Chapter 25: Ji Lin vs. Dai Hua Bin
I swallowed hard and thought to myself, "Sister, you're awake."
"By the way… what did you just call me?"
Ma Xiaotao looked at me seriously, making my heart pound wildly.
"Sister!"
"You forgot about last night so quickly? I'm your girlfriend now, shouldn't you call me 'darling'?"
"Y-yes… Darling!"
I scratched my head and let out a light laugh, trying to hide my embarrassment.
Ma Xiaotao sat up in her bed, staring at me, her face flushed with shyness.
The memories of last night flashed through her mind, and she couldn't help but glance at me again.
"Ji Lin… thank you."
"Ah, it's nothing."
I shook my head quickly, feeling utterly flustered.
Ma Xiaotao laughed and said, "I won't eat you, so what are you afraid of? Wasn't last night's reward enough? How about I give you another reward tonight?"
Her eyes sparkled mischievously, sending shivers down my spine.
"Another reward?"
Ma Xiaotao laughed again, "Yes! Another reward!"
"What kind of reward?"
I asked, curious and wondering what she meant.
Ma Xiaotao leaned close to my ear and whispered softly, "Come to me tonight, and I'll tell you!"
"Alright…" I scratched my head, feeling like I might explode from embarrassment.
"Darling… I…"
"Haha!"
Ma Xiaotao laughed softly, covering her mouth.
"Alright, don't be shy. I was just teasing you. Get up, wash up, and get ready for breakfast. I think you have a competition today, right?"
"Oh, right! I almost forgot… I still have to win the championship!"
I quickly got out of bed, put on my clothes, and got ready to leave.
"Aren't you going to eat breakfast?"
Ma Xiaotao called from behind.
"No, I'll leave now!"
"Then remember, darling…? Were you able to form the Spirit Core like I taught you last time?"
Ma Xiaotao smiled as she answered, "Yes, thank you! Using the Yin-Yang Complement Technique, I managed to form the first Spirit Core. I suppose I owe you another thanks."
"Alright, darling… let's leave that for later."
Over the next few days, our team advanced steadily in the rankings, qualifying directly for the finals!
Our opponent in the finals was Dai Hua Bin, the half-brother of the original champion of this era in this world.
As the legitimate son of the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hua Bin—though not the eldest—received enormous resources from the Dai family to support his development.
Dai Hua Bin lived up to expectations, demonstrating extraordinary talent from a young age, having fought a Spirit Beast at the age of five!
I stood on the competition platform, feeling the tension of my team's nerves, while the energy around us surged with excitement.
"The countdown begins! 3, 2, 1… the match starts!"
As the referee announced it, we immediately sprang into action, and both teams charged at each other.
I saw Dai Hua Bin advancing rapidly toward us, and something about him triggered a sense of danger within me.
"Roar—"
"Possessed by the White Tiger!"
The tiger's roar suddenly echoed across the arena, and behind Dai Hua Bin, a majestic White Tiger spirit appeared! I could feel the pressure of its coming attack pressing on my chest even before it began.
His body radiated brilliantly, and suddenly a powerful wave of Earth Spirit energy spread, enveloping the area where the battle was taking place.
I watched Wang Dong'er try to counter his long-range attacks, while Dai Hua Bin closed in swiftly for close combat. She tried to evade, but Dai Hua Bin's speed was incredible. The arena was vast, yet he pursued relentlessly.
"Hmph… you're far from facing me!"
I heard his cold voice and realized he was determined to confront Wang Dong'er directly. I sensed that if he defeated her, our team would be in grave danger.
Dai Hua Bin lightly tapped the ground, then soared into the air like a giant tiger, swooping down toward Wang Dong'er.
He was so fast, moving like a shadow, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of her, raising his paw and aiming at her chest.
I saw Wang Dong'er maneuver skillfully to dodge his strike while simultaneously raising her left hand to strike the tiger's claw with force.
I watched every movement closely, trying to gauge his strength and figure out how we could overcome him. Every fiber of my body was tense, every sense focused entirely on the upcoming battle.
Alright… this is the perfect moment for me to test some new techniques.
I've spent a lot of time training and have mastered numerous skills and techniques from the Naruto world, like the Shadow Clone Technique and the Flying Thunder Technique.
Thanks to my Sharingan Spirit Eye and the technology available in this era, I was able to inscribe my formulas onto extremely tiny tools—so small they can only be seen with a microscope or the Spirit Eye—and I produced a large quantity of them. Now, I can use the Flying Thunder Technique without anyone noticing the medium I employ.
This is far superior to using larger tools, whether kunai or bigger equipment.
Moreover, thanks to Itachi Uchiha's memories, I now possess nearly all of his skills and techniques. Although I only gained the memories related to skills, techniques, and combat experience, that alone is more than enough. With them, I can win this match.
Without wasting time in direct combat, I can deploy tiny spheres all over the battlefield—these act as mediums for the Flying Thunder
Technique, covering the entire arena and allowing me to strike swiftly and unexpectedly.
I quickly glanced around and activated the Shadow Clones at the same time. Each clone moved fluidly, taking strategic positions around Dai Hua Bin and his team. The clones looked exactly like me, and every movement was perfectly synchronized with my own, confusing the enemy and making it nearly impossible for him to determine my real position.
"Alright… let's see how you handle this!"
I dashed suddenly toward Dai Hua Bin, using the other clones to distract him. Within seconds, my real body vanished from my original spot—I teleported using the Flying Thunder God Technique. I appeared suddenly behind him, like an imperceptible shadow, delivering a focused punch to his shoulder, bypassing all his defenses, as if I had struck at lightning speed.
Dai Hua Bin staggered back, astonished by my speed, and the roar of the White Tiger echoed across the arena, expressing his anger at the sudden deception. The Shadow Clones around him attacked simultaneously, each pressing from a different angle, forcing him to defend continuously.
"You won't escape me!"
I shouted, taking advantage of the element of surprise. I leapt again, this time to another point on the arena, leaving behind a wave of Shadow Clones, each keeping the enemy occupied. My movements were so fluid, it was as if I melted into the air and reformed wherever I chose.
With every relocation, I watched Dai Hua Bin's reactions, studying every move, planning the final strike. My Sharingan Spirit Eye helped me anticipate his next direction, and with each new point I teleported to, I was able to pressure him more and more, without giving him a chance to counterattack.
The feeling of power and control was incredible… I was now like the unseen wind. The Shadow Clones distracted the enemy, Flying Thunder God Technique gave me unlimited mobility, and each passing moment increased Dai Hua Bin's tension, while I prepared to deliver the finishing blow at a moment no one would expect.