After that, they practiced wielding their swords continuously, while Sakonji Urokodaki provided Su Chen with private training.
The main reason is that Su Chen's talent is too terrifying; Tanjiro's training tasks are almost no challenge for Su Chen.
"Let's do some real combat training."
Sakonji Urokodaki's voice was calm. Although Su Chen had shown amazing talent before, in terms of actual combat ability, he was probably still far behind him.
Su Chen had never trained before. Although he possessed brute strength, speed, and reflexes, he probably wasn't a match for me, right?
Sakonji Urokodaki was becoming somewhat insecure.
"Good!"
Su Chen nodded and then got into position.
The next moment, his figure shot towards Sakonji Urokodaki like a cannonball. His speed was extremely fast, and he appeared in front of Sakonji Urokodaki in the blink of an eye.
The latter's face was full of surprise; this speed was truly astounding.
Unfortunately, speed alone is not enough in actual combat.
He raised his hands, preparing to release the force.
However, Su Chen's hands immediately began to change. In terms of combat ability, he was no worse than anyone else. Although for cultivators, it was almost always a clash of supernatural powers, combat awareness was still necessary.
Sakonji Urokodaki was unable to retract his movements. He had intended to deflect the force, but he never expected that Su Chen would have other moves. This attack was just a feint, which left him unable to change his stance for the time being.
Oh no!
"Bang!"
A dull, loud thud resounded, Sakonji Urokodaki was sent flying backward, crashing to the ground, but he didn't feel that he had been seriously injured.
He could sense that this was because Su Chen had reduced the force, thus diminishing the destructive power and leaving only the impact. This was why it hadn't caused him much harm, only a slight pain.
Sakonji Urokodaki's face behind the tengu mask grew increasingly solemn; he felt that the Water Pillar's evaluation of the person before him was still too low.
He even felt that he was no match for Su Chen at all.
Or perhaps it was always like this.
This was the first time he had encountered such a situation—that someone could defeat him before even joining the Demon Slayer Corps.
If one truly cultivates for a period of time, wouldn't one soon become a new pillar?
After a long silence, Sakonji Urokodaki spoke slowly.
"You no longer need to practice ordinary sword techniques. Next, I will teach you the ten Water Form Water Breathing. Breathing techniques are essential for the Demon Slayer Corps. They not only enhance mental and sensory abilities but also strengthen the physical body and healing power."
Su Chen nodded; he was also very interested in practicing breathing techniques.
In the time that followed, he studied Water Breathing, Sakonji Urokodaki taught Su Chen all the secrets of the breathing technique.
With his advanced knowledge and current physical abilities, Su Chen easily learned the first seven forms of Water Breathing and could use them with ease.
While Su Chen was practicing Water Breathing, Sakonji Urokodaki in the Mountain Forest, his pupils slightly contracted, his face full of shock.
"This... is it fake!?"
"Water Breathing, Seventh Form, you've learned it just like that?"
Sakonji Urokodaki's mind remained unsettled for a long time. He knew that although the breathing techniques were not difficult in terms of the incantation, mastering them was extremely difficult. It required not only diligent practice but also a certain level of comprehension and talent.
Most importantly...
Reaching the Seventh Form demonstrates that Su Chen's strength has reached an outstanding level within the Demon Slayer Corps.
What kind of terrifying talent is this!?
It's only Past a short time, yet he's managed to grasp this level so quickly.
A deep shock flickered in Sakonji Urokodaki's eyes. "Perhaps, the demons will be wiped out in this generation because of him!"
He couldn't imagine how terrifying his strength would become if Su Chen were given more time to cultivate.
Has he mastered all ten techniques of Water Breathing?
This should be very simple.
After all, it seems that only two days Past since Su Chen learned about the breathing technique.
For the rest of the time, Su Chen was practicing the Eighth Form of Water Breathing, while Tanjiro was still chopping rocks, as he needed to break the rocks in two to participate in the assessment.
This seems to be a bit difficult for Tanjiro.
Su Chen accomplished this on the very day he took up the knife; the two were on completely different levels.
While Tanjiro was struggling to cut the stone, Su Chen's physical body grew rapidly, and he quickly mastered the Ninth Form. It wouldn't be long before he mastered the Tenth Form.
Su Chen's physical body already had a very high potential, and now, in terms of physical strength alone, it has almost completely grown to the level of a pillar.
"It's alright, very simple."
Su Chen's lips curled up slightly. Once Tanjiro mastered the Tenth Form, he would be able to cut through rocks, and then they would set off for Mt. Fujikasane to participate in the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection.
The Tenth Form wasn't difficult; Su Chen mastered it in almost half a day.
Tanjiro cut through the stone in two days, completing Sakonji Urokodaki's Trial and qualifying to participate in the final Trial.
Similar to the original plot, Tanjiro left his sister behind and prepared to go to Mt. Fujikasane alone, except this time he was accompanied by Su Chen.
The Timeline of Demon Slayer is based on the pacing of the actual anime.
"Speaking of Chen Tian, what level have you reached in your cultivation? Urokodaki said you're already very powerful."
Tanjiro's eyes were full of curiosity, because Su Chen almost never trained with him. Urokodaki gave him special training because Su Chen's strength was progressing too quickly.
Su Chen simply smiled and shook his head.
Upon seeing Su Chen, Tanjiro didn't say anything, nor did he ask any further questions. The two walked along, chatting and laughing.
Soon.
We've arrived at Mt. Fujikasane.
This place is full of Wisteria flowers, a flower that ghosts dislike. To ghosts, this place is like a prison, and they cannot escape from the place surrounded by Wisteria flowers.
Su Chen, with a knife tucked into his waistband, calmly walked inside.
Many of the participants in this selection had already arrived inside, and they all looked calm. Su Chen also saw Young Master cast among them.
"Welcome, everyone, to Mt. Fujikasane."
Two clear voices rang out from afar. Su Chen turned his head and saw two petite children dressed in purple, with Purple Light in their eyes, standing in the middle.
"Next comes the final selection to join the Demon Slayer Corps. There are demons captured by the Demon Slayer Corps in this Mt. Fujikasane, and because of the Wisteria flowers, they can never leave."
"And your task is simple: survive inside for seven days."
Survive for seven days.
Su Chen nodded; it was pretty much as he remembered. However, he sensed that Tanjiro beside him was a little nervous.
Tanjiro knew very well just how powerful demons were, but after training for so long, victory shouldn't be too difficult, right?
"Chen Tian, why don't we cooperate once we're inside?"
Tanjiro suddenly extended an invitation. There was no rule in Mt. Fujikasane that prohibited forming teams, and he was only familiar with Chen Tian.
Su Chen shook his head and refused. "Forget it."
Tanjiro didn't say much after hearing this. He asked Su Chen a couple of questions and then turned and walked into the Mt. Fujikasane.
Su Chen's lips curled up slightly; going through missions was just too boring.
Then, those who came to participate in the final selection walked inside, and the surrounding Wisteria flowers gradually disappeared. The air was filled with an eerie atmosphere, and the thin mist made the inside seem even more terrifying.
Not long after entering Mt. Fujikasane, a scream rang out.
"Help!"
A boy dressed in gray clothes had a look of terror on his face. Behind him, a ghost with fangs and long, thin nails followed closely.
"You can't escape. Just obediently become my food!"