Fire Python Tiger!

Douluo Continent, Heaven Dou Empire.

Today had been an ordinary day, with bright sunshine and a gentle breeze.

Yet at noon, a sudden change occurred.

A tremendous boom suddenly rang out across the skies of the entire Douluo Continent.

Immediately afterward, dazzling golden light tore through the clouds, and a boundless, gigantic screen of light appeared out of thin air.

This screen covered not only the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire; even the legendary Divine Realm was enveloped by it.

For a moment, everyone stopped what they were doing. Commoners, Soul Masters, and even the lofty gods all looked up at the sky.

Just as everyone was wavering between shock and doubt, a majestic voice rang out in the mind of every living being.

[The passage to Martial Universe is officially open!]

[This will be a sky-screen livestream. Five individuals will be randomly selected from the Douluo World to enter Martial Universe to explore and hunt for treasures.]

[Martial Universe abounds in spiritual energy and countless opportunities.]

[Anyone selected will have the opportunity to return to Douluo Continent upon surviving one year in Martial Universe or reaching the Nirvana Realm.]

[At that time, all cultivation methods, martial arts, divine weapons, and cultivation you acquire in Martial Universe will be retained in full and brought back.]

[Meanwhile, the explorers' experiences in Martial Universe will be livestreamed simultaneously to the entire Douluo World through the sky screen.]

[A new round of selections will begin at regular intervals.]

As the voice faded, the entire Douluo Continent erupted into an uproar.

"Martial Universe?"

"As long as we survive a year or reach that Nirvana Realm or whatever, we can return to Douluo with a whole arsenal of divine arts?"

"This is an enormous opportunity! If I get picked, won't I soar straight into the heavens?"

Hearing the mysterious voice from the sky screen, Soul Masters everywhere had a gleam in their eyes.

For them, taking risks was an everyday affair as long as there was something to gain.

Besides, the voice had explicitly said that world held countless opportunities.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, at Shrek Academy.

Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking up at the screen of light in the sky.

At this moment, his aged face was still filled with confidence.

"Martial Universe?"

"Nothing but alarmist talk."

Yu Xiaogang shook his head and spoke with certainty to the Shrek Seven Devils beside him.

"Analyzing this according to the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul I proposed, our Douluo Continent's Soul Power system has already approached perfection."

"Titled Douluos are supreme experts capable of moving mountains and filling seas."

He paused after speaking, then continued his appraisal, his eyes carrying the superiority of someone with every answer in his grasp.

"As for that so-called Nirvana Realm, the name alone tells you it isn't much."

"After all, in many ancient texts, nirvana represents rebirth or breaking through a bottleneck."

"In my view, this Nirvana Realm is at most equivalent to our Douluo Continent's Soul Douluo-Titled Douluo level at the absolute most."

"So the being behind this sky screen is merely using deliberately mystifying terms to frighten people."

Hearing Grandmaster's analysis, Dai Mubai nodded beside him.

Then he patted his chest and declared loudly, "Grandmaster is right!"

"We Shrek Seven Devils are monsters among monsters."

"My Martial Soul is the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, a top-tier Power Attack System Beast Martial Soul."

"If this sky screen dares pick me, I'll absolutely be able to swagger around that Martial Universe unchallenged."

"Isn't it just surviving a year? Even fighting my way through that entire world would be no problem!"

Ma Hongjun chimed in beside him, stroking his chin with a look of complete indifference. "Boss Dai is right."

"My Evil Fire Phoenix is a top-tier mutated Martial Soul."

"Once I get there, those bumpkins might not even have seen what a phoenix looks like."

"I really hope the sky screen picks me soon. I can't wait to go show off."

"And the beauties in that world will be just the thing to help me vent some fire. Hehehe."

Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong and the others stood beside them. She folded her arms across her chest, lifted her chin, and gave a haughty little snort. "My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is the world's number one support sect."

"Even in another world, as long as I reveal my identity and Martial Soul, plenty of experts will surely fight to protect me."

"What's there to be afraid of?"

At the same time, inside Spirit Hall.

Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong sat upright on her throne, her brows slightly furrowed.

She was an intelligent, rational woman, not blindly arrogant like Yu Xiaogang.

"A new world..."

Bibi Dong's slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, a trace of gravity flashing through her eyes.

She could sense that the pressure radiating from that screen of light was even more terrifying than the gods she knew of.

Thus, she judged that this was by no means an ordinary opportunity; immense danger would inevitably accompany it.

The Divine Realm.

Inside the great hall of the God Realm Committee, the Destruction God King sat upright upon his divine throne.

