Once the mastery of the Five Great Breathing Styles reached a certain level, the first result was a visible increase in energy level.
An energy level of 240.
Even compared to Urokodaki Sakonji's 274, the gap was no longer insurmountable.
As for that old geezer Kazami, or the Matsuyama and Nikaido brats—
They weren't even worth a glance anymore, wah-hah-hah-hah!
Emm... I still need to show a bit of respect for Shinjuro's strength.
However, Natsunishi felt that even if he stopped training and relied solely on his body's natural development and growth, he could eventually catch up one day.
After all, the body of "Kujiguruma Natsunishi" was still that of an immature youth.
For a biological creature like a human, the physiological peak usually occurs between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five.
Even without any training, his completed self would far surpass his current developmental stage.
Numerical changes aside, the second gain was the transformation of [Total Concentration Breathing].
He had thought the previous enhancements had reached the limit, but now it had directly evolved into a High-Tier skill.
And it wasn't a common technique like [Constant].
[True · Total Concentration]
Description: Not the strength of force, but the return of the Path. Just as a flying bird does not notice the air, and a swimming fish does not feel the moving water, it is because the self has become one with the medium that carries it.
Effect: Significantly reduces the burden of Total Concentration, enhances focus and neural reflex speed, and lowers the threshold for learning supreme realms such as [Bright Red Nichirin Sword], [Transparent World], and [Selfless State].
The effects of Total Concentration had been strengthened once again.
Or rather, it had broken through its boundaries.
Although Natsunishi didn't understand exactly what the subsequent skills mentioned in the description—[Bright Red Nichirin Sword], [Transparent World], and [Selfless State]—were, it was undoubtedly a positive effect.
If he were to thoroughly master [Constant] later on...
Even someone who knew nothing about numerical design could see that this skill module was showing signs of becoming "overpowered."
If it were an enemy with an energy level far higher than his own, that would be one thing.
But if they were similar...
Natsunishi could no longer think of a reason why he would lose.
A swordsman fighting a demon was already a battle across tiers.
And Natsunishi reckoned that—
Relying solely on the ultra-high multiplier bonuses and effect corrections brought by [True · Total Concentration], he was nearly invincible within the same tier.
Whether it was a demon of the same level or a fellow swordsman.
Aside from the numerical and skill changes, the most special thing was the icon labeled [Special CG].
Natsunishi looked around the dojo.
Because his Breathing Style breakthrough was imminent, he hadn't sparred with the other children today.
Claiming he had an epiphany and needed to meditate, he stayed in the dojo alone.
He just hoped this CG wouldn't trigger any ridiculous disturbances.
He clicked play.
In the next second, without any preparation, Natsunishi's vision was swallowed by a soft white light.
His consciousness felt as if it were being gently pulled away.
The form of the entire world suddenly shifted.
Some memories can be awakened after hundreds or thousands of years through the connection of hearts and the inheritance of bloodlines.
Others can be transmitted to the distant future through peak techniques and fragmented imprints across time and space.
Natsunishi felt as if he had fallen into another dimension.
Like a mid-afternoon dream, or a revolving lantern of memories at death's door.
Vision, taste, and the other five senses were all hazy.
But the intuition and sense of déjà vu coming from his brain made Natsunishi certain that this was no mirage or hallucination.
The dojo was no longer a dojo, but an ancient forest that blotted out the sun.
The youth tried to move his limbs.
There was no response, as if they didn't exist.
It was exactly like watching an old, high-fidelity VR panoramic movie.
Not far from him...
A black-haired young man with a high ponytail was speaking in low tones with a man dressed in green robes.
Their faces were blurred.
But judging by the Nichirin Swords they held, they were likely swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps.
These clothes... they don't seem to be from this era, Natsunishi mused.
There was no audio or subtitles, yet Natsunishi understood that they were discussing guidance on Breathing Styles.
The ponytail swordsman demonstrated the rhythm of breathing to the other man like a Cultivator teaching a disciple, slowly deconstructing sword forms with his Nichirin Sword.
The swordsmanship of the green-robed man was already quite exquisite.
In Natsunishi's view, he was at least close to Shinjuro's level.
