Bang!
Rather than a clash of fists, it was more like a collision! There was no flashy technique, no hesitation. The two figures on the field slammed straight into each other like cannonballs!
Crack!
A crisp, faint sound reached their ears. The tremendous recoil sent them flying apart in an instant, both skidding backward and gouging several furrows into the ground.
Naruto steadied himself first. His expression unchanged, he let out a long breath. Tang San's eye twitched. Grinding his teeth in silence, he rolled his eyes toward his raised, reddened arm, which was trembling slightly!
The balance between them had actually shifted long ago. It had already turned quietly, back when Naruto sweated buckets during their daily training while Tang San busied himself with Grandmaster's theories and enjoyed his close bond with his sister.
He's stronger than me?
A flicker of astonishment flashed through Tang San's eyes.
The bone's probably got a hairline crack. It's no big deal! I can keep fighting!
A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Tang San had barely steadied himself when several azure vines shot out from his hands!
"First Soul Skill! Blue Silver Bind!"
Naruto was just as unwilling to yield. He twisted at the waist, and all six Chains of Heaven lashed out with a howl, like a vast black net tearing through the air!
The chains and Blue Silver Grass collided in midair with sharp cracks, and fragments of Blue Silver Grass scattered across the ground.
Most of the students had come just to enjoy the spectacle, chattering noisily among themselves. Only a few Spirit Ancestors and Spirit Kings could see what was really going on.
Principal Fuqi could already feel the gazes of several old friends beside him. His own brows were knitted tight as he stared at the Soul Rings flickering beneath Tang San's feet.
"Xiao Gang... this..."
Seeing that the two were evenly matched, Yu Xiaogang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Then, noticing the sincere curiosity of the Spirit Ancestors and Spirit Kings, he promptly folded his hands into his sleeves and answered in an unhurried tone.
"Most people on the continent believe Blue Silver Grass is a Trash Martial Soul, but Blue Silver Grass also has advantages unique to itself."
As they spoke,
On the field, countless Blue Silver Vines shot from Tang San's hands like a surging azure flood, crashing head-on into the Chains of Heaven, which had drawn back into a defensive formation.
The black whips howled through the air, shredding the Blue Silver Vines in an instant. But the Blue Silver Grass behind them kept coming, an endless, unceasing tide!
Yu Xiaogang grew even more pleased with himself and softly recited a poem.
"Wildfire cannot burn it away; come spring, it grows again. The Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul's strength lies in its extremely low Soul Power consumption. Even when using the same First Soul Skill, the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul may consume... only a tenth or a twelfth of the Soul Power required by other Martial Souls."
"I see."
The others nodded in understanding, wearing expressions of having learned something.
They turned back to the field. Tang San clearly held the upper hand now, and his Soul Power Level was higher than his opponent's, too. Victory was practically within reach.
Damn it!
Tang San cursed inwardly, his gaze icy.
Naruto was tucked behind an airtight net of chains, calm and unruffled, showing no sign of being at a disadvantage.
It was true that the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul consumed little Soul Power. Tang San and Grandmaster had discovered that advantage after several discussions. While Spirit Masters of the same level had to scrimp and save when using their Soul Skills, he could unleash his without restraint.
Based on what he'd learned from their earlier fight, the Martial Soul chains in his opponent's hands could only produce three chains. No matter how superior their quality was, they couldn't overcome his dense Blue Silver Grass.
And yet now, they were at a stalemate.
Tang San's gaze swept over the six chains whipping through the air. This bastard had been holding back before?
Tang San looked at the unchanged Soul Rings beneath his opponent's feet. He had used several Soul Skills, while the other man had only maintained his Martial Soul. If things went on like this, he would definitely be the first to run out of Soul Power!
There were countless control-type Spirit Masters on the continent, and they shared a basic consensus: the opponents they hated facing most were other control-type Spirit Masters!
Without the powerful breakthrough abilities of Beast Martial Souls, and lacking the lethal force of blades, spears, swords, and halberds, two control-type Spirit Masters usually had to settle their differences in a long, drawn-out battle of attrition.
And even more annoying than a control-type Spirit Master was one with a similar Martial Soul!
"Hmph!"
Tang San snorted. Under the astonished gazes of those around him, he drew back his right hand, and the Blue Silver Grass instantly dissolved into motes of Soul Power.
"Tang San? What's he doing?"
Principal Fuqi turned to Yu Xiaogang, but Yu Xiaogang was just as clueless and could only keep his mouth shut. In the crowd, Xiao Wu rose onto her toes, her face full of worry.
