Simultaneous Transmigration: From Japanese Anime to American Comics

Chapter 56: Special Training in Stone Breathing

The temple where Gyomei Himejima trained was far from the Butterfly Mansion.

Chu Yang initially thought they would take a train, but to his surprise, Gyomei insisted they walk back on foot!

"Your physique is extraordinary and requires more rigorous refinement!"

This was Gyomei's reasoning for the trek.

However, Chu Yang felt the real reason was simply that Gyomei wanted to save on train fare.

"A monk of austerity..." The thought of this inhumane concept sent chills down Chu Yang's spine. Gyomei Himejima undoubtedly embodied such a lifestyle.

Among the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, the one with the greatest swordsmanship talent was Muichiro Tokito, and the one with the strongest physical prowess was Gyomei Himejima.

Gyomei was originally just an ordinary monk training in a temple, never having received any formal training in the breathing techniques. Yet, as a mere human, he could battle demons until dawn and inflict lethal damage on them. Such physical talent was unmatched in the Demon Slayer world, and because of this, Gyomei had struggled to find a suitable successor for a long time.

The sword techniques he created based on his own abilities were impossible for ordinary people to learn.

After walking for a full day and night, Gyomei led Chu Yang into a remote mountain forest.

Halfway up the mountain, Chu Yang saw a lonely, desolate temple standing there.

It was bleak and dilapidated.

Living in such a place, encountering demons seemed inevitable.

Upon entering, however, Chu Yang realized it wasn't as bad as he had imagined.

The temple wasn't large, but it was clean and orderly. Even the fallen leaves in the courtyard had been swept neatly into piles.

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

Gyomei lit all the lamps inside the temple.

As a blind man, the lighting was irrelevant to him; this was done out of consideration for Chu Yang.

Once the lamps were lit, the small temple took on a slightly warmer atmosphere.

"Tomorrow, you will officially begin your training as a swordsman. I'll give you a heads-up: the stronger your physical gifts, the more severe the bottlenecks you'll face when training in the breathing techniques."

Under the bright lights, Gyomei continued slowly, "Breathing techniques, also known as Total Concentration Breathing, are specialized methods humans created to fight demons. They enhance heart and lung function, allowing the blood to be infused with large amounts of oxygen in a short period, boosting the body's overall performance."

Chu Yang nodded to show he understood.

In fact, due to the limitations of Gyomei's understanding, there was another aspect he hadn't mentioned.

Breathing techniques also have a stimulating effect on adrenaline.

Otherwise, simply increasing oxygen in the blood wouldn't be enough to elevate a person's physical abilities to a level capable of fighting demons.

Gyomei continued, "Breathing is a fundamental survival instinct and a necessary condition of life, but not everyone knows how to breathe properly. Next, I will teach you the correct way to breathe."

Chu Yang focused intently as Gyomei explained the method of training in the breathing technique.

Having shared his talents with his "other selves" from different worlds, Chu Yang now had excellent memory and comprehension abilities. He only needed Gyomei to explain things once for him to internalize the information thoroughly.

Gyomei was about to continue explaining in detail when he noticed that Chu Yang's chest was already rhythmically rising and falling like bellows.

A faint white stream of air circulated in and out of Chu Yang's nose and mouth, a sign that the breathing technique was functioning correctly.

Gyomei's pupils contracted sharply.

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

Chu Yang's breathing was extremely steady and powerful, a hallmark of the Stone Breathing technique.

Gyomei silently stood guard by his side. For beginners, it was difficult to maintain breathing for long because the heart and lungs would not be able to withstand the prolonged stimulation.

Only through constant training could one extend the duration of breathing.

The ultimate goal was "Total Concentration: Constant," which meant maintaining the breathing state continuously.

Meanwhile, whenever Chu Yang felt he was about to reach his limit, a surge of vitality would well up inside him, soothing his heart and lungs, much like taking a gulp of ice-cold water in the sweltering summer—a deeply refreshing sensation.

Far from discomfort, Chu Yang began to enjoy the prolonged breathing state.

Time passed minute by minute...

Gyomei, silently guarding Chu Yang, began to sense that something was off. Chu Yang had been in the breathing state for far longer than average, well past the point when he should have stopped.

Yet, strangely enough, Chu Yang showed no signs of discomfort; in fact, his complexion appeared even rosier than before, leaving Gyomei utterly perplexed.

All he could do was murmur, "Amitābha," and sit down to meditate nearby, focusing part of his attention on Chu Yang, ready to respond to any sudden changes.

It wasn't until dawn that Chu Yang finally exited the breathing state, stretching comfortably.

At this point, Gyomei slowly opened his blind eyes and asked softly, "How do you feel? Any discomfort in your body?"

Chu Yang, sensing his physical condition, replied, "I feel warm all over, no discomfort at all."

Gyomei, sensing Chu Yang's strengthened aura, nodded with satisfaction. "The fact that you were able to grasp the breathing technique so quickly shows that you have a strong affinity with Stone Breathing. This will save us a lot of time and allow us to focus on swordsmanship training."

Perhaps worried that Chu Yang might rush things, Gyomei added a reminder, "Although your initial breathing lasted longer than most, you must always be cautious. If you feel any discomfort, you should stop the breathing technique immediately."

"I understand," Chu Yang said, eagerly asking, "So when do we start training in swordsmanship?"

Gyomei pressed his hands together in a prayer gesture and said softly, "I originally wanted you to rest, but given your current state, you probably can't sleep. Let's begin now."

"Historically, swordsmen who train in Stone Breathing have far more strength than those from other schools. For this reason, ordinary Nichirin Blades are not suitable for us."

Pausing for a moment, Gyomei asked, "By the way, do you know what a Nichirin Blade is?"

Chu Yang replied, "I saw one when I was rescued, and there were some at the Butterfly Mansion with the injured swordsmen, but everyone's Nichirin Blade seemed different."

Gyomei nodded. "The design of Nichirin Blades varies from person to person. Once you officially become a swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps, you will have your own Nichirin Blade as well."

"The material used in Nichirin Blades is different from ordinary swords. It comes from a mineral called Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand, which absorbs sunlight, making it effective for killing demons."

"Throughout history, no matter the demon, their fear of the sun has always been consistent."