Blade of the Immortal

Rendered immortal by an infusion of mystical worms that can repair any wound, the masterless samurai Manji wanders the hillsides of feudal Japan, his quest to slay one thousand evil men to atone for his past sins. By his side is the young woman Rin, an orphan who seeks vengeance for the murders of her parents. Driven in a quest for absolution, the two have faced many deadly challenges, both natural and supernatural. But can they survive their greatest battle, against the all-powerful Inugami? Hiroaki Samura's groundbreaking tale of redemption and magic finds new life in this first prose novel, featuring six all new illustrations by Samura. (Source: Dark Horse)

The sequel is set in the Bakumatsu period in the 19th century (the original manga was set in the earlier Edo period), and follows the main character Manji, who starts the story in a life of seclusion in the Tosa domain, but heads to the capital for a certain reason. The story will have him confronting the strongest warriors of the time. (Source: Anime News Network)