The Conditions for Victory

Bang!

It was less of a punch and more of a collision. Without any flashy maneuvers, the two on the field didn't hesitate for a second, slamming into each other like cannonballs.

Clack!

A crisp, faint sound reached their ears. Under the immense recoil, the two instantly separated, both blasting backward and carving deep furrows into the ground.

Naruto stabilized his footing first, his expression unchanged as he let out a long breath. Tang San, however, felt his eye twitch. He gritted his teeth in silence, rolling his eyes to look down; his raised, crimson arm was trembling slightly.

The tide between the two had actually turned long ago. It had shifted silently back when Naruto was drenched in sweat during daily training, while Tang San was busy with Yu Xiaogang's theories and playing the role of the doting brother.

Stronger than me?

A flash of momentary shock crossed Tang San's eyes.

The bone is probably slightly cracked, but it's not a big deal! I can keep fighting!

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. As Tang San steadied himself, several azure vines erupted from his hands!

"First Spirit Skill! Blue Silver Bind!"

Naruto refused to be outdone. He twisted his waist and spun, sending a total of six Chains of Heaven whipping out like a pitch-black net, tearing through the air with a whistle!

The chains collided with the Blue Silver Grass in mid-air, crackling loudly as shards of grass rained down across the ground.

Most of the students were just there for the spectacle, chattering incessantly, but only a few Spirit Sects and Spirit Kings could see the truth of the situation.

Principal Fuqi had already felt the gazes of his old friends beside him. He frowned, staring intently at the spirit rings flickering beneath Tang San's feet.

"Xiaogang... this is..."

Seeing the two were evenly matched, Yu Xiaogang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Noticing the genuine inquiry from the Spirit Sects and Spirit Kings, he immediately tucked his hands into his sleeves and replied slowly.

"Most people on the continent consider Blue Silver Grass a trash spirit, but it has advantages unique to itself."

As they spoke, On the field, countless Blue Silver Grass vines erupted from Tang San's hands like an azure torrent, crashing head-on into the coiled Chains of Heaven.

The pitch-black whips whistled through the air, indeed shattering the Blue Silver vines in an instant, but the grass behind them was endless and inexhaustible!

Yu Xiaogang grew increasingly smug and began to recite a poem softly.

"Wildfires cannot burn it out; the spring breeze brings it back to life. The Blue Silver Grass spirit excels in its minimal spirit power consumption. Even as a first spirit skill, the spirit power it consumes is perhaps... only one-tenth or one-fifth of other spirits."

"I see."

The group realized, nodding slightly with expressions of having been enlightened.

Turning their gaze back to the field, Tang San clearly held the upper hand, and with a higher spirit power rank than his opponent, victory seemed within reach.

Damn it!

Tang San cursed inwardly, his gaze icy.

Naruto was hunkered down within the impenetrable net of chains, looking calm and composed, showing no sign of being at a disadvantage.

It was true that the Blue Silver Grass consumed little spirit power—a merit Tang San had discovered after several discussions with his master. While other Spirit Masters of the same rank had to be stingy with their spirit skills, he could unleash them freely.

Based on the intelligence gathered from their previous bouts, the chain spirit his opponent wielded could only manifest three strands. No matter how high the quality, it couldn't beat his dense thicket of Blue Silver Grass.

Yet, it was a stalemate.

Tang San swept his eyes over the six dancing chains. Did this bastard hide his strength before?

Tang San glanced at the spirit rings beneath his opponent's feet, which remained unchanged. He had used several spirit skills, while his opponent merely maintained his spirit. If this continued, he would definitely be the one to run out of spirit power first!

There were countless Control-type Spirit Masters on the continent, and they all shared a consensus: the opponent they hated facing most was another Control-type Spirit Master!

Lacking the explosive breakthrough of Beast spirits and the lethality of blades or spears, two Control-type Spirit Masters usually had to endure a long, grueling war of attrition to decide a winner.

And what was even more annoying than a Control-type Spirit Master was a Control-type Spirit Master with a similar spirit!

"Hmph!"

Tang San snorted. Under the stunned gazes of those around him, he pulled his right hand back, and the Blue Silver Grass vanished into specks of spirit power.

"Tang San? What is he doing?"

Principal Fuqi turned to look at Yu Xiaogang, but Yu Xiaogang was just as clueless and could only remain silent. Xiao Wu, standing in the crowd, stood on her tiptoes, filled with worry.

"Brother San?"

Whoosh!

Knowing what Tang San was thinking, Naruto launched himself into the air, charging toward him!

