Cursed Corpses, Apprenticeship, the Strongest Shikigami User

Lu Ping pushed open the door and took a breath of the slightly cool mountain breeze.

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, the sunlight had lost its midday scorching heat and slanted across the Jujutsu High rooftops of the college, spreading a soft orange hue across the courtyard.

After the intense mental strain of the battle, he desperately craved this tranquility, free from the stench of blood.

He didn't go far, following the familiar stone path, and went straight to the back mountain of the Jujutsu High.

There is a clearing surrounded by bamboo forest. Apart from the occasional student who comes to slack off, it is almost undisturbed, making it an ideal place for training in local Barrier Techniques and the Ten Shadows Micro-Manipulation.

Although they achieved victory in the battle of Akihabara by forcibly deploying the Incomplete Domain, [Chimera Shadow Garden].

But Lu Ping knew very well that his control over the barrier in those short ten seconds was far too crude.

Even with Binding Vow reinforcement of the domain by relying on experience and combat intuition to create a clear escape route, they were still unable to kill or subdue the remaining two instantly.

Rather than constructing a complete alternate dimension, it's more accurate to say that a massive amount of Cursed Energy was used to forcibly pry open a barely leak-proof shell.

When faced with equal or even stronger competition, such shoddy construction will be crushed instantly.

He stood in the middle of the open space and closed his eyes.

Without invoking the Three Corpses, the [Snake Scales] on the body surface were simply left in an invisible, activated state.

Within a radius of thirty meters, even the faint Cursed Residue Cursed Energy carried by the wind blowing through the bamboo leaves rippled like water within his sensory network.

Suddenly, an extremely unnatural fluctuation appeared at the edge of the sensory network.

It wasn't the wind, nor was it a trace left by wild animals in the mountains; rather, it was a Cursed Energy that had been deliberately suppressed to the extreme, yet was extremely condensed.

Like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, it silently slipped into the 30-meter warning line.

Lu Ping suddenly opened his eyes, his body reacting even before his mind.

He brought two fingers of his right hand together and quickly drew a trajectory in the air in front of him.

"[Account]."

A semi-transparent black barrier instantly solidified beside him.

Almost at the same time, a dark shadow shot out from the depths of the bamboo forest and crashed heavily into the barrier.

"Bang!"

A dull thud echoed across the open space.

The black barrier rippled violently, then steadily blocked the attack.

Lu Ping then realized that what attacked him wasn't a Cursed Spirit, but a fluffy teddy bear wearing boxing gloves.

The teddy bear was exceptionally agile. After missing its first strike, it immediately used the recoil to tumble in the air and land steadily three meters away, assuming a standard boxing defensive stance.

The manipulation of Cursed Energy was exquisite, but something about this Cursed Corpse felt off.

Lu Ping did not retaliate, because within the [Snake Scales] perception network, an even larger and more familiar wave of Cursed Energy was slowly approaching from the direction where the teddy bear had appeared.

More importantly, during that brief contact, the Three Corpses, which had been in a dormant state, experienced a rare, subtle tremor deep within their subconscious.

The Azure Corpse exuded a chilling aura that defied the laws of nature; the Blood Corpse seemed to have smelled some mutated food, conveying a subtle appetite; while the White Corpse calmly gazed at the three independent yet tightly intertwined "cores" within the teddy bear's body—cores that shouldn't exist simultaneously.

That is the shape of the soul.

Lu Ping untied the curtain and did not pursue the matter further.

I had seen these kinds of puppets not long ago; they are [Puppet Manipulation Techniques ].

"The response is good; the barrier is being constructed much faster than before."

A deep voice came from the shadows of the bamboo grove.

Masamichi Yaga pushed up the sunglasses on his nose that he hadn't had when they last met, and came out.

Compared to when we last met in the office, he seemed more composed and calm, and he was holding a ball of yarn that he was knitting.

"Teacher Yaga."

Lu Ping dispelled the barrier and took the initiative to greet them.

"Let me correct you, I am now not only your teacher, but also the principal of this school."

