"What?!" Curator Jiang looked at Luo Yu in astonishment.
After the Trainee Exam ended, he had specifically looked up Luo Yu's test results.
His stamina and chakra had only barely exceeded the standards for Novice Rank Three.
He had still been a long way from reaching Genin level.
Yet he had made such tremendous progress in just one night!
Luo Yu smiled calmly. "I told you I'd meet the Genin standards soon."
"I'm definitely attending this year's Exchange Meet."
After all, this was currently his best chance of obtaining Divine Pupil Stone. He didn't want to wait another year.
Otherwise, he could only pray that heaven would let him meet a rich woman from a Byakugan clan.
Soon, after dropping off the Bai sisters along the way, Curator Jiang parked outside the Jiangli Dojo.
The two got out and entered the dojo.
As soon as they stepped inside, President Bai, who had been waiting at the front desk, hurried over.
"You're finally here! I had to listen to another ten minutes of Old Man Luo's trash talk!"
"Three more Genin have been carried out."
Luo Yu couldn't help asking curiously, "That fast? What's that Genin's background?"
President Bai explained, "His name is Zhao Hai. He's a talented ninja who's risen to prominence in Seven Bays over the past few years, a Rank Two Genin."
"Old Man Luo hasn't revealed it, but judging by the shark-like gill slits on Zhao Hai's face and his proficiency in so many Water Release techniques..."
"I suspect he's Kisame Hoshigaki's inheritor."
Luo Yu had learned from the legacy compendium that Kisame Hoshigaki was a blue inheritance. Obtaining his fragments required exploring at least a Jonin-level Secret Realm.
However, the chances of obtaining a blue inheritance in a Jonin-level Secret Realm were very low, so most people obtained theirs in Ninshu-level Secret Realms.
Furthermore, after absorbing Kisame Hoshigaki's inheritance, one could obtain his exclusive ninja tool: Samehada.
Combining the two would upgrade it into a purple legacy: Kisame Hoshigaki [Samehada Fusion].
Hearing this, Curator Jiang knitted his brows. "Kisame Hoshigaki? That's a blue inheritance. No wonder ordinary Genin are no match for him."
"Seven Bays is only a third-tier city, just like Jiang Li. There's no way it could obtain a blue inheritance."
"I suspect Zhao Hai obtained his ninja inheritance through spontaneous awakening, just as Mengyao did."
"This isn't good. Luo Yu specializes in Fire Release, which his Water Release directly counters."
President Bai started. "What?! Are you planning to have Luo Yu take on Zhao Hai?"
Luo Yu smiled calmly. "I volunteered."
"No!" President Bai shook his head firmly. "Zhao Hai might not be as tough as Merged White Zetsu..."
"But he's mastered plenty of Water Release techniques. Their quantity and quality are even comparable to a Jonin's."
"Unless you're a Genin, you'll have a hard time defeating him."
Luo Yu smiled faintly. "Don't worry, President Bai. My strength is nothing like it used to be."
Seeing Luo Yu's confidence, President Bai couldn't help rolling his eyes. "It's only been one day, hasn't it?"
"How much could have changed?"
At that, Curator Jiang immediately pulled President Bai aside and told him everything about Luo Yu learning the Eight Gates and Bai Mengyao's assessment.
"Is he really that freakish?" Even after hearing about Luo Yu's improvement, President Bai could hardly believe it.
Just then, a somewhat short, stout elderly man in a suit and polished shoes approached.
He was Luo Cheng, the president of the Seven Bays branch of the Ninja Association.
With an arrogant expression, he said, "Old Bai, I came here today to take that brat Zhao Hai down a peg."
"I wanted him to learn some humility instead of always being so arrogant."
"But look at you. The people you sent can't even give him a proper fight."
"Aren't you just inflating his ego?"
Watching Old Man Luo rub it in relentlessly, President Bai went livid with anger. "Young people these days aren't particularly resilient."
"If a setback leaves him unable to recover, that won't be much fun."
Hearing President Bai still putting up a tough front, President Luo laughed heartily. "You don't need to worry about that. Before we came, our Zhao Hai said..."
"He was coming here precisely to put himself through some trials."
His temper flaring, President Bai gave Luo Yu a nudge. "Fine, then. Luo Yu, go grant young Zhao's request."
That nudge drew President Luo's attention to Luo Yu, who had stepped forward.
"Oh, so this is Luo Yu, Jiang Li's rising star who took first place and won the Silver Badge in yesterday's Trainee Exam?"
"He certainly looks impressive."
Although the examination process was confidential, its results were made public.
Thus, President Luo knew a little about the promising young ninja Luo Yu.
"But Luo Yu only just passed the Trainee Exam. Isn't asking him to spar with Zhao Hai a bit much?"
"Where are Jiang Li's other elite fighters? Why are you dumping this problem on a newcomer?"
President Luo frowned slightly, showing his absolute confidence in Zhao Hai's strength.
He also assumed Luo Yu wouldn't attend this year's Exchange Meet, so he was more interested in the Genin who qualified to participate.
After all, his purpose in coming here was to gather intelligence and make some money on the side.
"Luo Yu, I'm leaving Zhao Hai to you."
President Bai spoke solemnly.
Clearly, President Luo's remarks had made it difficult for him to keep his composure.
The older Curator Jiang, on the other hand, remained calm, showing little emotion.
"Then I'll go see what this Water Release genius can do."
Luo Yu chuckled, and the group walked to Arena Seven.
Spectators crowded around it so tightly that there was barely room to move, and most wore troubled expressions.
After all, they were all born and raised in Jiang Li. Watching their city's ninja repeatedly lose to an outsider was humiliating for them as well.
Seeing this, Luo Yu quickly squeezed his way to the front.
The arena was flooded with standing water, resembling a shallow lake.
Presumably, Zhao Hai's Water Release had created all that water.
A young man with shark-like gill slits on his cheeks stood on the water, gripping a Jiang Li Genin by the throat.
Held high in the air, the Jiang Li Genin's feet dangled above the ground.
From President Bai's description, Luo Yu knew this strange-looking young man had to be Zhao Hai.
"Stop! The match is over! Put your opponent down!"
The referee at the side stepped forward and sharply ordered Zhao Hai to stop tormenting his defeated opponent.
"So this is all Jiang Li's ninja amount to?" Ignoring the referee, Zhao Hai shrugged in disappointment.
Then he hurled the Genin in his hand out of the arena.
At that moment, one word summed up Zhao Hai's behavior.
Arrogance!
The spectators outside the arena were furious as well.
"This brat is way too arrogant! You're supposed to hold back in a spar. Which of our Jiang Li ninja hasn't been seriously injured by him?!"
"Exactly! How is this sparring?!"
"This is like going invincible in the enemy fountain and spamming emotes!"
"What can we do? We're just not as good as him."
"Is there really no one in Jiang Li who can stop him from showing off?"
"You've got to be kidding. The guy he just threw out had Kotetsu Hagane's inheritance!"
"If even a white legacy inheritor can't beat him, just what is that guy's background?"
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