"Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace!"
Kokushibou unleashed a swift Iai slash, a horizontal cut: the intersecting slashes, one horizontal and one vertical canceled each other out. However, the crescent moon blades that appeared along Kokushibou's slash trajectory wounded Rengoku Kyojuro.
Lin Jie also used Basic Detection on Kokushibou but only obtained incomplete information.
[Twelve Demon Moons, Upper-Rank One: Kokushibou]
Strength: 21
Agility: 21
Vitality: 25
Intelligence: 11
Charm: 8
[Skill 1: Demon Bloodline Lv.Max (Passive). Possessing the bloodline of a demon grants limb regeneration and powerful recovery. Only energy attacks and weapons imbued with energy can inflict damage (Light-type energy attacks are exceptionally effective).]
[Skill 2: Swordsmanship Mastery Lv.40.]
[Skill 3: Moon Breathing Lv.31 (Active).]
Effect: When using Moon Breathing, Strength +3, Agility +3.
[Note: Due to Demon Bloodline, using Breathing Styles has no side effects.]
[Skill 4: Demon Slayer Mark (Disabled after demonification)]
[Skill 5: ???]
[Skill 6: ???]
[Skill 7: ???]
==========
"You guys cover me, I'll handle him!"
Lin Jie drew [Dawn] and leaped in front of Kokushibou, signaling Giyu Tomioka and Rengoku Kyojuro to hold back for now.
Naturally, the rewards for solo-killing Kokushibou were higher, but as a precaution, Lin Jie had them provide backup. If he couldn't win, he would immediately switch to a group attack.
The rewards were secondary; the true objective was to hone his swordsmanship by battling Kokushibou, who had been practicing swordsmanship for hundreds of years. Fighting Giyu Tomioka and the other Hashira could only be considered sparring; they wouldn't go all out, so there was naturally limited room for improvement.
Before awakening his initial class template, Lin Jie wouldn't have been confident in his chances of victory, but now he had a decent shot. These demons had been transformed for too long; deep down, they believed only Nichirin Blades, sunlight, and Wisteria flower poison could harm them.
It should be said that before Shinobu Kocho, they merely disliked Wisteria flowers and hadn't considered it could destroy their cells.
"You were the one who killed the other Upper Ranks. You won't get another chance!"
Kokushibou glared at Lin Jie with his six eyes, his voice cold.
"Moon Breathing, Third Form: Loathing Moon, Chaotic Slash!"
Crescent moon blades materialized on Kokushibou's blade as he unleashed a series of slashes towards Lin Jie.
Lin Jie saw two crescent-shaped energy waves, accompanied by a flurry of crescent moon blades, flying towards him. However, he had already dodged in advance. His enhanced reflexes, perception, and ability to sense his opponent's thoughts allowed him to anticipate the attack's trajectory.
"He dodged in advance. He predicted my attack. As expected of someone who has slain multiple Upper Ranks," Kokushibou thought to himself, realizing this fact.
"Soul Breathing!"
Through breathing techniques, Lin Jie stimulated his cardiopulmonary blood flow, mobilizing the spiritual energy within his body and enhancing his base attributes. Kokushibou's base attributes were mostly above 20 points; if he didn't close the gap, even landing a hit would be difficult.
It was unclear whether it was due to the removal of sword techniques or other factors, but Soul Breathing only retained the pure breathing aspect. It might also be due to the influence of the spiritual energy in his body, but Soul Breathing provided a 5-point increase in both Strength and Agility.
Kokushibou's Moon Breathing only increased these attributes by 3 points. The only breathing style stronger in this regard was the original Sun Breathing.
The level system for Breathing Styles was also intriguing. It wasn't that a 30+ level skill only provided these few attribute points. Rather, as one mastered a Breathing Style and trained their body, the temporary attribute boosts would become permanent.
When using the Breathing Style again, it would further increase their attributes based on this foundation. Therefore, the further one progressed, the smaller the attribute boost from Breathing Styles became. Kokushibou's demonized body far surpassed that of ordinary humans, but his attribute increase from using Breathing Styles was inferior to theirs.
However, his demonified body was also immune to the hidden injuries caused by prolonged use of Breathing Styles. At the same time, it allowed him to continuously utilize Breathing Styles.
Lin Jie also noticed that his Soul Breathing didn't have a level. He guessed that this was likely a precursor ability to the Awakening skill and would be replaced after awakening. It could be considered a skill of the same nature as the temporary Basic Detection.
With 18 Strength and 16 Agility, Lin Jie's attributes weren't too far behind Kokushibou's. Coupled with the boosts from [Focus Energy] and [Soul Sense], he was capable of fighting on par with him. And this was without factoring in the ability of [Soul Slash]
Lin Jie calculated in his mind that his odds of winning were quite high. He dashed towards Kokushibou; compared to his opponent, his swordsmanship lacked mid-range attack methods, making close combat the most suitable approach.
