The True Purpose of the Mount Tai Imperial Lord Ritual

"Boss, we’re running out of time. Once Phase One of the Main Mission ends, either the King of Curses will awaken and bathe Tokyo in blood, or… there’ll be a nuclear blast."

Wei Yixiao looked somewhat tense.

Either way, if the boss’s plan failed and they did not evacuate in time, Fifth Element would likely be wiped off the map today.

A werewolf nearly three meters tall walked over from afar, the scarlet glow on his claws gradually fading.

"Bat, are you really that scared?"

"I really want to try something like a nuclear blast. If I can tank one head-on, wouldn’t that mean I could throw my weight around in the smaller neighboring countries in the real world? You’ve watched Baki, right…"

The werewolf was incredibly talkative. This werewolf codenamed Youjiu, whom they called Brother Jiu, was one of the strongest members of the team apart from their boss, Kai.

Not only was his destructive power immense, his vitality was terrifying as well. In a previous world, he had charged headlong into a modern army and slaughtered hundreds. Of course, that unit had not possessed heavy firepower.

"Brother Jiu, you should go to Goddess later and have your bloodline adjusted. I feel like your brain is getting more and more abnormal."

Behind the werewolf, a bespectacled woman carrying a sniper rifle ruthlessly mocked her companion.

She was getting more and more fed up with Youjiu’s lunatic behavior. In the previous world, he had insisted on assaulting a modern military force alone. In this world, he was already dreaming of enduring a nuclear blast head-on.

The woman wore a baseball cap, and a flame-like mark covered her right cheek. Her codename was Basha, and she was also Youjiu’s bedmate. Their relationship went beyond the team contract.

Kai paid the others no heed and continued thinking.

In the world before last, they had been ambushed by White Face and lost several team members. Before entering the previous world, he had traded for some Singularities, temporarily replenished their ranks, and made targeted arrangements.

They had deliberately followed White Face into this world to avenge their humiliation.

But he had not expected White Face to be mad enough to turn the Plot World into such a complete mess. He had only seen such a style of turning Tokyo entirely into a dead city in those monstrous creatures of the fierce class.

At that moment, Kai suddenly felt a trace of regret. Perhaps he should not have continued making an enemy of someone like that.

Boom!

The enormous sound startled them all, and they instinctively assumed combat stances.

Boom!

Boom!

The tremendous sound gradually settled into a rhythm, ringing out again and again without pause.

"It’s a heartbeat, Boss…"

Wei Yixiao unconsciously lowered his voice, as though afraid of waking something.

He had realized that inside that pitch-black barrier, like a gigantic embryo, the King of Curses had been successfully nurtured.

It had begun to beat.

Roar!

Moo!

The roars of countless cursed spirits rose from every corner of Tokyo. Those cursed spirits grew restless, and the power of curses in the air even began to become visible to the naked eye.

Bang, bang, bang…

A series of explosions rang out as the talismans they wore burst apart one after another.

"Boss, what do we do? We have to make a decision now!"

Basha’s voice was sharp. She, too, felt a certain terror.

At that moment, Jiasu, the reincarnator responsible for analyzing the area near the barrier, turned around as well, his face filled with anxiety.

"Boss, White Face’s condition doesn’t look good!"

Kai crushed his cigarette between his fingers and made his decision at once.

"Youjiu, Basha, guard the perimeter. If any Plot Characters or reincarnators come close, kill them immediately. If you can’t kill them, hold them off for as long as possible."

"The rest of you, come in with me!"

With a push from his toes, his figure vanished instantly. Only in the next moment did the ground beneath where he had stepped collapse with a roar.

Radiating intense fluctuations, Kai took the lead and charged straight toward the barrier.

Several corpses clad in white onmyoji robes lay scattered around this massive barrier.

This was a clue. Suguru Geto had obtained crucial information from this very place.

But Fifth Element was not the kind of team skilled at analyzing plots and uncovering missions. They were better at fighting.

Jiasu formed a hand seal, and intense spiritual power surged forth. In the next moment, a gap was torn open in the black barrier, and the group filed inside.

From afar, Wei Yixiao watched as Boss Kai, Old Ghost, and the others entered the black barrier one after another. For some reason, a chill ran through him. But Brother Jiu was in command of the outer perimeter.

The rough werewolf cared nothing for danger. With a single slap, he nearly sent Wei Yixiao flying, then teased him.

"Bat, stop staring. We should figure out where to catch those guys you let escape."

"You really need to kill more. Your attributes are way too low."

Wei Yixiao’s mouth twitched twice, but he could not smile at all. He did not know whether something was wrong with him or with everyone else. Could no one sense that danger, the kind that seemed capable of freezing one’s very soul…?

