Chapter 9

Since Kenshin was taken in as a disciple by Hiko Seijuro and Tenshin, the two of them would dedicate a significant amount of time each day to training Kenshin. Hiko often dragged Kenshin to practice by the waterfall, and his teaching methods were very strict—making Kenshin endure the various techniques of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. Tenshin often saw Kenshin being hit on the head by Hiko's Ryu Tsui Sen, on the throat by Ryu Sou Sen, and all over the body by Ryu Ko Sen. According to Hiko, only by taking the beatings could one remember well. It was a testament to Kenshin's resolve that he managed to survive Hiko's training, always striving to become stronger and learn from both Hiko and Tenshin.

In comparison, Tenshin's teaching time was much shorter, usually taking place at night. Not only did Hiko take up most of the daytime, but he also didn't leave any time for Tenshin before sunset. Of course, Tenshin wouldn't say that Hiko had forcibly taken over the daytime: "Tenshin, your swordsmanship is still far behind mine. You haven't even mastered your own secret techniques, yet you're teaching a disciple? So, I, the genius, will train Kenshin during the day, and you can come at night, hahaha⊙﹏⊙b"

However, the nighttime training wasn't a problem for Tenshin. After all, the essence of the Gekkiken-ryu was the mastery of ki, and the other aspects could be learned from the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. Tenshin only needed to teach Kenshin the ki control techniques. Tenshin's Gekkiken-ryu was learned through the direct infusion of the Infinite Heart, and although his mastery was very high, teaching a disciple... Are you kidding me? ╮(╯－╰)╭ He could only follow the steps of the infused Gekkiken-ryu.

For the first six months, Tenshin took the young Kenshin to a waterfall not far from Hiko's home to practice breathing techniques. While Kenshin practiced his breathing, Tenshin would release sword ki in front of him using a ki shockwave, allowing Kenshin to feel the presence of the sword ki. The ki shockwave, which spreads ki in waves to form a sensory field, can prevent sudden attacks and also sense the opponent's position, potentially saving one's life when the five senses fail. However, mastering ki, the essence of the Gekkiken-ryu, is more difficult than learning secret techniques and requires a long time to learn and strengthen.

In these six months, Kenshin only managed to sense the presence of sword ki, and the slow progress was a headache for Tenshin. It took six months just to get started, and this was with Kenshin's talent, which could be considered sword god-like. According to the original plot, Kenshin left Hiko after four years of training and joined the Shinsengumi, beginning his life as the Hitokiri Battosai. In four years, he probably couldn't even master ki, only using it to enhance weapon damage and cut a few small ki blades.

The level of ki control is related to one's strength and the time spent learning it. In four years, even the protagonist Kenshin could only achieve this level. Tenshin, with the equivalent of sixty years of ki training through the system, had nearly reached perfection. He just needed to learn the final secret technique to achieve true perfection.

"Watch carefully, Kenshin. The essence of my Gekkiken-ryu is ki control," Tenshin taught Kenshin, standing below the waterfall. "I'll show you the power of ki control. This is..." Tenshin's long sword was enveloped in blue sword ki, and as he swung the sword upward, a two-meter-long crescent-shaped sword ki cut through the waterfall and flew upward, advancing over thirty meters before dissipating under the waterfall's impact.

"Gekkiken-ryu—Ki Blade Slash. It maximizes the destructive power of ki, gathering a large amount of sword ki on the sword and releasing it in a powerful long-range attack." Tenshin sheathed his long sword. "One of my most得意的剑术。" The god-like sword technique made little Kenshin's eyes widen, and he eagerly asked Tenshin to teach him this ultimate skill. Seeing Kenshin's pleading, Tenshin naturally agreed with a smile, though the young Kenshin didn't realize that Tenshin's smile was as mischievous as Hiko's. If Kenshin knew that Tenshin would use even more rigorous training than Hiko, he probably wouldn't have asked Tenshin to teach him ki control. o((≧▽≦o)

Thus, Kenshin's boring breathing practice began. He had to sit in meditation by the waterfall for two hours every day, with Tenshin always watching, making it impossible to run away. Kenshin tried to escape a few times when Tenshin seemed to be asleep, but every time he managed to get less than ten meters away, Tenshin would move behind him at a speed Kenshin couldn't see, grabbing him by the neck and throwing him back to the original spot.

As Kenshin's sensitivity to ki gradually increased, his training method changed. Tenshin would release unformed ki blade slashes, and Kenshin, with his eyes blindfolded, had to rely on his ki sense to dodge the attacks. Even though the ki blade slashes were unformed, being hit directly was like being whipped, causing Kenshin significant pain.

From single ki blade slashes to continuous ones, this training life was extremely monotonous. If not for Kenshin's pure heart and his pursuit of strength, it would have been almost impossible to persist. ...

Three years passed, and as Kenshin grew, Hiko and Tenshin began to teach him more advanced sword techniques. After three years of training, Kenshin's strength was roughly at the level of a ten-man cutter. Due to his physical limitations, he couldn't fully utilize the power of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, but his ki training had been quite effective. Now, Kenshin could use a few weakened versions of the ki blade slash, with a range of about ten meters, capable of cutting an opponent's muscles and potentially killing if it hit a vital point.

However, Kenshin's physical endurance was a weakness, and the consumption of ki also took a toll. Being able to use a few ki blade slashes was his limit. Therefore, Tenshin also provided Kenshin with extra meals to support his physical growth. The Infinite Heart indicated that these living supplies did not require Heart Coins, so Tenshin didn't hesitate to exchange for a large amount of supplies. In this year, Kenshin learned all the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu techniques except for the secret techniques and the Ryu Tsui Sen, as well as the method to enhance weapons with ki. Kenshin's body and sword skills had improved significantly, making him truly capable of becoming the Hitokiri Battosai.

ps: This book is a slow-burn type. Don't expect the protagonist to be able to do impossible things like washing the ground with magic cannons or punching through space in the first chapter. Please give recommendations and add to your favorites.

ps2: Here's a slight hint: the protagonist's weapon can be continuously upgraded, so the first weapon will be used until the end. In the future, various secondary weapons and another main weapon will be added. You can guess what the other main weapon might be, and it's related to the theme of infinity.

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