The person was chanting a curse, but their hands were wielding the black magic.

"Swimming Warrior Fushiguro Megumi has confirmed the killing of Swimmer Zenin Naoya. In accordance with the rules of the Death Return Path, a portion of his maximum spell power and residual spell energy are being extracted and transferred..."

As for Naoya, who was already beyond saving, Fushiguro naturally continued to use him as experience points.

What?

You asked how Fushiguro managed to cover up the killing of Naoya?

Simply put, as everyone knows, the barrier contains not only the ancient flesh-bound sorcerer who made a pact with Lu Suo, but also the cursed spirits he released.

It's common for sorcerers to be unable to defeat cursed spirits.

After all, even a level two sorcerer was almost exorcised by a level two cursed spirit.

Fukuro instructed Shen Er to easily lift Naoya's still-warm body, preparing to find a suitable, sufficiently ferocious-looking cursed spirit's lair to feed him.

However, before that.

Without the slightest hesitation, Fukuro squatted down and, without any hesitation, reached straight into Naoya's crotch, giving him a quick and efficient groping.

"I knew it!"

Fu Hei's fingertips touched a hard object, and he immediately pulled it out forcefully.

A wakizashi of moderate length and with a narrow blade fell into his hands.

The blade and handle are well-made, clearly indicating that it was a close-range weapon frequently used by Naoya.

"I'll gladly accept this wakizashi."

"I'll gladly accept this little knife as well."

"I'll gladly accept this wallet as well."

Fushiguro accepted all the valuable items that Naoya possessed.

He weighed the wakizashi in his hand, feeling the cold, sinister power flowing within it, before finally putting it away with satisfaction.

Unfortunately, Naoya was just a novice and didn't have any magical artifacts that would impress Fushiguro.

Although it cannot compare to a top-grade cursed artifact, it is clearly much stronger than the severely damaged remnant of the Wandering Cloud in Fuhei's hands.

At least for the time being, it is sufficient to serve as Shen'er's main weapon, or as a supplement in case of emergency.

"So, what's next..."

As Fushiguro sensed the fluctuations of magical energy within the barrier, a dynamic map of the battle situation in Tokyo was rapidly forming in his demonic mind.

With the continuous deployment of the second batch of sorcerers, and possibly even more combatants in the future.

These ancient sorcerers within the barrier, no matter how powerful they are individually, will eventually be gradually eliminated and annihilated by modern sorcerers who possess organizational intelligence and numerical superiority.

Moreover, with a major luck cycle like Yi Gu, the efficiency of clearing things up will probably be frighteningly high.

The problem is that Fukuro himself craves the experience packs that these ancient powerhouses have transformed into.

Therefore, he must kill more powerful individuals before Yi Gu, Cheng, and other high-level combatants.

His next target list has already been locked in.

As early as when he first entered the barrier, Fukuro deliberately broke up the duel between the two strongest sorcerers from 400 years ago.

Stone Flow Dragon.

Lu Ziyun 1.

These monsters, who stood at the pinnacle of their respective eras four hundred years ago, have already reached the pinnacle of their magical power.

Absorbing any one of them would bring an improvement that Reggie or Naoya could never match!

This is just one of the things that Fukuro is considering.

What Fuhei really wanted was to be on the table!

Who could resist the urge to fight Shi Liulong after gaining strength above level one, and then ask him to evaluate what kind of feast it would be?

No!

Is there anyone who can resist the urge to fight Dr. Lu Ziyun, the sorcerer?

No!

"Nue!"

A clear, melodious cry rang out, and a giant owl shikigami spread its wings and flew out from the shadows, hovering in front of Fukuro.

After its curse power was enhanced, Nue's figure became noticeably larger.

With his evolved strength, Fushiguro was confident he could challenge the two.

With a long howl, its wings flapped vigorously, carrying Fu Hei into the air once more, giving Fu Hei a better view to perceive the location of the two powerful figures.

The wind howled high above, and Fukuro and Nue transformed into a swift black shadow, gliding deeper into the turbulent flow of cursed power within the Tokyo Barrier.

Looking down at the Tokyo Barrier below, a question that had been lingering in Fushiguro's mind resurfaced:

What was the purpose of the hastily initiated Tokyo extinction migration?

What is the ultimate goal?

Having lost the ability to assimilate all of Japan, what other schemes does Rōsō still harbor?

……

……

Deep within the imposing high-tech college lies the Ryusei Shrine, nestled beneath Tokyo's underground.

