" Lower Rank Three, huh..."
In the courtyard of the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, a slightly thin figure was bathed in the warm sunlight. He sat quietly, letting the gentle breeze caress his pale face. His voice, as soft as a spring breeze, carried an undeniable firmness, echoing in the empty courtyard.
"Looks like our Demon Slayer Corps is going to gain another Pillar!"
Upon hearing that Teiichi was to be promoted to the Hashira Rank, the person sitting beside the figure couldn't help but speak up:
"Although he killed Lower Rank Three, he almost died himself. If Kasugai Crow hadn't found him just in time, he would have perished together with Lower Rank Three. Is it really a good idea to promote him to Hashira Rank so hastily? Will he be able to handle the demons that Hashira Rank face in the future?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki turned around, looked at his wife, and smiled gently. He said softly:
"No, the demon he encountered this time was special; it was a demon that could infect people with disease. In other words, he wasn't in his best condition when fighting the demon. Even so, he was still able to kill Lower Rank Three despite his serious illness. Doesn't that prove that his strength was sufficient?"
At this point, Kagaya Ubuyashiki paused for a moment, gazing lovingly at his wife with his still-blind right eye. He continued:
"Furthermore, it is a long-standing tradition of our Demon Slayer Corps that those who slay Lower Rank can be promoted to Pillar. The Pillar position is currently vacant, and Teiichi is the perfect candidate. His strength and potential are more than sufficient for Hashira Rank role."
Looking into her husband's resolute eyes, Amane Ubuyashiki, though still worried, finally nodded and whispered:
"If this is your decision, I have no objection."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki knew his wife wasn't truly at ease; she only refrained from objecting out of trust in him. So he patted her hand and continued:
"I know what you're worried about. Teiichi's ghost hunting process this time and the first time, Teiichi is indeed relatively weak in terms of detection ability and has difficulty finding traces of ghosts."
However, this isn't unchangeable. Later, we can ask other Pillars or Trainers if they have any relevant techniques to teach him. Also, when assigning tasks, we can prioritize assigning tasks involving demons that are well-hidden to other team members.
Hearing Kagaya Ubuyashiki's detailed explanation and arrangements, Amane Ubuyashiki finally nodded in understanding. The worries in her heart gradually subsided, like the surface of a lake touched by a spring breeze. She was not surprised that Kagaya Ubuyashiki could so accurately understand her inner thoughts.
She knew that her husband was just that kind of person; he possessed keen insight and profound wisdom, always able to easily understand the emotions and needs of others and make the most appropriate decisions. Every decision he made made those around him feel convinced, as if he were the lighthouse that could lead everyone to the light.
Seeing that his wife had finally put her worries to rest, Kagaya Ubuyashiki also breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled and turned to White Feather beside him, asking softly:
How is Teiichi's injury?
According to Shinobu Kocho, a member of the Butterfly Mansion, Teiichi's injuries are gradually healing. If all goes well, it is expected to take another two to three months for him to fully recover.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded after hearing this, "Then the timing is perfect; he can attend the Hashira Meeting next year."
Turning his head to gaze at the fading autumn colors in the courtyard, Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled gently and murmured to himself.
"Then our Demon Slayer Corps will have another Wind Hashira!"
Several days later.
Butterfly Mansion.
Teiichi was sitting cross-legged in a spacious hall of the Butterfly Mansion, his eyes closed, meditating. His breathing was calm and deep, blending into the surrounding natural environment, as if he had become a part of nature.
The passing of Mr. Kazeno Shoma was a heavy blow to Teiichi, but it also made him realize that this is a real world, allowing him to integrate into it more deeply.
His train journey through Aomori City felt like a trip back to his past life, allowing him to relive that familiar yet unfamiliar world and bringing him closer to life in that world.
His near-death experience during the battle against Lower Rank Three brought Teiichi to the brink of death.
All these events, like polishing pebbles, constantly honed Teiichi's mind. Although they did not immediately improve Teiichi's strength, they significantly enhanced his talent.
What is manifested is the state of mind when Teiichi meditates at a deep level, which is quite different from before.
In the past, when meditation reached a deeper level, it primarily helped people relax their mind and body and concentrate their energy. Its effects on people were rather subtle and difficult to perceive directly.
However, at this Teiichi, when Dingyi was immersed in meditation again, it was as if he had opened a door to a new world. He could sense the pulse of the entire world and establish an unprecedentedly profound connection with all things.
He could almost feel the earth's steady breath, hear the whispers of the wind, see Shinobu Kocho and Kanon training in the courtyard, feel the lightness of the butterflies' wings, and hear the babbling of the stream.
Like most skills, cultivation in this world is also determined by talent.
Those with poor talent, even after arduous training, will ultimately be unable to defeat ordinary demons. On the Yoriichi Tsugikuni, those with good talent, like Yoriichi Tsugikuni, could only escape the Demon King Muzan Kibutsuji once by sheer luck, and then spent decades avoiding encountering him.
Teiichi felt that his talent had already reached the pinnacle of this era; with Yoriichi, who could rival him?
However, Teiichi also felt that his talent seemed to be quite different from that of this world.
In the later part of the original work, the Upper Rank was equipped with the Transparent World, the Demon Slayer Mark, and the Red Nichirin Blade – all three pieces of equipment were developed based on the human's innate talents.
My talent is more like a talent for perceiving nature and the world.
For example.
We're all cultivating immortality.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni's talent lies in physical cultivation, while Teiichi feels that his talent lies more in qi cultivation.
It sounds like their futures are similar, and Qi cultivation even has more methods.
However, this world is just an ordinary world, and at least when Teiichi was in deep meditation, he did not feel any spiritual energy or anything like that.
Despite feeling uncertain about his future, Teiichi did not give up on meditation. His intuition told Teiichi that if he persisted in meditating, it would eventually be helpful.
Furthermore, Teiichi didn't particularly like the Demon Slayer Mark among the three-piece set. Although it looked somewhat cool, the Demon Slayer Mark would shorten his lifespan. Although Yoriichi Tsugikuni was an exception, he was still a transmigrator.
But who knows if developing Demon Slayer Mark will shorten one's lifespan?
At least Teiichi: they didn't have the idea of risking their own lives.
Of course, if you encounter Upper Rank and Teiichi can't beat it, you should activate your Demon Slayer Mark Demon Slayer Mark Teiichi if possible. After all, you can tell the difference between dying immediately and living a few more years.
For this reason, Teiichi also wanted to see what his talent could develop if he continued to meditate, and whether it could make him stronger. After all, it's better not to develop the Demon Slayer Mark Demon Slayer Mark possible.
This way, we might be able to cause some trouble for the Japan leadership later on, and see if they still dare to invade. If anyone dares to invade, we'll teach them a lesson.