Starting in The Boys to Become the Ultimate Lifeform.

158. Chapter 158 Hinokami Kagura Dance

Xia Shang picked up the Tamahagane steel among them with considerable curiosity. Hmm, it wasn't light, so it shouldn't be ordinary stone.

"This is Tamahagane steel, a special ore used to forge Nichirin Blades. It can increase the toughness of the blade.

However, to forge a Nichirin Blade capable of killing demons, you also need to add Scarlet Ore that can absorb sunlight. Complex processes like this can only be completed by swordsmiths in the Swordsmith Village."

Murata explained.

"Storing the power of sunlight within the blade, that's a very good concept. But what makes me curious is why you don't use this special ore to forge bullets? They should be able to kill demons too."

Xia Shang drew his Nichirin Blade and swung it a few times. Listening to the whooshing sound of the blade cutting through the air, he judged that its sharpness and hardness were far inferior to the blade he could transform into. Without the enhancement of those ores, this was at best a decent steel knife.

Murata shook his head, "Because the ore reserves are limited, and only the user can unleash the true strength of the blade."

"I see."

Just then, a vibrant blue pattern spread from the hilt of the Nichirin Blade in Xia Shang's hand. These patterns were like wildly growing vines, quickly dyeing the blade a brilliant blue.

This was a characteristic of Nichirin Blades; they would display different colors depending on the user's attribute.

Seeing the Nichirin Blade in Xia Shang's hand turn blue, Murata wasn't surprised.

"Wait... wait... wait a minute! Why is your Nichirin Blade turning dark?" Murata looked at the Nichirin Blade in Xia Shang's hand and couldn't help but exclaim.

Upon hearing this, Xia Shang looked down and indeed saw the Nichirin Blade in his hand continuously darkening.

It didn't stop until it turned deep blue.

At this point, the color of the Nichirin Blade was close to black.

Was it because of the Hinokami Kagura Dance? The night before last, Xia Shang had obtained the Hinokami Kagura Dance from Tanjiro. Although it was a dance passed down through the Kamado family, Tanjiro hadn't refused Xia Shang's request. In return, Xia Shang promised to help him with his revenge and told him that the Hinokami Kagura Dance was actually Sun Breathing. However, Tanjiro didn't seem to quite believe what he said.

After he obtained the Hinokami Kagura, he tried to comprehend Sun Breathing from it.

Unfortunately, he didn't succeed.

But it wasn't entirely without gain. At least with the help of Water Breathing, he vaguely glimpsed a secret hidden within the dance. He figured it wouldn't be long before he could completely decipher it.

That's strange, Giyu Tomioka's blade wasn't that black, was it?

This confusion only existed in Murata's mind for a moment.

After all, the color of the blade was determined by the user's attribute; there was no unified standard.

"Let's go." Xia Shang put on the Demon Slayer Corps uniform, then tucked the Nichirin Blade into his belt. At first glance, there was no sense of incongruity.

After saying goodbye to Sakonji Urokodaki, Tanjiro, and Nezuko inside the house one by one.

Xia Shang set off towards the Rice paddy field path in the distance, led by the Kasugai Crow.

"Caw! With you here, this old man is relieved." The black Kasugai Crow flapped its wings, circling above Murata's head.

"Wait for me."

Mukago, under the tree shade, quickly took out the large bamboo hat she had prepared beforehand and placed it on her head.

After putting on the bamboo hat woven from bamboo, Mukago looked like a green mushroom, following closely beside Xia Shang.

Aside from being a bit eye-catching, there were no other drawbacks.

Watching Xia Shang's figure move further and further away, Tanjiro waved from where he stood and shouted:

"Brother Xia Shang, don't forget the dance I taught you."

Xia Shang didn't turn around but raised his right hand, indicating that he heard.

"Remember, don't tell anyone about this, at least not until you can protect yourself. Don't do that."

Xia Shang's voice echoed repeatedly in Tanjiro's mind.

Could it be that what Father taught me was really Sun Breathing?...

"Caw, can you guys hurry up? This old man is in a rush to see Rei. The wildflowers this old man picked are already wilting waiting for you."

Indeed, Hutaro's claws were gripping a few wildflowers of various colors.

And the Rei it mentioned was the Kasugai Crow of the Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji. Unlike Hutaro, Rei had very long eyelashes and her head hair formed three heart shapes.

"You should stop bothering her. You just made Rei cry not long ago. She'll probably hide when she sees you."

Murano didn't hesitate to lift Hutaro's covering cloth.

"This is all your fault! If you hadn't been so slow during the operation, I wouldn't have missed my date with Rei."

The enraged Hutaro released the wildflowers from its claws, then flew to Murata's head and started scratching wildly, turning Murata's middle-parted hairstyle into a messy bird's nest.

"Ahhhhhhh! I'm going to catch you!"

