My two-dimensional resident

Small Bookstore

Of course, besides the Water Pillar, Giyu Tomioka, who remained expressionless, the Stone Pillar, Gyomei Himejima, also began to clasp his hands together and weep.

"What? Someone is so arrogant! What's his strength?"

Although Rengoku Kyojuro's words were hard to believe, Uzui Tengen had high hopes for the newly appointed young Flame Pillar and did not believe he was lying.

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing. I couldn't even see his movements clearly before he defeated me." Although being defeated is a very shameful thing, Rengoku Kyoujiro's words didn't convey any shame, but rather a sense of admiration for Lin Tian.

"You're just too weak, little brother of Purgatory."

Uzui Tengen chuckled and patted Rengoku Kyoujuro on the shoulder. Although Kyoujuro was also a Pillar-level swordsman, he had only taken over the position of Flame Pillar less than two months ago.

His strength was still somewhat lacking compared to these veteran Pillar-level swordsmen. Therefore, after hearing Kyojuro's words, Uzui Tengen immediately concluded that Lin Tian was only slightly stronger than Kyojuro.

"That... what Yanzhu said might not be entirely accurate. That person named Lin Tian is a true powerhouse, an existence close to a god."

Two days ago, I encountered Upper Moon Two. Just when I was about to be killed, he appeared in front of me and blocked the fatal blow for me.

What happened next is still fresh in my memory... He killed Upper Moon Two in an instant.

So...if he hadn't shown up in time, I probably wouldn't be standing here with everyone.

Looking at Uzui Tengen's expression, Kocho Kanae realized he had underestimated Lin Tian's strength. A strange feeling welled up inside her, her long eyelashes trembled a few times, and after a slight hesitation, she finally spoke.

"Upper Moon Two?!"

Everyone present was shocked to hear that a stranger had killed Upper Moon Two.

These Pillar-level swordsmen had all killed some of the Twelve Demon Moons, but unfortunately, they had only killed Lower Rank demons. As for Upper Rank demons, they had never even seen one.

In the thousand years since the Demon Slayer Corps was founded, there has never been a record of a Pillar-level swordsman slaying an Upper Rank demon. On the contrary, the most common records mentioning Upper Rank demons are about a Pillar being killed and being suspected of encountering an Upper Rank demon, etc.

Now that a colleague has actually told them that she witnessed the death of an Upper Moon demon, how could they not be shocked? Even the Water Pillar, Giyu Tomioka, who had always been expressionless, frowned and looked at Kanae Kocho.

"There are still such powerful people?!" exclaimed a Pillar-level swordsman who had never appeared in the anime.

"Upper Moon demons, are they really that powerful? You don't seem to be injured at all."

"Didn't Kanae say that it was a man named Lin Tian who appeared in time to save her?"

Kanae could only watch helplessly as the two Pillar-level swordsmen argued because of her; both were veterans. Among them, only the Stone Pillar, Gyomei Himejima, could control them.

"..." However, at this moment, the Stone Pillar, Gyomei Himejima, was looking up at the sky with tears in his eyes, and had no intention of interfering with the two of them.

Cluck~ Squeak~

Just then, the shoji door in front of them was pulled open from the inside by two pageboys. Their lord, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, faced them with a smile.

"My lord!" The moment the door was opened, all the Pillar-level swordsmen bowed their heads and paid their respects to Ubuyashiki Kagaya.

Although Kagaya Ubuyashiki could no longer see anything, no one present looked down on him because of his blindness; on the contrary, they respected him even more.

"Everyone, thank you for your hard work. This is Lin Tian and Shinji Ikari, who have come all the way from faraway Avalon..."

"???"

......

Chapter 173 The Dissatisfied Pillar-Level Swordsmen

"???"

When everyone looked up and saw that someone dared to sit next to their lord, aside from Yanzhu and Huazhu who recognized Lin Tian, ​​the others all showed some degree of hostility towards him.

Shinji Ikari, sitting behind Lin Tian, ​​felt uneasy seeing so many people looking at him with hostile eyes. He unconsciously shifted his kneeling legs on the tatami mat back a little.

Sensing that Shinji Ikari was somewhat timid, Lin Tian smiled calmly and looked at Kagaya Ubuyashiki, speaking slowly and deliberately.

“Brother Ubuya, your subordinates all seem to be strong. I'd like them to teach Shinji a lesson. You wouldn't object, would you?”

Although Kagaya Ubuyashiki's combat strength is low, his wisdom is exceptional. Despite spending most of his time in his mansion, he manages the Demon Slayer Corps impeccably. He remembers the name and background of every Demon Slayer Corps member and treats each one with utmost respect. It is precisely because of this that his broad-mindedness and outstanding wisdom command the respect of everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps.

Seeing a stranger sitting next to their respected lord, which Pillar-level swordsman wouldn't show a hint of hostility and displeasure? Of course, this excludes Rengoku Kyojuro and Kocho Kanae, who know Lin Tian's identity.

