Chapter 241

The ground of the Infinity Castle suddenly trembled violently, the floor cracking inch by inch.

"Bastard!"

Muzan slammed a fist into the wall of the Council Hall, the entire wall collapsing in an instant.

"The Upper Ranks were actually annihilated? Muzan's voice was filled with coldness, "Kokushibo, Douma, Hantengu — a bunch of trash!"

He could feel the blood spread across the country constantly decreasing; those demons he had converted were being hunted by Dio's army.

His extended tentacles were constantly decreasing.

This feeling of being continuously weakened made Muzan extremely irritable. He hadn't experienced this near-loss-of-control anger for a very long time.

"Adult."

A figure emerged soundlessly from the shadows, kneeling on one knee. He lowered his head, not daring to look directly at Muzan's ferocious face at this moment.

"Speak." Muzan spoke coldly.

"Regarding the investigation of the Shenyan Hua nationwide, the situation is not optimistic." The Messenger's voice carried a trace of trembling.

"All varieties of Shenyan Hua are being systematically destroyed. Those humans have gone mad; as soon as they discover Shenyan Hua they immediately burn it, and they are likewise searching for the Blue Spider Lily."

"What?"

Muzan abruptly turned, his right hand clamping onto the Messenger's throat like lightning; the moment the Messenger was lifted, a tremendous oppressive feeling nearly suffocated him.

"Trash! You're all trash!" A flash of bloody light crossed Muzan's eyes, "Can't even handle a group of humans, what use are you!"

The Messenger wanted to open his mouth to beg for mercy, but Muzan had already tightened his fingers; his body exploded in his hand, turning into a cloud of blood mist.

Muzan shook his hand, turning and walking back to the high platform.

"Dio."

A cold light flashed in Muzan's eyes. This man who had suddenly appeared was just like Yoriichi Tsugikuni suddenly descending into the world.

But at least Yoriichi Tsugikuni was only one person, and would eventually grow old, while Dio not only possessed eternal youth and immortality like him, but had also already established a terrifying army.

"Eradicate all Shenyan Hua." Muzan narrowed his eyes, a streak of blood color flashing in his pupils, "You're using this method to force me to show myself?"

"Since you want to die that badly, I'll grant your wish."

He turned toward Nakime, his gaze turning ferocious: "Keep watch on Dio's every move for me; the moment he finds the Blue Spider Lily is the moment of his death."

…………

Meanwhile, searches across various places continued.

"Discover a Shenyan Hua growth site, reward ten taels of silver!"

"Burn it immediately, additional reward five taels of silver!"

"If privately hidden, kill without pardon!"

Notices posted everywhere drew commoners into this operation as well. For the bounty, peasants began actively searching for traces of Shenyan Hua.

The light of burning fires illuminated the night sky of all Japan; an extinction operation targeting Shenyan Hua was sweeping the nation with irresistible force.

Under this high-pressure policy, in merely a few days, the Shenyan Hua within Japan's borders were almost entirely gone.

Once humans unite, exterminating a species is indeed effortless.

"Master!"

At this time another Corpse Puppet walked quickly into the Main Hall, holding a delicate wooden box in his hands, "In the Western Deep Mountains, we discovered a patch of Shenyan Hua never seen before."

"Oh?" Dio grew interested, "Open it."

The wooden box slowly opened; a crystalline flower lay quietly on silk. Its petals displayed an inconceivable blue, emitting a faint fluorescence in the candlelight.

"Blue Spider Lily." A strange color flashed in Dio's eyes, "Hantengu mentioned this before his death; it seems this is what Muzan has been searching for."

"What about the other flowers?"

"Already all burned." The Corpse Puppet answered respectfully, "This is the only complete Blue Spider Lily. The others were all burned the moment they were discovered."

"Things are getting more and more interesting." Dio stared at that blue flower, "Let me see how long you can endure, Muzan."

Dio took the wooden box, about to speak, when he suddenly turned his head to look at the shadow in the corner.

"The World!"

The golden Stand appeared instantly, grabbing the foreign object in the corner — an eyeball growing tentacles, turning uneasily.

"Surveillance?" Dio walked slowly to the eyeball, "Truly rare, the dignified Demon King would actually use such a petty trick."

He picked up the wooden box, holding the Blue Spider Lily before the eyeball: "See clearly? The thing you've bitterly pursued."

