dmims Page 8
Page 8
In her view, being able to provide materials for the research on this "deity" was already an unparalleled honor.
[Observer: One thing at a time. Equivalent exchange is a fundamental law of the universe.]
Gu Chuan declined her offer and directly transferred 300 points from his meager remaining balance to initiate the transaction.
[System notification: The 'Observer' has initiated a trade with you, requesting to purchase the item "Insect Breathing: The Complete Theory," priced at 300 Inspiration Points.]
Looking at the transaction notification, Shinobu Kocho felt incredibly conflicted. She knew that 300 points might be a drop in the ocean for an observer, but this respect was priceless.
With a mix of excitement and nervousness, she chose to agree.
The next second, all the secrets of the Insect Breathing technique—from the most basic breathing rhythm to the power generation techniques of each sword move—were uploaded to Gu Chuan's editor in the form of data.
[Butterfly Dance: Upload complete, sir.]
[Observer: Very good. Thank you.]
After completing the transaction, Gu Chuan went offline again and began a new round of analysis.
However, the chat group was in an uproar again because of this "investment" behavior.
[Gem Magician: Damn it! Why! Why is it another basic theory?! What is the Observer trying to do? Does he want to learn all of our power systems and then create a completely new monster?!]
Rin Tohsaka's tone was full of lemony sourness.
Damn it, why wasn't it me?!
[The Ice Queen: His ambitions are probably greater than you imagine.]
Esdeath's lips curled into a smile full of fighting spirit.
The research materials she can provide are far more than just "extraordinary".
However, she was more concerned about Gu Chuan's appearance than that.
It would be great if this group had a live streaming feature sometime.
14 The Uncomprehending Principles of Swordsmanship
After completing the transaction, Gu Chuan went offline again and began a new round of analysis.
In the view of the [Wanxiang Editor], all the information of "Breath of Insects" is quickly deconstructed into lines of clear entries.
[Concept: Insect Breathing (Variation: Flower Breathing)]
├【Core Principle: Simulating Insect Compound Eyes and Wing Vibration】
├【Energy Model: Cardiopulmonary Overload Oxygen Supply】
│└【Entry: Forced Extraction of Cellular Energy】
│└【Entry: Cumulative damage to the nervous system】
├【Attack Mode: High-speed thrust, toxin injection】
[Evaluation: The design is ingenious, but its foundation is flawed, resulting in inefficiency and significantly shortening the user's lifespan.]
Gu Chuan only spent a few minutes to thoroughly understand the ins and outs of this sword technique.
He opened his eyes, his consciousness returning to the chat group, and typed out a line of text.
[Observer: Miss Butterfly, I've finished watching your breathing technique.]
[Butterfly Dance: How are you feeling, sir?]
A small sense of anticipation rose in Ren's heart, like a student waiting for a teacher's comments.
[Observer: It's clever, but fundamentally flawed.]
One sentence, like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguished Ren's enthusiasm and left everyone in the group stunned.
[Observer: Its essence is not to 'unleash' potential, but to 'overdraw' life force. Through a special breathing rhythm, it forces the heart and lungs to work at an excessive frequency, providing muscles with far more oxygen than usual, thus unleashing instantaneous speed and power. This is like whipping an already exhausted horse to make the carriage run faster. It might make it run faster for a while, but ultimately it will only cause the horse to collapse sooner.]
Gu Chuan used a very vivid metaphor, speaking in a calm tone as if he were reading the conclusion of an academic report.
This outspoken, even "ruthless," criticism plunged the chat group into a brief silence.
The first to break the silence was Shinobu Kocho.
[Butterfly Dance: ...]
She sent a string of ellipses, seemingly organizing her thoughts. After a moment, she replied in an extremely restrained tone, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.
[Butterfly Dance: Sir... I understand what you mean. You're looking at it from a... higher level of perspective that I can't comprehend. But...]
