People in Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began with Demon Slayer

Chapter 276 The Shrine of Sealing

Shion had had enough of life as a priestess. She was born with high expectations placed upon her, and no one cared whether this was the life she wanted.

Because of her prophetic abilities, others rejected her, and everyone feared that Ziyuan would foresee their deaths.

But all she wanted was to be an ordinary person, to make friends with those around her, to play together, without the heavy burden of responsibility.

Because she constantly foresees the deaths of those important to her, Shion is afraid to form bonds with anyone. Everyone she was connected with has died. Gradually, Shion has become numb to it all.

Shion desperately wanted to tell Yosuke, 'I want to sever my fate with the demons.'

But she couldn't do it.

Because if they fail, all the efforts made by the people of the Land of Demons and by their mother Miroku will have been in vain.

Ziyuan looked conflicted and troubled. On one hand, she longed for the life after severing her fate with Wangliang.

However, on the other hand, she could not trust that Yosuke, whom she had only met for the first time today, could sever the destiny between the shrine maiden and the demon.

Yosuke understood Shion's concerns at this moment. After all, they were strangers who had just met, so how could Shion completely trust him?

So Yosuke came up with a compromise: go and see for yourself first. Even if he couldn't devour the demon, he might be able to get inspiration for evolution from it.

“Since you want to seal the demon, you must first enter the shrine where it is sealed. I can help you get in, and I will not interfere with your sealing of the demon.”

Ashiho also advised, "Lady Shion, it is almost impossible for the two of us to reach the shrine guarded by the army of the underworld."

At this point, Shion had no other choice but to accept Yosuke's help.

"OK then."

The four formed a team and headed to the shrine that sealed the body of the demon.

The shrine of sealing was located in the Swamp Country. The four traveled day and night and finally arrived at the shrine of sealing in the Swamp Country.

However, in front of the Sealed Shrine, Kusuna, who had initially escaped Gyutaro's pursuit, was now standing at the entrance to the shrine.

"You have finally arrived. This is the moment for me to dedicate myself to Lord Huang Quan!"

Dozens of centipedes emerged from Kusuna's sleeve and burrowed into his body.

Kusuna's pupils dilated until they extended to cover the entire white of his eye.

"Water Release: Water-Slaying Cutter!"

Kusuna tapped the ground with one foot, and four water blades appeared on the ground, slicing towards Yosuke and the other three at high speed.

"Blood Demon Art? Flying Blood Scythe!"

Four thin, poisonous blades of blood were launched from Gyutaro's scythe, completely neutralizing the water blades.

The residual force of the opposing forces caused Shiho to lose her balance and fall to the ground.

Shion's bodyguard, Ashiho, only knows some swordsmanship and has no ninjutsu skills. In a battle of this level, she wouldn't even qualify as cannon fodder.

Shion advised Ashiho, "Ashiho, you should leave and hide quickly."

With a resolute look in her eyes, Ashiho gripped her katana tightly: "Lady Shion, it is my duty to protect you. I will not abandon you and run away!"

“I think she’s right. The only role you can play here is to make things more difficult for us.”

Gyutaro's merciless sarcasm left Ashiho feeling utterly defeated. Once upon a time, he was one of the most powerful guards in the Land of Demons, but now he had become a burden.

Ashiho stopped insisting. If he became a burden and held Shion back, he would never forgive himself.

Ashiho bowed deeply to Gyutaro and Yosuke, pleading, "My lords! Lady Shion is in your care!"

Shiho hurriedly turned and left, because if she lingered any longer, tears of resentment might well fall.

Shion complained to Gyutaro, "Can't you be a little more tactful? You're really hurting people!"

Gyutaro didn't seem to feel anything: "Really? I'm telling the truth! Besides, you're about the same as him, maybe even weaker, you're just here to make things harder for us."

Ziyuan asked Yangjie in a low voice, "Can you stand your companion for saying such hurtful things?"

Yosuke gave Shion a strange look: "Gyutaro is just a bit blunt, but he's telling the truth. I think it's fine and normal."

Shion: ...So that means I'm not normal.

"Hmph! You still have the mind to chat? Fire Release: Garuda!"

Kusuna spewed three flames from its mouth, which then converged into a fire dragon-shaped flame that roared toward Yosuke and the other two.

"Blood Demon Art? A clumsy, leaping spectacle!"

Gyutaro used his blood-red slashes to block the fire dragon.

"Blood Demon Art? Flying Blood Scythe? Chaos!"

Countless razor-sharp, blood-red blades shot erratically toward Kusuna.

