But Tanjiro's personality, along with the orders from the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, left him no way to refuse.
However, the Upper Ranks probably would not appear here. After all, the Demon Slayer Corps was not completely useless. A large number of demons moving in this direction would inevitably draw their attention.
And at worst, he could keep sensing his surroundings.
The moment he detected a powerful demon, he would immediately run.
If he activated Demonification and fled at full speed, while using the body created by his External Incarnation to block them, then even if an Upper Rank came, escaping would not be too much of a problem...
Besides, the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps would definitely rush over.
After weighing the pros and cons, Lin Fan felt that taking a gamble did not seem impossible.
Still, he had to strengthen himself as much as possible.
With that thought, Lin Fan immediately opened the system.
He directly chose the lottery.
"System, give me five consecutive Gold draws!"
[ Ding! 5,000 Emotion Points consumed. Beginning Gold-tier lottery draw! Congratulations, you have obtained: Platinum Ability Upgrade Card (can upgrade an ability below Platinum tier to Platinum tier) ]
Lin Fan immediately smiled happily when he heard that.
System: You were happy too soon.
[ Better luck next time, better luck next time... better luck next time... ]
Three consecutive better luck next times.
Lin Fan said, "I really stabbed right into a nest of better luck next times!"
The moment he finished speaking.
[ Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained: Demon Power AK-47 (created by a powerful existence, it can adapt to any energy system, convert energy into special bullets, and fire them while retaining their original power characteristics) ]
"What the hell is that?!"
Lin Fan was completely dumbfounded. He could understand if he had drawn Chidori.
But what the hell was an AK-47?
And a Demon Power version at that?
"I'm a proper Demon Blade!"
"Ding! Please watch the VCR!"
As soon as it spoke, a system panel appeared before Lin Fan, and footage automatically began playing on it.
It was clearly an AK-47, except its entire body was covered in peculiar patterns that gave it an exceptionally mysterious feeling.
When the video began.
That AK-47 started pouring out firepower like mad, firing endlessly without stopping at all!
The demon opposite it had already been blasted into a sieve. It could not regenerate its body at all and simply died on the spot.
Then, after further adjustments, a single shot directly unleashed the power of a grenade.
After watching the video, Lin Fan raised the crucial question.
"Does this gun not need its bullets replaced?"
"Ding! It consumes Demon Power, so naturally there is no need to replace magazines. Every shot consumes Demon Power, with a minimum of one point and a maximum of one hundred points!
The amount of Demon Power consumed per shot determines the firearm's power!"
Lin Fan fell silent upon hearing that.
This gun was indeed powerful, but it did not really fit his image.
He was a Demon Blade now.
What proper Demon Blade carried around a rifle to kill demons?!
That was simply ridiculous!
Unless absolutely necessary, he had better not use it...
Other than that, Lin Fan looked at the Ability Upgrade Card. After a brief moment of thought.
He decisively chose to upgrade his sensing ability.
[ Ding! Ability Upgrade Card successfully consumed. Platinum-tier ability: Sensing (can precisely sense within one thousand meters and accurately distinguish the strength and characteristics of auras...) ]
Lin Fan immediately felt the changes to his sensing ability.
The most obvious change was the increased range. Beyond that, he could accurately distinguish the strength of every living being's aura within that range.
Previously, the strength of the auras he sensed had been extremely vague. Moreover, everyone's aura was different.
Now that he remembered those differences, Lin Fan could immediately identify the owners of those auras.
After this whole combination of upgrades.
Lin Fan felt that going to Mount Natagumo did not seem very dangerous anymore. After all, his sensing ability had improved dramatically.
If he noticed anything wrong, he could just run...
It was also the perfect chance to push Tanjiro a little harder.
Without the Dance of the Fire God, his rate of improvement was still too slow.
Just as Lin Fan had expected.
After resting for a month, the Kasugai Crow finally flew in again and landed on Tanjiro's hand in the room. It opened its beak and said.
"Northeast! Northeast! The next location is in the northeast! All three of you are to go to Mount Natagumo!"
"A new mission again?"
Tanjiro solemnly set down the Kasugai Crow, while Lin Fan gave him a special reminder at that moment.
"This mission is very likely a trap set by Muzan, so when I tell you to run, do not hesitate!"
