He Treated Her as Neither a Beast nor a Human!

Xiao Wu's Soul Power Level was now fifteen.

Although she had never deliberately trained her body, her foundation was already quite solid, with Soft Style as her specialty. Her resilience and flexibility far surpassed those of ordinary people.

So Lin Yang skipped basic physical conditioning and began teaching her a Breathing Style directly.

Unexpectedly, however, Xiao Wu's compatibility with Sun Breathing was extremely poor.

Sun Breathing was no longer simply a method of taking in oxygen to strengthen the body.

Instead, it was a new cultivation method that combined Soul Power and Spiritual Power, tailored to Lin Yang's own circumstances.

Naturally, it was far more complex than the previous Sun Breathing.

The difficulty of cultivating it had multiplied as well.

Still, he had never expected that even someone as talented as Xiao Wu would be unable to get started.

Whenever she tried to practice the Breathing Style, the Soul Power inside her ran wild, as though it would explode within her in the very next instant.

Lin Yang could only tell Xiao Wu to stop immediately.

Xiao Wu, who had been brimming with confidence just moments before, now looked like an eggplant wilted by frost. Her little face drooped, looking thoroughly crushed.

None of her earlier high spirits remained.

Lin Yang offered some reassurance.

"Don't worry just yet. Your constitution might not suit Sun Breathing."

"Then what do I do?" Xiao Wu asked, somewhat dejected.

"Does that mean I'll never learn the Transparent World?"

Lin Yang thought for a moment. "I know a few other basic Breathing Styles. One of them might suit you."

"Basic Breathing Styles?" The little rabbit raised her head, her face full of curiosity.

"How are they different from your Sun Breathing?"

"The five basic Breathing Styles are Flame, Water, Thunder, Wind, and Stone. They all branched off from Sun Breathing.

"Although they aren't as comprehensive as Sun Breathing, each has its own unique characteristics."

Lin Yang briefly introduced the characteristics of the five Breathing Styles to Xiao Wu.

Flame Breathing was fierce and scorching, Water Breathing balanced offense and defense, Thunder Breathing was swift and incisive, Wind Breathing was wild and powerful, and Stone Breathing was steady and solid.

Back when he had joined the Demon Slayer Corps, he had tried all five basic Breathing Styles. Unfortunately, his compatibility with each had been rather poor, and his strength had progressed slowly.

Left with no other choice, he had gone to Mount Kumotori to learn Hinokami Kagura.

Unexpectedly, he had possessed an extraordinary talent for Sun Breathing.

After mastering it, he had reached the "Constant State" without so much as the effort of blowing away dust, and his strength had soared ever since.

As he recalled the past, a trace of nostalgia flashed through Lin Yang's eyes.

Then he began teaching Xiao Wu a new Breathing Style.

Given the little rabbit's restless personality and her own characteristics, Wind Breathing or Thunder Breathing would suit her better.

After a brief test, Xiao Wu proved more suited to Wind Breathing.

"Hiss... is that all there is to it?"

Xiao Wu breathed rhythmically through her nose and mouth, as though following a unique cadence.

She clenched her fists, feeling that her strength seemed to have increased a little, though not noticeably.

Lin Yang rolled his eyes at her. "You've still got a long way to go. Get your Breathing Style to the 'Constant State' first."

"Oh!"

Xiao Wu pouted but did not complain.

She was inexperienced in the ways of the world, not genuinely stupid.

This Breathing Style was clearly some sort of special secret technique, and she could sense its extraordinary potential.

Lin Yang was willing to teach, and the little rabbit was willing to learn.

Throughout their journey from the border of the Reis Kingdom to the Lima Plain, Xiao Wu's performance lived up to her talent.

Not only did her mastery of Wind Breathing improve by the day, but she soon reached the "Constant State."

Under Lin Yang's guidance and reminders, she even began trying to use Wind Breathing as a foundation to explore a derivative Breathing Style of her own.

Without question, Breathing Styles were highly adaptable and extensible.

Everyone differed in physical capabilities and personal habits. Even when using the same Breathing Style, the results could vary in countless ways.

Take Water Breathing, for example, the Breathing Style with the lowest barrier to entry.

Some wielded it like surging ocean waves, unending and relentless; others could not slash out so much as a splash.

Those with greater talent would break free of a Breathing Style's framework and create derivative Breathing Styles bearing a strong personal stamp.

Such derivative Breathing Styles might not be the strongest, but they were undoubtedly the best suited to their creators.

Xiao Wu was now walking that very path.

Since she did not use weapons, Lin Yang did not teach her any set Sword Forms. Instead, he acted as her sparring partner, letting her discover her own fighting style through battle.

Her progress in this regard... could only be called lightning-fast!

The reason was simple: Lin Yang really did strike to kill.

He did not treat Xiao Wu as a Soul Beast, nor did he treat her as an ordinary little girl. He certainly had not come to play her knight in shining armor.

What he wanted was a companion who could overcome trials alongside him, not a sniveling burden.

Over the course of their journey, the little rabbit had broken almost every bone in her body.

At her worst, nearly half the bones in her body had been shattered.

Of course, after every injury, Lin Yang used his Soul Bone Skill to heal her completely.

Lin Yang had no intention of concealing Ah Yin's existence, nor could he have hidden it.

Even now, he could still remember when the little rabbit learned that a Blue Silver Emperor, once a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, was attached to his body.

Her little face had been filled with shock and disbelief.

Especially after hearing that this senior had sacrificed herself willingly, only to end up trapped in a cave for years on end,

the little rabbit's eyes had filled with fierce indignation.

With such a cautionary example before her, the little rabbit did not dare grow lax.

Even when faced with Lin Yang's hellish training, she gritted her teeth and endured it.

The two continued their journey, stopping along the way. The little rabbit's strength grew tremendously, and her Soul Power even smoothly broke through to level sixteen, leaving her not far from seventeen.

Yet a journey that should have taken only half a month ended up taking nearly a month before they finally reached their destination-Suotuo City.

The Lima Plain was the most fertile plain within the Balak Kingdom.

It was easy to imagine just how prosperous Suotuo City was, standing amid the plain and known as the "granary of Barak."

At Suotuo City's eastern gate, a travel-worn carriage swayed its way into the city.

Xiao Wu poked her head out of the carriage, looking around curiously, and could not help exclaiming,

"There are so many people!"

"Ooh... what's that smell? It smells so good."

Ignoring the way she found everything a novelty, Lin Yang asked a passerby where the nearest carriage yard was, then drove over.

When leaving the carriage at the yard, Lin Yang made a point of paying a few extra Gold Soul Coins.

He instructed the attendant to give the horse a thorough wash and brushing, and to feed it top-quality fodder and clean spring water.

Through all their travels, from Pelagi City to the Heavenly Calamity Mountains and then to Suotuo City, this old horse had suffered plenty alongside the two of them.

Now that they had arrived, it deserved something good to eat.

After settling the carriage, Lin Yang took Xiao Wu to find an inn.

Do not get any ideas. They merely bathed and changed into clean clothes.

Lin Yang wore a fitted black outfit of a simple design, with snug cuffs and a slightly short hem, which perfectly complemented his straight-backed figure and steady bearing.

Coupled with his height, which far exceeded that of his peers, no one would have guessed that he was only seven years old.

Xiao Wu was a little shorter beside him, but the pale pink Sakura Dress she wore made her look extremely cute.

A long, slender scorpion-tail braid hung down her back, swaying with each step and adding a little more of the lively charm of a little sister next door.