Great, now we are dead!

Ye Shou's back muscles clenched together, and his body leaned slightly forward.

"Countless monsters far stronger than you have been defeated by the power of children!"

--call!

Ye Shou took the initiative to attack, but Su Na Gui, who was prepared, raised his long sword, and the two sharp blades with very different styles clashed together.

Stab it! ! !

Sparks flew everywhere, and Sukuna's hideous and terrifying face flashed by, but Ye Shou's resolute gaze remained unwavering.

The demonic sword, imbued with blood and flesh, and the light blade, armed with technology, are products of two completely different paths. Both of them have demonstrated power far exceeding that of ordinary swords. In several consecutive clashes, neither the ground nor the surrounding trees could hinder them, leaving only charred sections in their wake.

Ye Shou's eyes were icy cold, like a lurking mantis, constantly searching for a fatal flaw.

Ryomen Sukuna noticed this too, but the look in Ye Shou's eyes made him want to burst out laughing—

"Meaningless! Meaningless! Kid, you're not bad, but no mortal can kill me!"

The world is just so unfair!

"..."

Ye Shou remained silent, but simply increased the pressure on his hand by three points!

Physical means can only damage the body. Fire and lightning can cause harm but not death. To kill a demon like Sukuna, one must directly inject it with "the power to ward off evil"—this is what the warrior who is the spirit behind him told Ye Shou. As for what "the power to ward off evil" is, he doesn't know either.

This samurai, Nishikida Kagetatsu, possessed a special talent from birth. His sword could not only defeat bandits and villains, but also slay demons and monsters.

Now it's Ye Shou's turn to do this!

Clang!

"What's wrong? You took the initiative and this is all you've got? Kid!"

Amidst the sparks, the longsword slashed down again and again. The demon's towering physique, combined with this demonic blade, created an attack range of five meters in radius!

When Su Nuo moved, it was as if he turned the entire space in his field of vision into his own domain, and the blade could attack Ye Shou's vital points at will.

In contrast, the boy's light blade was much shorter, and the enemy only needed to use the tip of the long blade to keep slashing to force him to retreat.

At first glance, regardless of their swordsmanship skills, the relative advantages and disadvantages of the two sides are quite obvious.

But the turning point could come in an instant!

Ka!

Swords clashed once more, but the sound was subtly different. A small fragment flew off the blade, slicing Ye Shou's cheek, and blood immediately flowed down.

However, even though he was the one who was injured, he couldn't help but smile.

The one that was damaged was that demonic sword!

"hateful!"

Sukuna noticed this as well, and he suddenly changed his move, sparing no effort to open the center gate and pour all his strength into it. His long sword was so fast that it seemed to disappear, and he wielded the clumsy nodachi as nimbly as a short sword.

He wanted to launch a quick attack to catch Ye Shou off guard, but Ye Shou, who was new to battle, was unusually calm and did not rush into a fight when he saw an opportunity.

Ye Shou's offense and defense remained methodical, deflecting enemy attacks time and again before launching counterattacks.

Gradually, he felt that he had shaken off the unfavorable passive situation and had become proficient in and even mastered the rhythm of the battle!

Is this the effect of his "ghost brain"? Or is he just naturally gifted?

But one thing is certain:

He's getting stronger!

His physical attributes, fighting spirit, and swordsmanship skills—everything he had accumulated in the past—were originally like collecting beautiful works of art, merely for a kind of self-satisfaction, without any urgent need for their use.

But now, all these artworks, regardless of their material or value, have been thrown into a giant millstone, where, under the constant guidance of a guardian spirit warrior, they are violently crushed into countless tiny grains of sand and then mixed together.

After being reforged, it will become a translucent, multicolored Vajra relic!

This kind of tangible growth is far more enjoyable than the virtual training of "Ghost Brain"!

My body became incredibly excited; not only did my body temperature rise, but my thoughts also became feverish. Many common-sense notions were thrown aside, and my mind only needed to remember and think about one thing—

kill!

kill!

Kill this monstrosity!

——Qiang!

A scorching blade of light flashed past his eyes. Sukuna barely dodged it, then turned around and spewed out a thick cloud of black smoke, which was difficult to see or dodge in the darkness of the night.

