Jujutsu Kaisen: Yearning to Become an Immortal God

"Only this way can you survive. Although Guan Yuan has been watching you, she never considered you much of a disaster. When she needs to, she can casually send out a Grade 1 Sorcerer to kill you with ease.

"To live a painful life, waiting for Guan Yuan to come at some unknown time... I can't imagine how you endured something so humiliating."

Mahito was telling the truth. That had also been the old man's fate in the original story. Tengen had indeed casually sent a Grade 1 Sorcerer to kill him. Then his Simple Domain had suddenly become widespread. Before that, it had clearly been said that "Simple Domain is passed down through a single lineage."

Incidentally, the Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer who killed him was Mei Mei—the one currently on the run.

With Mahito's current abilities, even if he gave her one hand, would Mei Mei dare appear before him? Ashiya Sadatsuna went blank.

"But even so, Mr. Ashiya never gave up." Mahito let out a breath. "Mr. Ashiya did not simply resign himself to despair. Instead, he carefully weighed

his own strength and influence, determined that he could never succeed even if he went mad, and thus chose to endure humiliation and hide himself. He even reduced himself to this state to demonstrate that he was harmless. Anyone who saw you would never think you harbored such grand ambitions."

Mahito sighed and gently stroked the hilt of the bamboo sword. "Isn't that also Iai?"

"Mr. Ashiya never cared about his own life in the first place. What he cared about was ruling over Jujutsu Society.

"They may seem alike, but there is an enormous difference. The ambition of 'ruling over Jujutsu Society' stands above 'eternal life.' As long as there is an opportunity, Mr. Ashiya will overturn the Jujutsu higher-ups without hesitation. Anyone who has seen Mr. Ashiya's sword can understand the kind of person he is."

Ashiya Sadatsuna was first startled, then gratified. "You can already be called a swordmaster." "I wouldn't dare. I'm cheating," Mahito said with a smile.

Mahito was not being modest. He really was cheating.

To see a sword was to see its wielder—this was a swordmaster's specialty. But Mahito was different. He knew the original story. Working backward from the original story to the present, of course he could read people accurately.

In the original story, Mei Mei had accurately described Ashiya Sadatsuna's goal before his death: he actively expanded his number of disciples and made each of them establish a Binding Vow. These vows had extremely harsh terms, including but not limited to dying for New Shadow Style at crucial moments, offering up their lifespan, never passing on Simple Domain, and so on.

Though he controlled the lives of every New Shadow Style disciple, he himself lived in extreme poverty. Even when it came to the necessary Binding Vows that absorbed lifespans, he was exceptionally frugal. He seemed to live only for the sake of staying alive.

His only mistake had been handing his life over to Guan Yuan. Even knowing that Guan Yuan was monitoring him, he still lived alone. As a result, when Tengen wanted him dead, killing him was hardly more difficult than killing an ordinary person.

Mahito would never make that mistake.

"It is the same now," Mahito said solemnly. "I know meeting Yuki Tsukumo is dangerous, but can it possibly be more dangerous than Satoru Gojo coming to our doorstep? We must learn how Yuki Tsukumo knows about us. We must prepare for every possible eventuality. This is what it means to have no other choice."

Because if they did not know Yuki Tsukumo's source of information, that hidden danger would always remain. It was no different from Ashiya Sadatsuna entrusting his life to Tengen.

Of course, the best outcome would be that this was merely a wonderful coincidence. Then Mahito would only have to face Yuki Tsukumo alone, which would be much easier.

"Since there is no other choice." Mahito swept his gaze across everyone and took a deep breath. "Then we must press forward without hesitation."

This was also the core principle of New Shadow Style: when there was no other choice, press forward without hesitation! Everyone was left speechless.

Then Mahito asked Kenjaku, "You just told me that if I already had Simple Domain, you would not stop me. You would instead advise me to test myself against Yuki Tsukumo?"

Kenjaku came back to his senses and nodded lightly. "Your fundamental strength has reached the level of a Special Grade Sorcerer. Your output, survivability, and mobility are all at that level. If neither side uses Domain Expansion, I believe Yuki Tsukumo would definitely be unable to take you down, regardless of what her Cursed Technique is. At that point, I could let you meet her without worry."

"Then that settles it," Mahito said. "What?" Kenjaku asked.

