Fox Demon: Heaven rewards diligence; I will eventually achieve divine mastery of martial arts.

Urokodaki Sakonji no longer hesitated and nodded, saying:

"That's right. I should have told you before that if you want to join the Demon Slayer Corps, you need to participate in the selection process, right?"

Kamado Tanjiro nodded and said:

"Yes, is that time approaching?"

“That’s right, now it’s time to tell you what the specific test is like.”

Urokodaki Sakonji spoke slowly. He was not an indecisive person; once he made a decision, he would definitely do it.

So for the next period of time, he recounted in detail the selection process for prospective Demon Slayer Corps members at Mount Fuji.

“I know you are very strong, but the demons are also very powerful. Not to mention the King of Demons who is your enemy, just the six Upper Moon demons alone have no record of being killed in the history of the Demon Slayer Corps. On the contrary, the strongest swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps in each generation—the Pillars—have died many times at the hands of demons suspected to be Upper Moons.”

At this point, Urokodaki Sakonji paused, and seeing that Kamado Tanjiro showed no fear, he slowly continued:

"I'm telling you all this so you know that you also face the risk of death. So even so, do you still want to become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps?"

"Yes, this is a cause I would be willing to complete even if it costs me my life."

Without almost any hesitation, Tanjiro Kamado spoke up firmly.

Although Urokodaki Sakonji had anticipated this, he remained silent for a while.

Finally, he sighed and said:

"Very well, actually with your strength, you could have participated in the selection of Wisteria Mountain last year, but after spending so much time together, I know that your determination to kill demons is unwavering, so it's time for you to participate in the selection this year."

Tanjiro Kamado was somewhat agitated upon hearing this:

"Does this mean I can finally participate in the demon-slaying operation?"

After he cultivated his internal energy and was able to successfully perform a set of fist techniques underwater, he was eager to slay the ghosts.

After all, he used to practice combat every day on his way to Mount Narrow Mist, but in the past two years he has had almost no combat experience and his days have been filled with boring training.

Even though Tanjiro Kamado knew that all of this was for his sake to become stronger, he still couldn't suppress the urge to kill the demons.

However, since Urokodaki Sakonji did not suggest that he go down the mountain, he naturally would not.

Little did they know, this wait would last a whole year.

However, Urokodaki Sakonji has finally agreed to let him come down the mountain.

How could this not excite him?

"Yes, but before that, I want to witness your strength firsthand."

Urokodaki Sakon Subway.

Ever since he couldn't see through Tanjiro Kamado's strength a year and a half ago, he had no complete concept of Tanjiro Kamado's power. Now was the time to test just how strong Tanjiro Kamado really was.

Having never witnessed Tanjiro Kamado's full strength firsthand, Sakonji Urokodaki felt somewhat uneasy.

"Of course, no problem. Mr. Urokodaki, how would you like the test done?"

Tanjiro Kamado nodded, somewhat impatiently.

"Come with me."

Urokodaki Sakonji stood up and walked out of the room.

Tanjiro Kamado followed.

The two skillfully traversed the misty mountains and soon arrived at a boulder as tall as two people.

A thick rope is still tied to the boulder, whose surface is covered with cracks and moss, bearing the marks of time.

"This is the largest rock on Mount Narrow Mist. Use your swordsmanship on it. If you can cut it in one stroke, I will allow you to participate in the selection."

Urokodaki Sakonji pointed to the giant rock.

Tanjiro Kamado nodded and casually drew the katana tucked at his waist.

He stared intently at the boulder before him, his mouth slightly open, as a large amount of air rushed into his lungs.

The internal energy within his body surged at that moment, flowing through his body and rapidly gathering in his hand before being poured entirely into his katana.

Only after Kamado Tanjiro felt that his katana could no longer withstand the internal force did he take a step forward, his fingers trembling slightly, and slash down with the sword.

Urokodaki Sakonji was completely stunned. In that instant, he hadn't seen Kamado Tanjiro's movements at all. He didn't know when the other man swung his sword or when the blade in his hand fell.

