At the center of the training ground, the two stood facing each other.
The other swordsmen in the dojo cleared the space, forming a wide circle around them and holding their breath as they watched.
"Matsuyama, Nikaido doing this..."
Even the hot-tempered little old man felt that challenging the dojo right off the bat was somewhat inappropriate.
Matsuyama Daimon remained expressionless. "She's been going through menopause lately."
"She's not old enough for menopause yet, is she...?"
Jigoro Kuwajima answered instinctively, then immediately corrected himself.
"What I mean is, young Kurumaji is one of the Nine Hashira, after all. Isn't Nikaido just asking to embarrass herself?"
Matsuyama remained calm. "She enjoys this sort of thing. Besides, Kurumaji knows when to stop."
Kuwajima looked at Xia Xi dubiously.
Did he know when to stop...?
Over the years, he had met countless people.
But no matter how he looked at it, Xia Xi's eyes seemed full of excitement too.
On the training ground.
Nikaido said, "With your strength now, kid, I won't be holding back."
The web of her hand rested against the bokken's hilt.
She leaned forward, lowering her body and gathering a little strength in her feet.
It was the opening stance of Thunder Breathing.
It was the foundation of the entire Breathing Style, as well as its most essential sword stance.
Nikaido's gaze locked firmly onto Xia Xi.
Then she grinned.
And then she moved.
[Thunder Breathing: Total Concentration]
[First Form: Thunderclap and Flash]
A thunderous roar and a golden bolt erupted in broad daylight.
The watching swordsmen even felt their eyes sting from that instant of brilliance.
Even Kanae, whose energy level exceeded two hundred, could not help holding her breath.
Nikaido was a seasoned Cultivator.
Although her normal energy level was lower than Kanae's, her many years of