For the first time, her voice carried a hint of defense.
[Butterfly Dance: But this breathing technique, and all breathing techniques, are the only weapons we humans can use when facing 'demons,' unreasonable creatures. It is a path paved with the lives and blood of countless predecessors, the culmination of the efforts of my sister... the 'pillars' of all generations.]
[Butterfly Me: We know it will drain our lives, we know we might die before we turn twenty-five... but it's our only choice.]
Shinobu's words contained no anger, only a heavy, unwavering commitment befitting a successor. She respected Gu Chuan, but she could not accept that this hope of the Demon Slayer Corps, bought with countless sacrifices, was so casually defined as a "mistake."
[Gem Magician: Hey, Observer, aren't you being a little too direct this time?]
Rin Tohsaka couldn't help but speak up; she could sense the sadness in Shinobu Kocho's words.
[The Ice Queen: Only the weak make excuses for their limitations. If the path is wrong, then find the right one.]
Esdeath's words remained cold, yet they pointed out a cruel truth.
Gu Chuan looked at the discussion in the group and he could understand Shinobu's feelings. It was the kind of defense that comes from being in a desperate situation and protecting one's only weapon.
But he has no intention of retracting his assessment.
Because pointing out errors is in order to reveal what is truly correct.
[Observer: I understand your feelings and respect your sacrifices.]
[Observer: But the 'error' I'm referring to isn't a value judgment, but a statement of fact.]
[Observer: Your swordsmanship has gone astray from the very beginning. It is not a 'combat skill,' but a 'skill of seeking death.']
He paused, then typed out the last sentence that shocked everyone.
[Observer: Now, I will tell you what the true 'principle of the sword' should be like.]
Gu Chuan's final, calm yet unwavering words instantly silenced the audience at the "Cross-Dimensional Film Screening."
"The true 'principles of the sword'..."
Shinobu Kocho repeatedly pondered these words, her heart filled with mixed emotions. There was resentment at being completely rejected, a desire to protect the hard work of her predecessors, but more than anything, there was a yearning for the "correct answer" that she herself had never realized.
[Observer: There's too much distortion in verbal descriptions; I hate empty talk.]
Gu Chuan did not engage in lengthy "preaching." He always believed that facts speak for themselves.
The next second, a series of system notifications, like the loudest slap in the face, slapped everyone's preconceived notions hard.
[System notification: The Observer has added a new item, "Breathing Techniques: Energy Cycle Model," to its inventory.]
[System notification: The Observer has added a new item, "Nichirin Blade: Concept Transmission Technique," to its inventory.]
[System notification: The Observer has added a new item, "Breath of the Moon: Mind Sword Technique," to its inventory.]
[Jewel Magician: Here we go again! He really has... created something new again!]
Rin Tohsaka's voice trembled slightly. She almost instinctively clicked on the group store, and then, she was completely stunned.
15 Tong Qi Po, San Leng Si Ji Qi Si Wang Sheng's sword
The other girls acted just as quickly, but when they saw the prices of the three new items in the shop, the entire chat group seemed to be plunged into the deep sea of absolute zero, and even the atmosphere of the discussion froze.
[Product: Breathing Technique & Energy Circulation Model]
[Uploaded by: Observer]
[Price: 2000 Inspiration Winged Umbrella Owl (9 points)]
[Note: This method reconstructs the body's energy cycle, transforming breathing techniques that 'deplete life' into internal energy practices that 'nourish the body,' significantly enhancing endurance and the body's recovery capabilities, and eradicating the side effects of age spots and shortened lifespan.]
【Product: Nichirin Blade - Concept Transmission Technique】
[Uploaded by: Observer]
Price: 2500 Inspiration Points
[Note: A completely new energy conduction circuit has been edited for the Nichirin Blade, enabling it to conduct the 'sun' concept more efficiently and purely, increasing its damage against demons by 300%.]
