The swordlight flowed like water, protecting Li Qingming from all attacks.
His hands went numb from the force—Muzan was incredibly strong.
Then the whip-like tails split and lashed out, smashing the wooden walls into splinters along the way.
Water Breathing · Total Concentration · Eleventh Form · Calm!
The swordlight moved faster than the eye could follow, stopping the storm of attacks right in front of Li Qingming.
There was a stark contrast: a torrential storm in front, calm and still behind.
After a wave of offense and defense, the small house was reduced to debris, the height above the waist completely destroyed.
The whip-tails unfolded behind him. Muzan's eyes glinted with a sinister gaze.
"You are strong, indeed. But it's still far from killing me!"
"Then how about this?"
A red pentagram appeared on Li Qingming's jaw. His Nichirin blade turned crimson.
He no longer wished to hold back—he would reveal his true strength.
A trace of panic flashed in Muzan's eyes, followed by an even stronger killing intent.
"It's just a patterned swordsman and a Flame Breathing blade. That's not enough to kill me."
His words sounded less like intimidation and more like self-reassurance, leaving him visibly unsettled.
Li Qingming knew he couldn't kill Muzan yet, but having come this far, he had no choice but to fight head-on.
Feeling his body grow lighter, every cell burning with heat, the blade in his hands seemed ready to ignite.
If it were Sun Breathing, the blade would surely be on fire.
Water Breathing · Tenth Form · Continuous Flow!
He unleashed his ultimate move as a mark of respect.
The flowing blade grew in power as it moved, from torrents to waterfalls, from waterfalls to massive waves, finally forming a winding dragon that howled toward Muzan.
Muzan stacked his whip-tails like an umbrella to block the overwhelming strike.
The giant dragon struck the umbrella, losing most of its force; only a few tails were cut.
"Not enough power?"
Gritting his teeth, Li Qingming focused all his strength into the blade.
Muzan sneered, "Seems I overestimated you."
Four whip-tails shot from the umbrella, stabbing at Li Qingming's abdomen from four directions.
Water Breathing · Second Form · Water Wheel!
The Water Wheel could only defend against a single straight attack. Two tails were instantly cut down, while the remaining two nearly pierced him.
Six consecutive strikes!
Li Qingming had long wondered if other sword forms could be chained like Thunder's Flash. Now, practically testing it, a water-blue circular light formed, cutting the remaining tails and slicing deeply into the umbrella like a circular saw.
One, two, three…
The overlapping whip-tails broke one by one, leaving Muzan exposed.
Li Qingming adjusted midair and unleashed Fourth Form · Striking Tide · Kesa Slash!
Muzan's expression changed, and he leapt back quickly, creating distance.
His legs spread as a golden compass-shaped form flashed past, a punch aimed at Li Qingming.
Destruction Strike · Extinction Form!
Li Qingming couldn't dodge; the overwhelming force hit him like a cannon, causing excruciating pain.
The brutal wind carved a fan-shaped trench into the snow.
Supporting himself with the sword, blood soaked through his clothes.
It hurt. His body couldn't even handle one of Muzan's attacks.
Struggling to stay conscious, Li Qingming used his breathing to heal and stop the bleeding.
He now only wanted to know: why could Muzan use multiple Upper Rank Three Blood Demon Arts?
"Seems you know quite a lot," Muzan said, voice dripping malice.
Li Qingming realized he had aimed at Muzan's scars, left by Yoriichi Tsugikuni—one of Muzan's few weak points.
"But you're still ignorant. You don't know how many Blood Demon Arts I can wield as the Demon King.
Li Qingming was shocked. In memory, Muzan had never used other demons' Blood Demon Arts. Was it because he despised using them?
Muzan combined multiple Blood Demon Arts, making him an even more terrifying existence.
He glanced at the sky and raised his fist again.
"Time is short, let's get moving!"
The explosive punch hit, but Li Qingming, severely injured, couldn't move.
Am I going to die? System? If I die now, do I get an achievement?
[Congratulations, Host has achieved "First Time Receiving Demon King Damage," reward: "God-Level Demon Slayer Uniform"!]
Li Qingming: ??? A uniform now? Is this my shroud?
[Congratulations, Host has achieved rare achievement: "Head-On With Demon King From the Start," reward: "Yoriichi Tsugikuni Peak Experience Card 10s x1!"]
The next moment, the pressure of the punch reached Li Qingming.
The wind scattered snowflakes. Muzan turned toward Tanjiro but suddenly sensed a familiar aura behind him.
Every cell trembled—it was fear embedded in his genes.
He spun around and saw a burning blade in front of him.
He couldn't dodge; one arm was severed, then the other.
Muzan tried to escape, but the flaming blade relentlessly followed, cutting across old wounds.
One strike, two, three, four…
His regeneration couldn't keep up. He had no chance to breathe.
It's him? How is this possible? He's been dead for hundreds of years!
But I would never mistake this!
Muzan instinctively began to expand his body to self-preserve.
Yet the sudden barrage slowed his expansion drastically—clearly the opponent anticipated it.
Am I going to die here?
No, I've just returned!
A sense of despair swept over him—this was the third time he felt it.
Suddenly, a flaw appeared in the opponent's attack. Muzan transformed into a flesh sphere and escaped.
["Yoriichi Tsugikuni Peak Experience Card" has expired!]
Li Qingming sat down, gasping.
The experience card had been exhausting but allowed him to witness Yoriichi's true power.
Still, he couldn't kill Muzan—only sunlight could. So he unleashed a full assault, deliberately leaving a flaw to drive Muzan away before the card ended.
Standing up, Li Qingming wanted to check on Tanjiro. Suddenly, everything went black, and he fainted.
When he woke, dawn was breaking.
In front of him, the campfire dwindled. Tanjiro sat opposite, wearing his green-and-black checkered haori.
"You're awake? Drink some water."
"Thanks. Are you okay?
Tanjiro smiled warmly.
"I'm fine.
I should be thanking you. If not for you, I might already be dead.
I'm Tanjiro Kamado. May I ask your name?"
From the battle traces and Li Qingming's wounds, he knew he had been saved.
"Li Qingming," he replied, observing Tanjiro's spirited eyes and honest, comforting smile.
Having grown accustomed to breathing while sleeping, Li Qingming had recovered greatly.
Standing, he noticed the grave behind the wooden house—the kindly man who had taken him in. Deep marks indicated Tanjiro had likely knelt there a long time.
Tanjiro stood as well.
"I should go home. My heart's been pounding since earlier."
Li Qingming had a bad feeling
"I'll go with you," he said
"Okay, thanks," Tanjiro didn't refuse.
They arrived at Tanjiro's home.
Tanjiro sniffed the air and suddenly dashed forward in panic.
"The scent of blood!"
Following him, Li Qingming saw a girl covered in blood lying at the door, a child pinned under her arm. The snow was dyed red.
How is this possible? Muzan clearly didn't head this way!