Xiao Wu's current soul power was at level fifteen.
Though she'd never specifically trained her body, her specialty was close-combat soft skill, so her physical foundation was good to begin with. Her flexibility and agility vastly surpassed that of an ordinary person.
So Lin Yang skipped basic physical training and went straight to teaching her breathing techniques.
Oddly enough, Xiao Wu adapted very poorly to Sun Breathing.
The Sun Breathing of today was no longer just a method of taking in oxygen and strengthening the body.
Based on his own circumstances, Lin Yang had fused soul power and spiritual power into it, creating a new cultivation method.
Naturally, it was far more complex than the original Sun Breathing.
The difficulty of cultivating it had soared as well.
He hadn't expected that even someone as gifted as Xiao Wu couldn't even get in the door.
Every time she tried to run the breathing method, her soul power would riot chaotically inside her, as if it would explode at any moment.
Lin Yang had to stop her immediately.
Xiao Wu, who had been so full of confidence moments ago, now drooped like a frost-stricken eggplant, her little face sagging, completely deflated.
Her earlier boldness had vanished.
Lin Yang tried to comfort her.
"Don't rush. Maybe your constitution just isn't suitable for Sun Breathing."
"Then what do I do?" Xiao Wu asked, dejected.
"Does that mean I'll never learn Transparent World?"
Lin Yang thought for a moment. "I know a few other basic breathing methods. One of them might suit you."
"Basic breathing methods?" Xiao Wu's ears perked up, her eyes full of curiosity.
"What's the difference between those and your Sun Breathing?"
"The basic breathing methods are Flame, Water, Thunder, Wind, and Rock. They were all derived from Sun Breathing.
"They're not as comprehensive as Sun Breathing, but each has its own strengths."
Lin Yang briefly explained the features of the five methods.
Flame Breathing was fierce and blazing; Water Breathing was balanced in offense and defense; Thunder Breathing was swift and sharp; Wind Breathing was violent and powerful; Rock Breathing was steady and sturdy.
Back when he had joined the Demon Slayer Corps, he'd dabbled in all five.
Unfortunately, he hadn't been very compatible with any of them. His progress had been slow.
He had no choice but to go to Mount Sagiri to learn Hinokami Kagura.
To his surprise, he'd had extraordinary talent for Sun Breathing.
Once he learned it, he'd reached the "constant" state almost effortlessly, and his strength had skyrocketed thereafter.
Recalling the past, Lin Yang's eyes softened with nostalgia.
Then he began teaching Xiao Wu a new breathing method.
Given her restless personality and her own traits, Wind or Thunder would be the best fit.
After a few simple tests, Wind Breathing clearly suited her more.
"Hiss… that's it?"
Xiao Wu breathed in rhythmically through her nose and mouth, following a distinctive pattern.
She clenched her fists and felt slightly stronger—but only just.
Lin Yang rolled his eyes. "You've got a long way to go. Get it to the 'constant' state first."
"Oh."
Xiao Wu pouted but didn't complain.
She might be naive, but she wasn't stupid.
This breathing method was clearly some kind of secret technique, and she could sense how deep its potential went.
Lin Yang was willing to teach, and she was more than willing to learn.
From the Rhesus border to the Lima Plains, Xiao Wu lived up to her talent.
Her mastery of Wind Breathing grew steadily, and before long she reached the "constant" state.
Under Lin Yang's guidance, she then started trying to use Wind Breathing as a foundation to explore a derivative breathing method that belonged to her alone.
Without question, breathing methods had powerful adaptability and extensibility.
Everyone's physique and personal habits were different. Even with the same breathing method, results could vary wildly.
Water Breathing, for example, had the lowest threshold.
Some could wield it like crashing waves, endless and overwhelming; others couldn't even manage a splash.
Those with greater talent would eventually step beyond the framework of existing methods, creating their own derivatives infused with their personal style.
These derivative methods might not be the objectively strongest, but they would be the most suitable for their users.
Xiao Wu was now walking this very path.
Since she didn't use any weapon, Lin Yang refrained from teaching her fixed sword forms. Instead, he became her sparring partner, letting her find her own combat style in real fights.
On this front, her progress was… terrifying.
For a simple reason—Lin Yang really tried to kill her.
He didn't treat Xiao Wu as a soul beast.
He didn't treat her as an ordinary little girl either.
He definitely wasn't playing the gallant protector.
What he wanted was a comrade who could fight at his side—not a crying burden.
Along the way, he had shattered nearly every bone in Xiao Wu's body at one time or another.
At her worst, almost half the bones in her body were broken.
Of course, each time after injuring her, Lin Yang would fully heal her using his soul bone ability.
He had no intention of hiding Ah Yin's existence from her. In any case, he couldn't.
He still remembered Xiao Wu's expression when she learned that a hundred-thousand-year soul beast—Blue Silver Emperor—was attached to his body.
Her little face had been full of shock and disbelief.
Especially after hearing that this senior had sacrificed herself voluntarily only to wind up trapped underground in a stone cave for years—
Xiao Wu's eyes had burned with fierce indignation.
With such a clear example before her, she didn't dare slacken.
Even when faced with Lin Yang's hellish training, she gritted her teeth and endured it all.
So they traveled, stopping and going. Xiao Wu's strength increased rapidly. Her soul power not only rose smoothly to level sixteen, but neared level seventeen as well.
A journey that should have taken half a month ended up stretching to almost a full month before they finally reached their destination—Suotuo City.
The Lima Plains were the richest lands in the Balak Kingdom.
Standing at the heart of the plains, Suotuo City was known as the "Granary of Balak," and its prosperity needed no explanation.
Through the eastern gate of Suotuo City, a dusty carriage trundled slowly into town.
Xiao Wu poked her head out of the carriage and looked around curiously, exclaiming,
"There are so many people!"
"Mm… what's that smell? It's so good."
Lin Yang ignored her wide-eyed wonder.
He asked some passersby about a nearby carriage yard, then drove over with the wagon.
After stabling the horse, Lin Yang deliberately paid a few extra gold soul coins.
He told the stablehand to wash the horse properly and feed it premium fodder and clean spring water.
From Peragi City to the Calamity Mountains and now to Suotuo City, the old horse had suffered alongside the two of them.
Now that they'd arrived, a good meal was only right.
Once that was done, Lin Yang took Xiao Wu to an inn.
Don't overthink it. They just bathed and changed into clean clothes.
Lin Yang wore a fitted black outfit, the simple design with tight sleeves and short hems highlighting his straight posture and composed bearing.
Combined with his height—far above other kids his age—no one would have guessed he was only seven.
Beside him, Xiao Wu was a bit shorter, but her pale pink cherry-blossom dress made her look adorably sweet.
Her long scorpion braid swung behind her, flicking with each step, adding a touch of lively girl-next-door charm.