However, Himejima Gyomei's Nichirin Blade couldn't withstand it for even two seconds before shattering.
But this at least stalled Muzan for a moment, proving useful.
Qingshui instantly appeared before Muzan, wielding his Nichirin Blade with both hands, and unleashed a strike.
"Separation Breathing, Seventh Form: Separation Mirror!"
A clear, dazzling blue circular mirror appeared, then shattered with a crash.
The giant infant instantly disintegrated, turning into chunks of flesh that fell, revealing Muzan's desperate form.
Five figures swiftly blocked Muzan's escape, while Qingshui stood with his sword in one hand, backlit, facing Muzan.
In a trance, a golden ray of dawn emerged from the east.
Yet Muzan still hadn't given up.
From birth, he was nearly cast aside as a stillborn. From that moment, he had been fighting death.
Even after more than a thousand years, his will to survive had not diminished; instead, it had grown stronger with time.
But at this point, no matter how strong his will to survive, it was useless.
The sun had already risen; even if Qingshui didn't act, the remaining Hashira would be enough to hold him until he was burned to ash.
"Serpent Breathing, Fifth Form: Winding Serpent!"
"Stone Breathing, Fifth Form: Wheel of Punishment!"
"Sun Breathing, Twelfth Form: Flame Dance!"
…
All the Hashira, without exception, unleashed their most powerful techniques at this moment.
Qingshui didn't even make a move, merely staying vigilant to prevent casualties or other accidents.
Only at the very last moment, when Muzan tried to break through the encirclement again, did Qingshui act.
"Separation Breathing, Sixth Form: Parting Dragon Night Dance."
Separation Release Chakra surged forth, and a bright blue dragon-like creature lunged at Muzan, consuming him. The last remnants of his flesh in this world turned to ash in the sunlight that had barely begun to shine.
*CRASH!*
A Nichirin Blade clattered to the ground.
A swordsman suddenly knelt, staring blankly in the direction where Muzan had vanished, his eyes clouded with confusion.
"Are the Demons… finally all gone?"
"Not necessarily."
Qingshui shook his head.
All the swordsmen who had just relaxed immediately tensed up again.
Even more nervous were Tamayo and Yushiro.
"We are no longer Demons."
Tamayo gently took two syringes from her sleeve.
"Yushiro and I injected the human-reverting medicine just before the sun rose. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to bathe in the warm sunlight like this now. Nezuko has also returned to being human."
"Mmm, Lady Tamayo is right!"
Qingshui shook his head.
"I wasn't referring to you. With Muzan and the Twelve Kizuki eliminated, it's true that no other Demons will appear in the future. However, the Demons that appeared in the Infinity Castle tonight were quite powerful. So, those lesser Demons that Muzan considered useless in combat might not have died yet.
Though weak, they still pose a threat to ordinary people. If they continue to devour many humans, their strength will continue to increase."
So that's how it is…
Indeed, Muzan created so many Demons; there were bound to be some stragglers.
Qingshui's explanation was accepted by most of the team members.
In truth, Qingshui had some personal motives for saying this.
With Muzan eliminated, what would become of the Demon Slayer Corps?
Many joined the Demon Slayer Corps simply to fight Demons and seek revenge.
Now that Muzan was dead and the number of Demons had drastically decreased, many swordsmen might leave the Demon Slayer Corps.
The higher-ups in power also wouldn't want an organization like the Demon Slayer Corps to exist.
An unofficial violent organization with strongholds across Japan, a complete intelligence network, and a logistics system, plus hundreds of members skilled in Breathing Styles and possessing supernatural abilities.
This organization also accumulated vast wealth and connections over hundreds of years, possessing an orderly system of inheritance and regeneration.
If it weren't for the need to fight Demons, what ruler would allow such a force to exist right under their nose?!
And Qingshui didn't want to disband the Demon Slayer Corps so quickly.
At the very least, if it had to be disbanded, it should be done gradually over the next few years, allowing him room to maneuver.
Qingshui hoped the Demon Slayer Corps would continue to exist in another form, as a trump card in his hand.
He planned to use the influence inherited from the Ubuyashiki Clan, combined with his own strength, to gain control of Japan within five to eight years, change its system, and restore the shogunate.
Through normal channels, it would be impossible for him to control the country in such a short time; getting into the cabinet within ten years would already be considered very fast.
Therefore, restoring the shogunate was the most suitable method.
Plotting for the position of Emperor of Japan wasn't easy, but if the shogunate were restored and the Emperor of Japan fell into his hands, there might be room for manipulation later on.
Qingshui wasn't worried about failure either.
In an era before nuclear weapons, with his immense power and demonized body, he was invincible.
These schemes definitely couldn't be spoken aloud yet; Qingshui only had a rough plan in his mind.
Just as all the swordsmen were celebrating their victory with joy and cheers, Himejima Gyomei suddenly clutched his chest in pain, half-kneeling on the ground, his vital energy rapidly weakening.
"Mr. Gyomei!"
Tanjiro, who was closest to Gyomei, immediately stepped forward to support him.
Qingshui frowned and walked over. First, he used Mystical Palm Technique to restore some of Gyomei's health. Then, he bit his finger and quickly used his blood as material to draw sealing runes on Himejima Gyomei's arms.
The latter's Demon Slayer Mark was located on both arms, appearing as grayish-black, rock-like patterns.
After filling both arms with runes, he immediately drew a circle of runes around them.
All the swordsmen looked at Qingshui and Himejima Gyomei with concern.
They didn't know what had happened, or why the Stone Hashira, who had been so mighty just moments ago battling Muzan, had suddenly become like this.
But they could see that Qingshui was trying to save Gyomei in some way.
Several Hashira silently encircled the area.
They had all witnessed some of Qingshui's abilities, such as his miraculous healing power.
"Seal: Evil Sealing Method!"
Qingshui formed hand seals and pressed them onto Gyomei's Demon Slayer Mark.
The sealing runes on the ground suddenly crawled up Gyomei's body like insects, finally converging in Qingshui's palm into an extremely complex rune.
Himejima Gyomei let out a muffled groan, then gasped as he lifted his head.
Qingshui secretly nodded.
This sealing method was indeed effective.
It seemed his guess was correct.
The Demon Slayer Mark might indeed be similar to Sage Art, a method that utilizes natural energy, but it's closer to a degraded version of Sage Art, like Orochimaru's Cursed Seal.
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