"From now on, it's up to you. See if you can elevate what I've taught you."
"Your senior brother, Ryuji, naturally doesn't need to be mentioned. His talent is higher than both Giyuu and you. If it weren't for waiting for you, he would have already become a powerful figure in the Demon Slayer Corps, just like Tomioka Giyuu."
"As for whether you can participate in the final selection of the Demon Slayer Corps, you still need to pass one last test."
—"Follow me!"
After saying that, Sakonji Urokodaki disappeared in a flash.
"Go!" Ryuji said to Tanjiro, and then followed.
Tanjiro followed closely behind. The three of them walked in a line, with Sakonji Urokodaki in front, Ryuji in the middle, and Tanjiro at the back.
Finally, Sakonji Urokodaki brought Ryuji and Tanjiro to a relatively open clearing on Mount Fujikasane. After a year, snow was falling on Mount Fujikasane again.
In the clearing, there was a large, round stone standing there. A thick rope was tied to the stone, probably dragged there by Sakonji Urokodaki.
"Tanjiro, as long as you can cut this giant stone, I'll allow you and Ryuji to participate in the final selection of the Demon Slayer Corps." Sakonji Urokodaki gave Tanjiro his final instructions.
After saying that, he disappeared silently again.
Tanjiro called out to Sakonji Urokodaki in the direction he had left, but he couldn't catch up to him.
Looking at the giant stone in front of him, Tanjiro began to doubt. Could he really cut such a large stone with the sword in his hand?
Thinking about it, Tanjiro looked at Ryuji and asked, "Senior Ryuji, can you cut this giant stone?"
Hearing this, Ryuji nodded and said calmly, "I can."
"Really? Senior Ryuji! Can you demonstrate it for me?" Tanjiro couldn't wait to see how Ryuji would cut the giant stone.
"No." Ryuji refused Tanjiro's request without hesitation.
"Why?" Tanjiro was very puzzled.
"This is the old man's final test for you, so I can't demonstrate anything." Ryuji replied.
Besides this reason, Ryuji didn't demonstrate because there was only one such giant stone. If he cut it, it would be hard to find another identical stone for Tanjiro.
Another point was as he said, this was Tanjiro's final test. Ryuji didn't want to interfere too much.
"Use your own brain to think about what the old man said. Don't be someone who can't do it for the rest of your life!"
After saying that, Ryuji also walked away.
"Senior Ryuji!" Tanjiro was a little lost.
Soon, Tanjiro was the only one left on Mount Fujikasane. The cold winter wind and snow danced leisurely in the mountains.
The silence around him made Tanjiro fall into thought. The words of Ryuji and Sakonji Urokodaki echoed in his ears.
"Elevate? What I've learned is just the surface, not the essence?" Tanjiro asked himself silently.
Thinking about it, Tanjiro swung his sword and tried. The blade hit the giant stone, making a sound of metal colliding with a hard object.
This shock made Tanjiro's entire body go numb.
Time passed again for half a year. During this time, without Sakonji Urokodaki's guidance, Tanjiro repeated his previous training every day and tried to cut the giant stone.
Ryuji would also spar with Tanjiro from time to time, and every time, Tanjiro lost miserably.
"Senior Ryuji, am I really useless? Half a year has passed, and I still haven't cut the giant stone."
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