Yet, whenever he tried to perform the Breathing Style, he became short of breath, his face flushing red as if he were suffocating.
This Breathing Style—
It was a type Natsunishi had never seen before, yet it felt faintly familiar.
On the other hand, the sword techniques the green-robed man performed next were instantly recognizable.
[First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter]
[Third Form: Clear Storm Wind Tree]
It was the Breath of Wind.
There were some sword forms mixed in that Natsunishi had never seen, but judging by the style and technique, they likely belonged to the same lineage of the "Wind Breath."
Is this the process of other swordsmen training, or...
Natsunishi had a growing suspicion.
As the green-robed man desperately tried to imitate the movements but failed to grasp the essence of the other's Breathing Style...
The black-haired youth finally changed his teaching strategy.
He walked behind the green-robed man and lightly tapped his wrist, elbow, and shoulder with his fingers, adjusting his angles of force and the rhythm of his breathing.
Over and over again.
It was a series of intermittent montage-like clips without words.
But Natsunishi felt as if he could "hear" the silent teaching within those countless fragments.
"Feel it, understand it, and then forge your own path instead of repeating my footprints."
The sun rose and the moon set.
Similar scenes flashed back repeatedly in the deep forest.
Finally, the green-robed swordsman's breathing stabilized, and the aura around his body merged quietly with the wind of the mountains.
Or rather, it became the wind of the mountains.
It was different from the black-haired youth's Breathing Style, yet it still achieved the effect of significantly enhancing his physical functions.
[Breath of Wind]
[First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter]
The blade was no longer obstructed by the wind; instead, it cut through the air, becoming a part of the wind—sharp and vast.
This was...
The origin of the Breath of Wind.
Natsunishi finally understood.
And that youth who taught the first Breath of Wind swordsman...
Was likely the Progenitor of Breathing Styles himself!
With the birth of the Breath of Wind, the world shifted again.
By a rushing waterfall.
It was the same black-haired youth, but the student had been replaced by a somewhat delicate-looking swordsman.
This time, the lesson was to make the Breathing Style as fluid and continuous as flowing water.
Similarly, a segment was taken from that unknown Breathing Style, carefully adjusted, and reshaped.
The delicate swordsman finally mastered the new rhythm.
He became one with the nearby waterfall and deep pool.
The [Breath of Water] was born here.
Next, it was in a simple, ancient temple.
He was teaching a tall, thin man holding a giant blade, wearing purple robes and Buddhist prayer beads.
Not a traditional Nichirin Sword? Could it be...
After an indeterminate period of teaching, the original Breathing Style transformed within the man's chest into a heavy, mountain-like aura.
As expected, it was the [Breath of Stone].
In the next moment, the world flipped again.
A rainy night.
Accompanied by thunder and lightning.
The black-haired youth was teaching a man wearing a yellow haori.
This time, the student also found it difficult to adapt to the primitive breathing rhythm.
A helpless smile crossed the youth's face as he adjusted the rhythm and reconstructed the pathways for him once more.
Finally, at the moment lightning illuminated the rainy night...
The yellow-clad samurai also turned into a straight bolt of lightning, cutting through the heavy curtains of rain.
It was a divine speed that burst forth in an instant.
It was the [Breath of Thunder].
The night and the torrential rain faded.
Mud and dampness turned into a warm campfire.
The black-haired youth gave pointers to the next swordsman, who was equally extraordinary.
The moment he saw him, Natsunishi recognized him by his owl-like hairstyle.
The ancestor of the Rengoku family.
This time, what was derived for him was the [Breath of Flame], which converted will and spirit into explosive power.
At this point, the origins of the Five Basic Breathing Styles had all been displayed before Natsunishi's eyes.
The five-colored team, under the guidance of the crimson-tinged, black-haired youth, had each forged their own "Path."
Natsunishi thought the imagery was about to end.
To his surprise, after a brief black screen, the image lit up once more.
This time, it was a pale, moonlit night.
The black-haired youth stood quietly under the moon. Standing before him was a man in purple clothing whose aura was extremely similar to his own.
One in crimson, one in purple.
They held their swords, sparring move by move, again and again.
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