https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-657-Yecheng-Who-Says-Fate-Cannot-Be-Changed-/12948338/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-659-This-is-the-True-Final-Selection-/12948340/
Chapter 658: The Final Selection Begins!
Chapter 658: The Final Selection Begins!
Time flew by, and two years had passed since Tanjiro Kamado's training at Narrow Fog Mountain.
Recalling his encounter with Yecheng and Yoshimune Tomokuni at the snowy region two years ago, and the moments during his training, Tanjiro couldn't help but feel as if he had lived a different life.
Following Yecheng's instructions, he had indeed found an elderly man named Satsuragami Sakinosuke on Narrow Fog Mountain.
Initially, upon seeing Tanjiro and his sister, Nezuko, who had transformed into a man-eating demon, the old man didn't seem to favor them.
It was only after Tanjiro revealed his purpose and mentioned Yecheng's introduction that Satsuragami Sakinosuke agreed to take them in.
At first, Satsuragami Sakinosuke also had his doubts about Tanjiro.
Although Tanjiro displayed remarkable courage and perseverance, he lacked a crucial quality—determination!
Facing man-eating demons, he hesitated to finish them off. How could he become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps if he was afraid to kill demons?
However, Yecheng had introduced him, and he owed Yecheng a favor.
So, despite his initial dissatisfaction, Satsuragami Sakinosuke eventually accepted Tanjiro as his disciple.
As it turned out, the protagonist's infectious ability was indeed of Ex-level.
Over the two years, Tanjiro's daily efforts and persistence impressed Satsuragami Sakinosuke.
Gradually, the initially discontented Satsuragami Sakinosuke was moved by the bond between Tanjiro and his sister, and he even began to unburden himself.
Under Satsuragami Sakinosuke's guidance, Tanjiro mastered the "Water Breath Technique" and experienced a significant boost in strength.
He was no longer the naive boy who couldn't bring himself to kill man-eating demons.
The reason was simple. Satsuragami Sakinosuke took Tanjiro to witness a man-eating demon attacking humans.
Previously, Tanjiro had struggled to kill man-eating demons because, on the surface, they didn't appear much different from regular humans.
After witnessing a man-eating demon devouring a human, Tanjiro finally understood a crucial lesson.
Although their appearance hadn't changed, man-eating demons had become devils in human skin. If they weren't slain, more people would perish at their hands.
Of course, his sister, Nezuko, was an exception!
Tanjiro also realized why Yoshimune Tomokuni had insisted on killing his sister.
Ivy Mountain, known for the wisteria flowers that bloomed at its base, was shrouded in dense fog year-round, preventing sunlight from reaching the area. As a result, the mountain became a haven for man-eating demons, who wouldn't die from exposure to sunlight.
The wisteria flowers at the mountain's base created a barrier that the demons couldn't cross, effectively turning Ivy Mountain into a giant prison for man-eating demons.
With wisteria flowers blooming above and below, the mountain appeared like a heavenly paradise, but it was a dark and dangerous place, like two extremes.
Just as Tanjiro and the others gathered for the Final Selection, two children, one with black hair and the other with white, each holding a lantern, emerged slowly from the torii gate.
As the main examiners, they announced the passing criteria for the Final Selection: survival in Ivy Mountain for seven days.
Tanjiro and the others were surprised at the sight of the two peculiar children with black and white hair, seemingly not expecting that the Final Selection would be overseen by such youngsters.
However, if the other Pillar of the Court were here, they would probably find this completely normal, for the two children present were the children of their lord.
The child with white hair was the youngest daughter of Genyuu Tsugikado, Prodhouse Hifuka.
And the child with black hair, though dressed as a girl, was the only heir to the Demon Slayer Corps' lord, Prodhouse Koryosai.
Compared to the previous "Final Selection," this time, in addition to explaining the rules, Koryosai and the others also gave Tanjiro and the others some well-intentioned advice.
"The passing condition for the Final Selection is simply to survive, so I advise you not to be reckless when it's unnecessary.
Many of you here are excellent disciples of the Pillars, or even their adopted children. If you die here because of recklessness, it will also be a loss for the Demon Slayer Corps."
As soon as Koryosai finished speaking, a boy with a dark cockscomb hairstyle and a terrifying scar extending from his right cheek to his nose spoke up with a displeased expression: "What nonsense! Are you telling us to hide?"
The Demon Slayer Corps was established to slay man-eating demons, and the 'Final Selection' is a test to determine if we are qualified to join the corps.
But you're telling us to hide, then what's the point of the assessment itself?"
Fushiwakagawa Genmyo's tone was a bit bold, but it must be said that most of the assessors present agreed with what he was saying.
The nature of these boys was such that they had undergone various arduous trainings under the guidance of their respective teachers to participate in the "Final Selection."
Now that they had finally gained some knowledge and could show off their skills, the examiners were telling them that the assessment mainly focused on self-preservation. Wasn't this looking down on them?
"If this were the Final Selection of previous years, we wouldn't give you such advice.
But we can now clearly tell you that the man-eating demons in Tenji Mountain are completely different from before."
As Koryosai finished speaking, Prodhouse Hifuka, who stood beside him and looked like his twin sister, also spoke up: "The man-eating demons in Tenji Mountain before were all the lowest-ranked demons.
The strength of man-eating demons is determined by the number of people they have eaten. Most of the demons in Tenji Mountain before were low-level creatures that had only eaten one or two people.
Moreover, having been trapped in Tenji Mountain for many years without fresh blood to feed on, they were actually weak and frail, making them the perfect subjects for your assessment as apprentice Demon Slayer Swordsmen."
"But just two years ago, a man appeared and, in just one night, all the man-eating demons in Tenji Mountain were slain.
I believe you've heard the rumors about this, right?"
Upon hearing the Nakamura Twins' words, those present, including Fushiwakagawa Genmyo, Gami Zenitsu, and Rihakura Kanahu, all showed serious expressions.
They had naturally heard of the rumors about Fujisaki's Thousand Demon Slaying, as they had a close relationship with the Pillars.
"But what does 'Fujisaki's Thousand Demon Slaying' have to do with this Final Selection?" Gami Zenitsu asked anxiously.
"It's simple. The man-eating demons in Tenji Mountain now are all supplied by the 'Fujisaki's Thousand Demon Slaying' you mentioned, with the cooperation of two other Pillars.
Since these man-eating demons were thrown into Tenji Mountain not long ago, they are still in a strong state."
(End of Chapter)
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