Anime: Fight Sukuna at the beginning?.

Chapter 161 Everyone is playing their cards

Just as Muzan Kibutsuji had expected, the swordsman, the demon he had dreamed of for thousands of years and tried to create that was not afraid of sunlight, was standing alone like a Buddha statue in this stronghold that he had easily found, waiting for the arrival of his enemy who was invincible even to gods and Buddhas.

Looking at Fang Yi, who was kneeling in the room with an unsheathed sword on his legs, Muzan Kibutsuji couldn't help but smile.

The enemy was sitting in a room with the door wide open. He was the only one in the entire courtyard. After eliminating all other options, there was only one answer.

Muzan Kibutsuji lifted up his long hair that was slightly obstructing his vision, showing his beautiful face to the enemy, and then pulled up his kimono that was about to fall off and shook the snow-white hair. For some reason, he really liked doing these things these days.

After Muzan Kibutsuji finished performing a series of actions like a lowly geisha seducing a customer, it began to carefully look at the enemy in front of it.

Looking at the enemy through the shared vision of the ghosts under your command is like watching a surveillance video with not very high clarity, you can only see a rough idea.

It was also very curious about what kind of person this talented swordsman was, who had killed several of its upper-rank demons and suddenly turned into a demon that was not afraid of sunlight.

Now, at first glance, from his figure to his face, Muzan Kibutsuji was very satisfied. He had to admit that this swordsman was a charming person.

So it began to look at Fang Yi's body and started planning how to eat this swordsman.

“It’s a bit too rough to eat it in one bite, so I’d better cut it into two pieces first and take its life, then slowly savor it from the limbs.

“I can keep the head and some parts of it, just like Yuhu made a specimen of a woman and gave it to Douma. It will be my only collection for a thousand years.

“As a souvenir of my finally being able to walk in the sunshine, this person has some qualifications.

"Oh, I almost forgot. He's already turned into a ghost. I can see how much of his flesh and blood I eat to become a creature like him. Maybe I can 'taste' the swordsman practicing the breathing technique from another angle."

After Muzan Kibutsuji finalized Fang Yi's "use" plan, he looked around and casually said the words he had prepared long ago that would definitely make the swordsman despair.

"If my guess is correct, you seem to have made up your mind to die?

"Are you planting a bomb here to weaken Douma, trying to use yourself as bait and die with me?
"You even specifically ordered the other swordsmen to evacuate, making a second strategy of encircling and attacking me if I wasn't killed by you?

"Tell me your name, and I might consider letting you live a little longer."
-
After hundreds of years of confrontation, Muzan Kibutsuji is too familiar with the behavior of these "cockroaches" of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Breathing techniques, sword skills, and the human body, it has seen them countless times through the ghosts under its command, and has reached the point of being bored and tired of them.

They came one after another, and although there were occasional hesitations or betrayals, they were generally like weeds growing wildly in the wasteland, and even with a raging fire, these swordsmen were killed and burned one by one.

But as soon as the next 'spring' arrives, these swordsmen will stubbornly emerge like new shoots sprouting from the barren and empty land.

These people are not afraid of death and are very selfless.

After saying this, Muzan Kibutsuji wanted to enjoy the surprise or despair on his enemy's face when his strategy was seen through, or even a little bit of fear.

But Muzan Kibutsuji saw nothing. He only saw the man slowly stand up, pick up the knife on his leg slowly, stare at him step by step, and unexpectedly walk towards him.

But when the swordsman stood up, Muzan Kibutsuji suddenly felt a rare sense of oppression from the swordsman.

It was as if two huge rocks were suddenly placed on my shoulders, making me feel suffocated and unable to move.

Looking at the swordsman gradually approaching him, Muzan Kibutsuji felt his skin suddenly tighten, and every cell in his body tensed up.

Just facing this feeling, Muzan Kibutsuji, who had become a little abnormal in the past few days, felt a wonderful pleasure spreading from his body, and he became more interested in Fang Yi.

It suppressed this wonderful feeling and extended its invitation to Fang Yi.

"A blade honed to perfection? I really underestimated your talent before.

"If I give you more time, I'm afraid you can become even stronger. You are truly extraordinary, so beautiful, so alluring.

