How to Unlock Breathing Boost

Check the right progression system

Use this route on a Slayer character after establishing your basic combat setup. Ren’s gourd-access quest requires character level 75. Find him walking around Butterfly Estate.

Character level, weapon or breathing mastery, and Slayer Progression are separate counters. A high character level does not prove that Breathing Boost is unlocked. Open the menu with M on PC, choose Player Info / Progression and inspect Slayer Progress.

Return Ren’s lost Nichirin

The quest has two objectives: find the blade and return to Ren. The return objective stays locked until the blade is found. Picking up the blade alone does not finish the unlock.

This is Ren’s access quest at Butterfly Estate. Do not confuse it with the separate katana-return objective inside Final Selection.

1. Speak to Ren at Butterfly Estate and accept Locate Ren’s Lost Nichirin.
2. Head northwest from the estate, descend toward the river and cross to the opposite bank.
3. Climb the ground on the far side and locate the quest blade. Pick it up and confirm Nichirin Blade found is complete.
4. Return to Ren and choose the dialogue that says you found his blade.
5. Finish the conversation, then return to the estate’s gourd area.

Use gourds to raise Slayer Progression

A completed Large Gourd use gives 300 Slayer Progression in the September launch route. Check progress after a completed use rather than counting the number of gourds merely purchased.

Buy in manageable batches and check the remaining progress before buying more. The number you still need depends on your current progress; another player’s total spending is not a fixed price for your character.

1. After Ren’s turn-in, interact with the gourds at Butterfly Estate and inspect the available purchase.
2. Buy the gourd you intend to use, keeping enough Wen for equipment and recovery supplies.
3. Equip the gourd from your inventory. On PC, hold the left mouse button to perform the training.
4. Complete the use, then reopen Player Info / Progression to check that Slayer Progress increased.
5. Repeat until the panel reaches Lv 4 and displays Max.

Confirm the level 4 rewards

Use the progression panel as the completion check. The displayed factor is not a standalone calculation of your final HP: other character bonuses can also affect the total.

Activate Breathing Boost

Equip your katana, then press N on PC after the skill has unlocked. Use the movement burst to close distance, chase or reposition.

Treat the skill as a mobility option when planning your route or combat approach. Unlocking it does not replace learning your breathing moves, upgrading suitable equipment or managing the enemy’s attacks.

On a different input device or a customized control scheme, check the available skill control instead of assuming the PC key is the same.

If the route does not advance

Finish the unfinished milestone before repeating purchases. Rebuying a gourd will not complete a missing Ren conversation or change which progression panel you are reading.