Ultimate Lifeform

The professor spoke all these secret rumors in one breath, his emotions somewhat stirred.

Although he had already learned of those matters through Azure Sky, the feeling was different now. At this very moment, he and the man before him were likely special beings involved in this spatial legend.

Bai Cangshu clicked his tongue. He had not expected the so-called "hot potato" Chu Qi had left him to have such an origin.

No wonder his trial mission had been so difficult.

Sin—was that the exclusive sequence bestowed upon those who were different?

As an anomaly, the missions he received were on an entirely different level of difficulty from those of ordinary people.

He looked at the card in the professor’s hand, recalled his description, and spoke.

"So you’re one of the so-called Chosen?"

He had heard the name of the Chosen here and there from other Reincarnators in the space. They were practically the most widespread and best-known type of Special Reincarnator.

Before entering the space, the Chosen could already see the marks of Reincarnators. They were talents needed by the space, and every one of them possessed a special gift.

They were special talents akin to those favored by the space itself. Once they grew stronger, they could often accomplish things ordinary Reincarnators could not, borrowing the authority of the space to some extent.

For example, the Slave Shackles and Scapegoat Doll, the most popular and precious goods in the Slum Area. One could, at a certain cost, capture Plot Characters and bring them back into the space, while the other could, at a certain cost, escape mission penalties.

These directly involved the authority of the space and were items only the Chosen could possibly create.

After hesitating for a moment, the professor nodded.

"That’s right. I am Chosen, and also a reserve member of Azure Sky, the top gathering in the Eastern District."

At the mention of Azure Sky, the professor’s pupils widened slightly, and even his whole body seemed to relax.

He was proud of that organization. Bai Cangshu caught that detail and continued asking.

"Oh? Is Azure Sky that impressive of an organization?"

Bai Cangshu had indeed set aside his intent to kill the professor. The information the man had provided was valuable—secret intelligence that those so-called space brokers could not offer.

Besides, the professor’s analysis had been correct. Bai Cangshu felt that killing this obvious newcomer was not worth it.

The man might be hiding some item capable of resisting damage or healing wounds, but such things were not precious enough for Bai Cangshu to seize at all costs.

"Mr. Mercenary Tao, though you’re very strong, as a Reincarnator, sooner or later you’ll come to understand that in this space, no one can make it to the end alone."

The professor’s tone drifted, as if he had thought of something.

"Alone, there will always be fields you cannot cover, times when you grow weary, powerful enemies you cannot challenge, treasures you cannot seize…"

"A team is the final destination of every powerful Reincarnator."

"And a gathering is an efficient organization where teams of Reincarnators with the same goal share resources and intelligence under the leadership of an absolute powerhouse."

"In the Eastern District—no, in the entire Infinite Dimensional Space—Azure Sky may not be the strongest, but it is absolutely the most unique and most glorious group of Reincarnators!"

The professor spoke with certainty, and Bai Cangshu could tell that Azure Sky might truly have something to it.

At the very least, Chu Qi’s acquisition of a special card had ended in death, while Azure Sky had quietly handed such a thing to a reserve newcomer.

Crack, crack.

Bai Cangshu rolled his neck and flexed the muscles in his right arm, producing ominous sounds.

He rose to his feet, a smile appearing on his grotesque face.

"Now, there’s only one final question left, Professor."

The professor’s heart suddenly skipped a beat, and panic rose within him.

Bai Cangshu had risen abruptly, swift and soundless, shifting from a seated position to standing in an instant.

"Professor, can you tell me how many special cards a Reincarnator can possess at most?"

His lips curled as he took two steps forward. The professor felt as though he had fallen into an ice cellar.

"You’ve said so much, yet you never told me whether the Twenty-Two Tarot, Seven Sins, Eight Virtues, and Twelve Heavenly Stems can coexist."

"Do I have a chance to possess other cards as well?"

The professor’s pupils trembled as his mind began racing.

Footsteps rang out in rapid succession.

Bai Cangshu and the professor both noticed at once. Liu Qi emerged from behind a stone on the other side with a hand on his sword, while Vincent and Elizabeth backed toward them as well, their backs facing the others.

Quite a few people had appeared in the forest, and the movement caused the group to gather together again.

Soon, dozens of people dressed in black nightwear, their faces concealed, appeared before them.

The professor relaxed. Those who had come were members of the Kakushi from the Demon Slayer Corps.

That meant his goal of joining the Demon Slayer Corps faction was about to be achieved.

Bai Cangshu, however, thought that whether it was Kocho Kanae appearing at night or the swift arrival of these Kakushi, some Demon Slayer Corps facility was likely not far from Mount Fujikasane.

He looked toward the mountain, as though searching for something.

But in the next moment, the appearance of a figure completely diverted Bai Cangshu’s attention.

He wore a brown kasaya inscribed with the words "Namu Amida Butsu." His eyes were already blind, a horrifying scar crossed his forehead, and he stood over two meters tall, massive and powerfully built, his muscles seeming forged from steel.

He radiated an utterly terrifying presence.

The strongest of the current Demon Slayer Corps—the Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyomei.

Following behind him were the Kocho sisters, Kanae and Shinobu, who had returned after leaving, along with several Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen.

"Everyone, after the Master heard about you, he was worried you might face retaliation. He specifically sent Mr. Himejima Gyomei to escort us back to headquarters."

Kocho Kanae’s meaning was clear: she agreed to the Professor’s earlier proposal that they join the Demon Slayer Corps.

Plot Character Kocho Kanae has invited you to join the Demon Slayer Corps faction. Accept?

When Bai Cangshu saw the prompt appear before him, the others quickly chose to accept. Only the Professor waited until he had glanced at Bai Cangshu twice before accepting and taking the initiative to stand behind Himejima Gyomei.

It was not just the Professor. After Kocho Kanae spoke, she too looked at Bai Cangshu.

In truth, Bai Cangshu, who possessed the ability to kill demons with his bare body, was the one she wanted most urgently.

"Miss Kocho, isn’t your Master afraid that after I join the Demon Slayer Corps, I might kill some noble in the future and implicate him?"

Kocho Kanae did not speak. Instead, after Himejima Gyomei recited a Buddhist chant, he said, "The Master said that the difference between humans and demons outweighs the hierarchy between ruler and subject. The Minister of the Left deserved to die."

As he spoke, tears streamed from Himejima Gyomei’s eyes, as though he grieved over the sin of taking a life.

Having received his answer, Bai Cangshu chose to accept.

You have joined the Demon Slayer Corps faction.

Your deed of killing a demon with your bare body has spread throughout the Demon Slayer Corps. Your reputation within the Demon Slayer Corps has increased. Current: Friendly (80/100)

Main Mission 2 completed.

Reward obtained: 500 Dimensional Points.

Main Mission 3 triggered—alter the balance of power between factions, allowing the Demon Slayer Corps faction to surpass the Muzan faction. Current: 13 VS 87.

Rewards for Main Mission 3 will be calculated based on the faction comparison at the end of the mission. Minimum benchmark: 50 VS 50.

Penalty for mission failure: Erasure.

Elizabeth, Vincent, and the others frowned deeply when they saw Main Mission 3. The difficulty of this mission was simply far too high.

Only the Professor remained as calm as ever. He spoke up, "Miss Kocho, Mr. Himejima, we actually have some intelligence. It is extremely urgent."

"The thing Kibutsuji Muzan has sought for a thousand years is near the home of a charcoal seller on some mountain. If he obtains it, Muzan will completely break free of sunlight’s limitations and become an immortal… Ultimate Lifeform."