Beside the bonfire, sparks crackled in the night.
Xia Xi slowly opened his eyes, ending his Breathing Style Meditation for the day.
The breath within him settled steadily. Out of habit, he glanced at the system panel. Every Breathing Style had gained a little experience.
Including Mist Breathing, which did not count.
This was the new Life Skill unlocked when [Dawn Breathing] reached LV.5.
Its effect was neither particularly strong nor particularly weak.
While idling with his eyes closed... while meditating, he could slightly increase his proficiency in Breathing Styles other than the one he was practicing.
According to the skill description, his understanding of Breathing Styles was now sufficiently deep.
He could apply that understanding across disciplines, bringing several other styles along with him.
One style attained enlightenment, and all the others rode its coattails.
So much so that Xia Xi had trained [Breathing Style Meditation] to LV.2 during this time.
As for Xia Xi's current panel...
Kurumazuka Natsumi [The Hierophant] [The Chariot] [The Star] [Energy Level: 481] ┣ Body: 210 ┣ Technique: 149 ┗ Mind: 122
When Dawn Breathing reached LV.5, it had added nearly 70 Energy Levels in one go.
Beyond that, his own training and his body's natural development had added roughly another thirty points.
He was approaching the five-hundred mark.
In numbers alone, he was already among the very best of the Nine Hashira-or rather, he had a shot at being the strongest.
Of course, his mechanics were not bad either.
He could suppress the likes of that brat Igarashi with one hand.
What [Pre-Initiative]?
Even activating Ancestor Mode would do no good!
His primary style, [Dawn Breathing], was at LV.5 (39/8000).
The same level as Thunder Breathing.
The other styles had all improved, but only by two or three hundred experience apiece