Special Training for Stone Breathing

Gyomei Himejima’s training temple was far from the Butterfly Mansion.

Chu Yang had thought they would leave by train, but to his surprise, Gyomei Himejima actually intended to take him back on foot!

"Your physique is extraordinary. You need harsher tempering!"

That was the reason Gyomei Himejima gave Chu Yang.

But Chu Yang felt that the man simply wanted to save on train fare.

"An ascetic monk…" The very thought of that inhuman term made Chu Yang’s scalp tingle. Gyomei Himejima was undoubtedly that sort of person.

Among the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, Muichiro Tokito had the greatest talent for swordsmanship, while Gyomei Himejima had the greatest physical talent.

Gyomei Himejima had originally been an ordinary monk training in a temple and had never received any introduction to Breathing Techniques.

Yet, as an ordinary man, he had been able to battle demons until dawn and even inflict fatal wounds upon them. Across the entire Demon Slayer world, there was no second person with such physical talent. It was precisely because of this that Gyomei Himejima had struggled to find a suitable successor.

Ordinary people simply could not train in the sword techniques he had created based on his own physical capabilities.

After walking for an entire day and night, Gyomei Himejima led Chu Yang into a deep mountain forest.

Only when they reached the mountainside did Chu Yang see a temple standing there all alone.

Desolate and dilapidated.

Living in a place like this, it would be harder not to encounter demons.

After entering, Chu Yang found that it was not as bad as he had imagined.

The temple was not large, but its interior was clean and tidy. Even the fallen leaves in the courtyard had been neatly swept into a pile by the side.

It was clear that Gyomei Himejima was diligent in his daily life.

Gyomei Himejima lit every lamp in the temple.

As a blind man, it made no difference to him whether the lights were on or not. He did it for Chu Yang’s sake.

Once the lamps were lit, the small temple even seemed somewhat cozy.

"Tomorrow, you will formally begin your swordsman training. Let me give you a warning first: the greater one’s physical talent, the more severe the obstacles encountered during Breathing Technique training."

Under the bright lamplight, Gyomei Himejima slowly said, "Breathing Techniques are also called Total Concentration Breathing. They are special techniques created by humans to fight demons. They strengthen the heart and lungs, allowing the blood to contain a great amount of oxygen in a short time and improving the body’s functions."

Chu Yang nodded to show that he understood.

In truth, due to the limits of his own knowledge, there was another aspect Gyomei Himejima had not mentioned.

Breathing Techniques also stimulated adrenaline to a certain extent.

Otherwise, merely increasing the blood’s oxygen content would make it difficult to raise a person’s physical abilities to the level of demons.

Gyomei Himejima continued, "Breathing is both an instinct and a necessity for human survival, but not everyone understands how to breathe correctly. Next, I will teach you the proper method."

Chu Yang listened with rapt attention as Gyomei Himejima explained how to train in Breathing Techniques.

After sharing the talents of his other selves from other worlds, Chu Yang’s current memory and comprehension abilities meant that he only needed Gyomei Himejima to explain something once for it to be deeply imprinted in his mind.

Gyomei Himejima had intended to continue his detailed explanation, only to discover that Chu Yang’s chest was already rising and falling rhythmically like a bellows.

Faint white streams of air circulated in and out through Chu Yang’s nose and mouth. This was a sign that the Breathing Technique was operating correctly.

Gyomei Himejima’s pupils suddenly contracted.

After all his years in the Demon Slayer Corps, he had never heard of anyone entering a state of Total Concentration Breathing so quickly.

Chu Yang’s breathing was deep, steady, and powerful, a characteristic of Stone Breathing.

Gyomei Himejima quietly stood guard nearby. Beginners attempting Breathing for the first time could not sustain it for long, because their hearts and lungs could not endure prolonged stimulation.

Only through constant training could they extend the duration of their breathing.

Eventually, they would achieve "Total Concentration Constant," keeping their bodies in a continuous state of Breathing.

Meanwhile, whenever Chu Yang was about to reach his limit, a surge of vitality would emerge from within him and nourish his heart and lungs. It felt like gulping down icy water in the height of summer, refreshing him to the core.

Rather than feeling uncomfortable after remaining in that state for so long, Chu Yang gradually began to enjoy it.

Second by second, time passed…

Gyomei Himejima, who had been silently watching over Chu Yang, sensed that something was wrong. Chu Yang had remained in the breathing state for far too long, greatly exceeding the average. Based on past experience, he should have exited that state long ago.

Yet strangely, Chu Yang did not seem uncomfortable at all. His complexion was even rosier than before, leaving Gyomei Himejima utterly unable to understand it.

Gyomei Himejima could only murmur, "Amitabha," then quietly sit in meditation, keeping part of his attention on Chu Yang in case anything unexpected happened.

Only at dawn did Chu Yang leave the breathing state and stretch lazily in comfort.

At that moment, Gyomei Himejima slowly opened his sightless eyes and softly asked, "How do you feel? Is there any discomfort in your body?"

Chu Yang sensed the condition of his body and said, "My whole body feels warm. There’s nothing uncomfortable."

Gyomei Himejima sensed that Chu Yang’s aura had grown much stronger than before and nodded in satisfaction. "Being able to quickly grasp a Breathing Technique proves that you are highly compatible with Stone Breathing. This will save us a great deal of time, allowing us to focus our efforts on training sword techniques."

As if afraid that Chu Yang would be too eager for quick success, Gyomei Himejima added, "Although you remained in the breathing state longer than others on your first attempt, you must be careful. If your body feels any discomfort, immediately stop the Breathing Technique."

"I understand." Chu Yang eagerly asked, "Then when do we begin training in sword techniques?"

Gyomei Himejima pressed his palms together and said quietly, "I originally intended to let you rest, but in your current condition, you certainly will not be able to sleep. Then we will begin now."

"Throughout history, swordsmen who trained in Stone Breathing have possessed far greater strength than those of other styles. Therefore, ordinary Nichirin Swords are unsuitable for us."

At this point, Gyomei Himejima paused. "It seems you still do not know what a Nichirin Sword is?"

Chu Yang replied, "I saw one when I was rescued, and I also saw them carried by injured swordsmen at the Butterfly Mansion. But everyone’s Nichirin Sword seemed different?"

Gyomei Himejima nodded. "Nichirin Swords differ in appearance from person to person. Once you officially become a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman, you will also have your own Nichirin Sword."

"The material of a Nichirin Sword differs from ordinary blades. It is made from a mineral called Scarlet Crimson Ore. This mineral can absorb the sun’s energy, which is why it can effectively harm demons."

"Since ancient times, every demon has feared the sun."

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