Demon Slayer: The Second God Who Walks the Earth

"Tanjiro, please give my regards to Tamayo."

Could it be that Lord Tanjiro also knows Lady Tamayo? And given the circumstances at the time... he knows Lady Tamayo too?!

Chiba Yo suddenly understood many things, and he asked Kagaya, "Does Lord Kagaya also know Lady Tamayo?"

The situation could no longer be concealed, so Chiba Yo decided to stop hiding it altogether.

"Yes, I learned about her existence from some records of the Demon Slayer Corps during the Warring States period in ancient books. Some time ago, when Tanjiro was on a mission, I learned more about her from the report of the crow."

Yaozai nodded and said.

"Does the Lord also want to accept them?" Chiba Yang asked with some curiosity.

Upon hearing this, Kagaya smiled and said, "They share the same goal as us, so what's unacceptable about that? Besides, Ms. Tamayo has saved many people as a doctor, so she can be considered our comrade."

Kagaya told Chiba Yo these things because he knew that Chiba Yo had accepted Tamayo and the others. He wouldn't have talked about these things with any other Pillar.

"I did meet Ms. Tamayo and discussed with her how to defeat Muzan. She also told me a lot of information about Muzan." After hearing what Kagaya said, Chiba Yo told him everything.

“Your choice is correct. If I need to cooperate with Tamayo later, I hope you can help me contact her. However, this matter should only be known between the two of us in the Demon Slayer Corps. Let’s keep it from the other Pillars for now,” Kagaya said to Chiba Yo with a smile.

“Yes, I understand,” Chiba Yang nodded and said.

He also understood Kagaya's intention; the other Pillars would most likely not be able to accept cooperating with a demon.

After leaving the Ubuyashiki mansion, Chiba Yo went back to instruct Tanjiro and the other two.

Meanwhile, in the Infinite City

After what happened last time, Muzan, who originally wanted to change his identity and continue to disguise himself as a human to search for information about the Blue Spider Lily, gave up the idea and basically did not leave the Infinity Castle during this period.

The cautious creature planned to wait until the Twelve Demon Moons had eliminated Chiba Yo before it began to act recklessly.

Before long, Akaza entered the Infinite Castle.

"Master Wuhan."

Akaza knelt down on one knee and greeted Muzan.

It already knew in its heart that Muzan had summoned it here to punish it. Not only had it failed to kill the demon slayer wearing the flower-shaped earring, but it had also failed to kill any of the four demon slayers there. Knowing this, Muzan would surely be furious.

"Akaza, did you kill that demon slayer wearing the flower-shaped earring?" Muzan asked Akaza in a calm voice, even though he already knew the outcome, he still had to ask.

“No…” Akaza replied.

"And what about the pillars that appeared there?" Muzan continued to ask Akaza in a calm voice.

"nor……"

The veins on Muzan's forehead bulged, indicating that he was beginning to show his anger.

"And what about the demon hunters and humans there?"

This time, before Akaza could answer, Muzan answered for him.

"No, it's still no! You haven't completed the task I gave you. As an Upper Moon, you can't even defeat a Pillar now! If you can't do things for me, what's the point of your existence!"

Muzan looked down at Akaza, his voice filled with anger, and pointed his right index finger at Akaza.

A loud bang suddenly erupted from Akaza's body, followed by blood seeping from its body and bleeding from its seven orifices.

"I failed in my duty... I am willing to accept punishment..." Akaza said, spitting out blood and bowing his head.

Chapter 62 Conditions for Activating the Marks

"Weren't you passionate about becoming stronger through your own training and disdainful of eating people? Why are you so weak now? You can't even defeat a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps? You've even been reduced to fleeing in disarray!"

Muzan continued to vent his anger on Akaza. He was already dissatisfied with Akaza's behavior of almost never eating people, but he tacitly approved of it because Akaza was strong enough.

Akaza's inability to even defeat a single Pillar has enraged Muzan to the point of exploding.

"Because the sun came out..."

Akaza was somewhat indignant at Muzan's words and retorted.

Although it did not kill the Pillar, it was not that it lacked the ability. If the sun had not risen, it was confident that its final move would have been able to kill Kyojuro.

However, Muzan didn't want to hear any of this, and Akaza's words only enraged him further.

