The news that Ji Hao and Shinazugawa Sanemi were going to have a duel quickly spread throughout the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
Soon, the Sound Hashira, Water Hashira, and Kanae Kocho, who were still staying at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, all rushed over upon hearing the news.
Especially for the Sound Pillar, Uzui Tengen, he had long anticipated that Ji Hao and Shinazugawa Sanemi would clash one day.
Even he didn't expect things to happen so quickly!
However, Kagaya Ubuyashiki did not appear in this duel.
After all, one of them was Sanemi Shinazugawa, whom he had watched grow into a Pillar.
The other Ji Hao was his savior and his teacher, and he simply couldn't bear to watch the two of them fight.
But he also understood that he had no power to refute Ji Hao's ideas.
Sanemi Fushigawa is even more stubborn; once he's made up his mind, he won't give up easily.
Caught in a dilemma, Kagaya Ubuyashiki had no choice but to remain silent.
"Lord Ji Hao, why...?"
Kanae Kocho, who had rushed over, looked at the two people already standing on the training field, and her tone was somewhat anxious.
How did it happen that after just one trip out, my savior ended up running into my colleague?
"It's nothing. This young friend from the Immortal River wants to have a friendly spar with me. There's no need to worry."
Ji Hao merely chuckled in response, his relaxed demeanor clearly indicating that he didn't take Shinazugawa Sanemi seriously.
After all, this is the truth. When he first met his master, who lived in seclusion in the mountains, the first thing that caught his eye was...
He was looking at his master, who was white-haired, thin as a rake, and hunched over, looking like an old man on his deathbed.
With a single punch, he smashed a boulder that was over five meters high, three meters wide, and four meters long into countless uniform pieces scattered all over the ground!
Ji Hao didn't know whether the record of "Li Shuwen, the Divine Shot, is unmatched in his fists" was true.
But he knew at the time that the seemingly thin old man in front of him was actually incredibly fierce, and his strength had long surpassed the limits of human capabilities.
Ji Hao is now far stronger than his master!
"Enough talk, are you ready?! I won't hold back!"
An angry cross appeared on Shinazugawa Sanemi's forehead, and he swung his wooden sword, wishing he could chop Ji Hao to pieces.
"Young man, you're so full of vigor. Come on, I'll let you go first."
Ji Hao weighed the incredibly light wooden sword in his hand; compared to his specially made equipment, this thing was much lighter.
However, we'll use it anyway, since it's not for killing Sanemi Shinazugawa.
"Arrogant!"
With a furious roar, Shinazugawa Sanemi took a step forward and charged straight at Ji Hao, wielding his wooden sword.
Despite his anger, Shinazugawa Sanemi wouldn't give up the opportunity to strike first.
He understood the principle of strategically despising the enemy while tactically taking them seriously.
"Wind Breathing, First Form, Dust Whirlwind, Slash!"
As Shinazugawa Sanemi charged in front of Ji Hao, his wooden sword slashed down at Ji Hao's head with tremendous force!
The powerful bamboo knife seemed to be accompanied by a fierce hurricane, making Ji Hao's robes flutter loudly.
He is indeed worthy of being a Pillar; his strength is quite good, but he is still young and lacks experience.
"Bang!"
They came from behind but surpassed others!
The sound of wooden swords clashing suddenly rang out, and Shinazugawa Sanemi's high-speed slash was directly blocked by the wooden sword in Ji Hao's hand!
Seeing that his attack had failed, Shinazugawa Sanemi dodged, revealing that his move was more than just that!
Sanemi Shinazugawa's Dust Whirlwind technique is accompanied by a powerful shockwave when he draws his sword.
Once the opponent's body is affected by the shockwave, then his opponent will face a storm of attacks!
"Just playing clever tricks."
Ji Hao smiled, and with a sudden tap of his wooden sword, the dust whirlwind that had condensed into a massive force was easily broken through its weak point and dissipated on the spot.
Aside from providing Ji Hao with a pleasant cool breeze, it can be said that he accomplished nothing.
"It's not over yet!"
Although his attack was broken, Sanemi Shinazugawa did not stop for a moment.
He's not the kind of person who expects to defeat his enemy in one move!
"Wind Breathing, Second Form, Claw Claw, Keto Wind!"
With a sudden step forward and a breath, Shinazugawa Sanemi unleashed three swift slashes with his wooden sword!
Three invisible wind blades suddenly rose up and slashed fiercely towards Ji Hao.
"Bang bang bang!"
As three sounds suddenly rang out, Ji Hao casually shattered the three gusts of wind, and his figure, which had been standing still, began to move.
However, instead of retreating, they calmly took a step forward.
Although it was just a silent step, it actually covered a distance of three meters, and Ji Hao's figure suddenly appeared in front of Shinazugawa Sanemi.
"Wind Breathing, Third Form..."
"Bang!"
Before Shinazugawa Sanemi could even unleash the third sword technique of the Breath of the Wind, Ji Hao's wooden sword struck his right hand, which was gripping the hilt of the wooden sword!
This attack was aimed at the large tendon on Shinazugawa Sanemi's wrist.
With a single, powerful blow, Shinazugawa Sanemi's hand went numb, causing him to loosen his grip and drop his wooden sword. As the sword fell, Ji Hao swung his sword again, forcefully knocking Shinazugawa Sanemi's wooden sword away!
The wooden sword spun and flew, embedding itself directly in the grass at the edge of the training field.
For a swordsman, losing his wooden sword means certain death.
"..."
Sanemi Shinazugawa, clutching his throbbing right hand, finished collecting the money, and his fierce expression momentarily froze.
He lost, he lost without a doubt...
"It's normal to be impetuous when you're young, but you have to be reasonable."
Amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, Ji Hao casually tossed aside the wooden sword in his hand.
The wooden sword landed precisely next to Sanemi Shinazugawa's wooden sword.
Then, Ji Hao stretched his wrists, looked at Shinazugawa Sanemi with a 'kind' expression, and then chuckled.
"How's your martial arts skill?"
"???"
Before Shinazugawa Sanemi could react and was completely bewildered, Ji Hao delivered a punch right at him!
"...This...this..."
Even the most dazzling and bizarre sight left Sound Pillar Uzui Tengen speechless as he stared in disbelief at the hand-to-hand combat unfolding before him…
Oh no, it was a one-sided beating scene, and I was so surprised I couldn't speak.
Isn't this a duel between swordsmen?
How did it turn into a one-on-one hand-to-hand combat?!
but...
Whether it's swordsmanship or hand-to-hand combat, Uzui Tengen had to admit that Ji Hao was truly dazzling!
"He's very strong..."
Yoshiyuki Tomioka remained taciturn, but his eyes were filled with apprehension as he looked at Ji Hao.
From the time of the Tianzhu Conference, he understood that Ji Hao's strength was probably not on the same level as theirs.
And today, his duel with Sanemi Shinazugawa further proved this point.
Although the result might hurt Sanemi Shizugawa's pride.
However, Giyu Tomioka knew that if Hirohiro wanted to, he could defeat Sanemi Shinazugawa in the very first move...
They're not even in the same league!
"I feel much better now that I'm done with the work. Kanae, just have the people from the Butterfly Mansion clean up his wounds. I'm saving my hands."