Chapter 21: That's Not How You Use a Breathing Technique!
Ryuji arrived at the training ground and began warming up, using the Marine Soldier's scientific warm-up routine.
At this moment, the Stone Hashira and the Sound Hashira were already standing in the middle of the training ground, and most of the swordsmen who had arrived were sitting quietly around them.
Uzui Tengen whispered to Himejima Gyomei, "Have you seen this kind of warm-up before? It's quite flamboyant... If we could teach it to the other swordsmen, they might become even stronger."
Himejima Gyomei shook his head. "I haven't. Let's ask him if he's willing to share it after we finish... namu amida butsu."
The two stopped talking. Once Ryuji finished his warm-up, Himejima Gyomei stepped forward, holding his uniquely shaped nichirin blade—a broadaxe and a flail connected by a long chain.
He pointed the broadaxe toward a massive rock at the edge of the training ground, which was as tall as a man, and said, "Use your best Move to slice through this rock."
Ryuji nodded and took a deep breath. He gripped Little Purple tightly and slowly raised the blade. The terrifying strength granted by his One piece Physique poured down his arm and into the blade.
"Stone Breathing, Second Form: Upper Smash!"
He lunged forward suddenly, and the Little Purple in his hand traced an arc.
Boom!!
A loud crash rang out as stone chips flew everywhere!
That hard, giant rock was actually split open by his single strike, and the stone slid down the side, though the edges of the massive crack were somewhat rough.
The surrounding ordinary members let out a collective gasp, their gazes toward Ryuji filled with shock and awe.
Such pure strength was truly terrifying.
But Uzui Tengen, standing to the side, raised an eyebrow. "That wasn't very flamboyant..."
Himejima Gyomei sighed even more, two lines of clear tears streaming from his eyes as he whispered softly, "namu amida butsu... That's not right."
He spoke slowly; his voice wasn't loud, but it reached Ryuji's ears clearly. "Ryuji, that's not right. That's not how you use a Breathing Technique!"
Ryuji's mouth twitched. If something's wrong, tell me what it is!
Himejima Gyomei also seemed to sense that this wouldn't work, so he walked over to Ryuji and raised his broadaxe. "The true Stone Breathing is like this..."
As he finished speaking, a layer of faint, hazy gray light appeared on the edge of the broadaxe as it sliced the remaining half of the giant rock into two segments from top to bottom!
The cut was as smooth as a mirror!
Ryuji looked at Himejima Gyomei, who was glowing with gray light, and was a bit stunned. Did Breathing Techniques actually have special effects?
Wait... so his Breathing Technique had been wrong all along?
No way!
"namu amida butsu. It seems you still don't understand... How about this: let's have a real battle. Perhaps then you'll understand."
As Himejima Gyomei spoke, he set down his broadaxe and flail. Even though it was a real battle, they couldn't use real swords.
The Kakushi brought over two wooden swords. The swordsmen watching from the sidelines were all buzzing with excitement—a battle between a Hashira and a Genius swordsman!
They couldn't miss this!
Ryuji gripped the wooden katana with one hand, preparing to strike first. He took a deep breath: "Stone Breathing, First Form: Stone Strike!"
Bang!
The explosive speed made Uzui Tengen raise an eyebrow. "That Move is actually quite good, flamboyant enough..."
He looked toward the Flame Hashira, Rengoku Shinjuro, and his son, Rengoku Kyojuro, who were walking over slowly, and smiled. "You're late. That's not flamboyant at all."
"My apologies."
Rengoku Shinjuro seemed to be in a bad mood, responding only flatly. His gaze was distant, as if his mind were elsewhere.
Rengoku Kyojuro, on the other hand, bowed respectfully and apologized, "Sorry, we're late!"
"It's fine, it's fine. Just watch the duel."
Uzui Tengen keenly sensed that something had happened to Rengoku Shinjuro, so he changed the subject and didn't mention it again.
On the field, Ryuji advanced rapidly.
At the same time, he noticed his surroundings—there were no gray special effects!
Strange. He hadn't noticed before and thought Stone Breathing just didn't have special effects. Was it because he hadn't practiced it correctly?
How ridiculous!
"Not bad..."
Himejima Gyomei said softly, but in his heart, he was very surprised.
