Ashiya Magon shouted angrily, "Are you crazy?!"
Mahito asked curiously, "Do you know Yuki Tsukumo?"
"I don't know Yuki Tsukumo personally; when she became a Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer, all her information became top secret," Ashiya Magon said slowly. "But I know the weight of the title 'Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer.' Every single one of them is a genuine monster. Looking at the current Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerers, which one can be measured by common sense?"
"Just as Kenjaku said, as long as no other Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer stops them, every Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer can sweep the entire jujutsu world without exception. Yuki Tsukumo must be the same."
"Even though you don't even know her basic information?" Mahito asked.
Ashiya Magon grew somewhat annoyed. "Look at this kid next to you. He has Infinite Cursed Energy. In terms of explosive power, he even surpasses the Special Grade Sorcerer Yuta Okkotsu. In fact, Yuta Okkotsu has said more than once that if Kinji Hakari is in good form, he can win."
"But why is Yuta Okkotsu a Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer, while this guy, who can defeat Yuta Okkotsu when in top form, is not a Special Grade?"
Kinji Hakari couldn't take it anymore. "I'm not a Cursed Spirit User! I just got expelled!"
"I'm also a bit curious," Mahito said. "I've fought with Hakari-san, and I truly understand the terror of 'Infinite Cursed Energy.' I don't think he's inferior to other Special Grade Sorcerers at all. Why isn't he a Special Grade? Especially since he has the endorsement of Yuta Okkotsu's strength."
Ashiya Magon was a bit puzzled. "Wait, didn't Kenjaku tell you?"
"Because it wasn't necessary," Kenjaku said dismissively. "If you look across a span of over a thousand years, you'll find that so-called Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerers aren't actually that rare. Mahito doesn't need this knowledge because, for him, his future will inevitably surpass the so-called Special Grade—just like Ryomen Sukuna. Do you think Ryomen Sukuna needs to know what a Special Grade is?"
Kenjaku said to Mahito, "Special Grades are easy to come by, but Jujutsu Sorcerers of Ryomen Sukuna's level—in the history I know, only two have appeared. One is Ryomen Sukuna himself, and the other is…"
"Gojo Satoru," Mahito understood.
Ashiya Magon frowned deeply. "Kenjaku has been derelict in his duties."
Kenjaku waved his hand. "I have my own teaching plan. You, a swordsman, have no business questioning me."
Ashiya Magon pointed at Kenjaku and said to Mahito, "This is why I care so much about you, damn it! I'm telling you, Kenjaku's attitude toward swordsmen isn't an isolated case; it's the norm! These bastards look down on swordsmen one by one, each thinking that since they are Jujutsu Sorcerers, they shouldn't use swords, as if swords are something filthy not worth anyone's attention."
(T/N: Naoya the Maki victim also thought so)
"I want to break this shitty norm. I want the sword to regain its greatness. I want the New Shadow Style to become the one and only in the jujutsu world. I'm going to cut down all of the Big Three Families! I'll cut down the jujutsu higher-ups too!"
Now Mahito understood the old man's logic a bit.
He thought of how in the original work, Zen'in Naoya seemed to be the same way. Zen'in Naoya once stated that it was a loss of face for a Jujutsu Sorcerer to use a weapon. Even if taking a short sword could definitely improve one's strength, Jujutsu Sorcerers were simply unwilling and viewed it as a humiliation.
The Zen'in Family's "Kukuru Unit" was composed entirely of Jujutsu Sorcerers without Innate Techniques, and they all carried swords. However, the elite Jujutsu Sorcerers group "Hei," except for Zen'in Ogi, were all empty-handed.
Zen'in Ogi's technique was very ordinary, which is why he used swordsmanship to supplement his combat system. Presumably, if his technique were as flashy as others', he wouldn't have bothered studying swordsmanship. For sorcerers, using swordsmanship really was a disgrace.
The old man had finally met a disciple like Mahito, who was both a jujutsu genius and willing to learn swordsmanship sincerely. He truly cherished him, which is why he was more concerned about Mahito's safety than Mahito was himself.
Kenjaku said cheerfully, "Old friend, although I respect your face and was willing to speak for you in the past, I must refute you now."
"I must say, since you founded the New Shadow Style, there have been many brilliant talents among them, and indeed some born with Innate Techniques. But speak honestly—what do the achievements of these people have to do with your New Shadow Style?"
"The role your New Shadow Style plays has always been adding the finishing touch, never providing timely help in a crisis!"
"After a thousand years, the righteous path of a Jujutsu Sorcerer has been clearly revealed to everyone: digging deep into one's own Innate Technique, learning shikigami, barrier techniques, or Cursed Energy reinforcement is all easier than mastering swordsmanship."