From one perspective, Kamado Tanjiro is very strong, but the problem is that the boulder in front of him doesn't budge at all!

Was it a strike of emptiness?

"you……"

Just as Urokodaki Sakonji opened his mouth, he suddenly heard a series of soft sounds.

Then he saw the boulder tremble, and with a crack, it split in two, falling onto the ground on either side, its cut surfaces perfectly smooth.

Moreover, Urokodaki Sakonji also noticed a long trail behind the broken edge.

The earth seemed to have been cleaved in two by a sword, and the mist and trees behind it were all split in two, a distance of five meters!

Urokodaki Sakonji's pupils shrank to pinpoints; he was utterly shocked.

Is this still a human strike?

He asked himself if he could also split a boulder in two with a single sword strike, but it was impossible for him to extend the sword such a long distance as Tanjiro Kamado.

Has Tanjiro Kamado really grown to this level?

Urokodaki Sakonji glanced at Kamado Tanjiro, who had already sheathed his sword, and found him to be extremely relaxed and indifferent.

If I'm not mistaken, the opponent didn't use their full strength at all.

This boy has grown to a point that he can't even comprehend.

As the initial shock subsided, a surge of heroic spirit rose within Urokodaki Sakonji.

He had a feeling that if Tanjiro Kamado were to appear in front of those demons now, he would definitely become their nightmare.

If it were Tanjiro Kamado, he might actually be able to kill those Upper Moon demons.

"How about it?"

Tanjiro Kamado asked.

"Very good, in fact, it has exceeded my expectations. Let's set off for Wisteria Mountain in a month."

Urokodaki Sakon nodded twice, and finally left satisfied.

He had no more doubts.

At that moment, Tanjiro Kamado also wanted to go back to eat with Sakonji Urokodaki, but suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Because in his mind, Lin Yu's reprimanding voice echoed:

"You only intended to split the boulder in one strike, why did you use more force? Doing so will only deplete your internal energy during the fight, which is absolutely unacceptable..."

Tanjiro Kamado stood there awkwardly, listening to Lin Yu's reprimand.

He tried his best to remember every word of Lin Yu's reprimand.

After all this time, he knew that Lin Yu had never been wrong. (End of Chapter)

Chapter 256 A Dangerous Trial: Arrival at Wisteria Mountain

After a long while, the voice in Tanjiro Kamado's mind slowly subsided.

Tanjiro Kamado didn't move, but stood there, recalling Lin Yu's words one by one.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes. The instant he opened his eyes, the samurai sword in his arms was already unsheathed, and he slashed straight at a big tree next to him.

Along with it came a breeze, which rustled the grass beside the big tree.

Then there was no further movement.

Only after Tanjiro Kamado sheathed his katana did the tree slowly tilt and crash to the ground with a series of crackling sounds.

Tanjiro Kamado exhaled and frowned slightly.

Although this strike was much stronger than the one he had just delivered, it was still somewhat imperfect. For example, his internal energy still dissipated the moment he struck the target.

It was obvious that he hadn't controlled the amount of internal energy he was inputting.

As he pondered, the trees in the distance had completely collapsed, raising a huge cloud of dust on the ground.

As the dust settled slightly, he suddenly discovered two figures standing amidst it.

Tanjiro Kamado's hand instinctively landed on the hilt of his sword, but his keen senses told him that the other party was not hostile.

At the same time, as the dust completely settled, he realized that the two figures were a young girl and a young boy.

Wearing strange-looking fox masks, they stood quietly beside the fallen trees, watching Tanjiro Kamado from afar.

Tanjiro Kamado was startled and quickly beckoned, asking:

"Are you alright? Are you hurt? I didn't notice you were there."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tanjiro Kamado noticed that the boy with flesh-colored medium-length hair had already moved. He drew his katana, and in the faint light, the blade appeared blue, with half of the white hilt showing.

In the blink of an eye, he had arrived in front of Tanjiro Kamado.