Even expanding Limitless to a range of two meters for just a few seconds was enough to make Gojo Gen's cursed energy output drop noticeably.
Gojo Gen was not, after all, the strongest sorcerer of the modern era a thousand years later. Without mastering Reverse Cursed Technique, he could not keep Limitless active for defense at all times, even with the aid of the Six Eyes.
Once he saw that his opponent's weapon could penetrate Limitless, Gojo Gen decisively deactivated the technique to recover his stamina.
The stench spread through the air. Gojo Gen hardly dared to take a deep breath, afraid he might inhale something filthy.
Jianxia circled him slowly, blade in hand. He also summoned a cursed spirit, had it scoop up the mixture of cursed spirit and shit nearby, then spread it evenly across Evening Mist's blade.
"Gojo Clan Head, please feel free to attack. I can restore any destroyed cursed spirits by infusing them with cursed energy, and even a fatal wound won't kill me."
Jianxia flicked Evening Mist, making sure the blade's balance had not shifted.
Gojo Gen's mouth twitched. Ever since Jianxia had resorted to this tactic, he had never intended to hold back. His earlier declaration had made that clear.
Besides, wasn't coating his sword with that stuff right in front of him a little too grotesque?
Without any further explanation, Jianxia finished his preparations and lunged toward Gojo Gen, sweeping Evening Mist upward from below.
Gojo Gen had intended to retreat and dodge the attack outright, but after a minute of deliberation in his head, he chose to activate Limitless before evading.
If he did not activate Limitless, he could indeed conserve his stamina and still dodge the attack.
But the shit-and-curse mixture stuck to the blade would fly onto him.
Rather than suffer that fate, Gojo Gen was willing to expend more effort to preserve his cleanliness.
Then Gojo Gen's pupils contracted. He had clearly dodged Evening Mist's blade, yet its blue-green edge began rapidly extending until it could reach him.
With no other choice, Gojo Gen increased Limitless's output, blocking the shit-and-curse mixture outside and allowing only the blade to strike him.
Rip!
A clearly visible line of blood appeared across Gojo Gen's abdomen, but he seized the opportunity to throw a punch into the face of Jianxia, who was clad in Wooden Armor, sending him flying.
Jianxia rolled across the ground a few times, then quickly got up and steadied himself. Even with his cursed energy output diminished, Gojo Gen was not to be underestimated.
"I sensed something off from the very beginning. That cursed tool you're using must be Special Grade, right?"
Gojo Gen touched the wound on his abdomen. It had been a long time since he had been injured.
"Let me guess. That cursed tool has some kind of sure-hit effect that ignores obstacles-am I right?"
After just one exchange, Gojo Gen had deduced Evening Mist's special ability. His combat intelligence was so high that even Jianxia could not help being surprised.
"As expected of the Gojo Clan Head. Evening Mist's ability is indeed 'sure-hit.'" Jianxia merely confirmed his guess without offering anything more.
Then black matter welled up beside him, and Banquet of Fated Remnants and House-Maker appeared on the battlefield.
Faced with the two newly appeared cursed spirits, Gojo Gen first backed away several steps, afraid Jianxia was about to pull another disgusting stunt.
Only after confirming that was not his intention did he resume his fighting stance.
"Cursed Spirit Manipulation, is it? Few shikigami users pay as much attention to their own strength as you do."
Watching the battle, Megumi Zenin sneezed, glanced at Uraume beside her, and moved a little farther away.
Uraume: "?"
"Heh. Then I'm afraid I still have plenty of surprises in store for you."
At Jianxia's command, House-Maker slapped both hands against the ground. Countless wooden barrels buried underground burst out, their bottoms transforming into columns that stood like streetlights.
Then vast quantities of earth began churning upward until they covered the entire sky.
A hemisphere of earth resembling a domain appeared, enclosing the whole mountaintop.
For some reason, an ominous premonition suddenly rose in Gojo Gen's heart-a very ominous premonition.
"Gojo Clan Head, do you know how much wastewater the sewers of a settlement of one thousand people produce every day?"
Jianxia secured his faceplate and used his cursed technique to seal every tiny opening. With Light Returns at Dusk, he could go without oxygen for a while.
Gojo Gen had never heard the term "sewer," but he understood "wastewater."
"Jianxia, what are you planning?!" He instinctively strengthened the Limitless protecting him, even though it would consume more stamina. "Don't do anything reckless!"
Yet Jianxia merely spread his hands and said, sounding a little aggrieved, "I haven't done anything yet. But since you can't answer, Gojo Clan Head, allow me to tell you."
He sheathed his sword and stood with his arms spread, tilting his head up toward the earthen dome. "Hiraizumi produces two hundred tons of wastewater every day. Extend that figure to a month, and you get six thousand two hundred tons."
Then the wooden barrels raised high on their columns began shaking violently, as though something was about to gush out.
"Ah, converted into a unit of weight you'd understand, that's roughly ten million three hundred thousand jin-and that only includes excrement and household wastewater. Wastewater from the various crafts hasn't even been counted."
"If we include the wastewater from those crafts... it should probably fill this hemisphere about halfway."
Jianxia visually estimated the volume of the earthen dome, then gave his assessment.
Then he looked at Gojo Gen and asked kindly, "Gojo Clan Head, can you swim?"
Gojo Gen made his peace with it.
He closed his eyes and put his blindfold back on.
"Right now, I don't want to see anything."
A violent explosion followed. Dozens of wooden barrels burst apart in an instant, releasing endless streams of wastewater-black, brown, and yellow.
What they all had in common was an overpowering stench, along with a constant bubbling and gurgling.
At the same time, the pipes buried deep inside the earthen dome burst open, and countless streams of wastewater poured down like torrential rain.
Within mere seconds, the summit of the rear mountain had become an unbearably foul cesspit.
Tengen cut off the barrier's broadcast, took a deep breath, then turned her gaze toward the others watching with her.
After a long hesitation, she finally asked, "Do we keep watching?"
The Zenin father and daughter said nothing. Kamo Michisada said nothing. Zenin Wu Yan had already fainted on the floor.
"Yes, of course we keep watching! I can't wait to see how Lord Jianxia defeats that insolent fellow!"
Only Uraume remained enthusiastic, his eyes burning as he looked at Tengen.
Kamo Michisada gave everyone a slight nod and said, "I am feeling unwell. I shall return to my room to rest."
With that, he swiftly left the room as though escaping from hell.
"Uh... I should go prepare breakfast for everyone, too."
Tengen glanced at the sun sinking in the west outside the door and watched Megumi Zenin leave.
Before leaving, Megumi Zenin did not forget to drag the unconscious Zenin Wu Yan out with her.
In an instant, only Tengen, Shinji Zenin, and Uraume remained in the room.
Shinji Zenin pondered for a long while before slowly speaking. "Let's use my barrier for the broadcast. Please take a rest, Lady Tengen."
"No, no, I'm a little hungry myself. This is a good chance to see whether there's any interesting food on Hiraizumi's streets. Just call me when the fight is over."
Seeing Shinji volunteer to take over the broadcast, Tengen hurriedly rose and bowed, then fled in a panic.
Under Uraume's expectant gaze, Shinji Zenin silently activated his barrier again to resume the live broadcast.
The Chief must have his reasons for doing this...
...right?
Before you continue