"I mean, I'll learn Simple Domain before meeting Yuki Tsukumo." Mahito smiled. This time, no one called Mahito arrogant—not even Ashiya Sadatsuna.

Simple Domain was an extension of willpower. The current situation was the most suitable time to learn it, because if he did not learn it, he would die! When there was no other choice, "press forward without hesitation" became especially striking.

Now, no one doubted whether Mahito could learn Simple Domain. The only question was whether Ashiya Sadatsuna was willing to teach him wholeheartedly. After a while, Ashiya Sadatsuna suddenly asked, "Can I see your Mirokuji Kirigiri?"

Mahito smiled. "Is that the condition for teaching me Simple Domain with all your heart?" Ashiya Sadatsuna burst into laughter. "Yes!"

The Secret of Simple Domain

If Special Grade Sorcerers were also ranked, Satoru Gojo was indisputably first. Then who was second? Yuta Okkotsu.

Among the three existing Special Grade Sorcerers, Yuki Tsukumo was the weakest.

It was not because she was not strong enough. It was because those above her were simply too strong! Satoru Gojo's Six Eyes combined with Limitless made him invincible, while Yuta Okkotsu's unconditional Copy of other people's Innate Techniques was so powerful that it left people speechless. By comparison, even Yuki Tsukumo, who could theoretically sink Japan with a single punch, seemed unremarkable.

If he retreated even when facing Yuki Tsukumo now, what would he do when facing Yuta Okkotsu later? What about Satoru Gojo? Retreat again? Where could he even retreat to?

Of course, Mahito was not mindlessly going to meet Yuki Tsukumo. He would only do so if he had a reasonable chance of winning.

Do not forget that Mahito also had a Special Grade Sorcerer template: Kinji Hakari. He had already perfectly digested that Special Grade template.

When he first used Maximum: Advent, a single breath could only create a pit dozens of meters wide. But during the Zenin battle, when he transformed into a Dragon, a single breath created a deep crater two kilometers in diameter and affected an area up to ten kilometers wide.

He had indeed grown stronger, and at an exponential rate!

If Domain Expansion were not hanging over him, Mahito was absolutely certain that Yuki Tsukumo was no match for him. Even if she could sink Japan with one punch, she was still a glass cannon.

That was right, she was a glass cannon. Though she could use her Cursed Technique to throw punches comparable to a meteor's impact, those techniques did not truly alter the density of her own body. Her body was still human. She still needed Reverse Cursed Technique to regenerate. She was no different from other fragile humans.

It was just that this cannon had a little too much firepower. And there was one more thing—she could not fly!

She could not fly, and she was a glass cannon. Mahito had far too many ways to deal with her.

Unless Yuki Tsukumo went insane, detonated herself, and compressed Earth into a two-centimeter glass sphere, she had no way to deal with Mahito at all.

Of course, that was only a contest between their Cursed Techniques. But Yuki Tsukumo possessed more than just an Innate Technique. She also had a guaranteed-kill move—Domain Expansion. Dealing with Yuki Tsukumo alone was not much pressure for Mahito, but dealing with Yuki Tsukumo who possessed Domain Expansion...

...was far too much pressure.

So when Ashiya Sadatsuna offered to teach Mahito Simple Domain wholeheartedly in exchange for seeing Mirokuji Kirigiri, Mahito could not refuse—and he should not refuse. This was a swordsmanship grandmaster's love for a peerless blade, and he humbly asked only to look at it. How could Mahito refuse?

Mahito had once told Ashiya Sadatsuna that he was not interested in Simple Domain, but plans had clearly changed. He needed Simple Domain now. He needed it badly!

As for the Multiple Soul Fusion Kenjaku had mentioned, Mahito had never intended to use it on Yuki Tsukumo from the start. He and Kenjaku agreed on this point: unless he faced Satoru Gojo, he would never use it.

Mahito took out the Mirokuji Kirigiri that Ashiya Sadatsuna had been longing to see. Ashiya Sadatsuna gently stroked Kirigiri's scabbard and sighed. "What a fine sword."

Kenjaku glanced at him. "Old friend, you haven't even drawn it from its sheath."

"Why would I need to draw it?" Ashiya Sadatsuna's tone was mournful. "I can feel the sword's emotions. She feels ashamed and sorrowful that she could not keep pace with her master. She is covered in wounds, yet unwilling to submit. She hopes to remain by her master's side forever.

