The next period would be spent continuing to find opportunities to contact more Sorcerers to fill Mahito's Cursed Technique vacancies.
However, Mahito had self-awareness; he still refused to operate in Tokyo.
As long as Satoru Gojo remained in Tokyo for a single day, he would never operate there.
Even Jogo stopped mentioning facing Satoru Gojo; he had been beaten so badly by Kinji Hakari that day that he had become quite well-behaved.
Of course, there was one more crucial point: the perfection of the Construction Technique.
Uraume imparted all his understanding of the Construction Technique, letting Mahito remember that feeling.
Yes, the feeling.
The most basic Construction Technique: using Cursed Energy to construct anything seen, including Cursed Tools.
Next is the advanced Construction Technique: extracting the practitioner's understanding to construct Cursed Tools.
Most Construction Techniques stop there.
In reality, all existing Cursed Tools are the works of Construction Sorcerers.
The Cursed Tools they manufactured with all their might have been preserved permanently until now.
Then, there is the highest level of the Construction Technique, which only one person in the entire history of the Jujutsu World has reached: Ancient Sorcerer Yorozu.
Her Construction Technique has transcended all other Construction Sorcerers.
Based on a single theory, she can construct the legendary True Sphere, and by simply observing flying insects, she can create the biological armor, Bug Armor.
It's no exaggeration to say that the original Kamen Rider from tokusatsu shows was just like this.
Going further up, that would be the Guyver.
It's probably a good thing Ancient Sorcerer Yorozu didn't live to the modern era.
If she had and realized how vast the world is, she might have actually been able to create the Guyver... armor and hand-craft a simulated black hole cannon.
After all, she's a woman who could even create a True Sphere; she is terrifyingly powerful.
Fortunately, Kenjaku once had a long period of interaction with Ancient Sorcerer Yorozu.
Now, all the secrets regarding Ancient Sorcerer Yorozu will be opened to Mahito.
She proposed that the most important thing is the feeling—the 'feeling' for the constructed object.
Thus, Kenjaku would require Mahito to meditate on that feeling every day, and he would also assist him, allowing Mahito to reach that moment sooner.
Kenjaku firmly believed that if it were Mahito, he would definitely succeed.
Mahito was growing in an orderly fashion.
Finding Sorcerers went unexpectedly smoothly.
Among them, Black Bird Manipulation and Cursed Spirit Manipulation were of great help; though inconspicuous, they were excellent for reconnaissance.
However, while finding Sorcerers was smooth, recording the Innate Techniques in their brains was not.
—Because most Jujutsu Sorcerers actually don't have Innate Techniques!
At this moment, Mahito remembered that the original work seemed to mention that these ordinary salarymen without Innate Techniques make up the majority of Jujutsu Sorcerers.
Conversely, Jujutsu Sorcerers with Innate Techniques are the minority.
Then, why did so many Jujutsu Sorcerers with Innate Techniques appear in the original work?
Especially the Curse Users, where every single one had an Innate Technique?
Because the battlefields in the original work were all damn high-end battlefields!
The final game was even more exaggerated, screened from hundreds of millions of people.
At this point, Mahito recalled that Satoru Gojo had mentioned in the original work that a Jujutsu Sorcerer's strength is eighty percent innate, with only twenty percent room for effort.
It's a profession where one's livelihood is granted by the heavens.
This was a major oversight by Mahito; he didn't expect to stumble in this regard.
Kenjaku, however, wasn't surprised.
He said, 'If we can get them, we get them; if not, it doesn't matter. Innate Techniques are something that can be encountered but not sought. We just need to do our best. There's no need to stop searching either. Since your Soul Creation only requires a touch, we'll treat it as a daily task. If we find one, it's a pleasant surprise; if not, it's normal.'
Next was the cultivation of the Tsukumogami, which went much more smoothly.
For this, Kenjaku specifically found a rusty ancient blade.
"Blade length 135cm, hilt length 80cm, double-edged, capable of both slashing and piercing. Held with both hands, it can serve as both a sword and a spear."
Kenjaku handed this "Great Sword" to Mahito.
These specs were very familiar.
Mahito asked, "Futsunomitama?"
In a Japanese museum, there is an ancient long-bladed Great Sword.
