Female Swordsman Training Dojo

However, the Bizen Osafune was cut down without success.

At this moment, Dao Shou heard the buzzing and whimpering coming from all directions. These small and trivial noises, taken individually, were nothing more than insignificant noises, but when they gathered together in an instant, they turned into a deafening and violent thunder.

Thunder Breathing - Third Form: Mosquito Gathering into Thunder!

A dozen or so afterimages of Qingxin surrounded Daoshou, forming a tight encirclement. A dozen or so Yukigiri swords were slashing at Daoshou's neck, heart, left arm, and right leg.

The repeated reversals of the situation left the ambushing Yakuza dumbfounded. Several Yakuza who had originally planned to go out to "rescue" the sword hunter looked at the fierce battle, then at the iron rods and steel clubs in their hands, and then stared at their leader with their mouths agape.

Although he didn't make a sound, everyone understood what he meant.

"Boss, ambush them? Me?"

Before the Yakuza leader could use "medicine" to calm morale, another loud bang came from the distant battlefield, attracting everyone's attention. Under their gaze, the dense afterimages of Qingxin suddenly shattered, leaving only one figure that was blasted away and crashed into the low wall on the opposite side of the street. The cracked light shield shattered completely, turning into fragments scattered everywhere.

Harunobu, who was unharmed, waved away the smoke in front of his eyes, looked at Touki who was standing still, covered in blood, and said loudly, "Spell?"

Just as he was about to strike Dao Shou's heart, an invisible wave of energy suddenly burst forth from Dao Shou's body, which should have been too late to defend, sending him flying and destroying the defensive artifact he had just bought!

This is definitely magic.

In other words, the sword hunter in front of us is not an ordinary-level monster, but an elite-level one!

Chapter 74: Your Sword Has No Heart

Qingxin's voice was neither loud nor soft, but it carried far in the suddenly quiet night, reaching all the way to Jinshan Xun. Jinshan Xun, who had always seemed to have everything under control, suddenly changed his expression, and his already gloomy face turned completely ashen.

Seeing this, Tanaka quickly offered words of comfort: "It's just Taira no Harunobu's guess..."

Before he could finish his words of comfort, another voice rang out: "What superb swordsmanship! Samurai, your blood and flesh will surely help this unfilial descendant to advance even further."

The voice was old and hoarse, like two dull knives slowly rubbing together, which was both unsettling and terrifying.

As soon as that voice rang out, Tanaka couldn't continue speaking, and Nishikiyama Kaoru's face turned completely red, like the bottom of a pot after cooking.

As we all know, ordinary monsters have no intelligence and only instincts. They are no different from wild beasts, except that they are stronger, more aggressive, and more ferocious. However, they are actually relatively easy to deal with for cunning humans.

But elite-level monsters are different. This difference is not only due to their increased strength from mastering magic, but more importantly, their brains have also been upgraded.

They became intelligent, just like humans, able to learn and use tools and strategies.

Killing such a monster is fine, but capturing it alive?

Nishikiyama Kaoru now only hopes that Hiraharu Nobu is stronger, preferably able to break the five limbs of the Blade Hunter before being killed, otherwise he really has no confidence that he can capture the Blade Hunter alive with the current manpower and strength.

Even medication couldn't help. Few Yakuza could control their bloodlust after taking the drugs, even in their non-transformed state. Take Suzuki Michiichi, for example. The reason he suddenly went mad and killed people in the street was because he was conducting drug tests at headquarters.

With Nishikiyama Kaoru's thoughts temporarily set aside, Harunobu had already emerged from the dust and smoke. The blade of Yukikiri was once again illuminated by the moonlight, casting a long, narrow shadow on the street.

"An unfilial descendant?" Harunobu looked thoughtfully at the red figure that had merged with Togashi's body. "Could it be that you and this body are two different demons?"

Although it's a wild idea, this is the only way to explain the difference in strength before and after the sword hunt. Not long ago, he couldn't even withstand a single move from Harunobu and was disemboweled. But now, he can not only fight Harunobu to a standstill, but also pose a life-threatening threat to Harunobu. Even if monsters can eat people to level up, this speed of becoming stronger is too outrageous!

Harunobu isn't standing still!

And

Chapter 75

If the two sword hunters were originally two yokai, then this makes perfect sense!