Kinji Hakari was holding his phone, pondering how to return Yuki Tsukumo's call. Hearing Ashiya Sadatsuna's words, he looked utterly baffled. He craned his neck and peered at the still-sheathed straight blade. "Is it really that mystical? I thought you were reciting poetry."

Mahito smiled and held Kirigiri horizontally before him. Then, little by little, he drew her from the sheath. In an instant, it was as though a silver moon emerged from the scabbard—cold, proud, and aloof. A soft metallic hum rang out, and a flash of light struck everyone's eyes. In that instant, everyone shut their eyes, as if a sharp blade had already reached their eyeballs and pierced into their minds.

Ashiya Sadatsuna cried out in praise, "Good! Good! Good! Truly an unparalleled sword beneath the heavens!

"I see cracks across the blade, yet not a hint of weakness. She is like a gravely wounded warrior, sweeping her hawkish gaze across all creation! This is absolutely no illusion. This sword can certainly unleash a slash beyond time itself. She can pierce through the mortal world, cross three thousand crows, and decree life and death! Truly, Gods and Buddhas, All Severed!"

Kinji Hakari said to Kenjaku beside him, "This old man's gone crazy."

Kenjaku nodded deeply. "He endured humiliation for a thousand years. Now he has finally gone mad."

Well, although Mirokuji Kirigiri was a Tsukumogami that Kenjaku had provided Mahito with as a foundation to cultivate, Kenjaku had never believed it could serve much purpose. His view was the same as Kinji Hakari's: Mirokuji Kirigiri was indeed a good weapon, but only a weapon. It was a transitional tool, destined to be eliminated in the end.

Otherwise, Kenjaku would not have told Mahito to replace it after Mirokuji Kirigiri was severely damaged, without feeling the slightest psychological burden.

Ashiya Sadatsuna shot Kinji Hakari and Kenjaku a sidelong glance, too lazy to pay them any attention. "Mahito, I understand your intention now. You want to completely integrate swordsmanship into your combat system?"

Mahito slowly returned Kirigiri to her sheath. The moonlight-like blade disappeared from Ashiya Sadatsuna's sight. His face was full of regret, but he knew this was the best treatment for a blade already so badly damaged. Before finding a swordsmith capable of repairing Kirigiri, it was best to preserve the blade in its current state and put it away.

"Precisely. You are the strongest swordsmanship Jujutsu Sorcerer in this world. I believe that if it is you, you can certainly answer my questions," Mahito said. Ashiya Sadatsuna became smug. "You certainly came to the right person!"

Then he clasped his hands behind his back, raised his head toward the sky with a lonely expression, and sighed.

"Mahito, you have greater insight than I do. You understood earlier than I did that a person is like a sword, and seeing a sword is like seeing a person. You are unlike other sorcerers. As Su said, if there were another choice, who would willingly enter my school? But they do not understand. New Shadow Style is something that embraces all rivers. Any Cursed Technique can be integrated into New Shadow Style without obstruction."

Kenjaku chuckled. "I'm still here, old friend."

"Even if Tengen were here, I would say the same," Ashiya Sadatsuna said proudly. "What about Ryomen Sukuna?" Kenjaku asked curiously.

"Ryomen Sukuna..." Ashiya Sadatsuna's tone became complicated. "Though Ryomen Sukuna ruined my life, ground my pride beneath his feet, never even deigned to look at me, and humiliated me to the utmost, I must admit that it was precisely because he existed that I became certain swordsmanship could rule over Jujutsu Society. He is my signpost."

Kinji Hakari sighed and said to Mahito, "Can you tell me how I should respond to Yuki Tsukumo first? I don't want to stay here with this crazy old man."

"Mahito, listen carefully. What I am about to tell you is a story I have never revealed to anyone. From it, you can learn the core skill of my school:

"Simple Domain." Ashiya Sadatsuna acted as if Kenjaku and Kinji Hakari did not exist, speaking slowly. "Most sorcerers now search for traces of Ryomen Sukuna in legends. They only know a fraction of his abilities, but they have never known that Ryomen Sukuna was also a swordsmanship grandmaster.

"His swordsmanship did not involve holding a blade in his hand. It was his Innate Technique. His slashing Cursed Technique had two forms. One was the usual slash, Dismantle, but few knew of his other slash, Cleave."

Ashiya Sadatsuna turned back to Mahito, his expression solemn.

