As If No One Had a Trump Card

The entire training ground fell into a momentary state of stagnation.

On the Soul Fighting Arena before them, two Narutos suddenly appeared, and Tang San was sent flying in the blink of an eye.

Before the crowd could even react, and while the airborne Tang San had yet to touch the ground, Naruto launched himself upward, shooting out like a cannonball!

"Sweating it out! That is the radiance of youth! You bastard!"

Fists, elbows, knees, and legs rained down like a storm.

Bang!

Bang!!

In any fight under the heavens, from the grand wars of the God Realm kings down to the brawls of street thugs, the core was always the control of rhythm.

Once the rhythm was mastered, everything that followed would flow like water, steady and certain.

But now, with Tang San being pummeled by Naruto's chaotic assault, his rhythm had completely fallen apart.

His soul power grew sluggish under Naruto's fists, his footsteps staggered, and he barely managed to remain standing. His bloodshot vision spun wildly, and he could only vaguely glimpse the figure of Naruto closing in.

His entire body burned with pain, his bones feeling as if they were about to shatter. His instinctive, clumsy defenses were useless against Naruto's heavy, powerful strikes.

Burning with the fire of youth, Naruto whipped out a leg, the force whistling past Tang San's blocking arms and aiming straight for his temple. Tang San let out a whimper, gritting his teeth to endure.

This can't go on!

Facing Naruto's mad-dog pursuit, a purple light ignited in Tang San's narrowed eyes. The next punch is coming for my stomach!

Bang!

Tang San's hands trembled slightly, and his entire body was sent flying several meters away, rolling across the ground several times. Naruto clicked his tongue with a grimace and stepped forward to give chase!

The distance has opened up!

I must stop him!

Before he could even rise, Tang San, his face covered in blood, saw his veins bulge. He raised a hand and roared, "First Soul Skill! Blue Silver Bind!"

Emerald Blue Silver Grass shot out, but Naruto's approach did not slow. Several Chains of Heaven wrapped around his arm also fired out like bullets!

Clang!

The chains rattled, smashing through the Blue Silver Grass like cannonballs and sending the shredded remains fluttering to the ground.

Blue Silver Grass was a trash soul, a fact recognized across the continent. Even after Tang San had reinforced it with a four-hundred-year-old Datura Snake soul ring, he could only press his lips together and conclude that the Blue Silver Grass had become slightly tougher.

Perhaps the Blue Silver Grass soul would one day become famous throughout the world, but at least for now, the grass in Tang San's hands was far from escaping the category of a trash soul.

Damn it!

Tang San clenched the scraps of Blue Silver Grass in his hand, the light in his eyes dimming. Just as he was about to use Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to dodge, his injured leg went soft.

Snap!

At a critical moment, being half a beat slow made all the difference. Several pitch-black Chains of Heaven creaked as they bound Tang San tight on the spot! Tang San's bloodshot eyes widened, his molars nearly shattering, and the veins bulging on his neck crawled straight up to his cheeks!

"Do you really need a soul skill to bind someone?"

Naruto sneered, raised his fist, and charged toward Tang San.

My body is restrained, and my soul power flow has plummeted!

It's a dead end!

I'll just beat Tang San into a pig's head like this!

No sooner said than done, Jiang Naruto closed the distance. With the two of them inches apart, Naruto looked up and saw the pair of eyes Tang San fixed on him, as if they wanted to devour him whole.

It's over! Tang San!

Naruto threw his punch!

Crack!

A crisp sound of metal shattering rang out. Time seemed to slow down in that moment. Naruto's eyes shifted, and what he saw was the Chains of Heaven that had bound Tang San shattering into several pieces.

And in the palm of Tang San's left hand, a small, pitch-black hammer had appeared from nowhere.

Clear Sky Hammer!?

Different martial souls provided soul masters with different directions of reinforcement; the Nether Civet granted speed, and the Soft Bone Rabbit granted flexibility.

Then, what did the Clear Sky Hammer, the strongest tool soul on the continent, grant a soul master?

Incomparable power!

Breaking free from the Chains of Heaven, Tang San exerted all his strength to swing the Clear Sky Hammer upward with a heavy blow. Under the clear sky, a faint rumble of thunder echoed in the air, and the heavy, black Clear Sky Hammer smashed straight toward Naruto's chin!

Damn!

Naruto cursed inwardly.

The Clear Sky Hammer was rapidly enlarging in his vision!

