Three minutes after the countdown ended, Bai Ye was sent back to the outer perimeter of Mount Natagumo.
Concurrently, rewards accompanied the end of the restricted zone, randomly completed.
For the first restricted zone mission's Blood Demon Art, Bai Ye, as wished, obtained the Blood Demon Art of the Spider Demon Father. For the third restricted zone mission's Blood Demon Art, randomly drawn from all spider demons, Bai Ye's luck was decent, acquiring the Blood Demon Art of Lower Rank Five.
However...
The frustrating part was that whenever the word "however" appeared, there was a fifty percent chance of tragedy.
Blood Demon Art: Metamorphosis (Ability) (Green): Blood Demon Art from the Spider Demon Father. Effect: Strengthen Physique (Physical attributes other than Intelligence and Spirit increase by 10 points). Metamorphosis (Under a severe injury state, one metamorphosis can be performed, physical attributes other than Intelligence and Spirit increase by 20 points, and self-recovery and regeneration capabilities are enhanced). Note: This ability requires transforming oneself into a demon to use.
Blood Demon Art: Thread Carving Prison (Ability) (Blue): Blood Demon Art from the Lower Rank Five of the Twelve Kizuki. Effect: Net Kill (Utilizes tough and sharp spider silk to form a spider web, capable of restraining enemies and also directly severing the opponent's body). Note: This ability requires transforming oneself into a demon to use.
Bai Ye looked at the screen with a feeling of wanting to cry but having no tears.
Metamorphosis, as Bai Ye had guessed, was purely a physical enhancement ability. The basic increase was indeed mediocre, only a 10-point boost to physical attributes, after all, it was only green quality.
But the key lay in Metamorphosis itself.
Metamorphosis had a success probability; it wasn't guaranteed to succeed. However, upon success, there was a 20-point increase in physical attributes, along with enhanced recovery and regeneration capabilities, making it a solid blue-quality ability.
Furthermore, among blue-quality physical enhancement abilities, it was considered relatively high, as recovery and regeneration capabilities were extremely rare and represented survival!
It was classified as green quality purely because Metamorphosis was not a hundred percent successful.
As for Rui's Blood Demon Art, there wasn't much to say.
To be honest, if Bai Ye didn't have the South Bright Departing Fire Sword, Rui wouldn't have been that easy to deal with. Although he could be killed, it would have taken some effort.
Therefore, Rui's spider silk was indeed strong.
Although blue quality, Thread Carving Prison was not Rui's strongest move, and it already reached a level close to black quality.
But...
These two damn things actually required one to become a demon to use!
This wasn't an issue for Bai Ye; he had obtained demon blood from Rui. But...
Bai Ye didn't want to become a demon!
Becoming a demon for these two abilities was simply not worth it. Although there was a way to remove the side effects with the blood of a Demon King, he didn't have the blood of a Demon King.
Besides, was a Demon King something that could be easily defeated?
Bai Ye felt completely numb.
After all, although Bai Ye had been to Mount Natagumo in his previous life, he hadn't completed the restricted zone missions.
Without completing the restricted zone missions, he hadn't obtained the rewards, so it was normal not to know this.
The only fortunate thing was...
Bai Ye hadn't worked in vain. At least the breathing technique could still be used, and because Bai Ye only saved Zenitsu Agatsuma, he had obtained the Thunder Breathing technique mastered by Zenitsu.
Thunder Breathing (Breathing Technique) (Blue): One of the five basic breathing techniques, it is the fastest and most explosive of all breathing techniques. It has extremely high requirements for the user's physical condition, making it very difficult to cultivate. Ultra-high-speed movements create sounds akin to crackling lightning in the air.
Moves (Unlocked) (1/7):
First Form (Thunderclap and Flash): Utilizes the breathing technique to channel power into one leg, then stomps on the ground with all might, unleashing terrifying movement speed. At that instant, the speed of movement emits a thunderous sound, performing a drawing and slashing move at a speed imperceptible even to demons.
Thunder Breathing was what Bai Ye wanted. The reason he valued Thunder Breathing over obtaining rarer breathing techniques from Tanjiro was...
Speed and explosive power!
Bai Ye didn't lack combat means, but he lacked supportive combat means.
At the same time, his only movement ability was instantaneous teleportation.
Undeniably, instantaneous teleportation was quite useful, but it required operational skill to be so.
The 2.5-second cooldown and the limit of three consecutive uses placed significant restrictions on instantaneous teleportation.
Therefore, Bai Ye still needed means of movement.
Thunder Breathing was excellent. With a total of seven forms, even if the subsequent six forms were disregarded, the First Form, Thunderclap and Flash, was sufficient for Bai Ye.
When instantaneous teleportation was used consecutively three times, all targeting was reset. Bai Ye's use of instantaneous teleportation would enter a vacuum period.
At this time, Thunderclap and Flash could be used to compensate.
Moreover, by using the time taken for Thunderclap and Flash, Bai Ye could re-target for instantaneous teleportation, and once Thunderclap and Flash ended, Bai Ye could use instantaneous teleportation again.
Alternating like this, wasn't it a seamless continuation!
Therefore, Bai Ye was quite satisfied with the reward of Thunder Breathing. Most importantly, it had no usage restrictions, and he didn't need to become a demon.
Of course, there was also the Nichirin Blade.
There wasn't much to say about this item. It was a rather ordinary weapon, but it had a bonus effect for using breathing techniques; the two complemented each other.
However, even without a Nichirin Blade, breathing techniques could still be used.
Bai Ye received a golden Nichirin Blade that matched Thunder Breathing, white quality...
Bai Ye casually threw it into his inventory. Its only function was to fill the Gate of Babylon. Even the white quality...
It was truly an insult to the Gate of Babylon.
Even with the bonus effect, Bai Ye would rather use the Frost Condensation Sword or the renowned Bloodthirsty Blade directly.
Finally, the acquisition of God Stone fragments made Bai Ye weep with joy.
Recently, the number of God Stone fragments had been steadily decreasing. The Iron Slime was too "greedy." Now, with the kills and restricted zone mission rewards, he had obtained over twenty, which had somewhat stabilized the situation.
As for the unusable Blood Demon Arts, Bai Ye didn't dwell on them. There would always be someone willing to become a demon. Although they couldn't move in sunlight, the improvement in strength was direct.
Those who weren't powerful enough would definitely be willing to give up some things to become stronger.
Therefore, they still had trading value.
"Hmm!" Bai Ye murmured, "I remember there are neutral zones in the supernatural areas of the demon world, perhaps where the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters is located. Should I go there?"
Demon blood and Blood Demon Arts were too specific in their targeting, making trading difficult in other regions. However, if it were Chosen Ones in this area, Bai Ye believed there would be quite a few interested parties.
"Then I'll go."
Bai Ye made up his mind, but at this moment...
...