The eyeball rotated violently, tentacles waving frantically, as if trying to break free from The World's restraint.

"Muzan, how about we make a deal?" Dio's voice carried a hint of playfulness, "If you can defeat me, I'll hand this flower over to you intact."

"Of course, if you don't come, I'll crush it into powder. Let me see — will you choose to remain a turtle hiding in its shell, or have the guts to come out and face me?"

"Snap!"

Dio pinched his fingers; the eyeball exploded in his hand, turning into a cloud of blood mist.

"Clang—"

Just then, a clear note of the shamisen abruptly reverberated in the Main Hall.

"Crack!"

The floor beneath Dio's feet instantly vanished, turning into a pitch-black doorway; weightlessness struck instantly.

"The World!"

Dio shouted low; the Stand appeared in an instant, its right hand shooting out like lightning, grabbing the edge of the doorway.

Borrowing that force, Dio's whole body shot upward like an arrow released from a bow.

"Clang—"

Another qin note sounded; the space above his head suddenly twisted. Dio looked up — another pitch-black doorway was opening.

"THE WORLD!" Dio shouted low.

Time froze at this moment, dust in the air frozen motionless, Dio seized the opportunity to instantly dodge the door.

"Clang clang clang—"

Continuous shamisen sounds rang out, more doors appeared all around. Every door emitted an ominous aura.

"Infinity Castle" Dio stood on the crossbeam, his gaze sweeping around, "Finally can't help but take action against me?"

Voice not falling, those pitch-black doors suddenly opened wide. Demons densely poured out from the doors, rushing toward Dio like a bursting flood.

Their figures twisted, eyes full of bloodthirsty frenzy, sharp claws and fangs flashing cold light in the dimness.

"Good, come!" Dio did not retreat but advanced, a golden Stand appearing behind him.

The first wave of demons had already killed to before his eyes, sharp claws tearing the air, emitting sharp whistling sounds. About to touch Dio's body.

"Muda muda muda muda muda!"

The golden Stand's double fists bombarded like a storm, punching speed so fast only countless golden afterimages could be seen flashing in the air.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Amidst dense punching sounds, the demon at the very front was instantly beaten into blood mist, the demons behind had not yet reacted, another wave of violent punches fell.

"Is that all your skill?" Dio stood in place, his gaze wandering around.

At this moment, he suddenly noticed a half-open door on the left, through the door crack faintly reflected a human figure, that person wore a black suit, with a terrifyingly gloomy face.

It was Muzan.

The two's gazes met in the air, Muzan's eyes flashed a trace of blood color, killing intent in the air suddenly surged.

Dio could feel the violent aura emitted by the other, that was the reaction only a completely enraged beast would have.

Muzan likewise stared fixedly at Dio.

In his sight, Dio seemed to be enveloped by some invisible power.

Although unable to capture a specific form, that suffocating oppressive feeling truly existed.

"What exactly are you..." Muzan was about to speak.

Dio suddenly revealed a ferocious smile.

"THE WORLD!"

Dio's violent shout echoed in space.

Time froze at this moment, the blood light in Muzan's eyes frozen in that instant.

Dio stomped his foot, his whole body rushing toward that door like a shell. The golden world followed closely behind, passing through countless frozen demons.

The golden world followed closely behind, thick arms directly grabbed Muzan's body.

"One second passed"

The world suddenly exerted force, throwing Muzan's body out of the town, Dio closely followed, adjusting his posture in midair.

"Two seconds passed"

The two's figures passed through layer upon layer of doors, flying toward outside Infinity Castle.

"Three seconds passed time flow resumes!"

The moment time started turning again, Muzan only felt his vision blur. When he reacted, he was already inside the hall.

"What!" Muzan's pupils suddenly shrank.

He himself was actually forced to leave Infinity Castle, this was something that had never happened in hundreds of years. Just now in that instant, what exactly happened?

"Looks like even the mighty Demon King is nothing more than this." Dio stood on the high platform, looking down at Muzan, "Leaving your own nest and you're this panicked?"

"Nakime!" Muzan let out a low roar.

Shamisen sounds echoed in the air, the marble floor under Muzan's feet suddenly twisted, a pitch-black door was about to open.

"Want to run?" Dio sneered, both hands suddenly raised: "Vaa Rudo!"

But just as he was preparing to return to Infinity Castle, his vision blurred, Dio's figure had already appeared before him.

