Chapter 79: Corona Breathing Technique

The Zashiki Warashi left.

She left without any reluctance when departing, leaving Uesugi Toru only a small, cool back view.

"Equivalent to having him forge a weapon for me for free……"

Uesugi Toru sighed, which made him feel rather embarrassed.

Originally he wanted to give the Zashiki Warashi an item, but rummaging through everything he only had Blue-Green Items, let alone helping her, just not taking up space in her backpack counted as success.

So Uesugi Toru had no choice but to remember her final request.

Make red bean rice once a year, then pick January 1st every year.

Also bow to the Zashiki Warashi, this little Fortune God, when praying for good fortune during the New Year.

Uesugi Toru decided as such.

……

After leaving Arakawa Ghost Village, Uesugi Toru did not immediately enter Kisaragi Station or Edo Castle to throw his life away.

First was because he had lost too much blood and was still somewhat tired, and perhaps because he hadn't bathed for a long time, his body still carried a trace of Qigui's bloody smell.

Second was because Tennen Rishin-ryu was about to upgrade, Uesugi Toru prepared to first gather his energy and go practice swordsmanship with Shizuku tomorrow, and after learning the Breathing Technique, then enter Chang Shi.

After making up his mind, the bathed Uesugi Toru directly fell onto the bed and closed his eyes.

Early the next morning.

Uesugi Toru put on his school uniform, and seeing classmates walking in twos and threes on the way to school talking and laughing, he felt somewhat dazed.

Entering Chang Shi with day and night reversed too many times caused Uesugi Toru to now have lost even the basic concept of what day of the week and date it was today.

He almost forgot which day he decided not to go to school, only remembering that after that he slashed Haku.

Speaking of this, Uesugi Toru also had to say, the Special Affairs Division did really well in handling the aftermath.

Not only were so many Spiritual Events classified as various fires, explosions, and ordinary violent incidents, making the vast majority of Ordinary People completely unaware.

Even the death of his good friends Kumamoto, Seifeng, and the girl named Takahashi who played Fox Dog Raccoon Death with him became "transferring schools" and "studying abroad".

And their families did not come to the school to cause trouble.

Before the large-scale Yokai Kaidan invasion caused by the First Wave descended, blockading information was undoubtedly the best approach.

Because not only would more people knowing about Yaoguai make them come to Genjitsu more easily.

Related mysterious knowledge would also pollute Ordinary People, making them more likely to encounter ghosts or fall into mental confusion, and even directly provide anchor points for the descent of powerful existences.

By the way—

He and Shizuku hadn't come to school before, it seemed the Special Affairs Division also gave a reasonable excuse.

Uesugi Toru took out his mobile phone, looking at the message Rituna Minami sent him.

"The excuse is, Shizuku and I were selected to participate in the special training for the Imperial Precedent Grand Tournament……"

He originally wanted to just casually note it down, but then discovered there was another message below.

Uesugi Toru narrowed his eyes and read aloud: "Although it's an excuse, the matter of the Imperial Precedent Grand Tournament is true, I've reported you and Shizuku both into the overseas selection list……"

What the heck, the intelligence is real?!

Imperial Precedent Grand Tournament?

What is that?

Uesugi Toru searched online and found related searches were zero.

Forget it.

Now it's absolutely true beyond doubt.

However Rituna Minami told him not to rush, there was still a long time before the overseas selection for the Imperial Precedent Grand Tournament began, who knows he might not even live until then.

【Tsukisuna-chan: Nanjo Sister, thank you for your blessing, ow.】

Stuffing his mobile phone back into his pocket in annoyance, when Uesugi Toru entered the school gate he felt many gazes from classmates, among them both envy and jealousy, and also worship and doubt.

However Uesugi Toru didn't care.

After casually greeting a few classmates whose names he couldn't remember, Uesugi Toru naturally came to the last row of the classroom and continued practicing the Kiai Technique.

Shizuku said she would look for him at noon, so Uesugi Toru would first continue polishing the proficiency of the Kiai Technique alone.

As for why not go directly to the Kendo Hall, Shizuku's explanation was that she still needed to study—learning novel knowledge also helped the growth of Sword Heart.

Of course, while studying she didn't forget to practice the Breathing Technique, and simulate fighting opponents in her mind.

Three tasks with one heart!

"Sword Heart Penetration is simply the strongest talent for grinding dogs……"

Compared to this person who cultivated even while eating, drinking, and sleeping, Uesugi Toru who also used fragmented time to constantly cultivate seemed so lazy and useless.

However this schedule actually didn't have much impact on Uesugi Toru.

Because if practicing Swordsmanship, one had to use String Hun Xiang Hui with full concentration.

Under this level of seriousness, even though Uesugi Toru's constitution had greatly improved, he couldn't last two or three hours.

If only he could understand what Sword Heart Penetration was.