"You don't have any reason to kill me, right?

"I have a feeling that if I just eat a piece of your flesh, I will be able to achieve my goal, so..."

Muzan Kibutsuji no longer had a cruel and irrational smile on his face, but instead showed a sweet smile to Fang Yi. He began to try to recall and imitate the expressions and movements of those lowly women when he was disguised as a geisha before, making a clumsy imitation and at the same time making an attractive invitation.

"Come rule the world with me. I have a feeling you can show me a different view.

"What you're suppressing and hiding beneath this body is the same, homogeneous, utterly, irredeemably, innate evil that I possess.

"A ghost's body is very beautiful. You should have some sense of it. My body is even more special. The size and texture can be adjusted to your liking. It is also very wonderful as a partner.

"How about this? Here's my suggestion. Kill these swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps and come with me to a new world!"

As Muzan Kibutsuji's words reached Fang Yi's ears, the prompt sound of the friendship level improvement and the sound of the task improvement in the main god space also sounded.

"Due to unknown reasons, the character [Muzan Kibutsuji]'s friendship level towards you has changed from [-71/100] to [97/100].
-
[Hidden task has been triggered]

【Invitation from Muzan Kibutsuji】

[Mission Reward: Follower Quota x1 (Limited to [Kibutsuji Muzan])]

[Mission requirements: Destroy all the 'pillars' of the Demon Slayer Corps, kill 90% of the Demon Slayer Corps' swordsmen, and eliminate the Ubuyashiki clan]

[Tip: Number s12891, the Lord God Space is reminding you that due to unknown factors, this character has expressed his willingness to follow you. You can use the settlement rewards and points from this mission as a price to bring this follower with you.]
-
After saying this, Muzan Kibutsuji became even more excited, and continued talking.

"I am more valuable and interesting than those weak swordsmen.

"Don't you think it's boring to maintain that boring pretense?
"Kill when you want to kill, eat when you want to eat, and release your nature as you please."

Fang Yi interrupted Muzan Kibutsuji's words, drew out the [California Kiyomitsu] in his hand, and gave a brief answer.

“Your proposal is tempting, but I have only one answer.

"I reject."

Along with the ridiculous swing of the knife in Muzan Kibutsuji's eyes came the words that he felt the other party's brain was abnormal because he had become a demon.

"Because it's too late. From the moment I was born, the moment I opened my eyes, I didn't intend to be that kind of person.

"Besides, do you know how much time I spent just to see you?
"After waking up from that stronghold, I spent six full days doing countless homework.

"So, I can only ask you to die."
-
Hearing Fang Yi's words, Muzan Kibutsuji laughed in anger. A big bump the size of a human head suddenly swelled up on his back, and countless flesh whips broke out of his body and attacked Fang Yi.

Each flesh whip has sharp spikes, flashing with deadly cold light, as if it wants to tear everything that stands in its way into pieces, and it is as impenetrable as a violent storm.

The flesh whip drew arcs in the air that were difficult to capture with the naked eye. Like the tentacles of some indescribable monster, it pounced on Fang Yi swiftly and ferociously, blocking all his space to dodge and trying to take him down in one fell swoop.

There was a strange blush on Muzan Kibutsuji's pretty face, and excitement was visible to the naked eye. The words that came out of his mouth made Fang Yi wonder if Liao Lin had fed this ghost something strange.

"I've been waiting for a ghost like you for nearly thousands of years.

"Don't worry, I will be very gentle. I will tear you apart and eat your body, leaving only your head, and then feed it to your swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps.

"You will become a creature like me.

"You're weaker now than when you were a human, is it because you haven't eaten humans? Come taste human flesh with me."

The only answer it had was the sword in Fang Yi's hand. Although in Muzan Kibutsuji's opinion, the speed of the other party's sword swinging was slower than the night when he killed several upper-rank soldiers and Chen Cheng with one sword, the novel sword technique further stimulated its fighting spirit.

[Breath of the Sun: No Trace of the Pool's Shadow]

Under the guidance of Yuichiro Tsugikoku, Fang Yi transformed the sword technique known as absolute defense that he had learned from Tomioka Giyu's [Water Breathing·Eleventh Form·Nagi] into his own [Sun Breathing·Pond Shadow Without Trace]

Even with a somewhat sluggish body and a small amount of energy, it still produced incredible results.