Masamichi Yaga up to Lu Ping and looked at the ever-growing amount of Cursed Energy within him, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"I was worried that you, with your potential in the Ten Shadows Technique Art Barrier Technique, might have been tricked by those old fogies into becoming an assistant supervisor after seeing you spending all your time in the library flipping through those ancient books. Now it seems you've integrated Barrier Techniques into your own combat system."

"It was just pointless tinkering. If their Barrier Techniques had been a bit more refined that time in Akihabara, things might not have turned out so messy."

Lu Ping answered casually, but his gaze lingered on the teddy bear for a moment, seemingly unintentionally.

Following his gaze, Masamichi Yaga assumed he was interested in the new type of Cursed Corpse and explained, "This is a new type of Cursed Corpse I've been experimenting with recently. Its stealth capabilities have been greatly enhanced. I originally wanted to test its stealth abilities, but I didn't expect you to detect it anyway."

Lu Ping withdrew his gaze, looked at Masamichi Yaga's sunglasses, and said calmly, "The shape doesn't matter, but if you've stuffed three of those things inside," it's best to avoid letting those Rotten Oranges in the Jujutsu Headquarters find out. After all, research involving that level, once labeled as blasphemy against the dead—that's an absolute taboo."

Masamichi Yaga abruptly stopped weaving the yarn ball, and did not respond.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

His eyes behind the sunglasses narrowed instantly, staring at his student, a calm-looking second-year Jujutsu High student, with suspicion and uncertainty.

He believed that this experiment on the core of the soul had been extremely well concealed, so much so that even Satoru Gojo, who possessed Six Eyes, could not detect anything without careful observation.

How did this kid figure that out?

"Do you know what you're saying?" Yaga's voice was terrifyingly low.

"All I know is that some things, if not strong enough, shouldn't be exposed to the light of day too early. Unless, you're confident you can handle all the troubles that come your way, like some madmen of old."

Lu Ping did not back down, and met Yaga's gaze with a calm response.

The Three Corpses Manipulation involves profound modifications to one's own body and soul, granting him terrifying insight into the dimensions of soul and body observation.

Masamichi Yaga finally let out a long sigh, and his tense body relaxed.

"I understand. I'll handle this." He put the teddy bear away, his tone returning to its previous calm. "Actually, there's another matter I wanted to discuss with you today."

"Based on the strong requests from Dr. Ieiri Shoko and Kamo Chitsubaki, and considering that you were already on a seven-day leave, after discussion at the higher-ups, it has been decided that, effective immediately, until your Grade 1 Sorcerer's Certificate is officially issued, all your eligibility for field missions is revoked."

Lu Ping was taken aback for a moment, then smiled helplessly, "So, I'm being put in solitary confinement?"

"I suppose so," Masamichi Yaga didn't deny it. "There's Grade 1 Cursed Spirit in Akihabara who's suitable for a promotion quest. I approved that information, so I also bear responsibility in this matter."

Lu Ping thought to himself, this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I'll take this opportunity to solidify the theoretical foundations related to [Chimera Shadow Garden].

This forced expansion of his domain made him realize that Barrier Techniques are not something that can be mastered overnight; it is a long-term subject that requires persistent and continuous improvement.

Instead of going out to take on those thankless and arduous tasks, it's better to stay at the Jujutsu High and spend some time accumulating experience.

"Actually, canceling your mission qualification isn't just due to the doctor's request." Masamichi Yaga's tone shifted, becoming somewhat serious. "The Akihabara incident exposed a mole within the Jujutsu Headquarters. Sending you on field missions at this critical juncture is tantamount to exposing you to assassination attempts. The situation within the upper echelons is very complex right now; protecting your safety is the top priority."

"Don't worry about the mole, teacher." Lu Ping waved his hand. "I've already discussed it with Wu, and some plans are moving forward. We should have a result at the Jujutsu Headquarters's regular meeting by the day after tomorrow at the latest."

Masamichi Yaga looked at him with some surprise.

The boy in front of me is only a sophomore in high school, but his behavior is frighteningly mature.

