If things really were as I suspected, then in theory, I could master every Kekkei Genkai!
I might even be able to use the Kekkei Tōta above the Kekkei Genkai—or the most powerful Kekkei Mōra!
Yang Liu fell silent. Someone had copied his family's inherited Kekkei Genkai, and the blow hit him hard. He decided to teach Su Bai a good "lesson"!
"Su Bai, you're impressive. You actually copied my Ice Release and used the exact same technique as me."
"But you're still no match for me. You don't have enough chakra... So I'll still be the one who wins."
Yang Liu's voice was hoarse. He decided to stop holding back and have some fun with Su Bai!
Su Bai's smile faded. He looked at Yang Liu with a grave, utterly focused expression.
Yang Liu leaped back and formed Hand Seals again. He planned to use up Su Bai's chakra with ninjutsu!
Seeing this, Su Bai immediately prepared to copy his technique again. Su Bai's own techniques weren't as powerful as Yang Liu's, so the best approach now was to fight fire with fire and defeat Yang Liu with his own techniques!
"Ice Release: Ice Pillar Technique!"
"Ice Release: Ice Pillar Technique!"
Boom!
The same technique appeared again, but this time the ice pillars were clearly two or three times larger than before. Both of them had increased their chakra output!
"Let's see how long you can keep this up!" A ruthless glint flashed in Yang Liu's eyes as ice pillar after ice pillar appeared!
Su Bai didn't dare stop either. He used the Ice Pillar Technique to counter Yang Liu's attacks!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In an instant, the arena was filled with enormous ice pillars. The chakra in both their bodies was rapidly draining, and before long, Su Bai felt his strength faltering. His breathing grew heavy.
I have to change tactics. I can't beat him with the Ice Pillar Technique alone. Su Bai stopped copying Yang Liu's Ice Pillar Technique and switched to a different set of Hand Seals!
"Oh? Changing strategies? Double Suicide Decapitation Technique?" When Su Bai suddenly sank into the ground, Yang Liu immediately understood what technique he was using.
But he wasn't worried. Though the Double Suicide Decapitation Technique countered his Ice Pillar Technique, Su Bai wouldn't be able to catch him as long as he stayed careful.
The three elders in the Evaluation Room also shook their heads slightly, convinced Su Bai was bound to lose. His chakra was already running low.
"This kid's combat ability is very impressive— even better than Yang Liu's. He stays calm in battle, and it seems like he's seen blood."
"Agreed. But he's destined to lose. Yang Liu won't fall for his Double Suicide Decapitation Technique."
"The winner's about to be decided. After using this technique, Su Bai will be out of chakra."
"Mm. Yang Liu wins."
The three elders seemed to have already seen how things would end, but the next second, their expressions changed!
"What? That's..."
They saw Su Bai's arm suddenly emerge from beneath Yang Liu's feet. Yang Liu calmly dodged with a quick sidestep. Just as he was about to form Hand Seals, Su Bai burst out of the ground, and Yang Liu met his Sharingan's gaze!
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" Su Bai's hands flew through a series of Hand Seals, and he used a technique that would decide the match!
"Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!"
Whoom!
In everyone's eyes, Yang Liu suddenly went blank and stood motionless. The muscles in his face twitched slightly, as if he were terrified of something.
Su Bai swiped a hand across Yang Liu's neck, leaving a black line behind, then smiled.
Chapter 63: Superior Talent
No one had expected things to turn out this way. Su Bai, who had nearly run out of chakra, had actually won—and by a wide margin!
Everyone knew what the black line Su Bai had left on Yang Liu's neck meant. If he'd been holding a weapon at the time... Yang Liu's head might have been separated from his body.
The three elders in the Evaluation Room were stunned. Their eyes were fixed on Su Bai on the screen.
"He actually won? Su Bai's Genjutsu is that powerful?"
"It's been a full minute, and Yang Liu still hasn't broken free of his Genjutsu... Hell Viewing Technique is a D-rank technique. Can it really be that powerful? Can it hold down an opponent with far more chakra for this long?"
"No. In my opinion, the technique itself isn't what's powerful. It's Su Bai's eyes. Don't forget, the Sharingan is exceptional at Genjutsu."
"Even so, that doesn't add up. According to the records, the Sharingan is stronger than that of an ordinary Genjutsu user, but not by this much. Yang Liu couldn't fight back at all!"
"Maybe Su Bai's own spiritual power is unusually strong? He awakened the Two-Tomoe Sharingan while still a Genin. His spiritual power must be extraordinary."
The three elders watched Su Bai calmly walk off the arena and scratched their heads. They couldn't figure out why his Genjutsu was so powerful.
But before they could make sense of that, a new question came up: what talent level should Su Bai receive?
"What should we do? What talent level should we give Su Bai?"
"Hmm... In principle, since he defeated Yang Liu, we should give him superior talent. But his Kekkei Genkai is the Sharingan, which is known as the Cursed Eye. Should we give him average talent instead?"
"I don't think average talent will convince anyone. We should give him superior talent. Hopefully, he'll live a long life and make more contributions to the guild."
"I agree that Su Bai should receive superior talent."
"All right. Since both of you have decided, I won't argue."
It was nearly two minutes after Su Bai left the arena before Yang Liu finally came to. He clutched his chest with one hand, gasping for breath, cold sweat streaming down his forehead as he looked at Su Bai below the arena, still shaken.
"His Genjutsu is terrifying..."
"I can't believe I was defeated by a Genjutsu user... I'm going to practice resisting Genjutsu as soon as I get back!"
Yang Liu touched the damp dirt on his neck, walked off the arena, and came to stand beside Su Bai. His expression was complicated as he looked at him.