At this moment, these God Kings gazed at the screen outside the hall, their eyes likewise filled with contempt.

"Ridiculous."

The Destruction God King turned back and could not help giving a cold snort.

"This Martial Universe is nothing but a sideshow cooked up by some unknown lower plane."

"In this vast universe, our Divine Realm alone is truly supreme."

"A God King's power is enough to destroy everything."

"Martial Universe? It truly knows neither the height of heaven nor the depth of earth!"

The Asura God King sat beside him. Though he said nothing, the indifference in his eyes also revealed his disdain for this so-called "Martial Universe."

In their eyes, gods were invincible.

Everything else was nothing but ants.

Just as the various powers of Douluo were entertaining their differing thoughts, that familiar voice rang out from the sky screen again.

Names flickered rapidly across the sky screen alongside it.

[Randomly selecting the first batch of explorers...]

As that majestic voice from the sky screen faded.

Countless golden characters began flashing and dancing wildly across the gigantic screen of light.

For a moment, the hearts of billions of living beings across Douluo Continent seemed to accelerate in time with those flashes.

Whether they were the leaders of major sects or ordinary commoners, all held their breath and stared fixedly at the sky.

Soon, the golden light abruptly froze.

Five lines of large text slowly appeared in the center of the screen like brands.

[The first batch of explorers is as follows:]

[1. Star Luo Empire, level fifty-two Power Attack System Battle Soul King, Zhang Hu.]

[2. Heaven Dou Empire, commoner, Wang Er.]

[3. Elephant Armor Sect of the Seven Great Sects, level forty-three Defense System Battle Soul Ancestor, Huyan Li.]

[4. Star Dou Great Forest, Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, Gale Demon Wolf.]

[5. Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, level forty-eight Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor, Yu Tianming.]

When this list appeared clearly before everyone across the continent, deafening cries of astonishment erupted from the crowds.

"There are actually three experts at Soul Ancestor level or above! There's even a level fifty-two Soul King!"

"Zhang Hu is a notoriously fierce figure in our Star Luo Empire. They say his Mad Lion Martial Soul is incomparably powerful!"

"And there's Huyan Li of the Elephant Armor Sect and Yu Tianming of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. They're core disciples of major sects, with plenty of trump cards."

"With them pioneering the way, they'll definitely turn that Martial Universe upside down!"

"A pity about that commoner Wang Er and that beast. They'll probably become cannon fodder the moment they enter."

Soul Masters everywhere discussed it animatedly, their voices filled with envy toward these three great experts and blind confidence.

In their deeply rooted understanding, a Soul King entering a new world they had never even heard of would inevitably crush it from an entirely higher dimension.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, at Shrek Academy.

Looking at the list on the sky screen, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang gave a slight nod.

With his hands clasped behind his back, his expression grew increasingly composed.

"Not bad. Two elites from major sects, plus a Soul King."

"A lineup like this will be enough to show us that plane's true level."

Beside him, Dai Mubai sneered, a trace of disdain flashing through his eyes. "So what if he's a Soul King?"

"If I went, the overwhelming might of my White Tiger Martial Soul would definitely let me perform better than this Zhang Hu."

"Let this fellow scout the way for us first."

Ma Hongjun curled his lip as well and muttered, "Exactly. Too bad they didn't pick me. Otherwise, I'd have made sure to show my face before the whole continent."

[Teleportation countdown complete. Explorers are in position.]

[Now opening the first viewpoint: Star Luo Empire Soul King, Zhang Hu.]

As ripples spread across the sky screen like water, the image instantly became incomparably clear.

A vast, boundless range of ancient mountains appeared within the screen.

Every tree here towered a hundred zhang high, blotting out the sky and sun, while thick vines coiled like horned dragons.

A thin layer of mist hung in the air.

Immediately afterward, a burly figure dropped out of thin air and slammed heavily into a clearing.

It was none other than the level fifty-two Battle Soul King, Zhang Hu.

The moment he landed, Zhang Hu staggered, nearly dropping to one knee.

His face instantly flushed crimson, and he felt an indescribably terrifying pressure squeezing in from every direction.

The air here seemed a hundred times heavier than on Douluo Continent!

The quality of the energy called "Heaven and Earth Yuan Power" was outrageously high.

Watching Zhang Hu's somewhat awkward movements on the sky screen, quite a few people on Douluo Continent let out soft sounds of surprise.

But Zhang Hu was, after all, a Soul King seasoned by a hundred battles.

He fiercely bit the tip of his tongue and forced himself to stand straight.

