Who are you calling a stable boy?!

Xingming's eyes were tightly furrowed in confusion.

Thanks to Zheng Jing's sharing of his insights on the Ripple Breathing Technique, the Pillars, who already possessed extraordinary expertise in breathing techniques, quickly developed a method that could activate and utilize the power of the Marks within a certain time limit without shortening their lifespan or causing premature death.

Furthermore, after Shinobu and Ms. Tamayo successfully developed a medicine that could turn demons back into humans, they went a step further and developed a special poison specifically for demons...

It was thanks to these two research findings that the team was able to achieve this perfect 3-0 record.

However, both of these achievements have certain shortcomings.

Due to the urgency of the situation, the production of this special poison, designed specifically for demons, is limited. Furthermore, given that the ultimate target is Muzan Kibutsuji, it's likely that Ms. Tamayo, who is currently hiding somewhere and waiting for her chance, only has one effective dose left.

As for the breathing technique, this method, developed by combining two breathing techniques, can indeed allow the Pillars to maintain their Mark state for several minutes once used. However, if one does not want to die from activating the Mark, one must stop before reaching the limits of their physical body.

Once stopped, one will fall into a period of weakness that lasts for several hours.

Fortunately, in the battles to kill Kokushibo and Doma, although everyone was injured to varying degrees, no one crossed that line.

The current problem is that, apart from Yu Sui Tian Yuan who is protecting the command tower in the rear, every single one of the pillars on site is in a weakened state.

What are your plans?

Xingming asked.

"no!"

Kyojuro's smile grew even brighter.

"There's still plenty of time until dawn, right? Trading one life for fifteen minutes, no, half an hour, is surely acceptable."

Sanemi flicked the Nichirin Blade in his hand.

Xingming looked at the two of them and, unusually, showed a slight smile.

"Let's go."

-

"You—"

Looking into Zheng Jing's eyes, and feeling the increasing pressure Zheng Jing exerted on him during the battle, his young face increasingly overlapped with the monster's appearance in his memory.

One seemed poised to wreak havoc, while the other remained as serene as a lone pine in the snow. Yet, between the blows of a stick and a slash, the feeling that Muzan Kibutsuji experienced was becoming increasingly similar to his own!

—This feeling, as if every move I make is completely seen through!

"Hey, old Muzan, I have to thank you for being my punching bag!"

Zheng Jing unleashed the flourish of his staff, tearing apart the long whip of flesh and blood that Wuzan had just regenerated.

"This transparent world is truly fascinating!"

"Ah!"

Wu Can was well aware of Zheng Jing's plans.

This is clearly an attempt to stall here until sunrise, to deal with him using the true brilliance of the sun.

Now, no matter how important the information about the Blue Spider Lily is, it is not as important as his own life.

Muzan had long harbored the idea of ​​retreating.

But how could Zheng Jing possibly agree to that?

How could Muzan have imagined that, in his battle with him, Zheng Jing would be able to comprehend the innate ability of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the Transparent World?

To be honest, that's not surprising.

With Zheng Jing's current perception at 16 points, if he wants to comprehend this so-called transparent world, what he really lacks is a perfect punching bag like Muzan!

Currently, facing Zheng Jing, who has already grasped the essence of the world, the difference in agility between the two has long been eliminated by Zheng Jing's ability to anticipate the enemy's moves.

Kibutsuji Muzan wanted to escape, but he couldn't!

"call--"

Suddenly, several figures emerged from the rugged buildings surrounding the area.

It was none other than the Eight Pillars who had arrived!

In an instant, the pillars unleashed their techniques, closing in on Muzan's body!

Faced with this sudden encirclement and attack, Muzan suddenly opened several gaping maws all over his body.

"--boom!!"

Chapter 52: Dawn Quietly Slips Across the Horizon

If the whips on his legs are Muzan's fastest killing move, then...

So this shockwave that erupts from his entire body is his strongest killing move!

In an instant, struck by the powerful shockwave that covered an area with a diameter of several meters, the pillars, already weakened from using the Marked Technique, were sent flying backward.

Even when all the pillars were at their peak, they would have had a hard time escaping unscathed from this attack, let alone now.

If it weren't for the immense pressure from Zheng Jing, which caused Muzan to instinctively concentrate most of the power of his attack—which was supposed to be an all-around, indiscriminate killing move—on Zheng Jing, who was charging at him head-on, then among the weakened Pillars, someone would have died from this single attack!

Even so, almost all of the pillars had fainted at this moment, with only Gyomei, who had the strongest physique, and Kyojuro, who reacted quickly, still retaining consciousness.

But consciousness alone cannot enable them to control their immobile bodies.

With just this one move, Muzan completely rendered the weakened Pillars powerless to fight!

However, Muzan was completely unconcerned about his victory at this moment.

