Bear School Astartes

Lann heard Iwami Yixin's request, so he no longer pursued the perfect timing and angle to block the incoming blades.

Instead, he simply held his sword horizontally to block the attack route.

The clash of blades lost their crispness due to the lack of technique, and sparks no longer exploded in a circle.

If Lann had just encountered the Iwami Style when he first arrived, he would have likely lost his entire posture after hard-blocking seven or eight blades by now.

But now, though his posture had undergone some discordant deformation, he still maintained it.

Posture is the way warriors efficiently mobilize their muscles to work in conjunction. Whether defending or attacking, a stable posture is essential.

Iwami Style: Flowing Water—known by all Iwami people, flowing water is strong. Even when blocking attacks, one should not meet force with force but seek to overcome rigidity with softness.

This move can significantly increase one's posture stability. Even when in a passive defensive state during battle, the technique deflects force without vulnerability but maintains stability in the midst of soft waves, preventing the posture from easily breaking apart.

Iwami Yixin watched with twitching eye corners... Alright!

Now, even just talking about Iwami Style, Lann can rank in the top five at Hirata Manor!

Comparing him to Yamai Diansan and Nojima Iizuka, it's hard to say whose Iwami Style is stronger, even though both have practiced for over a decade.

When Iwami Yixin was young, he toured through the war-torn East Japan, seeing legendary geniuses; he now stands alone as the best fighter in all East Japan. Hence, he doesn't think those people's talents are remarkable.

But witnessing a genius who picks up an entirely new martial arts system from scratch, then trains to such a level in a few days... that's unheard of!

"Clang clang!"

With the last two slashes, Lann's posture, already on the brink of collapse, instantly scattered and fell apart.

The open door down the body's mid-line exposed, with his legs spreading apart and weight pressed down, yet the center of gravity still swaying, incapable of steadiness.

This is what being forced to the limit by the Iwami Style looks like.

It was as if sand had been mixed into the overall operation of the muscles, leaving them stiff, sluggish, and slow.

Facing the Iwami Style for the first time, most would probably think their bodies had developed some major ailment in the heat of battle.

In this situation, anyone wielding a sword could cause terrifying damage.

As the victim is completely defenseless, striking the neck with a blade wouldn't be difficult.

However, Lann has experienced this powerless and bizarre feeling many times at Iwami Yixin's hand, so in the next moment, his breathing suddenly changed.

Deep and powerful breaths brought abundant oxygen, which, through the Second Heart, merged into the blood with great efficiency, delivering all over the body.

Simultaneously, all the muscles, bones, and ligaments were pulled and corrected by the breathing.

The collapsed stance was shed under the breathing method in just over a second by Lann.

Torso Breathing, an effective stance-adjusting breathing technique.

In essence, it corrects undesirable bodily movements via breathing. During combat, it adjusts posture promptly, and before battle, it aids rapid warm-up, entering a combat state.

According to Iwami Yixin, long-term practice of this breathing method might even slowly amend one's physique, enhancing posture and uprightness in walking, sitting, and lying.

Chronic damages like spinal curvature and lumbar muscle strain hold no significance for those who practice Torso Breathing.

Lann thinks of the already fallen Nogami Genji, noting this truth.

Even as an elderly warrior, he remains upright and proper when standing.

After observing Lann's progress, Iwami Yixin swiftly concluded today's lesson.

Lann didn't understand why, but he sensed the old man seemed to be in a hurry to end the day.

All the techniques of Iwami Style, from the basic Dragon's Ascent to the ultimate Iwami Cross Slash, had already been taught to Lann.

Theoretically, Lann had completely received it, only lacking proficiency.

Contrasting the rapidly progressing Iwami Style, the separate swordsmanship move Drifting Boat Crossing somewhat stumped Lann.

He showed the sword move to Yixin, whose expression turned peculiar, seemingly familiar with the person adept in this swordsmanship.

When discussing it, his expression held memories and carefree ease.

"The source of this move... haha, what an extraordinary swordsman she is!"

"That woman can fight with a grace akin to dancing; meeting her gaze could create the illusion of being gently drawn underwater... hahaha! Last time we faced each other, I almost got cut down in sparring!"

"Iwami Yixin has lived this long, yet such an experience only happened once."

The old man's tone sounded less like discussing barely surviving an encounter with a beautiful lady swordsman but more like receiving the lady's favor.

Such a bold delight.

To him, perhaps the woman's swordsmanship was more important than her beauty.

Regarding whether Lann could master this move, Yixin felt amused.

"If you could abandon armor, I might think you could recreate the look of Drifting Boat Crossing, but now... I hearsay your Light Body Skill isn't quite ideal, ha-ha."

...You lean slick old fellow, 'ha-ha' my foot!

I see you just don't understand the allure of heavy armor!

Before Lann left, Iwami Yixin rested a hand on the sword hilt at his waist, emphasizing as the end-of-lesson ritual.

The swaying candlelight in the Buddhist Hall flickered, and his single eye shone sharply like an eagle.

"Lann, Iwami Style is a free technique; victory is paramount, and nothing else matters."

"Sasai Shinsuke's Iwami Cross Slash has been altered beyond recognition, his Divine Speed Iaijutsu Slash rendering him incapable of controlling the slashing direction. Technically, it's undoubtedly an extreme blunder. Yet I still haven't asked him to abandon the move. After all, Iwami Style is inherently individual, a free technique."

"I hope you, such a talent, don't turn into a mundane rule-following person, Lann. That would be too disappointing."

The Demon Hunter walked away, waving a hand behind without turning back, indicating he heard.

This behavior greatly defies East Japan etiquette, yet Iwami Yixin chuckled as he watched the youth's departing figure.

He knew this guy never really cared about the world's rules and confinements. It was precisely because of this that the youth seemed particularly intriguing.

As long as a warrior fights well, all eccentric habits and quirks simply embellish honor with beautiful accents.

Iwami Yixin's words were already a part of Lann's comprehension.

After Mentos joined the Iwami Style learning, both it and Lann felt it.

The founder's concept of 'Victory Above All, No Taboos' made this swordsmanship resemble an integrated platform where 'users' develop different outcomes based on varying understandings and heights.

Mentos analyzed Iwami Yixin's hand muscles, uncovering the old guy at least proficient in spear techniques, and it seemed he'd practiced some rifle skills too!

Who could claim any move from Iwami Yixin isn't Iwami Style?

Concerning Iwami Yixin's worry about 'rule-following'? That's no issue for Lann.

If not needing this old man to teach him in the future, when they first sparred, just watch whether Lann greeted him with Igni Magic Seal right on the face!

Rule-following?

You see this Alchemy Bomb in my hand?

I call it 'Iwami Style: Explosive Tech.' Anyone with objections can step forward and say so.

Once Lann returns to Airetusa, drains two dean-level female warlocks of Chaos Magic Power, and infuses it into the Alchemy Bomb.

Then when he declares 'Iwami Style is an invincible swordsmanship'!

Is that a problem?

Surely, apart from the legitimate mages and the legion equipped with anti-magic gold, no one dares utter a word.