We'll Win (4k)

No...

Tang San narrowed his eyes.

He had first denied it with absolute certainty, then was overcome by bewilderment. As a disciple of the Tang Sect, his instincts were telling him that the person before him was dangerous!

His opponent had already reached the same starting line as him.

But... how was that possible?

How could someone with only six levels of Innate Soul Power be faster than him, when he had Innate Full Soul Power?

Everything he had experienced himself, as well as his teacher's teachings, told him that a person's innate Soul Power determined their cultivation speed and set the upper limit of their future achievements. That was common knowledge across the continent!

Tang San's mind raced, while time in the real world continued to pass.

Exhausted, Naruto panted heavily. Spotting Tang Wu and Tang San standing there, dumbfounded, he straightened his back a little and shot Tang San a look. His expression unchanged, he passed right by them.

Xiao Wu hid behind Tang San. Only after Naruto had dwindled to a distant silhouette did she finally work up the courage to make a face at his back and wave her fist high in the air.

"Hmph!"

Once she was done, Xiao Wu lifted her chin and planted her hands on her hips triumphantly. She turned around, ready to pick up their earlier conversation with a happy heart, but Tang San still looked serious, his gaze fixed on where Naruto had gone.

"Third Brother?"

At Xiao Wu's call,

Tang San finally came back to himself. He turned and gave Xiao Wu an apologetic smile. "Xiao Wu, go play by yourself today. I have something to take care of."

"Third Brother, aren't you going to find the blacksmith's shop?"

Xiao Wu blinked, still unaware that Naruto had crossed the threshold into the ranks of the Spirit Masters. Confused, she watched as Tang San merely nodded distractedly.

"Mm. There's something I need to ask Teacher about."

The academy corridor,

Yu Xiaogang strode along, his brisk footsteps echoing down the corridor. A teacher coming from the opposite direction looked displeased, but still frowned and stepped aside to make room.

His destination was the principal's office. When he reached its heavy door, Grandmaster didn't even knock—he pushed it straight open.

"He's already a Spirit Master!?"

The question burst through the doorway before he did. Then Grandmaster strode into the principal's office, shock and anger plain in his eyes.

Principal Fuqi frowned from his chair. He looked at the man who had barged in, then swallowed his complaint. Rubbing his forehead, he forced a tired smile and nodded slightly.

"Yes. He's a level-twelve Spirit Master. I've personally confirmed his Spirit Ring."

"As for its age, I can't say for sure. Probably around four hundred years." Principal Fuqi sounded uncertain as he recalled what he had seen earlier.

The Yellow Soul Ring beneath Naruto's feet had only appeared for a few seconds, and Principal Fuqi hadn't gotten a clear look. It seemed a little more golden than his own five-hundred-year Second Soul Ring.

Still, that was probably just his imagination.

With that thought, Principal Fuqi collected himself and looked up at the somewhat dazed Grandmaster before him. He couldn't help shaking his head.

The trouble had indeed started because he'd misspoken back then. But now the facts were right in front of them: Naruto really was an extraordinary talent. If Grandmaster had been willing to put aside his pride a little, or simply said a few less words, things wouldn't have come to this.

"How is this possible?"

Yu Xiaogang's brows were nearly knotted together. He muttered to himself, then looked up to confirm it with Principal Fuqi. "It's only been... a little over half a year, hasn't it? How could he have gained four levels? According to the plan Tang San and I made, gaining three levels of Soul Power in a year would already put him among the best on the continent. What gives him the right?"

"He only has six levels of Innate Soul Power! Tang San has Innate Full Soul Power!"

Yu Xiaogang spread his hands, his voice rising beyond his control.

"Xiao Gang."

Principal Fuqi waved a hand, trying to soothe him.

"All you see is Xiao San. There's no room in your eyes for anyone else. I and the academy's teachers have all seen how Naruto trains. The workload would wear me out after just a few days, let alone a child."

"I don't find it strange at all that he's gained four levels—no, six levels—in just over half a year."

Principal Fuqi leaned forward in his chair, fixing his gaze on Grandmaster.

"Xiao Gang..."

"Wasn't it you who said that the amount of Innate Soul Power couldn't decide a Spirit Master's future?"

So you're saying...

I'm the good-for-nothing!?

Yu Xiaogang roared inwardly, his lowered hands clenching so tightly that his knuckles cracked.

Of course those had been his words. "There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Spirit Masters." He had used that line to encourage Tang San, and he had used it to encourage himself back then.

Why had he come up with that idea in the first place? Wasn't it because he had a Trash Martial Soul that brought shame upon his family?

There are no useless Martial Souls! Only useless Spirit Masters!

Even with a Trash Martial Soul, he could still carve out a place for himself. What a youthful, high-spirited notion. But reality had dealt him too many setbacks. Look at him now, with only twenty-nine levels of Soul Power. Reality had already given him the answer.

He understood that answer all too well, yet refused to accept it.

