Starting from Demon Slayer, Forge the Strongest Demon Blade!

No sooner had he spoken.

Lin Fan flashed before him with blade in hand and slashed straight for his neck.

Wakuraba's neck was severed outright, but his body immediately changed, as though some kind of chemical reaction had occurred.

His body shattered at once, exploding into a massive amount of dark green venom that came flooding toward him at close range.

The corners of Lin Fan's lips rose slightly.

"Did you think that would be enough to kill me?"

His free hand immediately drew the Nichirin Blade at his waist. "Water Breathing—Sixth Form—Twisting Whirlpool!"

He spun with the blade, and water burst from its edge to form a tornado that absorbed all the venom.

After doing all that, Lin Fan released his control over Tanjiro's body. The body, having lost control, fell straight to the ground.

Not far away.

Aside from Zenitsu and Inosuke.

Several more figures had arrived and witnessed everything!

Muzan, You Really Are My True Love

Lin Fan, inside the blade, had already severed the connection and quietly listened to the system's notifications in his mind.

[ Ding! Detected intense negative emotions from Lower Rank Four Mukago before her death. Obtained 3000 Emotion Points!

Detected intense negative emotions from Lower Rank Three Wakuraba before his death. Obtained 3200 Emotion Points!

Detected intense negative emotions from Lower Rank Two Rokuro before his death... Obtained 3700 Emotion Points!

Ding! Detected intense negative emotions from Demon King Muzan Kibutsuji. Obtained 5000 Emotion Points! ]

Obtained a total of 7000 Demon Power. Thirty percent will automatically be provided as Nourishment to blade wielder Kamado Tanjiro! ]

The system notifications ended.

The corners of Lin Fan's delicate lips rose uncontrollably.

Muzan, you really were my true love!

Not only did he tip him, he even gave him gifts.

He was so moved he could cry...

At the same time.

In the Infinity Castle, Muzan was on the verge of collapse.

"These Lower Ranks are truly useless. They were completely worthless!... And what exactly is that thing on that guy's body... Why can't he be killed? Could he really be possessed by a ghost?"

And those sword techniques he used!

No matter what, Muzan would never forget them. With just one glance, he could confirm it.

That was the Sun Breathing used by Yoriichi Tsugikuni!

But everyone who knew it had already been killed. How could that guy possibly know it...

When all the clues were connected, they pointed to only one answer: Yoriichi Tsugikuni had become a demon, possessed this boy, and returned!

He had returned to kill him!

At the thought of that answer, Muzan covered his face with one hand, hiding the terror in his eyes as his entire body trembled faintly.

The scars hidden on his body throbbed with pain. Right now, he had only one thought in his mind.

He would never leave the Infinity Castle again!

Mount Natagumo.

Among the people who had arrived.

One woman, wearing a butterfly hair ornament and a butterfly-patterned haori, was swift and light on her feet. She was the first to leap over to the unconscious Tanjiro.

The newcomer was none other than the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho.

She bent down slightly, a smile always on her face as she said.

"Is this the boy Lord Kagaya mentioned? Are you all right?" As she spoke, she examined Tanjiro's condition. After all, Kagaya Ubuyashiki had specifically reminded her about him earlier.

After taking one look and finding no injuries on his body, she finally relaxed.

The Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, with his long golden-red hair, also arrived beside her. His cloak fluttered in the wind as his crimson-gold eyes immediately turned toward the ground.

Tanjiro's Nichirin Blade had been completely corroded by the venom that erupted from Wakuraba's body when he died.

The blade was riddled with gaps and clearly ruined. Yet when he looked at Tanjiro's waist, he discovered there was another blade there!

"The Nichirin Blade has been destroyed! But it seems the other one is the special Nichirin Blade Lord Kagaya spoke of!"

No sooner had he spoken.

The Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, appeared beside them. His muscles were knotted, his white hair tied back, and twin blades rested on his back. He too examined the blade.

Though he could see only the hilt and sheath, he still gave it high praise. "What a flamboyant Nichirin Blade."

Unlike the two of them, the Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa, who also had white hair and scars all over his body, walked forward without hesitation.

As he did, he suppressed his anger and said.

"I really don't understand why this guy has earned such high expectations from Lord Kagaya. He's apparently even more important than Lord Kagaya himself. I truly can't understand it!

Anyone who travels with a demon should die!"

With an angry kick, he flipped Tanjiro over from where he lay facedown on the ground. Then, with a fierce glint in his eyes, he looked at the Nichirin Blade at Tanjiro's waist.

He reached directly for the hilt, intending to take it away.

But in the next instant.

Black smoke spread from the hilt and formed sharp spikes. If he grabbed it, his palm would surely be pierced through.