However, that makes the origin of the old man a bit intriguing. What exactly is he? First of all, we can rule out a possessing spirit. That sword hunter clearly has his own will, rather than a body controlled by a possessing spirit... Could it be that thing?

Qingxin's eyes changed slightly, and his aura shifted, but only for a moment. He knew something was wrong and quickly regained his composure. However, to his surprise, Daoshou did not take this opportunity to launch an attack.

Qingxin didn't think the guy on the other side would miss this moment of weakness.

"Heh." A soft laugh broke the tense atmosphere. "Not only are your swordsmanship good, but you're also very clever. I'm growing more and more fond of you."

"You think you've got me all figured out?" Qingxin looked at Daoshou, whose red figure had completely overlapped with the severed-arm body, with only the old face occasionally appearing.

"You are strong, and your swordsmanship is exquisite, but your sword has no heart." Togashi raised the Bizen Osafune, his aged and hoarse voice flowing slowly, "Therefore, you will not be my match."

As Toshou assumed his mid-stance, Harunobu's expression remained unchanged, but his heart stirred slightly. He felt an unusual pressure emanating from Toshou, somewhat similar to what he had felt from Hayashi Uemon and Hosho Ichijo, only more arrogant and unrestrained.

If Hayashi Uemon represents the majesty of a god in the clouds, and Hosho Ichijo represents the determination to hone a sword over ten years, then Togai is like the relentless killing intent that fights a hundred battles without end.

Is this the swordsmanship that the sword hunter spoke of?

"I am Sanada Sanada! State your name! Samurai!"

Dao Shou's shout was like that of a dueling general from the Warring States period, resounding in all directions with its powerful momentum. A person with a weak mind might just go weak at the slightest sound.

Even the most resolute person would have to brace themselves, stay alert, and be on high alert, especially when they heard him call himself Sanada Yukimura. Even if the last two words were strangely vague, almost everyone would think of Sanada Yukimura, who almost thwarted the Tokugawa clan's ambitions.

Harunobu intended it this way, after all, it's always wise to be lenient with the enemy, but as the mechanical voice came from his mind, Harunobu's overly tense mind relaxed somewhat.

[New Quest Triggered]

Side Quest: Sword Hunt

[Mission Description: An ancient samurai has risen from the dead, seeking slaughter and challenge, but he has chosen the wrong person! Defeat him, seize his sword, and show him who the true unrivaled is!]

[Task Rewards: 500 Study Points, Benkei Bridge Blueprint]

The system notification flashed by, and Harunobu had already assumed his mid-level stance, loudly proclaiming his name: "Natural Harunobu Style - Third Generation Master, Taira Harunobu!"

The air fell into an unusual stillness, and even the Yakuza who were lying in ambush held their breath. Nishikiyama Kaoru didn't even notice that the kitten had run to where he was.

Sword Hunter, or rather, Sanada, gazed at Harunobu from afar, his aura gradually tightening. Harunobu even had the illusion that a blood-soaked blade was pressed against his chest.

However, this was not enough to make him reveal a weakness. He still kept his eyes fixed on the Blade Hunter, the tip of the Snow Cutter swaying slightly as it moved between the Blade Hunter's brows.

The standoff was finally broken by Dao Shou, who suddenly launched a brutal charge.

The brutal charge made him like a flying brick, and this brick was stained with blood, leaving two swaying red lines in the air as he moved at high speed. Those were the wounds he had sustained when he released the shockwave to block the swarm of mosquitoes.

In an instant, Dao Shou rushed in front of Qing Xin. With his last step, he shattered his boots and crushed the pebbles beneath them with his bare feet. The burst of power surged upwards and merged into his body.

The waist and hips move in unison, as do the hands and eyes.

Thrust!

A simple, ruthless thrust aimed straight at Qingxin's heart. The fierce and ruthless aura, combined with the strange pressure, made anyone who saw this thrust feel that they could neither dodge nor defend against it!

His imposing presence even made people overlook the fact that his new limbs had solidified at some point, and everyone who could clearly see this scene only had the tip of the blade in their eyes.

—Except for Harunobu.

When the first footstep of the Blade Hunter sounded, he reacted immediately using the Breath of Thunder, which is also adept at high-speed bursts. The reason he stopped in place was simply to charge up his power.

