Chapter 161: Legendary Breathing Technique Improvement: As Long as You Enter the Sengoku Period, Everything Will Get Better!

Uesugi Toru was stunned upon hearing this.

No breathing technique?

He heard Shizuku frown slightly and say: "I asked the Special Affairs Division and Nanjo Sister about this before."

"Unless one has achieved a feat equivalent to personally exorcising a Ghost God Level Great Demon, it is impossible to obtain a breathing technique more complete or advanced than the Corona Breathing Technique."

"—It seems there are quite a few breathing techniques available that are about as complete as the Corona Breathing Technique, but beyond that, they are hard to come by."

Actually, this was quite normal.

Originally, his and Shizuku's Corona Breathing Technique had been obtained through the back door under the double guarantee of Kondo Tomoya and Rituna Minami.

Now wanting to get a more complete and advanced breathing technique just by opening his mouth was simply thinking too well of himself.

Although as long as Uesugi Toru spoke up, Rituna Minami would definitely find a way, even running around to ask many people to get one for him.

But things had not yet become so desperate.

Uesugi Toru thought.

—Breathing techniques, weren't there many in the Sengoku Period five hundred years ago?

—Although cultivation was more difficult in the Sengoku Period, it was an Age of Absolute Spiritlessness where Onmyoji hid themselves away without dispute, but powerful and complete breathing techniques definitely existed.

With his relationship with Imagawa Yoshimoto, obtaining such a breathing technique would not be very difficult.

And Tokugawa Ieyasu was still a hostage under Imagawa Yoshimoto at that time.

If he could get on good terms with this old turtle again, it might not be impossible to obtain a Youth Version of a Four Extremities Breathing Technique.

As long as he used the History Key Second Ring to enter the Sengoku Period again, all current cultivation problems would be easily solved.

Everything would get better!

Uesugi Toru's mind turned, and then he recalled what Shizuku had just said.

He blinked, somewhat stunned: "Shizuku, you've already completed Skin Tempering?"

For ordinary people, it requires at least over two thousand points of proficiency, yet Shizuku actually finished grinding it out within these few days?

And using Gang Qi to temper the body and forge the Flesh Palace was completely different from the initial method of cultivating Internal Qi...

The girl nodded without joy or sorrow: "Yes, not long ago."

Uesugi Toru used his fingers to pinch Shizuku's jade-like warm, tender, and fair arm skin, which was far more supple than any leather he had ever touched.

Was this the effect after completing this minor hurdle called "Skin Tempering"?

Uesugi Toru suddenly became curious about how strong the effect of Skin Tempering was.

His fingertip shot out a strand of solid Gang Qi, first using it to easily slice open the dojo's floorboard, then suspending it above Shizuku's arm and asking,

"Is that okay?"

"Please go ahead."

After hearing this, Uesugi Toru was not polite, letting his finger fall gently.

Instantly, a strange sensation was transmitted from the tip of the Gang Qi to his finger, as if it had fallen onto a mass of cotton as soft as water and formless.

And in reality, the Gang Qi was decomposed upon touching Shizuku's skin, then part of it was absorbed to replenish herself, and part dissipated into the air.

A small amount of Gang Qi is ineffective against skin that has completed Skin Tempering, right?

Immediately after, Uesugi Toru took out the Rusted Cleaver he hadn't used for a long time, and under Shizuku's calm gaze, he chopped down heavily, emitting a crisp sound of metal and iron clashing.

And only when Uesugi Toru exerted force to break the cleaver did it leave a shallow white mark on Shizuku's skin.

He stared at the cleaver broken into two pieces on the ground, his brow twitching slightly.

Unexpectedly, the cleaver would retire in such a place.

—Skin that has undergone complete tempering can not only resolve external Gang Qi and Internal Qi, but also defend against the chopping and stabbing of ordinary weapons.

Uesugi Toru released the warm and soft arm in his palm and sighed,

"Skin Tempering, very impressive."