In an instant, Kusuna's body was pierced through several holes by the thin blade of blood.

Strangely, what flowed out was not scarlet blood, but a purple liquid, and all the wounds on his body healed instantly.

"Hahaha... I have received Lord Huang Quan's blessing, and now I am immortal!"

Just as Gyutaro was about to make another move, Yosuke stopped him.

“He is indeed immortal now, let me handle this.”

Yosuke casually rested his hand on the hilt of his sword and approached Kusuna step by step.

Kusuna unleashed a barrage of ninjutsu at Yosuke as if possessed.

However, the blood surrounding Yosuke automatically blocked all of Kusuna's ninjutsu.

Yosuke drew his sword at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, instantly piercing Kusuna's chest.

But Kuzna continued to laugh arrogantly, "It's useless! I'm immortal... What's going on?!"

Kusuna felt the power of the demons within his body constantly draining away, and his body began to wither rapidly.

Kusuna collapsed weakly to the ground: "You're... draining my power?!"

Kusuna, having lost the power of the demons, immediately lost all vitality.

After absorbing Kusuna's power, Yosuke's peculiar power grew even stronger.

Gyutaro brought Shion to Yosuke's side.

Ziyuan stared dumbfounded at Kusuna's corpse. Just moments ago, he had been running rampant, but now only a corpse remained.

Just as Yosuke and Gyutaro were about to lead Shion into the shrine.

Suddenly the ground shook.

Countless puppet soldiers emerged from the ground, covering the entire area.

"Blood Demon Art? Crimson Scythe Sweeps Across Hell!"

The blood-soaked blade of Gyutaro, a tornado of blood, swept towards the puppet soldier.

However, the destroyed puppet soldiers immediately returned to their original state.

Yosuke also tried to destroy it, but the result was the same; the puppet soldier would immediately regenerate.

Moreover, even if Yang Jie absorbs and drives the demonic power within the puppet soldier's body, the puppet soldier will instantly regenerate new demonic power, completely unaffected.

"Blood Demon Art? Circular Slash Spin? Flying Blood Scythe!"

Gyutaro cleared a path and said to Yosuke and Shion:

"Lord Yosuke, I'll hold them off here. You take her inside quickly!"

Chapter 277 Battle with the Demon

Yosuke squatted down and said to Shion, "Come on up."

Although Shion felt embarrassed, she still climbed onto Yosuke's back and wrapped her arms around Yosuke's neck.

Before leaving, Yosuke instructed, "Gyutaro, be careful."

"Lord Yosuke, please go with peace of mind. I will absolutely not let these boulders disturb you!"

"it is good!"

Shion's face contorted in confusion because Gyutaro's words sounded strange.

Yosuke carried Shion on his back and rushed into the entrance of the Sealed Shrine.

To get inside the Sealed Shrine, you need to go through a very long tunnel.

On the way forward, Shion, perched on Yosuke's back, asked with worry, "Do you think we will succeed?"

Why do you ask that?

"Although I foresaw two possible outcomes, I didn't foresee my successful sealing of the demon..."

"You're focusing too much on prophecy. If the future were always the same, how would we be here? Since the future is already predetermined, why don't we just give up? We choose to work hard because we believe the future can be changed, don't we?"

After a moment of silence, Ziyuan's expression hardened: "You're right. I chose to be here to change the future."

Ziyuan suddenly asked again, "Do you know why I chose to believe you?"

"why?"

"Because the people I can prophesy about are all those who are willing to sacrifice themselves for me. I have foreseen the death of every one of my guards. If they had disobeyed the prophecy and lived on, I might have died long ago."

Yosuke smiled gently and comforted her, "Since you've already chosen to believe me, then just continue to believe me!"

Looking at Yosuke's flowing hair, Shion paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay!"

Yosuke and Shion arrived inside the Shrine of Sealing.

The Sealed Shrine is built inside a volcano, where scorching lava is constantly churning, and several narrow rock paths are built on top of the lava.

Deep within the Sealed Shrine, a gaunt and frail-looking man lay on his side in a seat.

"You've finally arrived, Shion. You've grown up so much! You look just like Miroku. Come on, say hello to the young witch and the warrior from another world."

Several puppets, clearly different from ordinary soldier puppets, surrounded Yosuke and Shion.

"My name is Huang Quan, and I am the one whose ambitions were thwarted by your mother, Miroku. Do you remember that day? The resurrected demons led us, intending to create a thousand-year kingdom! If it weren't for your mother, that priestess..."

"Blood Breathing? Third Form? Storm Flame Blood Blade!"