But Ye Shou was completely fearless. Even though he couldn't open his eyes and his nose was filled with a foul odor that could make anyone cry, he took a step forward without hesitation.

Having already achieved perfect harmony with Nishikinda Kyoryu, he didn't even need his eyes; he could sense the location of the spirits with his eyes closed, as if he had gained an extra perspective.

Their movements became increasingly agile, and their moves increasingly fierce!

When he cut through the black smoke and left a long wound on Sukuna's face, he took the initiative and suppressed Sukuna, giving him a sense of triumph like a trapped dragon entering the sea!

This familiar sense of defeat, of being outmaneuvered, fueled Sukuna's rage.

"You! It really was you who did this! Damn Jinglong—"

puff!

Su Nuo's chest was cut by the light blade. Ye Shou forcefully interrupted his speech with the excruciating pain, his eyes fixed on nothing else but swinging the light blade.

Su Nuo was momentarily distracted and was almost cut into seven or eight pieces by an incredibly sharp futuristic weapon!

Ye Shou's movements at this moment no longer showed any signs of immaturity or naivety; instead, they resembled those of a seasoned warrior, wielding his weapons with effortless skill and imposing presence.

If viewed from a third-person perspective at this moment, one would see wisps of green smoke swirling around Ye Shou, collectively outlining a figure that appears and disappears on Ye Shou's body:

[Well done, young man!]

Suddenly, Ye Shou heard a sentence in his ear, but he was not surprised at all. Instead, he felt a sense of satisfaction that came naturally.

—It seems that the two became more compatible during the battle, and they were even able to talk to each other directly.

It's a tough enemy to deal with. Don't overthink it, don't hold back, just let go and throw yourself into the battle!

Jintian Jinglong also became excited:

Sukuna-ki was one of the few demons he was unable to completely slay. Due to the circumstances at the time, he could only seal it away. Out of gratitude and to protect the seal, the local villagers built this shrine.

As time has passed, Kojuro Kageryu of Nishikita has long since passed away, leaving only his heroic spirit.

Without a physical body, Jinglong is unable to fight Sukuna-ki, but his encounter with a heroic young man like Ye Shou tonight is surely a blessing from heaven.

hum!

With his concentration breaking through the limits, Ye Shou felt as if everything around him froze in an instant, with only his brain constantly working.

visible!

Everything is visible!

Every single detail, even the smallest one, is crystal clear in his eyes!

This included the healing wounds on Sukunaki's body, and the jagged edge of the demon sword—

"How is this possible... to lose to mere humans again! Aaaaaaahhhhh!"

"Go to hell, you brat Kuze!"

--flaw!

Zheng!

Light Blade at maximum power!

The scorching hot blade "pierced" through the blood-craving demon blade, cleaving the head of Sukuna in two!

Chapter 26 I, Capital, Ultimately Won

Clang!

The demon sword broke in two, and Sukuna Oni's head also split in two. A blurry sword shadow flew out from the blade of light and went straight into it!

【Ohhhhhh!】

As the tall body fell backward, the evil spirit's resentment transformed into a vaguely visible phantom, which was forcibly pushed out like a piece of chewing gum. Its constantly distorted face opened its mouth wide and let out a roar that pierced the eardrums. The mental shock mixed in was enough to terrify an ordinary person.

However, Ye Shou, who was completely immersed in the battle, was as firm as a rock and did not waver at all. He took another step forward with his light blade in hand, and together with the sword shadow of Ida Keiryu, nailed Sukuna Oni's spirit to the tree trunk!

After struggling violently for a long time, Sukuna Oni was still unable to escape. A pure exorcising power surged into its body, and the familiar feeling made it quiet down immediately. Its blood-red eyes stared intently at Ye Shou... and the old acquaintances hidden behind the boy.

【Kuze Hidemori! I'll remember that name!】

And don't think you've won just like that!

My resentment will never disappear; there is plenty of time to wait for the next opportunity... Sooner or later, I will gain my freedom and let humanity taste the fury of my revenge!

Ha ha ha ha!】

In the end, Sukuna even burst into wild laughter, acting nothing like a loser, leaving Ye Shou speechless.

