Chapter 70

The expressions of the three—Peach Rabbit, and the others—sank slightly.

"Has Instructor Zephyr truly resigned from all his posts?" Peach Rabbit asked.

"Mn."

After a moment of silence, Peach Rabbit continued, "Where is Instructor Zephyr now?"

Blowing a puff of smoke from his cigar, Fire Mountain said, "Scientists from the Mechanical Division seemed to have gone to find him earlier; they're probably going to fit him with a mechanical arm."

"Is that so..." Peach Rabbit murmured softly.

She too had graduated from the Marine Academy and had received Zephyr's guidance and instruction.

She never expected that Instructor Zephyr, who was so unwaveringly devoted to justice, would one day choose to resign voluntarily.

"Don't mention tonight's events to anyone," Wartmouse suddenly said.

Fire Mountain glanced at Wartmouse. "It doesn't matter whether we say anything or not; I feel the higher-ups must already know."

"Eh? Then why haven't the higher-ups summoned Wartmouse for tea yet? Didn't Vice Admiral Tsuru order that no one was to teach that boy?" Tea Pig asked in confusion.

"Perhaps it's because of Instructor Zephyr," Peach Rabbit guessed.

"Maybe," Wartmouse said, scratching his head. "What I mean is, don't tell the higher-ups about the boy unleashing Sword Master-level slashes."

"Huh? Then why hasn't the higher-ups invited the Flying Squirrel for tea yet? Didn't Vice Admiral Tsuru order that no one was allowed to teach that kid?"

"Although he unleashed several Sword Master-level slashes while fighting me tonight, his actual swordsmanship has not yet reached the level of a Sword Master."

Peach Rabbit's beautiful eyes flickered. "You mean he has only just touched upon it, is that it?"

"Correct. In truth, he still has a long way to go before reaching the level of a Sword Master," Wartmouse said, lighting a cigarette and exhaling clouds of smoke.

"Even so, that boy is like a monster. I don't know if he might suddenly stride across the threshold of Sword Mastery with both feet tomorrow."

"In any case, from today onward, I will no longer spar with that boy to hone his swordsmanship; whatever becomes of him is no concern of mine."

Listening to Wartmouse, Tea Pig scratched his head, his face filled with distress and worry. "Three monsters above, and now another monster has appeared behind them..."

"Haha, isn't it good that new forces are catching up?" Fire Mountain chuckled.

"The main issue is that he is still just a Marine trainee and hasn't officially joined the Marines. If someone like him deviates from justice..." Tea Pig sighed. "Now I understand Vice Admiral Tsuru's concerns; this kid really seems to be a troublesome monster."

The four of them walked together along the dim road ahead.

"In any case, from today onward, I will never again accompany that kid in honing his swordsmanship. Whatever happens to him has nothing to do with me."

Luo En, having swept away the depression weighing on his chest today, felt utterly relaxed and cheerful as he returned to his residence.

He lay in a wooden tub filled with hot water, easing the physical and mental exhaustion accumulated over the past two months.

"I have already touched upon the realm of Cutting Steel; what remains is to gradually familiarize myself with and master that sensation," Luo En thought silently.

"The main thing is, he's still just a Marine intern and hasn't officially joined the Marines. If someone like that were to stray from justice…"

The term flashed through Luo En's mind.

The reason Luo En had been able to unleash Sword Master-level slashes when facing Wartmouse earlier was due to the eruption of the suppressed rage within his heart.

Yet this was merely a deviation.

To truly reach the realm of a Sword Master, one must accumulate the heroic spirit of a swordsman within one's heart!

With ten thousand feet of heroic spirit in the chest and a will as unyielding as iron, there would be nothing under the blade that could not be cut, nothing that could not be severed!

"I have already touched the realm of cutting steel. What I need to do next is gradually become familiar with and master that feeling."

Luo En closed his eyes, and the words Koshiro had spoken to him when he left the dojo surfaced in his mind.

"Luo En, since you are a swordsman, you must have something within your heart to uphold. Only when your heart is firm and clear, and your actions never betray your inner self, can you stir up ten thousand feet of heroic spirit within your chest. With a will as steadfast as a boulder, the slashes you unleash will be able to cut through anything, to sever everything!"

Luo En now somewhat understood the meaning behind Koshiro's words back then.

"Having something to uphold in one's heart is like a boulder standing firm in the Dahe River; unmoved by myriad affairs, uncomplaining despite countless hardships, and unretreating even when trapped in desperate situations."

"Truly powerful slashes are cut forth from within the heart!"

"This is the realm of Cutting Steel of the Sword Master!"

Luo En opened his eyes, his gaze clear and bright.

He could now see the path leading to the realm of the Sword Master.

At the same time, as his comprehension of the Way of the Sword advanced another level, the sword intent throughout his body surged rapidly.

The accompanying sword techniques carried by the other Breathing Styles derived from the Breathing of the Sun manifested entirely within his mind.

Breathing of Water, evolving from the First Form all the way to the Tenth Form.

"When one holds something steadfast within the heart, it is like a boulder standing in the Dahe—unmoved by the myriad affairs of the world, uncomplaining through ten thousand tribulations, and unretreating even when standing in a desperate land."

Breathing of the Moon...

Breathing of the Sun...

When Luo En opened his eyes again, he had already mastered all the sword techniques except for the final ultimate moves accompanying these Breathing Styles.

He could already see the path leading to the Sword Master realm.

At the same time.

As his comprehension of the Way of the Sword reached a new level.

The sword intent throughout his body also surged rapidly.

The companion sword techniques carried by the other breathing methods derived from the Sun Breathing Method all evolved in his mind.

Water Breathing, from First Form all the way to Tenth Form.

Flame Breathing…

Moon Breathing…

Sun Breathing…

When Luo En opened his eyes again.

He had already mastered all the sword techniques except the ultimate esoteric sword moves that accompanied these breathing methods.

"System, list my current attribute panel."

【Okay】

【Host: Luo En.

Age: 11.

Qi and Blood Value: 734.

Swordsmanship: Intent Realm (Great Completion)

Sun Breathing mastery: 98%.

Weapon: Great Sword of the Twenty-One Crafts - Lei Qie.

Permanent Buff: True Meaning of Tempered a Thousand Times (Binding…)

Armament Haki: lv3.

Observation Haki: lv1.

Conqueror's Haki: lv0.

Soru: lv1.

Moon Step: lv1.

Rankyaku: lv2.

Special Skill: Mechanical Mastery.】

"Sun Breathing mastery has already reached 98%…"

Luo En's eyes lit up slightly.

Over the next few days, he focused on cultivating the Sun Breathing technique.

Planning to bring it to 100% completion as quickly as possible.

…………

【PS: Thanks to 'Shadow of Charm Severed' boss for the 1000-point tip!! Also thanks to all friends who threw flowers and monthly tickets!!】

62, Transparent World (4/5)

Five days later.

Sun Breathing mastery reached 99%.

Another ten days later.

Sun Breathing mastery reached 100%.

At the instant it reached 100%.

The system's prompt sounded in Luo En's mind.