A person in Japan, a sword that soars to immortality.

After returning to the Ueyashiki Ward, Taichi and Sakichi quickly tidied up and prepared to leave.

Inside the main house, Tamayo and Fuchi were sitting on the tatami mats, solemnly bowing to the two to say goodbye.

"May your military career flourish, my lord."

"grateful."

After exchanging greetings, Taichi received the furoshiki prepared by Tamayo and then handed it to Sakiri.

"Lord Taiyi, there are prepared pills inside to restore injuries and blood circulation, as well as seaweed rice balls."

Tamayo raised her head, her big, bright eyes looking at Taiichi with admiration.

Whenever she sees Taiichi, she unconsciously recalls another samurai who changed the course of her destiny.

Although both are tall and imposing, Yoriichi Tsugikuni doesn't give off a strong sense of aggression. Instead, his eyes always carry a hint of sadness. Only when he unleashes his full power can one feel his earth-shattering aura.

Besides his aggressive gaze, Master Taiyi's aura constantly made one feel as if a gleaming, white sword was pressed against their throat.

"What an honor it is for me to encounter such a powerful warrior..."

"Ms. Tamayo, before I leave, I would also like to give you a gift to thank you for your dedication and hard work."

Tamayo was still lost in thought when Taiichi interrupted her, and, completely bewildered, accepted the small rectangular box that was handed to her.

Similarly, Fu Zhi also received a booklet from Taiyi shortly afterward.

After glancing at it twice, his breathing immediately became rapid. Then, he abruptly looked up and said to Taiyi in an incredulous tone:

"Brother Taiyi, this, this is the breathing method you mentioned!"

"Yes, or to put it another way, this is called the internal alchemy method, but it is somewhat different from the one I practice. This is a more common version."

Watching Fu Zhi repeatedly close and open the booklet, then immediately flip through it again, and then place it to his chest while chuckling with his eyes closed, Taiyi nodded with great satisfaction.

What he wrote in the pamphlet was not the complete Yang Dragon's Roar and Yin Tiger's Howl.

These two breathing techniques were tailor-made for the system.

Just because you can cultivate yourself well doesn't mean others can too.

Thinking of this, Taiyi couldn't help but check his own data.

[Sword Control System]

Name: Yamada Asaemon Taichi

Age: 20

【Lifespan: 100】

[Energy: 507.2 (+)]

Qi and Blood: 445.8 (+)

[God Soul: 205.7 (+)]

[Breathing Technique (+): Three Breaths Circulating Through the Heavens (+)]

[Additional effects: Rapid recovery; Blazing inferno; Swiftness]

[Conversion Effect: Spirit, Energy, and Vitality values ​​are converted thirtyfold (100s)]

[Martial Arts Skill: Three Qi Flowing Through the Heavens (+)]

[Title: Number One Under Heaven (You are the pinnacle of martial arts, the ultimate in swordsmanship, and the pinnacle of humanity. All who face you and do not submit will face only death.)]

[Title Effect: Increases HP by 35% upon entering battle]

【Power 1: Upon entering battle, reduces all enemy attributes by 20%】

【Power 2: Opponents whose spiritual power is far inferior to yours will temporarily lose their ability to move under the burst of your power】

[Common points: 15]

"Although I failed to capture Kokushibo in the battle, I did not come away empty-handed."

Looking at the attribute panel, Taiyi nodded imperceptibly.

Firstly, regarding lifespan, it's a temporary concern, so there's no need to worry. At least you can guarantee that you'll live until the beginning of the Demon Slayer main series, which is the Taisho era.

Secondly, after several days of system processing, the time for my attribute conversion has finally stabilized, changing from 60 seconds to 100 seconds.

"I've become more durable!!!"

For a man, nothing is more exciting than this.

However, the integration of a breathing technique did not lead to a significant increase in the attribute conversion multiplier.

This made Taiyi think that whether the conversion rate could be increased should be related to the quality of his own Qi, or to put it bluntly, the upper limit of his Qi.

Although he has obtained the Qi of Geng Metal, he is still unable to break through the three barriers within his body.

