"Her name is Mirokuji Kirigiri, a Tsukumogami I personally cultivated," Mahito said coldly.
"Her future has only just begun."
"The mere Zenin clan was just her debut battle."
"She will surely become the God-Slayer Sword and God-Serving Blade that shakes the world, unrivaled under heaven."
A look of admiration and lamentation appeared on the old man's face.
"Good, good."
"Excellent. This is a true partner."
"A swordsman should treat his blade as he would his own lover."
"There is no closer relationship in this world than that between a swordsman and his sword."
"The sword's name is inscribed with the swordsmith's blessing, while the swordsman gives the sword meaning in life."
"'Mirokuji Kirigiri,' the God-Slayer Sword? Good, a good name."
"A good sword, and a good person!"
Uraume nudged Mahito's side with an elbow and asked with a smile:
"How is it?"
"Although it's hard to accept at first sight, do you now get the feeling of 'Ah, he really is the founder of the New Shadow Style'?"
"Though he's so weak he can't even hold a sword anymore, he has maintained this passion for a thousand years, as long as he has existed."
The old man ignored Kenjaku's teasing and looked Mahito up and down.
Finally confirming that Kirigiri was not on Mahito's person, he began to grumble in dissatisfaction:
"What's going on?"
"How can a swordsman leave his sword alone in its scabbard?"
"You should carry your sword with you at all times, never letting it leave your side!"
"To think you'd appear before me empty-handed like this—it's not good, really not good at all!"
Mahito asked, "There are cracks on Kirigiri's blade, caused by a direct collision with a Black Flash."
"I had no choice but to set her aside, but the recovery hasn't been ideal."
"Do you have any solutions?"
These words made the old man's face fill with regret.
"I am a swordsman, not a swordsmith. I cannot handle such problems..."
"If it were a thousand years ago, I did know a very powerful swordsmith, but not anymore."
"Modern people have long forgotten the pursuit of swords from ancient times."
"They would rather spend a month feeding bullets than ten years honing their swordsmanship."
"Without people to use swords, swordsmiths are even worse off."
Mahito wanted to sigh to the heavens.
Do you even hear what you're saying?
Comparing a month's worth of bullets to ten years of grueling sword training—how do you even dare to make that comparison?
Just by looking at Mahito's expression, the old man knew what he wanted to say.
He suddenly asked, "Want to try?"
Mahito was startled. "Try what?"
The old man said calmly, "To see what these old bones of mine can still do."
What they can still do?
Mahito was truly surprised this time.
He did know of the old man's existence; he had appeared toward the end of the original story as an ambitious man who desired to rule the Jujutsu world.
He was indeed as frail then as he was now.
Although he constantly talked about ruling the Jujutsu world, in the end, he was killed quite simply without even a single battle scene.
As the founder of the New Shadow Style, he might have been a formidable fighter in his prime.
But now, with his lack of any muscle, looking as if he'd blow over in the wind, Mahito didn't think he had any combat capability at all.
Mahito observed the old man closely and asked, "Are you sure?"
These words were the signal for battle.
A flash of light erupted from the old man, forcing Mahito's survival instincts to kick in.
He instinctively tilted his head back as a pencil appeared before his neck.
The pencil's tip was so blunt it would be hard to write with.
Yet, a faint trail of blood silently appeared on Mahito's neck, and a drop of blood fell, sliding down his skin.
The old man slowly retracted the pencil, hiding it in his sleeve.
He said, "I'm old, truly old. I can't even hit a cat anymore."
These were the words of the genius swordsman Okita Souji from the Bakumatsu era.
At that time, he had a dream where he chased a cat to strike it but could never hit it.
He spoke these words upon waking and passed away shortly after.
The old man's use of these words was self-deprecating, describing himself as being in his twilight years, no longer what he once was.
But even if he was no longer what he once was, he could still make Mahito bleed with a pencil in an instant.
And Mahito hadn't managed to dodge it!
One must remember that his current body was one he had crafted himself, and his dynamic vision could even see the individual movements of Projection Sorcery!
