"Upper Rank Two, Upper Rank One, Kibutsuji Muzan!"
Seeing the three figures appear, Sound Pillar Uzui Tengen was greatly alarmed. Taking advantage of the moment Hantengu and the other demons bowed in greeting, he swallowed a senzu bean and gathered everyone around Adam.
Because he knew clearly that with their current strength, they absolutely couldn't be a match for these three strongest demons; they couldn't even escape.
Their only hope now lay with the mysterious Adam, who had just defeated Upper Rank Five in a single move.
"Useless!"
Kibutsuji Muzan coldly swept his gaze over Hantengu, Gyutaro, and Daki. The three demons immediately showed expressions of terror.
Fortunately, Kibutsuji Muzan didn't dwell on it or punish them. After a single curse, he fixed his gaze on Adam.
On his way, he had already been simultaneously observing the battles of his subordinates here. He felt some apprehension towards Adam, who had instantly killed Gyokko with his final move.
"Mr. Adam, I've actually been looking for you, but I haven't found you.
Today, I only want her. If you don't stop me, then in the future, we will be friends."
Kibutsuji Muzan said with a false smile, pointing at Nezuko.
Adam removed his hand from Tanjiro's head and began to experience the special state Tanjiro had just been in, completely disregarding Kibutsuji Muzan.
This scene, in turn, enraged Kibutsuji Muzan.
Aside from Yorichi Tsugikuni, he had never been so disrespected. Even Yorichi Tsugikuni hadn't dared to disrespect him; it was just that he couldn't defeat Yorichi Tsugikuni.
"It seems Mr. Adam doesn't intend to be my friend."
With a glance, Upper Rank One Kokushibo, who wore the same earrings as Tanjiro and had six eyes, drew the long nichirin blade adorned with eyeballs from his waist and flashed towards Adam, striking down.
"First Form: Dark Moon - Evening Palace!"
"So fast!"
Seeing Upper Rank One attack, the Sound Pillar wanted to intercept, but found that the opponent's speed was far superior to his. With his strength, he simply couldn't block it in time.
If the Sound Pillar couldn't do it, then no one else could.
Although Tanjiro's strength had greatly increased with his new enlightenment, his foundation was still not solid enough. Even at full power, he wouldn't be much stronger than the Sound Pillar.
Whether it was the mixed breathing technique, the demon slayer mark, or the new technique he comprehended today, all could greatly enhance one's strength, but the prerequisite was that one's body also had to be trained to be strong enough.
It's the same principle as Kaio-ken. A Kaio-ken x10 used by someone with 10,000 battle power and a Kaio-ken x10 used by someone with 100,000 battle power have vastly different destructive power.
If Tanjiro's foundation could reach the Sound Pillar's level, then he might be able to match Kokushibo's speed at this moment. Of course, he would only be able to match the speed; he still wouldn't win the fight.
Because Adam, who was currently comprehending, suddenly realized that Kokushibo's attack had also entered the same state as Tanjiro's just now.
"Interesting."
He had originally not intended to pay attention, but now he had developed some interest in Yorichi Tsugikuni's brother.
He had previously seen Kibutsuji Muzan's memories and knew Kokushibo's origin.
Kokushibo, originally named Michikatsu Tsugikuni, was Yorichi Tsugikuni's older brother. He had once joined the Demon Slayer Corps with his younger brother and was one of the first generation of breathing swordsmen.
In pursuit of power that surpassed his younger brother Yorichi Tsugikuni, and to achieve immortality, he eventually betrayed the Demon Slayer Corps, killed the current Family Head, defected to Kibutsuji Muzan, and became a demon.
"It seems your memories should contain many good things."
As Kokushibo's long nichirin blade, imbued with countless crescent moon energies, was about to strike Adam, Adam simply flicked his hand, directly scattering the bizarre nichirin blade and all its accompanying crescent moon energy.
This scene shocked everyone, both humans and demons.
Only at this moment did everyone fully confirm that Upper Rank Five Gyokko's instant defeat was no accident, but rather that Adam was truly powerful.
Effortlessly shattering Kokushibo's nichirin blade with his bare hands—even Kibutsuji Muzan couldn't do that.
Kibutsuji Muzan is the strongest demon, the origin of all demons. Even if he is decapitated by a nichirin blade, he will not die; his body can survive even if it shatters into countless pieces.
However, in terms of actual combat power, without using his Bloodline to suppress, he wouldn't be much stronger than Kokushibo, Yorichi Tsugikuni's older brother.
"Mr. Adam, who exactly is he?"
Tanjiro couldn't help but murmur.
A glimmer of hope flashed in the Sound Pillar Uzui Tengen's eyes:
"Actually, after you all returned last time, Lord sent people to investigate him, but the result was nothing. It was as if this person had never existed in this World.
Fortunately, what we can be sure of is that whatever his purpose for hiding his identity and strength, it should not be detrimental to us."
"Fourteenth Form: Catastrophe - Tenman Crescent Moon!"
Kokushibo was also very surprised that his technique was destroyed in such a manner. Besides his younger brother Yorichi Tsugikuni, this was the first time he had encountered such a formidable opponent.
Activating his Blood Demon Art to restore his long nichirin blade, "Crying God of the Void," which was crafted from his own flesh, Kokushibo unleashed his strongest move.
However, he had only half-executed his move when he found that his target had vanished. Immediately after, his body stiffened in place.
Because the target he intended to attack had, at some unknown point, appeared behind him.
"How can he be so fast?"
His six eyes hadn't even caught a glimpse of the other party's movement.
"Stop!"
Adam placed his hand on Kokushibo's head, using a binding spell to freeze his body, and began to read Kokushibo's memories.
"Kill him!"
However, before he could begin, Upper Rank Two Doma, Upper Rank Four Hantengu, and Upper Rank Six Gyutaro and Daki rushed over under Kibutsuji Muzan's command.
Clearly, Kibutsuji Muzan, realizing Adam's power, wouldn't allow his strongest subordinate, Kokushibo, to be killed so easily.
But having been frightened by Yorichi Tsugikuni once before, he was now overly cautious and wouldn't personally engage.
In fact, even as he ordered his subordinates to jointly attack Adam, he was already contemplating abandoning all his subordinates and fleeing if the battle turned unfavorable.
He could even temporarily give up on Nezuko, who, if eaten, would allow him to overcome the Sun.
Nezuko could be captured again later if the opportunity arose, and these subordinates could slowly be cultivated anew in the future. After all, he was Sage and had plenty of time. But he only had one life, and nothing was more important than his own life.
This was his strongest obsession before becoming a demon: he wanted to live, he absolutely had to live, to live forever.
"I say, let there be Light!"
With his right hand continuing to read Kokushibo's memories, he lightly waved his left hand, and four pillars of light descended from the sky, directly enveloping the four Upper Rank demons.
The speed of light was too fast; there was simply no way to evade it.
"...Ah... ah... How can there be... Sunlight... at this time..."