Facing the violent onslaught of flesh whips, Fang Yi wielded the [California Clear Light] in his hand, creating a calm, unruffled mirror before him, like a bottomless, dark pool swallowing everything unfathomable. With a single swing of the blade, he chopped off all the dozen flesh whips sent his way by Muzan Kibutsuji.

These flesh whips that fell to the ground after being cut off were like several squid tentacles falling on an iron plate and being roasted. They curled up and struggled under the influence of the [Red Blade].

Muzan Kibutsuji let out an alluring moan in pain, and then an even more wild smile appeared on his face.

"You are truly delicious!

"Your hands are shaking. How long can you maintain your [Red Blade] and this amazing sword skill?

"No more than two attacks, I guess.

"Well, let's just treat it as a fun part. Let me show you my anger and my true strength."

The anger in Muzan Kibutsuji's mouth was transmitted to its body like a substance, and the flesh whip that was regenerated behind it after being resurrected at the speed of light became more and more violent.

With the vitality in his body surging like a volcanic eruption, the number became more and more, faster and denser, and hit Fang Yi mercilessly like a sudden rainstorm.

Each flesh whip twisted wildly as if it had an independent life, like a spear breaking through the air, and when it came into contact with the air, it made a sharp whistling sound as if tearing objects apart.

Countless flesh whips crisscrossed, forming a net from which there was no escape or evasion. They came from all directions and tightly wrapped Fang Yi, ready to 'digest' him.

Every time the whip was swung, the strong wind it brought was enough to shatter pig iron. The ground near the whip was plowed into deep grooves by the strong wind, and gravel flew everywhere.
-
Looking at the countless flesh whips that were attacking him like giant pythons, with an astonishing sense of oppression, layer upon layer.

Fang Yi just used the [Breathing of the Sun: Pool of Shadows Without Trace] again.

He was like a helmsman standing alone on the deck facing a storm that could devour everything and destroy the world, yet he remained calm and tried to steer the ship away from the storm. He was also like a caring citizen trying to stop a runaway train. He swung the knife in his hand at Muzan Kibutsuji's more violent attack this time.

In the face of Muzan Kibutsuji's overwhelming attack, Fang Yi's sword swing seemed to shine with a bit of presumptuous stupidity, and was like the hilarious antics of a street clown.

But he still tried to cut off all of Muzan Kibutsuji's more violent attacks.

However, Fang Yi's body seemed to move even slower due to the high-speed blood flow. The hand that swung the knife began to tremble, and beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead and slid down his cheeks.

Waving his arms as if to commit self-harm, and dodging with all his might with his now weak body, Fang Yi finally narrowly avoided Muzan Kibutsuji's attack.

But Muzan Kibutsuji did not give Fang Yi any chance to breathe. When Fang Yi's chest was heaving up and down, like a person who had been suffocating for a long time and finally got a chance to take a breath, in the half second of relaxation, he launched an even more cruel and violent attack.

Even more despairing words followed.

"Nothing can kill me except the sun!

"Try hard and see how many times your fragile body can withstand my attacks!

"If you're willing to tell me your name, I can give you a few seconds to breathe."

Faced with the endless attacks and Muzan Kibutsuji's teasing words, Fang Yi said nothing, but changed from holding the sword with both hands to holding it with one hand, waving his fist with one hand to generate fist energy, and sprinting towards Muzan Kibutsuji with the other hand waving the sword.

Muzan Kibutsuji looked at Fang Yi who was charging towards him with all his might, and his body became extremely excited. He even reduced the number of his tentacles so that Fang Yi could charge all the way to him.

As Fang Yi's face gradually grew larger in its field of vision, a smile that was difficult to describe in words appeared on its face.

It was a twisted smile that was a mixture of excitement and victory, and the declaration of victory came out from its open red lips.

"There's a bomb buried in the ground in the courtyard. You want to detonate it with your fist, right?

"You're being a bit overconfident when you think you can use the same moves on Douma a second time on me, Muzan Kibutsuji.

