much as possible, strengthening the heart and lungs, and allowing the blood to receive more oxygen in a short period of time.
Even beneath that brief sentence were Yoriichi's explanations.
It was clear just how much effort he had poured into this booklet.
Then, let's begin!
Taking a deep breath, Scribe began studying according to the method written in the booklet.
Inhale... exhale, inhale... exhale, inhale... exhale.
As time passed, the moon replaced the sun high in the sky.
The sun rose and set, while the moon appeared and vanished.
Before he realized it, a whole day had passed.
Immersed in the Breathing Technique, Scribe had not noticed the passage of time at all.
Other than his slow breathing, almost no sound could be heard in the small room.
As Scribe immersed himself in the world of Breathing Techniques, a string of voices rang out in his mind.
Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the skill: Basic Sun Breathing (0/1000). Due to the Host's innate abilities, Sun Breathing forms have been unlocked. Skill obtained: Sun Breathing, First Form: Dance Skill obtained: Sun Breathing, Second Form: Azure Sky Skill obtained: Sun Breathing, Third Form: Crimson Sun Mirror Skill obtained: Sun Breathing, Twelfth Form: Flame Dance Sun Breathing, Thirteenth Form has not been unlocked. Congratulations, Host. You have learned Sun Breathing through your own abilities and received 4,000 points. Combined with the Host's innate abilities, Basic Sun Breathing (0/1000) has been upgraded to Novice Sun Breathing (4000/10000).
Without realizing it, Scribe had already learned Sun Breathing.
With the System's reward on top of that, his Sun Breathing had even skipped past the Basic level and reached the Novice level.
But that was not all. Scribe, immersed in the Breathing Technique, was still growing stronger.
As time passed once more, Scribe's body fell asleep.
Even so, he continued using the Breathing Technique.
Air flowed in and out through his nose, and the muscles throughout his body began moving rhythmically.
His entire body seemed like a massive factory, beginning to work as one.
The swelling on his wrist and the bruises on his body slowly faded, while the soreness left behind by battle began to subside.
Even those subtle lingering aftereffects vanished under the influence of the Breathing Technique.
Being able to use the Breathing Technique even while asleep was clearly a higher realm.
Total Concentration Breathing!
Due to the Host's innate abilities, the Breathing Technique has advanced to Total Concentration Breathing. Congratulations, Host. You have learned Total Concentration Breathing through your own abilities and received 5,000 points. Combined with the Host's innate abilities, Novice Total Concentration Sun Breathing (4000/10000) has advanced to Novice Total Concentration Sun Breathing (9000/10000).
In just a few short days, Scribe had learned Sun Breathing.
Not only that, he had also successfully learned Total Concentration Breathing!
After the stars hung high in the sky came the appearance of a blazing sun.
His eyelids twitched, and Scribe slowly opened his eyes.
The Shocked Academy: Are You Really Human?
Rubbing his eyes, Scribe discovered that it was already daytime outside.
Did I just fall asleep?
Recalling what had happened before, Scribe realized that he seemed to have learned Total Concentration Breathing without noticing.
Because Yoriichi's booklet had mentioned it.
Those who learned Total Concentration Breathing would unconsciously use the Breathing Technique even while sleeping.
He truly felt different from before.
Though he had only just learned Sun Breathing, Scribe's body had already undergone an earth-shaking transformation.
He was full of energy, as if he possessed endless strength.
His muscles were firmer, his gaze sharper, and his breathing smoother and easier.
He had taken another solid step toward becoming the strongest in the world.
Arriving at the training ground, he began his usual exercises.
Swinging his sword, striking sandbags, running, pushing boulders.
A few hours later, Scribe had completed every training exercise once.
He casually clenched his fist, then shook his head in disappointment.
As his strength increased, these exercises could no longer provide him with higher-level improvements.
After training for so long, he had not felt the slightest bit of fatigue.
Just as he was considering what method of training to use next, a scattered crowd in the distance caught his attention.
Following the direction they were heading, Scribe found that they were all gathering in a plaza.
That place, if I remember correctly, was...?
With that question in mind, Scribe stopped a girl who was walking toward the plaza.
The girl looked around ten years old. She had faint freckles on her face and a ponytail on each side of her head.
She seemed to have just woken up, and her eyes were still unfocused.
Excuse me, miss. Why is everyone gathering at that plaza?
Already grumpy from just waking up, the girl immediately lost her temper when someone stopped her.
She had just been about to teach the person blocking her a lesson when she turned around and saw Scribe smiling.
Handsome and polite, he instantly drew her attention. Her anger was tossed straight into the Atlantic Ocean.
Unlike his master, Scribe was not a cold and distant person.
In just a few words, he learned everything he wanted to know from the girl named Kaori.
Just as he had thought, the plaza had been specifically cleared out for lessons on Breathing Techniques.
Under normal circumstances, the lessons were taught by swordsmen who had studied Breathing Techniques for several years.
But today, a Pillar from the Demon Slayer Corps had arrived at the plaza.
The current Flame Pillar, Rengoku Tōshirō!
It was precisely because the Flame Pillar had arrived that children like Kaori, who had not yet reached the required age, were given the chance to encounter Breathing Techniques early.
Normally, members had to reach the age of twelve before they could possibly come into contact with Breathing Techniques.
The Flame Pillar himself was teaching Breathing Techniques? That sounded pretty good.
It would not hurt to hear someone else's views on Breathing Techniques.
Following the crowd, Scribe entered the plaza.
He found a secluded spot to sit down, then began observing his surroundings.
At the very center of the plaza stood a young man in his twenties.
His long hair was a mix of yellow and red, and beneath his sharp brows were a pair of bright, spirited eyes.
With the slight upward curve of his lips, he looked like a man as passionate as fire.
He was the current Flame Pillar, Rengoku Tōshirō!
After briefly examining his appearance, Scribe could not help but marvel at the strength of the Rengoku Family's genes.
Whether it was Tōshirō, Rengoku Shinjuro several hundred years later, Rengoku Kyojuro, or even Rengoku Senjuro, who had no talent for swordsmanship.
The members of this family could not be called unrelated in appearance; they were simply identical.
Seeing that the plaza was nearly full, Tōshirō cleared his throat and shouted loudly.
Everyone, thank you for coming to today's explanation of Breathing Techniques.
Without further delay, let's begin!
First, I would like to ask everyone: what exactly is the principle behind Breathing Techniques?
Faced with the Flame Pillar's question, everyone present began to think seriously.
Before you continue