"Tap, tap..."
Heavy footsteps slowly echoed from behind the door.
Then, the doors slid open automatically to both sides.
Kokushibo's figure slowly stepped out from behind the door.
"Ah! Kokushibo!"
Seeing Kokushibo emerge from behind the door, Doma immediately revealed his signature gentle smile, raised a fair hand, and gently waved it towards Kokushibo.
"Long time no see! Let me count... 101, 102... emmm..."
Doma seemed to have forgotten how long it had been since they last met, and turned to Hantengu for help.
"Hey! Hantengu, how many years ago was the last time we met?"
Upon hearing this, Hantengu trembled as he raised one hand.
First, he showed all five fingers, then he retracted his little finger, leaving only four fingers in the air.
"The last time we were summoned here was 110 years ago!"
"110 years..." After stating the precise time, Hantengu couldn't help but mutter, "110... It's actually 110, that's terrifying!"
Doma paid little attention to Hantengu's mutterings, and happily refocused his attention on Kokushibo, excitedly saying:
"Hey! Kokushibo, it's been 110 years since we last met!"
I'm so glad you're alright!
I've thought of you from time to time these past 110 years!
However, Kokushibo did not respond to Doma's enthusiasm; instead, he went straight to Akaza.
The air between the two seemed to freeze, and four pairs of eyes stared at each other in mid-air.
"You were able to sense my arrival, so it seems... you've not only broken through the limits of demons, but Transparent World 've also... comprehended..."
Kokushibo's words echoed in the Infinity Castle, his pronunciation clear and earnest, with pauses in his speech.
It's like a toddler who has just learned to speak, thinking about what to say next as they speak.
However, the people in the Infinity Castle were already used to this phenomenon.
Even though they weren't used to it, they didn't dare say anything under the watchful eyes of those six people.
Akaza nodded slightly, about to reply, but was interrupted by Doma beside him:
"Wow! Akaza!"
No wonder you've become so strong! You've improved so much this time!
Can you teach me some tips?
I want to become stronger too!
Akaza glanced at Doma, a hint of disdain in his voice. "Someone like you doesn't need any tricks."
"Huh? Does Akaza mean... I'm exceptionally gifted and will be able to comprehend it on my own in the future?"
Doma seemed oblivious to the sarcasm in Akaza's words, and instead laughed happily.
"Haha... You're too kind!"
"No!" Akaza shook his head, his tone even more resolute. "What I mean is, you'll never learn!"
Doma let out a disappointed "Ah," then retorted unwillingly:
"But... aren't my talents better than yours, Akaza?"
I became a demon later than you, but I'm stronger than you.
If you can learn it, I'm sure I can too, right?
Upon hearing Akaza's lips twitched slightly, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
"No, Akaza is right, you... really can't learn it!" Kokushibo said from the side.
"Huh?... Alright, since Kokushibo says so, then I guess I really can't learn it!"
Doma said dejectedly, but judging from his expression, he didn't seem to believe it very much.
"Zheng..."
The clear and melodious sound of the pipa rang out once more.
The Upper Rank have all gathered, and everyone knows who has arrived this time without needing to say it.
With the help of the Transparent World Kokushibo and Akaza quickly sensed Muzan's location.
He turned his body slightly and knelt down.
The other Upper Rank followed suit and knelt down in that direction.
The difference is...
The three Upper Rank only need to kneel down, and it's more like they're sitting on the spot than kneeling.
Then, the third Upper Rank, in addition to kneeling, also needs to bury its head in the ground.
Even Gyokko without a lower body needs to have its head placed on the ground.
Looking at the six kneeling figures below, Muzan fell silent for a moment.
I should have been happy today because Akaza broke through the limits of Oni.
But unexpectedly, even after Akaza broke through his limits and reached the Transparent World, he still couldn't defeat the Demon Slayer.
In the end, I actually had to step in to save them.
This completely ruined his good mood.
He was angry at Akaza's incompetence, and also angry that such a powerful Demon Slayer had appeared.
His gaze slowly swept over the six figures below.
As Muzan's gaze swept over them.
Hantengu, Gyokko, Daki all involuntarily trembled.
Kokushibo, Doma, and Akaza remained kneeling quietly in place.
They did not tremble despite Muzan's gaze.
Muzan's gaze eventually returned to Akaza.
Akaza!
When called out by name, Akaza nodded slightly and responded.
" Lord Muzan!"
Muzan said, "I'm very disappointed in you! You've broken through the limits of a demon and mastered the Transparent World, yet you couldn't even defeat a single Pillar! If I hadn't intervened to save you, you would have been burned to death by the sun!"
Muzan's words exploded in everyone's hearts like a thunderclap.
Everyone present sensed through their bloodlines that a ghost had broken through its limits tonight.
However, due to the difference in strength, only Kokushibo and Doma sensed that Akaza had broken through his limit tonight.
I don't know anything about Hantengu, Gyokko, Daki.
However, their previous conversation had also revealed to them that it was Akaza who had broken through the limits.
I originally thought that seeing them in the Infinity Castle meant they had successfully defeated the Demon Slayer.
But what Muzan meant Lord Muzan.
In the end, Akaza did not kill his opponent, but was instead driven into a corner by him.
In the end, he only survived thanks to Lord Muzan's intervention.
Akaza was speechless upon hearing Lord Muzan's words.
He had no choice but to lower his head.
"How terrifying..." came the fearful words from Hantengu's mouth. "If even Akaza can't beat him, won't we have to be even more careful when we encounter him in the future..."
"Yes, yes!" Doma nodded in agreement, "When did the Demon Slayer Corps produce such a powerful Pillar?"
Akaza turned to Doma and retorted, "That person is no longer a member of the Demon Slayer Corps."
Upon hearing this, Doma was puzzled.
"Not a member of the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Akaza nodded. "Not a member of the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Doma asked, "Why do you say that?"
"Because he told me he wasn't a member of the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Doma laughed, "You believe everything he says? Akaza is so naive! Hahaha..."