After hesitating for a moment, Oboro heard footsteps approaching from behind.
Chiyoko and Rina followed. After all, they had him, and they would have nowhere to go if they left rashly. Identity was quite important in this world.
Following him meant they would have no worries about food or clothing and would have an official background. In any case, ordinary people would have a hard time surviving in this environment.
Oboro had merely given them a choice out of emotional consideration. The two maids stood on his left and right, neither saying a word nor asking any questions.
In the world of Demon Slayer, there are several representatives of its power system. Setting aside the demons, the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps are the Marked Pattern, the Transparent World, and the Red Blade. Oboro had seen Ichigo and Rengoku perform before. Their breathing methods had indeed changed, but they relied on the technique only to increase their mobility and ability. In simple terms, it improved their attributes. There hasn't been much change in practice, and this kind of development takes time.
If practiced well, the breathing technique he taught Ubuyashiki Kuno could easily open the markings. Whether it could open the Transparent World depended on personal understanding and luck.
Improving breathing techniques and integrating them with the breathing methods of this world should amplify the temporary attributes of the body more effectively than ordinary breathing methods. Then, it can strengthen specific parts of the body to develop certain abilities.
The next step is to practice internal breath circulation and temper the internal organs. At this stage, one can open the markings. In the eyes of the swordsmen in this world, this means breaking free from the limitations of the physical body and unleashing unparalleled energy.
This is symbolized by increased body temperature and an elevated pulse rate.
An even more advanced state occurs when the meridians in the body circulate multiple small cycles simultaneously. At this point, the body and mental will are both stimulated. Personal perception becomes magnified infinitely, and entering the Transparent World becomes easy. It also becomes easier to transform the Nichirin Sword into the Red Blade.
The most extreme level is like Oboro's, where the internal breath flows freely through all the meridians. The Great Circulation does not exist in a specific form or route, but rather uses the body as a furnace. His body is the complete Great Circulation. The circulation of breath isn't limited to the meridians, but also includes blood vessels and acupoints. This phenomenon manifests as a frighteningly high body temperature, with heat emanating from the body like clouds and mist.
Generally, the levels of breathing technique practice are divided into five stages. Judging from the performance of the Water and Flame Pillars in battle, the current pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps had only reached the first level after studying and training for a period of time.
After all, they had only been learning for a short time, so being able to reach this speed based on their attainments in breathing techniques is impressive.
As for Oboro, he practiced breathing techniques in the Hunter x Hunter world. There, the resources are more abundant, the environment is different, and the power system is more advanced. Coupled with his talent, he broke through to the fifth level in just over ten years.
This is far from possible in Demon Slayer. Except for individuals like Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who were selected as seeds by the world, it is impossible for others to reach such a high level.
This world does not meet the necessary conditions for cultivating power systems, whether in terms of resources, external factors, or environment.
It's impressive that they were able to activate the markings. It's extremely rare for someone to magnify their five senses to the point where they can fully grasp the world.
However, through inheritance from generation to generation, there will likely be a breakthrough in the future. Perhaps by Tanjiro's time, there will be many Pillar-level swordsmen who can open the markings and master the Transparent World. This is the result of the seeds being hatched.
In addition to the Red Blade's representative ability, the "pattern changes" and the Transparent World in Demon Slayer are not uncommon Nen abilities in the Hunter x Hunter world. Nen abilities are complicated, leading to a higher level of combat that requires more "information" to be considered and strategies to be devised.
Simply put, the Transparent World is a realm where perception is so acute that one can observe the target's physical movements and react at super speed. In this world, it is the highest realm of perception.
However, in Hunter x Hunter, for the truly strong, this is just a basic "information capture" skill. Take Hisoka and Biscuit, for example. When fighting them, every bodily movement, even if intentionally hidden, will be observed and evaluated. They can assess an enemy's physical attributes and account for variability in mental ability and direction of thinking.
It's not even on the same level.
The superiority of Nen and breathing techniques is immediately apparent in the setting. The former is too complicated.
