"Well, now that I have a Palico, system, open the shop. I'll buy Valor Style too."
Ye Chen smiled faintly. He had suddenly realized that he could possess several Monster Hunter styles at once. That was downright awesome, though he did have to switch between them. If he was using Bushido Style, for example, he couldn't use Valor Style. Soon, his exchange points dropped by another 400, and all the methods and insights needed to use Valor Style were imprinted in his mind.
Bushido Style emphasized safety, which was precisely why Ye Chen had bought it first. It allowed him to dodge enemy attacks swiftly and counterattack, and with certain weapons, it even offered an absolute defense.
Valor Style, on the other hand, was a true offensive style. Its user grew fiercer as the battle went on, and once certain conditions were met, it triggered a valor state that greatly increased their combat strength. It had once been called the most powerful hunting style.
"Come to think of it, what exactly is a Breathing Style? Should I learn that first?"
An idea stirred in Ye Chen's mind. He remembered that this world had Breathing Styles too. Could he create one of his own?
"But this isn't something you can learn that easily. Without a skilled teacher, learning it would be damn hard!"
Ye Chen felt rather troubled. From his previous life, he had a rough idea of how Breathing Styles worked: breathing through the lungs to channel power throughout the body and enhance its functions. Some unique Breathing Styles could even produce more powerful abilities.
But that was easier said than done. Who could learn a Breathing Style from such a tiny clue? If it were really that easy, Breathing Styles in this world would be worthless.
[Ding! The host has been identified as meeting the requirements to use a Breathing Style. The system grants one opportunity to learn a Breathing Style independently.]
"Well, damn! System, your timing is perfect! Whatever I want, you deliver. How about just making me invincible?"
[...]
The system fell silent.
"Forget it. Whatever the outcome, I'll give it a try first."
Ye Chen rubbed the space between his eyebrows, feeling helpless. Creating his own Breathing Style was no simple task, but he didn't hesitate. He immediately sat cross-legged on the ground and imagined what a Breathing Style would be like, while Xiao Hua stood guard nearby to prevent any demon attacks.
Ye Chen walked through a hazy dream. He had no idea where he should go or why he was walking, but he maintained a steady rhythm of breathing throughout. With Valor Style supporting him, he feared nothing. Eventually, his breathing became part of the dream, merging with the endless white mist around him. Then he woke.
"Mm..."
Ye Chen opened his eyes in confusion and discovered that dawn had come. Something also seemed to have appeared in his mind.
"Could it be...?"
A glint flashed in Ye Chen's eyes. He immediately put the knowledge in his mind to use, drawing a slight breath through his mouth and nose and following a strange breathing pattern. Then his feet shifted slightly, and in the next instant, he appeared a hundred meters away.
[Ding! You have gained insight into a self-created Incomplete Breathing Style. Please name it.] [Ding! Successfully created an original technique for the first time. Exchange points ×300.] [Ding! Combat strength has increased sufficiently. The world's Monthly Lottery System has been unlocked.]
"Amazing. Breathing Styles really can improve your abilities by a huge margin."
Ye Chen was rather surprised. His current strength was nothing like it had been before. If he encountered that Oni Boss again, he could probably defeat him without using netherworld fire.
"But I didn't expect to pull it off with just a few clues from what I saw in my previous life. Maybe I really am a genius."
[Ding! The host has been detected being utterly shameless.]
Ye Chen had been feeling rather pleased with himself, only for the system to mock him. He didn't mind, though. After all, he had only succeeded because the system had given him the opportunity.
Then he took a look and discovered that the system in his mind had gained a few new features.
"But why is this Breathing Style still incomplete?"
Ye Chen thought it over and soon identified the key issue. Breathing Styles didn't merely improve the body's functions; they also had their own unique techniques. He hadn't yet created any techniques exclusive to his own Breathing Style.
"Forget it. There's no rush. I don't have enough experience yet. I can't just create the rest because I feel like it. I'll need guidance from an expert."
"But what the heck is this Monthly Lottery System?" Ye Chen was curious about the newly activated system, so he opened it.
[Monthly Lottery System: Draw once each month at a cost of 200 exchange points to obtain items from across the myriad worlds.]
Ye Chen looked at his remaining 500 exchange points and felt rather helpless. After some thought, however, he went ahead and clicked. It was a lottery, after all. He had to give it a try. What if he struck it rich?
[Ding! Consuming 200 exchange points to activate the Monthly Lottery System.] [Ding! Obtained Three Body Technique ×1.]
"..."
Ye Chen's eyelid twitched. He had drawn something from the Naruto world again. The Three Body Technique wasn't anything particularly impressive; it consisted of basic techniques from Naruto.
The Three Body Technique included the Transformation Technique, Clone Technique, and Substitution Technique. The Transformation Technique naturally allowed the user to take on the appearance of another person or even an object, though taking damage would make them revert to their original appearance. The Clone Technique created a clone of the user, but low-level clones had little combat strength and were generally used to confuse enemies. The Substitution Technique allowed the user to quickly swap places with an object just before an attack hit.
"But doesn't this stuff require chakra? What am I supposed to do without any?"
Although the Three Body Technique wasn't particularly valuable, Ye Chen was still fairly satisfied. Getting it for 200 exchange points wasn't a bad deal.
[Ding! The system has assimilated the chakra required for the Three Body Technique with the host's abilities. There is no need to worry about these issues.]
"Oh, nice, nice! System, you really know how to take care of me!"
"What's this plus sign, though?" Ye Chen felt puzzled when he noticed a plus sign on the scroll skill.
Curious, he clicked it.
[Ding! Consuming 500 exchange points. The Clone Technique skill has been converted into Shadow Clone.]
Ye Chen was surprised to hear that. With Shadow Clone, his clones could possess a portion of his own combat strength. He then considered the clever uses of the Three Body Technique, and his eyes suddenly grew brighter and brighter, until they practically shone.
"Yeah, this could work. I have a bold idea, but I'm still missing something right now.
Yeah, I'll definitely put this plan into action someday."
"Meow...?"
Xiao Hua looked at this new master and let out a soft meow, seemingly puzzled by the way Ye Chen kept nodding and shaking his head.
"It's nothing. Let's go."
Ye Chen smiled at Xiao Hua, then headed down the mountain toward the town ahead.
"My Breathing Style is still incomplete, too. If I want to finish it, I'll have to consult a skilled teacher... Hmm, I'll ask around up ahead about where to find the Demon Slayer Corps, then get some guidance from an expert and finish this Breathing Style first."
Name: Yatsuka Nightstar. Age: 14. Height: 165. Weight: 51 kg. Scroll skills: hunter's notes, Bushido Style, Valor Style, incomplete unnamed Breathing Style, Three Body Technique Equipment: Traveler's Clothes, Samurai Long Sword. Items: Kunai ×10, Throwing Knife ×2, Poison Knife ×2, Bitten Cooked Meat ×1 Physique: xeno'jiiva physique Active skills: Elder Dragon's Pressure, Flame Burst, Hellfire Blast. Special skills: netherworld fire Combat rating: B- Exchange points: 353