"So what? Why were you dragged down by a mere pillar until dawn? It's because you're too weak."

Don't forget what you've always been pursuing, Akaza. As long as you can become stronger, does the means by which you achieve that goal really matter?

Muzan said angrily to Akaza.

“Yes…” Akaza replied.

"If you can kill this demon hunter, I'll pretend your mistake never happened. I hope you won't disappoint me this time."

Now that all the Lower Moon demons have been wiped out, Muzan's strongest subordinates are now only the Upper Moon demons. Muzan still needs them to help him kill the boy who looks like Yoriichi and the demon slayers, so he didn't punish them too severely.

After transmitting the scene of encountering Chiba Yo into Akaza's mind, Muzan turned around, and a door closed behind him, sending him away.

At the same time, Akaza also received the images that Muzan transmitted to it in its mind.

Silently rising and leaving, Nakime also very cooperatively escorted Akaza out of the Infinity Castle.

Walking through the quiet forest, Akaza recalled his battle with Kyojuro.

"Just you wait, Kyojuro, we'll settle this once we meet again!"

With his right fist clenched, Akaza felt as if his blood was boiling again.

Muzan's words didn't really bother it. Although it had lost its memories of its human days, it still held onto its principles: it wouldn't eat women unless it was extremely hungry. It only wanted to become stronger through its own training.

In Kyojuro's hospital room

After a week of rest, Kyojuro's health has recovered somewhat, and he can now perform some small movements with relative ease.

At this moment, all nine other Pillars were gathered in this ward, including Kagaya.

"Why am I not so lucky as to encounter the Upper Moon? I really want to try and cut it down."

After learning about the situation, Sanemi felt somewhat envious of Kyojuro's experience and spoke up.

“According to Rengoku, an Upper Moon is definitely not one that a Pillar can defeat. If you were to encounter one, you might not be in the same situation as Rengoku,” Giyu said expressionlessly, without even turning his head.

"What did you say?" Sanemi asked, a "#" appearing on his face as he turned to Giyu.

Obanai also turned to look at Giyu, somewhat surprised that he would say such a long thing.

"I didn't say anything," Yi Yong said, his face still expressionless.

Since his lord was there, Sanemi didn't pursue the matter any further.

"Kyojuro, could you tell everyone about the circumstances surrounding the appearance of the markings?" Kagaya asked Kyojuro with a smile.

The reason for summoning all the other Pillars back this time is precisely for this matter. According to the report from the crow, the Demon Slayer Corps' strength has undoubtedly increased due to the Demon Slayer Mark. If they could find out how to make the Demon Slayer Mark appear, their strength would be greatly enhanced.

"During the battle with Upper Moon Three, my stamina had reached its limit! But my will to protect others made me give it my all and unleash all my remaining strength, and I used my breathing techniques to the fullest!"

At that moment, I felt my body temperature and heart rate increase rapidly, and then a new power surged from within me, which enhanced my strength and speed! The markings must have appeared at this time! " Kyojuro said enthusiastically and loudly.

Previously, due to physical weakness, his voice became similar to that of an ordinary person during that period. Now that his health has improved, he has regained his former vigor.

"So, to get the markings to appear, you have to break through your limits in a desperate situation?" Obanai pondered, head down, after hearing Kyojuro's words.

“But aren’t these conditions a bit too vague?” Obanai continued.

"To be more precise, it should be body temperature and heart rate. Both of these increase when I'm fighting," Chiba Yo said, offering his opinion.

"So, specifically, what should the limit be?"

Muichiro was quite concerned about this matter.

“I feel that these two signs when the marks appeared are similar to what I was like when I first woke up!” Kyojuro replied.

“At that time, Mr. Rengoku’s body temperature was 39 degrees Celsius, and his heart rate had reached 210 beats per minute,” Shinobu Kocho continued.

She then said in shock, "How can they still fight in this situation? It's life-threatening!"

Upon hearing this, Muichiro said, "Perhaps the ability to survive in this state is the turning point that will cause the markings to appear?"

“Yes, very likely! I also thought I was going to die soon!” Kyojuro agreed.

"This is a piece of cake!"

After listening to Muichiro and the others' analysis, Sanemi immediately expressed his opinion.