Unfortunately, Shizuku said Swordsmanship realms could only rely on individual comprehension.

She could only give a pointer on even "Jinken Gōitsu"—

"You need to deeply feel the sensation of you and the sword in your hand merging as one, and turn it into instinct."

As for Sword Heart Penetration, this realm she broke through inexplicably by talent, it was even more out of the question to give pointers.

Under the gazes of classmates of all kinds, the focused Uesugi Toru finished a morning of Kiai Technique cultivation.

【Your skill, Kiai Technique Fragment proficiency +27!】

……

Not going to the cafeteria, Uesugi Toru casually bought a bread at the kiosk to fill his stomach.

High-intensity training is coming up; if I eat until I'm stuffed I'll definitely vomit it all back up — equivalent to eating a meal for nothing.

Walking along the familiar tree-lined path, Uesugi Toru arrived at the Dojo's Doorway.

"Huh? How come there's no one?"

Shouldn't it be the Kendo Club's club activity time right now? How come there isn't a single person?

"Club activity time was changed." Hearing footsteps, Shizuku, who was sitting at the Doorway meditating, opened her eyes. "Kondou Taikou is our Teacher's older brother."

No wonder.

Uesugi Toru had originally been wondering who could make that Teacher — whose every word was full of Showa flavor — change the schedule for the two of them.

Turns out it was pulling the family card.

"Since you're here, less nonsense."

Shizuku stepped aside to let him in, her voice booming like thunder: "I'll teach you the Breathing Technique."

This time, Uesugi Toru's eardrums ached from the shock.

Not to mention anything else, just in terms of loudness of voice, Shizuku — who had only been practicing the Breathing Technique for a few days — was already about on par with him.

You have to understand, his Kiai Technique is at Mastery Level, while what level has Shizuku practiced the Breathing Technique to?

Entry Level? Or just barely Proficiency?

"Uesugi-kun, it hasn't even been two days since I learned this 【Corona Breathing Technique】; you could say I've only just barely reached Entry Level." Shizuku still began with hands folded in a guard. "So my approach and Understanding might not be correct; please bear with me."

Entry Level?

Uesugi Toru's eyes brightened.

At just this degree she can already match his Mastery Level Kiai Technique in some respects; this Breathing Technique's potential is indeed no ordinary thing.

Shizuku sat cross-legged, and after seeing Uesugi Toru change into his Kendo uniform, slowly explained the basics and knowledge regarding the Breathing Technique.

【Tokugawa Ririko is imparting Skill·Ruriko Breathing Method to you...】

【Learning Condition: Swordsmanship Realm must have at least reached "Sword Heart Penetration"】

【You do not currently meet the learning condition.】

Hearing halfway through, seeing the Prompt pop up, Uesugi Toru — who was just preparing to happily obtain a new Skill — froze.

"Ah?"

Ruriko Breathing Method what the heck?

Could it be that in just these two days, Shizuku has already transformed this Breathing Technique — passed down for who knows how long — into her own version?

Seeing Uesugi Toru's shocked look, Shizuku let out a light hum and made a cat-mouth smile.

"As expected, you discovered it, Uesugi-kun."

She asked curiously: "I wanted to try first, whether you also feel my improved Breathing Technique is more useful. Because the original Breathing Technique cultivates very slowly, and requires all sorts of strange Basics, and even demands aptitude..."

None of it demands aptitude as high as yours, "Sword Heart Penetration" aptitude.

Uesugi Toru shook his head, crossing his Hand Palms in an X before his chest: "Completely can't learn it."

"Is that so, I understand."

Shizuku puffed out her Mouth in some disappointment.

She thought for a good while, then coughed twice: "Then, please forget the previous knowledge, Uesugi-kun, and we'll start over."

About a Half Hour later.

【Tokugawa Ririko is imparting Skill·Corona Breathing Technique...】

【Whether to learn, Corona Breathing Technique?】

Uesugi Toru's Complexion showed a hint of joy; he selected yes.

【You have learned, Corona Breathing Technique.】

【Corona Breathing Technique (Not Entry Level 0/1000)】

【Effect: Strengthen body and health】

【— Art true to its name; cultivated to the depths it will become as Shiretsu as the Hongri.】

Not even Entry Level, yet it requires a full 1000 Proficiency points?

This is the same Proficiency requirement as raising Kiai Technique to Mastery max level.

Now Uesugi Toru finally understands what speed Shizuku meant by "cultivates very slowly."

His Forehead twitched; just when will he be able to reach Entry Level at this rate?

Just as Uesugi Toru was thinking this, two more Prompts popped up before his eyes.

【Detected you have learned Skill·Kiai Technique Fragment (Mastery Level).】

【Whether to choose to fuse it with Skill·Corona Breathing Technique, to lower its learning Boundary?】

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(End of Chapter)