Dark Surge Eight Settled Waters

Domain Expansion, universally recognized in the jujutsu world as the pinnacle of "jujutsu," was the ultimate move born when a sorcerer's barrier technique mastery, cursed energy, and understanding, insight, and command of their own cursed technique all reached their peak.

By forming hand seals and using cursed energy to deploy a barrier technique, one's immense cursed energy would naturally form an innate domain. Then, one imbued that domain with a sure-hit cursed technique.

Within the barrier, cursed energy originating from oneself would naturally converge and attack any abnormal cursed energy inside the domain.

By deploying Hollow Wicker Basket, one could spread out cursed energy to resist the sure-hit "lock-on." As a result, unless one used specific hand signs to keep feeding cursed energy into Hollow Wicker Basket, its protection could easily be lost.

Even before calibrating Mahoraga, Xuan had already deployed his own domain. His modern knowledge and his understanding of Jujutsu Kaisen from before his transmigration had allowed him to easily deploy a complete basic domain. It was not a half-finished domain like Megumi Fushiguro's, but Xuan's own innate domain.

"Dark Surge Eight Settled Waters."

A closed domain relied on sealing the opponent inside. Whether from within or without, there would always be a weak point. Break it from the inside or the outside, and the domain would collapse in an instant. As the "strongest," how could Xuan not have considered how to solve that problem?

So what if Eight Settled Waters, like Malevolent Shrine, were an open domain? Using extraordinarily advanced barrier techniques as a foundation, he could paint his own domain upon a canvas with no boundaries, then anchor it with fixed points and add a few Binding Vows...

After calibrating Mahoraga, Xuan had begun considering how to complete his own open domain.

However, an open domain by itself would not utterly overpower a closed domain. Sukuna's solution was to rapidly dismantle other domains with Dismantle and Cleave—but that was incompatible with the Ten Shadows Technique.

The imitations of Dismantle, Cleave, lightning, and the other shikigamis' cursed techniques could not be attached to Xuan's domain, because of the Binding Vow Xuan had made. After Divine Dog: White had been accidentally killed by a cursed spirit, Xuan came up with an idea: by pouring out several times the cursed energy normally required to summon a shikigami, he could have the "shikigami" cover his body. Then, just as he used Mahoraga's wheel, he could use the abilities of other shikigami.

But those were not his cursed technique.

Therefore, he could not, like Sukuna, use a wide-area, all-encompassing cursed technique to maintain his domain's combat power while targeting closed domains.

But Xuan had thought of another way.

The shrine at the center of a domain was not irreplaceable.

Xuan's open domain transformed himself into the "shrine," causing "shadows" formed from cursed energy to surge out of his body like seawater. In this way, he could destroy a closed domain from within.

At the same time, such a domain was equivalent to an extension of his body. He could summon the Ten Shadows shikigami anywhere within it, or use their cursed techniques.

As for a countermeasure against open domains—Xuan naturally had a contingency plan as well.

But naturally, he would have to wait until Xuan encountered another open domain to test it.

As the street reappeared, it signaled that Ryu Ishigori's domain had completely shattered. Xuan, meanwhile, had maintained excellent control over his own domain, limiting its range to the road and leaving the surrounding streets undamaged.

The cursed technique had been imbued into the surging tide of shadows. Countless tentacles seemed to writhe within that darkness, lifting and binding—then the rushing shadows sliced through the restrained Ryu Ishigori like sharp blades.

The rushing shadows wrapped around Ryu Ishigori's body like flowing water, while the entwining shadows gripped his flesh like threads. Then Xuan emerged from within the shadows.

Ryu Ishigori rapidly repaired his wounds with reverse cursed technique while struggling to pull a fist free from the sea of shadows and throw a punch. But before it could strike Xuan, the fist was ensnared once more and dragged back into the shadow sea.

Something was wrong. His cursed energy was draining away.

Cursed technique burnout prevented Ryu Ishigori from freely controlling and releasing cursed energy. Worse still, the shadows were slowly stealing his cursed energy. Compared to Ryu Ishigori, who was already running on empty, Xuan currently had the stacked buffs of Domain Expansion and Black Flash.

Ryu Ishigori gritted his teeth, gathered cursed energy, and fired a thick, elongated beam of cursed energy. As his cursed energy poured out, his pompadour nearly came undone. Then, the azure beam pierced Xuan's body before him. That "body" vanished upon being struck, and a hand pressed against his back.

He had no cursed energy left—the viscous black shadows clinging to him were not only restricting his movements, but also drawing out the remnants of cursed energy in his body. And they were fast. He had been immersed in Eight Settled Waters for less than ten seconds, yet the cursed energy surging through Ryu Ishigori after Black Flash had already been almost completely drained.

Ryu Ishigori gave up. Being able to fight the strongest had already satisfied him. Though he had not harmed the man before him in the slightest from start to finish, at least his opponent had shown him the utmost respect. He let out a breath, feeling the hand pressed against his back as he waited for the fine, dense slashes to appear.

The slashes he had expected, capable of cutting Ryu Ishigori into tiny pieces, did not come. Instead, the black shadows slowly receded. The tide-like darkness was drawn back into Xuan's body, and the two landed on the asphalt at the same time.

"Ha..."

Xuan let out a long sigh, then gave Ryu Ishigori a firm pat on the back.

The latter stumbled, then turned around only after realizing he had not died.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

The confusion on Ryu Ishigori's face did not fade. For an opponent who had already run out of options, a proper sorcerer would naturally unleash their cursed technique without holding anything back—but Xuan had not done so. Instead, he had voluntarily dispelled his domain.

"Why didn't you kill me?"

"Ah, because I don't like killing people."

Ryu Ishigori fell silent as he looked at the hamburger held out before him.

"Eat up. Spicy chicken burger."

"..."

Ryu Ishigori accepted the burger and sat on the steps. He took an exploratory bite. Compared to the taste preserved in this body's memories, the sensation of actually eating it now allowed him to appreciate food's deliciousness far more keenly. After wolfing down the burger in two or three bites, Ryu Ishigori wiped his mouth and looked up at Xuan again.

Xuan was currently stuffing fries into his mouth, flicking them up one by one and letting them fall in. Even Ryu Ishigori fell silent at this mysterious behavior. If not for the plates made of shadows around them and the utterly undisguised cursed energy, Ryu Ishigori might have doubted whether the person beside him was truly the strongest of the Muromachi era from moments ago.

"Tasty, right? Modern refined fried food can't compare to ancient roast chicken and sake."

"Mm."

Perhaps because he was too preoccupied with why Xuan had spared him, Ryu Ishigori had not actually tasted much of the "deliciousness" when he polished off the burger in one go.

But no matter how battle-crazed he was, faced with an opponent who had already defeated him and even shown mercy, he could not muster any interest in fighting again. In this nearly one-sided battle, Ryu Ishigori felt like a child forcibly seated before a lavish feast. He had already become full before the appetizers were even served—and the delicious dishes had only just come out of the kitchen.

What he sought was dessert. Let someone else deal with a main course he could not handle.

"Is there any more?"

"Burgers?"

"Mm."

Ryu Ishigori nodded and took another hamburger from Xuan's hand.

He took another bite. The soft, fragrant bun came with the aroma of chicken. As he chewed, the tender texture and crisp lettuce burst in his mouth, along with the sauce, meat juices, and a slight kick of spice.

"How is it?"

"I have to admit, it's pretty tasty."

Having figured it out, Ryu Ishigori nodded.