He couldn't help but think of Rituna Minami in the Forging Room before.

Since Nanjo Sister's attainment in breathing techniques was equally profound, what breathing technique was she cultivating herself?

Would the method of forging the Flesh Palace differ greatly between different breathing techniques?

Uesugi Toru asked curiously on line, and then received an unexpected answer.

【Rituna Minami: Don't ask too much, I can't teach you the breathing technique I cultivate either.】

【Rituna Minami: Of course, if you're confident you can kill me in the future, I can also teach you to practice this.】

【Tsukisuna-chan: Huh?】

【Rituna Minami: The breathing technique I cultivate has special restrictions; the intermediate conditions are too complicated to explain. Anyway, in the end, only one person in the whole world can cultivate it.】

So there were so many intricacies to cultivating breathing techniques.

Uesugi Toru silently stared at the screen.

So, Tokugawa Haku not secretly passing down the Tokugawa family's Four Extremities Breathing Technique to Shizuku definitely had a reason of "absolutely cannot give."

If it could be given, then according to Uesugi Toru's understanding of Shizuku, this Third Sister, over these past few times, she would definitely hand over everything without a second word.

Where would there be a need to use such a roundabout way as giving a notebook recording cultivation understanding to help Shizuku?

—Conversely, the cultivation difficulty would also be much, much higher.

Shizuku responded with a sound, withdrawing her gaze from his mobile phone screen.

Even she couldn't help but show a trace of weariness at this moment,

"Before completing the tempering of the full body skin, as long as even for a moment one is not tempering, the incomplete cultivation progress will begin to regress, until it reaches zero."

This is also one of the reasons why the "Flesh Palace" is considered the first great mountain lying across the path of breathing technique cultivation.

Shizuku, who had been hugged by Adult Wu Zi for a while, had already restored her Gang Qi circulation; she turned the unexpectedly somewhat obedient girl over and held her in her arms, then said,

"Since Uesugi-kun, you have already felt the great advantages brought by merely completing this small stage of Skin Tempering, then I will continue lecturing below."

As Shizuku's voice fell, a prompt suddenly popped up before Uesugi Toru's eyes—

【Tokugawa Ririko is imparting knowledge to you: Complete Flesh Palace.】

Uesugi Toru did not dare be negligent; he straightened his spine and listened.

"Usually speaking, our Flesh Palace is composed of three stages—Skin Tempering, Bone Forging, and Flesh Tempering—together, and the Corona Breathing Technique says the same."

Shizuku extended her palm, using Qi Coating to condense a finely detailed human body model, then marked out skin, bone, and flesh,

"But Third Sister's notebook says that after these three stages, there is still a most important stage called 'Tendon Casting.'"

"That is reasonable; after some slight experimentation, I thought the same."

Shizuku said: "Rather, if this part is missing, the Flesh Palace will be incomplete, like missing a load-bearing pillar."

"—But it remains the previous problem: cultivation of the Flesh Palace is extremely delicate work; even half a mistake will lead to severe consequences."

Shizuku raised her other hand, casually sent a strand of Qi Coating into the human body model, and immediately the model rapidly developed large-scale ulcers,

"So even knowing of the existence of Tendon Casting, without a 'reference book,' attempting to practice Muscle Forging is also very difficult."

"Fortunately, Tendon Casting is the final stage of the Flesh Palace, so before completing the difficult Flesh Tempering, there is no need to worry about being unable to cultivate."

Having spoken, Shizuku waved her hand to dispel the human body model; a rare smile of self-satisfaction appeared on her face,

"Besides this, I have also partially improved this horrifying cultivation method of the Flesh Palace."

Before Uesugi Toru's eyes flashed, and then a golden prompt actually popped up—

【Caution! Tokugawa Ririko is imparting improved craftsmanship: Flesh Palace Forging Method!】

Golden?

Uesugi Toru was slightly stunned; golden seemed to be the color of legendary quality?

