Starting in The Boys to Become the Ultimate Lifeform.

153. Chapter 153: One Faction, Two Hashira! Lower Rank Four, Mukago!

The patterns on the surface of his body became increasingly fierce. From the Demon Slayer Mark that originally resembled faint waves, it gradually transformed into turbulent waves, simultaneously emitting a powerful aura.

Even the surrounding air temperature became increasingly hot due to Xia Shang's breathing.

"So breathing style can also enhance my body's functions. I seem to feel that all the cells in my body have been awakened. This increase in strength is quite considerable.

Furthermore, my mental focus has become increasingly concentrated. Next, what I need to do is firmly engrave this breathing rhythm into my body, making it a part of my instinct."

Xia Shang found that his lungs were expanding and contracting extremely violently under the drive of the breathing style.

If it were an ordinary human's lungs, they would have probably exploded like fireworks due to being unable to withstand the influx of so much air, but he was different. With the talent of adaptive self-healing, his lungs would only become stronger and stronger.

Hiss! Huff! Xia Shang's lungs were like a vacuum pump, wantonly drawing in the surrounding air.

Although he still couldn't completely draw out the air in front of him to form a vacuum domain, he already had the rudimentary form of a vacuum. At least Sakonji Urokodaki, who was nearby, could clearly feel the change in the surrounding air.

"He's truly a monster. I wonder if teaching him the breathing style was the right decision."

Underneath Sakonji Urokodaki's mask, his usually composed face couldn't help but show a trace of emotion.

Since he became a trainer, he had never seen a student with such abnormal talent. Even the extraordinary talent of Giyu Tomioka seemed mediocre compared to Edogawa Xia Shang.

"Your talent leaves this old man speechless, but I must warn you, activating the Demon Slayer Mark can grant a significant boost in strength for a short period, but this is power gained by overdrawing your life. Generally speaking, those who activate the Demon Slayer Mark prematurely do not live past 25 years old.

I see that your age is not great. There's no need to choose to overdraw your life for this kind of temporary strength."

However, Sakonji Urokodaki's well-intentioned reminder did not make Xia Shang stop breathing.

While exhaling the scorching air, he looked at the Sunset in the distance. "This feeling is very comfortable. You must have soaked in a hot spring. That feeling of heatwave penetrating the skin is very wonderful. Perhaps for ordinary humans, this is an act of overdrawing life, but for me, it can become a part of daily life."

"Suit yourself. After Tanjiro comes up the mountain, I will teach you the Ten Forms of Water Breathing. Once you learn them, you can also deduce the form most suitable for yourself from the Ten Forms. Giyu Tomioka is the same; he is also the Water Hashira of the Water Faction. Your appearance means that the Water Faction is about to have the title of One Faction, Two Hashira."

Sakonji Urokodaki said with some emotion.

"However, to become a Hashira, you must meet one of these two conditions: first, defeat a member of the Twelve Kizuki; second, kill fifty demons. So you currently only have the strength of a Hashira, but you cannot be called a Hashira. Once you complete one of the above two conditions, I will write a letter to Oyakata-sama to apply for you to become a new Hashira."

"But the title of Water Hashira is unique. Giyu Tomioka is like a calm sea, while you are more like a turbulent tsunami, ready to destroy everything at any moment. Therefore, how about calling you the Roaring Hashira?"

In Sakonji Urokodaki's opinion, Xia Shang, who could activate the Demon Slayer Mark at will, even if he couldn't kill an Upper Rank Demon, was definitely more than capable of taking down a Lower Rank of the Twelve Kizuki. Therefore, he wasn't worried about Xia Shang failing to complete one of the two conditions.

"Not good. Besides, what benefit is there for me to join the Demon Slayer Corps?" Xia Shang said indifferently.

"You can choose any other school's breathing style. Don't tell this old man that just one Water Breathing is enough to satisfy you. The extremely strong ambition in your eyes can be seen clearly even from a thousand meters away."

After hearing Sakonji Urokodaki's words, Xia Shang couldn't help but laugh up at the sky. Steam-like air spread in all directions. He swung his hands downwards, and in an instant, his figure shot up into the sky. The huge airflow stirred up dust all over the ground.

From above the dust, Xia Shang's voice came down: "Alright! The heads of the Twelve Kizuki, right? I'll bring them to you tonight." "Is... is that Brother Xia Shang?"

Tanjiro, who had finally arrived in front of the Wooden Cabin, supported his knees with his hands, panting heavily, and looked in the direction Xia Shang had disappeared.

He seemed to see some strange patterns on Brother Xia Shang's body. He wondered if it was just his imagination.

"Can... can this... make you acknowledge me?" Tanjiro, who had come back to his senses, turned his head to look at Sakonji Urokodaki. At this moment, every time he inhaled fresh air, his dry throat emitted a needle-like pain. At the same time, his forehead, which had a red burn scar, was soaked with sweat.

"The test has just begun. Get ready to go up the mountain."

"Ah?!" Tanjiro let out a shocked sound.

...

Meanwhile.

Xia Shang's figure was propelled by psychic waves, flying into the distance at an astonishing speed.

"There really are few demons nearby."

Even though Xia Shang expanded the range of his Parasyte Sensing to the extreme, the demons he sensed were few and far between, and they were all extremely weak demons.

Xia Shang didn't plan to waste time on them. His target was the Twelve Kizuki and Muzan. As for whether he could find the latter, he didn't hold out much hope.

That guy was extremely elusive. He never stayed in one place for too long, coupled with his ability of mimicry, almost no one could find him.

Soon, Xia Shang saw the Town faintly appearing in the distance. It was currently the Taisho period in Nihon, also known as the Romance of the Sunset.

"Hmm?" Xia Shang's gaze instantly locked onto a Wooden Cabin in the Town. The Wooden Cabin was decorated very luxuriously. Pink ribbons and some decorative streamers were tied to the pillars in front of the door.

"Finally found a big fish."

Xia Shang's toes slowly touched the ground. He raised his head and walked towards the Wooden Cabin under the surprised gazes of others.

Although it was nighttime, the light from the streetlights along the road was unusually bright.

Most of the Houses in the small Town were in the old Japanese style, but occasionally, one or two novel buildings could be seen, such as a Coffee Shop or a dance hall.

"There's a smell of herbal medicine inside. It seems the original owner was quite ill."

Xia Shang raised his right hand and pushed open the wooden door forcefully. Crack! The latch behind the door broke off in response. He ignored the fallen wood and walked straight inside the house. Suddenly, a door inside the house was pushed open slightly, and then a head with two short white horns on its forehead poked out from the crack in the door.

(End of this Chapter)