So when the tip of the blade touched the haori on his chest, a thunderous sound erupted.

Not a rice spirit or a swarm of mosquitoes, Harunobu leaped high into the air—with the speed of a lightning bolt—and then…

Nine-headed dragon flashes!

The ultimate technique of the Flying Sword Style, the ultimate form of the Chaotic Strike Technique, unfolded with the aid of Thunder Breathing. It not only completely blocked the fierce thrust but also directly countered it. In an instant, the Snow Cutter seemed to multiply into dozens or hundreds of blades. The dazzling, swirling, and disappearing blade shadows were impossible to count, and one could only judge based on a general impression.

And this is the feeling of someone who hasn't faced the blade directly, has the leisure to observe calmly. But the sword hunter who is actually facing this storm of attacks is even more relaxed.

Harunobu simply couldn't believe it. Every single one of his attacks, every single one of the Nine-Headed Dragon Flash attacks, was firmly blocked by Toushi, even though he was faster than Toushi!

—The physical attributes of elite-level monsters are not significantly different from those of ordinary-level monsters.

Harunobu even witnessed Toushi raise his sword slightly later than him, yet Toushi always managed to intercept Harunobu's attacks before Harunobu could strike. This defied common sense and was so illogical that Harunobu simply couldn't understand it.

At this moment, Toushi suddenly spoke up: "I said, samurai, a sword without a heart cannot defeat me."

Harunobu turned a deaf ear. How could he listen to the enemy's nonsense during a battle? It wasn't like he needed to buy time or gather intelligence; all he wanted to do right now was kill Touki.

But it seems that the truth is just as Togashi said. No matter how fast Harunobu speeds up or how tricky the attack is, Togashi will always catch it. It's like facing a cheat code that has activated "absolute block".

The clanging and clashing of swords, like the sound of blacksmiths striking each other, echoed through the night with a faint rumble of thunder. Even the two famous swords began to wear down under such intense clashes. However, from an outsider's perspective, Harunobu was overwhelming the swordsman with an absolute advantage, forcing the latter to retreat continuously. It looked as if he was about to be pushed back to the low wall where he had nowhere left to avoid or retreat.

But Dao Shou remained relaxed. Looking at Qing Xin's serious face, a hint of smugness appeared on his aged face hidden beneath the stiffness. Mysterious magic swirled around Qing Xin, like a thousand tangled threads. Every thought of his was lured and misled by those threads into the direction Dao Shou desired, trapping him in an inescapable obsession.

This is his true magic. The previous shockwave was magic controlled by his body. A mindless beast cannot unleash the full power of magic, but he can forcibly use it at a certain cost, just as his body can also borrow his magic.

Normally, regardless of whether one has entered the realm of "heart" or not, one would not think about this during a battle. That would mean being distracted, lacking focus, and thus creating an opening!

The sword hunter, who had been only defending and not attacking, suddenly stepped forward. The snow-cutting blade grazed his side, spraying blood droplets into the air. Meanwhile, the Bizen Osafune swiftly thrust forward, then slid, slicing into Harunobu's side and tearing away a large piece of flesh.

Despite the excruciating pain, Harunobu's mind suddenly became much lighter. He shot backward, creating distance between himself and Touki, thus avoiding Touki's subsequent attacks.

"Now you should understand the difference between us, right, samurai?" Kasumi Dan raised the Bizen Osafune, and Togaishi stated in a declarative tone, "The mind is the absolute point that determines strength!"

"

Chapter 76

This strike will definitely sever your head!

With the loud declaration of the sword hunter, his aura suddenly surged, and the standard Kasumi stance unfolded on his stiff body, making him look like... a machine!

Looking at the battlefield with perfect clarity through the telescope, Nishikiyama Kaoru vaguely saw the huge tower cranes in the harbor, and the worn-out Bizen longship looked like the top of one of those cranes.

And now, the tower crane is about to crash down on someone.

Harunobu released the wound on his abdomen, sheathed Yukigiri, and assumed a Thunderclap Flash stance.

The aura began to solidify, and Dao Shou slightly shifted his foot to attract Qingxin's attention before stepping out again!

At that moment, Qingxin suddenly spoke: "Half-spirit, right?"

"Ok?"

