Harvesting Potential Points

Four days later, midday at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

In a somewhat heavy atmosphere, pairs of swordsmen trained relentlessly, the distinct sounds of their breathing techniques rising and falling in turn. No wild beast dared approach the entire secluded valley.

The Stone Pillar returned to the Demon Slayer Corps and came before Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

"Master, I have completed the task you assigned."

The Stone Pillar's imposing, tower-like figure stood before him, bowing slightly in greeting. Beside him stood the pale-faced Kanae, head bowed and silent.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki did not speak to Kanae immediately, but instead said to the Stone Pillar, "Tamayo didn't come with you?"

The Stone Pillar replied in a deep voice, "She said she needed to stay in Asakusa to observe the Demons' actions."

"However, although she didn't come herself, she sent something back with me."

The Stone Pillar took out a slender glass bottle from his chest.

Inside, purple liquid swirled. Upon closer inspection, one could see shimmering, star-like particles floating up and down within it.

"She said this substance has an extremely strong destructive effect on Demon bodies."

"It can disrupt the Demon body's regeneration ability, throwing their movements off balance and making it difficult for them to properly control their bodies."

"However, it is difficult to extract. This is all there is for now."

"What is it like?" Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked, suppressing his somewhat excited feelings.

The Ubuyashiki lineage was basically aware of the existence of Tamayo because she was someone left behind by Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Furthermore, she was researching how to turn Demons back into humans, as well as toxins that could counter Demons. The Demon Slayer Corps had been secretly maintaining contact and providing support.

However, Kagaya Ubuyashiki had never truly believed that her research would be useful; he had simply held onto a shred of hope.

Now, it seemed it might be of great use to the current situation.

The Stone Pillar swept the bottle with his Fighting Spirit, then meticulously described the glass bottle and the liquid within to Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

Before long, Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded slightly, then said thoughtfully, "The purple liquid is likely made primarily from Wisteria Flowers."

"The scent of Wisteria Flowers has always been repulsive to Demons. Perhaps there is a natural counteracting effect within them."

The Stone Pillar shook the glass bottle, and the purple liquid inside swirled gently.

"This amount is only enough for the Pillars to use, but it is sufficient. It would be difficult for other swordsmen to utilize it effectively."

"Apply it to a Nichirin Blade. As long as it cuts into a Demon body, the toxin will enter their system. Regardless of whether it hits the neck or not, it can almost certainly secure victory."

In high-level battles, opponents might tremble against each other all night without a clear winner, or one might instantly seize a weakness and deliver a decisive blow. It all depended on whether opportunities arose during the fight.

The toxin provided by Tamayo not only weakened regeneration but also caused the Demon body to become chaotic.

In the Stone Pillar's view, the latter was actually more helpful in combat.

As long as the difference in raw strength wasn't too great, if the opponent's movements had significant, distorted weaknesses, it was enough for him to instantly sever their head.

"Alright, put it away for now."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki shifted his gaze to Kanae, then sighed softly and said, "Kanae, are you alright?"

He had initially thought Kanae was dead because he had been unable to contact her for a long time, coupled with the news reported by swordsmen that Kanae had been sealed away by Doma.

However, two days prior, Kanae had returned to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters alone, having even lost her Nichirin Blade.

She had shut herself away in her room, clearly having encountered trouble and feeling deeply troubled, unable to move past it.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki did not send anyone to disturb her, only had people deliver three meals a day, giving Kanae time and space to resolve things on her own.

He believed that Kanae, as a Demon Slayer Pillar, would eventually emerge from her predicament, no matter what she had experienced.

Kanae was silent for a moment, then said earnestly, "Thank you for your concern, Master. I am fine now."

"When I face Kurozawa Danryu again, I will fight him without hesitation!"

Her greyish-purple eyes occasionally flashed with pain.

Kanae could still not forget everything she had seen in Lotus Town.

As soon as she closed her eyes, she seemed to see sharp sword light sweeping through people's bodies, blood and flesh flying everywhere, limbs scattered across the ground.

And the owner of that sword light was someone who had fought alongside her, someone she had trusted.

The more hope she had placed, the greater her disappointment.

