Chapter 60: Strongest Talent in History [Triple Update, Please Follow]

I know Itachi're waiting for your legs to heal, but unfortunately, this is my first time fighting a demon, and I must ensure absolute safety, so...

Chu Yang’s words suddenly jolted the young demon awake; it tried to summon its last strength to flee, but as it turned, a blade’s flash cut a white line through the night, severing its neck.

The young demon’s head flew high into the air, spinning—it first saw its own body, then its own arms.

The head landed steadily between the two arms, the three parts forming together like a bizarre work of art.

The head burned, the young demon’s life entering its final countdown.

"Who are Itachi? Are Itachi from the Demon Slayer Corps? No ordinary member could have this kind of power..."

The dying young demon tried to say more, but Chu Yang leapt high and brought his great halberd crashing down onto its head.

After the earth rumbled, the temple fell silent once more.

The next morning, Himegami Gyomei returned to the temple beneath the first rays of sunlight; the air still carried the scent of the demon, and his face darkened as he rushed inside.

The deepest nightmare of his soul surged with memory, and a violent killing aura erupted from him.

Vajra glares fiercely, Bodhisattva bows gently.

But soon, his killing aura vanished.

Chu Yang stepped out of his room, yawning, wiped away eye gunk, and only then saw Himegami Gyomei—he immediately exclaimed with delight: "Master Gyomei, Itachi’re back!"

Living alone in the deep mountains and ancient temple was no easy thing—there wasn’t even anyone to talk to. Though Chu Yang preferred quiet over noise, he wasn’t some reclusive misanthrope.

Himegami Gyomei was again that same impassive figure, as if the man moments ago on the brink of rage had never existed; he asked slowly: “Did a demon appear here last night?”

“Yeah! Just a minor one—I took it down with two... three swings.” Recalling how it had taken him three strikes to sever the young demon’s head, Chu Yang felt embarrassed—his cultivation was still insufficient; if he’d wielded the halberd more smoothly, the last two swings wouldn’t have been necessary.

Two or three swings?

Himegami Gyomei, baffled, said: “Tell me exactly what happened last night when Itachi fought the demon.”

So Chu Yang recounted the night’s encounter, offering a deep self-critique, claiming his cultivation was still inadequate—he could have finished it with one strike, but it dragged on to the third.

After listening, Himegami Gyomei fell into deep silence, saying nothing for a long time.

He didn’t know how to evaluate Chu Yang’s performance.

Even as the strongest current Pillar, when he first became a Demon Slayer, his initial battle with a demon had been a desperate struggle.

In comparison, Chu Yang’s fight had been effortless, almost casual.

Should I recommend him directly for the Final Selection?

Himegami Gyomei began to wonder—recommending someone for the Final Selection after only one month of training sounded unbelievable.

At this moment, Shinobu Kocho had not yet joined the Demon Slayer Corps—he was still an ordinary person. Had he been here, Himegami Gyomei wouldn’t have found Chu Yang’s talent so astonishing, given Shinobu’s own gift of becoming a Pillar in two months.

After careful consideration, Himegami Gyomei decided to let Chu Yang join the Final Selection; at his current state, further improvement could only come through real combat.

Moreover, the Demon Slayer Corps has long suffered extremely high frontline casualty rates and desperately needs fresh blood—Chu Yang’s arrival as a genius would be a powerful boost.

"Prepare yourself—Itachi’re going to Mount Fujikasane for the Final Selection!" Himegami Gyomei said firmly: "It’s time now. Become a full member sooner, and Itachi can slay those demons one day earlier."

Chu Yang nodded heavily.

"Alright!"

Three days later, Chu Yang set out alone for Mount Fujikasane to undergo the trial.

As the site of the Final Selection, Mount Fujikasane was remote, much like the temple where Himegami Gyomei trained—deep within the mountains.

But Mount Fujikasane had one striking feature that made its location unmistakable from afar.

From the mountain’s base to halfway up its slope,

Mount Fujikasane bloomed year-round with the one plant the demon hated most—wisteria flowers.

The wisteria incense stored in the temple was made from these very flowers.

From afar, a sea of pale purple surrounded the mountain range; Chu Yang simply followed this floral ocean to find his destination.

Moments later, stone paving appeared beneath Chu Yang’s feet.

Continuing forward, he climbed a stone staircase, whose end led to a torii gate.

Passing through the torii, Chu Yang arrived at a platform.

Around him were people, each with a sword at their waist—only Chu Yang carried his blade on his back.

"Whoa! What a huge sword!"

With the cry of astonishment, Chu Yang’s arrival drew everyone’s attention; they stared curiously at him, but mostly at the sword behind him.

Compared to Chu Yang’s halberd, the others’ swords looked as slender as matchsticks.

As they stared at Chu Yang, he observed them too—and one masked girl among the crowd caught his eye.

It was a fox mask painted with a blue flower pattern; Chu Yang found it familiar, as if he’d seen it somewhere before.

Soon after, the Demon Slayer Corps sent someone to explain the Final Selection’s rules—it was no different from before: survive seven days on Mount Fujikasane.

Yet even this simple goal would eliminate 90% of those present; the confident youths before him would die within this mountain blanketed in purple blooms.

As soon as the explanation ended, someone rushed desperately onto a path devoid of wisteria; to Chu Yang, they were already dead—each hopeful youth stepped into the mountain teeming with demons.

After a while, only Chu Yang and the masked girl remained on the platform; he glanced at her, then slowly stepped into the path that seemed to devour men.

The girl on the other side followed him leisurely.

Chu Yang didn’t know that she followed him solely out of curiosity about the enormous halberd on his back.

The trial began at dusk.

As everyone entered, the sky gradually darkened—perfect timing for the demon to move.

Chu Yang walked through the forest for a while without encountering a demon, but grew increasingly irritated—because a little shadow trailed behind him.

"Hey, that’s enough. How long are Itachi going to follow me?" Chu Yang turned, annoyed, to the girl.

The masked girl immediately stopped, whispering weakly: "Sorry."

Chu Yang sighed helplessly. "Why are Itachi following me?"

The girl blushed. "I’ve never seen such a big sword before—I just got lost staring at it."

Hearing her reason, Chu Yang was speechless. Had he sensed even a hint of malice from the girl, he’d have struck already.

Consider this a small bonus update—please keep reading, guys! Strong readership means we can hit Sanjiang; weak readership means this week’s PK fails and we go on sale! Brothers!! Especially today—today’s reading decides everything! All support counts!

(End of Chapter)