The entire Training Ground fell into a brief stillness.
Two Narutos suddenly appeared in the Soul Fighting Arena before them, and Tang San was sent flying again in the blink of an eye.
Before anyone could react, Tang San was still airborne, not yet having hit the ground, when Naruto leaped up and shot forward!
"Only the sweat you shed shines with the brilliance of youth, you bastard!"
Fists, elbows, knees, and legs rained down like drops of rain.
Bang!
Bang!!
Whether it was a battle between Divine Realm gods or a street brawl between thugs, the essence of any fight was controlling the rhythm.
Once you controlled the rhythm, everything flowed naturally, and victory was all but certain.
But now, after Naruto had pummeled him in a frenzy, Tang San's rhythm was completely in shambles.
Under Naruto's fists, his Soul Power grew sluggish. His steps staggered, and he could barely stay upright. His bloodshot vision spun around him, and he could only make out Naruto's figure closing in.
His whole body burned with pain, and it felt as if his bones were about to crack. His crude, instinctive defense was useless against the force of Naruto's attacks.
With his youth burning bright, Naruto swung a powerful leg at Tang San. The force howled through Tang San's blocking arms and struck straight toward his temple. Tang San let out a muffled groan and gritted his teeth, enduring it.
This couldn't go on!
Faced with Naruto's rabid-dog pursuit, Tang San narrowed his eyes. A purple light glimmered in them. The next punch was coming for his stomach!
Bang!
Tang San's hands trembled, and he flew several meters back before rolling across the ground several times. Naruto clicked his tongue in displeasure and hurried after him!
The distance had opened up!
He had to stop him!
Before he could even get up, Tang San, his face covered in blood, saw the veins bulge on his forehead. He raised a hand and shouted, "First Soul Skill! Blue Silver Bind!"
Green Blue Silver Grass shot out, but Naruto didn't slow as he closed in. The several Chains of Heaven wrapped around his arm shot out like bullets as well!
Clatter, clatter!
The chains clattered like cannonballs fired from their barrels, smashing the Blue Silver Grass to pieces. The fragments drifted down like dust.
Blue Silver Grass was a Trash Martial Soul. That was a fact acknowledged across the continent. Even after Tang San strengthened it with a four-hundred-year Datura Snake Spirit Ring, all he could say was that the Blue Silver Grass had become somewhat tougher.
Perhaps the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul might one day become famous across the world, but at least for now, the Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's hands was still far from escaping the ranks of Trash Martial Souls.
Damn it!
Tang San clenched the fragments of Blue Silver Grass in his hand, the light in his eyes dimming. He was about to use Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to dodge, but his injured leg gave way.
Snap!
At a crucial moment, being half a beat too slow made all the difference. Several pitch-black Chains of Heaven creaked as they bound Tang San tightly on the spot! Tang San's bloodshot eyes widened. He nearly ground his back teeth to dust, the bulging veins on his neck stretching all the way up his cheeks!
"Entanglement needs a Soul Skill?"
Naruto sneered coldly and charged at Tang San with his fist raised.
His body was restrained, and the flow of his Soul Power had slowed drastically!
He was already in a dead end!
Just keep beating Tang San until he looked like a pig's head!
In the blink of an eye, Jiang Naruto closed in. The two were within arm's reach, and Naruto could see Tang San's eyes, as if they were about to devour someone, the instant he looked up.
It's over, Tang San!
Naruto swung his fist!
Crack!
A sharp, metallic snap rang out. Time seemed to slow for a moment. Naruto's eyes shifted, and he saw that the Chains of Heaven restraining Tang San had shattered, breaking into several pieces.
And in Tang San's left palm, a small black hammer had appeared at some point.
Clear Sky Hammer!?
Different Martial Souls enhanced their masters in different ways. The Hell Spirit Cat granted its master speed, while the Soft Bone Rabbit granted its master flexibility.
So what did the Clear Sky Hammer, the strongest tool-type Martial Soul on the continent, grant its master?
Unparalleled strength!
Breaking free of the Chains of Heaven, Tang San summoned all his strength and swung the Clear Sky Hammer up from below. In the bright, clear sky, the air seemed to rumble with thunder as the dark, heavy hammer hurtled toward Naruto's chin!
Damn it!
Naruto cursed inwardly.
