Hunter [50]: The Nine Hashira Gather

With motivation, slaying demons becomes even more vigorous. So, Lin Jiu bid farewell to Kagaya Ubuyashiki and went directly to the logistics item exchange center.

This place had an open window to the outside, and each branch of the Demon Slayer Corps had one, evidently certified by the Reincarnation Paradise.

An elderly lady dressed simply was the manager.

Lin Jiu greeted her and then called up the list of items that could be exchanged for contribution points.

[Ubuyashiki Family Ability Package]

Origin: Demon Slayer

Quality: Blue

Note: After use, you can randomly select one ability from the Ubuyashiki family and convert it into a skill scroll.

Rating: 65

Price: 6700 Paradise Coins

Stock: 1

Exchange Requirement: 3000 Contribution Points

[Flaming Sun (Damaged)]

Origin: Demon Slayer, Swordsmith Village

Quality: Green

Attack Power: 15-25 (Attack power is a comprehensive calculation of destructive power, firearm power, and weapon strength.)

Category: Firearm (Semi-Automatic Pistol)

Reload Count: 15 / 15 (Special bullets can be purchased with Paradise Coins.)

Durability: 1 / 40

Equipment Requirements: Strength 13, Agility 10

Equipment Effect: Blaze (Passive). When the bullet hits, it causes a small explosion. The explosion radius is one meter.

Additional Effect: Flaming Sun. Attacks deal additional fire-element-based positive damage!

Rating: 30

Description: "Sir, the times have changed!" (Created by the previous village chief of the Swordsmith Village, keeping up with the times, specifically for demons. Due to its immense power and poor maintenance, it is in a disused state and requires repair before it can be used.)

Price: 4500 Paradise Coins

Stock: 1

Exchange Requirement: 500 Contribution Points

[Meteor Fragment]

Origin: Demon Slayer

Quality: Green

Type: Ore

Effect: Enhances the success rate of items of the same quality by 10%, blue quality by 1%, and does not affect purple quality and above.

Stock: 200

Exchange Requirement: 50 Contribution Points

==========

Besides these, although many other good items were available, none interested Lin Jiu as much as these. The first item was evidently from the Reincarnation Paradise.

The second firearm was a necessary piece of equipment for Lin Jiu as a lone contractor. Though called a pistol, it could be considered a small grenade launcher, making it perfect for someone like Lin Jiu who had no firearm training.

As for the ore called Meteor Fragment, Lin Jiu needed a few pieces to enhance his weapons.

Therefore, Lin Jiu prioritized exchanging for the Flaming Sun firearm, followed by the Meteor Fragments, and lastly, the blue-quality random skill scroll. Of course, he also needed to notarize his Nichirin Sword, but that was not urgent.

After exchanging his contribution points for the Flaming Sun, Lin Jiu got six pieces of Meteor Fragment. The Flaming Sun couldn't be repaired in this world; otherwise, the Swordsmith Village would have fixed it long ago. He stored both items in his storage space and returned to the Nine Hashira meeting.

By the time Lin Jiu arrived, they had already dealt with Tanjiro's matter and were discussing strategies to deal with the demons.

"Excuse me, I can handle the Twelve Kizuki."

Lin Jiu raised his hand and smiled.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded. "It's great that Mr. Red is willing to tackle these challenges."

"But there's one thing I'd like to ask the nine of you here for help with. There's a demon that needs all of us to surround and kill"

Lin Jiu said.

Shinobu Kocho immediately stepped forward, eyes filled with killing intent, and said seriously, "It's about killing that bastard, right? I'll go!"

Lin Jiu was stunned for a moment, looking at Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who smiled in return, indicating Shinobu Kocho didn't know about it yet.

He then remembered what he felt he had forgotten and said, "You mean Doma, right? I forgot to tell you, I already killed that guy."

Shinobu Kocho: "..."

Such a big thing and no one told me?

"Mr. Red is so cool... Even his smile carries a killing intent, completely different from Mr. Tomioka... I want to greet him!"

Mitsuri Kanroji finally saw Lin Jiu, blushing and muttering to herself.

"Discuss the demon-slaying among yourselves. I can rest assured." Kagaya Ubuyashiki said with a smile.

"A flamboyant surrounding kill of a demon is fine... as long as it's not a flamboyant sparring."

Tengen Uzui was the first to respond.

Then Kyojuro Rengoku laughed and said, "Of course, no problem. No matter how strong the demon is, it's my responsibility to face it!"

