Yoriichi closed his eyes. He consciously abandoned the standard, rhythmic breathing of a human, tapping into the ancient, cellular memory of the first demon slayer.
He took a stance, his left foot sliding forward, and placed his right hand on the wrapped hilt of the Sun-Steel Katana secured at his waist.
He began to change his rhythm.
Haaah...
The sound of his breathing was fundamentally different from Xiao Yu's. It wasn't just pressurized; it was scorching. The ambient temperature in a ten-foot radius around him noticeably spiked. The worldly energy of the academy was violently sucked into his lungs, instantly converting into a terrifying, blistering heat that surged through his meridian pathways like liquid magma.
"Sun Breathing," Yoriichi whispered, his crimson eyes snapping open, practically glowing in the dark.
His thumb flicked the tsuba (handguard), and he drew the katana.
"First Form..."
The moment the dark, Solar-Vein Iron blade was exposed to the air, it reacted violently to the searing Dou Qi flowing from his palms. The katana literally lit up, erupting into a brilliant, roaring sheath of crimson-gold flame that banished the darkness of the clearing.
Yoriichi stepped forward, twisting his entire body to deliver a devastating, ascending vertical slash aimed directly at the heavens.
"...Dance."
FWOOSH!
A massive, crescent-shaped wave of pure, concentrated solar fire tore itself from the blade. The attack rocketed forward and upward into the night sky, traveling a considerable distance—nearly fifty feet—before finally dissipating into a shower of beautiful, glowing embers.
For a single, breathless second, the entire area was lit up as bright as the midday sun.
Yoriichi lowered his stance, exhaling a plume of hot white steam into the cool night air. The flames on his blade slowly died down, leaving the metal glowing with a faint, angry red hue.
He analyzed the strike. It was vastly more powerful than the initial attempt he had made back in the Xiao Clan estate. The sheer density of the worldly energy in the Black-Corner Region, combined with his solid one-star Dou Zhe foundation, allowed the flames to manifest with terrifying, explosive physical force.
Yoriichi inspected the blade under the moonlight. The katana did not have a single scorch mark, chip, or sign of warping.
'The Solar-Vein Iron can perfectly withstand the thermal shock of my attacks,' Yoriichi noted with a sigh of relief. 'Which is good. But I need to make the form better. The kinetic transfer was slightly sluggish due to the dense ambient Qi. I need to do more training in extreme environments to synthesize my movements perfectly.'
He smoothly sheathed the katana.
As the adrenaline faded, a deep, heavy wave of physical exhaustion washed over him. Between the long, boring theoretical classes, the brief but precise arena spar, teaching Xiao Yu, and finally executing the Dance of the Sun, the day's activities had finally taken their toll on his mortal body.
His stomach gave a low, demanding rumble.
Deciding that his cultivation could wait until he had properly fueled his body, Yoriichi returned to room. He quickly freshened up, washing the sweat and soot from his face, and changed into a clean set of casual, uncrested dark robes that blended seamlessly into the night.
Leaving his katana behind in the secure courtyard, he stepped out onto the main avenues of Jia Nan City.
The Outer Academy did not sleep when the sun went down. If anything, it became more vibrant. The sprawling commercial districts and student markets were bustling with thousands of youths blowing off steam after a brutal day of training. The streets were lined with brilliantly lit food stalls, alchemy kiosks, and weapon merchants.
The air was thick with the mouth-watering aromas of roasted spirit-beast skewers, rich bone-broth noodles, and sweet, steamed lotus buns.
Yoriichi strolled casually down the main thoroughfare, his hands tucked loosely into his sleeves. He enjoyed the lively, vibrant atmosphere. It reminded him of the festive nights of Wu Tan City back.
He approached a small, brightly lit stall. The owner there gazed him for some time which makes him confused a little. Then the owner hearing the order, broke up from trance and handed the two large, steamed vegetable buns and a cup of warm soy milk, while taking the copper coins from Yoriichi.
As he continued his stroll, eating his simple meal and minding his own business, Yoriichi's heightened senses began to pick up on a strange, highly subtle shift in the environment around him.
He then noticed that as he walked past small groups of students—mostly senior outer sect disciples wearing various faction badges—their lively conversations would halt and glanced at his direction.
Yoriichi paused, taking a bite of his steamed bun. He slowly turned his head, directing his calm, piercing crimson gaze toward a group of four students gathered near an alchemy stall.
The moment his eyes met theirs, the four seniors violently flinched. They instantly averted their gazes, pretending to be utterly fascinated by a display of healing powder, their postures stiff and little nervous.
Yoriichi stopped walking. He looked to his left. A pair of female students quickly hid their faces behind their sleeves, whispering furiously to each other as they hurried away. He looked to his right.
Yoriichi blinked, chewing his food slowly. An expression of genuine, mild confusion crossed his stoic features.
'Why are they acting as though a High-Rank Demon has just wandered into the marketplace?' Yoriichi wondered internally.
He shook his head, taking another sip of his soy milk, and continued his stroll.