For years, he had clung to the Ten Great Spirit Theories, wasting away at Notting Academy as he waited to die. He claimed he was looking for a disciple to inherit his teachings, but had he ever taken on a disciple before Tang San, who had Innate Full Soul Power?

Why had he taken Tang San?

Because deep down, he knew:

Only Tang San! This genius with a useless Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and Innate Full Soul Power could let him stick his head in the sand! Could prove him right by taking the long way around!

And now!

A bastard had suddenly appeared, pounding at the thick tortoise shell around Yu Xiaogang and shouting through the gaps every so often: there really were no useless Martial Souls. He was the useless one!

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. He clenched his lips, slowly turned around, and walked toward the door with his head bowed.

Not knowing what he had said wrong this time,

Principal Fuqi hurriedly got to his feet.

"Xiao Gang?"

"Xiao Gang!?"

Yu Xiaogang ignored him and walked straight out of the principal's office, leaving Principal Fuqi sighing at the door as it slammed shut behind him.

Night fell,

Notting Academy blazed with light. Among the teachers' offices and training rooms, one of the brightest rooms had been set aside as Grandmaster's private workspace.

In that room, Yu Xiaogang sat dazed at his desk. Books lay piled in disarray, while research notes densely covered in writing had been tossed carelessly across the floor.

Yu Xiaogang wanted to find an answer in the books, but history was full of astonishing talents who had broken through the limits imposed by Innate Soul Power and become Titled Douluo.

Once, Yu Xiaogang had looked up to them. Now, he found them all so painfully glaring!

Creak—

The old door swung open, abruptly breaking the silence. Yu Xiaogang, lost in a daze, jolted awake and turned to look. Tang San's head was cautiously poking around the door.

"Xiao San?"

Grandmaster cried out, hurriedly tidying his appearance. At the same time, he remembered why Tang San was there: Tang San had asked him to make inquiries, but he'd been so distracted that he'd forgotten to pass on the news.

"Teacher?"

Tang San glanced over the bookshelves, then lowered his eyes to the scattered notes. He tiptoed into the workspace. He had meant to ask what had happened, but Yu Xiaogang spoke before he could.

"Navro... is already a level-twelve Spirit Master. His first Spirit Ring is about the same age as yours—around four hundred years..."

"Xiao San, you... prepare yourself. It might happen in the next few days."

As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang unconsciously tightened his hands behind his back, squeezing his knuckles white.

It wasn't just the brat's news that had shaken him.

His experience with Soul Fighting was scant, but even he knew that when the two of them had still been six levels apart, Tang San had nearly lost. Now that the gap had shrunk to two levels, how could he not be worried?

Tang San, however, felt the exact opposite.

Just as expected...

He accepted the reality in an instant. All he needed to think about now was how to defeat his opponent. Taking a deep breath, Tang San raised his head, his gaze burning bright. "Teacher, I'm ready. I'll make him kneel before you in front of everyone and apologize!"

His words rang in Yu Xiaogang's ears, lingering long after they were spoken.

Yu Xiaogang pressed his lips together, and a spark lit up in his eyes as he looked at Tang San. His Trash Martial Soul had limited his strength, but it couldn't hide his talent. And now, Heaven had placed a piece of uncut jade right before him!

Yu Xiaogang suppressed his excitement. His arm trembled as he patted Tang San on the shoulder and nodded firmly!

"Good! That's exactly what your teacher thinks!"

Tang San nodded as well.

Victory belonged to him!

At the same time,

"76..."

"77..."

In the Jiang Family's small courtyard, cloaked in night, low, rhythmic sounds hung in the air.

Sweat dripped in a steady stream onto the bluestone slabs. Heat billowed from Naruto's bare back, rising in wisps of white steam under the moonlight.

Panting heavily and drenched in sweat, Naruto had grown red from the hundreds of one-handed push-ups, like a piece of iron being forged in fire. After briefly assessing his condition, he gritted his teeth and continued, finishing the last set of his physical training.

"Your body's already in this state, and you're still working out instead of getting some rest?"

Inside the Sealing Space, Bibi Dong furrowed her brows and turned away in irritation. For who knew how many times, she uttered words that could have been either a scolding or a show of concern.

"Perseverance is the true color of youth!"

Naruto didn't explain further, merely brushing her off.

[No Regrets Youth] gave him the confidence to train like a madman, but the trait required him to keep exercising every single day. Miss even one day, and it would vanish on the spot; he would have to train for another week or so to get it back. The absurdity of that setup made it hard to explain.

"Sure, sure!"

Bibi Dong rolled her eyes prettily, assuming the stubborn mule had been influenced by the muscle-bound brains of the Tang Clan.

Besides, if the stubborn mule really did wreck his body, she couldn't be blamed for it.

As she thought this,

Bibi Dong had already stealthily sent out a little spiritual power to take a peek. Then she curled her lips and let out a few snorts before withdrawing it.