He was surprised by this rapid-advance technique. Stone Breathing was heavy, its attacks were powerful, and it was excellent for defense.
However, it was indeed lacking in speed and versatility. Yet Ryuji had forced out an explosive speed-boosting Move. This kind of talent... was truly strong.
At this rate, he'll likely be standing by my side soon.
namu amida butsu!
Thinking this, he raised the wooden sword high. "But your Breathing Technique seems inconsistent!"
Boom!
Ryuji was blown back like a cannonball.
He slid across the ground for a distance before stopping, his expression somewhat dazed.
Clearly, the power in Himejima Gyomei's movement just now wasn't that great, yet it could create such a powerful shockwave... Is this what a Breathing Technique is?
He seemed to understand a little.
The 'disconnection' Zephyr mentioned—was that what it was?
He had originally thought it was just poor swordsmanship fundamentals, a disconnection between his body and his swordsmanship.
Now it seemed he was merely using his physical strength to drive the Breathing Technique, rather than the Breathing Technique and physical strength being fused as one!
He seemed to get it!
"You are just using brute force to smash the demon's neck."
Himejima Gyomei said to the standing Ryuji, "Combine them—the Breathing Technique and the strength."
"I understand!"
Ryuji gave a solemn bow. "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Himejima!"
As expected, problems with Breathing Techniques required guidance from a local.
"namu amida butsu. It's good that you understand..."
Himejima Gyomei chanted his prayer softly and looked toward Uzui Tengen, who was standing at the edge of the field with his arms crossed.
The next second, Uzui Tengen stood before Ryuji with a flamboyant smile on his face.
"Next, let me, the God of Festivals, flamboyantly show you what the rhythm of battle is all about!"
Ryuji bowed to Himejima Gyomei as he slowly left the field. As the saying goes, listening to a wise man's words is better than studying for ten years.
Some things would take a very long time to figure out on one's own!
Afterward, Ryuji took a stance. This time, he tried to focus more on combining his breathing and strength.
It was a bit awkward; he felt like his body had strength but couldn't exert it.
"Oh? Already starting to try? That's pretty flamboyant!"
Before Uzui Tengen's voice could fade, his figure vanished from the spot instantly!
So fast!
Ryuji's pupils shrank, and he held the wooden sword in front of him almost by instinct.
Bang!
The wooden swords collided. The strength was similar... "Your breathing rhythm is a mess! Also, your reaction is good, but you're too stiff!"
As Uzui Tengen spoke, he shifted his feet. His figure was like a ghost, launching a storm-like assault around Ryuji.
His speed began to slow down gradually until it was similar to the speed Ryuji had displayed!
Ryuji understood that this was the same as when Zephyr taught him—overwhelming with power and speed would never work; it wouldn't teach anything.
"Don't get distracted! Getting distracted in battle will cost you your life! Remember, adjust your breathing, control the rhythm, and make every strike and every block happen when your breathing is at its most comfortable!"
Uzui Tengen's speed was similar to Ryuji's, even slightly slower, but his offensive was like a continuous tide!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The dense sound of collisions was incessant. Ryuji felt like a small boat in a stormy sea, only able to block passively and struggling to keep up.
He couldn't use his strength; his strikes either missed or their force was deflected!
"Your Moves are too rigid! Too easy to guess!"
While attacking, Uzui Tengen criticized loudly, "Every time before you strike, your breathing rhythm and muscle exertion are all clearly visible to me! It's like writing only one monotonous note on a flamboyant musical score—utterly boring!"
Ryuji parried a strike from Uzui Tengen and then actually tossed the wooden sword in his hand to his left hand.
"Switching hands during a fight? This is..."
Before Uzui Tengen could finish his sentence, he saw Ryuji's right fist clenching and smashing toward him. A smile appeared on Uzui's face. "Truly a flamboyant strike!"
"But... it's still a bit lacking!"
Uzui Tengen merely shifted his body slightly to easily dodge Ryuji's right fist and block the incoming wooden sword, laughing flamboyantly, "That last bit of rhythm wasn't bad..."
Bang!
Ryuji lay on the ground, looking at Uzui Tengen who was reaching out his right hand, and said solemnly, "Thank you for the guidance."
Loving Book So Far Check Out 40+ Chapters In Advanced At Pa Treon:
patreon.com/FictionsTL