"Hahaha! So this is Martial Universe?"

"Such abundant energy! Though the pressure is intense, this is absolutely a precious cultivation ground!"

To display his might before the entire continent, Zhang Hu did not hesitate at all.

He roared, and the Soul Power of a level fifty-two Soul King erupted within him.

"Martial Soul Possession!"

Accompanied by a savage lion's roar, the phantom of a gigantic flaming mad lion appeared behind him.

Then came one white, one yellow, two purple, and one black.

A full five Soul Rings slowly rose from beneath his feet, pulsing up and down around his body.

Their brilliant light instantly illuminated the surrounding gloomy forest.

At this sight, countless commoners of Heaven Dou and Star Luo cried out in amazement.

To ordinary people, a Soul King was already an exalted figure far beyond their reach.

On Shrek Academy's training grounds.

Yu Xiaogang stroked his chin and commented, "Though his First Soul Ring is only ten-year grade, possessing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring makes this Zhang Hu's strength worthy of some praise."

"Judging by his substantial Soul Power, protecting himself in this unfamiliar forest should be more than manageable."

Tang San nodded as well, the light of the Purple Demon Eye flashing through his eyes as he analyzed calmly, "Teacher is right."

"Zhang Hu didn't move rashly. Instead, he immediately released his Martial Soul to stand guard. That's a very sound tactical choice."

Yet the instant Tang San finished speaking.

A sudden change struck the scene being livestreamed on the sky screen!

"Roar!"

A low, brutal roar suddenly rang out from above an ancient towering tree not far away.

Immediately afterward, under Zhang Hu's furious gaze.

A gigantic python, over a dozen zhang long, covered in crimson scales and wreathed in blazing flames, slowly poked its head out of the dense canopy.

Its water-vat-sized slit pupils locked squarely onto Zhang Hu below.

This was precisely the Fire Python Demon, one of the most common low-tier demonic beasts in the early stages of Martial Universe!

In Martial Universe, a demonic beast of this level was not even qualified to guard the gates of certain great clans.

Yet at this moment, the savage aura radiating from its body seemed to pierce through the screen of light, making the hearts of countless Soul Masters on Douluo Continent shudder violently.

Feeling the giant beast's provocation, Zhang Hu instantly flew into a towering rage, his hair bristling.

"A mere beast dares act so brazenly before a Soul King like me!"

"Die!"

Zhang Hu had no intention of backing down. He wanted to deliver a spectacular instant kill before the entire continent.

The deep black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring on his body suddenly blazed with dazzling light!

"Fifth Soul Skill! Mad Lion Astral Flame Wave!"

Boom!

Zhang Hu thrust both fists forward, and the Soul Power within him seemed to drain away completely.

In an instant, a blazing lion-shaped wave of light, a full seven or eight meters across, roared toward the Fire Python Demon in midair with the might to crush rotten wood and sweep away withered branches.

This strike contained the full might of a level fifty-two Soul King.

Across the Douluo Continent, countless people clenched their fists nervously at that moment.

Even the red-robed bishops of Spirit Hall nodded to themselves.

The power of this strike had indeed reached the pinnacle of the Soul King level.

Yet, faced with this seemingly heaven-shattering, earth-destroying strike.

In the image in the sky, the Fire Python Demon merely flicked its forked tongue in utter boredom.

Then the giant python casually opened its cavernous, blood-red maw.

"Whoosh!"

It effortlessly spat out a dark red pillar of fire.

The next second, the two forces collided thunderously in midair.

The evenly matched clash everyone had imagined never materialized. There was not even an instant of stalemate.

In a single clash, the fire pillar tore straight through the middle of the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill Zhang Hu took such pride in.

"What?!"

At this horrifying sight, Zhang Hu's eyes bulged, disbelief written all over his face.

But before he could cry out a second time.

The dark red pillar of fire, its power undiminished, had already slammed into his chest without obstruction.

For a moment, an agonized scream rang throughout the forest.

Just like that, beneath the gaze of hundreds of millions across the continent, this overbearing Battle Soul King's entire body was instantly engulfed in flames.

In the span of merely two or three breaths.

His burly body, along with his Martial Soul and Soul Rings, was burned into a handful of drifting ash.

Not even a fragment of bone remained.

As Zhang Hu was reduced to drifting ash, the image in the sky instantly froze.

Then several lines of large golden text slowly appeared.

[Explorer No. 1: Zhang Hu.]

[Encountered a low-tier demonic beast from the Martial Universe: Fire Python Demon.]

[Status: killed in action.]

[Survival time: forty-one seconds.]