"Third Brother?"
Whoosh!
Knowing what Tang San was thinking, Naruto sprang forward and charged at him!
The Chains of Heaven, which had been drawn back defensively, instantly transformed into several vicious venomous snakes. They streaked across the air in straight lines, then abruptly unfurled in front of Tang San like a gaping maw, sealing off every route of escape!
Tang San closed his eyes and let out a soft breath.
When he opened them again, purple light filled his pupils. His eyes spun at a frantic speed, as though they'd gone out of control. The next moment, his half-clenched hands shot forward!
Bang!
A string of metallic clangs erupted, sparks flying everywhere. Tang San's jade-green hands blurred as he struck each of the six Chains of Heaven with pinpoint accuracy!
Was that the hell, Sharingan?
So the system really hadn't been making things up!
Naruto mocked inwardly, a cold smile tugging at his lips. He didn't slow down. As expected, these low-level Spirit Masters still had to settle things with fists and feet!
The Chains of Heaven around him dropped limply. Tang San's figure blurred as he raced low to the ground like a ghost. His fingers flicked, scattering sparks as he charged straight at Naruto through the dense net of chains!
Bang!
Their fists and feet clashed.
As they exchanged blows, the Chains of Heaven in Jiang Naruto's hands shot out without warning!
Tang San had completely given up on his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. He simply used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, leaving an afterimage behind as his Mysterious Jade Hand deflected the black chains. He lowered himself close to the ground and closed in!
Fist! Elbow! Foot!
At such close range, both their Martial Souls were useless. They could only turn their bodies into weapons and settle things in a clash of fists!
Naruto raised his fist and drove it forward with all his might. Half a year of training was finally bearing fruit. The rush of wind grazed Tang San's cheek, raising thin streaks of blood!
Tang San paid it no mind. His Purple Demon Eye, Mysterious Jade Hand, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon were all pushed to their limits. The various Tang Sect techniques flowed together seamlessly. At this point, he was less a Spirit Master named Tang San than a Tang Sect disciple named Tang San!
And in the Tang Sect,
A difference in strength had never been what decided victory or defeat!
"Being stronger doesn't mean you can win!" Tang San growled. He seized Naruto's fist before he could pull it back, using Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to overcome strength with softness!
Naruto's eyes widened slightly. Then his feet left the ground, and his vision spun around. With a loud bang, he arced through the air like a rainbow before Tang San slammed him into the ground with a heavy shoulder throw.
Naruto clenched his teeth and sucked in a sharp breath.
Tang San's gaze was chilling. He still had both hands locked around Naruto's arm.
He was about to use a joint lock to cripple the arm when the clatter of chains rang out. Several Chains of Heaven emerged from Naruto's palm and seized the hands gripping him!
"Tsk!"
Tang San clicked his tongue. He had no choice but to abandon this golden opportunity and leap backward.
Seeing how decisive Tang San was, Naruto could only swallow the loss and quickly get back to his feet. Bibi Dong's urging rang in his ear. "Kid! Hurry up and finish this! Can your body really hold out much longer?"
"Got it, got it."
Naruto nodded in reply, but couldn't help grumbling. "I finally run into someone who can trade a few moves with me. Can't I enjoy it while it lasts?"
The two faced off from a few paces away.
"Third Brother! Keep it up!"
Amid the cacophony all around them, Tang San still caught that voice. Warmth stirred in his heart.
Naruto curled his lip in disdain. He deeply despised this sort of behavior, luring underage girls, and immediately prepared to form hand seals. It was time to end this Soul Fighting match!
An opening!
The purple-lit pupils of Tang San's eyes contracted sharply.
Blue Silver Grass sprouted rapidly in his hand, but this time it was subtly different. Instead of growing vines, it concentrated all its Soul Power in its leaves!
Tang San suddenly clenched his fist. The entire stalk of Blue Silver Grass crumbled, but it didn't dissolve into motes of Soul Power. Instead, countless broad, tough leaves fluttered down, and Tang San gently pinched them between his fingers!
The next instant!
Tang San's hands blurred as his fingers flicked. Countless Blue Silver Grass leaves swept silently through the air, leaving behind brilliant azure trails like waves surging toward Naruto!
Bang!
"Ugh..."
A pained groan escaped Naruto's lips. His eyes were bloodshot.
His hands, which had been about to form seals for a clone technique, were now raised in front of him. With nowhere to dodge, he was covered in densely packed Blue Silver Grass leaves!
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