Kokushibo glanced down at his tattered clothing, a rare flicker of confusion surfacing in his usually serene eyes.
But a moment later, as if recalling something, understanding returned to his expression.
Though his face was smeared with dirt and dust, Shishu's features were radiant with the joy of victory.
"You used... the broken wooden blade just now?"
He bent down, picked up half of the splintered practice sword from the ground, and pointed at the shreds of cloth still clinging to it.
"I did," Shishu answered calmly.
"I knew the gap between our strength was vast. From the start, I never intended to meet your attacks head-on."
He brushed the dirt off his clothes and rose to his feet, speaking softly.
"Everything I did earlier was to divert your attention as much as possible."
Kokushibo nodded. The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place in his mind.
During their exchange, while retreating, Shishu had kicked the broken blade in his direction.
Back then, Kokushibo had assumed the battle was already over. He had been deceived by Shishu's pitiful state and, instinctively, ignored the discarded weapon.
In truth, this entire match had been a masterclass in strategy. Shishu had pushed both his intellect and combat prowess to the limit.
He had passed the trial.
As Kokushibo looked at Shishu wincing from the swelling on his wrist, he suddenly laughed.
It was the first time he had ever lost composure like this, but the laughter came from deep within his heart.
Perhaps the successor he had long awaited, the true heir to the Breath of the Sun, was right here before him.
With that thought, Kokushibo reached into his robes and retrieved a small booklet.
He tossed it to Shishu, then walked to the nearby weapons rack and took down his blade.
Shishu caught the booklet and read the bold title printed on its cover.
Breath of the Sun
He flipped through its pages with care, and to his astonishment, found not only the twelve known forms of the Breath of the Sun, but also foundational breathing methods and the advanced technique of Total Concentration Breathing.
This small volume held the essence of Kokushibo's entire life—his swordsmanship, his breathing techniques, his discipline. It was a book that could drive both humans and demons to madness.
"Finished reading?" Kokushibo asked in a voice that had once again returned to calm.
"If you've read it, then watch closely. I'll demonstrate all twelve sword techniques recorded in that book."
A firsthand demonstration of the legendary Breath of the Sun.
Shishu felt his breath quicken. His pulse surged as blood rushed through his veins. He nodded with urgency.
In the next moment, Kokushibo unsheathed his sword.
A clear metallic whisper rang out as the blade slid free, flashing under the sunlight with a chilling radiance.
The edge gleamed with killing intent. The black-and-red blade shimmered with the heat of the sun, and at its base, a single character was carved — "Destruction."
The world itself seemed to lose color. A force beyond description surged from Kokushibo's body, pressing down with overwhelming gravity.
Shishu, wiping sweat from his brow, stared unblinking, terrified he might miss a single motion.
"Breath of the Sun — First Form: Dance of the Fire Wheel."
"Breath of the Sun — Second Form: Clear Sky."
…
"Breath of the Sun — Eleventh Form: Dragon Head Dance of the Solar Halo."
"Breath of the Sun — Twelfth Form: Flame Waltz."
Though the mysterious Thirteenth Form remained unfinished, Kokushibo executed the other twelve forms flawlessly, one after another.
He performed the entire sequence tirelessly, again and again.
From the moment the sun rose to when it sank behind the horizon, from morning dew to the burning hues of twilight, Kokushibo danced through his techniques like a living embodiment of the sun itself.
By the time Shishu came to his senses, Kokushibo had vanished.
Only the deep furrows carved into the earth remained, silent proof that he had been there.
"The Breath of the Sun… truly a technique beyond the reach of ordinary men."
The divine sword forms played on a loop in Shishu's mind as he walked away, filled with awe.
After dinner, under the warm glow of lantern light, he opened the booklet once more.
Though he had memorized every motion Kokushibo displayed, without mastering the breathing technique itself, he would never be able to wield them to perfection.
To grow stronger, Breath Technique was the only shortcut worth taking.
On the first page, the theory behind breathing was written in large, deliberate characters.
"Breath Technique is the art of expanding the lungs to their fullest, strengthening heart and lung function, and rapidly increasing oxygen flow through the blood."
Even that single line was accompanied by Kokushibo's meticulous notes and annotations.
It was clear how much of his life and energy had been poured into this book.
"Well then… time to begin."
Taking a deep breath, Shishu began to follow the method outlined on the page.
"Inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale…"
As time passed, the moon rose into the sky, replacing the sun above.
The cycle of day and night continued without pause.
Unaware of the passing hours, Shishu remained fully immersed in his breathing.
Aside from the slow rhythm of his breath, the small room was utterly silent.
Within that silence, Shishu's mind was filled with a series of ethereal voices.
"Congratulations, Host. You have acquired the skill: Basic Breath of the Sun (0/1000)."
"Due to the Host's innate capabilities, Breath of the Sun techniques have been unlocked."
"Skill acquired: Breath of the Sun — First Form: Dance of the Fire Wheel."
"Skill acquired: Breath of the Sun — Second Form: Clear Sky."
"Skill acquired: Breath of the Sun — Third Form: Crimson Mirror."
…
"Skill acquired: Breath of the Sun — Twelfth Form: Flame Waltz."
"Thirteenth Form remains locked."
"Congratulations, Host. For mastering the Breath of the Sun through your own efforts, you have been awarded 4,000 points."
"Due to the Host's foundation, Basic Breath of the Sun (0/1000) has advanced to Novice Breath of the Sun (4000/10000)."
Without even realizing it, Shishu had fully mastered the Breath of the Sun.
Thanks to the system's reward, he had not only gained mastery, but had even skipped an entire tier.
Still, that wasn't the end.
Even while asleep, Shishu's body continued to practice the breathing method.
His nostrils drew in air rhythmically. His muscles pulsed with a steady, coordinated rhythm.
His entire body became like a finely tuned machine, every part working in harmony.
The swelling on his wrist and bruises across his body gradually faded. The soreness and fatigue from battle began to dissolve.
Even minor internal injuries, too subtle to notice before, were being healed by the power of breathing.
To perform breathing even in sleep — that was a realm few ever reached.
Total Concentration Breathing.
"Due to the Host's aptitude, breathing method has advanced to Total Concentration Breathing."
"Congratulations, Host. You have mastered Total Concentration Breathing through your own efforts. You have been awarded 5,000 points."
"Combining with your existing skill, Novice Total Concentration Breath of the Sun (4000/10000) has advanced to Novice Total Concentration Breath of the Sun (9000/10000)."
In just a few short days, Shishu had achieved what most took years to grasp.
He had not only learned the Breath of the Sun — he had also succeeded in mastering the Total Concentration form.
The stars faded from the sky, replaced by the bright light of a new sun.
Shishu's eyelids trembled slightly before he slowly opened his eyes.