【Product: Moon Breathing - Mind Image Sword Skill】
[Uploaded by: Observer]
Price: 5000 Inspiration Points
[Note: This is the ultimate advancement of 'Sun Breathing,' abandoning pure physical exertion and instead driving energy with mental power (mental imagery) to unleash an invisible blade. It is the cornerstone of reaching the level of law-based swordsmanship.]
Each product is like an insurmountable mountain, weighing heavily on everyone's mind.
The first to break down was Shinobu Kocho.
“Two thousand…five thousand…” She looked at the string of zeros and felt a deeper despair than when she faced the Upper Moon Demon.
She counted her savings over and over again, and even with the 300 points she got from selling the breathing technique theory, the total came to just over 400.
can not afford.
I can't even afford the cheapest one.
She was like a traveler who had been trekking through the desert for days and was on the verge of dying of thirst, who saw with her own eyes a clear oasis in the distance, but that oasis was separated from her by an invisible chasm.
This feeling—visible yet intangible, yet knowing it to be the only hope—almost suffocated her.
[Butterfly Dance: ...Why...is it so expensive...?]
Her voice trembled with a hint of a sob.
[Jewel Magician: Idiot! Don't you understand yet?!]
Rin Tohsaka's voice was filled with shock and a hint of envious envy.
[The Jewel Magician: Viewers will automatically judge the value! The higher the price, the higher the value of these things! Every theory he uploads is more expensive than Esdeath's extraordinary "Ice Storm General"! This isn't just improvement, this is creation!]
[Sword Path Asura: The side effect of eradicating the marks and shortening lifespan... If this is true, then its value certainly far exceeds what points can measure.]
As a swordswoman, Saeko Busujima understands best what this means.
[Ice Queen: Hmph, interesting. To elevate a rudimentary mortal martial art to a level capable of altering the core conflicts of a world. This man... always manages to surprise us.]
Esdeath's tone was filled with undisguised admiration. She knew that the mall automatically set prices, and the higher the price, the more practical the item Gu Chuan had created. This man must have created something extraordinary again.
The discussion in the group grew increasingly heated, but every word felt like a needle piercing Shinobu's heart. They all knew that Gu Chuan had created a miracle, but she would never witness it.
Just then, Gu Chuan spoke again.
[Observer: It seems the pricing is indeed beyond your current purchasing power. My mistake.]
[Observer: I need you to spend points to provide me with the power to correct the 'distorted narratives' of other worlds. From this perspective, we are in a cooperative relationship. Therefore, a product that a partner cannot afford is a failed product.]
He pondered for a moment, like a product manager adjusting a market strategy.
[Observer: Okay, I'll release a 'simplified trial version'. It won't have all the features and some instability, but at least it will allow you to experience the advantages of the new system.]
[System notification: The Observer has added a new product, "Insect Breathing: Cycle Optimization (Trial Version)".]
Price: 200 Inspiration Points
[Note: This is a specialized improvement to 'Insect Breathing,' introducing an energy circulation model that significantly reduces bodily burden and slightly increases stamina recovery speed. Caution: This is a trial version and cannot eliminate lifespan loss.]
Looking at the newly listed product and the price that she could just afford, Shinobu's heart started pounding.
Is it a trap? Or... a glimmer of hope?
She recalled Gu Chuan's "ruthless" criticism, and also his power to casually end a world.
Reason was frantically reminding her that everything she had insisted on might really be... insignificant in front of this man.
"Let's take a gamble!"
Butterfly Shinobu bit her lower lip and invested all her savings without hesitation.
[System notification: 'Butterfly Dance' has purchased the item "Insect Breathing: Circulation Optimization (Trial Version)".]
The moment she made the purchase, a completely new stream of knowledge, entirely different from breathing techniques, flooded her mind. It wasn't about "techniques" on how to exert force or how to wield a sword, but rather a "theory" on how "energy" flows, circulates, and nourishes the body.