The power of this Clear Sky Hammer was far beyond that of his previous punches!

The distance was too close; there was no time to dodge!

Naruto could only barely retract his fist; if he had dared to block the Clear Sky Hammer that Tang San swung with his life on the line, he would likely have ended up with a broken arm!

In that case!

Naruto's eyes glinted with a fierce light. Ignoring the Clear Sky Hammer before him entirely, he pressed his palms together. The afternoon session at Notting Academy was supposed to be physical training, and since soul fighting wasn't part of the curriculum, it fell within the scope of the [Heretical Genius] ability!

Bang!

The Naruto before him suddenly exploded into a puff of smoke, but Tang San's expression froze. The Clear Sky Hammer in his hand stopped abruptly, as if a pause button had been pressed, hovering right before Yu Jie's chin.

Xiao Wu!

Amidst the smoke lingering before him, the person who appeared in Tang San's vision was none other than a smiling Xiao Wu.

It's an illusion!

Tang San shouted in his heart. The purple light in his eyes had just begun to flare, but he had already missed his final chance. Naruto kicked off the ground, not even bothering to throw a punch, and unleashed the fastest move he could think of at that moment.

Pope Headbutt!

Thud!

With a loud crash, the Transformation Technique Naruto had just learned dissipated upon impact. Tang San's body arched backward and flew into the air, his face suffering another heavy blow as blood sprayed from his nostrils as if it were worthless.

Naruto stumbled back two steps, immediately forcing himself to steady his stance before charging forward with all his might; he could not give Tang San any chance to catch his breath!

Not far ahead, Tang San had already hit the ground with a thud, landing helplessly like a broken sack. Yellow sand kicked up as he rolled several times! He was clearly in no state to continue the fight!

And at that very moment!

Every hair on Naruto's body stood on end!

To the eyes of outsiders, Tang San was in a wretched state, on the verge of defeat. Yet, in this split second where no one would ever suspect a thing, Tang San flicked his right wrist, aiming imperceptibly at Naruto amidst his tumble.

Except for Naruto, no one at the scene would realize the existence of a hidden weapon! This was the true killing blow!

A cold glint flashed!

Die!

The massive word "DIE" exploded in Naruto's mind!

Bang!

A cold-glinting crossbow bolt tore through the air and struck Naruto squarely in the neck, yet no blood appeared. Naruto, who had been a living person, suddenly transformed into a wooden stake! The bolt pierced straight into the wood!

Another soul skill I haven't seen before!

He escaped!

"Tsk!"

Seeing that even such a stealthy hidden weapon had been detected by his opponent, Tang San clicked his tongue in frustration. His temples throbbed, and gritting his teeth, he rolled to his feet. He no longer hid the weapon in his sleeve, aiming it directly at Naruto.

I'll slaughter you!

Naruto, who had frantically used the Substitution Technique, lay on the ground. After rolling to dissipate the force, he crouched down, looked blankly at the wooden stake with the bolt stuck in it not far away, and curled his lips into a sinister smile.

Fine, fine, fine!

Is that how you want to play?

"Dong Trumpet! Lend me your soul power!"

Without waiting for a response, countless golden runic chains erupted from the Sealing Space, forcibly siphoning power.

Forced extraction was naturally inferior to a perfect Jinchuriki, but it was enough to kill a Tang San. Purple-black soul power flooded his meridians, and Naruto's aura began to climb steadily.

As for what to do about the furious Tang Hao later, he would figure that out when the time came!

The two stood at daggers drawn, their intent to kill rising!

"Both of you, stop right there!!"

A thunderous roar exploded in their ears. An invisible pressure instantly weighed down on their shoulders, and the soul power rising behind them was forcibly suppressed. Gasping for air, the two knelt on one knee and turned their heads.

At the edge of the Soul Fighting Arena, Principal Fuqi stood with eyes wide open, fuming with rage as he strode forward!

Four soul rings—white, yellow, yellow, and purple—emerged from beneath his feet, and the aura of a level 46 Soul Sect poured out without reservation.

Such strength was naturally nothing to write home about on the continent, but it was more than enough to suppress two little brats.

Standing between the two, Principal Fuqi's face was grim, his brows furrowed. He picked up the wooden stake with the crossbow bolt stuck in it from the ground beside him, his anger uncontrollable. "What are you two doing?! Are you trying to commit murder inside my school!?"