“What do you think I was doing with that ground-destroying meat whip I just released?
"You set a trap with bombs to kill me and me, but I eliminated it all when you were focused on my attack just now."

Looking at Fang Yi, who had released his fist but failed to detonate the bomb underground that he had already moved away with his flexible flesh whip, he showed a somewhat desperate expression.

Muzan Kibutsuji moved his flesh whip, smashing the Nichirin sword wielded by Fang Yi's hand, while trying to pull his body towards himself and merge with him.

However, when Fang Yi rushed to the vicinity of Muzan Kibutsuji, the fist burst out of his fist did not swing at the ghost king, but at his own body. When the expression on Muzan Kibutsuji's face changed from confusion to shock, then to anger, and finally to excitement, the [Stinger No. 1] placed by Fang Yi on his body exploded.

At such a close distance, half of the shrapnel ejected from the bomb penetrated Fang Yi's chest, and half flew into the body of Muzan Kibutsuji who was unable to dodge, piercing several bloody holes on his snow-white body.
-
Fang Yi's tactic of mutual destruction not only did not annoy Muzan Kibutsuji, but instead ignited Muzan Kibutsuji's fighting spirit.

The ghost king twisted his body, shook his snow-white hair, and expelled all the shrapnel from his body. He walked slowly with elegant steps towards Fang Yi, who was lying on the ground and seemed to have lost the ability to move.

It picked up Fang Yi, hugged his body tightly, and pressed his body against its snow-white body, as if it was ready to merge into one with Fang Yi.

Muzan Kibutsuji looked at the pillars rushing towards him outside the courtyard wall, and spoke words of praise.

"It seems that your tactic of mutual destruction is not effective?
"The amount of poison in your bomb is too little. This amount is not enough.

"Let's die together."

Muzan Kibutsuji squirmed his body and began to prepare to absorb Fang Yi's flesh, starting to taste the feast he had longed for for thousands of years.

After sucking Fang Yi's two hands into his chest, Muzan Kibutsuji was about to swing the meat whip behind him to clean up the pillars, but he found that the meat whip behind his body suddenly drooped down listlessly.

It found itself getting older and weaker.

It looked at Fang Yi, who had a smile on his face, and its words were filled with disbelief and shock.

"You harbor this poison within you, allowing it to ravage your flesh and weaken you.

"Under such circumstances, you fought me with this frail body without batting an eyelid?

"After these poisons decomposed, they added to the human transformation drug to form a compound poison, which ultimately made me age continuously?
"The real trap is you? But how did you instantly transform into a human and prevent me from gaining the ability to not be afraid of sunlight?"

The one who answered him was Fang Yi, who had lost both arms. The 'lie' he uttered echoed in the courtyard and reached the ears of the pillars and the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, inspiring everyone's fighting spirit.

“Don’t underestimate human will.

“Poison runs through my blood, and every breath I take and every movement I make brings a burning sensation worse than death.

"But when I think that this body of mine will eventually become your coffin, I become so excited that I can't control myself.

"Come to hell with me, Muzan."

Looking at the pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps rushing towards him, and Fang Yi who had lost both arms and was showing a smile of victory, Muzan Kibutsuji finally laughed wildly.

"I thought it was something else? Hell?

"More than one person has said this to me over the past thousand years, yet I am still alive.

"If there are gods and Buddhas in this world, their faces should be the same as mine, Muzan Kibutsuji!

"Narume!"

As Muzan Kibutsuji shouted, a door suddenly appeared out of thin air under the feet of the many swordsmen who were attacking Muzan Kibutsuji and opened it.

It was the steward of the Infinite Castle - the new Upper Four, Naruto, who used the ability of space transfer to instantly change the battlefield.

Fang Yi, all the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, and Muzan Kibutsuji began to fall, like unconscious people falling into the bottom of the sea, and together fell into Muzan Kibutsuji's base camp - Mugen Castle.
-
In the infinite city.

Muzan Kibutsuji stood alone on the high platform. Although his body was getting weaker and weaker, the volcanic vitality that he had accumulated through cannibalism for thousands of years was constantly flowing away like sand that could not be held in his hands.

Its body was unprecedentedly weak, so weak that if the pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps continued to attack it, they might have a chance to kill it.