That brat's body really was made of iron. He could abuse it like that and still be fine!

I worried for nothing!

Anyway, it was all that brat's fault!

Unaware of the Pope's lively inner thoughts,

"Whew..."

At last, Naruto finished. He let out a long breath and stood up unsteadily, slowly took off his weights, and wiped away his sweat. Bibi Dong then opened her mouth to scold him about something else.

"Is there any need to rush so much? The meridians in your body haven't healed yet. Don't go out there, only to fall over and pass out as soon as you start."

"I'll just take it as our Pope caring about me."

Naruto tossed aside his towel and rolled his shoulders, quietly circulating his Soul Power. With help from a certain Spirit Hall Pope who wished to remain unnamed, he had spent a few days soaking in medicinal baths along the way. The meridians in his body had mostly healed.

He clenched his fist, feeling the state of his body. Then Naruto murmured, "Don't you want revenge? Sure, we can't kill Tang San right now, but we can still punch him a few times to blow off steam!"

Bibi Dong, who had been frowning, froze. She thought of the time Naruto had beaten Tang San senseless.

Back then, she had been too busy wallowing in sorrow to properly enjoy it. What a pity. Now that Naruto had brought it up, a glimmer gradually lit in Bibi Dong's light-purple eyes, and she began to look forward to it!

"You've got a thoughtful side after all."

Bibi Dong still tried to keep her expression composed, hiding her smile as she offered a lukewarm bit of praise.

"Aw, who needs to be formal between us?" Naruto patted his chest and started running his mouth. "If all else fails, I'll just use a cheat. I'll drag out the Death Spider Emperor and parade it around, then make Tang San kneel down and sing 'Conquer'!"

"You little brat!?"

"I'm kidding."

Naruto chuckled sheepishly, not daring to tease her any further. Then he slowly wiped the grin from his face.

"Don't worry. We'll win!"

Victory belonged to him!

It was an entirely ordinary morning.

Notting City woke as usual and got on with its daily work. Only Notting Junior Spirit Master Academy was a little different that day.

Classes had been suspended on purpose, and most of the students had gathered at the Training Ground. They crowded into a ring, chattering and jostling noisily. The academy's dozen or so teachers joined the crowd, doing their best to maintain order.

As the principal had stipulated in advance, this was already the limit of what could count as a "public audience" at the academy.

Standing at the edge of the Soul Fighting Arena, Principal Fuqi swept his gaze over the throngs of students, then over the few old friends beside him. His eyes lingered on Grandmaster before finally turning to the two people on the field.

He shook his head, feeling helpless.

This Soul Fighting match had come after all.

Since things had come to this,

Principal Fuqi stopped dwelling on it and stepped away from the crowd. He took a deep breath.

"You both know the rules, right?"

The two people on the field stood dozens of paces apart, their eyes locked fiercely on each other. At his question, they merely nodded in silence.

Principal Jin didn't bother wasting his breath trying to talk them out of it again. His powerful Soul Power gathered in his throat, and his voice instantly rang throughout the academy.

"For this Soul Fighting match! No weapons other than your Martial Souls! No lethal moves! And most importantly! This match is to settle a grudge! Spirit Masters settle their disputes here on the Soul Fighting Arena!"

"You'll settle your grievances in this match. Once it's over, the matter will be closed, and neither of you may fight again at school in any form!"

His booming voice struck the classroom buildings and echoed across the Training Ground. Once he was sure everyone present had heard him clearly, Principal Fuqi lowered his eyes to the two troublemakers and raised his voice again.

"Swear it on your Martial Souls!"

Neither man believed he could lose. Without hesitation, they raised their hands and swore.

"'I swear on my Martial Soul!'"

Seeing the seriousness and confidence in both their eyes, Principal Fuqi could only keep shaking his head. As he'd said before, these geniuses were always confident to the point of arrogance, and proud to the point of vanity.

There was something he'd left out back then. It was only after the academy took in these few geniuses that he, as its principal, had finally noticed the problem.

They were a huge pain, too!

"Anything else to say?" Principal Fuqi looked from one to the other before asking, "Like what you'll demand if you win?"

Tang San slowly lowered his stance, clenched his fists, and answered coldly, "I just need him to kneel before my teacher and apologize."

"I don't need anything. It's not like this sort of thing will stop happening." Naruto shrugged, unconcerned. The deadly grudge between them wouldn't disappear just because this Soul Fighting match ended. This was only the beginning.

Still, this match should put an end to the pointless fighting that would otherwise drag on for the next few years.

"Then, Soul Fighting..."

Principal Fuqi raised his arm high.

The Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's hand swayed, and an orange-yellow Spirit Ring appeared beneath his feet.

Naruto curled his hand as if gripping something. Six pitch-black chains shot from his palm with a howl, and a murky yellow Spirit Ring appeared beneath his feet as well.

The two stood poised to strike.

"Begin!"

As Principal Jin brought his arm down, the two shot from their spots like lightning!