"Ryomen Sukuna's Cleave can directly slash a target, ignoring its properties and killing in a single strike! This is actually a technique that violates the principles of Cursed Techniques, because every Cursed Technique has its limits. Yet Ryomen Sukuna's Cleave can ignore such differences and kill in one blow.

"It is an extremely terrifying slash. More terrifying still, no one can understand it. I pondered it for centuries without figuring it out, until I used Simple Domain in one battle."

Mahito raised a brow. "I remember that the prototype of Simple Domain was Hollow Wicker Basket."

"Monkeys are also the prototype of humans. Go out on the street and ask someone whether they admit they are a monkey." The old man laughed smugly. "Hollow Wicker Basket can indeed be considered the prototype of Simple Domain, but it is not all of it. The potential of my Simple Domain is beyond everyone's imagination, even those who have learned it."

A gleam flashed through Mahito's eyes. "...An extension of willpower?"

Ashiya Sadatsuna sighed. "It seems you have already grasped something."

Ashiya Sadatsuna sighed again. "I failed to understand it after centuries of thought, but when I used Simple Domain in battle, I immediately understood why Ryomen Sukuna could use Cleave. Willpower! I once frantically tried to understand Ryomen Sukuna because I had the will to kill him. But the more I understood him, the more I could appreciate the will residing within him. The more I feared him, the more I understood the gap between us."

The old man turned toward Mahito. His eyes were sharp as swords, and his voice was cold as though it contained ten thousand years of ice.

"Ryomen Sukuna views this world as his dining hall. Everyone is his food. His slashing Cursed Technique is a chef's knife technique! When he ate people in the past, I thought it was merely cruelty. Later, I learned that humans were simply part of his menu. The way he cuts apart human bodies

"is no different from a chef cutting ingredients.

"He does not eat people as a performance or to display cruelty. He truly loves eating people! He truly regards humans as his staple food!

"Ryomen Sukuna possesses the only Open Domain Expansion in the world. Before then, I could not imagine that anyone could possess an Open Domain Expansion. But after I perceived the thoughts in his heart, I immediately understood why he could create an Open Domain.

"Barrier Technique is an extension of imagination, and Domain Expansion constructed upon Barrier Technique works the same way. It is difficult for humans to imagine Barrier Technique without walls. Theoretically, it is impossible to expand one's thoughts to encompass the entire world, because that means a person is extremely twisted, extremely arrogant, and sees the entire world as their possession.

"Do you understand now?

"Ryomen Sukuna's will can stand above the entire world! If he had enough Cursed Energy, I would not doubt that his Domain Expansion could cover the entire Earth, this planet with a diameter of 12,742 kilometers!"

Kinji Hakari listened in fascination and muttered, "I finally understand why all you old relics care so much about Ryomen Sukuna, even treating him as the third option for dealing with Mr. Gojo. A person really cannot imagine an existence beyond their imagination. Before this, I always doubted what gave Ryomen Sukuna the right to compare himself to Mr. Gojo. Now I understand a little."

"Ryomen Sukuna's terror is not even one ten-thousandth of what I have described." The old man sighed, then continued, "Back to the point. As I said, my Simple Domain is also deeply influenced by Ryomen Sukuna's Open Domain. It can touch a person's deepest will, combine that will with their Cursed Energy, and release it outward.

"When a swordsman uses Simple Domain, it must take the form of an Iai slash. His mind becomes fully immersed in the maximum distance his Iai slash can reach. Within that range, the swordsman becomes the unparalleled Ryomen Sukuna beneath the heavens!"

Mahito thought of the scene where Kasumi Miwa used Simple Domain. At the time, Kasumi Miwa had closed her eyes and taken an Iai stance. A ring of force emerged beneath her feet, spreading to a radius of 2.25 meters around her. Within that distance, she could capture even a trace of air. This was the most traditional Simple Domain.

When Kasumi Miwa's Simple Domain formed, her narration had directly stated that within this range, there was nothing she could not cut! Of course, reality proved that she could not do it. Yuji Itadori easily crossed through her domain, and Maki Zenin broke it by throwing something from afar. It was practically the perfect example of getting slapped in the face.

But this revealed the core principle of Simple Domain: confidence, even arrogance. This was the so-called extension of willpower!