He lowered his head. At some point, a layer of icy water had appeared across the ground of Tokyo. Though he wore shoes, he could still feel the biting cold through them.

Inside the barrier, a young girl draped in a white cloak trimmed with gold held several shriveled fingers in her hand. Even within the dark, lightless barrier, surrounded by countless Grudge Spirits, she remained untouched.

"What a bunch of idiots. I even hid away some of Two-faced Shōnen’s fingers in advance, and those fools never even thought of awakening Two-faced Shōnen to deal with me?"

"Heh. Once this ritual is over, I’ll have a good time playing with you, Kai…"

You have triggered the Hidden Mission: End of the Tsuchimikado Clan

Mission Description: Yakō of the Tsuchimikado Clan used the Imperial Style Mount Tai Imperial Lord Ritual to create a massive Spirit Disaster in Tokyo, laying the groundwork for today's calamity. To atone, the Tsuchimikado Clan requests that you bring the ritual to an end.

Mission Reward: Settled according to completion rate

Mission Penalty: None

By the time Bai Cangshu and Suguru Geto walked out of the Tsuchimikado Clan’s courtyard, no voices remained within it.

"Tsk, you really are a cruel one. You showed not the slightest mercy even to an elderly man."

Suguru Geto narrowed his eyes and mocked Bai Cangshu.

Your actions have earned the appreciation of Plot Character Suguru Geto. Your reputation with Suguru Geto has increased.

Current: Friendly (12/100)

The corners of Bai Cangshu’s lips curled up. Looking at this equally insincere man, he once more revealed a smile that made Suguru Geto feel nostalgic.

"Cruelty, kindness, old age, youth… are those things really so important to you?"

"Suguru Geto, you’re far inferior to Satoru Gojo…"

Bai Cangshu’s bluntness made Suguru Geto’s expression stiffen for an instant, but he quickly followed after him.

He truly saw Satoru Gojo’s shadow in Bai Cangshu’s mannerisms. And Suguru Geto did not deny that he was inferior to Satoru Gojo.

When they were young, he had indeed believed that he and Satoru Gojo were the same kind of person, the same "strongest."

But after Satoru Gojo awakened from being killed by Toji Fushiguro and revealed that expression of one who alone reigned supreme above heaven and below earth, Suguru Geto truly understood that he could never compare to Satoru Gojo.

It was not a gap between Cursed Spirit Manipulation and the Limitless Cursed Technique, nor was it a gap in cursed energy.

It was a gap in their very "essence."

Suguru Geto was, in essence, a very "weak" person. He needed many things to support his actions.

Just as he always emphasized, "The strong must help the weak," using that belief as a creed to sustain himself as he kept swallowing cursed spirits that tasted like rags soaked in vomit, then used Cursed Spirit Manipulation to save even more weak people.

Even when he had gone against convention and wanted to turn the world into one inhabited only by Jujutsu Sorcerers, his reason was still the harm suffered by everyone else.

Whether it was Riko Amanai dying as the Star Plasma Vessel while Yuki Tsukumo told him that other Star Plasma Vessels still existed;

his kind junior dying cruelly during a mission;

or Jujutsu Sorcerers risking their lives to protect ordinary people and exorcise cursed spirits, only for ordinary villagers to brutally torment a girl with the power of a Jujutsu Sorcerer.

All of it came together and destroyed Suguru Geto’s philosophy of life. So he wanted to turn dark, to fall, to take revenge on the world for it all.

He was a "normal person" whose every action and every belief followed an airtight emotional logic.

But for a Jujutsu Sorcerer, being "normal" meant not being strong enough.

Satoru Gojo was completely different from Suguru Geto. His protection of ordinary people was more like an interest, more like a game.

Just as humans fed stray cats and dogs, just as people in a good mood gave alms to homeless beggars.

It was a form of entertainment born from being vastly stronger than the other party.

He needed no reason to protect people, nor did he need many reasons to kill them.

The truly awakened Satoru Gojo had found his real self. At that moment, looking at those ordinary members of the Star Religious Group, he merely said:

"Should we kill them all?"

There was not the slightest emotional ripple in his voice, as casual as asking Suguru Geto whether they should crush these ants to death.

Over the years, Suguru Geto had become increasingly aware of this gap. But something like "essence" was far more despairing than talent, cursed energy, or cursed techniques.

It was your self, your soul. You could not change it.

But today, Suguru Geto had encountered another human who gave him that same feeling.

This tall man could not compare to Satoru Gojo at all in terms of cursed energy, yet the arrogance that seemed to seep out of his bones, the untamed defiance centered wholly around his own judgment amid the leakage of cursed energy, were exactly the same.

"Compared to someone like Gojo, naturally anyone would fall far short."

