During the day, Kurozawa stayed hidden in the deep shadows of a dense forest.
Today's sunlight wasn't strong; the light filtering through the gaps in the branches and leaves cast dim spots on the ground, not as bright as usual.
Beside an ancient tree whose roots were entwined with some green vines and whose surface was covered in green moss, Kurozawa leaned against its thick trunk, a wild grass blade he'd casually plucked from somewhere dangling from his mouth.
Moving his lips slightly, Kurozawa gently chewed, a faint bitter taste of grass and wood coming from his taste buds.
He looked in the direction of Asakusa, silently circulating the Kamado Family Breathing Technique.
Whew. In an instant, a piercing pain came from where the breath flowed, as if sunlight was burning his heart.
"This must be Sun Breathing; otherwise, it wouldn't cause such painful sensations."
After obtaining the Breathing Technique, Kurozawa had attempted it many times along the way, but the result was always the same: intense pain, intense pain, still intense pain.
However, compared to real sunlight, the breath generated by Sun Breathing only made him feel pain. The actual damage wasn't severe; it could regenerate easily and wouldn't hinder his regeneration ability.
"But, even though it's painful to cultivate, there's a high probability I can still master it."
"The pain has already weakened slightly."
Kurozawa closed his eyes slightly, bit off the wild grass in his mouth, and spat it out.
As the number of attempts increased, the pain brought by Sun Breathing was imperceptibly weakening.
Kurozawa could feel that his Demon Body was adapting to Sun Breathing, and he estimated that only the beginning was the most difficult; it would become easier the further he progressed.
Obtaining Sun Breathing and making the Demon Body tend towards perfection was not just wishful thinking, it seemed.
When circulating Sun Breathing, Kurozawa could feel the change in his breath; it became hot, active, and full of vitality, and this special feeling was the same as the scorching sun hanging high in the sky, nurturing all things.
"After mastering Sun Breathing, I might not be completely immune to sunlight for a while."
"But as Sun Breathing gradually approaches perfection and reaches the Total Concentration: Constant stage, this continuous flow of breath within the body will eventually make the Demon Body fully adapt to the damage of sunlight."
Hongyue didn't have Sun Breathing, but she had tried it. As long as she was willing to endure the sun's burning from time to time, with more attempts, it would give her Demon Body a little resistance. Perhaps after a thousand or ten thousand years, she could gain complete immunity.
Using this method, destroying and regenerating repeatedly, could also make the Demon Body perfect.
But the time required for this was too long, and there was no guarantee that someone wouldn't attack while she was injured. It was actually a very dangerous method.
Learning Sun Breathing could significantly reduce this time.
Kurozawa estimated that as long as he cultivated Sun Breathing to the Total Concentration: Constant stage, he would be able to survive under the sun. Adapting for a while longer would lead to complete immunity, perhaps one or two years would be enough.
Enduring the piercing, bone-gnawing burning pain within his body, veins would occasionally bulge on Kurozawa's face before slowly subsiding.
When Sun Breathing finally completed a cycle, and the breath circulated throughout his body, Kurozawa suddenly opened his eyes and exhaled a long, hot breath.
This breath blew onto a green leaf that had just fallen, instantly leaving some scorched marks on its surface.
The regeneration ability of the Immortal Demon Body was stimulated, and the remaining injuries within his body were repaired within a few seconds.
At the same time, his hunger reached its limit; his eyes seemed to glow green.
Without hesitation, Kurozawa's mind moved, and his Potential Points dropped by more than ten, eliminating the side effect of the Immortal Demon Body. The feeling of emptiness disappeared, and Kurozawa's body became full and powerful again.
Next, Kurozawa shifted his peripheral vision to his Status Panel, looking at the Skills icon.
The icon expanded, revealing the Skills Kurozawa currently possessed.
Immortal Demon Body
Water Breathing (Fifth Stage)
Water Breathing Sword Forms (Fifth Stage)
Higan Suzume Eye (First Stage)
Sun Breathing (First Stage)
In addition to the original Skills, there was now an item: Sun Breathing (First Stage).
Water Breathing Sword Forms had advanced to the Fifth Stage after he comprehended the Secret Technique, saving Kurozawa a lot of Potential Points. The Immortal Demon Body, on the other hand, didn't have obvious stage divisions, probably because a flawed Immortal Demon Body was the normal state.
At this time, Kurozawa shifted his thoughts to the Immortal Demon Body and found that the Potential Points required for immunity to sunlight had decreased slightly. Although it was only a few points, this indeed meant that cultivating Sun Breathing was an effective method.
"Hmm, whether or not I can eventually become immune to sunlight through Sun Breathing, it can at least reduce some Potential Point consumption." A satisfied smile appeared on Kurozawa's face.
At the same time, Kurozawa looked at the deep dark icon that remained silent at the bottom of the Gray-White panel.
Power of Species Annihilation.
It had always been zero, and it hadn't changed since it appeared.
Kurozawa tapped his fingers rhythmically, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"How can I obtain this Power of Species Annihilation?"
"And what does it represent?"
"Do wild beasts like lions and tigers count?" Kurozawa asked Gray-White.
Gray-White silently provided the answer, indicating that only intelligent creatures could form a true species.
In the Demon Slayer World, the two most obvious intelligent creatures were humans and Demons. Annihilating humans with Kurozawa's current strength was simply a pipe dream.
"Should I ask Hongyue for help and convert a large number of Demons?"
Kurozawa shook his head, discarding this idea.
Hongyue had told him that Demons could convert other Demons, but it fundamentally relied on the trace of bloodline she provided.
And Hongyue's bloodline was limited. If she gave too much, it would reduce her own ability. Even if she desperately converted all her blood into Demons, it would likely be difficult to exceed ten thousand.
In contrast, humans are everywhere, and Demons are just a drop in the ocean within human society. The number of humans who die naturally each day is countless times more than those killed by Demons.
"So, how about trying to annihilate the Demons?" After thinking for a few seconds, Kurozawa shook his head powerlessly again.
He was a Demon now, and even with his Immortal Demon Body fully developed and immune to sunlight, he was still a Demon.
He couldn't get past this hurdle himself.
"The possibility of gaining the Power of Species Annihilation in the Demon Slayer World is too small."
"Maybe I can try in future worlds."
"Among many worlds, there will eventually be sentient beings that are few in number and relatively concentrated." Like the Pillar Men tribe in a certain world, there are only a few of them left in total.
Kurozawa stood up, stretched his limbs, and then looked up at the sky.
The sun was still quietly hanging high in the sky, and there were some faint cicada chirps nearby. It was still early.
He climbed onto a tree, found a relatively thick branch under the dense canopy, and then lay down, using his arm as a pillow.
After suppressing his Fighting Spirit fluctuations and lowering them as much as possible, Kurozawa closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.
Even though the Immortal Demon Body didn't need rest, he still kept the habit of sleeping as a way to relax his mind and body.
He would wait until nightfall before heading to Asakusa to meet up with Hongyue.
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