The previously defensive Chains of Heaven instantly transformed into several vicious vipers, streaking across the air in a straight line before suddenly spreading out in front of Tang San like a gaping maw, sealing off all his retreat paths!

Tang San closed his eyes and let out a breath.

When he opened them again, purple light flooded his irises. His eyeballs spun at high speed as if they were out of control, and in the next second, his empty hands reached out!

Bang!

A continuous sound of clashing metal exploded, sparks flying everywhere. Tang San's jade-like hands moved in a blur, striking the six Chains of Heaven in mid-air with pinpoint accuracy!

Is this guy using the Sharingan or something?!

The system really wasn't lying!

Jiang Naruto scoffed inwardly, his lips curling into a cold sneer. He didn't slow his pace; as expected, low-level Spirit Masters like them still had to settle things with their fists and feet!

The Chains of Heaven hanging around his body fell limp. Tang San's figure turned illusory, skimming across the ground like a ghost. With a flick of his fingers that sparked, he charged straight at Naruto, braving the dense barrage of Chains of Heaven!

Bang!

The two collided in a flurry of strikes.

In the midst of their exchange, the Chains of Heaven in Jiang Naruto's hands suddenly shot out!

Having completely abandoned his Blue Silver Grass spirit, Tang San silently employed his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, leaving behind afterimages. He parried the pitch-black chains with his Mysterious Jade Hand and lunged low to close the distance!

Fist! Elbow! Kick!

At such close quarters, their spirits were rendered completely ineffective. They had no choice but to turn their bodies into weapons, transforming the battle into a contest of raw fisticuffs.

Naruto raised his fist and threw a heavy punch. The fruits of his training over the past half-year finally blossomed; the force of the blow whipped past Tang San's cheek, drawing a thin spray of blood!

Ignoring the wound entirely, Tang San pushed his Purple Demon Eye, Mysterious Jade Hand, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and Crane-Controlling Dragon-Capturing to their absolute limits. With all these Tang Sect techniques fused and mastered, he was less of a Spirit Master and more of a Tang Sect disciple.

And in the Tang Sect, the gap in raw power was never the deciding factor!

"Having more strength doesn't mean you'll win!" Tang San roared in a low voice. He grabbed Naruto's fist before it could be retracted, using Crane-Controlling Dragon-Capturing to overcome hardness with softness!

Naruto's eyes widened. Suddenly, his feet left the ground, and his vision spun wildly. With a loud "bang," he was sent flying in an arc through the air before being slammed heavily into the ground in a back-throw.

Naruto gritted his teeth and sucked in a sharp breath.

Tang San's gaze was icy, his hands still locked onto Naruto's.

Just as he prepared to apply a joint lock to cripple Naruto's arm, the clanking of chains rang out. Several Chains of Heaven erupted from Naruto's palms, lunging toward the hands Tang San was using to restrain him!

"Tsk!"

Tang San clicked his tongue, forced to abandon the golden opportunity as he retreated rapidly.

Seeing Tang San's decisiveness, Naruto had no choice but to swallow the loss and immediately flip to his feet. Bibi Dong's urging rang in his ears: "Kid! Hurry up and finish this! Can your body really hold out for much longer?"

"I know, I know."

Naruto nodded in response, though he couldn't help but complain, "It's not every day I run into someone I can actually trade blows with; shouldn't I cherish the moment?"

The two stood in a standoff, separated by a few paces.

"Brother San! Go for it!!"

Amidst the chaotic noise of the surroundings, Tang San still caught that voice, and his heart warmed.

Naruto curled his lip in disdain, deeply contemptuous of such behavior toward a minor. He immediately prepared to form hand seals; it was time to end this spirit duel!

An opening!

Tang San's pupils, glowing with purple light, constricted sharply.

A strand of Blue Silver Grass sprouted rapidly from his hand, but this time, it was subtly different. Abandoning the growth of vines, he concentrated all his spirit power into the leaves!

Tang San suddenly clenched his fist, and the entire blade of Blue Silver Grass shattered. Instead of dissolving into motes of spirit power, it turned into countless broad, tough leaves that fluttered down, only to be caught between Tang San's fingers!

The next second!

As Tang San's hands moved in a blur, countless Blue Silver leaves swept silently through the air, trailing a brilliant azure ribbon! They surged forward like a tidal wave!

Bang!

"Ugh..."

A painful groan escaped Naruto's throat, his eyes bloodshot.

His hands, originally intended for forming shadow clone seals, were now held in front of him. With nowhere to hide, he was riddled with dense, piercing Blue Silver leaves!