"Still, sir, would you like to join our Star Religious Group? If you want to accomplish that kind of thing, you definitely can’t do it alone, can you?"

Plot Character Suguru Geto invites you to join the Star Religious Group faction. Accept?

Bai Cangshu had not expected that after all the twists and turns, he would ultimately return to this path.

However, he had indeed found the clue to completing this Main Mission, whose difficulty clearly exceeded the limit.

Crack.

Bai Cangshu stopped walking. Suguru Geto noticed that the bluestone slab beneath his foot had instantly cracked. The man’s physical strength was truly terrifying.

He could not help wondering what kind of cursed technique could bring someone’s physical power to such a level without a Heavenly Restriction.

Bai Cangshu looked at Suguru Geto and suddenly spoke.

"Do you want your best friend to rest in peace, Suguru Geto?"

"I have a plan."

Bai Cangshu still wore a smile, but Suguru Geto sensed a chilling killing intent within it.

Yet Suguru Geto himself was someone who did not fear death and, to some degree, wished to destroy himself.

That night, Suguru Geto suddenly issued an order. The Star Religious Group and all currently assembled Jujutsu Sorcerer forces converged on Tokyo.

The Star Religious Group’s headquarters stood nearly empty. Only the politicians remained, carrying out their final coordination work, while military personnel had replaced the security guards.

Shoko Ieiri stood at the edge of the City of Silence. Kusakabe and the other Jujutsu Sorcerers who had escaped from Tokyo were similarly scattered nearby. All of them looked upon what had once been bustling Tokyo in silence.

"What, have you figured out the true nature of that cursed technique?"

"If we enter Tokyo now, won’t we be affected by the nuclear blast?"

Shoko Ieiri’s expression was calm. Her personality was profoundly detached. After all her remaining loved ones had died, she had become like a pool of stagnant water.

Her other former friend, Suguru Geto, had also become like a walking corpse in her eyes, pushed onward toward the most dangerous place.

Seeing that the cheerful Shoko of their youth had finally become like this after losing so much, Suguru Geto curled his lips into a mocking smile.

This damned world would be better off if it all went up in a nuclear blast together.

He increasingly felt that perhaps that madman’s plan was the best one.

"Don’t worry. The nuclear blast will stop."

Kusakabe frowned.

"Those politicians don’t look like the type who’ll listen just because you gave an order."

Japan had always operated with the surface world and hidden world separated. Thanks to years of indoctrination, although Jujutsu Sorcerers possessed power, they had never interfered with the surface world.

Of course, the biggest reason was that the politicians of the surface world had actually always been controlled by those great clans.

But now, with Tokyo’s population nearly wiped out, those great clans had also suffered devastating losses.

The politicians had gained unprecedented autonomy.

At a time like this, those madmen probably wanted nothing more than to nuke every great clan.

Suguru Geto spread his hands, and cursed spirits began appearing one after another.

"They don’t need to accept orders. Only madmen know how to deal with madmen."

At the same time, Bai Cangshu had already arrived at the Star Religious Group headquarters and knocked on the meeting room door.

As someone similarly acknowledged by Suguru Geto as part of the faction, he was not suspected.

After Bai Cangshu entered the meeting room, the politicians merely glanced up at him before continuing to confirm the time and coordinates with the Americans.

Clap, clap, clap.

Bai Cangshu’s applause was far too loud, drawing everyone’s attention.

The prime minister frowned.

"Didn’t your cult leader tell you not to disturb our work unless there is a major security issue?"

Bai Cangshu’s smile was radiant.

"Everyone, I am here to report a major security issue."

"A killer has infiltrated our headquarters and is preparing to slaughter every last one of you."

Bai Cangshu’s words instantly made the politicians tense. Quite a few of them were already contacting the guards.

But the prime minister suddenly noticed the bloody footprints on the floor behind the Jujutsu Sorcerer who had delivered the message.

"You…"

The instant he spoke, Bai Cangshu clapped his hands together.

Bang!

The explosion, like the detonation of a flashbang, made the politicians scream in terror.

"That’s right. You’re very smart, Mr. Prime Minister. That killer… is me!"

Laughing loudly, Bai Cangshu lunged into the crowd.

You killed Prime Minister Abe Taishi. Obtained 100 Dimensional Points.

Milestone: Killer Demon progress updated. Current: 27/1000

You killed a politician...

As Bai Cangshu slaughtered them, he thought to himself that the Mount Tai Imperial Lord Ritual was an extraordinarily precious opportunity for reincarnators.

If it were him, would he really choose to use this ritual to Curse Kill Satoru Gojo?

No. If it were him, he would absolutely use it to strengthen himself, just as… Yoh Asakura had done!

Bai Cangshu guessed that he might have completely understood the purpose of that terrifying reincarnator hiding in the shadows.