A quiet room protected by layers of barriers.

Zhang Xiang and Jiu Jiu's brows were furrowed, and the air was filled with the scent of aged incense and a faint sense of tension.

"Your Majesty."

With a blank expression, Zhang Xiang threw out a bright red playing card.

"Don't you have two kings? Why are you splitting them up and playing them separately?!" Yuki Tsukumo slammed her hand on the table.

"Because the king is the eldest brother, it is the eldest brother's responsibility to test the waters and pave the way for his younger brothers when the situation is uncertain."

"bomb."

Tengen gently placed down four cards of the same suit, steadily beating the lone King.

Zhang Xiang nodded slightly, seemingly quite satisfied with his tactics.

"Look, I protected my brother inside this bomb."

"That's not how you play Dou Dizhu!"

Finally, Yuki Tsukumo could no longer bear it. He roared and overturned the low table piled with playing cards with one slap!

"And you! Tengen! How exactly do you intend to deal with Ryousaku's next conspiracy?"

"Keeping the two of you by my side was just a precaution."

Tianyuan's voice echoed in the quiet room:

"I was worried that Lu Suo might take advantage of the weakened state of the high school's combat strength to launch an attack."

"Based on my understanding of him, this should have been one of the strategies he might have chosen."

"However, he remains hidden within the Tokyo barrier, motionless."

"This hastily constructed Tokyo barrier may be his true, ultimate trump card after he abandoned his original, grander plan."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiang murmured softly, his brows furrowed: "Wasn't the plan to raise a second King of Curses within the barrier?"

"more than."

Tianyuan shook his head slightly:

"The concept of a second cursed king is too broad."

"Furthermore, do you really believe that the total amount of cursed power accumulated from the mutual slaughter of those ancient sorcerers who were forced into the flesh is sufficient to nourish and give birth to a cursed king comparable to Sukuna?"

"So you mean...?"

Tsukumo Yuki's eyes sharpened.

"What I'm worried about isn't simply the power of the curse."

"Instead... it's a technique."

Tianyuan lowered his voice even further:

"Kurasu Hana, the swimmer known as the Angel, possesses the ability to eliminate all spells, making her a weapon that can be considered a concept-level weapon."

"Even so, Lu Suo does not seem to regard her as a core that must be controlled; at least, he has not gone to great lengths to eliminate or protect her."

"I'm thinking that perhaps Lu Suo's focus was never on those flesh swimmers he invited or contracted. His real target was those who naturally emerged in Tokyo itself under extreme pressure after the establishment of this Tokyo barrier..."

"Awakened Swimmer".

He raised his head, his gaze becoming sharp and clear, looking at the ninety-nine yogis and the expansion phase.

"Ninety-nine yogis, expansion phase."

"I command you to immediately abandon your duty to protect me here."

"Enter the Tokyo Barrier."

"Find the members of the High School and convey the information about being wary of the Awakened Swimmers to them. Then, within the barrier, use your eyes to confirm it and your power to intervene."

"..."

"Yes."

Ninety-nine Yogis and Zhang Xiang, their expressions solemn, responded in unison, showing none of their previous nonchalance.

Under Tianyuan's deep gaze, the two turned around and quickly left the quiet room protected by multiple barriers.

His figure disappeared into the deep corridors of the high school, heading towards the already scorching battlefield of Tokyo.

"Lu Suo, what exactly are you thinking?"

Tengen murmured to himself as he looked into the now silent room.

……

……

Deep within the Tokyo Barrier lies an abandoned underground facility, cleverly concealed and resembling a giant tomb.

A chilling white light quietly emerged from the shadows.

Rime dragged two bodies, frozen in ice yet strangely still retaining a faint trace of life, into this area shrouded in even deeper shadows.

Ice crystals fell with a soft rustling sound as they moved.

"Wow, not bad for you."

A particularly relaxed and pleasant sound rang out.

Lu Suo stepped out of the shadows, his gaze sweeping over the dying sorcerers that Rime had dragged along with great interest.

His gaze then fell on Rime's obviously torn sleeve, stained with scorch marks and bloodstains, and his tone immediately turned mocking:

"These two guys have extraordinary magical power. It seems you've put in quite a bit of effort, Rime."

"snort."

Rime gave a cold snort, her pale face expressionless, and casually tossed the two frozen remains onto the cold ground.

"Stop talking nonsense. As you instructed, keep dragging the sorcerer to feed that kid..."

"Will this really make your outlandish plan come true?"