"I remember the most outstanding New Shadow Style user of this era is Kusakabe Atsuya, right? He's a person without an Innate Technique. To survive in the jujutsu world, he could only embrace your New Shadow Style, relying on 'Simple Domain' to ensure his survival."
"Do you think if he had his own Innate Technique, he would give your New Shadow Style a second look?"
These words hit home, and Ashiya Magon was furious. "You motherf—!"
Mahito comforted him from the side. "Ashiya-sensei, aren't I still asking for your guidance? Swordsmanship isn't completely useless."
Kenjaku spoke coldly, "Do you call that learning swordsmanship? No—you do it to better utilize Mirokuji Kirigiri. You don't love swordsmanship; you love your tsukumogami. If you hadn't happened to cultivate a tsukumogami, I bet you wouldn't have given this old friend of mine a single glance."
Ashiya Magon finally couldn't hold back. He suddenly swung the bamboo sword in his hand, letting out a booming sonic crack like thunder on flat ground. Yet the bamboo sword remained intact, wrapped in a layer of faint blue Cursed Energy as perfectly fitted as a formal suit.
"Kenjaku, since I've had my memories, it seems I've never fought you, have I? Come, come, come! Let this old man test your mettle!" the old man roared furiously, his voice creating a visible shockwave that made the eardrums of those nearby ache.
Kenjaku raised both hands quite shamelessly. "Yes, yes, yes, it's my fault. I shouldn't have been so disparaging toward the swordsmanship you love."
"I must admit, the New Shadow Style is already the best path for a sorcerer without an Innate Technique. And I also believe that as long as the Big Three Families of the jujutsu world decline simultaneously, your New Shadow Style might actually unify the jujutsu world, just as Tokugawa Ieyasu eventually unified the Warring States."
"Are you fucking calling me a turtle!?" Ashiya Magon was enraged.
"I'm praising you. Tokugawa Ieyasu was the one who finally unified the Warring States, after all," Kenjaku emphasized.
Kinji Hakari held his head and asked Mahito, "Is this your daily routine? Accompanying two thousand-year-old ghosts as they go mad?"
Mahito laughed cheerfully. "Isn't this interesting? Both Kenjaku-san and Ashiya-san are immortal seniors. In the future, we should look up to them."
"You see modern works often have so-called curses of immortality, as if eternal life is some kind of eternal, agonizing punishment. But look at these seniors—is there even a hint of a 'curse' about them?"
"Hakari-san, you should watch and learn well. This is the mindset an immortal should truly have."
"Is now the time to worry about an immortal's mindset?!" Kinji Hakari roared. "Yuki Tsukumo is about to attack! And you're still here talking nonsense!"
Ashiya Magon suddenly snapped back to his senses. "Right, right, right, off-topic again! Mahito, don't you go meeting Yuki Tsukumo."
Mahito didn't answer immediately but instead asked Kenjaku carefully, "Does Yuki Tsukumo have the ability to find this place?"
Kenjaku said confidently, "Even Tengen can't. Of course, that's the current Tengen. If Tengen becomes a god, I can't guarantee it."
"In other words, it's safe here for the time being, right?" Mahito said.
"Yes." Kenjaku looked at Mahito thoughtfully. "I think I understand what you mean. You have 'Instant Movement.' If a battle really breaks out, you can return at any time? You want to go test Yuki Tsukumo?"
"You can use Instant Movement too?" Ashiya Magon looked at Mahito in disbelief.
Kenjaku completely ignored Ashiya Magon and only advised Mahito:
"If you're planning to rely on Instant Movement to save your life, then you're underestimating a Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer way too much."
"Information on Yuki Tsukumo is very strictly classified. Even I haven't found specific intel on her; I haven't even found out her Innate Technique. This is extremely rare in the jujutsu world because as long as one is a Jujutsu Sorcerer, they will inevitably fight, and as long as they fight, they can't help but reveal their Innate Technique."
"But Yuki Tsukumo has never revealed hers. Do you know what that means?"
"This doesn't just show that she cares about information security; it proves that besides her Innate Technique, she must be highly proficient in general jujutsu. She can defeat everyone under heaven using only general cursed arts without ever needing her Innate Technique."
"And among general jujutsu, the most useful is barrier techniques… barrier techniques are the foundation of Domain Expansion."
Mahito understood the deep meaning in Kenjaku's words.
Not every Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer can use Domain Expansion. For example, the deceased Geto Suguru—the body Kenjaku is currently inhabiting—couldn't use Domain Expansion. His strongest offensive method was a Maximum Technique.
Yuki Tsukumo, however, can.
⭐ Enjoying the story?
You can read ahead and support the translations by joining my Patreon! Your support helps me update faster and take on more projects. Thank you for reading!
Read up to 50 chapters ahead!
patreon.com/AminaSim
Next Bonus Chapter at 250 Powerstones.