Yet, facing the old man's sudden attack, even knowing he would strike, he still hadn't reacted in time.
Kenjaku clapped lightly.
"Your skills haven't diminished, old friend."
"With just that move, you could easily pass as a Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer even if you entered the world now."
Mahito lightly touched his neck, and the bloodstain vanished without a trace.
He couldn't help but ask, "Only Grade 2?"
"I once fought a Jujutsu Sorcerer who was deeply trained in Iai Slash and Falling Blossom Emotion."
"He was a Special Grade 1 Sorcerer, two ranks higher than a Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer, yet that man's Iai Slash was far inferior to that move just now."
Before Kenjaku could explain, the old man said without any reservation:
"The person you're talking about is Ogi Zenin, right?"
"He was a prodigy of his generation in his youth."
"Combining Iai with the Big Three Families' secret technique, Falling Blossom Emotion, was indeed a genius idea."
"He almost became unrivaled in the world with that move."
"His Auto-Counter Iai Slash was far superior to mine in both power and speed."
"Then why?" Mahito asked.
"There is only one point where I am above him," the old man said calmly.
"Intent."
"My intent far exceeds his."
"Therefore, he is far inferior to me."
"Intent..." Mahito said thoughtfully.
The old man spoke slowly:
"Iai Slash is a strike with no retreat and no defense."
"Simply increasing power and speed can certainly strengthen the power of an Iai Slash, but simply improving those will never allow one to grasp the true profound truth of the Iai Slash..."
"...that heart that moves forward without looking back."
"There is no other way but to move forward with everything you have."
"Since you've come to find me, you should know the core Jujutsu of my school."
"Are you referring to Simple Domain?" Mahito's tone unconsciously became respectful.
The old man explained:
"Nowadays, everyone who knows of Simple Domain naturally considers it the trademark of the New Shadow Style, a type of Barrier Technique."
"But they don't know the true core of this move."
"Simple Domain is actually an extension of the heart."
"If you've consulted the thousand-year-old Sorcerer beside you, you should know why Simple Domain was created."
"It was created to deal with the Cursed Spirits and Curse Users that appeared in endless numbers back then."
"Although we were also Sorcerers, we were the group with mediocre talent, and some didn't even have an Innate Technique."
"So I simply gave up my talent for Jujutsu and focused solely on learning swordsmanship."
"At first, I knew nothing, just simply using the most basic reinforcement Jujutsu to strengthen my blades."
"But that alone wasn't enough, because the Innate Techniques of Cursed Spirits and Curse Users were too peculiar; simple blades couldn't reach them."
"So I searched everywhere for a universal Cursed Technique that could break through these obstacles, and I actually found one."
"—Mihiraga Tsuguri, a special Cursed Technique that can neutralize any Domain."
"But my talent for Jujutsu was too poor, far too poor; I couldn't learn it."
"In fact, even if I learned it, it wouldn't be very useful, because Mihiraga Tsuguri is purely a defensive Cursed Technique."
"What I needed was a Cursed Technique that integrated offense and defense, and Mihiraga Tsuguri simply couldn't satisfy me."
"So I merely figured out its principle and then abandoned it without hesitation."
"If you've studied Barrier Techniques, you should have heard a saying: 'A barrier is the boundary of imagination.'"
Mahito thought rapidly and immediately understood what the old man had just done.
He couldn't help but exclaim in shock: "The 'Domain' in 'Simple Domain' is not the same as the Domain in Domain Expansion!"
"These two are different!"
"It's an extension of will from within!"
"A barrier is an extension of imagination."
"You discarded the techniques of Barrier Techniques and simply used the principles of Barrier Techniques to construct this special Domain—a Domain of will!"
"Because swordsmen believe that as long as they are within the range of their Iai Slash, any attack will be cut down by the Iai Slash before it can hit them, whether it is tangible or intangible."
"Believing deeply that one can cut down anything, while imagining oneself unaffected by all phenomena."
"That's why 'Simple Domain' can be formed!"