The Clear Sky Hammer was rapidly growing larger in his eyes!
Its power was nothing like the punches he'd thrown earlier!
They were too close. There was no time to dodge!
Naruto could only barely pull back his fist. If he tried to block the Clear Sky Hammer Tang San had swung with all his strength using his arm, he'd probably end up with a broken arm and shattered bones!
In that case!
A vicious glint flashed in Naruto's eyes. He ignored the Clear Sky Hammer in front of him and clasped his hands together. Notting Academy's afternoon class was supposed to be physical training, and Soul Fighting wasn't part of the curriculum. That meant it fell within the scope of Heretical Genius!
Bang!
Naruto suddenly exploded into a cloud of smoke. Tang San's expression froze, and the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand seemed to have hit a pause button, stopping abruptly in front of Yu Jie's chin.
Xiao Wu!
Through the smoke before him, Tang San saw Xiao Wu smiling sweetly at him.
It was an illusion!
Tang San shouted inwardly. The purple light had barely lit in his eyes when he had already missed his last chance. Naruto kicked off with both feet and, without even throwing a punch, used the fastest move he could think of.
Pope Headbutt!
Bang!
With a loud crash, the Transformation Technique Naruto had just learned dispersed from the impact. Tang San's body arched backward and flew into the air. His face took another heavy blow, and blood sprayed from his nostrils as if it cost nothing.
Naruto staggered back two steps, then immediately forced himself steady and charged forward. He absolutely couldn't give Tang San a moment to catch his breath!
A short distance ahead, Tang San had already crashed to the ground with a smack, limp as a broken sack. Yellow sand billowed as he rolled several times! He was clearly in no state to fight back!
But at that very moment!
Every hair on Naruto's body stood on end!
To the others, Tang San looked battered and helpless, on the verge of defeat. Yet in that instant, when no one would suspect a thing, Tang San's right wrist flicked. In the gap between rolls, he aimed almost imperceptibly at Naruto.
No one present except Naruto would even realize a Hidden Weapon was there! This was the true killing blow!
A flash of cold light!
Die!
The enormous word "death" exploded in Naruto's mind!
Bang!
The crossbow bolt, glinting with cold light, tore through the air and struck Naruto in the neck. But no blood appeared. The man who had been there a moment ago suddenly turned into a wooden post, and the bolt plunged straight into it!
Another Soul Skill he'd never seen before!
He'd escaped!
"Tsk!"
Seeing his opponent notice even such a concealed Hidden Weapon, Tang San clicked his tongue in frustration. His temples throbbed. He gritted his teeth, rolled over, and got to his feet. He no longer bothered hiding the Hidden Weapons in his sleeves, aiming them directly at Naruto.
I'll kill you!
Naruto, who had hastily used Substitution Technique, fell to the ground. After rolling to absorb the impact, he crouched and stared blankly at the wooden post with the crossbow bolt stuck in it nearby. His mouth twitched into a sinister grin.
Fine, fine, fine!
So this was how you wanted to play?
"Dong Trumpet! Lend me your Soul Power!"
Without waiting for a response, countless golden runes and chains shot out from the Sealing Space, forcibly drawing out the power.
A forced draw couldn't compare to a Perfect Jinchuriki, but it was more than enough to kill Tang San. Purple-black Soul Power surged through Naruto's meridians, and his presence began to rise steadily.
As for what to do about Tang Hao's fury afterward, he'd figure it out when the time came!
The two stood poised against each other, both intent on killing!
"Both of you, stop right there!!"
A thunderous shout exploded beside their ears. An invisible pressure pressed down on their shoulders, and the Soul Power rising behind them was forcibly suppressed. Panting heavily, both dropped to one knee and turned to look.
At the edge of the Soul Fighting Arena,
Principal Fuqi glared at them, furious, and strode forward!
Four Spirit Rings—white, yellow, yellow, and purple—appeared at his feet, and the aura of a forty-sixth-rank Soul Ancestor poured out without restraint.
Such strength might not be much on the continent, but it was more than enough to subdue two little kids.
Standing between them, Principal Fuqi's expression darkened and his brows rose. He picked up the wooden post with the crossbow bolt stuck in it and roared in fury, "What do you think you're doing?! Are you trying to kill someone at my school!?"
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