"Don't underestimate the power of time, Rime."

Lu Suo's voice still carried a hint of laughter, but his eyes held a cold, calculating glint.

"Even a powerful figure like Sukuna, who dominated an entire era, could only have the opportunity to transcend the long passage of time and preserve his power and consciousness to this day through the tedious and imperfect ritual of receiving flesh."

"And what about me?"

Lu Suo pointed to the body he was currently using:

"Although one can use techniques to constantly change one's physical form and avoid death, each change is a loss, and one is alienated from the peak time and time again."

"Whether it's receiving flesh or changing bodies, in the end, they are just tricks to be used over a long period of time and history."

"but."

"What if what we've mastered is transcending time itself!"

"Transcending...time?!"

Rime's cold pupils suddenly contracted, and for the first time, obvious horror appeared on her usually expressionless face.

"That's right."

Lu Suo was satisfied with Rimei's reaction. He straightened up, dragging one of the still-breathing, frozen bodies, and slowly walked towards the imprisoned figure in the depths of the darkness.

"If his technique can be catalyzed and strengthened to the point that it can transcend a thousand years, then it might not be impossible for Sukuna to reappear in this world in his true prime."

"The chaos caused by those flesh-swimming beings fighting each other within the barrier, and the magical power they generate from devouring one another, are nothing more than a smokescreen to attract the attention of the higher authorities."

"As long as we can transcend time, then all obstacles, all schemes, all so-called impossibilities will..."

The rope loosened its grip, and the frozen body instantly slid down to the feet of the sitting youth.

The ice and the dying sorcerer's body began to melt rapidly under the influence of the unstable cursed energy field surrounding the young man.

"No problem at all."

"Come on, swallow it again."

"Go and master more magical power, master more time."

"Then show me that possibility."

As the sorcerer was absorbed, the space around the young man seemed to distort, showing an extremely unstable appearance.

"Does this really work?"

As Rimei watched the young man, who was being repeatedly hidden by the rope, convulse, a hint of doubt appeared in her eyes.

But the next moment.

Rime's perspective changed completely and without warning.

The perpetually dark and gloomy underground facility vanished instantly.

Instead, there is the unobstructed midday sun!

Beneath her feet lay the solid, scorching asphalt of a Tokyo street. Rime was now standing in the middle of a bustling street in Tokyo!

Without the slightest hesitation, Rime's figure transformed into a blurry blue-white blur, rushing back and sprinting towards the underground facility he remembered!

"What did you just do?!"

There was a hint of apprehension in Rimei's voice that she herself was unaware of.

A chilling aura emanated from him, and several icicles with a cold glint capable of freezing the air instantly materialized out of thin air.

It pinned down on the vital points around Lu Suo's body, locking down all his movements.

Faced with Rime's intense reaction, Rouso instead revealed a look of delighted appreciation for his masterpiece.

He withdrew his hand from the young man's head, not even glancing at the deadly ice spikes aimed at him, but instead gave Rime a meaningful smile.

"What did I do?"

Lu Suo asked softly in return:

"Am I not... showing you that possibility?"

He raised a finger, pointed at Li Mei, then at the young man, and finally gently tapped his own temple.

"I've sent you back to the past."

"certainly."

Lu Suo paused, then his smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a mad and unwavering light:

"If the conditions are right, the incantation power is sufficient, and the spell is stable."

"You can also go to any point in time you desire."

"What I've been waiting for isn't this false scene outside; compared to true peace and prosperity, it's utterly insignificant."

"As someone who came from that era, you should understand what I'm talking about, Rime."

Rime also seemed to gain confidence from the demonstration by Lüsuo:

"Of course, if only I could go back to that era..."

"That was the true splendor under Lord Sukuna's rule!"

"Ha ha……"

First, a low laugh escaped from Lu Suo's throat, followed by a short, sharp sneer from Ri Mei.

Their laughter echoed and lingered in the eerie underground space.

At first, it was somewhat restrained, but it quickly turned into an unrestrained, maniacal laugh that completely permeated the entire space.

After a long while, the laughter gradually subsided.

With a smile, Lu Suo threw the second frozen swimmer back to the young man.

"Come on, swallow his curse power again."

His body vanished once more, and the youth responded to this immense power:

……

……

"Awakened Swimmer Mustard Seed, Swimmer confirmed dead. In accordance with the rules of Death and Rebirth, extracting and transferring a portion of its maximum spell power and residual spell energy..."