"Hehe, Brother Lin Tian is joking. My younger brother Shinji was able to reach such a high level of strength in just half a month, so why would he need my children to help teach him? At most, it's just mutual learning."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki shook his head, chuckled softly, and his gentle tone revealed no dissatisfaction. Instead, it showed more respect for Lin Tian.

As soon as Lin Tian finished speaking, he realized that it must be because his team leaders were dissatisfied with Lin Tian and the others that Lin Tian said such a thing.

With his exceptional wisdom, he understood that Lin Tian wanted Shinji Ikari to demonstrate their strength, so that his subordinates would realize that the other man had the power to sit alongside their lord.

He already knew a little about Lin Tian's strength from the words of Rengoku Kyojuro, Kocho Kanae, and Kocho Shinobu, who came from the future.

Lin Tian is someone who can instantly kill Upper Moon Two demons and easily defeat all three of them.

Although Kagaya Ubuyashiki had never seen an Upper Moon demon, his Ubuyashiki clan had been a Demon Slayer Corps for many years, and countless Pillar-level swordsmen had died at the hands of Upper Moon demons. Moreover, he had great faith in his subordinates. Therefore, he believed that Lin Tian was an extremely powerful human.

Another thing that made Kagaya Ubuyashiki develop a favorable impression of Lin Tian was that Shinobu Kocho, who had returned from the future, could easily defeat Kyojuro Rengoku and her sister Kanae without using any breathing techniques. She explained that she had gained her current strength only with Lin Tian's help.

A powerful and helpful individual approached him, offering to help him eliminate his family's age-old nemesis. How could Ubuyashiki Kagaya not respect Lin Tian?

Moreover, Lin Tian's words just now had already given them enough face. If it were any other powerful person, and they were being looked down upon by a group of people with hostility, they would definitely have personally intimidated them.

But Lin Tian didn't do that. He simply sent a boy who was slightly weaker than his teammates to spar with them under the guise of learning, to demonstrate their strength and at the same time eliminate the dissatisfaction and contempt in the hearts of his teammates.

"Haha, you're being modest. Truly strong people aren't just those with high talent and strong physiques, but those with strong minds. Shinji is still young, he has some strength but no heart of a strong person, like a child holding a kitchen knife. But your team members are all strong people with strong minds. You can't compare, you can't compare."

Seeing the hostile gazes, Lin Tian smiled and lightly patted Ubuyashiki Kagaya. This pat immediately enraged the Pillar-level swordsmen, who gripped their Nichirin Blades at their waists, their eyes filled with the desire to kill this person who dared to offend their lord.

"Gentlemen, Brother Lin Tian is a guest worthy of our respect. We must not be rude."

Although Kagaya Ubuyashiki was blind, his hearing was more acute than most. The instant the Pillars gripped their swords, he waved his hand to reassure his most trusted subordinates. Then, with a smile, he spoke to Shinji Ikari.

"Shinji, go talk to whichever of my subordinates you wish. They are all very nice people, so don't be afraid."

"I..."

Shinji Ikari was almost in tears. Looking at these fierce-looking swordsmen, he knew he would lose without a doubt if a fight broke out. His mind was filled with images of being sliced ​​in two by their blades.

"Go ahead. You've already fought against the Hellfire lackeys before. You should have a general understanding of your own strength. There's no need to be afraid."

Seeing Shinji Ikari hesitate and show some fear, Lin Tian urged him to hurry up. He himself wanted to take down this group of sullen-faced swordsmen, but the difference in strength was too great, and it would be beneath his dignity to make a move.

That's so boring.

It would be better to let Shinji Ikari practice. Although Shinji Ikari is not as strong as any of the Pillar-level swordsmen, he is still much stronger than the Demon Slayer Corps' Class A swordsmen.

To be honest, if we disregard breathing techniques and swordsmanship and simply compare physical strength, none of the Pillar-level swordsmen present are as strong as Shinji Ikari.

This isn't Lin Tian belittling or looking down on them; it's simply the truth. When Shinobu Kocho arrived on the island, her attribute values, except for Insect Breathing which was a high 132, were only around 20 in other areas.

Furthermore, through observing Kyojuro Rengoku and Kanae Kocho over the past two days, he confirmed that the physical strength of the characters in Demon Slayer is generally average. Without breathing techniques, they are merely swordsmen who are slightly stronger than ordinary people.

"Yes..."

Hearing Lin Tian urging him on, Shinji Ikari realized that if he hesitated to fight, he would definitely be scolded by his older brother Neji Hyuga when he returned. So, with a long face and lack of confidence, he stood up and walked outside.

As this seemingly weak and powerless boy walked up to them, the expressions on the faces of each Pillar-level warrior changed in different ways, ranging from contempt and hostility to indifference.

"Shinji, relax." Kanae smiled and comforted Shinji when she saw that he was a little nervous.

Kyojuro Rengoku was so happy he almost burst out laughing, his bright eyes fixed on Shinji Ikari.