"Su Bai, you're strong. I lost this time."
"But I won't give up challenging you again. Once I've gotten stronger, I'll come find you for another match!"
Su Bai smiled at that.
He didn't dislike Yang Liu. He was the sort of person who could accept both victory and defeat. Even after losing to Su Bai twice, he still refused to give up. With an attitude like that, he was sure to become strong someday. Su Bai felt a desire to befriend him.
"Heh, you're welcome to challenge me anytime."
"All right, then. Thanks." Seeing how readily Su Bai agreed, Yang Liu immediately warmed to him. He, too, felt a desire to befriend Su Bai.
"Here's my number. If you ever need help, just ask. My father has some influence in Yang City."
"Thanks."
Su Bai exchanged contact information with him, then looked toward Xia Xueqing as she stepped onto the arena.
"Would anyone like to spar with me? Please come up." Xia Xueqing spoke softly, but no one responded for a long while.
After a dozen or so seconds, the girl in black hesitated, then leaped onto the arena. "I'll do it. I want to see how much your Byakugan can counter my Transparent Release."
She was Tang Rou, the other Kekkei Genkai user among them, like Su Bai—Transparent Release!
Transparent Release could conceal both one's presence and one's body, while the Byakugan was the bane of abilities like hers.
Xia Xueqing nodded. "All right. I'm curious about what Transparent Release can do, too. Let's begin."
"Mm."
Both girls were strikingly beautiful. One wore a white martial arts uniform and had a high ponytail, giving her a sweet, lively look; the other wore black and had short hair, giving her a cool, capable air. They drew everyone's attention, and even the three elders in the Evaluation Room were intrigued.
"Tsk, tsk. You don't often see the Byakugan face off against Transparent Release."
"Right. According to her file, this girl, Tang Rou, comes from an ordinary family. She awakened her Transparent Release Kekkei Genkai just six months ago. It's impressive that she's come this far with such limited resources. She's a promising talent."
"Mm. She has the courage to challenge the Byakugan, which counters her. She's got a good temperament."
Under their watchful eyes, the two girls on the screen immediately began to fight!
Everyone saw Tang Rou quietly disappear without leaving a trace. Even Yang Liu was amazed.
"Transparent Release really lives up to its name. I can't detect her at all."
"Su Bai, you can see her, right?"
He turned to Su Bai, only to meet his red Sharingan eyes.
Yang Liu quickly looked away, not wanting to meet his gaze. Su Bai's Sharingan had left him with a lingering fear...
"Of course. She's made her body invisible, but she can't hide the chakra inside it from my eyes." With his Two-Tomoe Sharingan active, Tang Rou's Transparent Release was completely useless against him. He could see her clearly!
Chapter 64: Medical Ninjutsu?
On the arena, the veins beside Xia Xueqing's beautiful eyes bulged as she suddenly struck at the empty air to her left with Gentle Fist!
Thud!
"Ah!" A soft cry came from the air, followed by the appearance of a dark figure. It was Tang Rou.
Xia Xueqing's Gentle Fist had struck her in the abdomen, sealing her meridians with a point strike and stopping her chakra from flowing. The match was decided with a single blow.
"As expected. The Byakugan counters me too well." Tang Rou's pretty face showed her frustration. She hadn't even used a single ninjutsu or Taijutsu technique before Xia Xueqing defeated her.
Xia Xueqing smiled serenely. The ponytail at the back of her head swished, making her look quite cute.
"That's true. I can see all your movements."
As she spoke, she looked toward Su Bai below the arena. "And I'm not the only one. Su Bai can see your movements, too."
"Su Bai?" Tang Rou turned to look at him. Su Bai gave her a polite smile and nodded, confirming Xia Xueqing's words.
"Ah." Tang Rou sighed, conceded to Xia Xueqing, and walked off the arena.
Seeing that the four promising candidates had finished their evaluations, the middle-aged man immediately urged everyone else to get started.
"Hurry up and begin. The three esteemed guests are still watching, and their time is very valuable!"
"Yes, sir!"
Everyone nodded quickly and took the initiative to find opponents to spar with.
Soon, the evaluations were over. Watching the "child's play" of a battle before him, the middle-aged man shook his head repeatedly.
When two boys nervously came close to injuring themselves with their own Shuriken, he could no longer hold back. He grumbled to himself.
"They're already Genin, and they still fight like this? They're so timid and hesitant. Pathetic!"
"Su Bai and Yang Liu's fight was much more interesting. That's what real ninja are like."
Half an hour later, the dull matches finally ended, and the middle-aged man immediately spoke.
"All right, I'll announce your talent rankings now."
"He Lang, low-level talent. You'll receive a basic membership package."
"Lu He, low-level talent. You'll receive..."
"Tang Rou, superior talent. You'll receive an advanced membership package!"
"Yang Liu, superior talent. You'll receive an advanced membership package!"
"Xia Xueqing, superior talent. You'll receive an advanced membership package!"
"Su Bai, superior talent. You'll receive an advanced membership package!"
"Su Bai, Xia Xueqing, Yang Liu, Tang Rou, stay behind. The rest of you may leave."
After the middle-aged man finished speaking, he smiled at the four of them. "I'll take you to choose your packages now. Follow me."
"Yes." The four replied and followed him to the guild's third floor, where they entered a silver-white room. A liquid crystal display hung on the wall directly ahead.
The middle-aged man led them to the screen and opened a website. It was packed with all kinds of items, including ninjutsu and chakra-conductive equipment.
"These items vary in value. You can each choose one." The middle-aged man stepped aside. The four nodded and exchanged glances.
"Who wants to go first?" Yang Liu asked.
Su Bai smiled. "Ladies first. I'm in no hurry."
Before you continue