"Automatic Counterattack Iai Slash sounds wonderful, and in terms of power and speed, it is indeed superior to your Iai Slash."
"But ultimately, Automatic Counterattack Iai Slash is just a special technique, while your Iai Slash is an extension of a swordsman's will!"
Damn it, isn't this what they call "mind over matter"?
The intent is too profound!
Mahito now completely understood, and he also understood why the old man could use a pencil tip to cut his neck just now.
Because at that moment, the old man skillfully used Simple Domain.
The pencil was like the old man's sword, his cuff like a scabbard, and at that instant, the old man used Iai Slash within the Simple Domain!
The old man couldn't help but praise: "Impressive."
"You've grasped the core of 'Simple Domain' after hearing just a few words from me."
"If you are willing to cultivate under me for ten years, you will surely elevate Simple Domain to a higher level, making it your own unique Domain Expansion."
Mahito exhaled.
"Now that I know this, killing you has become simple."
"As long as I'm not within your reach, I can easily kill you by using long-range methods to deplete your energy."
"Your age has indeed held you back."
"You cannot move and cannot actively attack, becoming a living target."
"No wonder Teacher Kenjaku said you can only be a Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer."
No wonder in the original story, the old man was killed by a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer without even a single fight scene.
His weakness was too obvious; as long as one maintained a certain distance, killing him would be as easy as flipping a hand.
The old man said calmly: "That's right."
"Someone like me is probably not worth your recruitment."
"Of course, if you ask me to order my disciples not to oppose you, I can't do that either."
"Even if you kill me, I can't."
"This old man is just a withered bone in a tomb; I don't have that much power."
Mahito knew this was the old man's silent refusal.
The old man thought Kenjaku was there to recruit him, so he revealed all his trump cards and what he could do, hoping Kenjaku would give up on him and leave.
In fact, in the original story, Kenjaku never contacted him.
Presumably, Kenjaku also knew the old man's specific situation, so he didn't bother looking for him.
Furthermore, Mahito also knew that what the old man said was untrue; he must still be hiding some essential knowledge.
He definitely hadn't opened up to Mahito.
This was easy to judge, as Simple Domain was, after all, his foundation.
He wouldn't reveal all its secrets before he died.
Mahito was not surprised by this and indeed didn't mind.
Kenjaku shrugged, "That's how it is. Mahito , do you want to continue talking?"
Of course, he wanted to continue!
For Mahito, learning Simple Domain would be good, but not learning it was fine too.
Look, Ryomen Sukuna and Satoru Gojo don't know Simple Domain, did it affect them becoming the strongest in the world?
What Mahito wanted was not Simple Domain at all.
"I'm not here to learn 'Simple Domain'."
Mahito looked directly into the old man's eyes, "I'm here to learn swordsmanship."
The old man said in surprise: "Not for Simple Domain, but purely to learn swordsmanship? Are you serious?"
Of course, it was serious.
Mahito's future would inevitably involve Domain Expansion; Mahito had no doubt about this.
Compared to his own unique Domain Expansion, Simple Domain would seem lackluster.
If that's the case, why pursue Simple Domain?
On the contrary, this old man was the best Jujutsu Sorcerer Sword Grandmaster in the world.
To integrate his own combat system, the old man was indispensable.
Of course, he couldn't say it so directly.
"I possess an unparalleled sword, so to allow this unparalleled sword to unleash its full potential, I have come to learn swordsmanship."
Mahito smiled: "I believe if it's you, you will understand what I mean."
The old man was first stunned, then a smile appeared, and finally, he burst into loud laughter, despite his frail body.
He laughed heartily and said: "I understand, of course, I understand!"
"New Shadow Style, founder, Sadatsuna Ashiya."
"Willing to serve the Lord of Curses!"
The next day, Sadatsuna Ashiya, having shed his frail body through Idle Transfiguration, was overcome with rage.
His blood pressure soared, his anger burned, and he roared furiously:
"You fool!"
"You're looking down on me, aren't you!?"
"You came to me without even a basic foundation in swordsmanship?!"
"Start over from Natural Stance, you brute!"