"What!" Muzan's pupils suddenly shrank.

"Boom!"

Before he could react, a huge force directly pierced through his body, exploding in front of his chest.

Muzan's body flew backward like a shell, heavily crashing into the wall. Broken stones flew, smoke and dust filled the air.

Dio hooked his lips into a mocking smile: "Since you've come out, don't even think about returning to your doghouse."

Muzan stood up from the ruins, the wound on his chest already completely healed, at this moment his eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead,

"Dio!"

Muzan roared, the sound wave shook the entire hall trembling.

His body suddenly began twisting and deforming, something under his skin writhing crazily.

In the blink of an eye, countless mouths filled with sharp teeth appeared on his body, every mouth greedily opening and closing, emitting hair-raising chewing sounds.

"Tear you apart! I'll tear you to pieces!" Muzan's voice had completely changed tone, filled with madness and brutality.

Next second, Muzan's back suddenly exploded, fifteen thick flesh whips burst out of his body.

The tip of every flesh whip grew fangs, dancing wildly in the air, powerful air pressure shattering the surrounding floor into pieces.

"Now that's more like it." Dio stood in place completely unmoved.

"Die!" Muzan roared, fifteen flesh whips lashed out simultaneously.

"Boom!"

The flesh whips swept across, the air was instantly torn, emitting sharp sonic boom sounds.

Terrifying shockwaves centered on Muzan spread outward, buildings instantly collapsed wherever they passed.

Stone pillars broke, walls shattered, the entire hall fell apart under this terrifying force.

"Wryyy!!" Dio roared.

A golden Stand appeared instantly, its double fists pounding out like a violent storm. Each punch struck the Flesh Whip precisely, the terrifying force twisting the very air.

"Muda muda muda muda muda!"

Fist shadows filled the area, beating back every attacking Flesh Whip. But Muzan's assault did not stop; more Flesh Whips came from all directions, seeking to completely shred Dio.

Amidst billowing dust and smoke, large sections of the Building kept collapsing. The originally majestic Hall had become Ruins, with only a few scattered stone pillars still barely holding on.

"Boom!"

Another loud bang rang out as two forces collided head-on. Dio and Muzan both retreated, steadying themselves amidst the Ruins.

At This Moment, several figures suddenly rushed out from the darkness.

Giyu Tomioka, Gyomei Himejima, and the others of the Demon Slayer Corps held Nichirin Blades, each unleashing their strongest Breathing Technique.

Countless sword lights wove into a net, enveloping Muzan, but Muzan merely gave a cold laugh, and the Flesh Whips behind him suddenly surged upward.

"Pfft!"

More than ten of Muzan's Flesh Whips lashed out simultaneously; before the Demon Slayer Corps members could Approach, they were blasted away by the terrifying force, their bodies exploding in midair into Blood Mist.

"Ants."

Muzan didn't even look at the fallen few, his gaze remaining Locked on Dio. "With these pieces of trash, you think you can hurt me?"

Muzan's gaze Locked on Dio not far away.

"I've already dealt with those Demon Slayer Corps bastards." Muzan glanced at the shattered corpses on the Ground. "You should have the Blue Spider Lily on you, right? But it doesn't matter anyway."

"Next is you, Dio!" Muzan pointed his finger at Dio at this moment.

"Hehe, Muzan." Dio gave a light laugh.

No sooner had he spoken than he suddenly frowned. He felt something was off; why did these words sound so familiar?

Muzan's body suddenly surged upward, his Muscles swelling instantly, and fifteen Flesh Whips darted out from behind him like poisonous snakes. His whole person became a Black Shadow, rushing toward Dio like a Shell fired from a chamber.

The Ground cracked inch by inch beneath his feet, gravel flying, the air torn by a sharp whistling sound.

"Oh, you're walking toward me?"

Dio immediately said at this moment: "You chose not to Escape, but to Approach me instead?"

"Your underlings finally learned of my ability, desperately transmitting information like rats before death, and yet you just recklessly rush up like this?"

"You Bastard!" Muzan's voice had completely changed, filled with brutality and madness. "I'll tear you into pieces!"

The fifteen Flesh Whips on his body surged up simultaneously, the terrifying pressure shaking the Ground around him into constant cracks.

"Then come a little closer." Dio's golden Stand flickered in and out of sight behind him, emitting an Oppressive Feeling that made one suffocate.

(Chapter End)