Not only did they not resist being confined, they had even quietly laid out a plan targeting the senior Jujutsu Headquarters of the directorate.

He nodded with satisfaction. "It seems I worried too much. You're much more mature than before, and people are starting to rely on you."

"Rely on me?" Lu Ping was slightly taken aback.

"Yes," Masamichi Yaga smiled, "Compared to those two eccentric geniuses, Satoru and Jet, you're obviously easier to get along with. Besides, everyone has watched you rise from a Grade 2 Sorcerer to where you are today. Your growth has given many people hope. If you have time, try to connect with your juniors in Tokyo or Kyoto and share your experience."

Lu Ping was somewhat taken aback. "Am I that famous now?"

"Of course." Masamichi Yaga's tone carried a hint of pride. "You are not only a student of our Tokyo Jujutsu High, but also the strongest Shikigami user currently existing in the Jujutsu World."

The strongest?

These two words struck Lu Ping's heart like a heavy hammer.

He always regarded Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto as the strongest benchmarks, and always felt that he was still struggling to catch up.

But when he came to his senses, relying on the terrifying regenerative and evolutionary abilities of the Three Corpses, coupled with the heaven-defying mechanism of the Ten Shadows Technique Art, and the fact that he was the first barrier master among his peers to master a domain—before he knew it, he had indeed reached this position.

The strongest Shikigami user.

This title, though prestigious, is also burdensome.

The image of the [First Ten Shadows Memoirs] that he had consulted in the Zen Zenin Clan's Cursed Tool Vault involuntarily came to mind.

The ultimate fate of almost all the inheritors of the Ten Shadows Technique Art is to die in the Taming Ritual of the Mahoraga.

This is a cursed dead end.

"What, does having this title put you under pressure?" Masamichi Yaga noticed his silence.

His teaching philosophy has always been to inspire students' self-growth at the spiritual level.

Since the topic had come up, he went along with it and revealed his real purpose for finding Lu Ping today.

"Speaking of which, the two girls you and Shoko rescued in Snakebone Village are around six years old. Recently, they seem to have started to awaken their Cursed Technique as well."

Lu Ping's attention was drawn back.

"The little girl named Suzune Dairenji has awakened the [Paper-Cutting Manipulation Technique]. It's an Innate Technique that uses paper as a medium to summon Shikigami. It's said to have quite good potential, and many Jujutsu Sorcerer families have already heard about it and want to adopt her. However, they've all been stopped by the Mei Mei guarding the Hoshimi Shrine."

Masamichi Yaga looked at Lu Ping, his tone carrying a hint of suggestion. "You're currently forbidden from carrying out missions, which gives you some free time. You also have some connection with the Hoshimi Shrine, and you're the strongest active Shikigami. Why don't you take this time to visit the shrine and give that young lady some pointers? Even if you become a disciple, it's better than falling into the hands of those profit-driven families."

The Three Corpses within the body could clearly feel the kind care that was right next to them.

Lu Ping's heart skipped a beat.

He had originally planned to go to the Hoshimi Shrine to look for the Ten Shadows Memoirs that might be kept there.

That's a perfectly reasonable reason.

However, he still had some doubts and couldn't help but ask.

"Since my Ten Shadows Technique Art can guide the Paper-Cutting Manipulation Technique," then shouldn't your Puppet Manipulation Technique be a better fit?

Masamichi Yaga shook his head, a hint of emotion in his voice. "My Puppet Manipulation Technique, in essence, isn't about forming a contract with Otherworldly Ghost Gods to control Shikigami, but rather about creating puppets from raw materials and then manipulating them. If you have to say how similar it is, it's actually closer to Jay's Cursed Spirit Manipulation."

He paused here, looked up at the distant sunset, and his eyes became deep.

"Those old guys in the Jujutsu Headquarters are wary of Wu and Jie, and now there's you too. If the three of you form an alliance of interests, it will be a nightmare for those in high positions. So, their promotion of me, someone who isn't from one of the Three Great Families and has a relatively moderate ideology, to be the principal is simply to put a buffer between you and the Jujutsu Headquarters."

