Chapter 341

Its abilities were revealed to the three before them, manifested through its four emotional avatars: joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.

Fuyukawa Mutsuki fought the Ghost of Sorrow, Fuyukawa Akira fought the Ghosts of Anger, Calm, and Pleasure; Hinokami Gyomei did not move. Before long, the Half-Day Demon was driven into a desperate situation by the two brothers, whose strength had advanced further after Luo En's training, forcing it to unveil its final trump card: after the Ghost of Anger absorbed and evolved the Ghosts of Joy, Pleasure, and Sorrow, the strongest avatar of the Half-Day Demon appeared before them—the Ghost of Hatred, Zeng Potei.

"Those who harm the body are utterly evil, unworthy of even ten thousand deaths."

The boy-ghost form of Zeng Potei raised the drumstick in its hand, its expression icy as it stared at the three.

"I shall send you all to the Yellow Springs."

As soon as it spoke, the ground trembled, as if a subterranean dragon had rolled over.

The next instant, a massive wooden dragon burst from the ground beneath them, its enormous body crushing toward the three.

Hinokami Gyomei pulled Fuyukawa Mutsuki aside in time, avoiding the strike.

Fuyukawa Akira leapt into the air, gripping his blue-bladed Nichirin Blade, and said to the two behind him: "You two stay out of this."

"I'll kill this thing myself."

The moment the words left his lips, his Nichirin Blade instantly turned crimson-red, the swirling blue wind around the blade transforming into searing flames of fire-blades.

Fuyukawa Akira, eyes bloodshot, slashed downward with a killing intent toward the wooden dragon and the boy-ghost form of Zeng Potei.

Wind Breathing, Seventh Form.

Gale Slash: Sever the Tengu!

…………

Within the town where the Wan Shi Sukyōkyō was based.

Night.

Inside the Wan Shi Sukyōkyō mansion.

"L-Lord Founder, a believer has come."

A follower knelt before a door, his voice trembling slightly.

A blade rested against his neck.

"Wait."

A strange, eerie voice came from behind the door, accompanied by the faint sound of licking and swallowing, "I'm enjoying my meal."

Boom!

The door was sliced open by a single sword strike.

Doji, chewing on a leg, his mouth smeared with blood, turned his head—and saw Rengoku Kyojuro and the four others standing before him.

A carefree smile spread across his face.

"Oh my, breaking in while someone's eating? How impatient a believer you are~"

"L-Lord Founder?!"

Under the terrified gaze of the follower, Doji swallowed the leg whole, stood up holding his sharp golden fan, faced the group, licked his blood-smeared lips, and smiled with that same carefree expression, his voice calm and gentle:

"Pleasure to meet you. I am Doji."

"Ah, what a wonderful night tonight—delicious morsels arriving right at my doorstep. I shall be thoroughly satisfied~"

He gazed at Kanao and Shinobu, unable to suppress his hunger as he licked his lips again.

Whoosh!

Shinobu appeared instantly before it, her eyes—once always smiling—now devoid of any warmth, filled only with coldness and killing intent.

This thing… is the ghost who killed my sister…

Nine violet sword lights flashed in midair.

The next instant, nine wounds pierced through its body, blood bursting forth.

Doji's eyes widened slightly.

"Huh?"

In the next instant,

Shinobu's slender Nichirin Blade, moving faster than the eye could follow, plunged straight into its left eye, piercing clean through its skull.

"That was an impressive thrust—faster than I imagined."

As if unaffected by the wound, Doji smiled at Shinobu, then raised his sharp golden fan and swept it horizontally forward.

Blood Demon Art: Lotus Ice.

Shinobu, with the Transparent World activated, leaned back instantly as it struck, fully evading the attack—but the cold still coated her arm in frost.

"Shinobu, beware the cold he spreads with his fan—inhaling it is dangerous."

Rengoku Kyojuro stepped beside Shinobu, gripping his Nichirin Blade, his voice as loud as ever.

Doji gazed at him, narrowing his seven-colored eyes: "Oh? Two Pillars?"

"But sorry—I prefer women. Men hold no interest for me. You'd better die first."

It activated another Blood Demon Art,

Blood Demon Art: Scattered Lotus.

As it swung its fan, countless sharp, finely cut ice petals rained toward Rengoku Kyojuro and Shinobu—each petal as sharp as a blade.

"Kill me? Ha! Don't talk nonsense."

Rengoku Kyojuro laughed heartily and slashed forward.

Flames of Rengoku's fire formed a blazing tiger that lunged forward, shattering and incinerating the myriad ice petals.

Doji's expression shifted slightly.

This guy… is strong!

Shinobu, holding her breath, struck again—her speed too fast to track, leaving only afterimages and flashes of cold blade-light.

"Your target… is my neck?"

The instant Douma sensed danger, he immediately conjured a great number of ice vines entwined with ice lotuses around himself; anything that drew near would be bound and restrained.

Shinobu Kocho chose not to rush in recklessly.

"We should make our move too."

Inosuke Hashibira said to Kanroji beside him.

Kanroji nodded.

The two struck out at the same time.

Beast Breathing, Fifth Fang: Ferocious Fang Rend!

Flower Breathing, Fifth Form: Fruitless Peony!

Their slashes tore through the frost-woven vines encircling Douma in an instant.

Shinobu Kocho seized the opening and thrust her blade straight at him.

"Truly fast, but…"

Douma, who had been wearing a carefree smile, half-opened his seven-colored eyes, his expression going blank for a moment.

Whoosh!

He was run through the neck by Shinobu Kocho's blade.

"You can't possibly cut through my neck."

Ignoring the blade piercing his neck, Douma swung his razor-sharp war-fans down at Shinobu Kocho before him with blinding speed.

Clang!

His strike was blocked by a long blade, red as glowing iron.

"What!"

Douma's eyes narrowed.

"If her strength isn't enough, then what about mine?"

Kyojuro Rengoku fixed Douma with a piercing stare, the Nichirin blade in his hand now a crimson blade radiating a searing heat that the Ice Upper Rank found utterly loathsome.

The man before him—whether in presence or sword intent—was like the sun itself… utterly loathsome.

"You really are an annoying one, aren't you."

Douma said, narrowing his eyes at Kyojuro Rengoku.

"Thanks for the compliment!"

Kyojuro Rengoku let out a great laugh and delivered a slash from below upward.

Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!

The crimson blade carved out a crescent, an arcing slash wreathed in blazing flame-like sword Qi.

With Shinobu Kocho's Nichirin blade still piercing his neck, Douma couldn't evade the slash on speed alone; he had no choice but to unleash his Blood Demon Art, conjuring an ice wall to take the blow head-on.