But Muzan Kibutsuji was not panicked at all, because he had Liao Lin and Kokushibo, as well as Naruto and Kifutaro, four upper-rank fighters under his command.

After Fang Yi lost his combat effectiveness, there was absolutely no way the Demon Slayer Corps could get past these four bodyguards and kill him.

Therefore, it transformed itself into a meat cocoon and began to slowly decompose the violent compound poison in its body.

This poison is more powerful than the poison that invaded Kokushibo and Douma's bodies that night. Not only does it take effect faster despite the extremely small amount, it also greatly inhibits the cell activity in the body.

Therefore, the geisha mode that it has been fond of recently can no longer be maintained, and it has to change back to the appearance of a human man a thousand years ago, which makes Muzan Kibutsuji somewhat dissatisfied.

As it decomposed the poison, it began to think about its next plan.

"Although that swordsman has transformed into a human and lost both arms, he clearly has the potential to become a demon that is not afraid of sunlight.

“After eating his human flesh and blood, I don’t seem to have changed at all.

"We should call on Mingnu to teleport him over here without resistance, and temporarily control him to prevent him from dying from excessive blood loss.

"After I recover, I will turn him into a ghost again and eat his flesh and blood again."

Having finalized his next strategy, Muzan Kibutsuji spoke again through the blood cocoon, ready to begin the operation.

"Mingnu, teleport the swordsman I'm fighting here. Don't let him die."

However, a moment later, the person who appeared in front of Muzan Kibutsuji was not Fang Yi, whom he had been thinking about, but Liao Lin, who was supposed to fight against the "pillar" of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Liao Lin looked at Muzan Kibutsuji through the blood cocoon, with a satisfied smile on his face.

He knew that after being humble and licking the stinky feet of the female demon Muzan Kibutsuji many times in this mission, he would soon reap the most abundant and sweet fruits.

After a few seconds, the other party will become his cauldron, and he will suck the female ghost dry and gain countless powers.

Liao Lin thought.

[I wonder what kind of experience the female demon Muzan Kibutsuji can bring me? ]
-
The ugly swordsman suppressed his excitement, walked slowly towards the blood cocoon created by Muzan Kibutsuji, and began to read his declaration of victory.

Picking the fruit of Muzan Kibutsuji, the one he had coveted for so long, harvesting the vitality of this female demon king, couldn't be done so crudely; there had to be some sense of ceremony. Otherwise, how could he justify the servility and flattery he had endured over the past few days?

At the same time, Fang Yi, the elite of the Demon Slayer Corps, the combat force and the opponent of his [Bloody Duel], is already in the Infinite Castle where the opponent cannot escape.

Now is the time to reveal your true strength, to show your enemy your might, and to reap the fruits of victory. To remain silent at this moment would be as frivolous as returning home in glory and choosing to travel at night in finery.

Liao Lin spoke word by word to Muzan Kibutsuji, with an almost uncontrollable smile and excitement, words that made him angry and desperate.

"You should understand the current situation through the cells you placed on other ghosts.

"Upper Rank One, Kokushibo, is already engaged in combat with several Pillars and an ordinary swordsman. It's impossible for him to get here now.

"Upper Six, Gitarou, has been coerced by my sister into sending him out to kill the enemy commander.

"Under my orders, Upper Four, Naruto, is adjusting the positions of the two Pillars to delay them.

Liao Lin swung his sword, unleashing a stream of sword energy that cut off most of Muzan Kibutsuji's blood cocoon, and spoke to the figure revealed within it, the words he had always wanted to say.

"You can scream as much as you want, but there's no help from this platform that can help you escape from my clutches.

"Let your demon subordinates and the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps hear the seductive sounds made by you, a female demon, under my training.

"Well, Miss Muzan Kibutsuji, today you will feel the heat of humanity."

However, Liao Lin fell silent as he looked at the male figure of Muzan Kibutsuji emerging from the blood cocoon, and the angry words in the other man's voice.

His entire mind was like a bucket of cold water poured directly over his head, and like a computer case that had crashed, it fell into irreversible chaos.

Muzan Kibutsuji's angry words floated into Liao Lin's ears, instantly cooling his fiery heart.

