-2052- [ Aramitama ]

In the past, Rozen once believed that Ashiya Douman had survived for a thousand years by using forbidden jujutsu—true forbidden arts that had been feared throughout history as heretical and terrifyingly powerful.

This so-called forbidden jujutsu was not something like Taizan Fukun Ritual, which was merely classified as a taboo under Onmyoudou regulations, but rather, it referred to genuine forbidden techniques—those universally condemned as heretical, bringing fear to all who heard of them.

It had been mentioned before: if Rozen were to disregard human morality and unleash all the forbidden techniques accumulated in his mind without restraint, his strength would increase several times over.

After all, while forbidden techniques were undeniably evil, they were also immensely powerful. By paying a tremendous price, one could obtain corresponding strength. Even if people despised such methods, condemned them as shortcuts, as evil, as deviations from the righteous path leading to ruin, the undeniable truth remained—once enacted, these techniques could not be countered by conventional jujutsu.

Take, for example, the Souma Clan's Divine Descent Ritual. Yashamaru and Kumomaru had sacrificed their own lives and disregarded the safety of civilians to trigger two consecutive Spiritual Disaster Terror Attacks, all to invigorate the spiritual ley lines—yet even that was merely one part of the entire ritual. Even though it was already a horrifyingly powerful grand curse, compared to true forbidden techniques, it was relatively mild.

To illustrate, there exist rituals that require the sacrifice of hundreds of human lives, using them as offerings in blood-soaked ceremonies. If a single person's life could be exchanged for summoning a spiritual disaster and causing terror attacks, wouldn't that seem almost gentle in comparison?

And such evil forbidden techniques have surfaced throughout history.

For instance, rituals that use the fresh blood of hundreds of young girls as catalysts, ceremonies that require the placentas of over a hundred women, and even rituals where tens of thousands of souls are sacrificed—such jujutsu is not uncommon.

These are what are called Outer Path, Heretical Path, Evil Path, and Side Paths—extremely dangerous yet undeniably capable of granting overwhelming power.

If conventional jujutsu was akin to methodically constructing an apartment complex, which could eventually be completed and comfortably inhabited, then true forbidden jujutsu was akin to outright seizing another person's apartment—disregarding the suffering and death of its rightful owner, building one's happiness upon another's misery.

Ashiya Douman was an infamous Outer Path Onmyouji, one who specialized in forbidden techniques, which was precisely why he became the sworn enemy of the orthodox Onmyouji, Abe no Seimei.

Given his nature, seeking to extend his lifespan through forbidden jujutsu and surviving for a millennium was not just plausible—it wasn't even particularly difficult.

For example, he could have transferred his soul into another body, seizing new vessels to continue living in the world. For a legendary Outer Path Onmyouji like him, that should not have been difficult.

However, Rozen's prediction was only half correct.

In the past, when Rozen, Kurahashi Miyo, Ohtomo Jin, and Kogure Zenjirou confirmed Ashiya Douman's identity, Rozen had already stated:

If Ashiya Douman still existed in the world, then it was highly likely that he had achieved Divine Descent.

If historical figures like Taira no Masakado and Emperor Sutoku could become vengeful spirits after death and later ascend as deities, then how could the legendary Grand Onmyouji, Ashiya Douman, not become a god?

However, unlike other deities, Ashiya Douman, as an Outer Path Onmyouji, was more accurately classified as an Aramitama—commonly referred to as a Wrathful Spirit.

In Shinto belief, a deity's soul is composed of four parts: Aramitama, Nigimitama, Sakimitama, and Kushimitama, each with distinct functions that work in harmony.

The Aramitama represents deities of destruction, calamity, and misfortune—gods that stray from the righteous path, those who bring disasters upon the world.

Many souls of those who died unjust deaths, as well as the spirits of great historical figures, were worshipped as Aramitama. The Four Great Vengeful Spirits of Japan were, in fact, also Aramitama.

Ashiya Douman belonged to this same classification—an Aramitama, a kind of divine being known as an Aragami.

In Onmyoudou, his presence could indeed be considered a Divine Descent, and that would not be an exaggeration.

However, Ashiya Douman's continued existence was not a result of divine intervention—it was purely his own choice.

"In general, what we call 'gods' are Phase 5 Spiritual Disasters," Rozen's voice echoed.

"When a Spiritual Disaster reaches Phase 4 and continues to evolve, pushing its progression to the absolute limit, its spiritual energy will cease to be distorted. Instead, it will stabilize, be accepted by the world, and become part of the universal spiritual energy—thus attaining a form of divinity."

However, upon reaching Phase 5, the Spiritual Disaster would disperse, merging into the collective consciousness known as 'gods.' In doing so, it would lose its individuality and be unable to manifest freely in the human world.

Under normal circumstances, no one would desire such a fate.

At the very least, Ashiya Douman certainly did not.

"From a classification standpoint, you are already a Phase 5 entity. But you don't want your existence to be diluted and absorbed into the world's spiritual energy. You don't want to lose your individuality or your freedom to manifest in the human realm. So you deliberately remain at Phase 3 by binding yourself to a physical vessel, ensuring your continued existence through this method."

The first time Rozen encountered Ashiya Douman, he had used Mind's Eye to perceive a terrifying, pitch-black shadow looming over him—a vast, evil, ghastly presence that snarled and roared at him like a malevolent spirit.

That was correct.

This was the nature of Ashiya Douman's existence. By using an elderly body—more accurately, a corpse—as his vessel, he forcefully anchored himself to the present world and survived to this day.

In other words, Ashiya Douman had maintained his existence by choosing to become a ghost—by remaining at Phase 3 rather than ascending to Phase 5.

Tsuchimikado Suzu—formerly Saotome Suzu, later Hishamaru—had once sought out Ashiya Douman for guidance. She wished to await her master's reincarnation and continue serving him. As payment, she offered to serve as Douman's Shikigami for half a century.

Eventually, she abandoned her physical body, transformed into a spiritual entity, and adopted a survival method similar to Douman's.

Thus, the being standing before Rozen at this moment was unquestionably a god—an Aramitama. Though he remained at Phase 3, bound by a vessel, it was solely to preserve his individuality and consciousness.

If Ashiya Douman ever abandoned his current body, he could immediately revert to his true form as an Aramitama.

Unfortunately, he had no such intention.

"This world is quite fascinating, you see."

Ashiya Douman grinned wickedly at Rozen.

"Although it has grown somewhat dull, jujutsu remains eternally unchanged. Just like how Tsuchimikado Yakou once unified nearly all known jujutsu systems to create the Imperial Style, it was an exhilarating experience. And now, that same thrill has emerged once again. That is why I must continue to linger in this world."

His words carried an undeniable obsession and devotion toward jujutsu.