"I respect all of you for your willingness to join the Demon Slayer Corps and slay demons. However, participating in such a dangerous test without the approval of a cultivator is irresponsible for your own life... Moreover, we have no such precedent," Shinobu said with a kind smile, having calmed down on the way back and returning to her usual gentle big sister demeanor.
The contractors immediately saw this as a sign of rejection and shouted that they were not afraid of death and that they had a deep hatred for demons as if each of them had a personal vendetta against demons.
Shinobu smiled lightly, "You also displayed some special abilities on the way. I will report the situation to Oyakata-sama and request that you be allowed to participate in the entrance test."
"Thank you, Sister Shinobu!" a shameless middle-aged man shouted.
Shinobu covered her mouth and laughed lightly, "Please wait here for a while."
Lin Jiu and Doma had fought a fierce battle before dawn, and it took them four to five hours to travel here, nearly approaching noon, so there was no worry about encountering demon attacks.
Everyone looked at the endless mountains, knowing that the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps was hidden among them. Finding it was not easier than completing their missions in the Reincarnation Paradise. Kibutsuji Muzan had searched for a thousand years without finding it. Of course, he was also focused on finding the Blue Spider Lily.
Shinobu led Lin Jiu into the mountains, and Lin Jiu squinted slightly as the mist in the mountains was hazy. This was very unusual; close to noon with good weather, there should be at most some moisture in the mountains, but the dense mist was particularly strange.
Moreover, Lin Jiu keenly sensed that the mist was affecting his sense of direction. Shinobu Kocho seemed to be following some kind of guidance as she led him forward.
Shinobu could tell that Lin Jiu's breathing method was unique. It was not the combat breathing method they used; it was like ordinary breathing but with a very even rhythm. She could observe so much because the white mist in front of Lin Jiu's nose and mouth changed obviously in the forest.
Lin Jiu's stamina had reached 10 points, and compared to before, his constitution was not just a few times stronger but nearly tripled. The Lvl 1 Focus Energy gathering had become his method of tuning his breath at all times.
Without the consumption of combat, Lin Jiu could barely maintain it all the time except when sleeping. But fully activating Focus Energy, just like in combat mode, lasted only ten minutes!
As the skill description suggested, the potential of this ability was far greater than that. It seemed to be able to develop into a combination of body strengthening and the Mind's Eye!
"Finally back! Oyakata-sama and other Hashira are already waiting for you!"
A bird flew through the mist and landed in front of Shinobu, speaking in human language.
Lin Jiu observed the talking bird, which was the Kasugai Crow used in the series to communicate with headquarters and assign missions to each member.
It seemed that Shinobu had already sent her information to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters via the Kasugai Crow. Otherwise, the Hashira should be out on demon-hunting missions, not gathered at the headquarters.
Suddenly, the view opened up, and the white mist disappeared. They were on a mountainside, with a large garden planted with wisteria flowers outside. Up the path was a large courtyard. In the yard, several figures were already waiting, including a man with a gentle temperament despite being blind in both eyes and half-disfigured.
"You must be the one Shinobu mentioned, capable of fighting an Upper Moon Demon... Although I don't know if it's true, your splendid attire has already gained my approval!"
The first to speak to Lin Jiu was a man sitting on the ground, carrying two blades, with a white single ponytail, wearing headgear adorned with a few diamonds, and pale blue chains hanging from the headgear, with red patterns beside his eyes.
Based on these features, Lin Jiu recognized the man as Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira. Lin Jiu's hunter leather armor had a sleek design, though he wondered what the designer was thinking—no defensive power, all style.
Knowing that the other party was joking, no matter how much he liked splendor, as a Hashira, he wouldn't use such a method to verify someone joining the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Thank you, Mr. Red, for being willing to lend us a hand!"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki bowed slightly to Lin Jiu, speaking gently.
Lin Jiu felt a spring breeze-like warmth and could tell that the charm of this Oyakata-sama of the Demon Slayer Corps was at least ten points. Despite his disfigurement, his charm was evident, suggesting his full charm might be close to twenty.