Additionally, after the markings are activated, swordsmen in this world will not live past 25 because their bodies cannot withstand the trauma of the breathing method, not counting Yoriichi Tsugikuni. From this point of view, they cannot be compared with the characters from Hunter x Hunter in terms of physical attributes. Not to mention, just one calamity creature from the Dark Continent could destroy the power system of this Demon Slayer world, even if it's not a rule-based supernatural life.
Therefore, the gap between the high- and low-level worlds is still obvious. This is true in all aspects—it's a comprehensive crushing.
The breathing technique passed down by Oboro is superior to the breathing method. If those swordsmen could understand it well and open the pattern with the breathing technique, perhaps they could break the curse of the shortened lifespan and live as long as Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
This is because the side effects of breathing exercises are much smaller than those of breathing methods.
As for the markings, the Transparent World, and the Red Blade, these powers are mere tricks for Oboro now.
He used his breathing technique to instantly rush in front of Mi Lingwan, just as he did before, leaving the demon unable to react. This kind of combat power far exceeds the level of the markings and the Transparent World.
Otherwise, a life form like him from a high-level world would be full of bugs when descending into a low-level world.
"There's still a lot of time," Oboro smiled.
Meanwhile, a few hours after Ichigo and Rengoku left...
The other pillars who received the news rushed to Aobashi Town together.
The Upper Five have appeared! This was an opportunity the Demon Slayer Corps hadn't encountered in a long time.
If they could kill the Upper Ranks, the morale of the Demon Slayer Corps would be boosted, and they would be able to use the Upper Ranks to find information about Muzan or his whereabouts.
On an official road, Sayuri Takemoto ran quickly with her brows furrowed. She wore a white coat and had a long whip tied behind her head.
Above her, a colorful crow followed, calling out, "Aoribayashi Town! Upper Rank Five!"
Sayuri's expression was solemn. According to the news, Giyu and Rengoku were originally going to Seirin Town to work together to kill a demon. The two pillars were dispatched because some members of the Demon Slayer Corps who had been sent out in advance had died. Therefore, the target was most likely one of the Twelve Demon Moons: the Lower Moon.
But she never expected it to be an Upper Rank!
The lord intended for the Pillars to travel to Aobashi Town together and attack as a group. After all, even the Water and Flame Pillars had failed. At least four Pillars must work together to have a chance of killing the demons.
However, the distances to the other pillars varied, so it was impossible for them to arrive in Aobayashi Town at the same time. If they waited, the Upper Rank would most likely escape.
She was relatively close, so she rushed over at the first opportunity. Her plan was simple: as long as the demon didn't run away, she would find a way to delay it. It would be a rare opportunity for the Demon Slayer Corps to capture an Upper Rank demon.
However, judging from the letter brought by the crow, the reason Ichigo and Rengoku survived seems to be related to a demon named No.
"It's almost dawn!" Sayuri noticed a ray of light on the horizon, and her eyes grew anxious. She couldn't help but quicken her pace.
After a while, she finally saw the outline of the village in the distance. She rushed forward, determined to locate the shrine, and immediately jumped onto a house. She leaped from one building to another while drawing the strangely shaped Sun Blade from her waist. The blade was as slender as a willow branch.
The strong smell of blood caused her expression to change slightly as if she were facing a formidable enemy.
However, when she arrived at the scene, she was stunned because a familiar figure had beaten her there.
His back was facing her.
It was Yamato Tiezhu, dressed in black.
"He's gone. I searched the area indicated in the letter but didn't see the Upper Rank," Yamato said in a deep voice. He did not turn around but pointed to the pile of corpses at his feet. "All the villagers were killed. Judging from the wounds, they were chopped to death with a weapon, but it was not a blade. The killing method was the same as the blade method, but the wound was not smooth. It was completely shattered by brute force and speed."
"It wasn't that demon who did it," said Sayuri, walking over slowly.
"That's right. The murderer must be the other demon mentioned in the letter, the one who borrowed the blood of the Upper String and just turned into a demon."
Yamatoda and Sayuri remained silent. The messy corpses and blood all over the ground were particularly eye-catching. This further increased their desire to hunt demons.
Those guys deserve to die! Unforgivable!
"Assemble! All pillars, assemble!" Suddenly, a black crow flew onto a nearby branch and cried out.
"Bury them all. Bury them properly."
Yamato nodded in agreement.