Enlightenment! Breathing Technique-Total Concentration: Focus!

Seeing this, Su Chen silently wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Only then did he realize that Demon Slayer Marks already covered his body!

Bullet Time deactivated.

A trace of fatigue washed over Su Chen's mind.

Was this the Flame Hashira's strength?

He was stronger by far more than just a little!

Still, Su Chen felt it was a bit of a shame.

He had finally managed to adapt to the Flame Hashira's attack rhythm and was just about ready to observe his techniques, only for the Flame Hashira to suddenly stop fighting!

Where was the justice in that?!

Little did he know, while Su Chen was regretting this...

Rengoku Senjuro, who had been watching from the sidelines, was practically staring his eyes out!

What had he just seen?

Su Chen had actually evaded his older brother's Unknowing Fire and Flame Tiger in succession!

Who knew how many Lower Ranks that technique had slain, yet Su Chen had blocked it!

At home, Senjuro had often heard his older brother talk about Su Chen.

His brother had said Su Chen was very talented, though he had hardly held a sword before.

You called this someone who had hardly held a sword?!

Kanao Tsuyuri stood frozen to the side as well.

Compared to Senjuro, however, she was much calmer.

As she watched Su Chen, she couldn't help a slight smile from curling her lips.

In the middle of the training ground.

The Flame Hashira spoke. "Mr. Su Chen, your talent exceeds my expectations. I was aiming to use my full strength with both of those strikes."

"Now, I'll teach you something else."

Before Su Chen could speak, Kanao Tsuyuri stepped in front of him.

Senjuro also ran to his older brother's side.

The two glared angrily at each other.

Su Chen patted Kanao Tsuyuri's shoulder, reassuring her. "It's all right."

He could tell that Kyojuro had only been trying to guide him.

If he really hadn't been able to handle those attacks, Kyojuro would surely have pulled back in time.

As for the other thing Kyojuro had mentioned...

Su Chen might already know what it was.

And now, he had already grasped that flicker of inspiration.

"Kanao, wait a moment for me." Su Chen leaned close to Kanao Tsuyuri's ear and spoke softly.

Then he sat down right where he stood.

The Rengoku brothers exchanged a glance, unsure what Su Chen was doing.

But Kanao Tsuyuri vaguely understood something.

She removed her white haori and carefully draped it over Su Chen.

Then she stood guard beside Su Chen with utmost care.

By now, Su Chen had entered a state of enlightenment.

The scenes of his earlier battle with Kyojuro immediately came flooding back.

No, not this.

Su Chen murmured inwardly.

What he wanted to find wasn't the sword forms Kyojuro had just demonstrated.

It was the breathing technique Kyojuro had used when he became a pillar of flame!

A technique that kept the lungs supplied with ample oxygen at all times!

Slowly, Su Chen focused his attention on the movements of the Flame Hashira's chest.

[You recalled your opponent's movements. You are breaking down the movements...]

[You are analyzing the movements...]

[You are assembling them frame by frame...]

[You studied the pattern of your opponent's lung vibrations and sensed the movements of his chest. You imitated them frame by frame with your own lungs. You discovered the technique.]

[You mastered the chest vibration technique.]

[You mastered the throat airflow technique.]

[You mastered the mouth-and-nose breathing technique.]

[You continued observing and discovered the pattern within. You developed a rhythmic way of breathing. You learned Total Concentration Breathing!]

[Through repeated practice, you learned Total Concentration: Constant breathing!]

[You felt there was room to improve the Total Concentration: Constant breathing technique. You attempted modifications.]

[Your improvements succeeded. You successfully applied this breathing style to every muscle in your body. Your physical mobility increased greatly!]

[Brimming with inspiration, you continued your research. You successfully taught your body's cells the constant anaerobic respiration method. Your stamina increased!]

[Your endurance increased! You gained a degree of self-healing ability! You gained the ability to hold your breath for extended periods!]

[Your mind became clear, and understanding dawned in a single thought. You comprehended the advanced breathing technique: Total Concentration: Focus!]

[...]

Su Chen remained seated for two hours!

If Kanao Tsuyuri hadn't been constantly monitoring Su Chen's condition, the Rengoku brothers would have thought he had died sitting there.

At last, Su Chen slowly opened his eyes.

Kyojuro immediately walked over.

"Are you all..." Before he could finish, Kyojuro swallowed his words.

Su Chen's aura seemed to have changed.

Although it differed from what he knew, Kyojuro still recognized the change in Su Chen.

Su Chen had mastered Total Concentration: Constant!

Kyojuro froze.

He remembered that he hadn't yet taught Su Chen the Constant technique, had he?

Then how had Su Chen learned it?

Regardless, Kyojuro was delighted that Su Chen had improved.

"Mr. Su Chen, you certainly live up to expectations! [Constant] is the first step toward becoming a Hashira. I never imagined you would achieve it so quickly."

"It was just luck. It's thanks to your excellent teaching, Brother Rengoku."

"Without your guidance, Brother Rengoku, I'm afraid I wouldn't have learned the Constant technique so quickly."

Su Chen was very humble.

His form of address had also changed from his initial "Mr." to "Brother."

It had to be said that Kyojuro was very pleased by this form of address.

His eyes visibly widened a little.

His face was also filled with delight.

Kyojuro looked at Su Chen.

He couldn't help marveling inwardly.

This was probably the most talented person he had ever met.

He had never seen anyone improve at Su Chen's terrifying pace.

Among the people he knew, perhaps only Tokito could compare!

Su Chen took a short rest, then resumed sparring with the Flame Hashira.

[You observed your opponent's breathing style and gained insight. You learned his breathing technique.]

[You observed your opponent's Sword Technique, and understanding dawned in a single thought. You learned Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire.]

[You observed your opponent's Sword Technique, and understanding dawned in a single thought. You learned Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun.]

[You observed your opponent's Sword Technique, and understanding dawned in a single thought. You learned Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation.]

[You observed your opponent's Sword Technique, and understanding dawned in a single thought. You learned Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger.]

[...]

[Your observation is complete.]

Aside from Flame Breathing, Ninth Form: Rengoku, which Kyojuro hadn't demonstrated, Su Chen could be said to have completely mastered Flame Breathing.

He discovered that his understanding of breathing styles had risen to another level.

And after learning the Constant technique...

Su Chen's physical abilities had improved once again!

Now, he could withstand the Flame Hashira's Unknowing Fire without activating [Bullet Time].

This left Kyojuro marveling.

Su Chen's talent truly was exceptional.

Even Tokito couldn't compare. The current Su Chen gave Kyojuro a feeling.

He could break Tokito's record of becoming a Hashira in two months!

"Mr. Su Chen, you're very talented. Would you be willing to become my Tsuguko?"

Kyojuro sheathed his Nichirin Blade and extended another invitation to Su Chen.

Su Chen's dazzling talent and tireless efforts made him unable to resist the desire to nurture such talent.

Kyojuro had made up his mind.

If Su Chen agreed to become his Tsuguko, he would apply to the Rengoku Family.

He would teach him Flame Breathing!