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After his first spirit battle, Yang Xiong returned to the hotel alone since participants were limited to one one-on-one match per day. He spent time reviewing the specifics of the fight.
At the start of the match, Yang Xiong had felt a bit nervous, but years of relentless training and the countless resources invested in him hadn't been wasted. Even without using soul skills, his strength, speed, and agility were among the best in the Great Soul Master ranks. However, he wondered how he would fare against those with truly top-tier spirits.
Encountering such top-tier spirits in the Spirit Arena was rare, as the core disciples of major sects rarely ventured out into public battles.
The next day, Yang Xiong spent the daytime meditating in the hotel and returned to the Spirit Arena in the evening for another match.
When Yang Xiong faced his next opponent, the man's towering figure was even more imposing than yesterday's. Standing at an estimated height of 2.2 meters, he resembled a massive, burly giant. His weight likely exceeded 400 jin (approximately 200 kilograms). Like yesterday's opponent, his upper body was mostly bare, while he wore long pants below—his appearance exuded raw power.
In contrast, Yang Xiong, standing at 1.7 meters, appeared relatively miniature.
Yang Xiong couldn't help but inwardly mutter: 'Is everyone on the Douluo Continent some kind of exhibitionist? Do they all dislike wearing proper battle attire just to show off their muscles?'
However, when the host announced the opponent's spirit, Yang Xiong was taken aback. This man, with a soul power level of twenty-eight, possessed the spirit of the Diamond Mammoth—the hereditary spirit of the Xiang Jia (Elephant Armor) Sect, one of the Lower Four Sects. Known as the strongest defensive spirit in the world, it was an incredibly formidable spirit, far surpassing yesterday's opponent.
To Yang Xiong's surprise, this man didn't use a nickname on the stage but fought under his real name—Huyan Meng. At level twenty-eight, Huyan Meng had achieved an impressive record of nine wins and one loss.
As Huyan Meng stepped onto the stage, he sneered upon seeing Yang Xiong's slim build and novice record. "Kid, you should go home. This arena isn't for children like you."
Yang Xiong smiled faintly. "You're just older. Let's see what you've got."
Huyan Meng's face darkened. "Since you enjoy talking big, I'll crush your bones and show you the true cruelty of spirit battles."
Yang Xiong remained silent, dismissing the bluster. It seemed arrogance ran deep in the Xiang Jia Sect.
However, once the match began, Yang Xiong realized that Huyan Meng wasn't just all talk—his body was as hard as his words.
During the preparation phase, both fighters summoned their spirits and soul rings. Huyan Meng also had two yellow soul rings, but after his Diamond Mammoth spirit enveloped him, his physique became even more imposing. Compared to yesterday's Wild Bull, Huyan Meng's presence radiated far greater might.
When the host announced the start of the match, Huyan Meng charged at Yang Xiong like a rampaging bull, delivering a straightforward and brutal punch.
Yang Xiong countered with a punch of his own. When their fists collided, both fighters were forced back a step. Yang Xiong was surprised—he had used six-tenths of his strength, yet they were evenly matched.
Huyan Meng's fist was incredibly hard, feeling like striking granite.
Even Huyan Meng was slightly astonished. "Kid, you've got some strength. Let's see if your fists can break through my defenses."
Despite his massive size, Huyan Meng was surprisingly agile. Each punch and kick carried immense power.
Yang Xiong, however, was no pushover. In terms of both strength and speed, he outmatched Huyan Meng. He delivered several consecutive punches to Huyan Meng's body, followed by a powerful kick to his left shoulder.
Yet, Huyan Meng showed no signs of being affected. His body was as hard as iron, effortlessly withstanding Yang Xiong's barrage of attacks.
After three minutes of intense combat, Huyan Meng burst into laughter. "Kid, your strength is decent, but you can't break through my defense. If that's all you've got, you won't beat me."
With a flash of his second soul ring, Huyan Meng's already colossal frame expanded further, clearly gaining even more strength. This was his second soul skill: Mammoth Strength.
Yang Xiong continued to counter with six-tenths of his strength, but a single blow sent him staggering back two meters, while Huyan Meng remained rooted in place.
Yang Xiong chuckled. "This is getting interesting. Otherwise, this spirit battle would be too dull."
When Huyan Meng launched another attack, Yang Xiong's movements quickened significantly. A swift knife-hand blocked the strike, and in an instant, his fingers transformed into sharp claws, gripping Huyan Meng's arm with incredible force.
Huyan Meng's defense was indeed formidable. Even with only six-tenths of Yang Xiong's strength—strength sufficient to defeat yesterday's opponent—only faint traces of blood appeared on Huyan Meng's arm.
Before Huyan Meng could react, Yang Xiong swept his right leg, striking Huyan Meng's left knee joint. Pain coursed through Huyan Meng's body, causing his stance to waver momentarily.
Seizing the opportunity, Yang Xiong gripped Huyan Meng's shoulders with claw-like hands, delivered an elbow strike to his head, and finally kicked upward, sending Huyan Meng flying seven or eight meters.
After enduring Yang Xiong's relentless attacks, Huyan Meng looked worse for wear. Five gaping wounds marked his shoulders, and blood trickled from the corner of his eye. Clearly, even the mighty Xiang Jia Sect had vulnerable spots.
Yang Xiong didn't press the advantage. His goal wasn't victory but to hone his skills through battle. Winning or losing mattered less to him.
Though injured, Huyan Meng's body was extraordinarily resilient. He quickly rose to his feet, wiping away a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth.
"You brat, I've fought so many spirit battles, and this is the first time I've been injured. Looks like I'll have to show you my true strength."
Yang Xiong stretched his limbs. "I hope your strength matches your talk. Otherwise, you won't stand a chance against me."
Huyan Meng's first soul ring flashed, and a layer of earthy-yellow energy enveloped his already massive body, forming a protective barrier. This was his first soul skill: Mammoth Shield.
Yang Xiong was intrigued. "So it's not purely a defensive skill—it's a body-strengthening augmentation-type soul skill. That's quite rare."
"But something puzzles me. With your strength, physical conditioning, and formidable defense combined with two rare augmentation-type soul skills, you should be unmatched among Soul Grandmasters. How did you lose that one match?"
Yang Xiong planned to eventually study the Eight Extremes Fist. He felt these battles lacked a certain depth and intensity.
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