It is the legendary blade that decapitated a god, named Futsunomitama.
Its specifications exceed those of a Nodachi, yet its blade is as straight as a green pine.
Many people recognize long swords with curved blades as the characteristic of Japanese swords, but few know that the oldest Japanese swords never had curved blades.
They were straight and had to be forged with refined steel to be lethal; otherwise, they were extremely fragile and could only serve as decorative ceremonial swords.
This was the original long sword style brought from the western kingdoms.
However, Japan didn't have such advanced smelting levels at the time.
Through the changes of eras, the blade was eventually curved and the tip single-edged, using the tip and the curved blade to smoothly cut through people, ultimately forming the characteristically Japanese sword.
But this "Futsunomitama" had no curvature at all.
It was massive in size with a double-edged tip, something that would only exist in an era so ancient that the concept of the "Japanese sword" had not yet formed.
"It's an exquisite replica. The genuine Futsunomitama is enshrined at Kashima Shrine, with a blade length of 224cm and a staggering total length of 270cm, even more exaggerated than the one in my hand."
"But even as a replica, having weathered the passage of time, it is sufficient to become a top-tier Tsukumogami."
Kenjaku said meaningfully, "Do not fail her; this ancient blade is a treasure capable of slaying gods."
Mahito believed this.
The older a Tsukumogami is upon birth, the more powerful it becomes.
At this level of antiquity, its potential is indeed enough to slay gods.
This was a true God-Slaying Blade.
Mahito accepted it solemnly.
He didn't have any technique for using this ancient blade, nor did he need any.
The moment a Tsukumogami is born, it is enough to compensate for all lack of technique.
As long as it is old enough, and most importantly—beautiful.
Cultivating a Tsukumogami requires true emotion.
If it isn't beautiful, no matter how practical it is, a Tsukumogami won't be born.
Thus, beauty is the prerequisite for everything; all else can step aside.
After two days of cultivation, the rust gradually dissipated, revealing a slightly bright blade.
Placed under the moonlight, it was like a pool of clear water, as charming as a girl's eyebrows.
Mahito imagined the anthropomorphic image of this ancient blade:
She must have silky black hair like clear spring water, the ends reaching her calves.
Her black bangs would be parted, with a divine seal engraved on her smooth forehead.
She would wear Shrine Maiden Attire, her expression cold and aloof, her legs long and slender, clad in white over-knee socks and platform geta.
She would hold up a long-bladed Great Sword—her true form—exuding a beauty that sends shivers down the spine.
The ancient blade emitted a soft hum.
Mahito gently stroked its blade as if stroking a lover's hand.
Finally, there was the meditation to find the feeling.
For this, besides following the steps, Kenjaku had no other way but to put in the slow, painstaking work.
Fortunately, because the Tsukumogami cultivation went smoothly, Mahito wasn't that anxious, and the progress was quite pleasing.
The days passed like this, one by one.
Mahito thought he could continue until he found the 'feeling,' but then something happened.
A month passed routinely; it was exactly the second month since Mahito's birth into this world.
His Tsukumogami had just been born—a shy little girl.
While he was rejoicing, Kinji Hakari suddenly arrived.
"Mahito, there's trouble," Kinji Hakari said.
Mahito was sitting in a mountain, amidst clear springs and flowing water.
He closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, with a long sword placed across his lap.
The blade was straight, and as sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, a silvery shimmer seemed to rise from the blade, the light warm.
When Kinji Hakari spoke, Mahito opened his eyes, and the long sword let out a soft hum.
"As expected of a Tsukumogami personally cultivated by Mahito; the mere reflection of its luster is as sharp as a blade."
Kinji Hakari admired the long sword.
That soft hum just now felt like a sharp blade pressed against his carotid artery; in an instant, a certain fear of death seeped into his marrow.
This was a newly born ancient blade Tsukumogami.
Its sharpness was already capable of inducing hallucinations of death; it was hard to imagine how earth-shattering it would be when actually swung.
"It's still early; I have some other ideas I want to implement."
Mahito also admired the long sword, but not from the perspective of a killing weapon, but as a new life.
This was his first time cultivating a Tsukumogami, and it had sparked a burst of inspiration, giving him new ideas.
"Also, it's a 'she'—she's a shy girl."
