Ashiya Magon shouted angrily, "Are you crazy?!"
Mahito asked curiously, "Do you know Yuki Tsukumo?"
"I don't know Yuki Tsukumo personally."
"When she became a Special Grade Sorcerer, all her information became top secret," Ashiya Magon said slowly.
"But I know the weight of the title 'Special Grade Sorcerer'."
"Every single one of them is a genuine monster."
"Looking at the current Special Grade Sorcerers, which one can be measured by common sense?"
"Just as Kenjaku said, as long as no other Special Grade Sorcerer stops them, every Special Grade Sorcerer can sweep the entire Jujutsu world without exception."
"Yuki Tsukumo must be the same."
"Even though you don't even know her basic information?" Mahito asked.
Ashiya Magon grew somewhat annoyed.
"Look at this kid next to you."
"He has Infinite Cursed Energy."
"In terms of explosive power, he even surpasses the Special Grade Sorcerer, Yuta Okkotsu."
"In fact, Yuta Okkotsu has said more than once that if Kinji Hakari is in good form, he can win."
"But why is Yuta Okkotsu a Special Grade Sorcerer, while this Curse User who can defeat Yuta Okkotsu when in top form is not a Special Grade?"
Kinji Hakari couldn't take it anymore: "I'm not a Curse User!"
"I just got expelled!"
"I'm also a bit curious," Mahito said.
"I've fought with Hakari-san, and I truly understand the terror of 'Infinite Cursed Energy'."
"I don't think he's inferior to other Special Grade Sorcerers at all."
"Why isn't he a Special Grade?"
"Especially since he has the endorsement of Yuta Okkotsu regarding his strength."
Ashiya Magon was a bit puzzled: "Wait, didn't Kenjaku tell you?"
"Because it wasn't necessary," Kenjaku said dismissively.
"If you look across a span of over a thousand years, you'll find that so-called Special Grade Sorcerers aren't actually that rare."
"Mahito doesn't need this knowledge because, for Mahito, his future will inevitably surpass the so-called Special Grade."
"Just like Ryomen Sukuna—do you think Ryomen Sukuna needs to know what a Special Grade is?"
Kenjaku said to Mahito: "Special Grades are easy to come by, but Jujutsu Sorcerers of Ryomen Sukuna's level—in the history I know, only two have appeared."
"One is Ryomen Sukuna himself, and the other is..."
"Satoru Gojo."
Mahito understood.
Ashiya Magon frowned deeply.
"Kenjaku has been derelict in his duties."
Uraume waved his hand.
"I have my own teaching plan."
"You, a swordsman, have no business questioning me no matter what."
Ashiya Magon pointed at Kenjaku and said to Mahito: "This is why I care so much about you, damn it!"
"I'm telling you, Kenjaku's attitude toward swordsmen isn't an isolated case; it's the norm!"
"These bastards look down on swordsmen, each thinking that since they are Jujutsu Sorcerers, they shouldn't use swords."
"As if swords are something filthy not worth anyone's attention."
"I want to break this shitty norm."
"I want the sword to regain its greatness."
"I want the New Shadow Style to become the one and only in the Jujutsu world."
"I'm going to cut down all of the Big Three Families!"
"I'll cut down the Jujutsu Higher-Ups too!"
Now Mahito understood the old man's logic a bit.
He thought of how, in the original story, Naoya Zenin seemed to be the same way.
Naoya Zenin once stated that it was a loss of face for a Jujutsu Sorcerer to use a weapon.
Even if taking a short sword could definitely improve one's strength, Jujutsu Sorcerers were simply unwilling and viewed it as a humiliation.
The Zenin clan's "Kukuru Unit" was composed entirely of male sorcerers without Innate Techniques, and they all carried swords.
However, the elite sorcerer group, the "Hei," were all empty-handed, except for Ogi Zenin.
Ogi Zenin's technique was very ordinary, which is why he used swordsmanship to supplement his combat system.
