First Soul Fight, A Natural Counter

Ordinary Waiting Area.

Ye Zhou held his number plate as he waited to be called.

How should he put it? He was indeed a little nervous. After all, in both his past and present lives, this was his first time taking part in such a large-scale competition.

However, if he wanted to grow stronger, fighting others was an essential step. He could encounter all kinds of opponents here, so he had to participate.

Before long, the sound of an announcement rang out.

"Contestant number 16, Xiong Ba, please enter."

"Contestant number 28, Iron Bull, please enter."

It's my turn already? Are there that few one-ring Soul Masters here to fight? Ye Zhou got to his feet, muttering inwardly.

Then, guided by a staff member, he passed through a special passage and headed toward the arena.

The moment he stepped onto the stage, countless lights shone down on him.

Looking around, he saw plenty of empty seats in the audience. Though the lights were bright, there were probably fewer than a hundred spectators.

It seemed that soul fights between one-ring Soul Masters were not particularly appealing. Even with cheap tickets, few people came to watch.

But that was fine. He had not come here to be watched anyway.

Ye Zhou turned his gaze toward his opponent.

The man was a muscular brute, seemingly around seventeen or eighteen years old.

A female Soul Master referee with a White Dove Martial Soul fluttered in the air, holding a sound-amplifying Soul Tool. "Ladies and gentlemen, contestant Xiong Ba is a newcomer who registered for soul fights only today. Despite his young age, he has already obtained his first soul ring. Contestant Iron Bull has participated in three soul fights before, performing exceptionally well each time. Now that they have met, who will emerge victorious? Let us wait and see!"

On the stage, Iron Bull had not expected his opponent this time to be a child. To possess a first soul ring at such a young age, he must be a genius.

He did not say anything to make Ye Zhou surrender voluntarily. Instead, he clenched both fists, preparing to give it his all.

There were always prodigies from prestigious families who liked to play the pig to eat the tiger at the Great Soul Arena. Though he had never seen one himself, he had heard plenty about them.

Therefore, he would not underestimate his opponent just because he was young.

"Very well, the soul fight begins now. Both sides have one minute to summon your Martial Souls." The referee raised her right hand and announced loudly.

"Martial Soul, appear!" Neither Ye Zhou nor Iron Bull let down their guard. They simultaneously activated their soul power and summoned their Martial Souls.

The phantom of an Iron Armored Rhino appeared behind Iron Bull, while a yellow soul ring emerged beneath his feet.

A long halberd brimming with both icy and scorching auras appeared in Ye Zhou's grasp. Using his Transformation Technique, a hundred-year soul ring likewise appeared beneath his feet.

"Oh? That Martial Soul... it's that kid!" In the VIP box, Dugu Bo, who had come to watch because Dugu Yan would be participating in a one-ring soul fight, froze when he saw the halberd in the youth's hand. He then scrutinized Ye Zhou's face and muttered to himself.

He recognized the boy as the little brat with Innate Full Soul Power whom he had helped Prince Xue Xing snatch away from the Martial Soul Holy Hall.

"Grandpa, do you know those two people on the stage?" Noticing Dugu Bo's unusual reaction and hearing his muttering, Dugu Yan, who sat beside him, asked curiously.

"I don't know that Iron Bull, but I've seen Xiong Ba before. Come to think of it, he's your junior." Dugu Bo said.

"He's also a student at Heaven Dou Royal Academy?" Dugu Yan asked.

"Mm. He's one of this year's new students, and the only one among them with Innate Full Soul Power." As he said this, Dugu Bo could not help feeling a little regretful again. It was a pity the boy's Martial Soul was not poison-attributed. Otherwise, he could have become his Disciple.

"Innate Full Soul Power?" Dugu Yan's eyes widened as she turned to look at the youth on the stage.

Bang! At that moment, Ye Zhou and Iron Bull began their fight. Having completed his Martial Soul possession, Iron Bull swung his fist and charged at Ye Zhou. Ye Zhou immediately met him with a sweep of his halberd. Fist and halberd collided, erupting with the sound of steel striking steel as a blast of air spread outward.

Both of them leaped back and landed.

This guy is incredibly strong! Ye Zhou slowly circled Iron Bull, thinking to himself.

This kid really is playing the pig to eat the tiger. He actually took one of my punches head-on! Iron Bull was equally shocked.

The next second, he pushed off with his right foot and shot forward.

No more dragging this out. End the fight quickly!

"First Soul Skill, Savage Bull Charge!" Iron Bull unleashed his first—and only—soul skill. It increased his straight-line speed by 10% and his physical strength by 30%.

He charged toward Ye Zhou at astonishing speed. With the boost and the force borrowed from the ground, ordinary one-ring Soul Masters simply could not evade it unless they possessed a speed-enhancing soul skill as well.

I've won.

I'm going to win!

Iron Bull could practically see himself smashing Ye Zhou off the stage. He did not believe Ye Zhou could dodge or block this strike. After all, he had not underestimated his opponent and had used his full strength from the start.

However...

Faced with his all-out attack and the humanoid tank charging at him, Ye Zhou had no intention of dodging. He swung the Sun Moon Halberd in his hand, aimed its blade at Iron Bull, and unleashed his own first soul skill.

First Soul Skill: Sunbeam Thrust!

Boom! In an instant, a streak of True Sun Fire shot straight from the sun blade and headed directly for Iron Bull.

Iron Bull, who had been gritting his teeth as he charged and had already begun to smile, suddenly changed expression.

A ranged attack?

Fire?

With no time to evade, Iron Bull hurriedly raised both arms and crossed them in front of himself to block.

"Bang!"

The flame beam struck his arms, instantly piercing through his wrists before hitting his chest, blasting his entire body backward and sending him tumbling off the arena.

"..."

Silence. The entire Spirit Battle area fell quiet in an instant.

There had been few people before, but at least some had been pumping their fists and shouting. Now, however, it was as if everyone had agreed beforehand—they all shut their mouths.

One second, two seconds... It took a full five seconds before someone finally reacted, stood up, and shouted.

"Good, good!"

"Charging headfirst into fire—brilliant! This Iron Bull is brilliant!"

"Hahahaha, Iron Bull really met his natural counter! A straight-line melee fighter against a straight-line ranged attacker, and he still stupidly charged right in. Hahaha, I'm dying!"

White Dove Referee came back to his senses as well. He hid the surprise in his eyes, suppressed the smile threatening to rise to his lips, and waved his hand as he announced loudly, "Thirty seconds! After summoning his martial soul, contestant Xiong Ba used only thirty seconds to defeat contestant Iron Bull, winning the first match of his spirit battle career!"

"I hereby announce that the winner of this spirit battle is contestant Xiong Ba!"

Ye Zhou withdrew his Sun Moon Halberd martial soul and looked at the spectators applauding and cheering for him from the surrounding stands. How should he put it? The tension in his heart had quietly vanished, but he did not feel as happy as he had imagined he would after winning.

Maybe it was because he had won too easily. There had not been the slightest thrill to it.

Inside the VIP box.

"Grandpa, I want to fight him!" Dugu Yan's eyes shone as she pointed at Ye Zhou through the glass and spoke to Dugu Bo.

"Yanyan, your first soul skill is similar to that Iron Bull's. They're both enhancement-type soul skills. That boy's first soul skill, on the other hand, is a direct flame attack. You'll probably lose if you go up against him," Dugu Bo said.

"What's there to be afraid of? Your granddaughter is the fastest in the entire grade. As long as I can dodge his soul skill attacks, beating him will be easy." Dugu Yan brushed back her beautiful hair, brimming with confidence.