Demon Slayer: Start With Heroic Spirit Legacy System

While Obanai left, Zhou Yi claimed his mission rewards.

"System, claim the rewards."

[Acknowledged. Claiming rewards.....][Saved the young Snake Hashira. Reward: 1,000 Exchange Points.]

[Completed the task "Easy to Face Yama, Hard to Face Minions." Reward: 10,000 Exchange Points.]

"Why is there such a big difference in the points between these two tasks?"

The system calmly replied, [The former is a long-term task with a high total value but low individual payouts.]

"Alright then."

Zhou Yi used all his Exchange Points to boost his Heroic Spirit inheritance progress.

"Add it to the panel."

[Acknowledged. Current Heroic Spirit inheritance progress: 15%.]

[Converting 11,000 Exchange Points: +11%.]

[New progress: 26%.]

"1,000 points for 1% progress... still reasonable, I guess."

[Correction: This applies only until the 50% mark. After that, 2,000 points will be required for every 1%.]

What the heck?!

Was this system designed by a certain black-hearted tech company?!

Before Zhou Yi could finish his complaints, Obanai returned.

Unlike when he had left, Obanai now had a small, silver-gray snake coiled around his shoulder.

After all, a Snake Pillar without a snake wouldn't be complete!

The little snake flicked its tongue and nodded at Zhou Yi, as though greeting him.

"This is Kaburamaru, the friend I mentioned!" Obanai said with great respect. "I told him everything that just happened, and he's expressing his gratitude to you."

"Alright. Let's leave now," Zhou Yi replied coolly, motioning for him to follow.

Obanai quickly jogged after him.

The two of them, along with Kaburamaru, soon passed through the corridor and prepared to leave the Iguro estate.

"May I ask your name?"

"Zhou Yi."

"I am Iguro Obanai!"

"Hmm."

Zhou Yi maintained his composed demeanor.

Obanai hesitated for a moment, then finally asked a question that had been bothering him.

"Why didn't you take action against the Iguro family?"

"Oh? Do you want revenge?" Zhou Yi replied, his tone calm yet piercing.

Obanai shook his head repeatedly. "No, I don't."

"I'm just curious. After everything they've done, why...?"

"Why didn't I kill them?"

"Yes."

In Obanai's eyes, Zhou Yi seemed like someone who was decisive and ruthless. Why would he spare the Iguro family?

"There's no need."

"No need?" Little Obanai looked even more confused.

"Because it's not my turn to avenge them yet. Just listen outside."

Zhou Yi led him through the already broken main gate.

Outside stood a dense crowd.

"These... are all here for revenge?" Little Obanai still underestimated the sins the Iguro family had accumulated over hundreds of years.

Among the crowd, an old farmer led the group. It was the same one who had pointed the way for Zhou Yi earlier.

Standing beside him were several robust young men. Upon seeing Zhou Yi and Little Obanai step outside, they immediately shouted a warning.

"Uncle! More people are coming out of the house!"

"Should we capture them?"

The old farmer was about to agree but, after wiping his eyes and taking a closer look, angrily smacked the youth's head.

"Idiot! When did the Iguro family have any men left?"

"Besides, this is the swordsman I was just talking about—the one who slays demons!"

After chastising the young man, the old farmer quickly bowed respectfully to Zhou Yi.

"On behalf of everyone, thank you!"

The surrounding crowd suddenly realized the truth.

So, this was the hero who had rid them of the serpent demon!

"Thank you!"

The crowd bent down in unison, mimicking the old farmer, and expressed their gratitude to Zhou Yi.

"The rest is up to you," Zhou Yi said, lifting the underdeveloped Little Obanai in one hand and leaping away from their sight.

"How incredible!" The astonished crowd could only exclaim.

"Brothers, let's go in and tear this place apart!"

"Settle old scores!"

"Yes!"

With a unified roar, the crowd surged forward. From then on, only Little Obanai remained as the sole heir of the Ihei family.

The sun hung high in the sky.

After lunch, the pair, along with the snake, didn't set off on their return journey. Instead, they rested in the forest, as if waiting for someone.

Before long, a group of people dressed as ninjas found them.

"Kakushi Squad, reporting for duty!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhou Yi handed Little Obanai over to the squad.

"This guy has talent. Find a cultivator for him."

"Understood, sir!"

The members of the Kakushi Squad showed excessive respect to Zhou Yi, a Hinoto rank demon slayer.

Zhou Yi noted their behavior and came to a conclusion in his heart.

"It seems the kasugai crow already spread the news of me slaying a Lower Moon demon."

According to the rules of the Demon Slayer Corps, killing 50 demons or a Lower Moon demon qualified one to become a Hashira.

Zhou Yi now had the qualifications to become a Hashira and just needed to wait for the next Hashira meeting to be officially promoted.

"But in Demon Slayer, being a mere Hashira isn't enough!" Zhou Yi sighed. The Pillars were famously disposable cannon fodder. It was truly tragic!

Still, Zhou Yi wasn't worried. With his Heroic Spirit inheritance, he already had the strength of a Pillar during the Final Selection.

At that time, the inheritance had only reached 10%. Now, at 26%, he might even be able to challenge an Upper Moon demon!

The more Zhou Yi thought about it, the more excited he became. After giving Little Obanai a few parting words, he prepared to leave.

This had been agreed upon earlier with Little Obanai. Although reluctant, Little Obanai had to focus on learning demon-slaying techniques.

"Will I become as strong as you someday?"

Before parting, Little Obanai asked one last question.

Recalling the impressive moments of the Serpent Hashira in the manga, Zhou Yi gave a confident reply: "Of course!"

The members of the Kakushi Squad dragged away the smiling Little Obanai.

Now alone, Zhou Yi glanced westward, thinking of his senior sister.

"I wonder how she's doing. I'd better go check on her!"

On Hachijōjimaa Island, life had begun to flourish again.

A swordsman had defeated the Iguro family's serpent demon, a story that spread like wildfire across the island.

As the tale spread, it inevitably became distorted.

"Have you heard? A towering swordsman, two meters tall with a fierce aura, took down the serpent demon with a single strike!" A farmer carrying a hoe animatedly told his companion.

"You're wrong! I heard it was a true serpent god who couldn't tolerate the monster's tyranny. It transformed into a small snake and descended to the mortal realm to destroy it!" Another man disagreed, having heard a different version.

"You're both spouting nonsense! I heard the serpent demon committed suicide! A thunderclap in the sky frightened it so much it crashed into a pillar and died!" Unable to bear it anymore, a third person interjected with his version of the story.

No one could convince the others, leading to a heated argument.

However, amidst the crowd, there was one person who knew the truth.

"Where are you guys getting your stories? Let me tell you the real deal—I was there!" A middle-aged man interrupted their debate.

"Really? I don't believe you!"

Faced with skepticism, the man indignantly took out a precious item he had looted from the Iguro family.

"See this? I was taken by them as a servant!"

Upon seeing the intricately designed family crest, the crowd no longer doubted him and urged him to share the story.

"Tell us! Come on! So that's why you've been missing—you were enslaved!"

The incident had only happened half a day ago, and the middle-aged man's memory was fresh.

"It was a handsome young man with a long sword! I'm telling you, I've never seen anyone so dashing!"

"..."

Walking along the field paths, Zhou Yi overheard their conversation and pulled his straw hat lower.

He had no intention of being recognized.

"Senior Sister, I'm here to find you!"