He sighed, "Whether it's you or Satoru, you'll both eventually return to the Zenin Clan and the Gojo Clan after graduation. As for Jie's strength..."

"His personality and values are actually the most suitable for him to succeed me as the principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High. Perhaps this is the conclusion reached by the higher-ups after careful consideration."

The undercurrents of politics seem to have silently seeped into this school that should have been focused on teaching.

In reality, unless the teacher and student are using the same type of Cursed Technique, there is not much experience that can be taught.

Once Innate Technique awakened, it comes with its own usage instructions; the extent to which it can be developed depends entirely on the spellcaster's talent and skill.

Black Flash's skill depends entirely on luck and talent. Barrier Technique are easy to learn but difficult to master, and comprehending Reversal is an extremely rare feat among mages.

However, as an important institution for training junior sorcerers, it remains crucial to pass on essential basic knowledge of Jujutsu.

Looking at the principal with a complex expression, Lu Ping remained calm. "No one can predict the future. Instead of worrying about those Rotten Oranges' ideas, let's start with what's in front of us. For example, let's build more Cursed Corpses to guard the school gate, or hold more activities to pay attention to the students' mental health?"

Masamichi Yaga paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"That's true. Thinking too far ahead can make you overlook the path you're on. Go ahead, visit the Hoshimi Shrine, and relax a bit."

"Then I'll go see Shoko for a follow-up check-up."

Lu Ping waved and turned to walk towards the school clinic.

Masamichi Yaga stood there, watching the receding figure, lost in thought.

This young man seems to have truly embarked on a path unlike any other.

A lonely, yet exceptionally determined path.

The school clinic was filled with a strong smell of Lysol and a faint aroma of herbs.

Ieiri Shoko sat in her swivel chair, watching Lu Ping walk in through the door.

Sunlight fell on the boy's face; although the bloodstains had been wiped away, the fine capillaries at the corners of his eyes still bore a faint dark red tinge.

"You seem to be in good spirits." Shoko twirled her pen, looking at him with a touch of wistfulness. "I feel like your recovery ability is getting faster and faster."

Lu Ping pulled up a chair and sat down, letting out a self-deprecating laugh.

"That's not true at all. I can't even use my Cursed Technique right now. The Cursed Technique within my body have completely entered a dormant state. If I were to force them to operate, my body would likely suffer irreversible damage. I will be much more cautious in the future."

After hearing Shoko, Shoko raised her eyebrows and slammed her pen on the table in annoyance.

"You know it will cause irreversible damage to your body? It's only been a few days since you were carried back from Snakebone Village covered in blood and received the Reverse Cursed Technique treatment? You dared to go to Akihabara and risk your life against three Grade 1 Curse User during the observation period, and now you know to apologize to the doctor?"

"That was beyond our control." Lu Ping spread his hands innocently. "I was the one who was attacked, and I couldn't decide when the other side would strike. Besides, when I saw it at the scene, the long-range Piercing Blood you and Qian Chun used together made quite a commotion; wasn't it rather risky?"

Shoko rolled her eyes, too lazy to listen to his explanation.

She grabbed Lu Ping's forearm, which was covered with dark blue lines.

A soft white light, characteristic of the Reverse Cursed Technique, shone from his fingertips, and a warm, positive energy instantly pierced into Lu Ping's skin.

As the Reverse Cursed Technique was unleashed further, Shoko's gaze gradually became serious and complex.

In a microscopic sensory field, the muscle fibers under Lu Ping's skin exhibited a near-catastrophic state of reorganization.

Those newly appeared [Snake Scales] runes, like ancient parasitic vines, forcibly carved out new pathways in the nerve and blood vessel networks that originally belonged to humans.

Each high-intensity battle tore his physical body apart with violent Cursed Energy, only to force him towards "non-" during the healing process.

The structure of "human beings" should be compromised and solidified.

This is not normal self-healing at all, but a kind of alienation that is close to self-destruction.