Just as he was about to close the distance, Lin Jie halted his steps and took a light leap to the left. In sync with his movements, Kokushibou's blade slashed, sending a purple energy wave hurtling toward him.
"What fast reflexes!"
Kokushibou commented, seeing that his attack had failed.
Combining Breathing Styles with corresponding sword techniques could achieve mid-range sword energy attacks. This was a shortcut method. After a long period of evolution, the mid-range power of Breathing Style sword techniques was not as potent as pure sword energy. If it weren't for the fact that his potential had almost reached its limit and there was no future in it, Lin Jie would have been willing to learn it.
Dodging the slash, Lin Jie successfully closed in on Kokushibou and swung his sword, a plain and unremarkable strike, lacking the flashy effects of the Hashira.
"Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace!"
Kokushibou responded to Lin Jie's downward diagonal slash with a horizontal cut. His demon blade drew a beautiful arc, clashing against Lin Jie's Nichirin Blade.
"What?!"
To Kokushibou's astonishment, Lin Jie's Nichirin Blade cleaved through his demon blade and continued its trajectory toward him without pause!
Lin Jie had anticipated this outcome. Kokushibou's demon blade was formed from his flesh and blood! With Dawn's sharpness, severing the demon blade was only natural. If Kokushibou's ability involved creating a demon blade from bone, it wouldn't be so easily cut.
Seeing the Nichirin Blade about to strike his neck, Kokushibou knew it wouldn't be difficult for it to sever, considering how easily it had cleaved through his demon blade.
He immediately tilted his head back as if about to fall backward, narrowly avoiding Lin Jie's slash. The Nichirin Blade only managed to graze his chest!
"Just because there are no flashy effects doesn't mean you can take it head-on."
Lin Jie said, a slight smirk playing on his lips. The grayish-white Soul Power perfectly matched the color of the transformed Nichirin Blade, making it nearly impossible to detect the energy coating the blade unless one looked closely.
If Azure Shadow[Su Xiao's Class energy] energy was akin to flashing lightning, then Soul Power was like an undisturbed lake, calmly adhering to the blade's edge.
"Tsk!"
Kokushibou initially intended to endure this seemingly "inconsequential" slash and then immediately counterattack with his techniques. However, as the blade struck his chest, he felt a pain that seemed to emanate from the depths of his soul.
He instantly realized something was wrong with his opponent's blade. While his wound had already regenerated, he had lost control over that area. His Blood Demon Art revolved around manipulating his flesh and blood to form demon blades; under normal circumstances, he could freely control every muscle in his body.
"I absolutely cannot be cut by that blade again."
For the first time in centuries, a look of terror flickered in Kokushibou's six eyes. He had only experienced such fear centuries ago when facing the eighty-year-old Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Lin Jie, unaware of the true reason behind Kokushibou's fear, simply assumed it was the soul damage that had frightened him. True damage and soul damage were the bane of these immortal beings.
This was also his first time utilizing Soul Power in combat, and a crude application at that. He had yet to uncover its other properties.
The fact that simply inflicting effective damage could evoke such a reaction from Kokushibou struck Lin Jie as odd. However, noticing his opponent's attempt to create distance, he naturally couldn't allow it.
Lin Jie stomped on Kokushibou's foot, halting his backward movement.
Seeing the impending attack on his leg, Kokushibou instantly thrust his regenerated demon blade towards Lin Jie's head.
Lin Jie lifted his foot and withdrew his sword. He swiftly turned his head, evading Kokushibou's thrust. In a flash, he reached out and grabbed his opponent's sword-wielding wrist.
Kokushibou's eyes lit up. His flesh and blood could transform into demon blades. As Lin Jie gripped his wrist, a blade suddenly protruded, piercing his palm.
But Lin Jie didn't release his grip. Through Soul Sense, he sensed Kokushibou's intention to retreat, and he couldn't let him escape. Maintaining his hold on Kokushibou's wrist, he delivered a swift side kick to his waist.
Simultaneously releasing his grip, he sent Kokushibou flying towards the direction he and Shinobu had come from.
"What was that energy on your blade?"
Kokushibou questioned, his six eyes fixated on Lin Jie as he regained his footing.
"Every living being in this world possesses two fundamental energies. One is life energy, derived from consuming and digesting food, which takes root in the physical body. The other originates from the soul.
You, immortal creatures, are nothing more than pseudo-immortals who consume humans to maintain an abnormally high level of life energy. Your souls are only slightly stronger than ordinary humans. What you felt on my blade was soul energy. My blade cuts the flesh, while my will severs the soul."