Giyu Tomioka stood calmly aside, while Muichiro Tokito was still looking up at the sky, not sure if he was watching the clouds or the birds flying by.

"Exterminating demons is what I should do..."

Gyomei Himejima said, tears streaming down his face. He probably needed to replenish water more than the average person.

"I... I am also willing to help!"

Mitsuri Kanroji whispered softly.

"Hey! If we're all going, are we dealing with Muzan Kibutsuji?"

Sanemi Shinazugawa asked directly. They knew that Lin Jiu could single-handedly take down Upper-Rank Two. If he needed all of them, it had to be a battle with Muzan Kibutsuji.

Hearing this, Lin Jiu found a board and stood it up, saying, "This time the demon is quite special, unrelated to Muzan Kibutsuji. He doesn't eat people but kills them. When I encountered him, he was massacring a village. I fought with him, he's very strong. But mainly, his various abilities are difficult to deal with... so we need..."

While speaking, Lin Jiu used his sword to outline the plan on the board. The positions of the nine Hashira formed a canyon-like, oval shape. Lin Jiu knew that contractor 13521 must still have some tools, so the task of Hashira was to deplete one or two of his skills before retreating and switching with others.

This surrounding formation had a considerable range, mainly to prevent contractor 13521 from using a teleportation scroll to escape. Such scrolls of blue or purple quality wouldn't teleport far, so there was no worry about them breaking through the encirclement.

After setting up the rough plan, Lin Jiu didn't delay. He changed into his hunter leather armor and led the nine Hashira in pursuit of contractor 13521's trail.

...

Contractor 13521 was still attacking ordinary people, having just finished off the villagers of a village.

"Why do I have a sense of foreboding?"

Contractor 13521 frowned as he looked at the nearby mountain forest.

"There's a demon causing trouble here!"

Looking at the approaching people, contractor 13521 felt unlucky. How did he run into the Serpent Hashira and the Mist Hashira together? He didn't want to face even one Hashira, let alone two at once.

Before he could think further, Obanai Iguro already made his move, his agile figure attacking. Muichiro Tokito wouldn't show mercy to demons, joining the attack together.

Contractor 13521's vision was suddenly filled with a hazy mist, and suddenly a white snake struck from within the mist. He hurriedly raised his black rock greatsword to block the attack.

"Mist Breathing, Fourth Form: Shifting Flow Slash."

Hidden in the mist, Muichiro Tokito's slash appeared in front of the contractor, making it difficult to react.

"Reverse!"

The skill that avoided Lin Jiu's slash last time was released again. Muichiro Tokito felt the force coming at him, and he was knocked into the mist.

"Serpent Breathing's Third Form: Coil Choke!"

After repelling Muichiro Tokito, there was still Obanai Iguro. The Serpent Hashira swung his sword in a snake-like curve, multiple slashing trajectories intertwining like a gigantic serpent, trying to strangle contractor 13521 at the center.

The slashes hit the contractor, shattering him. It turned out that only an afterimage was left in place. Contractor 13521 had used the skill [Sword Energy Residue] to leave an afterimage while he went invisible.

He had no intention of attacking the two Hashira, but instead, used his invisibility to escape.

Normally, five seconds of invisibility would be enough for him to run a considerable distance. But unfortunately, he was facing Obanai Iguro, whose partner, the white snake, quickly locked onto his trail.

"Serpent Breathing, Fourth Form: Winding Serpent!"

Obanai Iguro locked onto the position, swiftly advancing with slithering slashes.

Contractor 13521 was forced to reveal himself, counterattacking with his sword. Before his greatsword could touch Obanai Iguro's sword, the blade slithered around, aiming for his eyes.

Suddenly, a force pushed contractor 13521's body backward, avoiding the attack. This was a skill carried by his equipment.

"Mist Breathing, First Form: Low Clouds, Distant Haze!"

Muichiro Tokito appeared behind contractor 13521 like a ghost, a seemingly simple but incredibly fast stab.

"Shift!"

A glow appeared under contractor 13521's feet. Muichiro Tokito's stab hit empty air, leaving a stone in place. Contractor 13521 appeared at the forest entrance, frantically escaping into the forest.

The mist dispersed, and Muichiro Tokito and Obanai Iguro didn't rush to chase. Instead, they formed a surrounding formation, advancing slowly. Others were waiting for the violator in the forest.