Kenjaku nodded. "Old friend, you have revealed your deepest secret. Once you tell this story, any capable sorcerer can use Simple Domain according to your ideas and story. After all, 'extension of willpower' has never been exclusive to swordsmen. Jujutsu Sorcerers can do it too."

The old man shot Kenjaku a disdainful look. "As expected of someone who understands nothing. Your words only make me laugh."

Kenjaku chuckled and said to Mahito, "Mahito, my old friend is useless now. I have already conceived a Simple Domain more suitable for you. I guarantee you will not need to learn swordsmanship at all."

"You bastard—!" Ashiya Sadatsuna flew into a rage.

"No, Kenjaku, this is where you do not understand. I understand Teacher Ashiya's meaning now," Mahito said thoughtfully.

Kenjaku raised a brow. "Oh?" Ashiya Sadatsuna looked at Mahito expectantly.

Mahito gently stroked Kirigiri and spoke slowly. "Though we are talking about Simple Domain, the actual focus is one's own willpower. This is a method of regulating one's will. The Iai stance is not necessary, but when a swordsman assumes an Iai stance, his thoughts can better condense and unfold Simple Domain. For ordinary people, that is enough. In other words, as Teacher Kenjaku said, swordsmanship is not the focus.

"But in truth, it is exactly the opposite. Swordsmanship is the focus, because the object Simple Domain imitates includes Ryomen Sukuna's slashing Cursed Technique! There is an extremely strong connection between slashing Cursed Techniques and swordsmanship. Or rather, swordsmanship truly has the ability to accomplish the same things as slashing Cursed Techniques.

"Once you understand this, you can understand the ultimate manifestation of Simple Domain—Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine!"

Everyone cried out in shock. Malevolent Shrine was the legendary Open Domain Expansion of Ryomen Sukuna, releasing indiscriminate, all-directional slashes within a two-hundred-meter radius!

At first, Mahito had not understood the old man's words either. But the moment his fingers lightly touched Kirigiri, he immediately understood the old man's deeper meaning. Wasn't Kirigiri's Severing Line itself an imitation? It was precisely because the slashing Cursed Technique had truly succeeded in cutting through Limitless in the original story that Mahito had specially set up the line for Kirigiri.

Kirigiri only needed a line, but Ashiya Sadatsuna's ambitions were far greater. What he wanted was to use a Simple Domain formed through swordsmanship to create another Malevolent Shrine! How could that merely mean limitless potential? That was Ryomen Sukuna's Domain Expansion, the ceiling of the entire work.

Ashiya Sadatsuna clapped forcefully. "As expected of you, Mahito. You have completely understood everything about Simple Domain! I have hidden many things from my disciples, but there is one thing I have never concealed: the domain of the weak, which I always speak of.

"Only after experiencing the helplessness of the weak can one strive upward and understand the true meaning of 'when there is no other choice, press forward without hesitation'! Simple Domain is my inferior imitation of Malevolent Shrine, but precisely because it is an inferior imitation, its potential is limitless! Who says it must be filled with swordsmanship? It can be filled with any Cursed Technique—any!"

This time, even Kenjaku was stunned. He unconsciously muttered, "Old friend, I never expected you..." The old man said proudly, "Kenjaku, you have always called me old friend. Only this time do you mean it sincerely."

Kenjaku was not embarrassed and began chuckling again. "All right, old friend. I admit that before this, I did look down on you a little. You should understand how traditional Jujutsu Sorcerers view swordsmanship, so you cannot blame me. This is also the first time I have heard you speak of Simple Domain's potential. I have to say, it truly surprised me. As expected, every old monster who has survived until now has some skill."

Who were the old monsters who had survived until now?

Kenjaku himself, Guan Yuan, and Ashiya Sadatsuna.

Kenjaku's words were genuinely sincere praise, though unfortunately they sounded terrible. Ashiya Sadatsuna glared at Kenjaku, preparing to curse him out.

Suddenly, a phone rang, and everyone turned their eyes toward Kinji Hakari.

Kinji Hakari raised the phone. "Yuki Tsukumo seems a little anxious. Before I could contact her, she contacted me again."

He looked at Mahito. "What should we do, Mahito?"

"Isn't she looking for me?" Mahito took the phone. "Then I'll speak with her personally."

Coincidence

Yuki Tsukumo frowned tightly as she looked at the grocery store before her.

She took out her phone and made a call. After listening for several seconds, before the person on the other end could answer, she impatiently said, "We came a step too late."