Muzan Kibutsuji didn't understand what Xia Feng had just said—but it didn't matter. This was the first time he had truly met him face to face.
"Xia Feng, I believe I once invited you to become my subordinate," Muzan said calmly. "Your position would have been second only to me—above even the Upper Moons. Unfortunately, you refused."
Sitting on the ground, Xia Feng tilted his head slightly. "You can try inviting me again now. After all, last time it was just your underling speaking on your behalf. I didn't see any sincerity."
Muzan froze for a moment.
Did sincerity really matter that much?
Still, he chose to believe Xia Feng's words and asked again, "Then I'll ask you personally—will you become my subordinate?"
Xia Feng smiled faintly. "Of course not. You're a Demon. I'm a member of the Demon Slayer Corps. We're enemies."
Only then did Muzan realize—he had been toyed with.
His expression darkened instantly.
"In that case… you can die."
Kokushibo and Akaza locked their gaze onto Xia Feng. The moment he made a move, they would follow without hesitation.
Muzan smirked, clearly pleased. "Inside the Infinity Castle, you have no advantage whatsoever. If you keep avoiding attacks like this, you'll simply be trapped here until you die."
A sinister grin spread across his face. "I can wait three days. After three days, you'll die of thirst. The limit of a human… is three days."
Xia Feng slowly stood and began walking toward Muzan.
Fifty meters.
Still a bit far—but enough.
"Who told you I'd just stay here the whole time?"
A grin spread across Xia Feng's face.
He had finally lured Muzan out.
Now, it was time to strike.
And fifty meters… was perfect.
As long as he pushed his speed to the absolute limit, he could reach Nakime before she altered the space again.
But first—he had to break through Kokushibo and Akaza.
Bullet Time!!
Intangibility Release!!
Shadow Stealth!!!
In an instant, Xia Feng activated multiple abilities at once. He could already feel their attacks closing in—his skin prickled with a terrifying sense of danger.
But in the end, he slipped through using Shadow Stealth, narrowly evading both of them.
Shadow Stealth—dispelled.
He reappeared behind Akaza, his Nichirin Blade slicing forward.
Water Breathing, Water Wheel!
Akaza's pupils shrank violently—he felt it.
Death.
But just as Xia Feng was about to kill him—
He withdrew his blade.
Because behind him—
Kokushibo had already arrived.
Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon—Evening Palace!
A clean, merciless slash came straight for Xia Feng's neck.
Xia Feng could have blocked Kokushibo's attack and still finished off Akaza.
But that… wasn't his goal.
He suddenly turned—
And dashed straight toward Muzan.
Thunderclap and Flash!!
His speed surged once more.
Muzan's eyes widened—he hadn't expected Xia Feng to be this decisive… nor to break free from the joint assault of Kokushibo and Akaza.
"Damn it!!"
For the first time, the calm on Muzan's face cracked.
He had underestimated Xia Feng.
This level of strength… was enough to kill him.
A genuine threat of death.
There had only ever been one person who made him feel this way before.
And that person… had long since died due to the limits of human lifespan.
But now—
Another had appeared.
Unacceptable.
"Kill him!! No matter what!!"
That was the only thought left in Muzan's mind.
He pressed one hand against Nakime's shoulder.
The biwa strings rang out.
Xia Feng was already within two to three meters—his Nichirin Blade nearly reaching Muzan.
And then—
Space shifted.
Xia Feng landed back on the ground, glancing up at Muzan above him, and laughed.
"Nice. That was close. But we can always try again."
Muzan glared down at him, fury boiling. "Xia Feng, do you really think you can kill me? Inside the Infinity Castle, you'll only die trapped here. Three days is all I need."
Xia Feng simply smiled. "Not necessarily. I'll just tear your Infinity Castle apart. Let's see how many attacks Nakime can endure."
Muzan's face turned livid. "Xia Feng, don't think you can act so arrogantly in front of me. Killing you would take nothing more than a flick of my hand!"
Xia Feng let out a soft scoff. "Then go ahead… why don't you? Why haven't you made a move yet?"
His smile sharpened.
"Could it be… you're afraid? Afraid that if even you can't defeat me… then all of you Demons… will disappear from this world?"
Muzan fell silent.
Xia Feng chuckled lightly. "You know it, don't you? Your greatest weakness…"
"No matter how many Demons exist in this world—"
"As long as you die…"
"All of them die with you."
Muzan's heart jolted.
At that moment, Xia Feng kicked off the ground, shooting upward toward him.
Muzan was directly above.
Thrum—
Nakime plucked the strings again.
In the next instant—
Xia Feng appeared in another room.
This time, only Kokushibo and Akaza stood with him.
"We can continue our battle now!!"
Akaza grinned, excitement blazing in his eyes. His arms were now reinforced with iron guards.
He struck rapidly.
When Xia Feng's Nichirin Blade slashed toward him, Akaza used the iron guards to block each strike.
"Not a bad idea," Xia Feng remarked. "Looks like you've realized your regeneration advantage means nothing against me… so now you're finding other ways to deal with me."
He stepped back, narrowly avoiding Akaza's attack.
Then—
Without even turning his head—
His blade reversed and stabbed backward.
Right at that moment, Kokushibo had already appeared behind him, his own blade descending.
Clang!
The reversed strike blocked it perfectly.
For the first time—
All six of Kokushibo's eyes widened.
That move…
It was breathtaking.
And Kokushibo understood—
Only someone with absolute confidence would dare thrust their blade backward without even looking.
It was like walking a tightrope over an endless abyss.
One mistake—
And there would be no return.
"Moon Breathing, Fourteenth Form: Catastrophe—Tenman Crescent Moon!!"
Since a single slash couldn't kill Xia Feng—
Then he would fill the entire space with countless rapid strikes!!
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.
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