With that in mind, Lin Guang headed farther up Mount Sagiri.
The higher he climbed, the thinner the air on Mount Sagiri became, but that posed no problem for Lin Guang, who had already mastered a Breathing Style.
Before long, Lin Guang reached the summit of Mount Sagiri.
Snowflakes drifted down one after another. Lin Guang felt no chill; instead, he felt utterly comfortable.
"It's winter now, and the summit is cold enough to help me develop the Ice-Ice Fruit's power. Let's see if I can integrate that power into my Breathing Style over the next few months."
Lin Guang parted his lips slightly and drew a breath into his body.
"Water Breathing! First Form! Water Surface Slash!"
As Lin Guang used Water Breathing, he also activated the Ice-Ice Fruit's power. Pale blue ice crystals formed on the hilt, and the surging water along the blade shrank considerably.
Then Lin Guang adjusted his breathing and continued using Water Breathing.
"Water Breathing! Second Form! Water Wheel!"
As Lin Guang continued using Water Breathing, he gradually discovered the key to combining it with the Ice-Ice Fruit's power.
"Water Breathing excels at defense and adaptability. It's a very well-rounded sword style, with Second Form: Water Wheel, Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin, and Tenth Form: Constant Flux offering stronger attacks."
"And ice could be considered an extreme form of water. It's sharper and harder."
"If I channel the Ice-Ice Fruit's power into the blade before using a sword technique, it might work."
With that thought, Lin Guang closed his eyes, parted his lips slightly, and drew in a breath. He slowly raised his sword and slashed forward.
The pale blue ice blade swept past, wisps of cold emanating from its edge.
"It really works. Then this is the Breathing Style I've created, the one that suits me best-Ice Breathing!"
Time flew, and a year passed.
Perhaps because Tanjiro sought Lin Guang's advice after every training session and had him as a sparring partner, he managed to master Water Breathing in just one year.
Throughout that year, Lin Guang also continued honing his swordsmanship and Ice Breathing.
"Ice Breathing! First Form! Ice Blade Slash!"
White frost condensed along the blade, giving off wisps of cold.
As Lin Guang's blade fell, the boulder split in two, with wisps of cold still rising from the sword.
This was not the first time Lin Guang had cut through a boulder. After his first success, he had made cutting boulders part of his training to hone the Ice Breathing that belonged to him alone.
Lin Guang put away his sword and looked off in another direction. "I wonder if Tanjiro has cut through his boulder yet. I'll go take a look."
He passed through a stretch of woods and reached another clearing. A boulder stood there, nearly three meters tall, just like Lin Guang's. Tanjiro stood before it, looking as though he were dueling someone.
Lin Guang had learned of this situation three months earlier.
"Honestly, Sabito and Makomo... aren't they worried about me?" Lin Guang shook his head in frustration.
When Lin Guang first discovered what was happening, he had tried to contact Sabito and Makomo, but nothing had worked. That had left him dejected for a long time, and a little envious of Tanjiro.
Suddenly, Makomo's voice sounded beside Lin Guang's ear.
"We've been worried about you all along. But when we saw you create your own Breathing Style, we were all really happy for you. Besides, weren't you already able to cut through that big, hard rock ages ago?"
Lin Guang turned and looked around, but saw no sign of Makomo. He smiled helplessly. "I really can't hide anything from you, Makomo. You've always been so observant."
As his words faded, Lin Guang thought he heard Makomo laughing.
Just then, Tanjiro suddenly swung his sword and split the boulder in two. A smile appeared on his face, only to slowly give way to astonishment.
"Didn't I cut through Sabito's mask? How did it turn into a rock?"
"Well done. That slash was clean and decisive, without a single wasted movement," Lin Guang said, applauding.
Only then did Tanjiro notice Lin Guang. "Lin Guang, sir, when did you get here? I didn't notice you at all."
"Not long ago. Now that I've seen you cut through the boulder, I can rest easy."
That day, both Tanjiro and Lin Guang cut through their enormous boulders.
Sakonji Urokodaki approached and looked at the split rock before him.
"I never intended to let you two attend Final Selection, even knowing that you'd already mastered Water Breathing, Lin Guang. I don't want to see any more children die."
Lin Guang looked at the old man who had raised him for seventeen years and said with utter conviction, "We'll definitely come back alive!"
Tanjiro echoed him. "Yes, we'll definitely come back alive!"
Over the past year, Tanjiro had learned from Lin Guang what they might face at Final Selection. He also understood why Sakonji Urokodaki had made them cut through three-meter-tall boulders.
It was because he feared they would encounter the Abnormal Demon at Final Selection and die there.
Still full of worry, Sakonji Urokodaki nodded, reassured nonetheless.
That evening, Sakonji Urokodaki prepared a lavish meal, giving Lin Guang and Tanjiro a chance to eat their fill.
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