Chapter Nine: The Transparent World

It was just as I suspected: in addition to the incomplete version of the "Sun Breathing," there is a complete version. Li Xia felt as if he had caught a glimpse of something, a key to obtaining that complete technique.

What exactly could it be?

Tanjuro’s gaze held a hint of regret as he said softly, "I am sorry. While I would very much like to teach you myself, my body... I fear I can no longer demonstrate the full Kagura for you."

He turned his head to look out the bamboo window at a lush forest where wildflowers bloomed in the greenery. His expression held attachment, regret, and a sense of serenity.

"The 'Hinokami Kagura' is actually a method of breathing. To teach it, besides demonstration, one needs the help of another to find the correct breathing rhythm. I still have a little strength left, but I would rather use that power to protect my family... so, I am sorry."

Deep within his mind, that vague intuition grew restless, and countless images flashed through Li Xia's thoughts. These were fragments of *Demon Slayer* he had seen before. There must be something he had forgotten or overlooked.

*His body cannot demonstrate the Kagura... he still has some strength... he wants to protect his family...*

Most importantly, there were the events of his own journey so far. He had received extra rewards for choosing not to flee when faced with demons. By choosing to spend more money, he had gained Murata as an incredibly useful helper. By choosing the more time-consuming water route, he had dealt with the boatman and received a substantial reward.

In this trial space generated and fully controlled by the "Hall," Li Xia was certain that none of this was accidental. It was telling him: to gain something, one must bear the risk of the harvest.

Therefore, his previous efforts had only yielded the incomplete version of the Sun Breathing. So, what price must be paid for the complete version?

Like a bolt of lightning piercing the night sky, Li Xia suddenly lifted his head, his dark brown pupils gleaming: "Is it... because of a bear?"

Tanjuro was startled. He looked at Li Xia in astonishment, and only after a long silence did he say slowly, "Your foresight... is it truly that powerful?"

In the original work, Tanjiro recalled that there was a man-eating bear near their home. Before Tanjuro died, he had lured the bear out and used only two axes to decapitate it. It was a technique Tanjiro couldn't comprehend; it seemed as if only a streak of silver light had flashed across the horizon, and the bear's head had fallen off.

"Mr. Tanjuro..." Li Xia carefully chose his words. "Let Tanjiro teach me the Hinokami Kagura first, and I will kill that bear. Then, I can ask for your guidance on the parts I haven't mastered. How about that?"

Tanjuro pondered for a while, but still shook his head with a troubled expression. "I am sorry, but I fear my body will not hold out for that long..."

Still not enough? Li Xia frowned. Judging by Tanjuro’s reaction, at least his direction was correct. This meant that killing the giant bear was definitely one of the prerequisites.

Suddenly, Li Xia remembered something and took a scroll from his pocket.

[Detection Scroll]
[Quality: White]
[Origin: The Hall (Guaranteed reward after an empty box)]
[Effect: After use, it can scout a target. Based on an intelligence check, it retrieves the target's status panel.]
[Uses: 3/3]
[Evaluation: The probability of a chest being empty is 0.1%. When you draw an empty chest, it is a special kind of luck.]

Looking at the scroll in his hand, a strange melancholy welled up. Li Xia hadn't expected that there could be empty chests, nor that there was a "pity" mechanism that compensated with a basic reward. This detection scroll was exactly what the Hall had provided.

With a heavy heart, he slowly unfolded the scroll and aimed it at Tanjuro, describing the scan in a refined way: "Mr. Tanjuro, this is just a spell to check your physical condition. Please do not take any drastic actions..."

*Check my physical condition?* Tanjuro was puzzled, but since he sensed no hostility or ill intent from Li Xia, he did his best to relax his body.

[Intelligence comparison in progress. Due to the vast difference in attributes, you have only obtained basic information.]
[Name: Kamado Tanjuro]
[Status: Weakened (Loss of vitality)]
[Physical Strength Assessment: 2 (Tier 1, Carbon-based lifeform)]
[Strength: ???]
[Agility: ???]
[Intelligence: ???]
[Spirit: ???]
[Physique: ???]
[Skills: Sun Breathing (Mastered), Transparent World]
[Evaluation: Heaven gave him supreme talent, but did not give him a body to match it. Every breath makes him stronger, but also brings him one step closer to death.]

Within the "Transparent World," Tanjuro "saw" invisible ripples emanating from the scroll, passing through his body, followed by a strange sensation. It was as if he were being "observed" at close range.

He curled his fingers uncomfortably and thought to himself, *A spell to check the body? The outside world... is truly miraculous...*

Strong! It was undeniably strong! "Hall-certified" strong. Li Xia took a breath. If he were just a little better, Tanjuro could have restored the state of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, and *Demon Slayer* would have ended early. Simply put, Tanjuro was like a desktop PC with a top-tier CPU and a 4090 graphics card, but equipped with a failing power supply. It could barely run, but as soon as the load increased, it would cut out—except Tanjuro wasn't cutting out, he was burning his own life force to compensate. That was why he was in this state.

*Wait, loss of vitality?*

Li Xia’s gaze became subtle. He took out his rice ball.

[Plum Rice Ball (Hall-Enhanced)]
[Quality: Green]
[Type: Recovery Item]
[Effect: Infused with a small amount of life force. After consumption, slowly recovers 20% of HP (can heal certain injuries).]

*Infused with a small amount of life force?*

His breathing quickened. Could this rice ball slightly replenish Tanjuro’s depleted vitality?

After a moment of thought, Li Xia broke off a piece of the rice ball and held it out to Tanjuro, saying under the man's puzzled gaze: "This is a blessed rice ball. Perhaps it can help restore your body."

Tanjuro remained silent for a while. Under Li Xia’s earnest gaze, he finally took it and gently placed it in his mouth.

After chewing only twice, a warm current from the rice ball seemed to flow down his throat, and his exhausted body felt instantly much lighter.

*This... this... a miraculous spell from the outside world!*

Without waiting for Tanjuro to speak, Li Xia handed over the remaining half. After Tanjuro finished, a hint of rosiness appeared on his pale face, and his spirit was much improved.

Seeing Tanjuro’s expectant look, Li Xia could only shake his head. "This is a very precious item. I only had two... I encountered monsters on the way here, and after a fierce struggle, I was quite badly injured, so I had to eat one."

Tanjuro sighed softly, feeling a bit of regret. If he only had a few more, he felt he could even live to see Nezuko get married. But he quickly adjusted his mindset; to have obtained even one of such miraculous items was already a mercy from the heavens—why be greedy?

Instead, seeing Li Xia give up such a precious item made Tanjuro feel quite ashamed. He moved his wrists slightly and said solemnly:

"I am sorry for making you waste such a precious rice ball... If you do not mind, I will do my utmost to teach you."

[Prompt: The final main quest prerequisite task has been activated.]
[Prerequisite 1: Eliminate the man-eating bear.]
[Prerequisite 2: Heal Kamado Tanjuro’s body (Exceeded expectations).]
[Rewards can be claimed after completing all prerequisite tasks.]
[Rewards: Sun Breathing (Complete Version - Transparent World), Extra Reward: Exquisite Green Treasure Chest, Attribute Points x3, Points x2000.]

Just looking at the rewards, Li Xia couldn't help but hold his breath.

*I hit the jackpot!!*