An Unexplained Life and Death Duel

"I was quite at ease with Xiao San here! But I should go out and take a look too." Madara picked up the scythe and War Fan from the table as he spoke.

"Where do you plan to go next? Why not stay here?" Grandmaster asked, still unwilling to give up.

"I'm planning to visit Heaven Dou City, the royal capital. I'm sure there are many people there who will interest me." A look of anticipation appeared on Madara's face.

Besides, he stroked the scythe and War Fan in his hands. Since you were born, it seems you haven't tasted blood yet, have you?

Madara left quietly, without informing Tang San. In his view, there was no need. Sooner or later, they would meet again.

"Madara, huh? I wonder just how much trouble you'll stir up in the royal capital!" Grandmaster thought.

A few days later, Madara arrived at Jeno City along the way. He had originally thought that Grandmaster's parting gift would last him a long time. Yet on the road, he discovered that he had simply been too optimistic.

There stood a massive building resembling a coliseum. Waves of cheers came from within, and even Madara outside could feel the feverish atmosphere.

This was the Soul Fighting Arena. Almost every city had one. It was a place where Soul Masters could improve their combat skills and earn Gold Soul Coins.

Madara had come here for two reasons: to raise travel funds, and to temper himself.

After all, opportunities to fight so many Soul Masters were rare.

Madara was already level 19. Perhaps his Chakra refinement method was particularly effective, or perhaps his training had paid off; either way, his level had shot upward like a rocket.

"Hello! Is there anything I can help you with?" A staff member asked with a smile when Madara reached the registration area.

"Can I participate in Soul Fighting matches here?" Madara asked.

"Of course, but you must first test your Soul Power Level. Then, after paying ten Gold Soul Coins, you may register."

Ten Gold Soul Coins. Madara had only ten Gold Soul Coins left in his pocket. Even so, he completed the registration without hesitation.

Because he had absolute confidence. How could he possibly lose?

One-ring Soul Master, level 19. After the test, the attendant's expression clearly turned sour.

"Lord Soul Master, the Soul Fighting Arena starts at two rings," the attendant said as tactfully as he could.

Everyone started at two rings? That news was simply wonderful to Madara!

Fighting opponents stronger than himself would allow him to continuously challenge and break through his limits. Madara had always lived that way.

"Do you have a rule here stating that One-Ring Soul Masters cannot participate?" Madara asked, somewhat displeased.

"Not exactly. But we simply don't have anyone here who can fight you!" The attendant was troubled as well. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

Under normal circumstances, One-Ring Soul Masters would never come here. Not only would they be easily brutalized, but with so few soul rings, there was no spectacle for the audience to enjoy.

"Then I'll fight someone with two rings!" Madara declared firmly. He had not come here to bully One-Ring Soul Masters.

Yes, in Madara's own view, fighting a Soul Master of the same cultivation level was bullying them.

At that moment, a man dressed like a manager happened to pass by them. Upon hearing Madara's words, his eyes lit up.

"Lord Soul Master, are you sure you wish to participate in a Life and Death Duel against a Two-ring Soul Master?" the manager asked with a beaming smile.

"Of course. Why else would I have come here?" Madara snorted.

The manager was overjoyed and immediately ordered the attendant, "Register this Soul Master at once. Send him into the Life and Death Duel, or get out and go home!"

"Lord Soul Master, please choose a name immediately. You need to take the stage right away, immediately," the attendant said anxiously.

"Blood Pupil Asura."

The moment Madara finished registering, he put on the iron mask handed to him by the smiling, obviously ill-intentioned manager and was immediately led to the fighting platform.

In the corridor leading to the Soul Fighting platform, Madara overheard whispers from people around him.

It turned out there was a Soul Fighter named Savage Blood War Bull. In his first match, he had been injured by a Poison Soul Master. Before the second match began, his poison had acted up and he had died.

Now they urgently needed someone to fill in for him.

So that was it. Madara had been dragged in to fill the gap. The gazes around him were full of sympathy and pity.

Madara did not care in the slightest. He would never fall here.

"Savage Blood War Bull, get out here!" Madara entered the Soul Fighting platform through the entrance. In the arena, a vicious-looking burly man was continuously shouting insults.

The surrounding audience kept jeering and shouting along with him. "Come out! I bet fifty Soul Coins here!"

"Hurry up and start! Where is he?"

As Madara climbed onto the Soul Fighting platform step by step, the shouting gradually died away and turned into whispers. "Wasn't it supposed to be Savage Blood War Bull? Why has he been replaced by some skinny little monkey?"

"Savage Blood War Bull doesn't wear a mask. Soul Fighting Arena, give us our money back!"

At that moment, a middle-aged man dressed like a host stepped onto the platform and said, "Everyone, everyone, Savage Blood War Bull can no longer compete. This Soul Master is called Blood Pupil Asura!"

"What? You changed the fighter halfway through? Refund us! Refund us!" The audience refused to accept it. Many had already placed their bets.

"Everyone, listen to me. This match has now officially been upgraded into a Life and Death Duel. Our level 19 Assault System Soul Master, Blood Pupil Asura, has challenged the level 24 Rock Fang Demon Pig."

Seeing the audience's emotions ease somewhat, the host pressed on. "A gap of five levels, plus a Tian Long of one soul ring. This is unprecedented in the history of our Soul Fighting Arena! To witness such a Life and Death Duel is an immeasurable honor!"

"A Life and Death Duel! I never expected one today. Life and Death Duels used to cost thirty Gold Soul Coins, but now we can watch one for ten. What a bargain!"

"What bargain? Didn't you hear him? He's a One-Ring Soul Master! He'll definitely be brutally slaughtered by that guy."

"He really is a One-Ring Soul Master? Did I hear that right?"

The audience buzzed noisily, their attention already diverted. The host finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least he would not have to worry about refunds!

As for Madara, who had just entered the arena, he had chosen to come in himself. No one had forced him. Their Great Soul Arena was not a charity.

Everyone believed that Madara was doomed this time. Some had even begun betting on how long he could last.

A Life and Death Duel? Shouldn't every match be a Life and Death Duel? Madara realized that these people seemed to be using him to plug a hole!

But a Life and Death Duel—this was exactly why I came here! Madara licked his dry lips, his breathing suddenly growing heavy. He felt that only blood could calm him.

"I now declare the match officially begun!" After making the announcement, the host immediately spread his wings and flew upward, afraid of being caught in the crossfire. It looked like he possessed an avian Martial Soul.

"Hey, kid! Are you taking Savage Blood War Bull's place? What rotten luck for you!" Rock Fang Demon Pig on the other side did not charge at once. Instead, he gave a cruel smile.

"I originally only planned to cripple him. I didn't expect someone else to come here to die!" As he spoke, Rock Fang Demon Pig completed his Martial Soul Possession. Like a wild boar covered in earthy yellow fur, he immediately lunged at Madara.

Madara said nothing. His gaze merely grew colder and colder, as though he were looking at a dead man.

Speaking to someone destined to be killed was a foolish thing.

The Sharingan opened. The opponent's originally swift movements slowed in Madara's eyes.

The Sharingan's dynamic vision was enough for Madara to kill this fat pig whose strength he knew nothing about with ease.

Now, dance well and entertain me!