Fortunately, Sanemi Shinazugawa sensed something wrong and withdrew his hand in time. However, his gaze toward Ashura Maru gained a measure of caution.

"So this is the blade that can turn the tide? It truly is extraordinary..."

As he spoke, his gaze swept toward the box not far away, killing intent laid bare in his eyes.

Fortunately, the current Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka, stepped forward in time. Without changing expression, he stood in front of the wooden box. Poor with words, he spoke through his actions.

Sanemi Shinazugawa had no choice. After all, Lord Kagaya had already explained beforehand that he would tell them the truth after they returned.

Moreover, they had all witnessed Tanjiro's performance.

According to the information, there had been four Lower Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki here. Though they were nothing much to the Hashira, they had never expected Tanjiro to defeat those Lower Ranks.

Shinobu Kocho was the one who stepped forward, smiling as she suggested, "Let's take them back first. Lord Kagaya is still waiting for us."

As soon as she finished speaking, her gaze shifted toward Zenitsu and Inosuke. "Then, you two will have to come with us as well."

"Who are you people?!"

Inosuke stepped forward with his twin blades in hand and questioned them in his distinctive voice.

Zenitsu beside him was already twitching uncontrollably. Just from their stances alone, these people looked terrifyingly strong...

But they seemed to be members of the Demon Slayer Corps...

Thinking of that, he hurriedly reminded him in a low voice.

"Inosuke, they seem to be from the Demon Slayer Corps. Why don't we just go with them..."

"Hmph!"

Inosuke snorted coldly at that, but he did not argue further.

Meanwhile, Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira, kept the same smile on her face as she summoned two Kakushi members.

The two wore black combat uniforms and hoods that concealed their heads and faces as they came over.

Shinobu Kocho reminded them with a smile.

"Carry this boy. Watch that blade, and be careful not to touch it and get hurt."

The two Kakushi did not understand why, but one of them still stepped forward, grabbed Tanjiro's arm, and carried him onto his back.

Ashura Maru did not react in any way during the process.

Sanemi Shinazugawa's expression changed slightly when he saw that.

"So it won't attack as long as no one directly touches the blade..."

"Seems that way."

Shinobu Kocho replied with a smile, but after looking at it for long enough, one would notice that the smile never changed. It looked utterly fake.

"No one but that boy can touch it? What a flamboyant blade..." Tengen Uzui rested one hand against his forehead, an unusual light flickering in his eyes.

Kyojuro Rengoku's thoughts were much simpler. His determined gaze swept over everyone present before he declared righteously.

"Finish dealing with this place as quickly as possible. Lord Kagaya is still waiting for us!"

After saying that.

Everyone finally snapped out of their fascination with the blade and scattered to clear out the surviving demons on Mount Natagumo and treat the wounded.

Home to a Legendary God!

Time passed swiftly.

The entire Mount Natagumo was thoroughly swept by the Demon Slayer Corps. Not a single demon that had come here escaped; all were slain on the mountain.

Afterward, the Demon Slayer Corps withdrew together with the wounded and returned to headquarters.

It was not until dawn broke that everyone returned to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, while Tanjiro still remained unconscious.

With no other choice, the meeting could only be postponed.

By morning.

The unconscious Tanjiro slowly opened his eyes and looked around in confusion. He found himself lying in a quiet room.

Two people dressed in black uniforms, their faces obscured, stood beside him. Upon seeing Tanjiro awaken, they said excitedly.

"You're finally awake! I'll report it right away!" One of them immediately opened the door and ran out.

Tanjiro looked around in confusion and asked.

"Where is this?"

His memories stopped at the moment he passed out. He only remembered meeting Ashura Maru and entrusting his body to it.

Since he was still alive now, that meant those demons had been slain.

The remaining Kakushi member hurriedly explained after hearing that.

"This is the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters. You've been unconscious all night. You clearly have no injuries, so I really don't understand why you were unconscious for so long."

Hearing that, Tanjiro suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly asked with concern in his heart.

"Ashura Maru, what exactly happened last night? And how are Nezuko, Zenitsu, and the others?"

Facing his question, Lin Fan in the blade answered as well. "Your sister Nezuko was taken away by the Demon Slayer Corps. Zenitsu and Inosuke are both fine too."

Hearing that everyone was all right, Tanjiro finally let out a sigh of relief. He then spoke again with solemn gratitude.

"It was truly thanks to you this time. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have known what to do. Thank you for being by my side, Ashura Maru."

"Good that you know it."

Lin Fan replied once, then ignored him.

Instead, he began preparing to fool everyone at the Demon Slayer Corps meeting into working for him.

He had been looking forward to this day for who knew how long.