Kinji Hakari touched his neck.
That sharp light just now felt like it was about to pierce his throat.
This counts as shy?
Well, if the boss says so, then it is.
"What happened?" Mahito asked.
"Someone called me, specifically looking for you by name."
Kinji Hakari said in a heavy voice, "I suspect something went wrong on Mei Mei's end; she exposed information about you to the Jujutsu World."
Mahito didn't care: "It was only a matter of time. If anything, the fact that the news only spread now means Mei Mei has sufficiently honored our business contract. After all, no Binding Vow was ever signed back then," Mahito said with a laugh.
Of course, if Mei Mei appeared again, Mahito would kill her with his own hands.
Because her betrayal was tangible, and without killing her, he couldn't maintain order.
This wasn't about whether Mahito actually cared about the betrayal itself, but rather that when betrayal occurs, regardless of the consequences, the traitor must be killed.
"Who is looking for me?" Mahito gently stroked his long blade.
"Let me think... A Family that wants to consolidate their position and rule eternally... It should be one of the Three Great Families of the Jujutsu World, right? It's probably not the Gojo Family, so that only leaves the Kamo and Zenin. Which one?"
"As expected of you, Mahito," Kinji Hakari said in admiration.
"It's the Zenin Family. They've cordially invited you to be a guest at their estate and promised that no harm will come to you."
"Did they set a 'Binding Vow'?" Mahito asked.
"No," Kinji Hakari replied with a deep frown.
"They probably want to lay a dragnet to capture me," Mahito said leisurely.
"There's no need to worry about my life, though. After all, I possess immortality with zero side effects; they certainly wouldn't be willing to kill me."
"But aside from that, they'll do everything else," Kinji Hakari said immediately.
"You can't go, Mahito."
"No, I will go," Mahito said.
Kinji Hakari was stunned.
"You see, during this time, I've realized something—something obvious that I've always subconsciously ignored."
"What is it?"
"I ask you, Kinji, when does a Cursed Technique make significant progress?" Mahito asked.
As a practical fighter, Kinji Hakari was more qualified than any Sorcerer to answer this question.
He looked deeply at Mahito and answered in a low voice, "In a battle to the death."
"Correct. Including purely logistical techniques like the Construction Technique, the fastest way to increase proficiency in any Cursed Technique is through a battle to the death—to be precise, at the moment when death is imminent."
Unlike traditional technology—where it's often said that war is the most effective catalyst for a technological explosion, provided the prerequisite theoretical foundations are in place—otherwise, a tribal war is still just a war.
Do you see tribal wars causing technological explosions?
Well, they can; a technological explosion in a tribal war means making more perfect bows and strings, or sharper spears and stone axes.
But Cursed Techniques are different because they depend on the individual.
A Cursed Technique resides within the Sorcerer's brain.
The more intense the death match, the more one can improve the precision of their technique—because if you don't improve, you die!
This applies to everyone, including Satoru Gojo.
Every Jujutsu Sorcerer understands the truth that a Jujutsu Sorcerer trained by the book can never reach the peak.
Mahito suddenly asked, "Kinji, will Satoru Gojo be at the Zenin estate?"
"If Mr. Gojo were there, the Zenin Family wouldn't even be able to invite you," Kinji Hakari asserted.
"Mr. Gojo would string up and beat everyone in the Zenin Family for daring to cooperate with a Cursed Spirit!"
Mahito curled his lips into a smile.
"In that case, I have nothing to worry about."
He stood up and held the long blade in one hand, bringing it before his eyes.
The reflection of the blade shone into Mahito's heterochromia eyes like a silver mirror.
"Zenin-cutter? Hmm, that doesn't sound good. My girl won't stop at just the Zenin Family. 'Zenin' has a Buddhist connotation... Buddha-cutter? Hmm, I'll eventually ascend to a divine throne myself, so that name isn't right. Let me think—"
He looked at her and said softly, "Mirokuji. From today on, you are Mirokuji Kirigiri."
Mirokuji is the surname, representing gods and Buddhas.
Kirigiri is the name, representing the severance of all.
Divine Sword: God-Slayer Sword!"
"Let us celebrate your birth with the blood of the Zenin Family, Divine Sword—Mirokuji Kirigiri."