In common understanding, the body is a precious vessel that carries the soul and Cursed Techniques, and should be carefully protected.

In Lu Ping's combat experience, this body seemed to be just a consumable, always on the verge of physical collapse.

This extreme concept of self-destructive warfare instilled a deep sense of powerlessness in Shoko, a healer.

"Qian Chun only dared to push the pressure on her blood vessels to the limit because I, her doctor, was there to supervise her." Shoko increased the output of the Reverse Cursed Technique, her voice lowering, "I can't be with you every second. From now on, you'll have to rely on your own initiative."

Lu Ping felt the tingling and slight itching in his arm, and seeing the weariness in Shoko's eyes, a thought stirred in his heart.

"You're right, I'll be more careful in the future."

He lowered his head, looking at the dark blue patterns that were gradually disappearing in the white light.

In fact, Lu Ping had already keenly noticed the change in his companions' attitudes towards him.

He is different from Suguru Geto, who is incredibly strong and only gets injured occasionally when he is careless or encounters extreme restraint. He is also different from Satoru Gojo, the god who has Limitless Techniques and can return unscathed no matter how dangerous the mission.

As for myself, I was almost always on duty and was constantly being carried back to the infirmary.

Before their injuries have fully healed, they will not hesitate to throw themselves back into even more brutal frontline battles.

To outsiders, he wasn't that aloof, untouchable genius.

He is a mortal who can bleed, can be seriously injured, but can always grit his teeth, climb out of the mud, and fight back against powerful enemies.

It is precisely this tragic cycle of constant breaking and rebuilding that seems to have coalesced into a unique and more cohesive meaning in the hearts of the Jujutsu Sorcerer companions.

Lu Ping took a deep breath.

In order to perpetuate this special hope, he truly needed to cherish his life more than ever before.

"Alright, that's a wrap."

Shoko withdrew her hand, clapped her hands, and broke the silence in the room.

"The assistant supervisor who was injured in Tokyo Bay has already recovered and is receiving treatment at the Jujutsu High. You don't need to worry about the follow-up work; Geto has already led a team there to conduct a more in-depth investigation. Moreover, Principal Yaga just informed me about your matter. Congratulations, Lu Ping, you've now officially become one of our Tokyo Jujutsu High's 'stars'."

She crossed her arms, a mischievous smile playing on her lips, and teased, "So, Mr. Strongest Shikigami, are you planning to 'inspect' the Hoshimi Shrine later?"

Lu Ping rubbed his wrist and shook his head helplessly.

"He is indeed Shikigami user, but the title of 'strongest' doesn't quite fit. As Ten Shadows Sorcerer, I know this better than anyone. Before truly subduing that so-called strongest Shikigami, Mahoraga, who dares to call themselves the strongest Shikigami user? Right now, I'm at most called the 'strongest bomb man' because of the unsolvable self-destruct characteristic of the Ten Shadows Taming Ritual."

Shoko burst out laughing, instantly dispelling the previously oppressive atmosphere.

"I didn't expect you to be so modest. I thought you'd adapt to this new, chuunibyou identity quickly since you hang out with those two arrogant guys, Gojo and Geto every day."

"Don't worry." Lu Ping stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the towering ancient trees outside. "No matter how my identity changes, I am still me."

Shoko stared at his back for two seconds, then straightened up, casually took off her white coat, and hung it on the hanger next to her.

With the oversized medical gown removed, the black Jujutsu High uniform revealed a youthful and well-proportioned figure unique to a young girl.

"Anyway, there aren't many patients right now, so I'll take pity on you and accompany you to Hoshimi Shrine today."

"That's perfect, I'm also quite curious to see how those two little girls I risked my life to save are doing now."

Lu Ping turned his head, looked at her nimble movements, and smiled slightly.

"Let's go then. I'll be the personal bodyguard of the Jujutsu High doctor for once."

The two walked out of the school clinic side by side, stepping into the cool afternoon mountain breeze, and headed towards the gate of the Jujutsu High along the stone steps.