However, Kanae had also never understood when Kurozawa had become a Demon.

When they had traveled to Lotus Town, during the few days they spent together on the road, he had shown no reaction when exposed to sunlight.

"I understand how you feel. It's good that you could move past it."

Throughout the long history of the Demon Slayer Corps, similar incidents had happened many times.

Not all swordsmen could always remain steadfast in their stance.

In the fight against Demons, some swordsmen would gradually become infatuated with the Demons' immense power and immortal bodies, then actively transform into Demons, turning their blades back on the Demon Slayer Corps.

Because they had learned Breathing Techniques and Sword Forms, these individuals were at least elite-level Demons.

The strongest among them was Kokushibo, who had become the Upper Moon One.

Over four hundred years ago, when he was human, Kokushibo was also a Demon Hunter Swordsman. However, in his desire to surpass his younger brother, he was misled by power and willingly became a Demon.

Now, there was one more: Kurozawa.

And compared to Kokushibo, who only pursued power, Kurozawa was even more dangerous and deadly in Kagaya Ubuyashiki's eyes.

The Demon Slayer Corps' current passive situation was entirely due to this person's ruthlessness and cruelty.

"Ah, please, Ubuyashiki ancestors, bless Ubuyashiki to overcome this crisis." Kagaya Ubuyashiki thought silently in his heart, then lifted his head.

In the sky he couldn't see, the scorching sun hung high, golden sunlight pouring down as if setting the entire world ablaze.

...

The sun set, night fell, and a heavy darkness enveloped the land.

Tonight, the clouds were thick, obscuring the moon and starlight. The night was as dark as the deep sea, without a single ray of light.

In a dense forest outside Asakusa, the wind howled, and the plants swayed gently with it.

Rustling sounds came from time to time.

In the dark forest, where you could barely see your hand in front of your face, you could hear suppressed, low growls rising and falling.

The nocturnal beasts that usually ran wild tonight were all as silent as cicadas in winter, trembling in their dens.

In their animalistic intuition, large waves of danger emerged, and the very air of the entire mountain forest seemed to solidify.

A figure in red approached, so conspicuous in the dark night, like a burning, bright flame.

Hongyue pointed in a certain direction and said to Kurozawa beside her, "It's right here."

"A large number of low-level Demons have gathered here, enough for you to increase your strength."

"I will use my bloodline to force them to stay in the forest and not escape."

Kurozawa nodded, then stared intently at Hongyue.

Even on a night with scarce moonlight, her fair skin and exquisite face still seemed to radiate a soft glow, more captivating than the moon in the sky.

Hongyue's face flushed slightly from being stared at. She asked, "What's wrong?"

Kurozawa smiled slightly and said seriously, "I just wanted to say, your existence in this world is my greatest fortune."

These Demons had Hongyue's bloodline within them.

Although very little, if Hongyue took it all back, it could more or less strengthen her a bit.

However, after Kurozawa made his request, she agreed without the slightest hesitation, letting Kurozawa harvest the Potential Points.

This constant, unreserved trust and giving, even for the usually indifferent and casual Kurozawa, made it hard not to be touched.

Hongyue looked up and whispered, "You are my fortune too."

Then, under Hongyue's gaze, Kurozawa walked into the dark, dense forest filled with suppressed, low growls.

Soon, trees fell one after another, dust filled the air, and the ground trembled non-stop.

Sharp, jet-black blade light almost shot into the sky, merging with the night, making the darkness even heavier.

After a full three hours, Kurozawa, covered in a layer of blood and emanating a strong bloody smell, slowly walked out of the forest, which was now ravaged, looking as if it had been devastated by a Category 12 hurricane.

Hongyue's beautiful eyes narrowed, and she seemed to see wailing, desperate souls on Kurozawa.

Emerging from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, Kurozawa gave Hongyue a clear sense of oppression for the first time.

But she wasn't nervous; instead, she happily went to meet him.

Her other side was that of a bloodthirsty, ferocious Demon King.

Having seen plenty of blood and death, Hongyue only felt that Kurozawa, bathed in blood, was even more brilliant, as if his entire body was radiating dazzling light.

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