She crossed her arms, which happened to press atop the head of the Dissatisfied Adult: "Original Skin Tempering divides the body's skin into piece after piece, tempering them one by one directly from '0,' untempered, to complete."

"—But this is not only extremely inefficient, while untempered it is also easy for enemies to find one's weak point."

"So!"

When Shizuku first began explaining her own cultivation method, she subconsciously revealed a cat mouth,

"I improved it—refining the Skin Tempering stage into several stages, allowing the skin of the entire body to be tempered all at once."

"Thus, completing the first small stage of tempering will become much easier. And the following several stages, having the foundation of the previous ones, will have tempering speed that grows faster and faster, and difficulty that grows lower and lower."

"But these are all deductions in my mind; I have not yet practiced them."

She seriously gazed into Uesugi Toru's eyes: "Then, Uesugi-kun, are you willing to become the first test subject for my improved breathing technique?"

The glittering golden prompt fell before his eyes, fell atop Shizuku's head.

【Will you improve your "Corona Breathing Technique" according to "Tokugawa Ririko"'s suggestion?】

Facing a prompt almost blinding his eyes, was there still a need to think?

Uesugi Toru could not help but sigh: "Shizuku, you are truly a genius."

【You chose to accept the suggestion!】

【Your skill, Corona Breathing Technique, has completed improvement! Please check!】

【Corona Breathing Technique (Tough Skin 272/600)】

【Effect: Cultivate to Perfection, skin like tough membrane.】

【—Tough Skin, Copper Skin, Skin Tempering.】

Shizuku shook her head: "This inspiration was still mentioned in Third Sister's notebook, and then accomplished with the aid of my Sword Heart Penetration... I can only be said to stand on the shoulders of giants."

She paused, then lowered her eyes, musing: "I feel that completing Skin Tempering is still not the pinnacle of skin cultivation—because the Corona Breathing Technique devotes far more space to Flesh Tempering than to Skin Tempering and Bone Forging."

"But forget it!" The girl clapped her hands, "The Flesh Palace is different from previous Internal Qi Qi Coating cultivation; it can be established first, then repeatedly repaired."

Uesugi Toru stared at his panel for a while, only 328 Proficiency away from Breakthrough, already feeling Shadow Movement: "If there's nothing else, I'll start cultivating now..."

"—Uesugi-kun, you haven't tempered your skin yet, right."

Shizuku suddenly extended her five fingers, and under the gaze of the Dissatisfied Adult's eyes narrowed into a slit, grabbed his wrist in one go.

Qi Coating touched, then merged.

"Let me, hand-in-hand teach you."

Uesugi Toru opened a seam on the surface of his own Qi Coating circulation, and immediately felt Shizuku's Qi Coating like silk-thread clouds and mist lightly drifting onto his skin, bringing a tingling numb sensation.

The girl closed her eyes: "If there is no problem, I will begin."

"Wait a moment."

Uesugi Toru opened his Storage Backpack and used one Soul Incense Ash (Small).

—Soul Incense Ash (Small) had only one portion left; it seemed the plan to harvest more Soul Ash by slaying more Yokai would also have to be put on the agenda.

He likewise closed his eyes: "Begin."

As the voice fell, Qi Coating seeped into the skin; the intense pain of a thousand silver needles piercing the skin simultaneously surged like a tide, covering the whole body in an instant!

Like the pain of death by a thousand cuts!

Uesugi Toru's scalp went numb... no, now even the scalp remaining held only indescribable intense pain.

In just this instant, Uesugi Toru understood why cultivators with considerable achievement in the Breathing Path were likewise not weak in Mental Cultivation.

Because if Mental State willpower was insufficient, one simply could not endure the torment of Flesh Palace cultivation, let alone cultivate without half an error under such pain.

Shizuku shouted loudly: "Uesugi-kun, steady your mind!"

As she said this, her hand movements showed no mercy, using her own Qi Coating to guide Uesugi Toru's Qi Coating to penetrate deeper into his skin, bringing wave after wave of burning and intense pain.