Only by breaking through the three barriers, opening the three dantian, and forming the Great Circulation can the true essence be transformed, producing golden essence, thus transforming the vermilion inner elixir into a golden elixir.

"But these three barriers are quite difficult to overcome. Every time I try, I always feel that I am just a little short. Perhaps when my inner core has undergone three transformations and I have reached the power of the Three Dragons and Three Tigers, I will be able to break through the first barrier."

The three gates of Taoism are the coccyx gate, the spine gate, and the jade pillow gate. It is said that breaking through the three gates is not simply a matter of passing through with blood.

Instead, during the breathing process, one will subconsciously sense the unique space of each level and the existence of a door.

To break through, one must unite one's spirit and energy, and penetrate it in one go.

However, Taiyi is still lacking in power.

"Let's take things slowly. You can't rush things. Acting rashly could cause serious harm to your health."

As he pondered these thoughts, Tai got up and left his residence.

As he and Sakichi passed through the Shimoyashiki district, they happened to run into Suzuko, who was sweeping the floor in front of her house. Suzuko was Fujinami Rantaro's wife.

Neither of them said anything, but simply nodded to each other in greeting.

But Taiyi sensed worry and hesitation in her eyes.

"I wonder what Rantaro is up to this time."

Thinking of his friend, Taiyi shook his head speechlessly.

Each time, she worries that she might die and that her family will be heartbroken, but on the other hand, she chooses to face difficulties head-on.

Fortunately, they were smart enough that, despite the many dangers, they all survived in the end.

"Forget it, this guy is lucky. He also has a group of subordinates around him now. Even if he encounters danger, he should be able to handle it."

After all, not everyone will encounter the kind of non-human opponent they have to face.

After sighing for a while, he and Zorche went to the dock.

Time flew by, and it was already evening.

Even after a busy day, Tamayo was still conducting research in the alchemy room at night.

She really liked this feeling, and Fu Zhi, who was by her side, was also a similar person, so she didn't feel lonely.

Seeing the small box next to her, she remembered what Taiyi had said at noon.

"A little gift for me? What could it be...?"

"It's not jewelry, is it? If so, Zorche will probably get jealous again..."

"This is!" Tamayo held the small box, took out a test tube containing blood, opened the stopper, smelled it, and was so shocked that she almost dropped it.

This blood... is the blood of an Upper Moon demon!

And the smell of malice is extremely strong inside!

"Lord Taiichi, it really is... it really is..."

Tamayo gripped the test tube tightly, her body trembling slightly with excitement.

Noticing something amiss, Fu Zhi peeked out from the side and secretly glanced at her.

"With this blood, I can take my research on Muzan to the next level and analyze his..." Just as Tamayo was looking at the test tube with unwavering determination, she suddenly noticed that the blood in the test tube seemed to be pulsating slightly.

"not good!!"

Before she could prepare, Tamayo's index finger grew a nail and slashed sharply at her carotid artery.

puff! ! !

Under the intense pressure of the heart muscle, blood gushed out rapidly throughout the room like a small fountain.

Then the blood began to evaporate, forming a color-changing protective shield that enveloped the entire room.

"Oh my god! Tamayo-nee, what are you doing... Ugh!!!"

"Don't make a sound!" Zhu Shi covered Fu Zhi's mouth tightly, ignoring the blood on her hands that smeared Fu Zhi's face.

Her pupils contracted sharply, and sweat dripped from her temples onto the ground. Then, lowering her voice and trembling, she said, "He's here..."

A figure was flying through the night sky above Edo.

With the aid of some unknown medium, a woman dressed in a kimono can move dozens of meters through the air simply by tapping her toes.

As she passed by a certain building area, her eyes suddenly shifted downwards, as if she had sensed something.

But that feeling disappeared immediately.

"Was it just my imagination...?" Muzan squinted, thought for a while, and then sensed again. He only stopped when he realized that he could sense the presence of his familiars in the direction of Yoshiwara.

"Probably leftover limbs? What an accident."

"But Edo is still the same as always..."

"Supreme ruler of mankind, let me see how old you have become..."

"Oh, I forgot, there's also that samurai, the best in the world? What a boring piece of trash..."

Muzan's lips curled into a slight smile, and he thought disdainfully to himself.