"I understand. Thank you for your concern, Asura Maru," Tanjiro replied seriously.
"Who's concerned about you? I just don't want you to die so early. After all, I'm really looking forward to your revenge!" Lin Fan snapped back irritably.
Yet Tanjiro suddenly laughed.
"Asura Maru, you always hide your true feelings. Actually, I understand. Being alone and not needed by anyone is painful... That's why you always..."
Before he could finish.
Lin Fan ruthlessly interrupted him.
"Quit yapping!"
After saying that, he fell completely silent. Tanjiro could only smile helplessly. Then the three of them changed into their Demon Slayer Corps uniforms, picked up their Nichirin Blades, and prepared to set off once more.
Before leaving, they bid farewell to the old woman of the estate and hurried toward Mount Natagumo.
At the same time.
Inside a candlelit secret chamber at the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
The master, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, was a man afflicted by a curse and blind in both eyes. The upper half of his face was covered in grotesque scars.
Yet dressed in a pure white kimono, he gave off an exceptionally gentle and approachable feeling.
Before him, the current Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps knelt on both sides. He opened his mouth and spoke in a gentle, warm voice.
"I am truly glad that we have welcomed the semiannual Hashira Meeting without any changes among our members."
The white-haired, scar-covered Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, nodded slightly and respectfully said, "It is wonderful that your health remains well, Master. I sincerely pray that you will become even healthier."
The other Hashira all wore different expressions.
They began wondering why this Hashira Meeting had been convened so suddenly.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's words became somewhat solemn, though they did not lose their gentleness, as he explained.
"I apologize for suddenly convening this meeting and disturbing you all, but this matter is of great importance, so I will not elaborate excessively.
Time is urgent, so I will speak plainly."
All the Hashira listened attentively, waiting for their master's next words.
He slowly opened his mouth.
"First, I need to tell you that someone in the Demon Slayer Corps has already encountered Muzan Kibutsuji."
The moment those words fell.
Every Hashira present was utterly shocked.
After all, this was the first time they had received news of Muzan Kibutsuji.
Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira, was especially unable to wait as he hurriedly asked, "Master, who was the person who encountered Muzan Kibutsuji?
We need to find him immediately and obtain information about Muzan Kibutsuji from him!"
The other Hashira also had countless questions they wanted to raise, but Kagaya Ubuyashiki stopped them beforehand.
"The person who encountered Muzan Kibutsuji is named Kamado Tanjiro. Muzan Kibutsuji is currently sending demons to hunt him down, perhaps to silence him or perhaps for some other reason.
Furthermore, some kind of unusual change seems to have occurred in his younger sister, who became a demon..."
His younger sister had become a demon?
The Hashira all had different thoughts upon hearing that, but their basic conclusion was the same.
Kill her!
But Kagaya Ubuyashiki did not think so.
"The recent abnormalities at Mount Natagumo are very likely a trap set by Muzan Kibutsuji specifically against Tanjiro.
So I want you to go there. On one hand, see whether you can ambush Muzan in return. On the other hand—and this is the most important point.
Protect the Kamado siblings, as well as the Nichirin Blade in his possession. I hope you understand that the latter is far more valuable than the former."
Once again, Sanemi Shinazugawa was the one who spoke up to ask.
"Master, I truly do not understand why we need to place such importance on that boy and an insignificant Nichirin Blade!"
Faced with the question, a long-unseen smile appeared on Kagaya Ubuyashiki's face as he stated with absolute conviction.
"Because they will definitely change the unchanging situation of the past thousand years!"
None of the Hashira present had expected such a certain answer. This was the first time they had seen their master place such high hopes on someone!
This opportunity was once in a lifetime.
But a Hashira still objected.
"But Master, what about here..."
"I hope you understand that Kamado Tanjiro is more important than I am. Do you understand?"
At the same time.
Tanjiro and the other two walked along a country path, hurrying northeast.
But along the way.
Zenitsu had been chattering nonstop like a fly. "Tanjiro, can you let me hold Asura Maru too?"
Since he couldn't touch Mahito's hand, wouldn't touching the blade be just about the same as touching the person?
I'm such a genius!
Tanjiro's mouth twitched slightly.
Before you continue