He had already fought Shinji Ikari before and knew his opponent's strength. Later, during a conversation, he learned that Shinji Ikari had become so strong after only half a month of training. From that moment on, he believed that Shinji Ikari would definitely become very "dazzling" in the future, even more "dazzling" than himself.

"Brother Purgatory, how about we have another round?"

After looking around and thinking it over, Shinji Ikari finally turned his gaze to Kyojuro Rengoku, whom he had fought before. After all, he was quite familiar with Kyojuro, and even if he were defeated, he wouldn't be killed by him.

Chapter 174 The Lord's Decision

"Haha! How dazzling! Shinji, come on!" Rengoku Kyojuro did not refuse Shinji's request and walked out of the group with a happy laugh.

Ten minutes later, the battle ended. As expected, Shinji Ikari was defeated by Kyojuro Rengoku. Although Shinji's physical strength was greater than Rengoku's, he lacked combat experience and had no way to temporarily boost his fighting ability.

Although Shinji Ikari was defeated, the other Pillar-level swordsmen no longer looked at him with ease and disdain. They had gained more recognition for Shinji's strength. After all, he hadn't used any of the breathing techniques they were familiar with, and had fought the Flame Pillar to a standstill solely based on his physical abilities.

"Shinji Ikari, right? Be my stepson."

Just as Shinji Ikari was about to return to Lin Tian's side after the battle, a tall, strong, and imposing "monk" blocked his path. This man was none other than the Stone Pillar, Gyomei Himejima, the strongest man in the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Huh?!" Shinji Ikari was a little confused. Just as he was at a loss, the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, also came over.

"Little brother Shinji Ikari, you'd better think this through. If you're his stepson, you can never get married. But it's different if you're mine. You'll have three mothers, and if my child is a girl, she will become your future wife."

During the battle between Shinji Ikari and Kyojuro, Uzui Tengen had already realized that Shinji might have learned taijutsu from a certain ninja. How could Uzui Tengen possibly allow such a genius to become an ascetic monk?

In the Demon Slayer Corps, each Pillar-level swordsman chooses a talented member to personally train, and the disciple in this master-disciple relationship is called the Pillar-level swordsman's adopted son. For example, Kanao Tsuyuri is the adopted son of Kanae Kocho, and the future Love Pillar, Mitsuri Kanroji, is the adopted son of Kyojuro Rengoku.

Taking advantage of Shinji Ikari's ignorance of what a stepson is, Tengen Uzui shamelessly manipulated Shinji into believing he was her godson in order to gain this talented disciple, and then used his unborn daughter to seduce him.

"Alright, Stone Pillar, Sound Pillar. Shinji won't be joining us. You should give up on that idea."

When Kanae saw Shinji Ikari being entangled by two Pillars, she kindly went to his side to help him out.

After the brief farce, the crowd stood in a row again, waiting for their leader to speak and reveal the true purpose of today's gathering.

"My children, I have summoned you here today for something that will change the fate of all of us. Brother Lin Tian has promised to help me kill Muzan Kibutsuji, but we do not yet know his whereabouts. Therefore, the main purpose of this meeting is to find out where he is as soon as possible, so that Brother Lin Tian can defeat and kill him."

"Lord!"

Upon hearing Kagaya Ubuyashiki say that he was seeking outside help to kill their Demon Slayer Corps' nemesis of a thousand years, a Pillar-level swordsman whom Lin Tian had never met before became dissatisfied and wanted Kagaya Ubuyashiki to retract the order and reconsider.

"Slaying Muzan Kibutsuji is the Demon Slayer Corps' and the Ubuyashiki clan's millennia-long ambition. Please don't harbor resentment towards Lin Tian just because he's not one of us. Our enemy is a demon! We're willing to pay any price to kill him!"

Small Bookstore

Kagaya Ubuyashiki raised his hand to stop the team member from speaking. His mind was made up, and he wouldn't let these people change his mind.

Shinobu Kocho had told him everything that would happen in the future. Although he was very satisfied with the ending, he also learned that the Demon Slayer Corps had suffered heavy casualties. In the four years between now and the end of the final battle, only the Water Pillar and the Sound Pillar had survived among the Pillar-level warriors before him.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who did not want his subordinates to repeat the same mistakes, agreed to the deal without hesitation after hearing Lin Tian offer to exchange 10 tons of gold for Muzan Kibutsuji's death.

However, they also proposed to Lin Tian that the payment be made in installments. Although the Ubuyashiki family possessed enormous assets to support the Demon Slayer Corps, they couldn't currently afford ten tons of gold.

However, it is currently the 6th year of Taisho, and the world's economy is booming. He believes that he can pay Lin Tian's full payment in a few years.

After a pause, Kagaya Ubuyashiki continued in a gentle tone to the crowd.

"So far, we haven't even obtained any information about the Upper Moon demons of the Twelve Demon Moons, let alone Muzan Kibutsuji. So Brother Lin Tian suggested that we try a trick to lure them out."

"My lord, if we use this plan, not only will we be able to successfully lure Muzan out, but we also lack the bait to lure him out," a long-serving Pillar-level warrior said, bowing and clasping his hands in greeting.