Seeing the poisonous needles, Tanjiro's heart tightened.
I can't dodge this!
Even though he didn't understand poisons, just smelling them told him these needles were absolutely deadly.
Ahead of him was the giant spider demon.
Above him was a rain of poisonous needles.
Tanjiro couldn't help but feel despair.
The only thing he could do now… was protect Nezuko behind him!
Grinding his teeth, instead of retreating, he charged straight toward the giant spider demon!
At that moment, a voice suddenly sounded.
"You're pretty brave. Trying to get yourself killed?"
Tanjiro froze.
Then his face lit up with surprise.
"Mr. Xia Feng!!"
Xia Feng stepped out from behind him.
Tanjiro had absolutely no idea when Xia Feng arrived.
He hadn't heard him.
He hadn't even smelled him.
Looking at the poisonous needles falling like rain, Xia Feng frowned slightly.
This ability…
It wasn't from Lower Rank Five.
He raised a hand toward the giant spider demon.
Invisible threads shot out.
The giant demon's body stiffened instantly, losing control of itself. It lunged forward and bent down, blocking above Xia Feng and Tanjiro's heads!
Pff! Pff! Pff! Pff!
A series of piercing sounds rang out.
The giant spider demon's back was instantly covered with poisonous needles.
Somewhere nearby, a surprised voice sounded.
"Hm? Interesting."
"You can actually control a demon to block attacks."
Tanjiro nervously looked around.
"Who's there?!"
Xia Feng held his Nichirin blade and calmly scanned the surroundings.
Then—
He suddenly swung his sword.
A slash of sword energy shot out!
Crack!
A clay jar shattered instantly.
The moment the jar broke, the floating goldfish in the air disappeared completely.
"What?!"
"How did you find it?!"
The previously calm voice suddenly turned panicked.
Xia Feng chuckled and looked toward a jar lying near the riverbank.
"This little trick might fool amateurs."
"But trying to fool me with it?"
"Isn't that a bit insulting?"
As he spoke, he slashed another sword strike through the air.
The jar by the river trembled slightly—
Then was instantly cut apart by Xia Feng's blade energy.
Without hesitation, Xia Feng swung his sword toward another direction.
There was another jar!
This time, the jar didn't sit still.
A figure suddenly crawled out of it.
It looked like a genie emerging from a lamp.
Its body was pale white, fused with the jar.
Its mouth sat where the eyes should be.
And the eyes were located on its forehead and mouth.
Inside those eyes were the characters:
Upper Rank — Five
Below its head were several pale arms moving in strange, unnatural patterns.
Just looking at its appearance alone was enough to make people uncomfortable.
The creature raised one hand.
A jar suddenly appeared in it.
From the jar flew a large swarm of flying fish, charging directly at Xia Feng's sword energy!
The fish collided with the slash, canceling it out.
Then the fish exploded—
Their bodily fluids splashing toward Xia Feng and Tanjiro!
Tanjiro instinctively raised his arm to block.
But Xia Feng reacted faster.
He manipulated the giant spider demon again, forcing it to block in front of them!
The flying fish liquid splashed onto the demon's body.
The spider demon immediately screamed horribly!
Within seconds, its flesh began to rot visibly, and its eyes lost all life.
Xia Feng flicked his wrist and released the thread control.
The giant spider demon collapsed to the ground.
Upper Rank Five looked at Xia Feng curiously.
"You defended perfectly against my ability during our first meeting."
"Is that instinct for danger?"
Xia Feng simply smiled and didn't answer.
Instead he turned to Tanjiro.
"My old— ahem—"
"Is Nezuko okay?"
Tanjiro: "..."
Even though Xia Feng corrected himself halfway through, Tanjiro clearly heard what he almost said.
This guy was becoming less and less subtle about his weird thoughts.
Though he wanted to complain, now wasn't the time.
"Nezuko is fine. We're both fine."
"But Inosuke…"
"He won't die anytime soon. No rush."
Xia Feng replied casually.
Tanjiro silently offered a moment of sympathy for Inosuke.
Being ignored made Upper Rank Five irritated.
Just as it was about to speak, Xia Feng turned back to it.
"Upper Rank One just left."
"Now Upper Rank Five shows up."
"Don't tell me you're here for me too?"
Hearing this, the demon laughed.
It rubbed its hands together.
"Killing you is indeed one of my goals."
"But you're not my only target."
"This entire mountain has already been transformed into my domain."
"Today, not only you…"
"Every Hashira who comes here for support will die!"
"My name is Gyokko!"
"Upper Rank Five!"
"Remember that name…"
"And die within my art!"
As he spoke, he spread his hands.
Two jars suddenly appeared in the air.
From one jar, a surge of water erupted toward Xia Feng!
From the other jar, countless flying fish poured out, covering the sky.
Gyokko laughed wildly.
"My direct combat ability might not compare to Upper Rank One…"
"But as long as I have time to turn the battlefield into my domain…"
"No one can surpass the power I unleash!"
From the moment Tanjiro heard the words Upper Rank, he knew things had escalated badly.
The water pouring from the jar gave off an intense scent of danger.
"Mr. Xia Feng! Be careful!"
Tanjiro shouted as he ran toward him.
But before he could reach him—
Under Tanjiro's gaze, Xia Feng was suddenly swallowed by the surging water!
The water wrapped around Xia Feng and formed a jar-shaped water prison, trapping him tightly inside.
Seeing this, Gyokko grinned.
"I didn't expect it to be this easy."
"So-called special advisor… all talk."
"My technique, Blood Prison Jar, traps anyone inside forever!"
"You'll suffocate to death soon!"
"But I can give you a chance. That Lord said if you're willing to—"
"Eh?!"
Before he could finish—
Gyokko watched in shock as Xia Feng suddenly sank downward.
Ignoring the water prison completely, Xia Feng melted into the ground like a shadow!
Gyokko instantly remembered the information Kokushibo had shared.
Without hesitation, he quickly looked behind him.
At that moment—
A blade flashed out from a tree branch above his head, slashing straight toward his neck!
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