Cheng Mo clearly perceived Kaigaku's growing malice, which was almost materializing.
However, he did not choose direct confrontation or immediate denunciation to Kuwajima Jigorō.
That would be too inefficient and easily drag him into unnecessary entanglements.
It was meaningless and beneath him.
He adopted a strategy more in line with his character—setting a benchmark and waiting for its flaws to appear.
What he needed to do was become a cold, clear mirror and an efficient catalyst.
The mirror would reflect Kaigaku's own unattainable heights and narrow-mindedness.
The catalyst would accelerate the fermentation of his inner jealousy and resentment, leading him to self-destruction.
The prerequisite for all of this was his absolute strength and impeccable performance.
He no longer deliberately restrained his brilliance; instead, he dedicated himself even more intently to his training.
He didn't need to do anything; simply existing and becoming stronger at an undeniable pace was enough to make that heart, filled with jealousy and narrow-mindedness, spiral out of control.
After thoroughly mastering the essence of First Form: Thunderclap and Flash and refining it to the maximum speed his current body could withstand, Cheng Mo's training did not cease; instead, it entered a new explosive phase.
Total Concentration: Constant—maintaining Thunder Breathing Technique's continuous operation, constantly refining his body, and enhancing his basic physical abilities.
This was an extremely difficult hurdle for ordinary swordsmen, requiring years of arduous effort.
But for Cheng Mo, who possessed the Myriad Realms Physique, his powerful body control and energy affinity allowed him to quickly adapt and stabilize it almost as soon as he understood its principles.
The rhythm of the Breathing Technique became like a second nature, integrated into his every move.
Kuwajima Jigorō, for the first time, noticed that Cheng Mo seemed to be maintaining a certain breathing rhythm at all times, and he was so startled that he almost dropped his cane.
"You... can already maintain Constant?"
The old man's voice trembled with disbelief.
Cheng Mo was adjusting the angle of his wooden sword; hearing this, he nodded slightly, his tone calm: "Yes, I tried it, and it doesn't seem too difficult to maintain."
Not far away, Kaigaku abruptly stopped his movements, his face instantly turning ashen.
Constant... that was the realm he yearned for but could never reach!
Zenitsu, on the other hand, collapsed directly onto the ground, clutching his head: "Ahhh... it's happening again! Monster talk... this isn't something a human can do!"
Kuwajima Jigorō remained silent for a long time, finally letting out a long sigh filled with complex emotions: "...Good, very good."
From then on, Cheng Mo began systematically learning the other sword forms of Thunder Breathing.
He didn't aim to master all of them but rather to fully understand this Breathing Technique system and diversify his means of dealing with different situations.
Second Form: Rice Spirit, five consecutive slashes.
Cheng Mo did not pursue the flashy instantaneous five slashes; instead, relying on the precise spatial perception brought by the [Eyes of Truth] and the micro-control over muscles from his Myriad Realms Physique, he strived to make each slash land in the most cunning and fatal position.
The five slashes were like precisely calculated moves, sealing off any space for evasion.
He mastered the technique of exerting force almost after just a few attempts.
Third Form: Thunder Swarm, wide-range lightning slash.
This demanded extremely high physical endurance and stable energy output.
Cheng Mo, relying on his superhuman lung capacity and energy reserves, forcibly sustained the wide-range consumption, and though his initial chaotic slashes were a bit stiff, they quickly became dense and threatening.
Fourth Form: Distant Thunder, mid-range thrusting slash.
This was almost a variation and extension of Thunderclap and Flash; for Cheng Mo, it was extremely quick to pick up. The difference lay in how to maintain the thrusting power and slashing precision at mid-range.
He repeatedly adjusted the coordination of his breathing and footwork; the distance of his thrusts grew longer, yet their trajectory became more stable.
Fifth Form: Heat Lightning, high-temperature slash.
This involved a high degree of energy property transformation, making it the most difficult.
Cheng Mo did not force himself to master it instantly; instead, he first focused on understanding its principle—generating high heat through extreme compression and friction of energy.
What he could initially achieve was to significantly increase the surface temperature of his wooden sword at the moment of the slash, even creating a wisp of scorching air current.
Sixth Form: Rumble and Flash, wide-range chaotic slashes.
This was purely a wild release of physical strength and total energy.
Cheng Mo directly relied on the abundant capital of his Myriad Realms Physique to forcibly simulate the violent effect, like a thunderous bombardment. Although lacking in finesse, the momentum and range were already terrifying.
His rate of progress could no longer be described as "fast"; it was simply inconceivable.
For every sword form, he could grasp the core in an extremely short time and quickly master it to a considerably proficient level through inhuman amounts of practice.
Kuwajima Jigorō had gradually grown somewhat numb from his initial shock, often even staring blankly at Cheng Mo's training figure.
Once, after Cheng Mo perfectly executed a five-hit Rice Spirit slash fused with Distant Thunder's thrusting technique, he sheathed his sword and stood, his breathing steady.
Kuwajima Jigorō leaned on his cane and slowly walked up to him, remaining silent for a long time before speaking in a tone mixed with extreme gratification, disbelief, and even a hint of trance:
"Cheng Mo... in my life, I have seen many geniuses. But someone like you... a body seemingly born for Breathing Technique, such high comprehension, such rapid progress..."
He paused, seemingly unable to find suitable words, and finally said emphatically: "In several hundred years... no, perhaps even a thousand years, it would be difficult for a prodigy like you to appear."
These words carried immense weight, striking the scene like a clap of thunder.
Zenitsu's mouth hung open; he forgot to breathe.
And Kaigaku—
He remained frozen in a posture of swinging his sword, motionless.
Cheng Mo stood with his sword sheathed, his breathing slightly quickened from the demonstration, but his eyes remained clear and calm.
He bowed slightly: "Teacher, you flatter me. This junior's physical foundation is merely decent, and your guidance went straight to the core, saving this junior many detours."
His humility did not diminish the admiration in Kuwajima Jigorō's eyes.
The old man knew that merely having a good physical foundation could never achieve such a degree.
That comprehension, that insight into the essence of power, was what was truly terrifying.
And all of this, like the most intense flame, scorched the nerves of another person not far away.
Kaigaku stared intently at Cheng Mo, who had become the center of attention, staring at Kuwajima Jigorō's undisguised gaze of admiration.
The wooden sword in his hand was almost crushed, his fingernails dug deep into his palm, drawing blood.
That immense, despair-inducing gap gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.
His face twisted, his eyes fixed on the ground, no longer churning with mere jealousy, but with something deeper and darker, like a snake's tongue, cold and viscous.
Cheng Mo felt the gaze that almost pierced his back, but he did not turn around.
The mirror was already set.
He thought calmly, now, he just had to wait.
Wait for the shadow, in its own distortion, to head towards destruction.
He adjusted his breathing and raised his wooden sword again, focusing on the next swing.