“How did you make Mingnu betray me without hesitation?
"You did so much for me, just for something like this?

Liao Lin fell silent. He had never imagined that Muzan Kibutsuji was actually a demon that could instantly change gender. Moreover, the woman dressed as a geisha when he first saw it was not its original body.

This means that the poisonous insects that he had put into it and the friendship he had been trying to gain by humbly trying to gain for a long time seemed to be of no use.

Looking at the angry Muzan Kibutsuji, Liao Lin slowly said something.

“Change back!

"Change back to a woman's appearance and physiological structure!"

The irrational words were followed by a space prompt sound coming from Liao Lin's ears.

"The character [Muzan Kibutsuji]'s friendship level towards you has changed from [88/100] to [-99/100] (the lowest value)."

Liao Lin looked at Muzan Kibutsuji, who made no attempt to turn back into a woman and instead tried to resist, and swung his sword a few more times, cutting him into a human pig with no limbs and who was slowly recovering.

After staring at Muzan Kibutsuji for a long time and preparing himself mentally, he made up his mind and revealed a ferocious smile.

He slowly took off his clothes and walked naked towards Muzan Kibutsuji who was lying in the blood cocoon in male form.

"No change, right? Then just bear with it.

“I licked you for so long, and even used a precious Gu worm, without even touching your body, and you actually dared to turn into a man.

"To become stronger, I, Liao Lin, can do anything."

Obviously, Hero Liao Lin has invested too much energy and resources in Muzan Kibutsuji, and the sunk cost is too high, forcing him to take risks and try to gain benefits from Muzan Kibutsuji.
-
As his body fell into the Infinite City, Fang Yi looked at the 'intelligent crow' flying in the air and began to explore the map of the Infinite City, after confirming that Mingnu could not monitor this place.

He immediately used [Reversal Spell: Strengthen] to repair his hands, landed on a platform, and began to wait for the enemy information sent back by the "Intelligent Crow".

Everything was developing according to the No. 2 scenario he wrote. Rengoku Chijuro and Nakamori Yuto, two relatively weak "Pillars" who had gained their own command abilities through [Diligent Learning], were responsible for commanding ordinary swordsmen to clear out the demons with lower-rank strength, as well as commanding the "Pillars" for support.

As for the Water Pillar, Tomioka Giyu, who has a very strong protective ability, he was sent by himself to protect the Ghost Doctor's assistant Yushiro. The team is already heading to the location of Upper Four, Naruto.

Nakamori Yuto also commanded Kanroji Mitsuri, the backup combat force, to join this team to ensure that Mingnu, the ghost with the ability of space teleportation, was controlled as soon as possible.

As for the others, the 'Intelligent Crow' has not sent back any message yet, so it is very likely that it is already fighting with one of the Upper Moons, Kokushibo.

We must find the location of Muzan Kibutsuji as soon as possible and ensure that ordinary swordsmen stay away from him to prevent the demon king from getting vitality replenishment.

At the same time, Fang Yi believed that Liao Lin must be near Muzan Kibutsuji. If he moved fast enough, he could kill both of them with one blow.

While thinking about the battle strategy, Fang Yi was observing the enemy's movements through [Blood Demon Art·Eye Hidden], but saw an unexpected figure appear in front of him.

A swordsman with a distinctively ugly face.

His eyes were as far apart as the North and South Pole on a globe, with a noticeable height difference between them. He had a large, sunken nose, large lips, prominent buck teeth, and a pointed chin like a cone.

Such a representative and highly recognizable ugly appearance is obviously the legendary Liao Lin.

However, Fang Yi vaguely felt that this angry swordsman seemed to be filled with an lingering smell of shit.

Before Fang Yi could make any move, Liao Lin took out a blood-stained list and tore it open casually. The prompt sound in the space also sounded as the other party took action.

"Affected by the [Bloody Duel] initiated by the relic [Dueler's List], your talent [Supernatural Gravity] has been temporarily locked as a bargaining chip and cannot be used."

"The opponent's talent used as a bargaining chip is [Favored by the Evil] and the trait [Unusual Talent]. The duel survivor will have the opportunity to retain the opponent's talent and trait used as a bargaining chip."

Fang Yi smiled.

(End of this chapter)