Presumably, if his technique were as flashy as others', he wouldn't have bothered studying swordsmanship.
For Sorcerers, using swordsmanship really was a disgrace.
The old man had finally met a disciple like Mahito, who was both a jujutsu genius and willing to learn swordsmanship sincerely.
He truly cherished him, which is why he was more concerned about Mahito's safety than Mahito was himself.
Kenjaku said cheerfully, "Old friend, although I respect your face and was willing to speak for you in the past, I must refute you now."
"I must say, since you founded the New Shadow Style, there have been many brilliant talents among them, and indeed some born with Innate Techniques."
"But speak honestly—what do the achievements of these people have to do with your New Shadow Style?"
"The role your New Shadow Style plays has always been adding the finishing touch, never providing timely help in a crisis!"
"After a thousand years, the 'Righteous Path' of a Jujutsu Sorcerer has been clearly revealed to everyone."
"Digging deep into one's own Innate Technique, learning Shikigami, Barrier Techniques, or Cursed Energy reinforcement is all easier than mastering swordsmanship."
"I remember the most outstanding New Shadow Style user of this era is Atsuya Kusakabe, right?"
"He's a person without an Innate Technique."
"To survive in the Jujutsu world, he could only embrace your New Shadow Style, relying on 'Simple Domain' to ensure his survival."
"Do you think if he had his own Innate Technique, he would give your New Shadow Style a second look?"
These words hit home, and Ashiya Magon was furious: "You motherf—!"
Mahito comforted him from the side: "Ashiya-sensei, aren't I still asking for your guidance?"
"Swordsmanship isn't completely useless."
Uraume spoke coldly: "Do you call that learning swordsmanship?"
"No, you do it to better utilize 'Mirokuji Kirigiri'."
"You don't love swordsmanship; you love your Tsukumogami."
"If you hadn't happened to cultivate a Tsukumogami, I bet you wouldn't have given this old friend of mine a single glance."
Ashiya Magon finally couldn't hold back.
He suddenly swung the bamboo sword in his hand, letting out a booming sonic boom like a thunderclap on flat ground!
Yet the bamboo sword remained intact, wrapped in a layer of faint blue Cursed Energy as perfectly fitted as a formal suit.
"Kenjaku, since I've had my memories, it seems I've never fought you, have I?"
"Come, come, come! Let this old man test your mettle!"
The old man roared furiously, his voice creating a visible shockwave that made the eardrums of those nearby ache.
Uraume raised both hands quite shamelessly.
"Yes, yes, yes, it's my fault."
"I shouldn't have been so disparaging toward the swordsmanship you love."
"I must admit, the New Shadow Style is already the best way out for a Sorcerer without an Innate Technique."
"And I also believe that as long as the Big Three Families of the Jujutsu world decline simultaneously, your New Shadow Style might actually unify the Jujutsu world."
"Just as Tokugawa Ieyasu eventually unified the Warring States."
"Are you fucking calling me a turtle!?" Ashiya Magon was enraged.
"I'm praising you."
"Tokugawa Ieyasu was the one who finally unified the Warring States, after all," Kenjaku emphasized.
Kinji Hakari held his head and asked Mahito, "Is this your daily routine?"
"Accompanying two thousand-year-old ghosts as they go mad?"
Mahito laughed cheerfully.
"Isn't this interesting?"
"Both Kenjaku-san and Ashiya-san are immortal seniors."
"In the future, we should look up to them."
"You see, modern works often have so-called Curses of immortality, as if eternal life is some kind of eternal, agonizing punishment."
"But look at these seniors—is there even a hint of a 'Curse' about them?"
"Hakari-san, you should watch and learn well."
"This is the mindset an immortal should truly have."
"Is now the time to worry about an immortal's mindset?!" Kinji Hakari roared.
"Yuki Tsukumo is about to attack!"
"And you're still here talking nonsense!"