Chapter 168: Kibutsuji Muzan and Jigoro Ena—Fate Is Driving Them

The flower with an incredibly deep connection to Kibutsuji Muzan

The blue Aconitum flower.

The mythical flower Kibutsuji Muzan pursued for a thousand years—the sole remedy said to let him overcome his weakness to sunlight—remained forever out of his reach in the world of Demon Slayer, as he spent his entire life searching for it without ever succeeding.

Yet now, because of the bond between them, the blue Aconitum flower directly contains Kibutsuji Muzan’s power;

granting him Kibutsuji Muzan’s near-immortal body, terrifying regenerative ability, extraordinary vitality with five brains and seven hearts, and the power to reshape his body at will—without needing to fear sunlight or hide in shadows like Muzan did.

If Kibutsuji Muzan was “infinitely close to a perfect being,” then he is unquestionably “the perfect being!”

“Hahahahaha”

Zhou Ming suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the empty room, carrying a sense of exhilaration.

He was no longer an ordinary man who envied others—he had become a holder of celestial treasures that others envied.

Although Kibutsuji Muzan is not as strong compared to the worlds of One Piece, Naruto, or Bleach, that does not mean he is weak.

His near-eternal life and ability to create demons would, even in the real world, give him the confidence to build a vast organization spanning every level.

The real world has no Demon Slayer Corps, no Nichirin Blades, and certainly no monsters like Jigoro Ena—at least not yet.

Even if stronger beings exist, do they even possess the ability to kill him, now that he has no weaknesses?

Even if those he recruits know his power comes from Kibutsuji Muzan, and that they will be bound by him—so what?

Humanity’s desire for immortality and pursuit of power never cease because of so-called “costs.”

Vampires have so many limitations, yet still people flock to them.

The supercharged cognitive ability from five brains working in unison allowed him to rapidly analyze the current situation.

This world has powerful figures like Zhong Lao and Ye Xuan, and official organizations like Tian Shu Bureau—acting rashly would be unwise.

But equally, he is no longer an ordinary person—even if his power level may not yet reach the third tier, his threat level likely makes even fourth-tier experts wary.

As for his immortality? Even fifth-tier beings may struggle to achieve it!

The option of joining Tian Shu Bureau had never crossed his mind.

Tell them he gained Kibutsuji Muzan’s power but won’t harm humanity?

Who would believe him?

Even if they did, all that awaited him would be endless surveillance and restrictions.

Because he has the capability.

Moreover, what could Tian Shu Bureau possibly offer him now?

For the first time, he clearly understood why Ye Xuan had refused to join Tian Shu Bureau.

As an ordinary person, Tian Shu Bureau seemed unattainable to him—but now that he was powerful, Tian Shu Bureau seemed merely ordinary in his eyes.

“But…”

Zhou Ming suddenly stopped laughing, his gaze turning deep. Though he was confident that even Zhong Lao and Ye Xuan could not kill him, who could guarantee it?

Ryūjin Jakka’s temperature rivals the core of the sun; the Flame Dragon Armor might possess a specific counter to him; the Rock God might be able to seal him…

Revealing himself now would be unwise.

“First, adapt to the power. Then decide.”

Zhou Ming whispered, his gaze shifting to the bright sunlight outside the window, feeling a profound sense of ease.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the city.

Li Shuyang was practicing swordplay in his backyard.

The sixteen-year-old boy stood tall, his black coat casually draped over a nearby railing; in his hand, he held a wooden sword, each swing precise to an terrifying degree, the blade whispering as it cut through the air.

Though merely routine practice, it carried an oppressive weight that nearly suffocated the air.

Suddenly, his movements froze.

The wooden sword hung mid-air; the boy’s usually calm eyes sharpened like blades as he whirled his head toward a direction in the city, an inexplicable surge of intense loathing rising in his chest.

It was an instinctive hostility—as if his blood boiled, his marrow trembled, every cell in his body screamed:

—Kill him.

“.What?”

Li Shuyang himself was startled by this sudden surge of killing intent; he looked down at his trembling hand—the wooden sword had cracked under his grip.

The boy took a deep breath, trying to calm his heartbeat, but the agitation refused to fade; since receiving the inheritance of Jigoro Ena, this was the first time he had experienced such intense emotional turbulence.

Something… had appeared.

Something utterly unnatural, something revolting.

He silently picked up his coat, his fingers unconsciously brushing his waist—within Jigoro Ena’s inheritance, there should have been a Nichirin Blade there; though no true demons existed in reality, his instincts, inherited from the strongest swordsman of the Demon Slayer world, were screaming warnings.

“I need to confirm it.”

The boy murmured, his gaze chillingly calm.

Late at night, Tian Shu Bureau, Chaoyang City.

“Alert, alert. Abnormal spiritual energy fluctuation detected.”

“Alert, alert. Abnormal spiritual energy fluctuation detected.”

“Alert, alert. Abnormal spiritual energy fluctuation detected.”

On the monitoring screen, the red waveform representing energy surged wildly; the operator quickly pulled up satellite imagery, revealing the central lake in the park boiling unnaturally, surrounding trees felled in radial patterns as if swept by a shockwave.

“What’s going on?”

Duty team leader Chen Zhen burst into the command room, striding three steps at a time to the main console.

“Abnormal spiritual energy detected south of Chaoyang Park—peak has reached 28,000 spiritual units, about to breach the third-tier threshold!”

The operator immediately reported.

“Chaoyang Park?”

“They have personnel stationed there—ask them for the situation on-site.”

As the communicator connected, the voice of the stationed officer came through, panting heavily.

“Report, team leader!”

“There… there are two holders of celestial treasures fighting here! One with a sword, and another… another monster that regenerates flesh and blood!”

“They’re moving too fast—I can’t see anything clearly…”

Suddenly, a deafening explosion came through the communicator, followed by the thunderous crash of falling trees.

“You said two holders of celestial treasures are fighting?!”

Chen Zhen exclaimed in disbelief, yet his face flushed an unnatural red; he glanced around—the entire duty room’s Tian Shu Bureau members shared his expression, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

If this were a beast tide or mutated creature attack, they would never react this way.

But what was appearing in Chaoyang Park now?

Two holders of celestial treasures!

And both with spiritual energy nearing the third tier—the highest tier!

(End of Chapter)