Click~
A chill suddenly spread out without warning.
In the center of the platform, several lotus flowers formed from ice crystals bloomed out of thin air, refracting a rainbow of colors under the stark white lights.
The lotus flower spun around, its petals falling one by one, only to condense into new lotus flowers in mid-air.
Amidst this eerie rain of icy flowers, a figure landed gracefully.
Doma unfolded the golden iron fan in his hand, covering the lower half of his face, revealing only a pair of eyes like seven-colored glass.
He was dressed in magnificent papal robes: a white blouse embroidered with golden lotus patterns, purple hakama trousers, and a haori embroidered with lotus flowers.
Her soft white hair cascaded over her shoulders, the ends gradually turning mint green.
The strangest thing was his smile.
Her lips curved into a perfect arc, her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, and her whole face radiated what seemed like genuine joy.
But deep within those seven-colored eyes lay an absolute, chilling emptiness.
"Everyone~ Long time no see~"
Doma closed his iron fan, revealing a complete smile, his voice light and cheerful as if he were meeting an old friend.
"Akaza is still so energetic! Daki is getting more and more beautiful! Mr. Gyokko's new work is truly amazing! And... uh..."
His gaze fell on the Hantengu in the corner, his smile froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered:
"Ah, Mr. Hantengu is here too, how wonderful!"
No one responded to him.
Akaza didn't even open his eyes, as if he hadn't heard a thing.
Daki her face away and muttered to herself:
"Doma is such a hypocrite!!"
Gyokko was holding the pot and humming softly, seemingly muttering something to himself.
Doma felt no embarrassment whatsoever. He walked briskly to Akaza, and his iron fan snapped open.
"Akaza, don't be so cold. It's not easy for us all to get together, let's chat. Have you met any worthy opponents lately?"
"Ah, but human swordsmen are all very weak, they're no match for you at all~ How pathetic~"
A vein bulged on Akaza's forehead.
His eyes remained closed, but his fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
Doma, seemingly oblivious to the danger, turned to Daki, his eyes flashing with feigned curiosity:
"Miss Daki's kimono is so beautiful~ Where was it made?"
"Ah, speaking of which, all the courtesans in Yoshiwara have been wearing this style lately. Is Miss Daki imitating humans too? How cute~"
Daki's body stiffened slightly, and she quickly lowered her head, folding her hands in front of her in a restrained yet standard bow.
"Master Doma."
Her voice was soft, tinged with barely perceptible nervousness, yet the tips of her ears flushed red from Doma's overly direct praise.
Doma's gaze always made her feel uncomfortable, as if she were being scrutinized in a disrespectful way, but she never dared to show it.
Gyutaro quietly took half a step forward, partially hiding his sister behind him.
He hunched over, lowered his head, and spoke in a hoarse voice, "Doma."
His tone was dry, but respectful enough.
His fingers tightened on the sickle handle for a moment, then he forced himself to loosen them.
He clearly remembered the empty smile in those seven-colored eyes when they bestowed blood, and he also remembered how that power had pulled him and his sister from the brink of death and secured their positions on Upper Rank Six.
The gratitude is a fact, but the gap in strength is an even greater fact.
Doma chuckled, seemingly pleased with their reaction, and walked briskly towards the Gyokko, about to speak—
Boom!!
The entire platform suddenly shook.
It was as if the Infinity Castle itself trembled with "fear" because of the arrival of some being.
All the ghosts simultaneously opened their eyes wide and looked directly above the platform.
There was nothing there.
But the next moment, a figure was already standing there.
It was as if he had been there from the very beginning, but no one had noticed.
It was as if he had traversed space and stepped directly into this place from another dimension.
Upper Rank One – Kokushibo.
Her deep purple hair was tied in a high ponytail, and a long katana hung at her waist.
What's most breathtaking is his face.
The six eyes are neatly arranged from forehead to cheek, each one is a cold orange color, and the words "" and "" are engraved in the pupils.
He did not release any imposing aura, nor did he deliberately exude any pressure.
But when he stood there, the atmosphere of the entire platform changed.
The air became thick, the light dimmed, and even sound seemed to be swallowed up.
It was a pure, overwhelming sense of presence, as if he were not a person, but a mountain, a sea, a world.
Akaza's breathing suddenly quickened.
His pupils dilated, and a fierce fighting spirit erupted from his golden eyes.
His body trembled slightly with excitement, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing black blood.
A strong person!
That's what a true powerhouse is!
A strong opponent worthy of his utmost effort to challenge, fight, and surpass!
Kokushibo's six eyes slowly rotated, scanning every demon on the platform.
Wherever his gaze Daki involuntarily took a half step back, Gyutaro tensed all his muscles, Gyokko hugged the pot in his arms tightly, Hantengu collapsed to the ground.
Finally, my gaze settled on Akaza.
That one glance struck Akaza like a heavy blow.
The sword intent, killing intent, and martial arts realm accumulated over hundreds of years contained in those six-eyed eyes pierced Akaza's spirit like a tangible blade.
He groaned, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, but the fighting spirit in his eyes only intensified.
"Black... death... mou..."
Akaza slowly and deliberately, his voice trembling with excitement.
Kokushibo did not respond.
He didn't even glance at Akaza, as if the other person wasn't worth paying attention to at all.
He spoke softly, his voice low and calm, yet it rang clearly in the ears of every ghost:
"Muzan is coming."
The platform was deathly silent.
Even the most talkative Doma suppressed his smile, a hint of apprehension flashing deep in his seven-colored eyes.
Akaza, his fighting spirit boiling, forced himself to calm down, loosening his fists, but his body remained tense.
Kokushibo continued:
"Compose your posture and calm your breathing. If there is any personal grudge—"
Six eyes opened simultaneously, a flash of sword light appearing in the orange pupils.
"After the meeting, Rank Replacement Blood Battle to resolve the situation will take place."
The moment the words fell, an invisible sword aura spread out from Kokushibo as the center.
The lanterns along the edge of the platform went out for a moment, revealing countless fine cuts on the surface of the wooden planks.
All the ghosts bowed their heads.
Even the most arrogant Daki, the most insane Gyokko, and the most warlike Akaza all chose to submit at this moment.
Because that's the rule!
This is an order established by the strong!