The sudden revelation of his true form caused the sword hunter to pause for a moment, and then he heard a thunderous roar that was more violent than ever before.

Thunder Breathing, Seventh Form: Fire Thunder God!

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Author's Note: This is a 3400-chapter long chapter, please vote and keep reading!

Chapter 75: God of Fire and Thunder

In the dead of night, the residents of Chuanfa Road were suddenly awakened by a deafening clap of thunder. Tiny lights peeked out from their doors and windows, illuminating the dim street and the last glimmer of cold lightning.

It was snow that trailed silvery-white strands in the air.

"Do not……"

Before Dao Shou Sanada could utter a single syllable, his head was already flying into the air, his pale face filled with wide, angry eyes, full of resentment and disbelief.

He had clearly suppressed Hiraharu's sharpness with magic and words, disturbed his mind, and confirmed his strength in these several exchanges, making it certain that Hiraharu would have to charge up his power before he could unleash that terrifyingly fast sword-drawing technique!

But why, why was he able to unleash an attack that was faster and stronger than any he had ever done before, even though he clearly didn't have much time to gather his strength?

The answer is, of course, that Harunoku's technique is not Thunder Breathing's First Form: Thunderclap Flash, but rather the Seventh Form: Fire and Thunder God, created by the main characters themselves! Although this technique is actually inextricably linked to Thunderclap Flash.

— Harunobu would call this move a powerful, no-precursor version of Thunder Flash.

The principle behind Thunder Flash is to concentrate all the immense power from Thunder Breathing into the legs, thereby unleashing extraordinary speed. However, this concentration process takes time, whether it's a simple Thunder Flash or Divine Speed.

Fire Thunder God is different. It has no activation time because it no longer pours all its power into its legs to exert force. Instead, it uses the power of Thunder Breathing to force the entire body to explode with its maximum power at the same time. This is why, although it looks similar to Thunderclap Flash, it is listed as a separate type.

However, as the price for the explosive damage, the side effects of the Fire and Thunder God are also incredibly strong. At least the Divine Speed ​​only results in a leg injury, and with Harunobu's current physical condition, using it once or twice in between is no longer a problem.

But the Fire and Thunder God is different. This move is like using the power of Thunder Breathing as explosives, forcing the body to move and squeezing out the most extreme power. So after this move was unleashed, Harunobu was covered in blood and looked terrible. Moreover, he was unable to move for a while.

Fortunately, that sword hunter is dead. Who says you can't win without a sword heart? — No way!

Qingxin was suddenly startled to realize that the system had not notified her that the task was completed!

While Harunobu was surprised, Nishikiyama Kaoru angrily rang a small bell beside him. The death of Togaishi filled him with extreme rage. He didn't know how to explain it to Suzuki Ryuichi, or to the organization represented by Suzuki Ippei, all because of his so-called two-birds-with-one-stone plan...

However, he was also secretly pleased, pleased that Hiraharu had helped them deal with the Blade Hunter. Otherwise, if they had dealt with the Blade Hunter in the same way they dealt with ordinary monsters, they would probably have been wiped out.

This subtle joy only fueled Nishikiyama Kaoru's anger.

The sound of the bell echoed throughout the transmission route, and countless Yakuza, screaming, leaped out of their ambush sites, brandishing their various weapons as they charged toward Harunobu and Touki.

These trash were nothing to Harunobu, but their appearance frightened the residents who had just woken up, causing them to shrink back. Then, a truly formidable enemy emerged from the shadows.

With twisted and bizarre forms and a cruel and tyrannical aura, a dozen or so Yakuza, who had taken drugs and transformed into demons, rushed towards Harunobu. They were there to deal with Harunobu, this terrible troublemaker.

Meanwhile, the ordinary Yakuza rushed toward the corpse of the Blade Hunter. When Nishikiyama Kaoru summoned them, he gave them a death order: if they could not capture the Blade Hunter alive, they should at least get his corpse.

Harunobu could only lift Yukigiri and focus on facing the attacking demonized Yakuza. After all, his physique had been strengthened. Although he still couldn't completely avoid the side effects of the Fire and Thunder God, he had recovered some of his fighting ability after a short rest. He could handle these demonic Yakuza for a while.

He had never forgotten that there were still people lying in ambush nearby, and the fact that he dared to use the Fire Thunder God meant that he had already made plans.