As it said, even if it fails this time, the loss is only a spiritual body. As long as the original body buried in the mountain is still there, it will always have a chance to make a comeback.

We can't keep running into heroes like Jinglong or Ye Shou, can we?

According to the priest's memories he read, although humans have become more powerful, things like airplanes and tanks can't harm it (its true form) at all. It's hard to say what would happen with just a nuclear bomb... But in short, as long as it can gain freedom, it can run rampant in this world!

Even if the two of you defeat me, so what? I can wait for decades or even centuries, can you?

"How arrogant... Doesn't this guy have any weaknesses?"

Ye Shou was quite annoyed. He had clearly won, but his opponent was making threats.

"Is there no way to kill it completely? Why didn't Lord Jinglong do it more thoroughly back then?"

It's embarrassing to admit, sigh!

Jinglong's shadow trembled, revealing his unsettled state of mind.

Why didn't we kill Sukuna-ki back then? This isn't something that can be explained in a few words.

He possessed the ability to distinguish demons from a young age and was also exceptionally talented in martial arts. He acquired a divine skill capable of slaying dragons simply by training with an unnamed swordsman in the mountains.

Jinglong, full of a sense of justice, did not rely on force to conquer the world, but instead embarked on the path of slaying demons and protecting humanity, leaving behind his own legends in various places. In his youth, he undoubtedly believed that he was destined by heaven!

But as he gained more experience, he gradually realized that demons do not arise from nothing; the darkness in people's hearts is the breeding ground for them. Even if one is killed, the resentment will not disappear directly, but will spread to other places, waiting for some opportunity to create a new demon.

If things continue like this, even if I live to be a hundred, I will not be able to kill all the evil in the world!

Later, he encountered many things, including some emotional ups and downs, which greatly changed his mindset.

Specifically regarding Sukuna-ki, Keiryu was hungry and weak at the time, so he only beheaded it and failed to completely destroy it. Later, after being treated to a full meal by the villagers, he did not finish off Sukuna-ki's corpse but chose to seal it away.

This could be because he's older and less bloodthirsty, or it could be a case of sympathy for one's own kind.

He was also a human in his previous life, and a naturally gifted superhuman like him, but he chose a different path: Sukuna-ki seized cities and countries by force during a time of war, and once became the overlord of a corner of the world.

Although Su Nuo was tough at the time, he was able to protect the peace of the area and could definitely be called a "hero". Some people even associated him with the local guardian deity and worshipped him.

But power and violence are like poison to humans; even the kindest person can easily turn to the dark side, not to mention that Sukuna was not exactly kind to begin with... The country was destroyed for various reasons, and he went from being a guardian deity to a "ghost god".

Perhaps it was because of their similar backgrounds that Kinta Keiryu felt compassion for Su Nuo. He used his sword to suppress Su Nuo's heart and soul, and sealed it away at the shrine, hoping that time would wash away its resentment and allow it to become a Buddha (a concept of deliverance in Japanese culture).

However, he was too optimistic at the time. Who could have predicted that Su Nuo would not only not perish, but would instead become more and more resentful?

Now, it has even surpassed its "previous life". If the original body were to be revived, even if Nishikina Keiryu were to come back to life, he wouldn't be confident!

Therefore, Jinglong is now filled with remorse, never expecting that his moment of kindness would bring such disaster upon the world...

Destroying the original body is now impossible, but if the shrine can be rebuilt, its resentment might gradually diminish over time.

"Is just one shrine enough?"

Of course, someone needs to come and pay their respects... Alas, that's probably impossible now. The original villagers are gone, and there don't seem to be any other villages nearby.

"It's not difficult to get people to worship,"

Ye Shou seemed to be deep in thought. "Do you mean that people's willpower can offset resentment?"

Not every ghost is like this, but Sukuna-ki is born from the darkness of the human heart. People's wishes can be both bright and dark, and Sukuna-ki carries the latter. This is why demons often cause trouble in times of chaos.

The world is much more peaceful now than before, and people's wishes generally lean towards the positive. Completely eradicating Sukuna-ki is impossible, but weakening it is still possible.

Ye Shou fell into deep thought after hearing Jing Long's words.