Thinking of this, Xander headed to the summit of Narrow Misty Mountain. As he climbed higher, the air became thinner, but this was not a problem for Xander, who had mastered the breathing technique. Soon he reached the peak of Narrow Misty Mountain. Snowflakes fell one by one, but Xander did not feel cold; rather, he felt very comfortable.
"It's winter now, and the temperature at the mountain's peak is quite low, which will allow me to better develop the power of the Ice Fruit. Let's see if I can integrate the power of the Ice Fruit into the breathing technique over these next few months," he thought.
Xander slightly opened his mouth and inhaled the air into his body.
"Water Breathing! First Form! Water Surface Slash!"
Using Water Breathing, Xander also activated the power of the Ice Fruit. Light blue ice crystals appeared on the hilt of his sword, and the droplets on the blade became significantly smaller. Then he adjusted his breathing and continued to use Water Breathing.
"Water Breathing! Second Form! Water Wheel!"
As Xander continued to utilize Water Breathing, he gradually found the key point for merging Water Breathing with the power of the Ice Fruit.
"The characteristics of Water Breathing are excellent defense and versatility. You could say it's a very comprehensive combat skill. Although the stronger attack is the second form—Water Wheel, along with the eighth form—Waterfall Basin and the tenth form—Constant Flux.
"Ice can be considered the ultimate form of water. It is sharper and harder."
"If I infuse the power of the Ice Fruit into the blade and then use combat techniques, perhaps I can succeed."
Thinking this, Xander closed his eyes, slightly opened his mouth, inhaled the air into his body, slowly raised the knife in his hand, and struck forward. A light blue icy blade sliced through, and the blade emitted a trail of cold air.
"Indeed, this is the breathing method I created to suit me best—Ice Breathing!"
Time flies, and a year passed. Perhaps because Tanjirou always asked Xander for advice after each training session and because Xander acted as a training partner, Tanjirou actually mastered Water Breathing in just one year.
Xander also continually improved his combat skills and Ice Breathing during this year.
"Ice Breathing! First Form! Icy Blade!"
A white frost condensed on the blade, emitting streams of cold air. When Xander lowered the blade, the boulder split in half, and the blade still emitted a trace of cold air.
It wasn't the first time Xander split a boulder. After the initial break, he turned splitting the boulder into his own training regimen, to refine his unique Ice Breathing.
Xander put away the knife and looked in another direction:
"I wonder if Tanjirou managed to split the boulder. I'll go check."
Walking through the forest, he saw another open space. There was a boulder almost three meters high, just like Xander's. Tanjirou stood before the boulder, but it seemed as if he was struggling against someone.
Xander had known about this situation for three months.
"Sabito and Makomo, do they really not care about me?" Xander shook his head sadly.
When Xander discovered this situation, he also tried to contact Sabito and Makomo, but to no avail. This left Xander feeling down for quite some time, and he was also envious of Tanjirou.
Suddenly, Makomo's voice echoed in Xamder's ears.
"We were worried about you, but when we saw Xander creating his own breathing technique, we were all truly happy for you. Besides, didn't Xander manage to split that large, hard boulder in half a long time ago?"
Xander turned around and looked, but didn't see Mokomo's figure. He smiled hopelessly:
"I really can't hide anything from you, Mokomo. You've always been so observant."
As soon as these words were spoken, Xander seemed to hear Mokomo's laughter.
At this moment, Tanjirou suddenly swung the knife in his hand, splitting the boulder in half, and a smile appeared on his face, which gradually turned into surprise.
"Isn't that the rabbit mask I cut? How did it turn into a boulder?"
"Yes, that knife is very clean and sharp, without any unnecessary movements," praised Xander.
Tanjirou noticed Xander.
"Senior Xander, when did you get here? I didn't even notice."
"I just arrived and felt relieved to see you split the massive boulder."
That day, both Tanjirou and Xander split enormous boulders.
Urokodaki Sakonji approached and looked at the broken boulder before him.
"I wasn't planning on letting you go to the final selection, even knowing that you, Xander , mastered the water breathing technique. I didn't want to see my child die again."
Xander looked at the old man who raised him for seventeen years and said with utmost seriousness:
"We will definitely come back alive!"
Tanjirou echoed:
"Yes, we will definitely come back alive!"
Over the year, Tanjirou also learned from Xander what they might face in the final selection and why Urokodaki Sakonji asked them to split a three-meter boulder.
It was because they feared encountering an alien phantom during the final selection and possibly dying there.
Urokodaki Sakonji was filled with worry but calmed down and nodded.
That night, Urokodaki Sakonji prepared an exquisite dinner for Xander and Tanjirou so they could eat well.