Because Zheng Jing is still—

Stand firm! Remain upright! Never fall!

"you?!"

Muzan was dumbfounded and speechless for a moment.

He was confident that this move was aimed at Yoriichi Tsugikuni. As long as Yoriichi dared to take it head-on, he would not have an easy time, and might even be caught off guard and killed on the spot!

Of course, given Yoriichi Tsugikuni's swordsmanship and agility, how could Muzan Kibutsuji possibly force Yoriichi Tsugikuni to take such a blow head-on?

Regardless, Zheng Jing's unharmed state at this moment made Muzan vividly recall the fear he thought he had long forgotten.

That kind of fear that he felt from the bottom of his heart when he encountered a monster he couldn't understand for the first time in his life!

"Hey......"

Holding the long stick upside down, Zheng Jing exhaled a breath of stale air.

"You still dare to keep such a powerful move hidden?"

—At that moment, every cell in Muzan's body seemed to be restless.

He was about to use his last resort to save his life!

Even for him, this method of self-splitting would take a considerable amount of time to restore him to his peak condition once he used it, so he would not use it unless absolutely necessary.

Now, Zheng Jing, whom Muzan Kibutsuji considers worthy of being listed as a monster alongside Yoriichi Tsugikuni, has forced him into this desperate situation.

he--

"laugh!"

A sharp sound, like a sharp object piercing flesh, broke into the battle between Zheng Jing and Wu Can.

"Oniitsuji Muzan..."

As she forced all the medicine into her enemy's body, Lady Tamayo met Muzan's astonished gaze and shouted hatefully, "Don't even think about escaping!!"

"Tamayo?! You—"

(Wait! Now is not the time to deal with this guy!)

Muzan is stirring up flesh and blood, and it's about to split apart!

However, his body, which used to be obedient, now seemed to have suddenly gained a self, ignoring Muzan Kibutsuji's commands.

"How do you feel about this medicine that can turn demons back into humans, Muzan Kibutsuji?"

A pleased smile appeared on Tamayo's face.

"Today, you will surely die!"

"—You persistent, nagging woman!!"

With his flesh and bones splayed open, Muzan, in a fit of rage, was about to swallow Tamayo whole!

At the critical moment, a long shadow suddenly appeared and hit Ms. Tamayo in the stomach, sending her flying.

It is Zheng Jing.

He pushed Tamayo aside with his long staff, then turned sideways and raised his arm to withstand Muzan's furious blow with his bare body.

In an instant, a little blood splattered from Zheng Jing's skin.

This scene caused both Tamayo and Muzan to widen their eyes in astonishment.

"Mr. Zheng, you—"

"Ms. Tamayo, please step back a moment."

Turning the stick in his hand, Zheng Jing stared intently at Muzan.

With 18 points of basic physique, 16 points of perception, and the Great Perfection of the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, Zheng Jing possesses extremely powerful internal strength.

But as a demon that the Demon Slayer Corps has hunted for a thousand years, Muzan is by no means an ordinary person.

At this point in the battle, Muzan's shockwave had finally drained Zheng Jing's vital energy.

"hiss--"

As if to confirm that he wasn't dreaming, Muzan immediately brandished more than a dozen fleshy weapons from his body, unleashing another bloody storm upon Zheng Jing.

This time, Zheng Jing did not change his tactics, attacking head-on and forcing Muzan away from Lady Tamayo.

But at this moment, Muzan no longer cared about Tamayo!

"Ha, ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha!"

Seeing that Zheng Jing finally had some wounds, even if they were just minor scratches, Muzan still burst into laughter!

"You're hurt! You're hurt! You're hurt!! Zheng Jing!"

"Is it funny?"

Zheng Jing scoffed.

"Think you're invincible again? Do you know how long it's until sunrise?"

"I just need to kill you before that happens—"

Kibutsuji Muzan lunged forward with his full strength.

This is the second time he has taken the initiative to approach Zheng Jing so far.

As for Zheng Jing, how could he possibly back down?

In an instant, the close combat was fierce, with every move merciless, and the spilled blood stained the earth.

The two, one human and one ghost, fought and retreated, quickly distancing themselves from the immobilized pillars and Ms. Tamayo, who was no longer able to intervene in the battle, thanks to Zheng Jing's deliberate distraction.

three minutes.

Five minutes —

Fifteen minutes!

"You...why aren't you dead yet?!"

Seeing Zheng Jing still fighting him, Kibutsuji Muzan couldn't help but shout out.

He could have easily hurt Zheng Jing!

His poisonous blood had clearly seeped into Zheng Jing's body!

why?

Why is Zheng Jing still able to move?!

Faced with Muzan Kibutsuji's shouts, a smile appeared on Zheng Jing's face this time.

"It's almost time."