Xing Hu

"Wow, there are so many people."

Tang Yuehua looked around in surprise. She found that there were far more spectators here than at the other branch soul arenas. The stands were packed to the brim, and people were still filing in.

"They're all soul battles. Why are there so many more people here?"

Just as Huangfu Ji was about to explain, a young man beside them asked with a smile, "Miss, is this your first time watching a soul battle?"

Tang Yuehua nodded.

The young man explained, "A soul battle here isn't the same as an ordinary soul battle."

"This is the Life-and-Death Zone. As the name suggests, the soul masters who fight here are engaged in duels to the death."

"Here, there is no victory or defeat—only life or death."

Tang Yuehua looked at the young man, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise.

"Does that mean one side has to kill the other to be considered the winner?"

The young man nodded with a grin.

"That's right. This kind of soul battle is the most thrilling, so naturally there are more spectators."

"Those matches in the Match Zone usually stop at the right point. Neither side truly risks their lives, so there aren't many spectators for that sort of soul battle. It's boring."

"Besides, if you bet correctly in the Life-and-Death Zone, you can earn more than ten times the Gold Soul Coins you'd make in the Match Zone."

Tang Yuehua frowned. She did not like this kind of soul battle. The soul masters in this arena slaughtered each other like beasts for others' amusement, while the spectators made money from it.

Of course, although she disliked it, she said nothing. After all, this was commonplace throughout Douluo Continent. Some people became rich overnight here and turned into wealthy men, while others lost everything and went home to hang themselves.

"You didn't even know that?" Huangfu Ji found it somewhat unbelievable. No matter what, Tang Yuehua was the daughter of the Clear Sky Sect's sect master. Surely she could not have been unaware of something so basic.

Tang Yuehua nodded.

"I rarely leave home. This is my first time watching a soul battle, and no one ever told me about these things before."

Huangfu Ji raised his left eyebrow slightly but said nothing more. The soul battle had not yet begun, yet the cheers from the stands did not diminish in the slightest. Nearly everyone was cheering for Xing Hu.

Amid the cheers and shouts, the host slowly walked onto the soul battle platform.

"Dear audience, I believe you're all just as impatient as I am."

After clearing his throat, the host shouted, "Now, let us welcome the two contestants in tonight's life-and-death soul battle."

"First up."

"A level fifty-six Power Attack System Battle Soul King with the Crimson Flame Horse Martial Soul—Meng Jin!"

As his words fell, a middle-aged man with red hair and red clothes stepped onto the soul battle platform.

Once on the platform, Meng Jin clenched his right fist and raised it high, letting out a roar as though he had already won this battle. He had heard of Xing Hu's reputation in Baihe City.

But he was not afraid of Xing Hu.

Seeing Meng Jin brimming with confidence, the spectators began shouting along with him. Many people cheered him on, and without exception, all those cheering for him were spectators who had bet on his victory.

If Meng Jin defeated Xing Hu, these spectators would become rich overnight.

The rest had mostly bet on Xing Hu. Although they would not earn much if he won, it was a safe bet.

At that moment, the host threw back his head and shouted, "Dear audience, now let us welcome Soul King Meng Jin's opponent tonight! The man who has achieved fifteen consecutive victories at Baihe City's Great Soul Arena, a level fifty-four Power Attack System Battle Soul King with the Mountain Splitting Axe Martial Soul—Xing Hu!"

As Xing Hu's name rang out, the stands erupted like boiling water. More than two-thirds of the audience were shouting Xing Hu's name.

Tang Yuehua covered her ears, surprise in her eyes.

"Xing Hu is really popular."

She was already speaking loudly to Huangfu Ji, but her voice was still drowned out by the roaring crowd.

Huangfu Ji straightened his back.

From the passageway emerged a burly middle-aged man in his forties. He had broad shoulders and a powerful build, towering stature, leopard-like eyes beneath a tigerish brow, a full beard, and coarse gray clothes.

The moment he saw Xing Hu, Huangfu Ji's face filled with astonishment.

He even wondered whether Xing Hu had once lived as a wild man in the mountains. Standing there, that massive frame looked like an iron tower.

Huangfu Ji's height of 1.8 meters was already considered tall, yet compared to Xing Hu, he still felt far too short.

Xing Hu had to be over two meters tall.

After reaching the soul battle platform, Xing Hu spread his arms, clenched his fists, and let out an angry roar.

A fierce aura bore straight down on Meng Jin.

Meng Jin had never seen Xing Hu before. When the other man stood before him, he could not help swallowing, fear appearing in his eyes.

This was far too terrifying. He was already beginning to regret it, but it was impossible to withdraw now. He could only force himself to fight. Looking at Xing Hu's knotted muscles, then at himself...

He considered himself quite strong, but before Xing Hu, he looked like a little chick.

After briefly loosening up, Xing Hu took off his shirt and tossed it to the host.

With his shirt removed, the muscles across his body were fully revealed. His upper body was covered in savage scars. To others, those scars were horrifying, but to him, they were medals of honor.

Without exception, every one of those scars had been left behind in battles of life and death.

After he took off his clothes, Tang Yuehua shyly covered her eyes and muttered under her breath.

"If we're having a spirit battle, then have a spirit battle. Why are you taking off your clothes?"

But soon, she parted her fingers and peeked at the spirit battle arena through the gaps.

The host held Xing Hu's clothes, his hands trembling slightly. Even though he had hosted Xing Hu's spirit battles more than once, Xing Hu's imposing aura still frightened him.

Huangfu Ji watched Xing Hu with great interest. The scars on Xing Hu's body showed that he had survived more than one life-and-death battle, which also meant his combat strength would be exceptionally formidable.

Among those of the same generation, there were probably very few who could be his match.

"I announce that the spirit battle begins!"

After making the announcement, the host immediately left the spirit battle arena.

Xing Hu raised his hand, and a long-handled battle axe appeared in his right hand.

The axe was one and a half meters long, its blade shaped like a crescent moon, entirely pitch-black. When the Mountain Splitting Axe in his hand touched the ground, a crack roughly one meter long instantly appeared across the hard spirit battle arena.

Five Soul Rings—two yellow, two purple, and one black—rose and pulsed around him.

"That Martial Soul isn't light," Huangfu Ji said calmly.

For Xing Hu to wield such a heavy battle axe, his strength had likely already far surpassed others of the same rank.

"Who do you think will win?" Tang Yuehua asked.

Huangfu Ji replied confidently, "Xing Hu will win."

Although the two had yet to formally clash, in his eyes, the outcome had already been decided.

Meng Jin stomped his right foot on the ground, and his whole body burst with fiery red light. The light then formed flames as the phantom of the Crimson Flame Horse Martial Soul emerged. His body rapidly swelled, while five Soul Rings—again two yellow, two purple, and one black—rose around him.

Xing Hu made the first move. There were no flashy tricks as he dragged the Mountain Splitting Axe and charged straight at Meng Jin. Sparks flew from the axe scraping against the ground, producing a harsh screech.

Meng Jin immediately panicked. Raising his hand, he condensed Soul Power and hurled two fireballs at Xing Hu.

Xing Hu neither dodged nor avoided them. He fiercely swung the Mountain Splitting Axe in his right hand, splitting both fireballs apart.

When he was still five meters away from Meng Jin, Xing Hu suddenly leaped into the air, gripping the axe handle with both hands as he brought it down toward Meng Jin's head.