Douluo Begins! Testing Physical Strength!

As the host's words fell, from the passage on the other side of the Soul Fighting Stage, a contestant around 1.7 meters tall, with short silver-white hair and a Comical Smiling Face Mask on his face, leaped onto the stage!

This person was none other than Yu Bai, known by the title "Smiling Face"!

However, the lively, enthusiastic atmosphere in the stands immediately turned into undisguised laughter when the audience saw the Comical Smiling Face Mask on Yu Bai's face.

"HAHAHA... What's with that mask?! Is he planning to laugh his opponent to death?!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. With that build, even if his Soul Power Level is one rank higher than Calamity of the Mad Python's, won't he still be beaten in just a few moves?! After all, Beast Martial Souls naturally have the advantage over Tool Martial Souls! I'm taking a gamble—I'm betting on him!"

"Big bro's right! That kid looks like a joke character, so he can't be that strong. I'm betting on Calamity of the Mad Python too!"

"..."

Nearby, as he listened to the overwhelming number of spectators betting on Calamity of the Mad Python, Little Fatty Shi Zheng quietly lowered the sign bearing "Smiling Face." Only then did he let out a long breath. But when he looked at Yu Bai's smiling mask on the Soul Fighting Stage again, he could not help covering his face.

"Damn it, if you'd just picked any normal-looking mask, the entire audience wouldn't be betting on your opponent to win!"

"Ah!"

With a look of grief and indignation, Shi Zheng stealthily pulled over someone passing by to place bets. Without even asking about the odds, he dumped all the Gold Soul Coins on him, along with the Gold Soul Coins Yu Bai had given him, and bet everything on Smiling Face to win!

On the Soul Fighting Stage, after the host called out, "One minute to summon your Martial Souls and prepare," Yu Bai and Calamity of the Mad Python summoned their Martial Souls at the same time!

"Martial Soul! Possession!"

With Calamity of the Mad Python's roar, the phantom of an enormous earth-brown python roughly one meter in diameter abruptly emerged behind him. Its pair of mung-bean-sized brown eyes radiated sinister chill, while its forked tongue flicked in and out incessantly, poised to strike at any moment!

At the same time, two yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath Calamity of the Mad Python's feet, and the oppressive aura of a Soul Grandmaster violently spread across the Soul Fighting Stage!

Unlike Calamity of the Mad Python's exaggerated Martial Soul summoning, Yu Bai merely extended his right hand in a sword-gripping pose when he summoned his Martial Soul!

The next moment, a longsword that appeared to be forged entirely from fine jade slowly materialized. The blade possessed an elegant air without losing its sharpness, and its hilt landed perfectly in Yu Bai's right hand!

Two yellow Soul Rings appeared as well!

At the center of the Soul Fighting Stage, once the host saw that both combatants had summoned their Martial Souls, he immediately shouted into the microphone.

"Begin!"

At the same time, he activated his Flying Soul Tool and promptly left the Soul Fighting Stage!

Perhaps because he had also seen Yu Bai's Comical Smiling Face Mask, a look of disdain appeared directly on Calamity of the Mad Python's face as he spoke.

"Kid! Why don't you just surrender now!"

"This kind of Soul Fighting Stage match isn't some game of house for you to play!"

As he spoke, the disdain on Calamity of the Mad Python's face vanished instantly, and he charged fiercely toward Yu Bai.

At the same time, his first Soul Ring lit up.

"First Soul Skill, Mad Python's Forward Strike!"

In an instant, his speed nearly doubled as he rushed toward Yu Bai. He advanced in a serpentine pattern, leaving afterimages across the arena, as though two Calamities of the Mad Python had appeared at once and charged toward Yu Bai, who still stood in place! In the blink of an eye, he was already before Yu Bai!

At the same time, his right hand had already clenched into a fist and smashed viciously toward Yu Bai's cheek! Yet Calamity of the Mad Python's body itself moved like a python passing through, already darting toward Yu Bai's side!

This was Calamity of the Mad Python's unique fighting style. If his opponent was struck by the first punch, whether seriously injured or not, the next attack would arrive immediately afterward!

In the spectator area, many audience members familiar with Calamity of the Mad Python's fighting style began shouting excitedly!

"That's it, take down that brat!"

"Beat him! Hurry up and beat him!"

"That's it! Finish him quickly, Calamity of the Mad Python!"

"..."

In a corner, Little Fatty Shi Zheng silently rolled his eyes at the crowd. Then he looked down at the Soul Fighting Stage, and a confident smile gradually curled across his lips, as though he was certain Yu Bai would defeat Calamity of the Mad Python!

"Hehe! He actually chose to fight Yu Bai at close range? Isn't that just courting death?!"

"Among opponents of the same rank—and even those up to a whole major rank above him—no one has ever been able to withstand Little Bai's first Soul Skill in a one-on-one match!"

"Just wait until you lose so badly your eyes pop out! Hehehe... It's close, it's close... Right now!"

"Huh?"

While Shi Zheng was snickering under his breath, he suddenly saw that Calamity of the Mad Python had already reached the ideal moment to activate Yu Bai's first Soul Skill. Yet Yu Bai did not use it. Instead, he gripped his sword hilt with one hand and crossed his arms, forcibly blocking Calamity of the Mad Python's punch!

Boom!

As the deafening impact rang out, Yu Bai's body did not retreat in the slightest. He had actually received Calamity of the Mad Python's first punch without moving from where he stood!

Calamity of the Mad Python, who had already reached Yu Bai's side, was astonished that Yu Bai had taken his punch head-on. As he turned to look at Yu Bai's profile beside him, he happened to see Yu Bai's eyes narrow slightly!

Did he injure his arm bones? Of course. He's only a Tool Martial Soul master, yet he took my punch head-on with his body. It'd be strange if he wasn't hurt!

Thinking this, Calamity of the Mad Python's face broke into a victorious smile as he thought to himself.

Although you took my first punch, the next strike will send you straight off the stage!

At the same time, Calamity of the Mad Python's second Soul Ring abruptly lit up.

"Second Soul Skill, Mad Python's Tail Whip!"

In an instant, Calamity of the Mad Python, already at Yu Bai's side, abruptly spun around three hundred and sixty degrees. Using his charging momentum and the force of the rotation, his right leg seemed to transform into the tail of a giant python as it viciously swept toward Yu Bai's waist!

Such a powerful, heavy blow would have been difficult for even an ordinary defensive-type Soul Master below level thirty-two to withstand, even with a defensive soul skill!

Yet in the face of such an attack, Yu Bai merely raised his right leg to block!

"Bang!"

A formidable aura burst from where their legs collided, surging in all directions!

Feeling the force of the blow, Yu Bai's brows furrowed slightly as he thought inwardly, As expected... so weak!

If this attack had come before I refined my Soul Power, and I had chosen to take it head-on like this, I might have already been kicked off the Soul Fighting Stage! But to me now, it can't even make me feel pain!

Is this the difference between refined Soul Power and Soul Power absorbed through meditation?!

With that thought, Yu Bai became even more eager to return and quickly finish refining the remaining four-fifths of his Soul Power!

However, in the midst of the fight, in order not to cause too great a stir or draw too much attention, Yu Bai exerted a slight force beneath his left foot and abruptly flew backward!

It looked as though he had been kicked away by Calamity of the Mad Python!

However, after a graceful midair twist, Yu Bai landed steadily on one knee at the edge of the Soul Fighting Stage, the Everlasting Sword in his hand plunged viciously into the stage!