Amidst Murata and Hutaro's "friendly" interaction, the sky grew increasingly dark, and the faint, visible moon emerged from the clouds.

Half an hour later.

The three finally saw a Small town.

"Sir, we in the Demon Slayer Corps are not allowed to carry blades on the Street or use transportation. So, please put away your Nichirin Blade."

Murata skillfully took off his Nichirin Blade and wrapped it in a white cloth. "After all, we Demon Slayer Corps are an Organization not recognized by the Government, so there are some restrictions when traveling."

"However, as long as we don't wander around the Street openly carrying blades, we won't attract their attention, because the Government tacitly allows our existence." "I don't think that's necessary." Xia Shang said calmly, looking ahead.

Not far away.

A young man with short hair was anxiously asking a passerby.

"Have you seen a girl this tall, with a light gold hairpin in her hair?" The young man raised his left hand, gesturing something to the passerby.

"No, young man, maybe you should look elsewhere."

The old man with graying hair shook his head slightly, indicating he hadn't seen the girl the young man was talking about.

How could this be! How could she not be here! The short-haired young man looked around blankly, a sense of fear gradually rising in his heart.

Impossible.

Keiko was just by my side a moment ago, how could she disappear in the blink of an eye? "Keiko! Keiko! Stop playing, come out quickly." The short-haired young man's voice was trembling. He desperately ran to the spot where Keiko had disappeared and shouted loudly at the surroundings.

"Don't scare me... Keiko, Keiko!"

"Mommy, what's that boy doing?" A little girl with her hair tied up in buns looked up at her Mother and asked, puzzled.

"Maybe a family member is lost, how pitiful. Our Satomi must stay close to me, okay?"

"Okay." The little girl fearfully held onto the Woman's clothes corner, occasionally looking back. "Then can we help that big brother?"

"My little Satomi is so kind, but the Government has special people responsible for this."

No response...

How could there be no response? Could it be... Keiko was captured?

How could such a terrible thing happen to Keiko? Immediately after, the short-haired young man searched everywhere, in the Alley, Under the corner of a wall... He searched every place where someone could hide. Even though he scraped his head, he still didn't give up searching for Keiko. "Keiko... Keiko, where are you, Keiko?"

A hint of a crying tone gradually attached itself to the young man's voice. His lips were also dry and cracked from prolonged shouting.

"Tanoue!"

Suddenly, Keiko's cry for help came from a distance.

Keiko, it's Keiko's voice. Tanoue's originally exhausted physical body suddenly burst forth with a new strength. His gaze was firm as he sprinted towards the direction of the sound.

You must wait for me, Keiko!

"So noisy. It seems I need a quiet environment to slowly enjoy you." In the shadow of a wall somewhere.

A young girl was having her mouth covered by a pair of pale green demon hands. It buried its head in the girl's neck, greedily sniffing the fragrance emanating from her body.

"So tempting. I can't wait to enjoy your wonderful physical body." Its hideous face, crimson eyes, and the bulging veins covering its forehead all indicated that it was not a human, but a foul demon currently hunting.

"She's already sixteen. If I don't eat quickly, the meat quality changes every moment."

The Swamp Demon dragged the girl into the extremely deep black swamp.

Every time this happened, its entire body's cells would tremble with excitement.

"Here it comes."

Xia Shang, standing outside the town, suddenly spoke.

As his voice fell.

Tanoue saw with horror that on the road in front of him, a circular black hole was moving at high speed.

"Be careful, the demon is heading towards us." The Kasugai Crow in the sky issued a warning.

"The aura it's emitting is so weak. It must have only recently become a demon." Mukago, under the bamboo hat, said nonchalantly.

After all, she was a demon who had seen big scenes. How could she possibly pay attention to someone who wasn't even a Lower Rank?

"...Crunch crunch!"

With a grinding sound, a foul demon wearing ninja attire, with deep blue long hair, slowly rose from the swamp, holding a young girl.

It looked at Xia Shang and Murata with a ferocious expression. Its forehead had bulging veins, and a single horn emerged from between its eyebrows. "Demon Slayers? I heard those guys mention them before. They don't look like anything special."

"If you know what's good for you, get out of my face quickly. I'm not interested in your disgusting physical bodies!"

"Sir Xia Shang, leave this to me this time."

Mukago suddenly thought that this weak guy in front of her was perfect for boosting her sense of presence.

Since it posed no threat to her, why not?

"You are..."

Saying this, Mukago took off her bamboo hat.

When the Swamp Demon saw her face clearly, its crimson pupils constricted rapidly, and it said in an unbelievable tone, "Lower Rank Four! How are you with the Demon Slayer Corps? Did you betray that person?"

Then, the expression on its face became both manic and excited. "Excellent! If that person finds out you betrayed them, they will definitely give me the blood inside you!

And I will become the new Lower Rank Four. It's simply wonderful. I didn't expect to encounter an extra surprise during this hunt!"

(End of Chapter)