"You're welcome!"
Lin Jiu wouldn't treat Kagaya Ubuyashiki the same as the Hashira. He was just a passerby in this world; their interaction was on equal terms!
"Based on one person's word, you are willing to trust this girl and trust me. But I believe everyone has their thoughts. Is anyone willing to spar with me?"
Lin Jiu proving himself was one thing, but defeating Hashira and absorbing the scattered soul power was another.
Lin Jiu's words changed the opinions of the Hashira present; at the very least, they saw he wasn't just someone who talked big. Among the Hashira present, excluding Shinobu, there were four: the remaining four were out on missions.
Seated there were the eager Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui; the tear-streaked Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima; the expressionless Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka; and the smiling Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku.
As expected, the first to accept the challenge was Tengen Uzui, who stood up enthusiastically, ready for battle.
"Since that's the case, let's head to the training ground..."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki said with a light laugh.
Tengen Uzui stood opposite Lin Jiu. If what Shinobu said was true, he wanted to experience firsthand what it was like to fight someone on par with an Upper Moon Demon.
As soon as Kagaya Ubuyashiki indicated the start, Tengen Uzui instantly felt his throat being targeted. The opponent was rapidly closing in on him!
What a joke!
This speed was already slightly faster than his Total Concentration Sound Breathing!
Lin Jiu had no intention of letting the opponent strike first. How dangerous would it be if he couldn't control the situation?
The person in front of him was one of the nine strongest in the Demon Slayer Corps; he didn't hesitate to launch an attack.
Compared to those demons that could only be killed by decapitation, Lin Jiu preferred fighting normal beings.
"There's no time for a score; I'll have to go all out! Sound Breathing, First Form: Roar!"
Tengen Uzui didn't even have time to say his usual flamboyant catchphrase. He directly used his Sound Breathing sword technique, predicting Lin Jiu's charging direction and drawing his dual blades to strike down!
Extreme Focus Energy!
Lin Jiu crouched, seemingly diving straight under Tengen's blades. In reality, Tengen's sword swing was a step slower than Lin Jiu and the two ended up sticking close together.
However, Lin Jiu held Willow Shallow in one hand, blocking the chain connecting Uzui's dual blades at the hilt, preventing the blades from coming down with force. His other hand clasped Uzui's throat, ready to crush it with a slight squeeze.
To subdue Uzui so quickly, Lin Jiu, with his significantly higher physique attribute, still had to enter a full extreme mode for Focus Energy right from the start. Identifying his opponent's weaknesses made it easier to strike vital points!
This was different from fighting demons; most demons relied on their resilience and fought recklessly, while stronger demons used Blood Demon Arts. The Hashira in front of Lin Jiu were all battle-hardened veterans. If he didn't take advantage of their unfamiliarity with his speed and strength to defeat them in one strike, a prolonged battle would ensue.
Lin Jiu released Uzui's throat, sheathed his sword, and stepped back to create distance.
"What remarkable insight!"
Rengoku said generously.
"With that speed, it's simply... If only I could be that strong... sob..." Himejima said, tears streaming down his face.
Uzui, snapping back to reality, sheathed his dual blades and sighed, "What a flamboyant attack! It's a pity that bloodstain on your flamboyant attire detracts from it!"
Only someone as obsessed with flamboyance as Uzui would notice the small bloodstain on the edge of Lin Jiu's clothes. Lin Jiu smiled without explaining that it was a record of Doma. If he used his tracking ability, he could easily find Doma through the bloodstain's scent.
At the moment Lin Jiu subdued Uzui, he felt a slight coolness. If he chose to kill his opponent, the soul power gathered would be much greater!
This was practically tempting him to kill!
Hmph, how could Lin be swayed? Once he got a Nichirin Blade, he would go demon hunting!
The demons in this world had flesh and consciousness; the higher-level ones could even communicate. This meant killing them could gather soul power! As for the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, they could be treated as daily tasks to brush up on every day.
In the previous world, the danger and urgency left him with little time to gather soul power. Although the exact amount was unclear, it was far from the limit.