Once a Red Blade is activated, the solar energy within the Nichirin Blade is unleashed, providing a perfect counter to Demons, including their Blood Demon Art.
Doma's Lotus Bodhisattva was powerful, almost like a younger version of Susanoo, but Qingshui still sliced it to pieces with his Red Blade, causing it to gradually melt away.
"*Zing~!*"
A light clang of a sword rang out as Qingshui's figure instantly darted past Doma, then turned and sheathed his blade.
A shimmering line of blood appeared on Doma's neck.
Then, the Demon's head fell, and blood splattered.
Doma's body also slowly began to turn to ash.
Before his body completely dispersed, Qingshui controlled Yoriichi Type One to step forward, reach out, and open a small box in Doma's abdomen, retrieving two syringes.
He plunged one into Doma's body, drawing out Demon blood.
This allowed Qingshui to obtain more than half a tube of Upper Rank Two's Demon blood.
As for the remaining syringe, Qingshui tucked it into his sleeve.
There was still another Upper Rank Demon in the Swordsmith Village.
Qingshui covered a wound on his body with his left hand, using Mystical Palm Technique to heal himself.
Activating Transparent World significantly boosted Qingshui's perception. Combined with his impressive Chakra control, he could now relatively easily perform some advanced Medical Ninjutsu.
...
...
The Swordsmith Village.
This peaceful village where swordsmiths lived was now strewn with corpses.
Shattered houses, burning fires, and heads impaled on swords inserted into jars, along with strange fish swimming everywhere—all told the tale of what had just transpired here.
But at least, it was temporarily under control.
"Love Breathing, Sixth Form: Cat-Legged Love Wind!"
"Insect Breathing, Centipede Dance: Hundred-Legged Serpent Abdomen!"
Two agile figures circled a strange creature whose tail emerged from a jar.
Not far away, a red, ancient robe lay on the ground, beside it six Nichirin Blades and scattered iron parts.
Those were left by Yoriichi Type Zero.
When Gyokko appeared, before Kocho Shinobu and Kanroji Mitsuri arrived, it was Kotetsu who timely activated Yoriichi Type Zero, temporarily fending off Gyokko and preventing further casualties.
However, while Yoriichi Type Zero possessed impressive combat ability after being repaired, its flaws were also obvious.
It was too heavy; short-distance movements were fine, but over longer distances, it lacked effective means of displacement. Moreover, its techniques were stiff and monotonous. Without control methods like Chakra Threads or artificial intelligence, it couldn't adapt to battlefield situations.
For beings like Gyokko, who possessed spatial displacement and instant-kill abilities, Yoriichi Type Zero was the most vulnerable.
Ultimately, this Puppet, created over three hundred years ago, was touched and torn apart by Gyokko's hands, a part of its body turning into fresh fish.
In the empty streets, Kocho Shinobu and Kanroji Mitsuri were still locked in battle with Gyokko.
The rescued swordsmiths, led by the village chief, Tecchin Haganezuka, were now gathering important belongings and hastily fleeing the village.
"Cough, cough!"
Qingshui walked to the village entrance, coughed twice, spitting out a mouthful of foul blood, and felt his breathing become much smoother.
The ice crystals and a small amount of necrotic lung tissue were extracted by Delicate Illness Extraction Technique, and some injuries on his body that would affect his movement were healed by Mystical Palm Technique.
Although some injuries remained, Qingshui could now exert ninety percent of his strength.
Not far from the village entrance, Tecchin Haganezuka, carried on Haganezuka Kozo's back, was leading a group of swordsmiths, carrying large and small bags, hurrying out and bumping into Qingshui.
"That's great! Li Hashira, you're finally here! Has the Demon on the other side been dealt with too?"
Haganezuka Kozo exclaimed excitedly upon seeing Qingshui.
They had seen the giant ice figure earlier. When Kocho Shinobu and Kanroji Mitsuri rescued them, they also mentioned that Qingshui was dealing with another enemy.
"Mm, where are Kocho Shinobu and the others?"
Qingshui asked.
"There! The Insect Hashira and Love Hashira just rescued us! They're fighting Upper Rank Five now, Li Hashira, please go support them quickly!"
Haganezuka Kozo shouted.
According to the Demon Slayer Corps' past experience, a Hashira typically had the ability to kill a Lower Rank Demon, but an Upper Rank Demon usually required at least three Hashira to fight together for a chance to win.
And the last time an Upper Rank Demon fell to a Hashira encirclement was over a hundred years ago.
"I understand."
Qingshui nodded slightly, about to step forward, but was suddenly called out by Tecchin Haganezuka.
"Wait! Li Hashira! Please accept this sword!"
Tecchin Haganezuka jumped off Haganezuka Kozo's back, took a sword box from a nearby swordsmith, and opened it.
Inside was a Nichirin Blade, gleaming with the sharp, cold light of autumn waters.
"This is the Nichirin Blade I forged for you, Qingshui. The quenching and sharpening were just finished as night fell. Now, please use the blood of an Upper Rank Demon to truly awaken this blade!"
Qingshui took the Nichirin Blade.
It felt smooth and delicate in his hands, the grip naturally fitting his palm. The length of the handle and blade perfectly matched his hand, arm, and height, and its weight and balance were in perfect equilibrium.
This was a blade that, the moment you held it, you knew was of excellent quality.
In just a single breath, the blade was tinged with a brilliant color.
The predominant pale blue of the blade remained, accented by a few golden patterns, making it look like an exquisite piece of porcelain. It hadn't changed much from before, except that the words "Demon Slayer" were now carved near the hilt.
"Thank you. Actually, you don't need to rush to evacuate anymore. You can rest properly for a while and then pack up the remaining things tomorrow before leaving."
Qingshui said to the group of swordsmiths before disappearing in the blink of an eye.
"What did the Li Hashira mean by that...?"
Haganezuka Kozo stared blankly at the spot where Qingshui had vanished.
"Could it be... he's confident he can defeat this Upper Rank Demon in a short amount of time?"
Tecchin Haganezuka turned his head to look back at the path they had come from.
Where did the Li Hashira get such confidence?
Could it be that he had already killed an Upper Rank Demon?
...
...
A porcelain pot fell to the ground without shattering, instead rolling around twice with a clatter before a thin, white piece of skin fell out.
"Is it dealt with?"
Kanroji Mitsuri panted.
If she hadn't happened to save the village chief upon entering the village and acquired the newly forged Flexible Sword, which allowed her to better utilize the power of Love Breathing and enhance her combat ability, she and Kocho Shinobu wouldn't have lasted this long.
"No... he shed his skin!"
Kocho Shinobu turned her head, her expression grim, to look at the serpentine tail figure coiled around a nearby pillar.
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