Under the effect of Soul Incense Ash, the pain not only did not decrease, but was clearly amplified several times, refined down to every grain of flesh.

But Uesugi Toru was like an old monk in meditation, motionless, allowing blood and sweat to seep out together from his pores.

This Qi Coating torment enough to drive any Ordinary Person to mental collapse lasted a full half hour or more.

During this half hour of extremely intense cultivation, not only was Uesugi Toru's whole body wrapped in viscous blood and sweat, but Shizuku also sweated like juice, her complexion deathly pale.

——Because she didn't dare to make a mistake, not one bit!

——Since Uesugi Toru chose to trust her, she naturally had to hand in an answer sheet that could live up to his expectations.

Judging by the present results, the effect...

Seems quite good!

Shizuku spread her sticky five fingers, looking expectantly at Uesugi Toru as he exhaled scorching Gang Qi.

【After Tokugawa Ririko's first Gang Qi-guided cultivation, your skill Corona Breathing Technique proficiency +328!】

【You have completed Flesh Palace Cultivation · Tough Skin Stage!】

【Your skin strength has slightly increased!】

【Your Physique +2!】

Uesugi Toru slowly opened his eyes, looking at the panel before him that had been completely renewed.

【Corona Breathing Technique (Copper Skin 0/400)】

【Effect: Cultivate to Perfection, skin like refined copper.】

【——Tough Skin, Copper Skin, Temper Skin.】

He clenched his hand fan wrapped in sticky blood-sweat, and even so he could clearly feel the enormous change in his skin.

It became softer, yet also tougher!

It was just as if a thick membrane was wrapped over his original skin.

Although not as good-looking and exaggeratedly strong as Shizuku's skin, blocking those unexpected, weaker ambushes was completely no problem.

For example, Akatsuki Ran's final poisonous strike in the previous Shinken Shiai—if he met it now, that strike couldn't even pierce the surface layer of his skin.

Naturally, those deadly toxins could not flow into his blood either.

And originally Temper Skin required a full 1500 proficiency points to complete.

Now it was like installment payments, only using a mere 600 proficiency points to enjoy part of the full Temper Skin effects.

And the overall proficiency requirement had also become lower than 1500 points—Copper Skin only needs 400 proficiency points to complete, so what about Temper Skin?

300 points? Or even lower?

Not bad, very good!

Uesugi Toru moved his shoulders and neck, emitting a hula-hula sound, as if his skin was breathing.

This scene made Shizuku slightly open her small mouth,

"Uesugi-kun."

She asked somewhat dazedly: "You... have already broken through Tough Skin, reached the Copper Skin cultivation stage?"

Uesugi Toru revealed a smile, but under the cover of blood-sweat it appeared especially terrifying: "This is also thanks to Shizuku's careful guidance."

"Good... good! Uesugi-kun!"

Shizuku didn't mind the stickiness on him, and in one go tackled him onto the ground, looking down at his eyes from above, using both hands to cup Uesugi Toru's cheeks and said seriously,

"——As expected, our compatibility is the most suitable."

Long before the two began cultivating, Adult Er Shaku, who had sensibly sat to the side, had her cheeks puffed up, like two small balloons about to explode.

——If it weren't for the fact that this flat-chested Demon King had just indeed helped Toru-sama quite a bit, and Toru-sama looked so tired, she would have long ago kicked the Demon King out of the house!

Uesugi Toru blinked: "So, can I go take a bath? I feel sticky and uncomfortable all over."

Shizuku only let go of her hand upon hearing these words, sat up straight on his crotch: "Then I'll go prepare a medicinal bath for you, Uesugi-kun, remember to wash up and come over."

Uesugi Toru gazed at the girl's departing back, recalling her scorching hot gaze just now.

He thought he probably understood how to turn the Mirror of the Mind in his heart into the foundation for entering Hundred Refined, 【Xin Zhi Chen】.

(End of Chapter)