"I really envy your brain that can make such harsh conditions sound like a piece of cake," Giyuu said after hearing Sanemi's words.

Sanemi revealed an extremely angry expression and looked at Giyuu, saying, "Are you looking for trouble?"

Chiba Yo was a little puzzled to see Giyu becoming more talkative, but what Giyu said didn't surprise Chiba Yo at all.

"No," Giyuu replied curtly, without even turning to look at Sanemi.

Sanemi was even angrier by Giyu's actions, but out of respect for his lord, he held back, thinking he would settle the score with him later.

"Now that we know the conditions, our top priority as Pillars is to get the Demon Slayer Mark to appear as soon as possible," Shinobu Kocho asked.

"That's right. We will do our utmost to deal with the markings. Please rest assured, my lord."

With tears streaming down his face, Beimingyu Xingming spoke.

“That’s right, I will definitely make the markings appear in a magnificent way,” Tengen said.

The same applies to the other pillars; no one hesitated or faltered because of the negative effects of the markings.

Seeing the Pillars' reaction, Kagaya was also moved and bowed slightly, saying, "Thank you all."

"My lord, I have made some other discoveries regarding the markings."

At that moment, Shinobu Kocho suddenly spoke up.

She drew everyone's attention in the ward.

Shinobu Kocho continued, "During the treatment of Mr. Rengoku, I discovered that in the first two days when Mr. Rengoku's mark was still present, his various organs were operating at high capacity, but at the same time, they were also suffering permanent damage."

Chapter 63 The Possibility of Eliminating Negative Impacts

"Aren't all those who activate the markings supposed to die before the age of twenty-five? Why worry about whether it will damage your organs?"

Sanemi replied nonchalantly upon hearing Shinobu's words.

Injuries are commonplace for him, and he doesn't care at all about the possibility of organ damage.

“I suspect that the reason why people who activate their markings don’t live past twenty-five is because their organs have been damaged to a certain extent. After Mr. Rengoku’s markings faded, the problem of his organs being constantly overdrawn also disappeared, and his body temperature and heart rate quickly dropped,” Shinobu Kocho continued.

Chiba Yo felt a glimmer of hope after hearing Shinobu Kocho's words.

That means if the teacher doesn't activate the markings again, will he be able to live past twenty-five?

Turning to look at Kyojuro, Chiba Yo's nonchalant expression made him feel that the matter was somewhat unlikely.

"What's the use of knowing this? You mean that if I use the Demon Slayer Mark less often, I might not die so young? But you should know that none of us will back down because of this, right? I will accept any power that can slay demons."

Sanemi grinned after hearing Shinobu's words.

“You misunderstood me, Mr. Shinazugawa. I am well aware of everyone’s determination. What I want to say is that I believe the damage to organs caused by activating the Marks can be treated.”

Shinobu Kocho explained.

"It can be cured! That means the negative effects of the mark can be eliminated!" Chiba Yang said excitedly. If everything Shinobu Kocho said was true, then even if Kyojuro continued to use the mark, he wouldn't have died at the age of twenty-five.

"I still need to verify this matter further, and I don't know how to treat organ overexertion damage yet. I just think the idea is feasible," Shinobu Kocho replied to Yo Chiba.

"It would be wonderful if this idea could be realized. Ren, please take this matter seriously. If you need anything, please let me know."

After listening to Shinobu's words, Kagaya smiled and said to her.

"Thank you for your support, my lord. I hope that after everyone unlocks the markings, I can check them before they fade."

Shinobu thanked her lord and then made a request.

"Amitabha, of course there is no problem, but I don't know if I can survive after activating my markings..." Xingming said with his hands clasped together.

Shinobu Kocho wanted to say something after hearing Gyomei's words, but in the end she didn't speak.

Based on her examination of Kyojuro, she believed that the permanent damage to organs caused by the markings was somewhat similar to aging, which would rapidly reduce the lifespan of organs. However, the body would also take corresponding protective measures, and once the lifespan of organs was damaged to a certain extent, the body would stop this behavior.

The limit is twenty-five years old, but if you exceed twenty-five, the body's protective measures may no longer be in place, and at that time, the organs of the person who activates the markings may be completely overdrawn to the point of death...

Shinobu knew that even if Gyomei knew all this, he wouldn't back down, so there was no point in talking about it.