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Once Yang Xiong and his opponent had both entered the preparation area of the stage, Yang Xiong got a good look at his opponent—a burly middle-aged man standing at an imposing height of 2.1 meters. His body was packed with muscles, and he carried a massive hammer on his back.
In contrast, Yang Xiong's physique appeared much smaller, like an ordinary person facing a giant.
The host began introducing the match: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this Soul Grandmaster-level spirit battle! Today's competitors are Supreme Overlord and Earth Bull."
"Supreme Overlord is participating in his first spirit battle, with no prior arena record. His spirit is his body, and his soul power level is twenty-four."
"Earth Bull's spirit is the Wild Bull, and his soul power level is twenty-nine. He has a record of seven wins and two losses in the arena and is currently on a three-match winning streak."
"Will Supreme Overlord, a newcomer, secure his first victory, or will Earth Bull achieve a fourth consecutive win? Let's wait and see! Now, please welcome both Soul Grandmasters to the stage!"
Both competitors, who had been in the preparation area, now stepped toward the center of the stage.
When they stood side by side, the disparity in their physiques became even more apparent. Earth Bull was shirtless, showcasing his rippling muscles, and he even pounded his chest with his fists. The entire arena erupted in cheers.
Yang Xiong felt a bit nervous. His opponent, Earth Bull, was clearly a pure power-type soul master. The massive hammer on his back looked extraordinarily heavy. While weapons were allowed in spirit battles, it was rare for someone to bring such a large weapon directly onto the stage.
Earth Bull sneered at Yang Xiong. "Kid, you're too young for these brutal soul master battles. Go home before you get hurt."
Instead of feeling intimidated, Yang Xiong calmed down. "We won't know until we fight. I'm curious to see how strong a three-win streak fighter really is."
The host continued, "Both Soul Grandmasters have one minute to prepare. Please summon your spirits and soul rings."
Earth Bull let out a thunderous roar, and a colossal bull-shaped aura enveloped him. Two yellow soul rings appeared around his body.
Yang Xiong didn't hesitate either. A faint glow emanated from his body, and two yellow soul rings materialized around him.
After the minute was up, the host announced, "Both Soul Grandmasters are ready. The spirit battle begins now!"
With the start of the match, Earth Bull charged at Yang Xiong with incredible speed, throwing a powerful punch aimed directly at him. His fist seemed to carry overwhelming force.
Yang Xiong moved swiftly, deflecting the punch with a precise knife-hand strike from the side, causing the force of the blow to veer off course.
Seeing that his first attack missed, Earth Bull unleashed a flurry of punches, each one brimming with raw power.
However, in Yang Xiong's eyes, Earth Bull was all brawn and no finesse—his attacks lacked speed and agility, and there was no discernible pattern to his strikes. It seemed he hadn't undergone systematic training in martial arts.
After half a minute of continuous exchanges, Yang Xiong relied on his nimbleness and lightning-fast reflexes to evade every punch.
This was Yang Xiong's first time participating in a spirit battle. Real combat was vastly different from training with sandbags or wooden dummies. Opponents were unpredictable, and even Yang Xiong initially struggled to keep up, which is why he focused more on dodging.
Earth Bull grew visibly angry. "You little punk! Are you just going to dodge instead of fighting properly? What's the point of a spirit battle if you don't engage?"
A faint smile appeared on Yang Xiong's face. "Let's see what you've got, big talker."
By now, Yang Xiong had adapted to the rhythm of the fight. Facing another punch from Earth Bull, he countered with a powerful fist of his own. Their fists collided mid-air. Yang Xiong remained steady, while Earth Bull staggered backward two steps. Clearly, Yang Xiong's strength far exceeded his opponent's.
Earth Bull was astonished. This was the first time he'd lost a strength contest in a Soul Grandmaster battle—and to someone who appeared much weaker than him.
With a roar, Earth Bull activated his first soul ring. His body surged forward like a charging bull, unleashing his first soul skill: Wild Bull Charge.
Yang Xiong couldn't help but inwardly scoff: 'How did this brute manage to win three matches in a row? With such a large stage, avoiding his charge is child's play.'
Still, Yang Xiong wanted to test the limits of his own strength. He concentrated a surge of soul power into his fist and delivered a full-force punch.
Yang Xiong's soul-powered fist collided with the massive bull-shaped aura. A deafening impact echoed through the arena, accompanied by the faint sound of bones cracking.
When the dust settled, Yang Xiong stood calmly in place, while Earth Bull was sent flying. Blood trickled from his hands—he had clearly suffered a severe injury from the blow.
Fear flashed across Earth Bull's face. How could an opponent five levels lower than him overpower his soul skill with sheer strength alone? What would happen if this opponent used his own soul skills?
But the fear quickly passed. Clenching his teeth, Earth Bull activated his second soul ring. His already imposing frame grew even more massive as his second soul skill, Wild Bull Strength, took effect—a power-enhancing ability.
Seeing his opponent charge again, Yang Xiong met him head-on with clenched fists. The battle now became a pure test of strength and physical endurance, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage.
However, everyone in the audience understood that Earth Bull had already used two soul skills, while Yang Xiong hadn't used any. The difference in soul power consumption was significant.
After a full minute of intense grappling, Earth Bull realized the disparity in their strength. In desperation, he pulled out his massive hammer and swung it at Yang Xiong, unwilling to concede defeat easily.
Yang Xiong had only intended to test his strength. Now that his opponent was resorting to weapons, it was clear he wasn't holding back anymore. There was no reason for Yang Xiong to prolong the fight either.
With a swift motion, Yang Xiong grabbed the hammer's handle with his bare hand, halting its movement completely.
Seizing the opportunity, Yang Xiong spun and delivered a powerful kick to Earth Bull's abdomen, sending him flying several meters.
Before Earth Bull could recover, Yang Xiong dashed toward him at a speed several times faster than before, appearing like a shadow in front of his stunned opponent. With a single punch, he struck Earth Bull squarely in the chest.
Earth Bull felt the overwhelming force shatter his ribs, and he spat out a mouthful of blood before collapsing onto the stage. It was clear he had sustained serious injuries.
The audience was momentarily stunned, followed by thunderous applause. No one had expected a three-win streak fighter to be so easily defeated by an opponent five levels lower. The match had been brief, and Supreme Overlord hadn't even used a single soul skill.
Yang Xiong wore a wry smile. He had clearly overestimated the intensity of spirit battles.
From a young age, Yang Xiong had trained rigorously, pushing his strength, speed, reflexes, and even defense to their limits. While his opponent's strength was respectable among soul masters of the same rank, he fell far short in other areas, especially speed and agility.
Moreover, thanks to expensive medicinal baths and grueling body tempering, Yang Xiong's physical resilience was undoubtedly among the strongest in the Soul Grandmaster ranks.
At the core of it all, however, was the difference in their spirits. The Wild Bull was merely an ordinary power-type beast spirit, far inferior to truly top-tier spirits.
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